Chapter 124: The Difficulty Posed by the Dao Ancestor Wang Yu

"This matter is of great importance; would you allow us, husband and wife, to consider it for a few days?"

Yan Taibai did not refuse immediately, choosing instead to consider it for a while.

It was not for the sake of a mere ten thousand Spirit Stones, but rather a desire to go and see the Miaoyin Sect, to take a look at this rather famous sect that so many men yearned for.

Yan Taibai's words made Wang Heng's eyes light up, a look of pleasant surprise appearing on his face as he hurriedly nodded and said.

"Brother Yan, please take your time to consider. If you have any needs, feel free to speak up; as long as it is within the capabilities of myself and my sect, we will absolutely not refuse."

Zhou Yuan's beautiful face was also filled with surprise, bright and moving, her heart fluttering, but Yan Taibai did not spare her a second glance; instead, it was Yan Ruyan who stared at her, her gaze filled with a hint of envy.

The little girl was naturally envious of Zhou Yuan's mature and ample figure.

"Very well, then many thanks to Sect Master Wang. We two have other matters to attend to, so we shall take our leave."

Yan Taibai rose with a smile and, taking Yan Ruyan with him, bid farewell and departed.

After the two had left, the smile on Zhou Yuan's delicate face vanished, replaced by a look of worry as she said.

"Husband, do you think this Fellow Daoist Yan will really agree?"

"He likely will. It is just a pity that he already has a Dao companion whose beauty is not the least bit inferior to yours. In that case, it is not easy to send the female disciples from outside the sect to him as concubines."

Wang Heng sighed, his tone revealing a hint of regret.

They were long accustomed to such matters and would not care whether the female disciples within the Miaoyin Sect were willing or not.

"It is indeed a pity. Judging by his appearance, I fear he is not yet a hundred years old. To have already reached the Golden Core Stage at such an age, his aptitude and background are certainly not ordinary. It is just that I do not know which sect he hails from. If we could use this to build a friendship, it would be of great benefit to the sect's development. If it weren't for that Nascent Soul cultivator this time, those fellow daoists we had painstakingly befriended in the past would not have refused to help."

A hint of resentment welled up in Zhou Yuan's bright eyes as she said coldly.

It was unclear whether she was referring to the Nascent Soul cultivator on the Holy Mountain in Heavenly Star City, the fellow daoists they had befriended, or both.

"No matter, this Poison Dragon Association is not much stronger than our sect. Furthermore, that Nascent Soul cultivator only had a chance encounter with the Poison Dragon Old Freak of the Poison Dragon Association and owed a small favor. By stepping forward this time to intimidate those fellow daoists and prevent them from helping, he has already repaid that favor and will basically not take action to help again."

Wang Heng comforted her.

"I hope so! I always feel a sense of unease."

Wang Heng's comfort did not have much effect on Zhou Yuan.

Meanwhile, Yan Taibai and Yan Ruyan soon arrived at Little Huan Island and found the Blood Jade Spider, which had already dug out the Gold-Devouring Bugs.

Looking at the swarm of Gold-Devouring Bugs on the ground, wrapped by the Blood Jade Spider's webbing into something resembling a small silver-white mountain, Yan Taibai's face was full of joy.

"Not bad, not bad, these are indeed Gold-Devouring Bugs. I never imagined your speed would be so fast; no wonder you are their nemesis."

"Brother Taibai, these Gold-Devouring Bugs seem to still be in a deep sleep. You should take this opportunity to cast a spell to control them and have them recognize you as their master; only then will it be easy to feed them."

Yan Ruyan also smiled like a flower and reminded him.

"You are right."

Hearing this, Yan Taibai nodded in agreement.

Afterward, he followed the method for controlling insects and beasts obtained from the Ghost Spirit Sect and began to plant a Restriction within the bodies of the sleeping Gold-Devouring Bugs, making them recognize him as their master.

