39: The dust has settled, and the Hundred Broken Mountains...

The Golden Core Elder's swift change in attitude surprised Shen Yuanmo a little, but his expression remained calm.

He knew very well that the other party acted this way not because they were awed by his overbearing aura, but by the value he displayed, which was enough to move even the Heavenly Secret Pavilion.

In the Cultivation World, strength and value are always the only passes to respect.

"Elder, you're too polite. Please sit." Shen Yuanmo made a slight raising gesture with his hand, indicating that the other party didn't need to be so formal.

He came today simply to make a fair transaction; he had no intention of souring relations with a behemoth like the Heavenly Secret Pavilion.

To exchange an improved Formation, which for him was merely a thought away from deduction, for the intelligence he desperately needed, and to gain the goodwill of the Heavenly Secret Pavilion, was undoubtedly the best outcome.

"Fellow Daoist Shen, please wait!" The Golden Core Elder sat down again, his awe and excitement still not fading from his face.

He took out a palm-sized, entirely black token from his 懷中, inscribed with countless profound runes.

Holding the token with both hands, he chanted incantations, striking various spell seals into it.

"Buzz..."

The token emitted a faint hum, and an invisible light curtain projected from it, suspended in mid-air.

On the light curtain, mist surged, vaguely revealing another figure, even more majestic and unfathomable.

"Xuanzi Three, why have you used the highest authority to contact this Venerable One?" A majestic and ancient voice emanated from the light curtain.

This pressure far surpassed that of the Golden Core Elder!

Nascent Soul True Lord!

Shen Yuanmo's heart stirred, knowing that the Golden Core Elder was reporting to a higher-ranking existence within the Heavenly Secret Pavilion.

"Reporting to Elder Tian Shu!" The Golden Core Elder, known as Xuanzi Three, was extremely respectful.

"This subordinate encountered a... remarkable person at the Baiyue Prefecture branch."

He dared not conceal anything, quickly reporting everything that had just happened in the private room, including how Shen Yuanmo easily blocked his pressure.

How he precisely pinpointed the illusory eye of the Tianji Lock Yuan Formation with a single finger, and finally, how he presented an improved Mysterious Turtle Suppressing Sea Formation as the price for the transaction, reporting it all in its entirety.

During the report, his voice still carried an uncontrollable tremor.

Elder Tian Shu on the other side of the light curtain listened quietly, not making a sound.

The entire private room once again fell into a deathly silence.

But Shen Yuanmo could feel an invisible, even more terrifying Divine Sense passing through the light curtain and landing on him.

This Divine Sense was vast as an abyss, profound as the sea, yet it held no malice, only pure curiosity and scrutiny.

Shen Yuanmo's Crimson Sun Glazed Scripture Cultivation Technique circulated on its own, and the power of Glazed True Yang flowed throughout his body, isolating this probing force.

"Hmm?"

The figure on the other side of the light curtain seemed to notice this as well, letting out a soft exclamation.

After a long while.

The majestic voice finally spoke again, but this time, there was a hint of approval in its tone.

"Mysterious Turtle Suppressing Sea Formation... cost reduced by 30%, power increased by 50%... Good! What a brilliant young Genius!"

"Xuanzi Three, your handling was very correct."

"This person must not be made an enemy; he can only be a friend."

"The transaction is approved! Treat him as a distinguished guest of the highest caliber and satisfy all his reasonable requests."

"Additionally, bestow upon him this Tianji Token. He who holds this token is as if I am personally present. In the future, should he have any needs, my Heavenly Secret Pavilion will do its utmost to fulfill them."

"Yes! This subordinate understands!" Elder Xuanzi Three replied respectfully.

The light curtain slowly dissipated.

Elder Xuanzi Three let out a long sigh of relief. He turned to look at Shen Yuanmo, his gaze now tinged with admiration.

To receive such an evaluation as "must not be an enemy, can only be a friend" directly from the lofty Elder Tian Shu, and to be granted a Tianji Token, this young man's importance was far greater than he had imagined!

He no longer hesitated, carefully taking out two items from his Storage Pouch.

One was a Jade Slip shimmering with a soft white light.

The other was a palm-sized token, made of unknown warm jade, with the characters "Tianji" carved on the front and a vast star map on the back.

"Fellow Daoist Shen, this is the High Grade intelligence you requested regarding the nine-aperture stone milk." He offered the Jade Slip with both hands.

