I Shall Be Everlasting In the World of Immortals 232

## Chapter 229: Deal Secured

Not long after, a spirit pressure emanating from a Nascent Soul cultivator descended upon the side hall where the two were located.

“Guild Master.”

Gao Songbai rose to his feet and bowed in greeting.

The newcomer was a beautiful woman with snow-white robes and silvery hair. Her skin was like congealed snow, and her aura was icy and elegant. She appeared to be just over twenty years old.

“It’s Master Han Yu! I am unworthy, how could I be graced with a visit from the Guild Master of the Snow Fox Trading Company?”

Lu Chang’an spoke in a humble tone, his own spirit pressure at the Nascent Soul level radiating from him.

The two spirit pressures met momentarily in the void before dissipating.

Before his visit, Lu Chang’an had gathered intelligence, and naturally he was aware of the key figures in the Snow Fox Trading Company.

Currently, the highest-ranking cultivator in the Snow Fox Trading Company’s branch in the Immortal City was Master Han Yu, who had taken over as Guild Master a few years ago.

“Master Xiang is too kind.”

Master Han Yu had a refined and graceful appearance, her ice-blue eyes carefully scrutinizing the old man in a straw cloak.

After exchanging greetings, they sat down.

Gao Songbai, who had been previously attending to Lu Chang’an, wisely withdrew from the side hall.

Lu Chang’an maintained his Nascent Soul level spirit pressure; the Hundred Phantoms Mask would continuously consume his spiritual awareness.

Masquerading as a lower cultivator would consume very little spiritual awareness, practically negligible.

However, it was different when pretending to be a higher cultivator; it was impossible to maintain the disguise for a long period.

But for a short-term act, the burden was manageable.

“I am familiar with most of the Nascent Soul cultivators in the Jing Kingdom’s cultivation world. I wonder where Master Xiang comes from?”

Master Han Yu’s voice was clear and melodious, seemingly curious.

“I am just a casual cultivator who formed a Nascent Soul in a small place, not worth mentioning.”

Lu Chang’an’s response was rather perfunctory.

Although there were many Nascent Soul cultivators in the Jing Kingdom’s cultivation world, apart from those who intentionally concealed their identities, they were all figures with established reputations.

Master Han Yu could see that the other party didn’t want to reveal their true identity, so she didn’t press further.

Actually, the name “Master Xiang” had triggered some associations in Master Han Yu’s mind.

However, Lu Chang’an’s appearance was vastly different from the person rumored to be “Master Xiang.” He couldn’t simply make deductions based on a single surname.

The “Master Xiang” in front of him was very likely using an alias.

Lu Chang’an had his reasons for using the Xiang surname.

If the Snow Fox Trading Company suspected he was Xiang Jinglong, they would be even more hesitant to tamper with the transaction.

On the one hand, Xiang Jinglong was incredibly powerful, his body-refinement cultivation reaching the near-third-order realm, making him a figure of considerable standing among Nascent Soul cultivators.

On the other hand, the Demon Cult was a powerful force, and the Snow Fox Trading Company didn’t dare to easily offend them and create a mortal enemy.

If the transaction went awry and things went south, Lu Chang’an could use the identity of “Master Xiang” to take the fall.

One must know, Lu Chang’an’s body-refinement technique also reached the near-third-order realm, which was exceptionally rare among Nascent Soul cultivators.

Three years ago, while traveling on a Nine Stars Trading Company’s spirit ship, he was intercepted by Demon Cult cultivators led by Xiang Jinglong, who demanded a “ransom” of three thousand spirit stones.

This unwarranted expense had always been a thorn in Lu Chang’an’s side.

…

“This third-order demon core, the Snow Fox Trading Company is willing to purchase it. Would Master Xiang prefer spirit stones or a barter?”

After examining the demon core, Master Han Yu spoke plainly.

This time, the demon core was in Lu Chang’an’s hands, allowing her to inspect it with her spiritual awareness.

Coupled with Elder Gao’s prior personal inspection, Master Han Yu had a rough estimate of the core’s quality and value.

“I need a third-order Earth attribute demon core.” Lu Chang’an was equally straightforward.

He didn’t mention the Condensation Crystal Pill; that was unrealistic.

Such a strategic resource, even if the Snow Fox Trading Company had it, they wouldn’t sell it to outsiders.

“Earth attribute demon core?”

Master Han Yu’s delicate brows furrowed slightly, she seemed a bit hesitant.

“Our company doesn’t have a third-order Earth attribute demon core. If Master Xiang is willing to wait a year or two, we’re confident that we can acquire one through other channels.”

Based on this woman’s tone, Lu Chang’an deduced that the Snow Fox Trading Company possessed third-order demon cores of other attributes.

A year or two was a short period relative to Lu Chang’an’s long lifespan.

