Chương 81: The Fisherman's Map

Lu Anlan shook his head at Yen Tianyang's words.

"Fellow Cultivator Yen, we both know the real story behind that map," he said flatly.

"A fortune meant for Purple Mansion Realm or even Golden Core Realm cultivators? And you're just willing to part with it?" He let the weight of his words settle before continuing.

"My cultivation hasn't advanced in ten years. I only want to take a risk, to chase a slim chance of improvement. Offering a Tier 2 herb is already a significant price." Around the room, most of the cultivators nodded in agreement. Lu Anlan's meaning was clear. His cultivation was stuck, and he was trying to break the deadlock by seeking opportunities elsewhere. A Tier 2, low grade spiritual herb was no small sacrifice. But Yen Tianyang remained unmoved.

"A Tier 3 opportunity is a Tier 3 opportunity," Yen Tiangang declared, his voice carrying absolute conviction.

"No one here understands its true value better than I do. If you can't afford it, step aside." He swept his gaze across the room.

"Is there anyone else here interested in what I hold?" Yen Tianyang's words finally extinguished Lu Anlan's hope. The man turned and walked back to his seat without another word. That was when Zhang Huaijin rose to his feet.

"Fellow Cultivator Yen," he said calmly, "I offer a Tier 2, low grade spirit artifact. I'd also like to try my luck." Yen Tiangang shook his head dismissively.

"Fellow Cultivator Zhang. A Tier 2, low grade spirit artifact? I have those myself. To obtain this map, I require a Tier 3 resource."

"Heh." Zhang Huaijin offered a light chuckle and returned to his seat without argument. In his mind, demanding a Tier 3 resource for a single map was pure delusion. Zhang Huaijin suspected that Yen Tianyang was actually fishing. Whether the map was genuine or fake, the man almost certainly held another fragment himself, otherwise, his confidence made no sense. He might have already cracked the secret hidden within his piece.

The stated purpose was trade, but his real goal was to lure out anyone who possessed knowledge of the other fragments. Of course, that was only Zhang Huaijin's speculation. Or perhaps Yen Tianyang himself was merely a pawn for someone else. As Zhang Huaijin sat back down, none of the other Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators approached Yen Tianyang. Unwanted and unacknowledged, he had no choice but to return to his own seat, his expression sour. The trading continued.

Then, one cultivator produced an item that made Zhang Huaijin's heart skip a beat. A single drop of Clear light divine water, though diluted so many times it was almost a mockery of the original. The true Clear light divine water was a legendary Tier 5 treasure, capable of washing away tribulation and purifying darkness. Even a Nascent Soul Realm cultivator would burn with desire for it. This drop, however, had been diluted until its energy concentration barely reached Tier 1, upper grade.

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation. It could no longer be called Clear light divine water, only Clear light liquid. Still, it retained a trace of the divine water's power, enough to wash away evil spirits and suppress darkness. Zhang Huaijin's mind immediately went to the Foundation Establishment Pill sitting in his family's possession. The one tainted with Baleful Tribulation energy.

The pill had already lost some of its medicinal potency, corrupted by that vicious force. If he could obtain this Clear light liquid, perhaps he could purify the Baleful Tribulation energy within it. The cultivator offering the liquid wanted a Tier 2 spirit artifact or a Tier 2 pill in exchange. More than thirty Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators filled the room, and interest flickered across many faces. But when they heard the asking price, enthusiasm quickly cooled.

Clear light liquid had its uses, but its energy concentration was only Tier 1. For cultivators at the Foundation Establishment Realm, its practical value was limited. For a long moment, no one spoke. Zhang Huaijin rose again. He produced a Tier 2, low grade spirit artifact.

"This is a Tier 2, low grade spirit artifact," he said, holding it out.

"The Blood Scale Saber. Would this be acceptable?" The cultivator took the saber, examining it carefully, channeling his spiritual sense into the blade. A smile spread across his face.

"Yes," he said.

"It's a deal." Satisfied with the saber's quality, the man completed the exchange without hesitation. Huaijin tucked the Clear light liquid away, pleased with his acquisition. He was mildly surprised, however. He had braced himself for Jiang Wenshi to jump in and cause trouble, but Jiang Wenshi merely watched, a flicker of disdain in his eyes.

'It's not the actual clear light divine water,' Jiang Wenshi thought to himself.

'It's been diluted more times than I can count. And this fool trades a Tier 2 artifact for it? What a waste.' But as long as both parties in a trade found it worthwhile, no one else had the right to complain. The trading continued. In less than an hour, the last cultivator had finished. The trading event concluded successfully. Most of the cultivators had obtained what they came for. The cultivators from the nine counties of Qingtai Prefecture were even beginning to grow familiar with one another.

"Alright," Fang Xinjin said, opening his eyes and rising to his feet.

"This trading event is now successfully concluded. After tomorrow, you may leave Blood Lion Mountain. I hope to see all of you here again in twenty years. Let us encourage each other on our paths." Zhou Yuezi nodded in agreement. With that, the two Purple Mansion Realm cultivators turned and departed. Once they left, the atmosphere in the room relaxed noticeably.

"Fellow Cultivator Gao," Zhang Huaijin said to Gao Zhengxin beside him, "let's leave as well." The four Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators from Langya County departed together. —— Elsewhere, Jiang Wenshi also left. Jiang Wuhe, who had been following behind him, finally could no longer hold his tongue.

"Uncle," Jiang Wuhe said, his voice heavy with displeasure, "that was too impulsive. Anyone can see Zhang Huaijin's potential. Why make an enemy of him for no reason? You've created trouble for the clan without gaining anything in return." The Jiang clan had actually sent two Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators this time. Jiang Wuhe, who was at the third level of Foundation Establishment Realm, was Jiang Wenshi's nephew.

"Hmph!" Jiang Wenshi snorted, his glare fixed on Zhang Huaijin's retreating back.

"If it weren't for that brat, the Jiang clan would have gotten that Foundation Establishment Pill. Your younger brother would have had a real chance at breaking through. Not giving him a hard time, it just makes my blood boil." Jiang Wuhe sighed inwardly. He knew the real reason. At the end of the day, Jiang Wenshi was doing this for his own son. The boy had been stuck at the peak of Qi Refining Realm for a very long time. This had been his best chance.

He was rapidly approaching the sixty year age limit for breaking through to Foundation Establishment Realm. Without a Foundation Establishment Pill, the difficulty of that breakthrough would skyrocket. If he was careless, he could even die. That was the true source of Jiang Wenshi's fury.

"Uncle…" Jiang Wuhe started, but Jiang Wenshi cut him off.

"Wuhe, enough. I know what I'm doing." With those words, Jiang Wenshi walked away, leaving Jiang Wuhe alone, sighing in frustration. Making an enemy of Zhang Huaijin like this, it simply wasn't worth it. All the Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators present suspected that Zhang Huaijin possessed some kind of Spirit body. How else could someone with an ordinary five element spiritual roots have reached Foundation Establishment Realm before the age of thirty?

On top of that, the Zhang family had established a connection with the Heavenly Crane Sect. Jiang Wuhe had no idea what his uncle was thinking.