"Additionally, this is the 'Tianji Token' personally bestowed by Elder Tian Shu. This token is the highest symbol of status in my Heavenly Secret Pavilion. Throughout the entire Great Qian Immortal Dynasty, no more than ten people possess this token. With this token, you can freely access any intelligence below the Profound-grade at any Heavenly Secret Pavilion branch and request my Pavilion to perform three tasks for you free of charge, as long as they do not violate our Pavilion's principles."

Shen Yuanmo's eyelids twitched.

He hadn't expected that merely wanting to make a transaction would yield such a huge return.

This Heavenly Secret Pavilion truly conducts grand business, with astonishing boldness.

He didn't feign modesty, reaching out to take the Jade Slip and the token.

"Thank you."

"Fellow Daoist Shen, you're too polite; this is what you deserve." Elder Xuanzi Three's face creased into a wide smile.

"If you ever need anything in the future, you can always come find this old man. This old man is Profound Envoy Tianji, Lin Cang."

He even proactively revealed his true name and codename, which represented the highest degree of goodwill.

"Shen Yuanmo." Shen Yuanmo also stated his name, accepting the other party's goodwill.

With the transaction complete, Shen Yuanmo didn't linger, rising to take his leave.

Lin Cang personally escorted him to the third-floor stairwell, watching his retreating figure with still fervent eyes.

He knew that today's transaction was the most correct and profitable one he had made in hundreds of years!

...Leaving the Tianji Treasure Pagoda, the sunlight outside was a bit dazzling.

Shen Yuanmo ignored the curious gazes of the Cultivators in the square and headed straight back to the Four Seas Inn.

Returning to his courtyard, he immediately set up several isolating Restrictions, then eagerly probed the Jade Slip containing the intelligence on the nine-aperture stone milk with his Divine Sense.

Boom!

A massive stream of information flooded into his mind.

The Heavenly Secret Pavilion's intelligence truly lived up to its reputation!

The Jade Slip contained not only detailed information about the nine-aperture stone milk but also its growth cycle, associated Spiritual Plants, and the surrounding environmental topography, all clearly marked.

[Species]: nine-aperture stone milk.

[Grade]: Third-Rank High Grade.

[Status]: In gestation, three months until maturity. At that time, the stone milk will open nine apertures, and its medicinal power will reach its Peak.

[Location]: Baiyue Prefecture, three thousand li northwest, Baiduan Mountain Range, Ghost Soul Valley.

[Guardian]: Third-Rank Low Grade Demon King, Ink Jade Qilin. This beast possesses extraordinary talent, a powerful Physical Body, and can control the power of the earth. Its combat strength is comparable to a Middle Golden Core Stage Cultivator.

[Associated Spiritual Plants]: Third-Rank High Grade Spiritual Plant 'soul condensing grass', approximately dozens of stalks.

[Remarks]: Inside Ghost Soul Valley, the Yin evil Qi is extremely heavy, constantly permeated with 'Ghost Soul Miasma' that can erode the Divine Soul. Foundation Establishment Cultivators who enter have a slim chance of survival.

After reading all the information, Shen Yuanmo's breathing became somewhat rapid.

It truly was High Grade intelligence!

A nine-aperture stone milk that was about to mature!

This meant that if he could obtain it, his Old Ancestor's Dao foundation would not only be completely restored but might even seize this opportunity to advance further!

But with it came an even greater challenge.

Baiduan Mountain Range! Ghost Soul Valley!

Those were infamous perilous lands in Baiyue Prefecture; ordinary Cultivators wouldn't dare approach them.

Not to mention, there was a Third-Rank Demon King guardian whose combat strength was comparable to a Middle Golden Core Stage Cultivator!

With his current Mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivation, trying to snatch something from a Third-Rank Demon King was like a fool's dream.

"Three months..." Shen Yuanmo's eyes gleamed.

Three months was neither long nor short.

But for him, it was enough!

He possessed Heaven-Defying Comprehension Ability; as long as he had enough resources, he could elevate his strength to a whole new level in a short amount of time!

"It seems I need to visit the County City's market well." Shen Yuanmo put away the Jade Slip, a detailed plan already forming in his mind.

He needed money, lots of money!

He needed Materials, lots of rare Materials!

He wanted to forge the strongest Magical Artifacts, refine the strongest Puppets, and set up the strongest Formations!

Three months later, Baiduan Mountain Range, Ghost Soul Valley!

He was determined to get this nine-aperture stone milk!