Chapter 86

Yang Lan opened his eyes, saw the sullen Yan Buji, and couldn't help asking: "Sect Master Ji, since you have the Martial Dao True Pill, why are you still demanding the Supreme Holy Source Scripture? Moreover, you absolutely shouldn't have given the Martial Dao True Pill to that Ye Zhi Long; aren't you just making Ye Zhi Long invincible across the world?!"

"Martial Dao True Pill? What's that?" Yan Buji's expression changed, and he asked blankly.

"You don't know?!"

"Nonsense, do I have to ask you?!"

Yang Lan's face darkened as he explained: "The Martial Dao True Pill is the achievement of ancient warriors' cultivation, equivalent to the magical Golden Core condensed at the Golden Core realm of a cultivator. Even if that Martial Dao True Pill is pitifully small, its essence is already transcendent! If it can be refined, even ordinary warriors like you and I could leap across the mortal‑immortal divide in a single step!"

Yan Buji's pupils contracted; he never imagined that the corpse he had previously fought was actually an ancient warrior whose life had been comparable to the Golden Core realm.

No wonder he almost killed him that time.

However, to save his life, Yan Buji had already prepared himself mentally back then. When he obtained that red bead, he knew it was extraordinary, yet he dared not use it lightly; if something went wrong, he lacked confidence he could resolve it.

And saying this after the fact—what good does it do?

It's useless; he saved his own life, even though losing such a divine artifact only benefited the enemy. Is that not a loss? Could anything be more important than life?

"Heh, you two old pious crones, surviving is enough; what else do you want to say? Do you really think I could defeat that Ye Zhi Long?!" Yan Buji sneered.

Yang Lan snorted: "Sect Master Ji, having lost the Martial Dao True Pill, now finally understands its function—what a regret!"

"Stop spouting nonsense. Since I lost the precious treasure, the previous deal should be revised: hand over the remaining half of the Supreme Holy Source Scripture to me, and from now on you owe me nothing!" Yan Buji said immediately.

"Hehe, that's a heavy treasure you used yourself; what does the deal have to do with it? If you ask me, let's stick to the original: exchange the Blood Essence Skill, and I'll give you the remaining half of the Supreme Holy Source Scripture!" Yang Lan laughed, casting a barely perceptible glance at Yang Qing beside him.

Yang Qing immediately understood and began preparing in secret.

Yan Buji squinted: "Do you expect me to lose the precious treasure for nothing? Even if you truly want the Blood Essence Skill, bring something else to trade."

"Hm? What do you mean?"

"Hehe, Yang Qing, stop hiding. Did you really think I don't know you have the relic left by the founder of the Blood Flow Sect?" Yan Buji sneered.

"You!" Yang Qing's eyes widened instantly, and she stepped back.

Yang Lan also rose at once, standing beside Yang Qing, watching Yan Buji warily: "You actually noticed? Impossible—we've never shown it to anyone since we obtained it!"

"Heh, Wang Jiu is your saint, right?"

"Wang Jiu went to the Kun Dao realm and hasn't returned for ages. Could you have been present then?" Yang Lan's expression changed abruptly.

She had thought no one noticed she had preemptively taken the treasure from the founder's secret chamber within the Blood Flow Sect ruins, but this guy saw through it.

Yan Buji sneered: "I noticed when you sent people to covertly infiltrate me back then, but I didn't expect you could slip through Chen Cang and seize the founder's treasure early. Now that the item returns to its rightful owner, our deal can proceed. I suppose you aren't unaware of the price required to activate this relic?"

Yan Buji, via Wang Jiu's earlier oddities and the words of the two Elders of the Blood Flow Sect, confirmed that the founder's secret chamber certainly contained a relic.

But it certainly wasn't the gold leaf he obtained, and from the Elders' statements he inferred that this relic possessed extremely potent destructive power.

【7】 Then why did Yan Buji know the relic was on them?

【8】 In fact, it was thanks to Yan Buji's Blood Essence Skill having reached great attainment that he sensed an inexplicable familiar aura on them. He thus surmised the relic had been taken by the two in advance, and since their encounter with him, nothing they did had shown any life‑or‑death urgency, clearly relying on extraordinary means.

【9】 Therefore it's easy to guess how powerful their methods are; given Wang Jiu's ease in leaving the secret chamber, Yan Buji had been observing them for a long time, which is why he deceived them with those words.

【10】 Unexpectedly, the events matched his conjecture down to the last detail.

【11】 Though it's hard to understand why they located the secret chamber early and seized the relic, Yan Buji thought it might be linked to the former Sect Master of the Blood Flow Sect.

【12】 Because both of them exude the aura of the Blood Essence Skill, hidden well but not beyond his sight!

【13】 Yet they practice a fragmented Blood Essence Skill, not the full version, so even if they could activate the relic, the cost would be obvious.

【14】 Yan Buji, unwilling to test the relic's power lightly, reached out and produced the full Blood Essence Skill: "The former Sect Master mentioned some past events to me; I originally thought we could trade normally, repaying a favor. But you two truly intend to clash with me to the death and refuse to return the Blood Flow Sect's priceless treasure, right?"

【15】 Yang Qing's face changed: "What did Brother Wu tell you?!"

