Li Xingtian regarded the youth before him and directly deployed the line he had rehearsed with the Eldest Senior Sister long ago. His tone was calm as he asked straight away:
"Whatever they're offering, I'll double it. We want to study the light pillar, and if necessary, you'll also feed them false information."
The youth's expression flickered with surprise. He was silent for a moment, then sighed softly:
"This isn't about the money…"
Li Xingtian's tone turned dismissive: "Not about money? Then what is it about? Whatever they can afford, my Evil Spirit Sect can absolutely pay double."
"Ah, Fellow Daoist, you should understand — these light pillars weren't made by humans." The youth gazed helplessly at the distant pillar, his tone growing heavy. "You must know…"
"So it seems we can't reach an agreement?" Li Xingtian cut him off flatly.
This was obviously a stall-and-haggle tactic.
Evil cultivator or not, the man was still human. Regardless of whether it was about spirit stones, he was undeniably acting as a traitor to his own kind.
Li Xingtian understood there was no point in appealing to an evil cultivator's principles, but he truly had no patience for haggling with one.
When it came to correctly skipping past pointless chatter, Li Xingtian had some experience.
The youth caught the flash of killing intent in Li Xingtian's eyes and quickly spoke:
"Of course we can agree — it's just that Fellow Daoist needs to understand the risks I'm taking."
"Are you joking?"
"What does Fellow Daoist mean by that?"
"When has a risk ever stopped an evil cultivator? If you're afraid of risk, why become an evil cultivator in the first place? Have you forgotten everything you just said?"
The youth didn't dare beat around the bush any further. Sure enough, going in circles with a blood-qi cultivator was just asking for trouble. He cut straight to the chase:
"One fold isn't enough. Add more money and I'm in."
Li Xingtian's voice was cold: "How much do you want?"
"Double again." The youth's tone was mild. "Fellow Daoist, after this is over, I won't land another easy gig like this. If you calculate carefully, I might actually be the one losing out."
Li Xingtian had no interest in further negotiation. No matter what the youth asked for, they could reclaim it all afterward. But agreeing too quickly would arouse suspicion.
He was silent for a moment, then asked: "What price are they paying you?"
The youth decisively held up five fingers:
"The total value comes to five thousand spirit stones. Fellow Daoist, give me fifteen thousand, and both I and the light pillar become yours and your esteemed sect's."
Li Xingtian hesitated briefly, then tossed a spatial ring into the youth's hand:
"Standard procedure. Thirty percent upfront."
The youth sent his divine sense into the ring for a look, then said in a small voice:
"Fellow Daoist, this doesn't quite add up — seems a little short?"
Li Xingtian sounded displeased: "Doesn't the ring in your hand count as part of it?"
The youth's face broke into a gentle smile. He cupped his fists:
"Of course it does. You may do as you please now, Fellow Daoist. Also, whether there are any other formations or mechanisms inside this pillar — I wouldn't know. I've never approached it."
Li Xingtian's brow furrowed. His voice was frigid as he demanded:
"Do you think this money grows on trees? One sentence and that's it? You're accompanying us the entire way."
The youth clutched the ring, his tone tinged with helplessness:
"If Fellow Daoist puts it that way, then the price would need to go up. After all, if something goes wrong, I'd be the one covering your retreat, wouldn't I?"
Truly insatiable greed.
The revulsion in Li Xingtian's heart deepened. Sure enough, negotiating with these evil cultivators was far less pleasant than sparring with them over cultivation theory.
At the same time, Li Xingtian understood he could not afford to back down any further.
If he agreed to everything, the youth would know for certain he had ulterior motives.
Li Xingtian's icy gaze locked onto the youth:
"My options aren't limited to paying you. You need to be alive to spend it. As for covering my retreat — did you say that just to insult me?"
The youth's face showed a gentle smile. He cupped his fists:
"This humble one is Gao Fang. Please disregard what I said earlier — it was merely a small test."
"After all, the Eighteen Immortal Sects are conducting a full-scale sweep. Whether someone approaching is truly a fellow traveler is still unknown. If not for your rich blood qi, I would never have dared show myself."
"The price has been settled, so I'll speak plainly."
"This light pillar is nothing more than a ritual formation. I've studied it carefully, though I don't know what method the demon race used to relocate the spirit veins to keep the grand formation running continuously."
"I haven't detected any other unusual effects within it. If Fellow Daoist is interested in understanding it further, that would also clear up a question for me."
Gao Fang slowly rubbed the spatial ring in his hand, wrestled with himself for a long moment, then tossed the ring back to Li Xingtian. His tone was earnest:
"If you believe this light pillar is worth ten thousand spirit stones, then naturally you must have your own unique insight, and its value must far exceed what I imagined."
"We cultivators — how could we be like common mortals, chasing mere scraps of silver? What we chase is eternity across the endless night."
"I am willing to return your spirit stones, and ask only that if you gain any inspiration from this ritual, you would not be stingy in sharing a portion of it with me."
"I don't ask for much — only as you see fit. This humble one simply wants to catch a glimpse of the view ahead."
"That is all I ask. I am willing to act with generosity toward you."
Li Xingtian turned the ring over in his hand, his gaze sweeping across it, and replied with a placid tone:
"If you're that sincere, then naturally it can be arranged."
Gao Fang exhaled in relief, his expression growing even more deferential:
"Then might I ask — would you like to go look at it now?"
"My sect has many members, each with their own specialties. Naturally, we'd send our experts to study it. I alone wouldn't be able to discern anything meaningful." Li Xingtian said. "I need to go prepare and make arrangements. I just need to know how to contact you."
Gao Fang quickly produced an exceedingly crude communication talisman and handed it to Li Xingtian:
"Fellow Daoist need only activate this talisman, and I will come to meet you immediately."
Li Xingtian took the talisman, then tossed out a single line: "Wait for me to find you."
His figure vanished on the spot, leaving behind only a wisp of lingering blood qi.
Gao Fang watched this, and the deference on his face slowly faded back to its usual state. He straightened up, then turned his gaze to the black-robed youth — his so-called "disciple" — still kneeling to the side.
"Good disciple. Obedient disciple." Gao Fang's tone suddenly turned strange. He walked slowly toward the trembling youth prostrated on the ground. "This is the 'Immortal Master' you described — the one who could strip your skin with a single look?"
"R-reporting to Master… y-yes."
"Sure enough, having a fool do anything will result in failure. How did you manage to mess up just watching a place and passing along a message?"
Gao Fang gently reached out and touched the youth's head: "How many times have I told you — when relaying a message, accuracy above all else. Say only what you know. Why are you still using that same old routine of yours?"
"Unless you think… only he can strip your skin, and I can't?"
"Master, spare me! Master, spare me!"
"Silence!" Gao Fang barked.
The youth froze, not daring to make another sound. Even his breathing became inaudible.
Gao Fang sighed softly:
"Consider it a mercy for the bond between master and disciple."
"That is why I'm telling you all of this."
"So that you can die understanding, die clearly, die without injustice."
Gao Fang raised his hand, looking at the severed head he now held. He regarded those eyes — eyes wide with terror — and spoke in a calm voice:
"Don't panic. I know you heard every word."
"After all, I am merciful. You're not the first person to hear these words."