As for how to feed them, it was naturally with Neon Grass. This spirit herb, unique to the Chaotic Star Sea, did not have many other uses; its greatest purpose was to feed Gold-Devouring Bugs and the Blood Jade Spider.

Although he did not have the Heavenly Sky Bottle to hasten their growth, as long as he had enough Spirit Stones, purchasing and collecting Neon Grass was not a difficult task.

The current Gold-Devouring Bugs were only larvae; as long as he could feed them until golden spots appeared, that would be enough.

As for mature Gold-Devouring Bugs, their drawbacks were too great, and it was difficult to achieve in the Human World, so he would not consider it for now.

It took a full half-hour before Yan Taibai finally finished planting the Restriction inside all the Gold-Devouring Bugs, and this Restriction was not an ordinary one for controlling beasts or insects.

It was an ancient Restriction obtained from a Nascent Soul cultivator of the Ghost Spirit Sect, capable of minimizing the risk of spirit beasts or spirit insects losing control after becoming powerful. Its drawback, however, was that it consumed a significant amount of divine sense and essence blood.

There was no help for that; now, with just a single thought from Yan Taibai, all the Gold-Devouring Bugs would lose their lives.

After fully controlling the Gold-Devouring Bugs, Yan Taibai placed them into his Spirit Beast Bag.

"Let's go, time to find food for these little fellows."

After finishing everything, Yan Taibai smiled broadly at Yan Ruyan, who had been standing guard.

"Find food? What kind of food?"

Yan Ruyan chuckled and asked.

"Naturally, it is the good stuff that can promote their growth and maturity. Given the growth, maturity, and reproduction speed of Gold-Devouring Bugs, it would take at least a thousand years to cultivate them to a useful level. How could we possibly have the energy and time to raise this group of little fellows?"

Yan Taibai did not hide it and said directly.

"What good stuff?"

Yan Ruyan blinked her bright eyes, full of curiosity.

"Neon Grass; for this, we will have to make another trip to the Six-Linked Hall."

……

Yuhuan Residence was the place within the Six-Linked Hall responsible for the sale and trade of spirit herbs and medicinal pills.

Neon Grass was naturally a medicinal ingredient in the Chaotic Star Sea, but it was not very useful, only being able to refine some pills needed by Qi Refining Stage cultivators, so it could not be considered very rare.

Therefore, when the shopkeeper of Yuhuan Residence learned that Yan Taibai actually wanted a large quantity of Neon Grass, a look of surprise appeared on his face.

This man was surnamed Ouyang, wore a pale green robe, had a purplish-red complexion, and was tall and burly, looking extremely heroic and imposing.

Yet, facing Yan Taibai, a Golden Core Stage Cultivator, he was exceptionally cautious and said.

"Senior Yan, this Neon Grass has little use, so even our hall does not have much in stock. Therefore, we will need to collect more; I wonder if Senior could grant us a few days?"

"I am aware of this, and that is naturally no problem. Let's say half a month; by then, just give me the materials I need together. That should be no problem, right?"

Yan Taibai nodded and agreed.

After all, this was something he had already anticipated.

"No problem, naturally no problem, many thanks to Senior Yan. I wonder what else Senior requires?"

Shopkeeper Ouyang was overjoyed and hurriedly thanked him.

"I need a batch of medicinal pills that help Foundation Establishment Stage cultivators improve their cultivation."

Yan Taibai glanced at Yan Ruyan and spoke. Although he had plenty on him, he also had to buy some for his own little darling wife.

It is the same principle as how one's own wife might have several closets full of clothes, yet still needs to buy new ones.

Sure enough, upon hearing these words, the smile on Yan Ruyan's jade-like face grew even richer, and she appeared incomparably happy.

"This is naturally no problem. May I ask how much the Senior wants?"

Shopkeeper Ouyang nodded slightly and agreed.

"The more the better; Spirit Stones are not an issue."

Yan Taibai chuckled and waved his hand, saying.

"This is the deposit, one thousand Spirit Stones."

