Tong Tianyun's eyes lit up. "Fellow Daoist Qingwei..."
All eyes turned to Mo Tiange. Qin Xi's brow furrowed even deeper, his gaze upon her holding an indescribable meaning.
Mo Tiange's expression remained composed as she continued, "Although Fellow Daoist's Crystal Soul Jade is also quite rare, it ultimately isn't as scarce as a Ten Thousand Year Spirit Herb. This trade seems somewhat unfair."
After a flash of joy, Tong Tianyun's expression quickly returned to calm. "I've spent half my life's effort to collect this much Crystal Soul Jade. Not to mention anything else, even a Nascent Soul senior would find it difficult to produce this much at once. Fellow Daoist Qingwei, please don't be too greedy."
Mo Tiange was indeed being greedy. Qin Xi had already told her that this much Crystal Soul Jade was worth exchanging for a Ten Thousand Year Spirit Herb, yet the price he himself offered was only one hundred thousand Spirit Stones and a five-thousand-year spirit herb. A five-thousand-year spirit herb was naturally rare in the world, but compared to a Ten Thousand Year Spirit Herb, it was nothing. One hundred thousand Spirit Stones was certainly an astronomical price for Foundation Establishment cultivators or ordinary Core Formation cultivators, but it still couldn't make up the difference in value compared to a Ten Thousand Year Spirit Herb. It was clear Qin Xi also had this intention.
Most importantly, Ten Thousand Year Spirit Herbs could only exist in places rarely visited by humans or secret lands like Tianmo Mountain. No matter which cultivator accidentally obtained a Ten Thousand Year Spirit Herb, as soon as it appeared in the world, it would quickly fall into the hands of a Nascent Soul cultivator. Thus, even if there was a price, there was no market.
Mo Tiange was banking on the fact that if Tong Tianyun truly wanted it, he wouldn't let go of the opportunity once he encountered it.
Moreover, she wasn't afraid the trade would fail. A Ten Thousand Year Spirit Herb meant nothing to her, and her desire for the Crystal Soul Jade was merely to find out if this thing was truly related to mechanical arts.
So, she just smiled. "Fellow Daoist Tong, that's not how you should put it. No matter how much Crystal Soul Jade there is, you can always find more by collecting it slowly. But a Ten Thousand Year Spirit Herb is different. You can't accumulate it leaf by leaf!"
As soon as these words were spoken, many people in the room revealed smiles, and someone even let out a "pfft" laugh before hurriedly silencing themselves.
Tong Tianyun was silent for a moment, his withered face expressionless. He had originally thought that Mo Tiange had only just formed her Core and was relatively a novice. Even with Qin Shoujing by her side, her confidence would be insufficient. He hadn't expected her to be so shrewd and bold, not like the typical sheltered female sect cultivator.
After thinking for a while, he said, "Fellow Daoist Qingwei, if your spirit herb is of sufficient quality, I'm willing to exchange it with other treasures or Spirit Stones. However, you must first let me see the quality of the herb."
"That's no problem," Mo Tiange agreed readily but did not immediately take out the spirit herb.
Tong Tianyun, of course, was also shrewd. He gestured to the side with an inviting motion. "Fellow Daoist Qingwei, please come with me." His gaze shifted slightly, and he added, "Fellow Daoist Shoujing, why don't you act as a witness?"
Saying this was out of consideration for safety. After all, this was Kunzhong City. If Mo Tiange, carrying a rare treasure, were alone with him and something happened, he couldn't bear the responsibility—ever since Perfected One Qingwei successfully formed her Core and became famous throughout West Kunwu, her reputation had long since spread here. Who didn't know she was Dao Lord Jinghe's beloved disciple? With the protection of a mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivator, not to mention him, the entire Kunzhong City couldn't afford to offend her.
Qin Xi naturally understood. He was indeed somewhat uneasy, so he also smiled and did not refuse. He stood up gracefully and followed them into a small door.
It was just a small warehouse, half-filled with goods. Right inside the entrance, a table was set up.
