Chapter 123: A Request from Purple Spirit's Father

"This Wind-Splitting Beast was not killed by a Golden Core Stage Cultivator, but was encountered by a Foundation Establishment Stage cultivator in the Outer Star Sea. It had already died from poison when discovered, and the poison it was afflicted with is precisely Dragon Saliva Poison."

As soon as "Master Jin" on the auction stage finished speaking, the Foundation Establishment Stage cultivators below could no longer sit still.

"What, Dragon Saliva Poison? Isn't this a deadly poison that can even contaminate a Demon Core? Once contaminated, the Demon Core inside a Demon Beast will turn into a highly toxic substance. Master Jin, what is the meaning of this at your auction?"

Just as Yan Taibai and Yan Ruyan were puzzled, a cultivator had already spoken up to provide an answer.

It was the very same Foundation Establishment Late Stage cultivator who had just been competing for the Iron Essence, because it was not just the two of them who did not understand; there were many Foundation Establishment Stage cultivators in this Auction Hall who did not know the terrifying nature of this "Dragon Saliva Poison."

And this sentence caused the entire Auction Hall to erupt, with sounds of arguing and discussion ringing out incessantly.

"To be able to contaminate even a Demon Core, this Dragon Saliva Poison is truly formidable."

The only two who were able to remain quiet were Yan Taibai and Yan Ruyan.

"Fellow Daoists, please do not be angry. How could this auction house stake its hundreds of years of reputation for the sake of a single Demon Core?"

Just as the people in the hall were speaking out to cast blame, Master Jin on the stage spoke up again at this moment.

The voice was not loud, yet it seemed to possess a magical power, causing all the Foundation Establishment Stage cultivators in the hall to instantly quiet down and regain their composure.

"What a powerful divine ability; no wonder he is able to be an auctioneer."

Hearing this, Yan Taibai's eyes lit up, and he muttered to himself.

"Fellow Daoists, please calm your anger. If the Demon Core were truly contaminated, would I, this old man, bring it out for auction? It is only because it is related to Dragon Saliva Poison that I had to lower the auction price. But I can guarantee with my reputation of these past hundred years that there is absolutely nothing wrong with this Demon Core."

"Master Jin" looked around the now-quiet hall and made his promise with a solemn expression.

Sure enough, once these words were spoken, the people in the hall looked at one another. Although they believed what "Master Jin" said, no one dared to be the first to bid; if there really were something wrong with it, their lives would be forfeit.

Although many Foundation Establishment Stage cultivators present did not know exactly what Dragon Saliva Poison was, they understood that as long as it was "poison," it could not be a good thing.

Their small frames should not take the risk, and besides, I cannot afford this price.

And "Master Jin" on the stage seemed to have anticipated this; he was not overly disappointed, merely giving a helpless, bitter smile.

The same thing had happened more than once, and even their auction house only had a seventy or eighty percent certainty that the Demon Core had not been contaminated or infiltrated by "Dragon Saliva Poison."

This "Dragon Saliva Poison," even a Nascent Soul cultivator would not dare to touch it lightly; although it does not compare to the ten most deadly poisons of the Immortal Realm, it is not far off.

Because this "Dragon Saliva Poison" is nothing else but the saliva and blood of a Seventh-Level or higher Poison Flood Dragon; every single drop is a deadly substance in this world.

This Wind-Splitting Beast might have only touched a fraction of it before being poisoned to death, so one can imagine just how terrifying the toxicity is.

After about the time it takes to brew a cup of tea, seeing the people in the hall still silent, "Master Jin" was just about to announce the end of the auction.

"Two thousand six hundred Spirit Stones."

Suddenly, Yan Taibai spoke up, causing the people in the hall to turn and look, their eyes filled with astonishment.

And "Master Jin" was pleasantly surprised, as if he could not believe it, and he asked in pursuit.

"Fellow Daoist, are you certain?"

"Naturally. Why, do you think it is too little?"

Seeing this, Yan Taibai chuckled and teased.

