Chapter 637

You don't want to give up anything yourself, yet you still want my treasures?

He Pingsheng looked at the blue-robed female cultivator across from him and couldn't help sneering: "Forgive me, Immortal Miss, but I cannot agree."

One sentence shut the blue-robed woman's mouth; he had no patience for further chatter that would waste time.

He Pingsheng sat down.

He did not continue bidding.

Because he was virtually certain that no matter what price he offered, the woman would never agree.

People…

Are all the same!

Things they don't recognize, they think are supreme treasures—even if you offered them a mountain of gold in exchange, they'd still feel cheated.

This deal was doomed from the start; no point wasting time.

"Comrade Long Zhe… your 【Sacred Essence Pill】 has caught my interest. I have a treasure here—take a look and see if you'd care to trade!"

An old man passed over a storage bag through the air.

"I have something too!"

"Comrade Long Zhe, I have a complete set of magic treasures!"

"I have a spiritual treasure here!"

"I have an unknown beast egg—clearly no ordinary item!"

In an instant, seven or eight old men all began offering, pushing their storage bags toward He Pingsheng.

Even Mo Sang, Elder of the Sacred Flame Guild, stepped forward with eager anticipation, holding out an item to trade.

Mo Sang had already reached the twelfth layer of Soul Transformation, yet still hadn't broken through to Void Refinement—anyone with half a brain could guess why.

It was merely Qi Deviation.

So he desperately wanted this Sacred Essence Pill.

Though many desired He Pingsheng's Sacred Essence Pill, his spiritual sense swept over them all and found nothing he needed, so he declined each offer in turn.

"Ladies and gentlemen!" Gu Song Daoist rose to his feet: "Our trading has lasted two hours; half a day has passed. As agreed, let us pause for a one-hour rest!"

"We have prepared tea for you all—please proceed to the side hall for refreshments!"

Everyone followed Gu Song Daoist into the side hall for tea.

Then, for the next period, free conversation began.

Gu Song returned to his own Dao hall.

About half a stick of incense later, five more people gradually entered his Dao hall.

Among them were two old men at the peak of Soul Transformation, and a woman in blue Dao robes—the same woman who had traded with Xu Changan.

Two other Soul Transformation cultivators, a man and a woman, both appearing very young and dressed in identical Dao robes.

Clearly fellow disciples or a married couple.

Boom…

As the five entered, the array outside Gu Song's Dao hall sealed layer by layer.

Six people sat in a circle.

"We're all friends—I won't hide anything!" Gu Song looked at the five: "I'm now virtually certain this 'Long Zhe' is one of those who entered the Yinming Imperial Palace before!"

The others showed no great surprise.

Many had entered the Yinming Imperial Palace.

But then Gu Song added: "And he is one of the nine who entered the Fifth Zone!"

At these words, all fell solemn.

That alone was shocking.

Entering the Fifth Zone meant one was chosen by Heaven.

"But he's not on the Sacred Flame List?" the woman spoke.

"Heh… Immortal Longyue, you don't know," said Gu Song: "This Long Zhe didn't just enter the Fifth Zone—he's rumored to have entered the Sixth Zone!"

"Yet he emerged from the Sixth Zone after only half a stick of incense!"

"Why?" Longyue asked: "I've heard that zone is so vast, even flying for days wouldn't reach its end—how could he emerge after only half a stick of incense?"

"What could he possibly have gained in that time?"

"I… don't know," said Gu Song: "Perhaps he encountered a powerful beast, or was expelled by the zone's rules."

"That's not the point!"

"The point is—he very likely carries the 【Dragon Scale Immortal Wood】!"

"Besides the Dragon Scale Immortal Wood, he probably has many other valuable items!"

"Hehe…" Gu Song smiled faintly, then made a slicing motion with his hand.

"This…" the other five frowned.

"This seems unwise," said Immortal Longyue: "He entered the Fifth Zone. Though not on the Sacred Flame List, he rivals men like Nan Li!"

"Such people are immensely powerful!"

"Ah…" said Gu Song: "Powerful, yes—but he's only at the sixth layer of Soul Transformation!"

"Even if he has some advantage, we six can overwhelm him together—what's to fear?"

"I've investigated—he's a lone cultivator, no sect, no backing."

"When we take the items, we split them fifty-fifty…"

"What do you say?"

Gu Song regarded the five before him calmly.

Longyue shook her head: "Forgive me—I have no intention of joining this."

"Of course," she added quickly: "I have no ties to Long Zhe—I won't help him or leak this information."

"Please, go ahead."

"Farewell."

With that, Immortal Longyue rose and left.

The great hall now held only five.

"Fine," said Gu Song: "Each has his own path. I invited you five because we're closest—I assure you, even though Longyue won't join, she won't betray us."

"Anyone else unwilling to wade into this mess—now's your chance to step out."

"If fewer than four remain, I won't act against Long Zhe."

Clearly, Gu Song had no absolute confidence.

More people meant a better chance to strike decisively; fewer meant better to do nothing.

Such matters—if done, must be finished utterly; if not, not at all.

Fortunately, the remaining four were all greedy men, none willing to withdraw.

"Good!" said Gu Song: "With our five, no matter how gifted he is, he cannot escape this fate!"

"Ladies and gentlemen, when this trading fair ends, follow me outside!"

"This matter must be clean and swift!"

"Rest assured, Elder Gu Song," said the woman in moon-white robes, smiling: "My brother and I have done this before. A lone cultivator with no backing is no threat."

"Now, let's discuss how to divide the spoils after we kill him!"

"Everything else is negotiable—I want one 【Sacred Essence Pill】."

…

On the other side!

He Pingsheng sat inside the trading hall.

Beside him, the Sacred Flame Guild elder Mo Sang smiled warmly: "Comrade Long Zhe, I've reached Qi Deviation—I have no hope of breaking into Void Refinement!"

"Please, let me have your Sacred Essence Pill!"

"If you could, I'd be eternally grateful!"

"You may take all my magic treasures and cultivation resources!"

He looked at He Pingsheng with earnest, hopeful eyes.