"Fellow Daoist Qingwei," Tong Tianyun complained as soon as they entered the warehouse, "If I had known you had one, why would I have brought it up at the trade meet? Ah, showing off wealth is not a good thing."
Mo Tiange smiled. "I didn't know Fellow Daoist Tong would need it either. What an unfortunate coincidence."
The two spoke as if they were close, but it was really just polite talk. After saying this, Mo Tiange took out a Jade Box from her Qiankun Bag. Knowing that once Thousand-Year Jade Marrow and Qiyun Stone appeared, they would be astronomically priced, she had taken some spirit herbs from the Void Heaven Realm, afraid she wouldn't have enough Spirit Stones on her. Originally, she hadn't planned to use any spirit herbs over three thousand years old, but after some thought, she still carried one with her. She hadn't expected to use it by coincidence.
As soon as the Jade Box was taken out, the Spiritual Qi within couldn't be contained. Both Qin Xi and Tong Tianyun's gazes fixed on the Jade Box.
Tong Tianyun took the Jade Box, tore off the spirit talisman on it, and opened it. A rich medicinal fragrance assailed his senses. His eyes widened, and for a long moment, he couldn't breathe.
After who knows how long, he slowly let out a breath. "It should be correct. A ten-thousand-year Drunken Orchid Grass." He raised the Jade Box, gently sniffed the fragrance, carefully distinguishing the scent and the root tendrils, and began to assess the medicinal properties with considerable expertise. "The roots are intact, and the medicinal properties are well preserved. Drunken Orchid Grass isn't an overly rare spirit herb, but this one should have grown for ten thousand years in a place with extremely dense Spiritual Qi. It truly surpasses rare spirit herbs grown in places with ordinary Spiritual Qi."
Tong Tianyun reluctantly shifted his gaze away from the Drunken Orchid Grass, closed the Jade Box, and reattached the spirit talisman. He looked up at Mo Tiange. "Fellow Daoist Qingwei, this Crystal Soul Jade is yours. Additionally, I have some unique materials here. They aren't very valuable but are rare. Consider it my gratitude to you. How about it?"
Mo Tiange lowered her gaze to look at the bag Tong Tianyun handed over. It was thick and substantial, containing quite a lot of things. She gently pushed the bag back.
Tong Tianyun's expression changed, becoming somewhat unpleasant. "Fellow Daoist, you..." He thought Mo Tiange was dissatisfied with his offer. When he said the materials in the bag weren't valuable, it was merely modesty. As one of the managers of the Kunzhong City Loose Cultivator Association, he had been in Kunzhong City for so many years and had collected who knows how many unique materials. Usually, even if others begged with tens of thousands of Spirit Stones, he wouldn't part with them!
Taking a deep breath, Tong Tianyun said, "Fellow Daoist Qingwei, then name your price. I'll make up the difference with Spirit Stones."
But Mo Tiange smiled and shook her head. "Fellow Daoist Tong, don't misunderstand. I don't want your Spirit Stones or materials. Fellow Daoist can exchange all that Crystal Soul Jade with me. I only ask Fellow Daoist to agree to one thing."
Tong Tianyun was taken aback, not expecting her to say this. "What is it?"
"Fellow Daoist Tong, as a member of the Kunzhong City Loose Cultivator Association, you must be very well-informed about trade news. Coincidentally, I am searching for information on two materials. I hope Fellow Daoist Tong can help me inquire."
Hearing this request, a smile appeared on Tong Tianyun's face, and he regained his previous amiability. "Fellow Daoist Qingwei, what are you saying? For Fellow Daoist Shoujing's sake, what's the big deal about inquiring about a few materials? You had to joke with me like this."
Mo Tiange smiled. "That was my fault."
After the two finished exchanging items, Tong Tianyun asked with concern, "What things is Fellow Daoist Qingwei looking for? Tell me, maybe I already know."
"Then I won't stand on ceremony." Mo Tiange said, "I'm looking for two things. One of them is Jade Marrow over a thousand years old—the older the better. The other is Qiyun Stone; there are no specific requirements for that. Fellow Daoist Tong, if you have any news about these two things, I hope you will inform me."
