149: Flawed rainbow crystal

Fairy Qinghe stood up, took out a clean white porcelain bottle from her personal Storage Pouch, and uncorked it. A sweet, cloying aroma drifted out, and in an instant, everyone's minds felt ethereal, their Divine Souls receiving an imperceptible boost.

"This aroma... it's Luo River Divine Water," exclaimed a Saint Realm Cultivator wearing a fierce ghost mask.

Hearing this, everyone turned their gazes, their eyes burning with fervor.

Luo River Divine Water can nourish the Divine Soul and slowly increase Soul Power. Its strength lies in its gentle, enduring, and mild nature, making it a rare and excellent soul-nourishing treasure.

"One bottle of Luo River Divine Water in exchange for a thumb-sized piece of Azure Nether Stone," Fairy Qinghe announced.

Upon hearing this, everyone immediately fell silent.

A few seconds later, the Cultivator wearing the bamboo hat sneered, "Fairy Qinghe, your calculation is a little too favorable to yourself.

Although Luo River Divine Water is good, the gap between it and Azure Nether Stone is too vast.

The latter is a precious item formed over tens of thousands of years, originating from a wisp of essence soul left behind by countless souls falling into the Yellow Springs, clinging to the nether stones on the bank.

A mere bottle of Luo River Divine Water is too light in weight."

Clearly, this person had an implicit meaning; he wasn't saying he didn't have the Azure Nether Stone, but rather that he felt the quantity of Luo River Divine Water offered by Fairy Qinghe was too small.

The two exchanged private voice transmissions. Fairy Qinghe's expression shifted several times, and she finally sat down dejectedly.

Clearly, the transaction was unsuccessful.

"Fairy, I am also very interested in this Luo River Divine Water. I am willing to purchase it with Origin Stones. Would the Fairy be willing?" Li Jiangchen transmitted via voice.

Fairy Qinghe hesitated briefly, then nodded, "Fifty thousand Origin Stones for one drop of Luo River Divine Water.

This bottle contains twenty drops, and I can sell Fellow Daoist a maximum of half."

'Fifty thousand, that's not too expensive...' Li Jiangchen had seen similar Soul Nourishing Nectar on the fifth floor of the Treasure Gathering Pavilion; its effect was slightly inferior to Luo River Divine Water, yet it cost almost thirty thousand Origin Stones per drop.

"Then This Li will exchange for ten drops."

Soon, the money and goods were exchanged, and the Luo River Divine Water was in hand.

Li Jiangchen's Spiritual Sense seeped in, and he immediately felt as if an icy spring had flowed through his Divine Soul, slowly strengthening it.

"This item's effect is quite good. However, the quantity is too small. If I had a hundred or so drops, it could help me Break through to the fourth heaven Realm of the Divine Dao."

"It would be best if I could acquire other soul-strengthening treasures."

Soon, the round table rotated, and the next young man wearing a bamboo hat stood up. He took out a section of grayish-brown ancient wood about a foot long, wreathed in wisps of soul Qi, emitting a faint fragrance that calmed the Divine Soul.

"This is... soul nurturing wood," recognized a sharp-eyed masked Saint Realm expert.

"Unfortunately, the quantity is too small. At most, it can be used to nourish a remnant soul or refine a Divine Dao Spirit Treasure."

"It's rather useless."

The Saints around the table immediately lost interest.

'soul nurturing wood, originating from the Forest Wood Middle Thousand Worlds, ranked seventy-second on the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Plant List.

Unfortunately, as those people said, the quantity is too small to make a difference.' Li Jiangchen shook his head slightly.

Seeing the sudden silence, the young man with the bamboo hat quickly said, "This wood is a root section close to the main trunk. If anyone possesses spiritual water like yang-returning water or Soul-Returning Water, they could attempt to transplant this tree.

Planting it in a Family World will surely bless future generations and lead to prosperous Luck.

If anyone is interested, they may come forward to exchange it for five hundred thousand Origin Stones or equivalent soul-strengthening spiritual materials."

The venue fell silent for a few breaths. Finally, Treant Elder Zong spoke with a chuckle, "Coincidentally, this old man recently acquired a batch of yang-returning water. I shall give it a try."

