51: Trading and Qigong

“Fellow Daoist Dan Chenzi, you are indeed straightforward.

It’s simple to exchange for the information about that yuan magnetic profound ore vein; you only need to produce a top-tier Evil Qi.”

As soon as these words were spoken, Gu Changsheng’s gaze instantly sharpened like an eagle’s, exuding a powerful oppressive force.

Possessing top-tier Evil Qi was a huge secret.

Once exposed, he didn’t know how many people’s covetous eyes it would attract.

“Fellow Daoist, you must be joking.

Top-tier Evil Qi is naturally formed by heaven and earth, often taking decades or even centuries to condense into a single strand, making it extremely rare in the world.

Only those prestigious sects and the Great Shang Dynasty might have a chance to produce it.

How could an Old Daoist like me possess it?

If Fellow Daoist truly wishes to trade, please change your request.”

Gu Changsheng’s eyes slightly darkened.

If the other party refused, he would have no choice but to engage in a fight.

When the Yellow Springs Free and Unfettered Wonderful Method was upgraded to the third tier, the system panel had generated the [Soul Searching] spell.

As for exposure… at worst, he would abandon the Dan Chenzi Incarnation, hide back in a remote village, or even deep in the mountains and old forests, and lay low for a hundred years before reappearing.

Who could find him?

Once he cultivated to the True Core Realm, or even the Profound Cave Realm, he would then seek revenge for any grievances.

Across from him, the stern young man’s pupils contracted, and a hint of surprise appeared on his face. After a moment of silence, he smiled and said, “I was just testing Fellow Daoist.

If Fellow Daoist can produce an item that aids in condensing a True Core, I will gladly present this ore vein map with both hands.”

Gu Changsheng coldly replied, “I have the item… but Fellow Daoist, how can you guarantee the authenticity of the map you hold?

An item for condensing a True Core is no less valuable than high-grade Evil Qi…”

“I am willing to swear on my Dao Heart.”

Swearing on one’s Dao Heart was widely circulated among Cultivators.

Once the oath was violated, Cultivators would experience a proliferation of Heart Demons during their Realm Breakthrough, risking Qi Deviation and even mutating into something eerie.

Few Cultivators dared to violate it.

“In that case… good, Fellow Daoist, what do you think of this item?”

Gu Changsheng pulled out a green jade box and opened it, revealing a crimson, infant-like tree fruit that exuded a faint fragrance.

It was precisely the greater five viscera pill.

“Excellent, excellent.

Fellow Daoist indeed has a rich background.

This item now belongs to Fellow Daoist.”

A moment later, the transaction was completed, and the stern young man left, leaving Gu Changsheng alone in the teahouse.

With the map in hand, Gu Changsheng did not immediately examine it.

At this moment, his gaze was slightly deep, and his fingers unconsciously tapped on the reddish-brown tea table, recalling the details from earlier.

“This person disguised himself very well.

When trading the greater five viscera pill, he put on a surprised expression.

However, that hint of calmness in his eyes betrayed him… Clearly, he knew I possessed top-tier Evil Qi and the greater five viscera pill.

This method… did it come from the remnant Soul on him, or some other secret art, or perhaps a Magic Treasure?”

After the Nine Nether Soul-Seizing Underworld Light Divine Ability reached Minor Achievement, Gu Changsheng became extremely sensitive to Soul auras.

Just now, he could tell at a glance that a powerful remnant Soul was hidden within the stern young man’s body.

“A remnant Soul at the Peak True Core Realm… descending into the body of a Spirit Building Stage cultivator, it can probably exert combat power no less than an Early Stage True Core Realm Cultivator.

If it were an ordinary Spirit Building Stage cultivator, they would indeed be defeated.

Unfortunately, this level of skill is far from enough in front of me…”

A slight curve appeared at the corner of Gu Changsheng’s mouth.

These words were not bragging.

Firstly, Gu Changsheng’s Body Refining cultivation was comparable to a True Core Cultivator.

Every move, every lift of his hand, every step he took, possessed immense power.

In a one-on-one fight, he would certainly not be inferior to an Early Stage True Core Realm Cultivator, and might even gain the upper hand.

Secondly, the Nine Nether Soul-Seizing Underworld Light was a supreme Divine Ability for attacking the Divine Soul Sea of Consciousness.

With at most three Underworld Lights, Gu Changsheng was confident he could obliterate that remnant Soul.

Of course, Chaoge was the capital of Great Shang.

A fight at the True Core Realm level would inevitably attract the attention of the Great Shang Dynasty’s True Core Realm Cultivators.

That would be troublesome.

This was also why that person chose this location for the transaction during the trade fair, as conveyed through the sound transmission.

“However, this also gave me a reminder.

There are many extraordinary individuals in the world.

No one knows if an inconspicuous Contemplation Realm Daoist boy by the roadside might have a trump card that could threaten a True Dan Grandmaster.

