Translator: CinderTL
As Song Wen entered the Myriad Tranquility Pavilion, a young Novice Monk in the early stage of foundation establishment hurried forward to greet him.
"Senior, what spiritual object are you seeking to purchase?"
"Please summon your shopkeeper," Song Wen replied. "I have some matters I wish to discuss."
The Novice Monk sized Song Wen up, noting that he was completely shrouded in a black cloak, his aura utterly undetectable. A troubled expression crossed his face.
"Senior, our shopkeeper is extremely busy and cannot personally attend to every customer," he said, his tone clearly dismissive. Not everyone was deemed worthy of an audience with the shopkeeper.
With a flick of his wrist, Song Wen produced a flying sword—a Supreme-Grade mystic treasure he had seized from Zhong Jun. Though the blade remained sheathed, its razor-sharp aura plunged the Novice Monk into an abyss of terror. He felt as if the sword's mere presence could obliterate him at any moment.
The Novice Monk's composure shattered. His body trembled uncontrollably, and he nearly collapsed to the ground.
Fortunately, Song Wen swiftly retracted the flying sword into his Storage Ring, and the suffocating pressure vanished. The Novice Monk felt as if he had been granted a reprieve from death, a sense of miraculous survival washing over him.
"I wish to sell this flying sword," Song Wen said calmly. "I need to discuss the details with your shopkeeper in person. Is that possible?"
Still shaken by his near-death experience, the Novice Monk stammered in reply.
"Senior... please wait a moment. This junior will fetch the shopkeeper immediately."
With that, he scurried shakily toward the shop's rear courtyard.
After a dozen breaths, an Old Monk in the early stage of the Nascent Soul realm emerged and approached Song Wen.
"Benefactor, I hear you have a flying sword for sale?" the Old Monk inquired.
Song Wen nodded slightly. "That is correct."
"May this humble monk examine it?" the Old Monk requested.
With a flick of his hand, Song Wen revealed the flying sword once more.
The Old Monk's eyes lit up instantly, his face blooming into a radiant smile like a chrysanthemum in full bloom. His usually upright posture softened slightly as he gestured toward the rear courtyard.
"Benefactor, this place is crowded and full of prying eyes. It's not suitable for discussion. Please follow this humble monk to the meditation room in the rear courtyard for a proper conversation."
Song Wen had no objections and followed the Old Monk to a meditation room in the rear courtyard.
After inviting Song Wen to sit and ordering Spirit Tea to be served, the Old Monk said, "Benefactor, would you please produce the flying sword so this humble monk can examine it thoroughly?"
Song Wen retrieved the flying sword and handed it over.
After studying the sword for a moment, the Old Monk looked up at Song Wen. "Benefactor, are you truly willing to sell this Supreme-Grade flying sword?"
Song Wen replied, "Having come to your esteemed establishment, it is my intention to sell. Please make an offer, Master."
The Old Monk proposed, "One hundred and twenty high-grade spirit stones. Would this price be satisfactory to you, Benefactor?"
Song Wen was naturally dissatisfied.
The shops in Cloudveil City rarely sold Supreme-Grade flying swords.
Even the few Supreme-Grade flying swords available were priced exorbitantly, typically around a thousand high-grade spirit stones.
While merchants sought profit, the Old Monk's offer was far too low.
Song Wen shook his head and countered, "Seven hundred high-grade spirit stones."
The Old Monk's weathered face crumpled into a mask of distress.
"Benefactor, if we were to buy back this flying sword at your price, our shop would make no profit. Two hundred high-grade spirit stones is the highest I can offer."
After some haggling, the flying sword was finally sold for three hundred and fifty high-grade spirit stones.
With the deal concluded, the Old Monk's face flushed with excitement.
"Benefactor, our shop has many treasures for sale. Would you be interested in taking a look?"
Song Wen replied, "I'm actually looking for two specific treasures. I wonder if your shop might have them?"
The Old Monk's eyes gleamed. "Please tell me, Benefactor, what treasures are you seeking?"
"The first is Yin-Sinking Water," Song Wen said.
