Immortal Venerable of the Beast Race
Chapter 450 - 358 Throwing a Stone to Ask the Way (Seeking Monthly Pass)_1

Chapter 450: 358 Throwing a Stone to Ask the Way (Seeking Monthly Pass)_1

Three days quickly passed by, and in a vast estate, more than thirty Nascent Soul cultivators, including Zhou Hualei, Zhou Guangyao, Shen Long, Chu Buyu, Xu Xin, Ye Hongyao, Shen Yushan, gathered in a blue stone pavilion to chat leisurely over tea.

The Nascent Soul ceremony for Zhou Yuhua was held very grandly, with many major powers receiving invitations.

"Taoist Friend Shen, I didn’t expect you to receive an invitation as well,"

said Ye Hongyao with a light smile, greeting him.

Shen Long nodded and said, "I happened to be free, so I came over for a drink. I didn’t expect to see Fairy Ye in the Western Desert Cultivation Realm."

"This shows we have quite the fate. It’s a pity you are a step late. Half a year ago, I encountered your master; I wonder if he’s still in the Western Desert."

said Ye Hongyao.

"Taoist Friend Lin has already left the Western Desert and should now be in the Northern Sea Cultivation Realm,"

declared a tall and handsome young man in a golden robe, his voice resonating.

"How does Taoist Friend Shangguan know of my master’s whereabouts?"

Shen Long asked curiously.

The young man in the golden robe was surnamed Shangguan and named Yulong, hailing from the Shangguan Family of the Southern Border Cultivation World.

"I was purchasing materials for Artifact Refining at the Thousand Puppet marketplace. At a gathering, I ran into Taoist Friend Lin, and we exchanged knowledge about Artifact Refining. He was looking for information about fourth-order Flood Dragon Essence Blood. Taoist Friend Jin from the Thousand Puppet Sect advised him to try his luck in the Northern Sea Cultivation Realm. More than a thousand years ago, a fourth-order Earth Dragon appeared in the Western Desert, specifically in the Heavenly Sand Ruins. It’s too difficult to find fourth-order Flood Dragon Essence Blood in the Western Desert."

Shangguan Yulong explained.

"Indeed! When it comes to the frequency and quantity of fourth-order Flood Dragons making an appearance, the Northern Sea Cultivation Realm ranks first, followed by the Southern Border and Donghua Cultivation Realm. Even third-order Flood Dragons are rare in the Western Desert, let alone fourth-order ones,"

Shen Yushan agreed thoroughly.

Ice Silkworm True Person was helping Shen Long keep an eye out for fourth-order Flood Dragon Essence Blood; Shen Long was well aware of this.

"By the way, Taoist Friend Zhou, is there a sect called Qianyang Sect in the Western Desert?"

asked Shen Long offhandedly.

He had found the Zouhua Cave of Qianyang True Monarch in the Burial Immortal Tomb, who came from the Qianyang Sect of the Western Desert Cultivation Realm.

"Qianyang Sect? It was destroyed by various forces two hundred years ago,"

said Zhou Hualei.

"Destroyed!"

Shen Long was somewhat surprised.

"Yes! Qianyang True Monarch of the Qianyang Sect was a formidable individual. I heard he possessed a set of Golden Magnet Arrays and had used it to kill Nascent Soul Late Stage cultivators. However, Qianyang True Monarch has been missing for many years. Rumor has it that he died in the Heavenly Sand Ruins, but the true circumstances are unknown,"

Zhou Hualei said.

"Qianyang True Monarch? Our Sun Moon Palace’s archives have mentioned him; that set of Golden Magnet Arrays is indeed formidable, and he has been to the Northern Sea Cultivation Realm,"

added Chu Buyu.

With a look of sudden realization, Shen Long said, "Our Spirt Control Sect’s archives also mentioned Qianyang True Monarch and even the Qianyang Sect. I thought Qianyang Sect was a major force in the Western Desert; I didn’t expect that the sect had been destroyed."

"The Golden Magnet Array is indeed formidable; without a Primordial Magnet Treasure in hand, one simply cannot move, let alone break the array. Those with particularly strong physical bodies are less affected,"

said Shangguan Yulong.

After chatting for more than two hours, Zhou Hualei proposed the exchange of materials, to which Shen Long and the others had no objections.

Zhou Hualei brought out over a hundred materials, including those for refining Spiritual Treasures, millennium-old Spiritual Medicine, fourth-order Demon Cores, and thousand-year-old Spirit Wood, among others.

He wanted to exchange for Talisman Crafting materials, and materials of equivalent value were also acceptable.

Shen Long traded a bottle of Taiji Jade Spirit Pills for some Di Kan Yuan Ru, a type of Spiritual Object from heaven and earth and the main medicine for refining the Di Kan Jade Yuan Pill, effective in healing fire poison.

Di Kan Yuan Ru was unique to the Western Desert Cultivation Realm and could not be found in other parts of the Qianyang Realm.

In addition, Shen Long exchanged a fourth-order Demon Core with Shangguan Yulong for two fourth-order Pursuing Spirit Beast Demon Cores, a bottle of Profound Ice Jade Lotus Pill with Shen Yushan for two thousand-year-old Seven Stars Nourishing Spirit Flowers, and also traded with Chu Buyu for two thousand-year-old Qingfeng Grass.