"No, no, no, how could that be? A Fifth-Level Wind-Splitting Beast Demon Core for two thousand six hundred Spirit Stones, sold."

Seeming to want to prevent Yan Taibai from regretting it, "Master Jin" did not even confirm it three times, but went straight to finalizing the deal with a single hammer strike.

Seeing this, Yan Taibai smiled slightly; this Fifth-Level Wind-Splitting Beast Demon Core was now in his hands.

But what Yan Taibai cared about was not the Demon Core, but the "Dragon Saliva Poison" that might exist within it.

After Yan Ruyan went up to pay the Spirit Stones, the Wind-Splitting Beast Demon Core was retrieved and handed to Yan Taibai.

"Brother Taibai, you must be careful."

"Hehe, that goes without saying. Let's go."

With the Demon Core in hand, Yan Taibai did not even look at it, putting it directly into his Storage Bag before standing up and leaving with Yan Ruyan.

At the same time, he hoped that a few more "wealth-delivering boys" would come along.

Otherwise, things would be quite boring from here on out.

And Yan Taibai and Yan Ruyan had been watched by someone the whole time; as soon as they left the underground Auction Hall, Yan Taibai felt a divine sense attach itself to him.

It was quite powerful, much stronger than an ordinary Foundation Establishment Late Stage cultivator and not inferior to a Golden Core Stage cultivator; clearly, it was someone with a naturally powerful divine sense or someone who had practiced a technique to temper their divine sense.

Yan Taibai naturally possessed such a technique, which was the "Great Development Technique," something Qiong Laoguai had demanded from Huangfeng Valley.

Not only the "Great Development Technique," but also the "Puppet True Explanation" and a general overview of the situation in Jixi Zhi Di.

Everything had been dumped onto Yan Taibai; as for that Senior Brother Lin from Huangfeng Valley, he naturally went to accompany his own father.

To actually dare to negotiate terms with a Nascent Soul cultivator—he was simply tired of living.

In reality, even if he hadn't negotiated, Qiong Laoguai would not have let him live, so as to avoid exposing Yan Taibai's whereabouts.

And dead men are undoubtedly the best at keeping secrets.

After the two strolled around Tiandu Street for another half a day, they left Tiandu Street and headed toward Kuixing Island to see how the Gold-Devouring Bugs were digging.

At the same time, they also needed to lure the snake out of its hole; the "wealth-delivering boys" following behind them on Tiandu Street would not find it easy to deliver their wealth there.

After all, there were too many eyes and ears!

And not long after the two left Tiandu Street.

"Swish!"

"Swish!"

"Swish!" A full three figures, three Foundation Establishment Late Stage cultivators, tightly surrounded the two of them.

And these three had identical faces and identical figures, their bodies surging with baleful energy, their expressions ferocious; at a glance, they were clearly "good people" rarely seen.

"The Kuixing Three Evils. I didn't expect to meet three fellow Daoists so quickly; it is truly a stroke of luck. I wonder, what business do the three of you have coming here?"

Upon seeing the three, Yan Taibai blinked and said with a smile on his face.

Having strolled around Tiandu Street for so long, Yan Taibai naturally could not have done nothing; he had long since inquired about and investigated the situation in the vicinity clearly.

The Kuixing Three Evils before him were the notorious Demonic Path evil cultivators of Kuixing Island, who specialized in robbery and killing to seize treasures.

However, because the three brothers joined forces and once escaped from the hands of a Golden Core Stage Cultivator on Kuixing Island, their fierce reputation shook the area, and few dared to provoke them.

The three were not fools either; they only targeted rogue cultivators without backing, so there was no great danger.

However, now that they saw Yan Taibai's expression, which was completely devoid of panic, the three brothers of the Kuixing Three Evils became somewhat panicked instead.

They sensed a dangerous aura from Yan Taibai, but as things stood, the leader of the Three Evils could only bite the bullet and say.

"Want to borrow something from a fellow Daoist?"