"Yin-Sinking Water?" A flicker of surprise crossed the Old Monk's face, and his gaze toward Song Wen became noticeably more respectful.
Yin-Sinking Water was an extremely rare fifth-tier spiritual material, often used in crafting Spirit Treasures.
He immediately suspected that the person before him was a Divine Transformation Stage cultivator.
"Our humble shop does not carry Yin-Sinking Water."
Without realizing it, when referring to his shop, he switched from "this shop" to "my humble shop."
Song Wen wasn't disappointed; he hadn't expected to acquire Yin-Sinking Water so easily.
"What about the Bodhi Spirit Core?"
The Old Monk's expression visibly stiffened. He shook his head again. "This shop also does not carry the Bodhi Spirit Core."
Song Wen pressed, "As far as I know, the Bodhi Spirit Core is unique to the Dry Zen Temple. Since your shop is affiliated with the temple, do you truly not have any for sale?"
The Old Monk replied, "Esteemed guest, this humble shop is open for business, and we would never turn away a customer. But we genuinely do not have the Bodhi Spirit Core."
Song Wen persisted, "Master, the Bodhi Spirit Core is of great importance to me. Please, Master, could you offer some guidance on how I might obtain this item?"
After a moment's hesitation, the Old Monk spoke.
"Esteemed guest, while the Dry Zen Temple cultivates a considerable number of Bodhi Spirit Cores, our sect strictly forbids their sale to outsiders. Even fellow disciples within the sect find it exceedingly difficult to acquire a few cores."
Song Wen asked, "Why does your temple prohibit the sale of Bodhi Spirit Cores?"
"This humble monk does not know," the Old Monk replied.
Song Wen, left with no other option, asked a secondary question: "Then, Master, do you know of any other place in the Qicang Domain besides your temple where these Bodhi Spirit Cores can be found?"
"I fear, Benefactor, that you will not find Bodhi Spirit Cores anywhere else," the Old Monk said. "Not even in the perilous lands teeming with demon beasts."
"Why is that?" Song Wen asked, puzzled.
As he spoke, a sudden realization struck him.
According to Xiao Ying's notes, the Bodhi Spirit Cores she possessed had been cultivated from a few seeds she had obtained by chance.
When Song Wen first read this, he hadn't given it much thought, assuming Xiao Ying's high demand for the cores had forced her to cultivate them herself to save spirit stones.
Now, it seemed there was more to the story.
Song Wen couldn't help but regret having used up all the Bodhi Spirit Cores.
The cores Xiao Ying had left behind were perfectly preserved, with intact root systems, making them ideal for transplantation. If only he had saved a few to cultivate more.
The Old Monk said, "I once heard a tale. Roughly several thousand years ago, the Sect and Veiled Moon Hall joined forces to scour the entire Qicang Domain, gathering all Bodhi Spirit Cores and transplanting them to the Dry Zen Temple. To prevent any further natural cultivation of Bodhi Spirit Cores in the wild, they even severed the earth veins in areas prone to their growth, transforming those fertile lands into barren deserts devoid of Spiritual Qi."
Upon hearing this, Song Wen immediately became certain of one thing:
The Bodhi Spirit Core must hold some great secret.
Otherwise, the Dry Zen Temple and Veiled Moon Hall wouldn't have gone to such lengths to secure them.
It was even possible that these two factions were merely acting under orders, with the Divine Blood Gate being the true mastermind behind the operation.
"Master, is there truly no way to purchase this item?" Song Wen asked, his voice tinged with reluctance.
As he spoke, ten high-grade spirit stones materialized before him, then slowly floated toward the Old Monk.
Without hesitation, the Old Monk waved his hand and collected the spirit stones.
Then, lowering his voice, he said, "If the benefactor truly wishes to acquire a Bodhi Spirit Core, his only recourse may be to seek assistance from the elders of the spirit herb peak within the Sect."
Song Wen raised an eyebrow. "Would Master be willing to introduce me? Rest assured, I will ensure your efforts are well compensated."
(End of the Chapter)
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