Post-Mythical Era: I don't want to die in the third reincarnation
Chapter 695 - 688: One of the 12 Divine Emperors

Once Hou Hen saw Ding Huan's expression, he immediately knew Ding Huan hadn't heard of him. He could only say, "I am Hou Hen God Emperor, one of the Twelve Divine Emperors. My fruit position is considered quite high.

It's just that the universe where we reside experienced a great Calamity, and everything collapsed into nothingness. If it weren't for a fluke, I wouldn't have survived till today."

The Twelve Divine Emperors?

It sounds grandiose, but honestly, Ding Huan really didn't know.

The Universe Calamity, he did know about, but was it really that serious?

Wasn't the Nine Heavens fractured and divided because of a Calamity?

Seeing Ding Huan still unresponsive, Hou Hen God Emperor had to speak again, "You've heard of Mingyue God Emperor, Gui Gu God Emperor, and Emperor Heng Zuo, right?"

Ding Huan still shook his head.

Hou Hen sighed deeply. He had hoped to chat with Ding Huan using his own notoriety.

If Ding Huan knew his reputation, things would be much easier to talk about later.

Now it's clear Ding Huan doesn't know anything, even mistaking him for a fraud. How could they chat? The conversation was dead in the water.

If he just wanted to cooperate with Ding Huan this way, or even ask for Ding Huan's help, would he agree?

"Have you heard of the Nail Head Book? The Shrink the Ground to an Inch Divine Skill, or the Ten Thousand Jun Heaven and Earth Divine Skill?"

Ding Huan's eyes lit up. The Shrink the Ground to an Inch Divine Skill was nothing much; he could perform it himself. But the Nail Head Book was truly impressive.

"Heard of it."

"Good, the Nail Head Book is the specialty Magical Treasure of Mingyue God Emperor."

"I thought it was yours. Using someone else's Magical Treasure to negotiate, what's the point?"

Ding Huan's tone carried a bit of disdain.

Once he heard that the Nail Head Book wasn't Hou Hen God Emperor's property, Ding Huan's interest vanished instantly.

"So, what do you want to trade with me? What can I get from you?" Ding Huan understood what Hou Hen God Emperor meant, and he couldn't be bothered to beat around the bush.

Upon hearing Ding Huan's words, Hou Hen God Emperor perked up, "Did you see my situation?"

"I did. You're tied up like a turtle, unable to move." Ding Huan said straightforwardly.

Although Ding Huan was telling the truth, his attitude and tone made Hou Hen God Emperor extremely uncomfortable.

"Help me unlock these Forbidden Patterns, and I'll give you a top-grade Star Sky Divine Spirit Vein." Hou Hen God Emperor said.

Ding Huan casually replied, "No need, I don't need you to give it. I can absorb Divine Spirit Veins for Cultivation myself. Why bother with yours?"

"But they're mine." Hou Hen God Emperor was truly getting a bit angry.

"Then keep them to yourself. I'm not stopping you." Ding Huan remained unfazed.

Hou Hen God Emperor knew he couldn't manipulate Ding Huan. He took a deep breath and said, "If we cooperate, it would be mutually beneficial. If not..."

"...I'll benefit." Ding Huan interrupted Hou Hen God Emperor before he could finish.

Hou Hen God Emperor opened his mouth, although he didn't want to admit it, he knew deep down Ding Huan was right.

Ding Huan didn't need to cooperate with him; he must collaborate with Ding Huan.

"You're right. Count it as a favor I owe you, just help me unlock these Forbidden Patterns." Hou Hen God Emperor could only sigh.

"Your favor isn't worth much in my eyes, so let's not waste time on pointless words." Ding Huan waved his hand, interrupting Hou Hen's proposal without hesitation.

Hou Hen God Emperor was exasperated, unable to say a word.

If it were back in the day when he was in his prime, hearing about a favor owed by him would have made countless people from the Vast Universe eager to cozy up.

But now, he's fallen so far that a young junior doesn't even care about his favor.

"If there's nothing else, I'm leaving. By the way, I'm planning to set up a new Cultivation Place right here." Ding Huan pointed to a spot no more than ten zhang away from Hou Hen God Emperor.

Hou Hen God Emperor was so infuriated he almost spat blood. Setting up a Gathering Spirit Divine Array right next to where he cultivates, is this not a slap in the face?

"Then can you unlock my Forbidden Patterns?"

"It's hard to say, I need to research it. However, with my ability, it's only a matter of time to unlock them."

"Alright, as long as you can unlock my Array Patterns, name your terms."

"Ten top-grade Star Sky Divine Spirit Veins plus one Innate Treasure."

Ding Huan was audacious with his demands. Although he didn't know of the Twelve Divine Emperors, the other party spoke of fruit positions and veteran strength, so maybe he did have these items.

The term 'fruit position' didn't leave a deep impression on Ding Huan, but he had heard of 'position' from Lao Liu.

Lao Liu once said that those without a position are not allowed into the Universe Position Disc.

I wonder if this 'position' is the same concept as 'fruit position'.

"Are you crazy?" Hou Hen God Emperor nearly spit blood hearing Ding Huan's words.

Twelve top-grade Star Sky Divine Spirit Veins? Plus an Innate Treasure?