As he spoke, he tossed his Storage Pouch, which turned into a streak of light and landed in the young man's hand. After checking the contents, the young man's voice trembled with joy, and he quickly completed the exchange.

'That Elder Zong originates from the Treant Race, and it's suspected he has significant ties to the Forest Wood Middle Thousand Worlds. He might very well be able to cultivate this piece of soul nurturing wood.' Li Jiangchen observed.

Soon, the round table rotated, and Saint Realm experts exchanged spiritual materials and treasures. Some deals were struck, while others failed to find a buyer.

Several soul-nourishing treasures made Li Jiangchen envious.

However, he couldn't offer what most people wanted, only managing to trade for three sticks of Soul Condensing Incense, which, when lit, can solidify the soul and repair damage to the Soul Sea.

Just then, a one-armed giant suddenly stood up. His empty sleeve fluttered, and from within, a fist-sized seven-colored crystal swept out, shimmering with an enchanting luster in the underground palace.

The moment it appeared, everyone's Divine Soul aura leaped, transmitting a wave of desire.

"seven-colored nether crystal!"

"This is a supreme soul-strengthening treasure that only an Emperor Realm expert of the Ancient Demon Clan can condense.

It is said to be quite taxing to produce, and rarely circulated externally."

"Hu Tang Swordsman has great Opportunity."

"However, it's truly strange that he isn't absorbing such a supreme soul-strengthening treasure himself to strengthen his Divine Soul."

Hearing this, Hu Tang Swordsman gave a wry smile. As his Divine Soul seeped in, an intensely concentrated Demonic Malice appeared instantly on the crystal that originally emitted seven-colored light.

"Seventh Heaven Demon Emperor Malice. No wonder..."

"With Malice of this Rank contained within, who would dare refine this item unless an Emperor Realm expert from the Ancient Demon Clan intervened?"

"Heh heh, refining it rashly would likely lead to the Divine Soul being scorched by the Malice; you wouldn't even have time to cry."

In just a few words, the item was deemed worthless.

Hu Tang Swordsman was clearly prepared for this and said, "Refining this item does carry some risk.

However, the pure Soul Power contained within is genuine.

If any of you obtain an Opportunity in the future to find Light Spirit Water or Pure Annihilation Dust, you might be able to purify the Demon Emperor Malice within."

The more he spoke, the less confident Hu Tang Swordsman became, and his voice grew weaker.

Finally, he offered a starting price of five hundred thousand Origin Stones.

The entire venue fell silent.

If the Demon Emperor Malice contained within this seven-colored nether crystal were purified, its value would instantly increase tenfold, if not more.

But currently, who would be willing to spend such a large amount of Origin Stones to purchase something so useless?

Just then, Li Jiangchen's voice broke the silence: "Brother Hu Tang, the price for this item is too high. Lower it a bit. This Li will consider it buying a keepsake."

Upon hearing this, a light flashed in Hu Tang Swordsman's eyes: "Four hundred thousand Origin Stones, Brother This Li can take it."

"Still too high. Two hundred thousand Origin Stones, not a cent more, not a cent less."

"Oh, this item was obtained by chance; how can I sell it so cheaply? Three hundred thousand Origin Stones, I can't go any lower."

"Two hundred fifty thousand Origin Stones."

After some back and forth, Li Jiangchen successfully acquired the flawed seven-colored nether crystal for two hundred eighty thousand Origin Stones.

Seeing this, the gazes directed at Li Jiangchen held hints of mockery, sympathy, and indifference.

To dispel the Malice of a Seventh Heaven Demon Emperor, one would need an intervention from a Seventh Heaven Divine Dao Emperor Realm expert of the same Rank, at the very least.

The cost of that intervention alone was far beyond what an ordinary Sixth Heaven Cultivator could afford.

Li Jiangchen took in everyone's gazes. No one noticed the trace of joy that inadvertently flashed across his eyes.

The moment he saw this seven-colored nether crystal, the silver eye that had been dormant in his Soul Sea for a long time trembled and emitted a craving thought.

This silver eye was precisely what Ancient Spirit had left behind.

And the seven-colored nether crystal before him was something only the Ancient Demon Clan could condense.

He would be damned if the two weren't connected.

Twenty-eight thousand Origin Stones to gamble on the possibility of increasing the value by at least twenty times—if successful, it would be an immense profit.