Having said this, Yan Taibai took out ten Intermediate Grade Spirit Stones and placed them on the table,

which made Shopkeeper Ouyang's eyes light up; he beamed with joy and nodded repeatedly in agreement.

"Senior, please rest assured, this junior will definitely collect and purchase this Neon Grass with the fastest speed."

"That is good. Then you go and prepare the other medicinal pills I want! Remember, the more the better; Spirit Stones are not an issue."

Yan Taibai nodded with a satisfied expression and gave further instructions.

"This junior understands and will go prepare them now."

After saying this, Shopkeeper Ouyang took his leave and departed.

As for Yan Taibai, he was very clear about his own situation, which was completely different from other Golden Core Stage Cultivators; to increase his cultivation and strength, he absolutely required metal-attribute materials, mineral veins, Spirit Stones, and a series of other treasures related to "metal."

As for the miraculous pills that were of great benefit to other cultivators, they had little effect on him, and it was not as good as directly refining Metal-attribute Intermediate Spirit Stones.

Therefore, he planned to use other Spirit Stones to exchange for Metal-attribute Intermediate Spirit Stones later.

Compared to Spirit Stones of other attributes, the quantity of Metal Attribute Spirit Stones in the cultivation world is smaller, just like Metal Spirit Roots.

Perhaps it has to do with the author, Dao Ancestor Wang Yu, lacking them in the early stages!

A thought from his past life emerged in Yan Taibai's mind.

This also, to a certain extent, completed the difficulty of his cultivation of the White Emperor Golden Emperor Slash.

Therefore, he must seize the time to improve.

"Brother Taibai, actually, Yan'er is not lacking in medicinal pills."

At this moment, Yan Ruyan's cheeks flushed, and she said softly.

"Hehe, as for things like medicinal pills, naturally, the more the better."

Yan Taibai chuckled and said, not caring much.

"Mm! Then Brother Taibai must let Yan'er thank you properly tonight."

Seeing this, Yan Ruyan's beautiful and moving jade-like face was now covered in a rosy glow; she stared at Yan Taibai with seductive, silk-like eyes without blinking, adding a few parts of intoxicating charm, her voice trembling, also revealing a soft, alluring aura that made one's heart ripple.

"Gulp!"

But Yan Taibai instead shivered, his expression slightly awkward, yet he could only nod and agree.

"Good, good, good!"

Just as Yan Taibai was thinking about the night ahead, Shopkeeper Ouyang returned with a tray in his hand.

Inside the tray sat a bulging Storage Bag, diffusing a faint yet refreshing medicinal fragrance.

"Reporting to Senior Yan, inside here are a total of ten Bright Tide Pills... and fifteen other types of miraculous pills that can increase the magic power and cultivation of Foundation Establishment Stage cultivators and help break through bottlenecks. The value is thirty thousand Spirit Stones?"

Shopkeeper Ouyang said with some worry.

After all, thirty thousand Spirit Stones was not a small sum for most Golden Core Stage Cultivators.

Therefore, he did not dare to take out all the miraculous pills, only about one-third of them.

He could not make the decision for the rest.

"Thirty thousand Spirit Stones, for just this little bit of pills?"

After hearing Shopkeeper Ouyang's words, Yan Taibai frowned, his expression dissatisfied.

Although he had ransacked most of the savings of the entire Ghost Spirit Sect, it did not mean that Spirit Stones were picked up off the ground.

Especially since he needed a large amount of cultivation resources, he could not afford to waste them.

"Reporting to Senior Yan, these pills were all personally selected by this junior; each one is refined using the Demon Cores of Fifth-Level or even Sixth-Level Demon Beasts, and the medicinal power is astonishing, so the value is naturally high. Moreover, this junior guarantees that after this batch of miraculous pills, Madam Yan will definitely be able to break through the Foundation Establishment Late Stage, and perhaps even leap into the Foundation Establishment Late Stage Great Perfection, catching up to Senior to condense the Golden Core early, become a Golden Core Stage Cultivator, and fly together with Senior."

