Chapter 218: Long Ba Pi (Long the Skin-Peeler)

"Alright, let's not talk about this anymore. Since you were able to break through to the Essence Refining Stage and quickly cultivate to your current realm, you must have had quite an opportunity. You must have found quite a few treasures."

"Hurry up and take them out for me to see. I'll help you appraise them."

Watching that rabbit struggle incessantly in the Insect Breeding Bag, Long Xuan finally got straight to the point.

"I trust your character, kid. Come with me."

Li Laodao stood up and packed his stall. It was impossible to take out those treasures here; they had to find an uninhabited, hidden location.

Long Xuan had the same intention. Finally, under Li Laodao's lead, they walked into a Qian Family Teahouse, and the two of them casually entered a private room and sat down.

After Li Laodao casually ordered a pot of the cheapest tea, he placed four array flags in this room to isolate all external probing. Only then did he look solemn and take out one treasure after another from his storage bag.

It was not until he took out three seeds that the rabbit in the Insect Breeding Bag struggled even more violently, almost kicking a hole in the bag. Long Xuan immediately knew that what made the rabbit excited were these three seeds.

Unsurprisingly, these three seeds were probably the biggest harvest Li Laodao got from that opportunity.

"This is..." Long Xuan pretended to be casual as he looked at the three seeds.

Actually, it could not be considered pretending; he truly did not know what those three seed-like things were.

It was just that two of these three seeds showed infinite progress in his eyes. He was immediately overjoyed in his heart, knowing that he had picked up a treasure this time.

These three seeds were absolutely heaven-defying objects, without a doubt.

No, it was that two of the seeds were absolutely heaven-defying objects, without a doubt. The remaining seed did not show progress; it was eight-tenths likely to be dead.

Li Laodao said with a bitter smile: "Even you don't recognize them? To be honest, I don't know what spirit herb these three seeds fell from either."

"Even if I flip through countless ancient books, I can't find any records about these three seeds at all."

"But the more I don't recognize something, the less I dare to take it out to sell, for fear that it might be a heaven-defying treasure that someone else might pick up as a bargain."

"It's only because the trading partner this time is you, and you definitely wouldn't cheat me, otherwise I would absolutely not take these three seeds out."

"However, even if I don't recognize this thing, it's impossible for you to pick up a bargain in front of me."

"I will set the value of these three seeds as the highest among all the treasures."

"If you don't take out a heaven-defying treasure, it's impossible to trade them away, and no matter what treasure you take out, I must keep one of these three seeds."

"To avoid regretting it if I set the price too low. Keeping one won't cause me too much loss."

Hearing this, Long Xuan secretly sighed that this Li Laodao was quite shrewd, actually setting such a high price for something he did not recognize.

The value of the treasures he placed on the table was not low. Just the five Top Grade Spirit Stones alone, each converted into Lower Grade Spirit Stones, were things priced at over 100 million.

He actually dared to set the price of these three seeds above these five Top Grade Spirit Stones. He was truly a lion opening its mouth wide.

Looking at the five Top Grade Spirit Stones on the table, Long Xuan secretly said it was a pity.

These five Top Grade Spirit Stones were Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth, but they lacked Fire, and two of them were Top Grade Wood Spirit Stones.

If he could exchange that Wood-attribute Top Grade Spirit Stone for a Fire-attribute Top Grade Spirit Stone, he could put together a set of Five Elements Reversal Great Array disks.

For these years, he had been collecting materials for the Five Elements Reversal Great Array disks. Up to now, he was only missing five Top Grade Spirit Stones of each of the five elements.

He was determined to trade for these five Top Grade Spirit Stones on the table today, no matter what.

The five Top Grade Spirit Stones had a market price, which was easy to talk about, but these three seeds were feared by Li Laodao to be picked up as a bargain, so he was clearly trying to raise the price on the spot. It was not going to be easy to take them down.

To take down these three seeds, he probably could only use what Li Laodao needed most to lure him.

After thinking for a while, Long Xuan felt around in his Insect Breeding Bag, took out a small bottle, placed it on the table, and said with a smile:

"Although you broke through to the Essence Refining Stage, which doubled your lifespan, your speed in breaking through to the Essence Refining Stage was truly too slow, consuming too much lifespan."

"Therefore, even if you successfully broke through to the Essence Refining Stage, you are still in an aged state."

"And with your aptitude, I'm afraid your remaining lifespan may not be able to support you until you break through to the Spirit Sea Stage, so you must need treasures that can increase your lifespan."

"This is a Longevity Gu I discovered in an ancient tomb. Eating one Longevity Gu is enough to increase your lifespan by eight hundred years, allowing you to return to youth and regain your vigor."

"What is the value of increasing your lifespan by eight hundred years? Refer to that auction in Black Stone City where Living Wood was auctioned."

"Living Wood that only increases lifespan by five hundred years could actually be auctioned for a sky-high price of 40 billion."

"Then for this Longevity Gu of mine that can increase lifespan by eight hundred years, it wouldn't be excessive for me to ask for 100 billion, right?"

"For the sake of our good relationship, I'll give you a 90% discount."

"I want everything on this table!"

That's right, the thing Long Xuan was prepared to trade with Li Laodao was the unique Gu worm he created himself—the Longevity Gu.

In order to grind out a Longevity Gu with a thousand years of lifespan for Long Ziyan, he had refined a pile of Longevity Gu with less than a thousand years of lifespan.