But for a trade, it seemed rather lengthy.

Lu Chang’an didn’t want to prolong the matter, so he adjusted his plan.

“Does your esteemed company have a third-order Demon Essence Pill?”

The Demon Essence Pill was a pill crafted with a third-order demon core as the main ingredient, used to aid demon beasts in breaking through to the third-order realm.

This pill used few rare auxiliary ingredients; the main ingredient, the demon core, contained demonic essence, and the refinement method was relatively simple.

These factors resulted in a strong potency, but it also came with a high risk of backlash if the beast failed to advance.

Therefore, the Demon Essence Pill was only suitable for demon beasts, a rough and watered-down version of the Condensation Crystal Pill.

Whether in terms of practicality or value, it was inferior to the Condensation Crystal Pill.

As for potency, for demon beasts it was not much different from the Condensation Crystal Pill, just with a higher risk and greater backlash.

“Demon Essence Pill? Our company does have one. It should arrive within ten days from our other branch locations.”

Master Han Yu pondered.

Ten days was acceptable to Lu Chang’an.

After participating in the auction, he could wait a few more days before trading.

“However, a single third-order low-grade demon core is insufficient to trade for a Demon Essence Pill.”

“You see, the primary material for refining a Demon Essence Pill is a third-order demon core. There are also other medicinal guides, auxiliary ingredients, including the compensation for hiring a third-order alchemist to refine it…”

Master Han Yu was composed and dignified, but she refused to budge on the trading value.

“That’s not entirely true. The refining difficulty of the Demon Essence Pill is lower. With a third-order demon core as the main ingredient, more than one pill can be produced each time.” Lu Chang’an shook his head.

“Moreover, the demon core in my possession was previously a late-stage third-order core, containing thunder attributes. The demonic energy is pure and quite precious, exceeding an ordinary third-order low-grade demon core.”

“In my opinion, your esteemed company should not only offer a genuine Demon Essence Pill but also provide some additional compensation.”

After listening to this rebuttal, Master Han Yu smiled slightly, her expression remaining composed and cool, showing no anger.

In the end, both sides compromised.

Lu Chang’an traded the third-order demon core for a genuine Demon Essence Pill.

“I am staying at the Seeking Immortality Mansion Inn. Your esteemed company can contact me within ten days, after which the deal will be void!”

With the transaction finalized, Lu Chang’an prepared to leave.

“Could Master Xiang provide a deposit? It need not be of great value, a small object would suffice. This is mainly to demonstrate good faith.”

Master Han Yu suggested.

For some major transactions, trading companies would sometimes sign spirit contracts to establish constraints.

But to constrain a Nascent Soul cultivator, a third-order spirit contract was needed, and those were expensive.

“Take this high-grade magic weapon as a deposit.”

Lu Chang’an took out a metal sphere-shaped magic weapon and, with a gentle squeeze, tossed it to Master Han Yu.

He understood Master Han Yu’s request; it was primarily to prevent him from backing out and trading with another company.

“Master Xiang, farewell.”

Master Han Yu took the high-grade magic weapon and glanced at it casually, her face turning pale.

She noticed a palm print, about an inch deep, left on the high-grade magic weapon in her hand.

The palm print was incredibly smooth, radiating residual heat, clearly fresh.

Just now, she had not felt any fluctuations in spirit energy.

“With mere physical palm power, to effortlessly achieve this…”

“Could he be the one rumored…?”

A ripple stirred in Master Han Yu’s calm heart, her ice-blue eyes fixed on the departing Nascent Soul old man.

She understood that this move by the other party was a warning to the Snow Fox Trading Company not to play any tricks during the transaction.

A Nascent Soul cultivator who had refined his body to the near-third-order realm was an outstanding individual among their peers.

Even a nascent Golden Core cultivator, if they arrived suddenly, would be unable to quickly resolve this.

…

That evening, Lu Chang’an returned to the Seeking Immortality Mansion Inn.

Earlier, he had used the Nine Seals Monument to discreetly observe the Snow Fox Trading Company’s premises with his spiritual awareness.

Master Han Yu’s actions were not unusual; she had indeed dispatched someone to contact higher-ranking individuals in the company, urgently requisitioning the goods.

Lu Chang’an noticed that Master Han Yu was wary of his strength and identity, and had not revealed this matter to other junior members.

“The Demon Cult’s influence has taken root in the border areas of the Jing Kingdom, infiltrating the upper echelons of the Trading Alliance. Coupled with their control over some crucial trade routes, they wield significant influence in the Jing Kingdom’s Trading Alliance.”

Lu Chang’an knew that most of the trading companies within the Trading Alliance were unwilling to be enemies of the Demon Cult; some companies, for the sake of profit, even had close ties with the Demon Cult.

