Chapter 236: Chapter Six: The Transaction of the Thousand Dream Fruit

Among the Emperor Lords, there was a general understanding of the value of the Thousand Dream Fruit, commonly believing that two or three-tenths of a corpse of ultimate-level primal bloodline was sufficient. Yet now, Emperor Fu had proposed a full five-tenths—this truly startled every Emperor Lord.

"Five-tenths?" Emperor Yan frowned at Emperor Fu. "Even if drawn from different corpses, five-tenths of corpse material… that's far too much!"

The other Emperor Lords said nothing, all watching Emperor Fu.

Emperor Fu smiled faintly: "Five-tenths of corpse material? Too much? In my view, it's not nearly enough."

"I think it's too much," Emperor Yuan also frowned. "Emperor Fu, are you deliberately using the clan's treasures to gift this Black Robe? Do you even know this Black Robe?"

Emperor Fu said nothing, but his expression turned cold.

"This is a collective deliberation of the Emperor Lords," Emperor Xuan rebuked. "Each Emperor Lord may voice their opinion! Emperor Fu has merely offered an opinion—yet you accuse him of deliberately gifting treasures to the Black Robe? Emperor Yuan, you've gone too far!"

"Emperor Fu has merely offered an opinion; the final decision still rests with the collective," Emperor Jiu Feng added, clearly displeased.

"Hmph," Emperor Yuan sneered. "I'll see what excuse Emperor Fu has."

Emperor Fu glanced at Emperor Yuan. "Emperor Yuan, among the thirteen Emperor Lords, you've brought the greatest troubles upon the Imperial Clan. You're the least qualified to speak."

Emperor Yuan's face darkened. "Emperor Fu, you keep targeting me—"

"Today, you're the one targeting me!" Emperor Fu stared coldly at him. "I am the reigning governing Emperor Lord. Do you think I ignore your messes? Are you now demanding a collective deliberation on your failures?"

Emperor Yuan sneered. "Fine, forget it. Let's see why you insist on trading five-tenths of corpse material for a single Thousand Dream Fruit."

Emperor Fu glanced around. "Let's return to the matter at hand. I ask you: do you Emperor Lords truly wish to acquire this Thousand Dream Fruit—or do you not?"

The Emperor Lords present froze.

"If you offer only three-tenths of corpse material, do you believe you can buy the Thousand Dream Fruit?" Emperor Fu pressed. "Everyone knows the Thunder Ancient Nation possesses more corpse material than we do—they'll likely bid three or four-tenths. And the Three Alien Races… they generally bid higher than our two Ancient Nations."

"The Three Alien Races don't have that much corpse material," Emperor Yuan said.

"The Three Alien Races will offer other conditions—like minor remnants of low-grade primal lifeforms," Emperor Fu replied. "In short, based on my knowledge of them, their bids will surpass ours."

The Emperor Lords fell silent.

Yes.

It has always been this way! The Three Alien Races' homelands lack such rare treasures—they're willing to pay far more for each. But our two nations' Ancestors have acquired too much; they've grown picky.

"Offering three-tenths of corpse material—everyone knows the chance of success is extremely low. It's merely a way to avoid blame from the Ancestors," Emperor Fu said. "If you truly wish to secure this Thousand Dream Fruit for the Ancestors, you must bid above four-tenths of corpse material to have any hope of outbidding the Three Alien Races."

"Our treasury holds only five-tenths total. What difference does it make between bidding four-tenths or five-tenths? What can we do with the little left over?"

Emperor Fu said, "Even with four-tenths, the chance remains slim. I estimate the Three Alien Races will bid within that range—or even higher. Only with five-tenths does the hope become greater."

"You're willing to pay such a heavy price for just one Thousand Dream Fruit?" Emperor Yuan sneered.

"Don't forget."

Emperor Fu looked around. "The Origin Continent has entered its final stage."

The Emperor Lords present stirred sharply.

