Chapter 662: Charcoal in the Snow?

Evening arrived.

Yan Buji learned the location of the dungeon imprisoning Youming Jie cultivators, and asked He Yun to take him there.

"Do you want to see those Youming Jie cultivators?"

"Yes, I want to learn about the current state of Youming Jie... By the way, Sect Master, do you know why they came to the Paolong Sacred Land?"

He Yun smiled: "They came because of matters concerning the Dao Realm."

"Dao Realm?" Yan Buji was startled, having never heard the term.

"It's... never mind, telling you now is useless. The powerful one has already been sent to the Paolong Sacred Land; the little goon is being held here."

He Yun led Yan Buji to the dungeon, which was deeper underground near the one that previously held them.

Yan Buji looked at Wang Daolong in the cell; upon seeing the newcomer, Wang Daolong rose angrily: "Yan Buji, you despicable scoundrel!"

"Hey, Hall Master Wang, why the harsh words? You may insult me, but you should know the person beside me is my Sect Master! That's rather impolite," Yan Buji laughed.

Wang Daolong shivered, swallowed, and glanced at He Yun beside him.

He Yun looked at him calmly, saying nothing.

Wang Daolong clasped his hands: "Greetings, senior!"

"Well, Hall Master Yan wishes to learn about the current state of Youming Jie; please tell us," He Yun said lightly.

"Indeed, back when the newly appointed King of Hell in the Underworld discovered the location of the lost Youming Jie..."

Yan Buji learned of the events that occurred in Youming Jie from another perspective.

It turned out that because Yan Buji had summoned the Wild God Starry Sky Lord, the Underworld promptly began preparing a plan to merge Youming Jie into one.

The newly appointed King of Hell in the Underworld started mobilizing many strongmen, training troops, and he himself, wielding a part of the Six Paths Reincarnation Disk, personally entered the eighteenth layer of Hell, found an ancient formation, and summoned back the lost Youming Jie.

The plan was to merge Youming Jie, but suddenly the Asura clan and Rakshasa clan from the original Youming, led by the Starry Sky Sect, launched a strong invasion of the Underworld, causing it to retreat step by step.

In the end, the new King of Hell abandoned the Six Paths Reincarnation Disk and fled with the remnants, and Wang Daolong belonged to the new King of Hell's forces.

"Alas, we did not come to cause trouble; we only came to gather information. Please, senior, spare us!"

He Yun looked at Yan Buji: "What do you think?"

"Hmm... how many resources do you currently have?"

"You!" Wang Daolong's eyes flared with fire, thinking Yan Buji intended to loot amidst the chaos!

Yan Buji explained: "The Sect Master ordered me to trade with Youming Jie, so whatever you need, we will provide. But the premise is that you have something, so we can conduct normal trade."

Wang Daolong calmed down, looking puzzled at Yan Buji: "Then why don't you do business with the Starry Sky Sect?"

Yan Buji's face twitched, and he said helplessly: "To be honest, back then I offended the people of Youming Jie."

"You?" Wang Daolong, unsure of the truth, questioned: "You aren't trying to eat both sides, are you?"

"Are you stupid?!" Yan Buji snapped impatiently, berating him.

"If I intended to do business with the Starry Sky Sect, what could we achieve? They've already beaten you, and are now in the final stage. Youming Jie is vast and resource‑rich; even without the Five Realms' resources they can thrive. As for you, if I don't profit from you, where else would I earn?"

"You!"

"You don't even grasp the simple principle that giving charcoal in snow is better than adding embroidery to brocade," Yan Buji sneered.

Wang Daolong's face darkened, and he snorted coldly: "We can do business, but you must release us."

"Sect Master, what do you think?"

He Yun thought for a moment: "Releasing you isn't impossible; you aren't of much use anyway. In that case, I want you to go back and inform your new King of Hell about this, and obtain his response."

"No problem!"

Soon, He Yun released Wang Daolong.

Yan Buji felt something was off and asked: "Sect Master, do you truly believe they came to inquire about that Dao Realm?"

"Of course it's more than that. But those matters aren't my concern; those little goons aren't very useful," He Yun said with a smile, shaking his head.

Even the Sect Master can't intervene in such matters...

Is that something only the Blood Daoist level can handle?

"It seems this Dao Realm also touches the Great Vehicle Stage level, so I indeed have no need to know so much now."

Yan Buji nodded; some things, even if known, what does it matter?

Information can be true or false.

You can't guarantee everyone tells the truth, just as the Huang Tian Soul may not truly resurrect the dead.

Yan Buji hasn't seen it himself, so he naturally doesn't dare to be certain.

One must maintain a skeptical attitude to verify everything; if it can't be verified, assume it doesn't exist.

Unless disaster is imminent, Yan Buji's thirst for knowledge isn't that great.

Like the Ten Directions Fist Engraving in Yan Buji's hand; even if he knows it's the Ancestor of War's Mixed Origin Martial Dao inheritance, what of it? He can't cultivate it.

If it weren't for the calculation that cost him a hundred Martial Dao marks, he wouldn't bother asking Jianjian.

Yet Yan Buji sometimes cannot curb his curiosity; this desire stems from his weakness, his insufficient strength naturally yearning for greater power—a blend of instinct, nature, and desire—that leads him to overthink after encountering certain matters, seeking every way to uncover the truth.

Thus now Yan Buji is also restraining his desire; excessive desire isn't always beneficial.

After all, he is within the Great Sinful Sect, where growth under a system differs from outside where one can seize or steal at will; one must observe some rules.

He Yun looked at Yan Buji and said: "Matters of Youming Jie are complicated; as far as I know, several sects are indeed doing business in that area. If we intervene, we'll inevitably clash with them."

"Conflict isn't inevitable; business values harmony. If the other side resorts to lowly tactics, we simply counter. The key is whether our goods meet market demand." Yan Buji said.

"Market demand?" He Yun looked puzzled.

"Indeed, like certain mana‑boosting pills; the market is already saturated, so there's no need to procure resources and goods from Youming Jie. Therefore we must monitor market trends and the extra accessories cultivators themselves require...."

Yan Buji spoke at length, causing He Yun's head to spin; he waved his hand and said: "You can handle those matters yourself. So what kind of business do you want to do with them?"

"Well, it depends on what they can provide. Since the Great Sinful Sect has contacts in the Heavenly Spirit Realm, we needn't worry about acquiring resources. Moreover, with the elders and Hall Masters within the sect, plus the returning members, we know many people; maintaining those relationships ensures our supply won't be an issue," Yan Buji said.