In the Jing Kingdom’s cultivation world, the power of the sects was not as strong. Although they had some animosity towards the Demon Cult, there had been minor friction in the past. But currently, they were maintaining a peaceful coexistence.

This was primarily because the Demon Cult had just established its dominance and was not easily dealt with; they had not yet attempted to seize any third-order spirit veins within the kingdom.

Moreover, Liang Shaotian, the leader of the Demon Cult, was incredibly powerful. The Black罡 Demon Flame he possessed was one of the top ten True Fire Demon Flames in the Great Qing Dynasty, and at the minor accomplishment stage, below the Nascent Soul level, few could stand against him.

…

Three days later, the Cloud Smoke Immortal City auction was held as scheduled.

Third-order demon cores, Foundation Establishment Pills, high-quality Longevity Pills… these rare items attracted numerous cultivation forces from the surrounding area.

At the Seeking Immortality Mansion Inn, Lu Chang’an unexpectedly received a VIP invitation from the Snow Fox Trading Company.

It turned out that the Snow Fox Trading Company was one of the main organizers of this auction.

The auction in Cloud Smoke Immortal City was larger in scale than that in Yellow Dragon Immortal City.

Holding the VIP invitation, Lu Chang’an was escorted by a waiter to the VIP viewing platform suspended above the venue.

“For an auction of this scale, Foundation Establishment cultivators are the majority, while Nascent Soul cultivators are at the forefront. At most, there will be two or three Golden Core cultivators, and they are mostly early Golden Core.”

Observing the situation in the venue, Lu Chang’an felt reassured.

He had purchased intelligence beforehand, and had a 90% accuracy rate on the information about the auction items.

Among the numerous auction items, the one that most attracted him was the second-order high-quality Longevity Pill.

Lu Chang’an analyzed that his competitors would primarily be late Foundation Establishment cultivators and Nascent Soul cultivators.

Longevity Pills appealed to the elderly.

Ordinary elderly Foundation Establishment cultivators would seek ordinary second-order Longevity Pills, as those offered better value for money.

As for Golden Core cultivators, their lifespans were as long as five to six hundred years. If they sought longevity, they would have mostly already taken a second-order Longevity Pill and would be aiming for a third-order Longevity Pill.

A second-order high-quality Longevity Pill, for elderly Golden Core cultivators, was likely to have been taken already.

Furthermore, those who had previously taken ordinary second-order Longevity Pills would experience a significant reduction in the longevity effect if they took a high-quality version.

Therefore, Lu Chang’an deduced that the probability of a Golden Core cultivator bidding on a second-order high-quality Longevity Pill was very low.

Even if a Golden Core cultivator did bid, what of it? Among the Nascent Soul cultivators, there were still those who were nearing their lifespan limit and would dare to compete.

After all, a Nascent Soul and a Golden Core only had a half-realm difference.

In a real battle, three Nascent Soul cultivators could barely hold their own against a nascent Golden Core cultivator.

To Lu Chang’an’s left, in the third VIP viewing platform next to his.

“Father, the Clan Leader is interested in the second-order high-quality Longevity Pill, but he didn’t personally attend the auction. Could he be wary of the New Moon Trading Company taking action against the clan?”

Xia Mingqu felt a lack of confidence as he perceived the powerful auras of those Nascent Soul cultivators in the venue.

“Not that serious.”

Xia Mingqu’s father was a tall, slender middle-aged man with a white complexion, wearing a turban.

Xia Mingqu’s father, Xia Yongzhong, was the Guild Master of the Five Blessings Trading Company.

“The Clan Leader has taken ordinary second-order Longevity Pills before. This time, he’s mainly sending us to try our luck. If the competition gets too fierce, don’t force it.”

Xia Yongzhong smiled as he explained the reason.

“Hmm? Didn’t Master Wu come to this auction?”

The venue was nearly full. Xia Yongzhong and Xia Mingqu surveyed the surroundings, but they didn’t see Lu Chang’an.

“It’s strange too. I mentioned the auction to him a few days ago. Master Wu is looking for a Foundation Establishment late-stage breakthrough pill, and there’s one up for auction this time. He didn’t even come to try his luck?”

Xia Mingqu was puzzled.

The Xia Clan cultivators were naturally unaware that Lu Chang’an was in the VIP platform not far from them, participating in the auction as a Nascent Soul cultivator.

…

An hour later, the auction entered the second half, and the atmosphere grew even more heated.

“The next auction item is something that all you elderly cultivators have been eagerly awaiting, the life-extending holy medicine, the second-order Longevity Pill!”

The auctioneer, a black-skinned old man, spoke in an excited tone.

“There are three second-order Longevity Pills for auction this time, among them, one is a highly rare second-order high-quality pill! A high-quality Longevity Pill increases the longevity effect by more than 30%…”

Before he could finish, several elderly Foundation Establishment cultivators and a few Nascent Soul cultivators in the venue, their eyes gleamed with anticipation.