"The rarer the top-tier treasures from the Dream Realm, the further we advance," Emperor Fu said. "And before the Origin Continent's end, we must leave it. The Thousand Dream Fruit may hold little use for the Ancestors—but great use for us."

The other eleven Emperor Lords stirred.

"Can such a top-tier treasure truly be ours?" Emperor Kong couldn't help asking, his eyes blazing.

Since it was for the Ancestors, none had cared much.

But if it were for oneself…

"My debt to the clan isn't high," Emperor Fu said. "I will personally petition the Ancestors to acquire this Thousand Dream Fruit—I'll bear the cost myself."

Emperor Ming, who had remained silent until now, brightened and spoke: "I'll petition too."

Of the twelve Emperor Lords present, Emperor Ming and Emperor Fu owed the clan the least—they still had sufficient credit to purchase the Thousand Dream Fruit.

"So that's your plan."

"We'll leave the Origin Continent soon. Afterward, we'll never again have the chance to obtain such top-tier treasures." The Emperor Lords grew increasingly tempted—they couldn't live in the Origin Continent's next era. After leaving, acquiring treasures of this caliber? Impossible.

Didn't the Three Alien Races pay enormous costs to teleport across realms just to buy the Thousand Dream Fruit?

"We can't afford it," Emperor Kong, Emperor Chu, and others all stared hungrily.

The two Ancestors forced their Emperor Lords and monarchs into massive debt—those who wanted more treasures had to repay first. Thus, they all scrambled desperately to gather top-tier treasures.

The two Ancestors needed not lift a finger; the Emperor Lords and monarchs willingly offered them countless treasures.

"I offer five-tenths of corpse material to acquire it—and I will personally petition the Ancestors to purchase this Thousand Dream Fruit. Whatever the cost, I bear it myself." Emperor Fu looked around. "Any objections to five-tenths?"

"Agreed," Emperor Ming nodded. "We'll petition the Ancestors—each for himself."

Emperor Fu nodded.

Emperor Fu truly wanted the Thousand Dream Fruit.

After consuming it, one could experience a thousand reincarnations in dreams, cultivate within the dream world, accumulate insights, and temper the soul. Such a treasure held immense value—only the two nations' Ancestors, having reached the highest realms and once possessed similar treasures, cared little.

The Thousand Dream Fruit's effect is strongest the first time it's consumed. Subsequent uses yield diminishing returns. "I have no objection," Emperor Xuan nodded.

"If you bear the cost yourself, of course I have no objection," Emperor Kong sighed.

"Too bad I can't afford it," Emperor Chu shook his head.

All the Emperor Lords voiced no objections—even Emperor Yan now remained silent. They could see the decision would easily surpass the majority.

"Then it's settled," Emperor Fu nodded.

"Emperor Fu," Emperor Yan suddenly spoke. "If the Black Robe agrees to this transaction, may I observe?"

Emperor Fu glanced at Emperor Yan and smiled. "Of course."

Emperor Yan nodded.

…

Emperor Yan's Palace.

Emperor Yan, Emperor Wu, and Emperor Xi gathered together.

!.

"Big Brother, you're going to observe this transaction?" Emperor Wu asked, puzzled.

Emperor Yan nodded. "You know I was the first in the Imperial Clan to become an Emperor Lord—Emperor Fu was the second. We both cultivated primal bloodline back then, shared deep bonds, and I helped him greatly."

Emperor Wu and Emperor Xi nodded.

"In the entire Imperial Clan, I likely understand Emperor Fu best," Emperor Yan said. "I've long sought to draw him into our alliance—after leaving the Origin Continent, the four of us could act together."

"With Emperor Fu's array mastery, if he joined us, our strength would at least double," Emperor Wu nodded. "But Big Brother, you've tried for so long—he ignores you completely."

"Yes."

Emperor Yan nodded. "Emperor Fu's nature appears gentle, but he's fiercely decisive. He unhesitatingly abandoned his primal bloodline to reincarnate. And in every past Emperor Lord deliberation—he sometimes gives me face, but sometimes stands directly against me."

