Chapter 217

The Cloud Exterior Realm, the 'City of Ten Thousand Immortals', Yun Palace City.

He's a Golden Core cultivator!

A Golden Core Great Expert!

Order-taking Ancestor, make way quickly!

As a Golden Core cultivator, he inherently has the freedom to come and go in Yun Palace City, and moreover has the qualification to reside here permanently; besides, his rented cave dwelling in Yun Palace City hasn't expired yet.

Yunhe also couldn't be bothered to argue with the gate-guarding cultivator, so he simply flew straight in.

Instead, it drew exclamations from many cultivators, who instinctively made way.

But for him, a Golden Core cultivator, aside from being respectful, respectful, respectful, he didn't dare have any other thoughts.

After entering Yun Palace City, Yunhe didn't linger, heading straight for the largest 'Cloud Merchant Alliance' within Yun Palace City.

Cloud Tower Pavilion.

In an elegant private room, two male cultivators sat face-to-face on the floor, with two teacups exuding a subtle fragrance placed on the tea table before them, tranquil and comfortable.

Yun Daoist, long time no see, I never expected your cultivation base to have improved again.

By the door side, a middle-aged cultivator dressed in a gray fir robe, with two small mustaches, looking quite shrewd, spoke slowly:

To be frank, the items you need are not ordinary; even my 'Cloud Merchant Pavilion' finds it somewhat troublesome to gather them.

Upon hearing that, the blue-robed cultivator sitting opposite him fell silent for a moment, then spoke gently:

Zhao Daoist, you're being too modest; if even the 'Cloud Merchant Pavilion' finds these hard to collect, I really can't think of any power in the vast Cloud Upper Realm that could rival your pavilion's capability.

He paused, then continued:

As for the price, that's easy to discuss. Although Yunhe is a loose cultivator, he still has some family wealth, and will certainly not disappoint your pavilion and Daoist Zhao.

These two people: one is a Golden Core cultivator who is one of the main persons in charge of the 'Cloud Merchant Pavilion' in Yun Palace City, an important member of the 'Cloud Merchant Alliance'—Zhao Tianhe.

And the other is naturally Yunhe, who has only recently arrived at Yun Palace City.

Having become the Patriarch of the He Clan over these years, he has accumulated considerable wealth; adding to that, after slaying Liu Yanfeng, Wang Fengbai, and Wang Fengsong—the two brothers—he seized a large amount of resources. Now the He Clan, under his orders, is expanding its annexation of the Wang Clan. Over these years, merely his cultivator body itself has amassed considerable wealth, so his speech naturally carries great confidence.

In Yunhe's words, not disappointing the 'Cloud Merchant Pavilion' is minor; not disappointing Zhao Tianhe is the key.

Indeed, upon grasping the deeper meaning of Yunhe's words, Zhao Tianhe's smile widened; he rose to add some tea for Yunhe and said:

Then Zhao can only try his best.

Where there are people, there are connections; where there are connections, there are personal ties—even if one has cultivated to the Jie Dan Stage, this cannot be avoided.

He didn't doubt Yunhe's financial resources at all.

At the previous auction, Yunhe had already demonstrated this.

Although the auction does not reveal bidders' information to customers, as one of the managers, he still knows it clearly.

Speaking of which, last time Yunhe was still at the early Golden Core stage, but this time he has already reached mid‑Golden Core cultivation; the resources consumed in between, Zhao Tianhe knows full well.

Cultivating, cultivating—what is cultivated is the opportunity of the Dao of Immortals; and the so‑called Immortal Dao opportunity can in fact be measured largely by spirit stones and resources.

The four major elements of cultivation are wealth, partner, method, and land; wealth comes first, which is not without reason.

Thus, cultivation base to a certain extent actually represents financial strength.

Then Yunhe will await your news.

Yunhe set down his cup, clasped his hands, and said:

Zhao Tianhe waved his hand, suddenly lowered his voice, leaned forward slightly, and asked: 'May I ask an off‑topic question—does Daoist Yun have any interest in joining my Cloud Merchant Alliance?'