"This..." After hearing her words, a look of hesitation flashed across Tong Tianyun's face. He glanced at Mo Tiange, then at Qin Xi, who had been leaning against the door without joining their conversation. "To be honest with you, Fellow Daoist, Qiyun Stone hasn't been seen for many years. As for the Thousand-Year Jade Marrow, I did see some a while ago, but it was already bought by someone."
"Oh?" Mo Tiange was pleasantly surprised upon hearing this. "May I ask who the buyer is? Does Fellow Daoist Tong know?"
Tong Tianyun shook his head apologetically. "Fellow Daoist Qingwei, the rule in our Kunzhong City is that if the buyer has requirements, we absolutely must not leak the buyer's information. I cannot answer this question."
"..." Mo Tiange was somewhat disappointed, but then she heard Tong Tianyun continue, "However, Fellow Daoist has done me such a great favor. I happen to know the buyer and can ask on your behalf."
Mo Tiange had thought it was hopeless, but unexpectedly, there was a turn of events. She said, "Then I'll trouble Fellow Daoist Tong. Fellow Daoist Tong can inform your friend that if they are unwilling to trade for Spirit Stones, they can also exchange for spiritual objects."
Tong Tianyun's eyes lit up. "Spirit herbs are acceptable too?"
Mo Tiange shook her head. "Fellow Daoist Tong, Ten Thousand Year Spirit Herbs are met by chance, not by seeking. I only have this one on me. Even if I had thousand-year spirit herbs, I imagine your friend wouldn't care, right?"
Ordinary thousand-year spirit herbs were indeed not valued by wealthy Core Formation cultivators like them. Tong Tianyun couldn't help but feel disappointed, but then he thought again and felt relieved. Ten Thousand Year Spirit Herbs, of course, couldn't be found everywhere. Finding one was already extremely lucky!
"Alright. Before we set off, I will definitely give Fellow Daoist an answer."
"Thank you very much, Fellow Daoist Tong."
After the exchange was completed, the three returned to the small hall and sat down. Tong Tianyun said, "I have finished exchanging with Fellow Daoist Qingwei. Which Fellow Daoist below wishes to exchange next?"
Although everyone in the hall was curious about what they had exchanged, Tong Tianyun made it clear he wouldn't say, so they had to suppress their curiosity. After a while, another Core Formation cultivator spoke up, wanting to exchange a piece of Haoying Stone for high-grade pills like Qingyun Pills. Under normal circumstances, this trade would have been extremely attractive, as Haoying Stone was a rare stone for sword cultivators to nourish their swords. Unfortunately, because this trade meet had been shaken up by the Crystal Soul Jade and Ten Thousand Year Spirit Herb from the start, it seemed very unappealing.
Not long after, the trade meet ended hastily. Throughout the process, many people were absent-minded, their gazes constantly sweeping over the withered, expressionless Tong Tianyun or the downcast-eyed Mo Tiange, who seemed to be in meditation.
Until the end, Mo Tiange and Qin Xi didn't take a fancy to anything else. Qin Xi did take out a bottle of rare high-grade pills, saying he wanted to buy information on Thousand-Year Jade Marrow and Qiyun Stone, but as expected, no one knew.
Subsequently, the trade meet ended, and everyone still exited through the original entrance—there were several entrances to this trade meet. The one Mo Tiange and Qin Xi entered through was public, while there were several other hidden entrances for those who didn't want to reveal their identities.
Back on the main street, the night was deeper. The two, confident in their high skills, didn't hide their forms and slowly walked towards the small courtyard where they were staying.
The people who had come out had already dispersed in all directions, until finally only the two of them remained.
The cool night breeze blew, causing the shadows of their two figures on the ground, with fluttering robes, to intertwine.
Qin Xi suddenly stopped, grabbed Mo Tiange's wrist, and pulled. The two instantly flashed several zhang away.
Qin Xi's gaze turned, coldly staring at a patch of darkness. He said in a deep voice, "You, hiding your aura and following us, what exactly are your intentions?!"