Chapter 361

This item is a treasure I found in the snow plains; I have carried it on my person since I was at the Second Stage, and to me, whether in function or meaning, it is quite precious.

Meaning?

A demon beast actually talks about meaning?

It's not that Yunhe looks down on demon beasts; it's just that, if what Xiong Wuji said is true—that he discovered it at the Second Stage—did its spiritual awareness reach such a level back then? Can it even remember what happened then?

Thus, 'near vermilion one becomes red, near ink one becomes black'; after frequent contact with Yunhe, Xiong Wuji has developed the ability to 'speak without thinking'.

However, Yunhe still cooperated, showing a solemn expression, clasping his hands toward him, and said in a low voice:

"I see; this matter was indeed my rashness, Yun. I did not expect this object to hold such great significance for you, Daoist friend; please accept my apology."

"However, among the items you produced, the others are of little use to me, Yun."

He paused, then spoke rather generously:

"In that case, I, Yun, will gift you two jars of 'Seven Star Brew' as both apology and celebration of our friendship."

Saying that, he flicked his sleeve, and two jars of spirit wine appeared on the table.

This left Xiong Wuji at a loss.

No trade?

Give two jars?

Although those two jars of spirit wine already far exceeded his expectations, adding the previous jar, Yunhe has given him three jars for free.

This made Xiong Wuji feel a bit embarrassed for a moment.

I really ought to die.

"Daoist Yun treats me with such sincerity, yet I am thinking about how to exchange for more spirit wine."

Xiong Wuji's expression shifted, and after gritting his teeth he said: "Daoist Yun behaves this way; if I were to hesitate further, I would seem petty."

Saying that, he slammed the bone-shaped ice crystal stone onto the table and declared firmly:

"Never mind! Although this object is of extraordinary significance to me, what could be more important than our friendship? I will give this object to you, Daoist friend."

Hearing this, Yunhe raised his eyebrows, looking somewhat surprised at Xiong Wuji, who wore a pained expression while trying to appear generous.

His earlier move of retreating to advance was based on his confidence that Xiong Wuji would surely not give up the exchange.

But now Xiong Wuji's behavior—has he truly been taken in by his bluff, or is he imitating him with a retreat-to-advance tactic?

Because if he said exchange, they could still bargain; but giving it outright makes Yunhe feel guilty instead.

However, judging by Xiong Wuji's appearance, he likely hasn't yet grasped the deeper secrets of trade.

However, after thinking it over, Yunhe still took out a large amount of spirit wine from his storage bag and said solemnly:

"Daoist Xiong, could it be that you look down on Yun?"

"Huh?" Xiong Wuji stared, startled by the spirit wine that appeared out of thin air, a hint of astonishment.

Yunhe continued: "These forty jars are all the spirit wine I have on hand; I give them all to you, Daoist friend."

Forty jars?!

Xiong Wuji widened his bear eyes, stammering: "Is-is this really true?"

"We demon beasts consider a spit to be a nail; where would jokes come from?"

In Xiong Wuji's eyes, Yunhe now exuded an overbearing aura, quite imposing.

"A spit is a nail" it silently repeated to itself, feeling it expressed its heart; then with a "bang" it slapped the table with a palm, saying "Good!"

Saying that, it swiftly collected all the spirit wine into its storage bag, then rose and bowed to Yunhe.

"Daoist Yun, I just remembered there are some matters to attend to in my territory; I'll come bother you again next time."

As the words fell, it flashed and turned into a rainbow light, shooting straight out the nearby window at great speed.

As if afraid Yunhe might regret it.

Watching its departure, Yunhe's eye twitched.

"Did we profit or lose?" Seeing Yunhe's expression, Bai Ning couldn't help but ask timidly.

Hearing that, Yunhe picked up the ice crystal bone on the table and said softly: "It should be a profit, right."

"But I feel that the ice bear blind guy thinks he made a killing."

Bai Ning scratched her head.

"It should also have profited."

"Huh?"

This left Bai Ning somewhat confused.

Seeing its curious look, Yunhe smiled and rubbed its head; if not for the little one's earlier doubt, Yunhe would really feel he had lost.

"Trading is simply each holding what they need; I gain what I want, so I profit; it gets what it wants, so it naturally profits as well."

"Oh" Bai Ning nodded, half-understanding.

For Yunhe, being able to exchange this object for just a few dozen jars of spirit wine is undoubtedly a huge profit from the perspective of cultivator prices in the cultivation world.

But from Xiong Wuji's perspective, being able to trade for so much delicious spirit wine in the Yao Shou Shijie, while giving up only a bone useless to him, he naturally made a killing.

Thus, whether one profits or loses depends on one's position, and understanding naturally differs.

Yunhe shook his head, gently stroking the ice bone in his hand, feeling the icy chill it conveyed, and involuntarily smiled.

If he is not mistaken, this is a 'Spirit Ice Bone,' a spiritual object that can only be produced in extreme cold, its value comparable to that of 'Ten-Thousand-Year Cold Ice.'

In the extreme cold, where heavenly and earthly spiritual energy gathers, if fortunate, a 'Spirit Ice' may be born—a creature innately nurtured, with low spiritual awareness but extraordinary talent; if no such spiritually aware 'Spirit Ice' is born, it forms this 'Spirit Ice Bone,' which is the corpse of a Spirit Ice.

If a cultivator refines this object, it can grant stronger control over his 'Ice Phoenix Wings.'

Furthermore, although a cultivator can use the power of the 'Ice Phoenix Wings' to easily drive some ice-attribute spells, it is ultimately not as effortless as the five-element techniques; occasional use is fine, but in a spell duel it would be impossible to employ.

But after refining this 'Spirit Ice Bone,' a significant change will occur.