Besides, Zhao cannot guarantee anything else, but if you are willing, a position as a guest elder is absolutely assured. Moreover, you surely know that my Cloud Merchant Alliance differs from sects and clans, with relatively fewer rules and restrictions; after becoming a guest elder, internal resources will be prioritized for you, and the price will be absolutely dirt‑cheap.

According to Zhao Tianhe's knowledge, Yunhe, this loose cultivator, has not joined any sect nor taken any post anywhere; if Yunhe could be brought into the Cloud Merchant Alliance, he would immediately gain a substantial contribution value, enough to exchange for a large amount of resources.

Furthermore, the Cloud Merchant Alliance is also unlike other powers; even if Yunhe were not a loose cultivator, he could still join, although the authorization rights might be relatively lower.

This

Yunhe blinked slightly; after a long while, he then said with a hint of apology:

Thank you for your kindness, Yunhe is accustomed to being an idle cloud and wandering crane; for now he has no intention of joining any faction. However, should Yunhe someday seek a reliance, the Cloud Merchant Alliance will certainly be his first choice, and Daoist Zhao will surely be his recommender.

At the moment when he had a request, directly refusing Zhao Tianhe obviously offended him a little.

However, he didn't close the door completely; he still left Zhao Tianhe some room for thought.

If he had not become the Patriarch of the He Clan, this invitation might indeed have stirred his heart.

Because, as the other party said, the Cloud Merchant Alliance differs from other sects and powers; it imposes less restraint on high‑rank cultivators within the alliance, and for some loose cultivators it is absolutely a good place to go.

But small restraint does not mean no restraint.

One never knows when a task might suddenly be assigned to him to handle.

Compared to that, how could being the Patriarch of the He Clan, the one‑man‑rule elder, be more comfortable?

As for priority resource supply, that only applies when prices are equal; if he is willing to pay a high price, the so‑called priority supply is merely a joke.

At the end of the day, the Cloud Merchant Alliance is merely an alliance of merchants.

After hearing that, Zhao Tianhe didn't press further, merely saying: 'If so, then Daoist Yun, come back in half a year; by then I should be able to gather the materials you need.'

Thank you, Daoist.

The two chatted a bit more, then Yunhe rose to take his leave.

One month later.

Outside the gates of the Lingwu Sect, Yunhe, his robes fluttering, smiled and bowed to the stern‑looking old man before him—tall, muscular, with a long beard—

I hope Daoist Sun will fulfill this.

This elderly man, though aged, appears quite robust; he is precisely the current patriarch of the declining Lingwu Sect, a Golden Core early‑stage cultivator, Sun Ming.

Since he knows the Lingwu Sect possesses the 'Blood‑Weeping Vermilion Fruit' he needs, Yunhe naturally will not let it pass.

Whether it's bribery or intimidation.

Today, this Weeping Blood Vermilion Fruit, even if Sun Ming doesn't want to take it out, he has to take it out.

Yunhe never considered himself a good person; he has engaged in the deeds of a rogue cultivator, and the number of people he has killed is already beyond counting with two hands—all for the sake of advancing his cultivation base, taking another step forward on the path of immortality.

And facing a sect that has only one elderly early Golden Core cultivator, his current attitude is actually quite good.

Seeing Yunhe's graceful and courteous demeanor, Sun Ming's forehead veins twitched.

He simply couldn't understand why the news that the Spirit Martial Sect possessed a perfectly preserved Weeping Blood Vermilion Fruit would be leaked to outsiders.

At first, when Yunhe with mid Golden Core cultivation base suddenly arrived, he still greeted him with a smiling face, his attitude friendly.

But when he learned that Yunhe had come to exchange the Weeping Blood Vermilion Fruit, his entire attitude underwent a huge change.

Anger weighed down in his heart.

If he were a hundred years younger, even if his cultivation base were inferior to the opponent's, he might also try to test this Fellow Daoist Yun's depth of magical power, but now.

Circumstances are stronger than the person.

Sun Ming took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the anger in his heart, and snorted coldly: "Hmph, if Sun Mou does not agree, Fellow Daoist Yun will probably have to exchange a few moves with Sun Mou, right?"