"He's not swayed by gratitude. Once he decides, nothing I do can change him. I long ago accepted he'd never join us."

"But this time, his stubbornness is rare," Emperor Yan said. "Though his reasoning is sound—he wants the Thousand Dream Fruit for himself—I've known him too long. This decision feels off. So I intend to observe this transaction. Coincidentally, I'm also intrigued by the Black Robe."

"Emperor Yan, don't oppose Emperor Fu," Emperor Xi, who had remained silent, spoke. "You can't win against him."

Emperor Yan paused, looked at his wife, and smiled. "I know."

Without any external assistance, he alone transformed his body into an "ultimate-level lifeform" using array techniques—only Emperor Fu from the Origin Continent can achieve this; other strong ones' ultimate-level lifeforms depend on primal bloodlines or precious primal materials.

Emperor Fu's array mastery is beyond comprehension, and he's exchanged with the Ancestors for powerful array treasures—his power is naturally even more terrifying.

This is still only what's visible.

Emperor Yan knew well: Emperor Fu was always hiding.

"Who on the Origin Continent can out-calculate him?" Emperor Yan said. "Honestly, though the Black Robe's identity is mysterious, if anyone in our two nations could deduce it, I believe Emperor Fu would be the first."

"From his battle with Emperor Jiu Feng and Emperor Wu, we know the Black Robe possesses a body as formidable as an ultimate-level lifeform," Emperor Yan said. "His body is terrifying, his spiritual will surpasses even a Divine King. Emperor Ming was nurtured by Imperial Clan resources—yet this wandering cultivator reached this level? He's even more terrifying than Emperor Ming."

"I have a feeling… Emperor Fu and the Black Robe are connected," Emperor Yan said.

"The Origin Continent is nearing its end—we must be more vigilant," Emperor Yan looked at Emperor Xi and Emperor Wu. "Any great opportunity—we all must fight for it! The Origin Continent's power limit is capped at ultimate-level. So if they can interfere, so can we."

"The more opportunities we seize, the stronger we become. When we leave the Origin Continent, we'll live better," Emperor Yan said.

Emperor Wu and Emperor Xi nodded.

Ordinary opportunities meant nothing—but precious resources? If they could interfere, they'd never let go.

…

Luo Feng received responses from the two Ancient Nations: the Thunder Ancient Nation offered "approximately three-tenths of corpse material," drawn from two distinct ultimate-level primal bloodline corpses. The Yanfeng Ancient Nation offered "approximately five-tenths of corpse material," drawn from three distinct ultimate-level primal bloodline corpses.

"The Yanfeng Ancient Nation offered so much?" Luo Feng was astonished.

The Yanfeng Ancient Nation's terms were truly excellent. Even when negotiating with the Three Alien Races, their offer would likely be the best.

"Your Yanfeng Ancient Nation's terms slightly surpass those of the Three Alien Races! I'll sell the Thousand Dream Fruit to you." Luo Feng replied through the talisman, and both sides confirmed the time and location of the exchange.

…

In the borderlands of the Yanfeng Ancient Nation stood a small city called Snowpeak City, built atop a towering mountain range, perpetually blanketed in snow. Few cultivators resided here—only a few billion.

At the city's highest point—the very summit of the mountain range—today, all access was strictly forbidden. No cultivator was allowed near.

Huh.

Luo Feng, in his black robe and golden mask, appeared in the sky. Since this was a Thousand Dream Fruit exchange, he feared the Yanfeng Ancient Nation might attempt a forced seizure—so he appeared in his strongest physical state: a World Lifeform with 56 times the energy reserve of a perfect divine body, and he carried the Star Tower.

"Huh."

Luo Feng took a step—and was already atop the summit.

Two figures already waited there, their aura subtly influencing the surrounding heavens and earth: Emperor Fu and Emperor Yan.

"He's here," Emperor Fu and Emperor Yan both saw the masked Black Robe appear.

(End of Chapter)