It can even subtly awaken the Ice Phoenix bloodline within the 'Ice Phoenix Wings,' laying the groundwork for this magic treasure's future advancement.

At the same time, if carried by an ice-attribute demon beast, it can further stimulate its cultivation speed.

Yunhe flipped his wrist and passed this bone into the hand of the Cultivator Body.

The cultivation world.

In the blink of an eye, seven days passed.

The Abyssal Clan retreated completely, and Listening Fragrance Pavilion returned to tranquility once again.

And after seven days of waiting, a Yuan Ying Cultivator finally arrived at Listening Fragrance Pavilion, also bringing some news of what had happened during this period.

First.

Just as Yunhe had anticipated, when the Abyssal Clan suddenly erupted, the sea clan of the Endless Sea also suddenly launched an attack, inflicting heavy losses on some islands in the Endless Sea and even on some seaside sects.

Second.

Then, regarding this suddenly erupted event, several Yuan Ying late-stage cultivators among the human cultivators met and discussed some matters and arrangements.

Of course, the specific details are not known to many for the time being, as a complete conclusion has not yet been reached.

However, one thing can be affirmed: as Ji Liuyun said, the 'Contribution System' initiated with the Hall of a Hundred Dawn as the leader allows cultivators who make greater contributions to exchange for various treasures.

Finally.

Yunhe and these first-batch cultivators who made contributions may no longer need to continue garrisoning inside Listening Fragrance Pavilion; they can come and go as they choose.

Of course, if one wishes to stay and see if they can earn contributions, that is naturally allowed as well; and if one wishes to leave, no one will stop them.

After receiving this news, the first to leave were the Ghost Blade Sect's Pidao Lao Gui Han Bo and the few remaining cultivators of the Ghost Blade Sect.

As long as Han Bo and these cultivators are present, the difficulty of restoring the Ghost Blade Sect will not be great.

Afterward came Ji Liuyun, who, as a cultivator of the Hall of a Hundred Dawn, had many matters to attend to.

Mu Ya Zi and Lianhua Lao Zu, unsurprisingly, chose to stay.

Feng Qingdan also had the thought of relocating her sect, but given that Listening Fragrance Pavilion, as a key stronghold against the Abyssal Clan, she likely could not leave in the short term.

However, she has already sent people to search for a new sect base.

But wanting to find a suitable spiritual vein is also not an easy task.

Yunhe also prepared to leave this place.

After all, someone has been eyeing his Yuan Ying corpse refining; although the other party's extremely indulgent Yuan Ying late-stage cultivator Huangquan Lao Zu has not yet appeared, their Dao protector has come, allowing Yunhe to further recognize the intimidating presence of a Yuan Ying late-stage cultivator.

It is astonishing that a Yuan Ying Cultivator would willingly protect a Golden Core cultivator; such a scene he had only seen before on the person of Xingzi of the Upper Cloud Palace when he was in the Upper Cloud Realm.

He originally showed weakness and fatigue, wanting to see if the other would be driven to desperation and attack him inside Listening Fragrance Pavilion.

But facts prove that Xiao Wuxian is not merely putting on a humble facade in daily life; his actions are meticulous, orderly, and wholly worthy of his identity as the son of a Yuan Ying late-stage cultivator.

And he also did not wish to have too much involvement with that person or the cultivators of Fengdu City, thus he conceived the idea of leaving.

Although he does not fear Yuan Ying early-stage cultivators, nor even Yuan Ying mid-stage cultivators, as long as they are not those who have penetrated the profound laws to the heavens, self-preservation should be fine; yet having one more thing is never better than having less.

However.

Just as he was preparing to leave, however, something completely beyond expectation suddenly erupted.

The Abyssal Clan, which had already retreated, returned again!

They launched another attack!

Moreover.

The scale of this attack was greater than before by more than a little.

It was almost as if they surrounded Listening Fragrance Pavilion with a thunderous momentum.

Even Ji Liuyun, who had left, was forced to retreat back.

And Han Bo of the Ghost Blade Sect was killed by the Abyssal Clan; he didn't even have time to escape with his Yuan Ying, dying on the road as he left.

The suddenness of this incident and the decisiveness of the Abyssal Clan's move almost exceeded everyone's expectations.

Yunhe and the others learned of this because Ji Liuyun, forced to retreat back into the formation of Listening Fragrance Pavilion, informed them.

At that time, upon returning to the formation, he was already seriously injured, dragging his heavily wounded body to inform Yunhe and the others, causing everyone to almost think they had misheard.

If it weren't for the severity of his wounds, they would not have entertained even the slightest doubt.

Han Bo's utter demise and Ji Liuyun's return gravely injured conveyed to them an extremely clear meaning.

Abyssal Clan, they must launch a strong assault on this place!

No one knows why the Abyssal Clan would retreat and then return, nor why they would act this way; this move is clearly contrary to common sense.

Because normally, expansion is the goal of the Abyssal Clan, and steady, gradual encroachment is the correct method; the representation of the Abyssal Clan's expansion is the coverage of the Black Abyss Mist.

A small detachment breaking free from the Black Abyss Mist to launch an attack is understandable, but a large-scale break from the Black Abyss Mist to launch a strong assault—such a risky move, are they not afraid of a counterattack by human cultivators that would inflict a blow the Abyssal Clan cannot bear?

After all.

The 'Black Abyss' where the Abyssal Clan resides is actually located within the Demon Realm.

All around are the territories of human cultivators.

What they need to face is not merely human cultivators from a single direction.

Regardless of how the Abyssal Clan's high command decides, or how human cultivators will respond next, Yunhe and the others trapped inside Listening Fragrance Pavilion's sect-protecting grand formation have found their situation becoming perilously precarious.

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PS: New month, please guarantee the monthly ticket!

(End of chapter)