【16】 Yang Lan's expression tangled: "Brother Wu, he… he…"

【17】 Yan Buji raised an eyebrow.

【18】 "You two are still playing Sunset Red?"

【19】 "Oh, that's not right. Decades ago they were also in their prime, all formidable figures of evil paths; it was normal for mutual affection to arise."

【20】 "The former Sect Master, before his death, didn't tell me much; he only asked me to deliver the full Blood Essence Skill, but the Fifth Elder seized it early, which delayed matters for so many years." Yan Buji laughed, the lie spilling out instantly.

【21】 Yang Qing and Yang Lan's expressions shifted repeatedly, as if recalling the past, remaining silent for a long time.

【22】 "In that case, give me the Blood Essence Skill, and I'll hand over the Supreme Holy Source Scripture and the relic with both hands!" Yang Lan inhaled deeply and said.

【23】 "Alright, continue!"

【24】 Yan Buji tossed out the full Blood Essence Skill, and Yang Qing and Yang Lan simultaneously threw their items over.

【25】 Both sides immediately retrieved the items they wanted and began leafing through them.

【26】 Indeed, it was the lower half of the Supreme Holy Source Scripture!

As for the short sword in his hand, Yan Buji squinted, suddenly realizing something.

Actually, it still benefited from Yan Buji's Blood Essence Skill having been cultivated to great accomplishment; I detected on them a strange familiar aura, so I guessed the treasure had been taken beforehand by these two, and since they met me, everything that happened to them utterly lacked any life‑or‑death urgency—surely they are relying on something extraordinary.

"It seems you've recognized it; not bad. This is indeed an Accumulation Device that only a cultivator can wield. It requires a cultivator's magical power to activate; we ordinary mortals, even if we open the mud ball to control it, would need to expend massive internal Qi and refined blood to inject power, barely coaxing a fraction of its force. However, Wu Qun is a genius; he knows how to re‑refine the blood through the Blood Essence Skill and use that refined blood to drive this treasure!" Yang Lan said calmly.

Yan Buji raised an eyebrow, surprised that such an unconventional method could be used with the Accumulation Device.

"It seems you two know quite a lot about the cultivation world; why not sit down and chat?" Yan Buji raised an eyebrow and extended the invitation.

"Hmph, no need for a chat; my sister and I won't disturb Sect Master Ji's training, so we take our leave!"

Seeing Yang Qing and Yang Lan sprint away, Yan Buji squinted.

Yan Buji also did not want to lightly test the power of that treasure; he reached out and took out the complete manual of the Blood Essence Skill: "The former Sect Master once mentioned some past events to me; I originally thought I could conduct a normal transaction with the two of you, which would also be repaying a favor. But are you two really intending to fight me to the death, unwilling to return the Blood Flow Sect's supreme treasure?"

Yan Buji isn't a bloodthirsty killer; with them possessing a usable Accumulation Device, he couldn't guarantee his own safety.

The greatest possibility is a mutual loss, which is less desirable than completing the transaction smoothly.

So…

Yan Buji's purpose in coming to the Kun Dao realm has already been fulfilled!

Oh, wrong—several decades ago they should have been in their prime, both formidable figures of the heretical paths; it's only natural they'd develop feelings for each other.

"Before the previous Sect Master died, he never mentioned anything to me; he only asked me to send over the complete Blood Essence Skill, but the Fifth Elder took it ahead of time, which is why it's been delayed for so many years." Yan Buji chuckled, lies spilling out.

Yang Qing and Yang Lan's faces flickered, as if recalling the past, and they remained silent for a long time.

"If that's the case, give me the Blood Essence Skill, and I'll happily hand over the Supreme Primordial Canon and the treasure!" Yang Lan took a deep breath and said.

Bright, catch!

Yan Buji threw out the complete Blood Essence Skill, and Yang Qing and Yang Lan also threw their items over at the same time.

Each side got what they wanted and immediately opened them to examine.

Indeed, it's the lower half of the Supreme Primordial Canon!

As for the short dagger in his hand, Yan Buji narrowed his eyes and suddenly realized something.

Accumulation Device?!

"Looks like you've recognized it, not bad—this is indeed an Accumulation Device that only cultivators can use. It requires cultivator mana to activate; we ordinary folk, even if we've opened the mud pill to control it, still need to expend vast amounts of internal energy and blood essence to inject power, barely able to activate a fraction of its force. However, Wu Qun is also a genius, knowing that through the Blood Essence Skill one can refine blood essence again, using blood essence to activate this treasure!" Yang Lan said lightly.

Yan Buji raised his eyebrows, not expecting there to be such an obscure method to utilize the Accumulation Device.

"It seems you two know quite a bit about the cultivation world; why not sit down and chat?" Yan Buji raised his eyebrows, extending the invitation.

"Hmph, no need to chat; we sisters won't disturb Sect Master Ji's practice, we'll take our leave now!"

Seeing Yang Qing and Yang Lan speed away, Yan Buji narrowed his eyes.

"You two old hags, you'd better not fall into my hands from now on!"

Yan Buji isn't a bloodthirsty killer, but given that they possess an activatable Accumulation Device, he can't guarantee his own safety.

The most likely outcome is mutual destruction; it's better to complete this transaction peacefully.

So...

Yan Buji's purpose in coming to the Kan Dao Realm has been achieved!