Although these Longevity Gu had astonishing value, he simply could not handle them.

Referring to the tragedy caused by the Living Wood last time, treasures that only increased lifespan by five hundred years could cause countless Gu Kings to slaughter each other. How could he dare to take out the Longevity Gu to sell? Did he not want his life?

Handing them directly to the Long Clan in exchange for contribution points was even more impossible. If he really took out that pile of Longevity Gu, would he not be admitting that he had embezzled them during his research on the Dragon Blood Battle Gu?

So these Longevity Gu were completely stuck in his hands.

There was only one Thousand-Year Longevity Gu, which he had already given to Long Ziyan. The highest lifespan of the remaining Longevity Gu was eight hundred years, totaling about three. This time, he was prepared to take one out to lure Li Laodao.

He still trusted Li Laodao completely, so he boldly took out the eight-hundred-year Longevity Gu.

At this moment, when Li Laodao heard what Long Xuan said, he suddenly had the urge to vomit blood.

Good fellow, he thought he had already opened his mouth wide enough, but he did not expect this Long Xuan to be even more excessive.

He was not just opening his mouth wide; he was opening a bloody basin of a mouth.

Actually daring to ask for 100 billion directly! He was simply crazy. How could he set such a price?

Why didn't he go rob? He might as well just kill him with a knife. Even if he sold his underpants, he could not scrape together 100 billion!

Li Laodao's face turned black and white for a while.

"Why? Have you considered it? Either give me 100 billion! Or give me everything on the table."

"If you don't agree, I'm leaving now. Let's part as friends even if the deal doesn't go through." Long Xuan urged.

Li Laodao's old face twitched constantly. Friends? There was no more friendship. He actually had the nerve to talk to him about friendship!

However, Long Xuan had truly hit his fatal weakness this time.

Not to mention that he was indeed short on lifespan, the bottleneck between the Essence Refining Stage and the Spirit Sea Stage was a natural chasm. Crossing it was like a thousand troops crossing a single-plank bridge; it was very difficult to cross.

He must have sufficient time to collect massive resources to cross that hurdle.

What's more, for something like lifespan, not to mention that he was very short of it, even if he was not, he would still scramble for it, even at all costs.

Who would not want to live another eight hundred years? Even if it meant losing everything to exchange for living another eight hundred years, it would be worth it.

Li Laodao took a deep breath, looking at the Longevity Gu on the table with burning eyes, his breathing gradually becoming rapid. He simply could not remain calm in front of this treasure.

But this Long the Skin-Peeler's asking price was truly too ruthless, actually wanting to take away all the treasures on his table, or directly asking for 100 billion. This was simply trying to drive him to death.

These things were all the most precious things on him. Was this not taking his life!

"Why? Have you considered it? Since you don't agree, then I'm leaving." Long Xuan urged again.

As he spoke, he reached for the small bottle containing the Longevity Gu, intending to take it away.

Li Laodao's face changed drastically, and he became completely anxious, hurriedly reaching out to block the bottle.

"Don't! Don't! I'll trade, okay! I'll trade! I'll trade! Take all those broken things on the table! I don't care about them!"

After saying this, Li Laodao's heart was dripping blood, only feeling that all his treasures were about to leave him, and he was about to return to the pre-liberation era overnight.

He hurriedly picked up the small bottle and placed it in front of his chest, as if only this small bottle could comfort his wounded soul.

"Hahaha... Then I'll suffer a little loss and help you take these scraps. No need to thank me!"

Long Xuan laughed loudly, completely excited, frantically sweeping the things on the table into his storage bag.

Especially those three seeds, he absolutely could not let them go!

"Wait, we agreed beforehand. No matter what treasure you take out, I must keep one of these three seeds."

"I, Li Laodao, have always been a man of my word. What I say never goes back."

"So you can only take away two of these three seeds. No matter what, you must leave one for me."

Seeing that Long Xuan was about to put the three seeds into his storage bag, Li Laodao hurriedly stopped his action and shouted immediately.

"Fine, fine! Seeing that you're pitiful, I'll suffer a little loss again. Who made me kind-hearted?"

As he spoke, Long Xuan tossed the dead seed that did not show progress to Li Laodao, pretending to be very magnanimous.

Li Laodao hurriedly caught it and treasured it, putting the seed back into his storage bag.

At this moment, he was filled with regret. If he had known, why did he take out so many treasures?

Wouldn't it have been enough to just take out one of these three seeds? He blamed his own itchy hands. Now it was good, all of them were packed up by someone in one go.

Li Laodao gave him a resentful look, blew his beard and stared, and said: "Consider you kid ruthless!"

"You kid has completely emptied my storage bag this time. It seems I must find the next opportunity to replenish my storage bag."

"Originally, I was worried about danger for this opportunity and didn't want to go, but now I have to go to recoup some losses."

"There is a great opportunity tomorrow. Are you prepared to go with me!"

As soon as Li Laodao's voice fell, Long Xuan was startled and couldn't help but shiver. Again?

Don't tell me it's 100% safe again? He was truly scared. Could he stop pitting him and go harm others instead?

This Li Laodao was poisonous, plagued by a bad luck buff. Every time he went somewhere, something was bound to happen. Nothing good came from going out with him.

(End of Chapter) ===== CHAPTER 219 =====