Hearing this, Yunhe swept his sleeves, clasped his hands behind his back, and smiled without speaking.

But his behavior and actions already made the situation clear.

It is simply to rely on his cultivation base and use power to overwhelm others.

Both of them understood the principle that an innocent man who possesses a jade incurs guilt.

Since the news that the Spirit Martial Sect hides the Weeping Blood Vermilion Fruit is no longer a secret, even if Yunhe does not come today, there will inevitably be other cultivators seeking the Weeping Blood Vermilion Fruit who will come knocking in the future.

The only difference lies in the attitude.

Seeing Yunhe's acquiescent appearance, Sun Ming's expression grew ever uglier.

After holding it in for a while, he finally spoke like a deflated balloon, his voice muffled and low:

"The value of the Weeping Blood Vermilion Fruit, Fellow Daoist Yun surely knows; I wonder what Fellow Daoist intends to use for the exchange?"

He had also made up his mind.

If this mid Golden Core cultivator before him really intends to rely on his cultivation base to force a buy-sell, then even if he sacrifices his life, he must make the opponent pay some price.

Body refiners are by nature a hot-tempered lot.

Moreover, he has confidence that if he can get close, even against a mid Golden Core cultivator's cultivation base, he is not without a sliver of chance to win.

Regarding this, Yunhe spoke frankly:

"I don't know what Fellow Daoist Sun wishes to exchange for? Elixirs, talismans, treasures, Spirit Stones—Yun Mou can still produce some."

Hearing his words, a few traces of mockery appeared in Sun Ming's eyes, and he said coldly:

"Since Fellow Daoist Yun is wealthy, Sun Mou wishes to exchange the Weeping Blood Vermilion Fruit for a third-rank demon core; if Fellow Daoist can produce this item"

Before he could finish speaking, Yunhe's expression turned slightly strange.

He then flipped his palm, and a third-rank early-stage demon beast's inner core appeared in his hand.

This caused Sun Ming's voice to cut off abruptly.

He stared blankly at the demon beast's inner core in Yunhe's hand, lost in thought.

A third-rank demon beast's inner core, if refined by a cultivator who has perfected Foundation Establishment, would give that cultivator a considerable chance to achieve the False Core realm using this demon core.

What is the Spirit Martial Sect's biggest problem now?

Just like the He family of old, the Golden Core cultivators are elderly, and among the sect's disciples, not one shows any sign of being able to form a Golden Core; the sect's continuation has become the biggest problem.

And a single third-rank demon beast's inner core, for the Spirit Martial Sect, represents the strong possibility of giving birth to a False Core cultivator who could protect the sect for hundreds of years.

Of course, achieving a False Core also carries some risk, but it is much smaller than the risk of forming one's own core, and thereafter one's cultivation base will have no further possibility of advancement.

But even so, this is still more valuable to the Spirit Martial Sect than the Weeping Blood Vermilion Fruit.

Whether the prices match or not, for cultivators like Yunhe and his peers, this is actually no longer that important.

What matters is that each party gets what they need.

"Fellow Daoist Sun, how about it?"

Yunhe's face once again broke into a smile as he asked.

For him, although the third-rank demon core is also precious, the difficulty of obtaining it is far simpler than for other cultivators.

Sun Ming's expression gradually eased.

After a long silence, he drew a deep breath, flicked his sleeve, and a bright red fruit that looked as if stained with blood flew out from his sleeve.

Being able to exchange for a third-rank demon core was already the best outcome for him.

Yunhe's wrist trembled slightly, and that inner core also flew toward the opponent, while he simultaneously caught the fruit that carried a hint of warmth.

Afterward, Yunhe did not linger any longer here, turning and leaving.

Exchanging a demon core for a Weeping Blood Vermilion Fruit was also a good thing for him.

Now he needs to find a place to refine this fruit into a Weeping Blood Elixir.

Afterward, he will attempt to break through the shackles of his physical body.

If successful, his combat ability will increase by at least one level.

(End of Chapter)