After less than half an hour, Shen Long stood up, took out dozens of materials, mostly Elixirs, as well as many fourth-order Demon Cores.

He spoke, "For an exchange, materials of equal value will be prioritized for alchemy materials."

The Nascent Soul Cultivators present all took out items for Shen Long to inspect, communicating with him through transmitted messages.

"Taoist Friend Shen, I’d like to trade a Dragon Transformation Grass that’s over two thousand years old for five Golden Soul Pills, what do you think?"

A portly old man in a red robe transmitted his message and took out an exquisitely crafted yellow jade box, handing it to Shen Long.

Shen Long opened the jade box, glanced inside, quickly closed it, nodded his head, and agreed to the exchange.

Ye Hongyao traded two millennium Lihuo Reishi Mushrooms with Shen Long for a fourth-grade ice attribute Demon Core, while Zhou Hualei fancied an inner core from a fourth-grade Golden-Eyed Beast, offering to trade a millennium Spiritual Medicine. Common millennium Spiritual Medicine did not catch Shen Long’s interest; it was only when Zhou Hualei produced a millennium Profound Ice Jade Lotus that he was able to obtain the Golden-Eyed Beast’s inner core.

Most of the items Shen Long brought out were exchanged, and he acquired many items he needed, leaving him quite satisfied.

About half an hour later, the exchanges concluded, and after some casual chat, the cultivators gradually left to rest.

"Taoist Friend Shen is quite capable, actually possessing a fourth-grade Golden-Eyed Beast inner core. Our tribe members are stationed in the Northern Sea Cultivation Realm and yet cannot collect even one fourth-grade Golden-Eyed Beast inner core," Zhou Guangyao said, her eyes brimming with joy.

The Zhou Family had a Pupil Skill that required the Golden-Eyed Beast’s inner core to refine Elixirs that could aid in their cultivation.

"It seems Taoist Friend Shen has a method to lure and kill fourth-grade Monster Beasts. It’s hard to believe it’s just a coincidence that he came across a fourth-grade Golden-Eyed Beast," Zhou Hualei said with a frown.

"Could he still have more fourth-grade Golden-Eyed Beast inner cores on him? With this core, Elder Hua Lei could advance the Golden-Eyed True Pupil to the twelfth level," Zhou Guangyao said curiously.

"It’s not out of the question. We should invite him to stay a few more days, inquire about the news of the fourth-grade Golden-Eyed Beast inner core, and if that fails, knowing his method to lure and kill a fourth-grade Monster Beast wouldn’t be too bad either," Zhou Hualei said gravely.

"He’s not lacking in divine skills, so a direct approach won’t work; we have to be more subtle. He brought out some good items, including Dragon Scale Pill, Golden Soul Pill, and Seven Stars Nourishing Spirit Pill. Ordinary items won’t be enough to sway him," Zhou Guangyao said with a frown.

Shen Long had slain many Nascent Soul Stage Barbarian Cultivators and was very powerful; they dared not underestimate him.

"Since he is an Alchemist, he definitely has an interest in high-grade Spiritual Medicines. There’s no rush on this matter; I will go request Hua Yue to refine a batch of Golden-Eyed Jade Liquid, which has the potential to advance the Golden-Eyed True Pupil to the twelfth level," Zhou Hualei said excitedly, standing up and leaving the place.

At the Spirit Control Pavilion, Shen Long sat cross-legged on a green meditation cushion, a slight smile curling at the corner of his mouth.

He had more than one fourth-grade Golden-Eyed Beast inner core on him; he had brought one out merely to test the Nascent Soul Cultivators of the Zhou Family. Judging by Zhou Hualei’s demeanor, he was eager to get his hands on a fourth-grade Golden-Eyed Beast inner core.

Testing the waters.

If Shen Long hadn’t guessed wrong, Zhou Hualei would contact him later to inquire about the fourth-grade Golden-Eyed Beast inner core.

With a long legacy and profound heritage, Shen Long hoped to exchange for some rare items from the Zhou Family. He wasn’t worried about them harboring ulterior motives; if he dared to do this, he naturally had something to rely on.

In the Sun Moon Garden, the dwelling place for cultivators of the Sun Moon Palace.

Xu Xin and Chu Buyu were sitting at a green stone table, sipping tea and chatting leisurely.

"Junior Sister Chu, Fairy Ye seems to have more than a common interest in Taoist Friend Shen!" Xu Xin said with a smile.

"That’s none of our concern. The Zhou Family has significant influence; we hope to use their power to uncover the truth behind Senior Sister Lin’s tragic death and completely erase the perpetrator," Chu Buyu shifted the topic.

Xu Xin nodded, "The Zhou Family should oblige us this favor. Finding the real culprit is just a matter of time."

"Let’s hope so. I’m a bit tired; I’m going to rest now," Chu Buyu said and stood up to walk toward a green loft not far away.

Xu Xin hesitated to speak and then stopped, a look of disappointment on his face.