"Oh! What thing?"

"Kuixing Three Evils, you actually still dare to commit evil!"

Before Yan Taibai's voice had even faded, a sound of shock and anger rose abruptly from the distant horizon, and then, two streaks of light—one white and one purple—were seen flying over.

Within the streaks of light, the man and woman were none other than the Miaoyin Sect Master Wang Heng, whom they had seen earlier at the Six-Linked Hall, and his Dao companion Zhou Yuan.

"It's that old dog Wang Heng, run!"

Upon seeing the streaks of light, the Kuixing Three Evils, who had originally intended to make a move, used some unknown secret technique to jointly drive a stele-like magical artifact, which transformed into a three-colored radiance; its speed was not the least bit inferior to a Golden Core Stage Cultivator.

"Want to escape? Wishful thinking."

Seeing this scene, Miaoyin Sect Master Wang Heng let out a sneer, and the white streak of light immediately increased in speed again, heading toward the three-colored radiance transformed by the Kuixing Three Evils.

As for Zhou Yuan in the purple streak of light, she arrived not far from Yan Taibai and Yan Ruyan; she did not get too close, but still smiled charmingly and explained.

"That is the Wood Dragon Stele, a treasure left behind by their master, Mu Long Yaodao. Relying on this treasure, even an ordinary Golden Core Stage Cultivator finds it very difficult to catch them. They have also relied on this to escape the pursuit of other Golden Core Stage Cultivators many times. However, it will be difficult for them to escape my husband's pursuit this time."

Her tone was tinged with a hint of pride, making Yan Taibai blink, revealing a somewhat thoughtful expression. So, the Miaoyin Sect's future sect-protecting treasure, the Wood Dragon Stele, had come about this way.

"So that's how it is. It seems Sect Master Wang has a grudge against the three of them?"

Yan Taibai asked.

"Their master, Mu Long Yaodao, joined forces with others a hundred years ago to kill a close friend of my husband. My husband has been hunting the three of them down all these years. It's just that they previously relied on this Wood Dragon Stele to escape time and again. This time, my husband has made full preparations; it is absolutely impossible for them to escape alive again."

Zhou Yuan nodded her head slightly and added.

"Hmm!"

Seeing this, Yan Taibai nodded slightly and then expressed his thanks.

"Then many thanks to you, Madam, and Sect Master Wang for intervening."

"Fellow Daoist Yan is too polite. With Fellow Daoist Yan's cultivation and divine abilities, even if we two had not come, there certainly would not have been any trouble."

Zhou Yuan shook her head and smiled charmingly.

"Perhaps. If there is nothing else, Yan'er and I will take our leave first."

Yan Taibai proposed their departure.

"Fellow Daoist Yan, Sister Yan'er, please wait a moment. With my husband's cultivation and strength, he should be able to deal with the Kuixing Three Evils very soon. If you do not mind, why don't we return to Tiandu Street to sit for a while? We can happen to discuss cultivation experiences, how about it?"

Hearing this, Zhou Yuan immediately bowed with a skirt-curtsey, her jade face wearing an exceptionally sincere expression as she invited them.

"This... alright! Let us discuss it then!"

Seeing this, Yan Taibai glanced at Yan Ruyan, and after the latter gave a slight nod, he agreed.

"Many thanks, Brother Yan, Sister Yan'er."

Zhou Yuan smiled charmingly again and bowed slightly.

"I wonder why the two of you were targeted by the Kuixing Three Evils?"

"This, perhaps it is related to the fact that we two were too generous with our spending at the underground auction on Tiandu Street. The three of them felt there was profit to be made, so they wanted to waylay us to kill and seize our treasures."

Yan Taibai thought for a moment and did not hide anything.

"So that's it. Then those three really are ignorant of life and death, actually daring to provoke Fellow Daoist Yan."

Zhou Yuan pursed her lips and smiled, appearing quite pleased.

"Hmm! They were indeed somewhat blind."