It’s best to walk the world with an Incarnation… As for my main body, it’s better to honestly hide in the mountains and farm…”

Gu Changsheng looked at the [Yellow Springs Free and Unfettered Wonderful Method] on his system panel.

Once his cultivation broke through to the True Core Realm, he could refine external Incarnations using heaven and earth spiritual materials, rare treasures, exotic beasts, and even enlightened Cultivators.

The higher his cultivation, the more Incarnations he could refine.

Furthermore, at the Peak True Core Realm, if he could refine one hundred and eight external Incarnations to form the Yellow Springs Earth Fiend Heavenly Star Circulatory Great Array, it could increase his chances of Breakthrough to the Profound Cave Realm.

Gu Changsheng recalled the stern young man’s face in his mind. After a few breaths, he dipped his index finger into the teacup, taking out some tea, and began to sketch on the reddish-brown tabletop.

Soon, a wisp of spiritual light entered his mind.

[Qi Observation Technique: When cast, it can observe the target’s Luck. When cultivated to a profound level, it can observe the general trend of the world.]

“Qi Observation Technique…”

Gu Changsheng’s mind stirred, and he activated the Qi Observation Technique, casually looking towards a brocade-robed tea guest in the corner of the teahouse.

He immediately saw a brass-colored cloud rising above the brocade-robed tea guest’s head, forming the shape of a gold ingot.

His left ear twitched, and the conversation from the brocade-robed tea guest’s table entered his ears.

“Brother Zhang, the war in the south is intense, and supplies are scarce. You must have made a lot of money on this merchant trip.”

“Haha, you flatter me, you flatter me.

After tea, we’ll head to Tianxiang Tower.

This Young Master is treating… haha!”

“Haha, then thank you, Brother Zhang.”

At this moment, the brocade-robed tea guest stood up, and a mutton-fat jade pendant hanging from his waist brushed against the corner of the table, falling to the floor.

Visibly, a corner of the gold ingot-shaped Luck above his head was missing.

“Two esteemed guests, please take care.”

“Mhm.”

The two left, and the waiter bent down to clear the leftover tea. His peripheral vision caught sight of the jade pendant at his feet.

With shifty eyes, he quickly scanned his surroundings. Seeing no one was paying attention, he swiftly stepped on the jade pendant, then dropped the wiping cloth to his feet. While picking up the cloth, he slipped the jade pendant into his bosom.

Under the Qi Observation Technique, the white wiping cloth-shaped Luck above the waiter’s head immediately took on a brassy hue, transforming into the shape of a copper coin.

“So this is the Qi Observation Technique… I can probably guess how that person knew I possessed top-tier Evil Qi.”

Gu Changsheng mused.

Luck was inherently a comprehensive measure of one’s background, talent, cherished treasures, and a series of other factors.

“In the future, I’ll have to find a way to conceal my Luck, otherwise, it’ll be easy for people to discern my origins…”

Walking to the counter, Gu Changsheng paid the exact amount in loose silver and strolled out of the teahouse.

Somewhere in Chaoge.

“Profound Ancestor, why did you stop me from secretly planting a Luck mark?

The Spirit Treasure, Yi Qi Mirror, detected several strands of top-tier Evil Qi on that person.

You could have completely waited until he left Chaoge, and then you, Profound Ancestor, could have made your move…”

The stern young man’s face was flushed, and his expression was quite agitated.

Suddenly, a cloud of black Qi steamed out from the top of the stern young man’s head, transforming into a white-bearded Old Ancestor.

“Foolish child!

You almost brought disaster upon yourself, yet you remained oblivious!

Just now, in the teahouse, when you harbored ill intentions and planned to plant a mark, little did you know that your Luck rapidly deteriorated, with black Qi swirling around, forming a coffin.

This is a sign of a violent death!”

A cold shout, like cold water poured in winter, instantly sobered the stern young man.

“Profound Ancestor, could it be that even you…”

The stern young man’s eyes showed surprise, tinged with a hint of panic.

He knew that his Profound Ancestor, when possessing him, could unleash True Core Realm combat power.

Yet, even this couldn’t protect him.

Didn’t that mean the person in the teahouse was at least comparable to the True Core Realm?

How was this possible?

Realizing it belatedly, cold sweat drenched his entire body.

“Alas, Chao’er, you must remember, you are the sole heir of our Yuan Kingdom’s imperial family, and in the future, when you return to Great Jin, you bear the heavy responsibility of restoring our Yuan Kingdom.

The thousand-year foundation of our ancestors rests on you alone.

You must not act rashly.”

“Chao’er understands… Profound Ancestor.”

The white-bearded Old Ancestor sighed.

The Contemplation method cultivated by his lineage was called the Son of Heaven’s Qi Observation Method. When cultivated to a profound level, one could master a secret art called [Qi Resonance].

It made him particularly sensitive to danger.

Just now, in the teahouse, he had also intended to make a move, and in an instant, his heart pounded with fear.

This feeling had only occurred the night the Yuan Kingdom was breached, when he barely escaped the imperial palace with the direct Bloodline, surviving by a hair’s breadth.