Hearing this, Shopkeeper Ouyang's expression changed slightly, and he immediately apologized with a smile.

"That being the case, it is worth it, but this price is still a bit too high. Twenty thousand Spirit Stones."

Seeing this, Yan Taibai's expression looked much better, but he still bargained.

"This... how about this, this junior will make the decision: twenty-eight thousand Spirit Stones, how about that?"

Hearing this, Shopkeeper Ouyang's face collapsed, and he gritted his teeth, looking as if he were in great pain.

"Twenty-one thousand Spirit Stones."

Seeing this, Yan Taibai was not moved in the slightest, yet he raised the offer by one thousand Spirit Stones.

After all, he still needed the other party's help.

"Twenty-five thousand Spirit Stones, this old man will make the decision. Does Fellow Daoist Yan think that is acceptable? At this price, this hall is making almost no profit on a single Spirit Stone."

Suddenly, Elder Miao's voice rang out, and then he walked into the hall where the three were.

"Since Elder Miao has said so, naturally there is no problem. This is twenty-five thousand Spirit Stones; Shopkeeper Ouyang, please check them."

Yan Taibai took out a Storage Bag and handed it to Shopkeeper Ouyang, saying indifferently.

"No need, this junior naturally trusts Senior."

Shopkeeper Ouyang took the Storage Bag and hurriedly tried to curry favor, smiling apologetically.

"Nephew Ouyang, you go down first and prepare the Neon Grass! This old man has matters to discuss with Fellow Daoist Yan."

Seeing this, Elder Miao sat down opposite Yan Taibai and gave the order.

"Yes, Elder."

Hearing this, Shopkeeper Ouyang naturally dared not disobey, and happily left the hall with the Storage Bag filled with Spirit Stones, leaving the main stage to Elder Miao.

After Shopkeeper Ouyang left, Yan Taibai then asked with a smile.

"I wonder what matter Elder Miao wishes to discuss?"

"Fellow Daoist must have heard of the Infant Carp Beast, right?"

Elder Miao smiled slightly and said straightforwardly.

"Infant Carp Beast, to think it is this kind of ancient exotic beast; could it be that Elder Miao wishes to invite me to go to the Outer Star Sea to hunt an Infant Carp Beast?"

By now, Yan Taibai had a relatively clear understanding of the Chaotic Star Sea.

He remembered that the Six-Linked Hall would hunt Infant Carp Beasts in a few decades, so why were they preparing now? Preparing for decades for a single Sixth-Level Infant Carp Beast.

Hmm! It is indeed worth it!

After all, this Infant Carp Beast has the strength of a Seventh-Level beast even at the Sixth-Level; it belongs to a type of ancient exotic beast, and the value of its Demon Core is so great that even Nascent Soul cultivators are moved by it.

Therefore, preparing for decades is not much, and Yan Taibai estimated that the other party had only discovered the tracks of the Infant Carp Beast and could not determine its specific location, and in order to avoid discovery by others, they had spent as long as several decades on it.

"It is not the Outer Star Sea, but the Inner Star Sea. Another elder of our hall, Brother Gu, discovered the tracks of an Infant Carp Beast while out at sea, but unfortunately, that Infant Carp Beast was too strong, and he could not handle it alone; by the time he called for people to go, the Infant Carp Beast had already run away. However, an Infant Carp Beast usually only stays in one sea area, so Brother Gu has been keeping watch in that sea area, and I believe it will be discovered before long."

Elder Miao explained with a smile on his face.

In any case, the specific location had not been leaked, so there was no need for Yan Taibai to leak anything, and besides, leaking it would mean offending two Golden Core Stage Cultivators; who would be so foolish?

Therefore, there was no need to worry too much.

"Before long!"

Hearing this last sentence, Yan Taibai muttered to himself in his heart.

He knew very well that this "before long" meant as long as several decades.

And in several decades, he did not even know what stage his cultivation would be at, so agreeing was not a problem.

"Fine, no problem, I agree."

(End of this chapter)