Yan Taibai nodded in agreement.

Just as the three were conversing, Miaoyin Sect Master Wang Heng returned, his body stained with a trace of baleful aura; his face was full of relief, and his hearty, satisfied smile upon having his great revenge fulfilled made one unable to help but reveal a few smiles as well.

"Husband, have you completely slaughtered the Kuixing Three Evils?"

Zhou Yuan seemed somewhat uneasy and immediately followed up with a question.

"Haha, that goes without saying. One of the purposes of coming to Kuixing Island this time was to exterminate the three of them. Having made such sufficient preparations, how could there be any reason for failure? This is their Wood Dragon Stele. After you refine it, even if a Golden Core Late Stage cultivator wants to surpass you in escape speed, it will not be an easy matter."

As he spoke, Miaoyin Sect Master Wang Heng came to Zhou Yuan's side, and with a look of deep affection, he handed the wooden stele engraved with a dragon shape to her and said softly.

This made Yan Ruyan, who was beside Yan Taibai, feel envious.

"Ahem!"

Having been inexplicably fed a mouthful of dog food, Yan Taibai could only cough twice.

And as Yan Taibai's coughing sound rang out, Zhou Yuan, who had taken the Wood Dragon Stele, also blushed and glanced at Wang Heng.

With Wang Heng here, she naturally would not say anything more.

"Fellow Daoist Yan, Fairy Yan, this is not a place for conversation. Why don't we return to Tiandu Street to discuss first!"

"Good."

Yan Taibai nodded and agreed.

After all, this was also something that had been agreed upon.

Subsequently, the four returned along the same path to Tiandu Street, found a teahouse at random, and sat down in a private room.

"I wonder what business Sect Master Wang and Madam have in inviting the two of us?"

After sitting down, Yan Taibai did not intend to engage in idle chatter with the two, and asked straight to the point.

"I will not hide it from you both: I hope to invite Brother Yan to assist me. In return, I can gift Brother Yan ten thousand Spirit Stones and some materials, as well as a condition that this sect can fulfill. I wonder if Brother Yan could consider it?"

Seeing Yan Taibai being so direct, Miaoyin Sect Master Wang Heng did not waste words either, and straightforwardly put forward his request and reward.

Ten thousand Spirit Stones was definitely a not-insignificant reward for a Golden Core Stage Cultivator.

"Uh, this... this, may I be so bold as to speak plainly, Sect Master Wang? I, Yan, consider this only our second meeting, and we are not familiar with one another. Why would you invite me?"

After hearing the words of Miaoyin Sect Master Wang Heng, Yan Taibai was stunned for a good while before asking with a strange expression.

He truly had not expected that Wang Heng would trust the two of them to this extent, extending an invitation directly without even inquiring or investigating their identities.

This kind of trust really left Yan Taibai feeling a mix of amusement and exasperation.

"Actually, it is not that I, Wang, trust Brother Yan too much, but rather that I am truly helpless. I will not hide it from you, Brother Yan: some time ago, my Miaoyin Sect had a conflict with the Poison Dragon Association of Heavenly Star City. Not only does this Poison Dragon Association possess strength slightly superior to my sect, but they also have old ties with a Nascent Soul senior who is in seclusion on the Holy Mountain of Heavenly Star City. Although the friendship is not deep, it has caused many of my past friends to fear assisting me. That is why I came to Kuixing Island to purchase a batch of magical artifacts and materials to strengthen the disciples within my sect. Now that I have met Brother Yan, I consider my judgment to be decent, and I can tell that Brother Yan is not a cultivator of the Demonic Path. That is why I spoke up to extend an invitation. If Brother Yan is unwilling, it is no matter; just consider it a casual remark on my part."

Miaoyin Sect Master Wang Heng gave a bitter smile and explained the cause and effect.

"So that is how it is. It seems you truly had no other choice, Sect Master Wang."

After hearing Wang Heng's words, Yan Taibai and Yan Ruyan suddenly understood.

(End of chapter)