“As you all know, for Longevity Pills of the same grade, only the first one taken extends your lifespan, the effect cannot be stacked.”

“However, high-quality Longevity Pills are different. After taking one ordinary Longevity Pill, taking another high-quality one will still yield a two to three percent longevity effect.”

After the auctioneer’s introduction, the high-quality Longevity Pill was auctioned first.

“The second-order high-quality Longevity Pill, starting bid is four thousand spirit stones, each subsequent bid must be no less than one hundred spirit stones.”

Rare things are valuable.

The second-order high-quality Longevity Pill, with its mere 30% increase in effect, had a starting bid twice as high as the one Lu Chang’an encountered at the auction in Liang Kingdom.

Lu Chang’an understood; this was a kind of marginal effect.

Besides, the effect of the high-quality Longevity Pill could be slightly stacked when taken a second time.

“Four thousand five hundred!”

“Five thousand spirit stones!”

“Five thousand three hundred… five thousand eight hundred… six thousand spirit stones!”

In a short time, the auction price of the high-quality Longevity Pill had broken through six thousand spirit stones.

One must know that Foundation Establishment Pills, as strategic resources, often fall within this range at auctions.

“Seven thousand spirit stones!” Lu Chang’an aggressively bid, directly increasing the price by one thousand spirit stones.

This move attracted displeasure from the elderly cultivators present.

Several gazes and spiritual awareness swept over him.

Lu Chang’an snorted, his Nascent Soul-level spirit pressure emerged, and his powerful spiritual awareness repelled some of the impolite spiritual awareness.

Two Foundation Establishment late-stage cultivators, their consciousnesses trembling, turned pale, experiencing backlash.

“Such a strong spiritual awareness!”

The two main competitors, Nascent Soul cultivators, looked at each other with fear.

Lu Chang’an’s manifested spiritual awareness surpassed that of ordinary Nascent Soul cultivators.

“Seven thousand two hundred.” This young voice came from Xia Mingqu, who sounded familiar to Lu Chang’an.

“Eight thousand spirit stones!”

Lu Chang’an’s tone was domineering; his current bid was significantly above the market price.

“Mingqu!” Xia Yongzhong gestured to his son, signaling him to stop bidding.

“I understand.” Xia Mingqu sighed.

This Nascent Soul cultivator was powerful, his origin unknown, not to be offended.

Moreover, it wasn’t worth bidding any higher.

Ordinary second-order Longevity Pills were often sold for no more than three thousand spirit stones at auctions.

“Congratulations to this esteemed cultivator for acquiring the only high-quality Longevity Pill at this auction.”

The auctioneer’s face beamed as he announced.

In the end, Lu Chang’an acquired the second-order high-quality Longevity Pill for eight thousand spirit stones.

The remaining few competitors, either wary of Lu Chang’an’s strength or finding it too expensive, didn’t continue bidding.

A Nascent Soul cultivator’s net worth was certainly not limited to ten thousand spirit stones; but those who could easily spend ten thousand spirit stones in cash to buy a three-year increase in lifespan were rare.

Besides, there were also factors such as family ties and obligations to younger generations.

“For ordinary cultivators, the first time they take an ordinary second-order Longevity Pill, it can extend their lifespan by ten years or so, and the effect cannot be stacked. The first time I took it, it extended my lifespan by twenty years, and the subsequent few pills had a decreasing effect.”

Lu Chang’an recalled that the fifth second-order Longevity Pill he took still had a lifespan extension effect of eight years.

Currently, he still had four hundred and sixty-nine years of lifespan.

“Ordinary cultivators, when they take a high-quality Longevity Pill, have a 30% additional or stacking effect.”

Lu Chang’an was curious to see how long he could live if he took a second-order high-quality Longevity Pill for the first time.

…

Before sunset, Lu Chang’an returned to the Seeking Immortality Mansion Inn.

At this auction, aside from aggressively bidding for the high-quality Longevity Pill, he also purchased two third-order materials.

Third-order materials could be used for future refinement of third-order puppets, or to enhance the strength of near-third-order puppets.

Lu Chang’an had been quite high-profile at the auction, attracting the attention of several forces.

Fortunately, a powerful Nascent Soul cultivator could readily handle that kind of flaunting of wealth.

After the auction, representatives of several forces paid visits to Lu Chang’an, either to probe or to build connections.

Lu Chang’an was indifferent and refused all visits, including the invitations from Nascent Soul cultivators.

It was worth mentioning that among the visitors was Xia Yongzhong, the Guild Master of the Five Blessings Trading Company, Xia Mingqu’s father.

Lu Chang’an naturally wouldn’t make an exception and politely declined their visit, leaving the Xia father and son to be turned away.

(End of Chapter)

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