"You asked me to name a price, so it's your turn to set the terms."

Ding Huan said.

How could Hou Hen God Emperor not see through Ding Huan's little tricks?

But he was helpless as well. A genius like Ding Huan might not appear here again for countless ages.

And even if he does appear again, would he be able to talk face-to-face with someone like Ding Huan?

Ding Huan was able to arrange such a powerful Gathering Spirit Divine Array, and his method of carving Void Array Patterns seemed unique.

If Ding Huan could truly unlock his constraint pattern, it wouldn't hurt to sacrifice a little.

"One top-grade Star Sky Divine Spirit Vein, two upper-grade Star Sky Divine Spirit Veins, plus one Falling Star Arrow," Hou Hen Divine Emperor said slowly.

Ding Huan's eyes lit up upon hearing this; it seemed his asking price wasn't too outrageous.

Before he could raise the price, Hou Hen Divine Emperor calmly said:

"This is my bottom line. If you don't agree, then forget it. Although I can't do anything to you, I believe you can't take the Star Sky Divine Spirit Veins from me either."

From the opponent's calm tone, Ding Huan knew he didn't need to counter-offer; this should be the bottom line for this old man.

This is indeed an honest person, saving the trouble of haggling back and forth and directly stating his bottom line.

If it works, it works; if not, it doesn't.

Hou Hen Divine Emperor continued: "Actually, the truly precious thing isn't those three Star Sky Divine Spirit Veins, but the Falling Star Arrow. Aren't you looking for Innate Treasures? The Falling Star Arrow is one."

Ding Huan cupped his fists: "I would like Fellow Daoist Hou Hen to introduce the Falling Star Arrow."

Upon hearing Ding Huan call him "Fellow Daoist", Hou Hen Divine Emperor felt an inexplicable sense of loss.

Back when he was among the Twelve Divine Emperors, who could meet him without stopping and respectfully acknowledging, "Divine Emperor is above"?

Now, even a young lad dared to call him "Fellow Daoist". Ah.

Despite his dissatisfaction, he still had to explain: "I don't know how this bow and arrows came to be, just that there is one bow and three arrows.

The bow is the Heaven and Earth Bow, the arrows being the Sunset Arrow, Moonfall Arrow, and Falling Star Arrow. I only have the Falling Star Arrow; as for the rest, you have to find them yourself."

Ding Huan frowned, realizing he had only one arrow after all that was said.

Hou Hen Divine Emperor saw through Ding Huan's thoughts and sneered: "If I had the Heaven and Earth Bow, do you think I would give you the Falling Star Arrow?

Even if you were thousands of miles away, I could take you down with one arrow. Would you still have a chance to confront me face-to-face for my divine spirit source?"

This old fellow wasn't wrong. If the opponent had the Heaven and Earth Bow and the Falling Star Arrow, he wouldn't need to waste words with him.

"Alright, I agree. Now, give me the items," Ding Huan decided to quit while he was ahead.

Hou Hen Divine Emperor said indifferently: "I can give you the Falling Star Arrow first. As for the Star Sky Divine Spirit Veins, you'll have to collect them yourself when the time comes."

"Why?" Ding Huan asked instinctively.

Hou Hen Divine Emperor sneered: "Do you think if I could take the Star Sky Divine Spirit Veins out at will, I would let you absorb my divine spirit source in front of me without stowing it away?"

"That's true." Ding Huan agreed with his reasoning.

A long arrow imbued with the aura of a vast starry sky was tossed out by Hou Hen Divine Emperor, swiftly landing before Ding Huan.

Ding Huan reached out his hand, and the long arrow fell into his grasp.

The aura of the vast starry sky dissipated instantly, leaving him holding only an ordinary-looking black long arrow.

Ding Huan immediately understood that the aura of the vast starry sky was stimulated by Hou Hen Divine Emperor, meant to tell him that this arrow was extraordinary.

Did they think he lacked discerning eyes?

Ding Huan chuckled, tucked away the Falling Star Arrow, and turned to leave.

"Aren't you going to help me unlock the constraint pattern?" Hou Hen Divine Emperor deliberately frowned as he watched Ding Huan turn away.

He had long known Ding Huan wouldn't help him unlock the constraint pattern right now, and Ding Huan certainly couldn't unlock it either.

However, he wanted to give Ding Huan the impression that his thinking was rough and couldn't remember many details.

"I need to study your constraint pattern for a while before I can think of a way to help you unlock it."

Ding Huan spoke without turning his head.

He didn't ask Hou Hen Divine Emperor about the backstory of the constraint pattern because, regardless of the cause, he couldn't help Hou Hen Divine Emperor unlock it now.

Without reaching the Divine King Realm, no matter how much Hou Hen Divine Emperor guaranteed, he wouldn't approach Hou Hen Divine Emperor.

These old fellows were all crafty; one careless move and he'd fall into their hands.

"Ding Huan, why have you moved to another place to cultivate?" Ji Luo had just advanced to World God and saw Ding Huan arranging a Gathering Spirit Divine Array just ten feet away from that long-faced cultivator.

"Old Ji, don't you find that the closer we get to him, the more divine spirit qi we absorb?"

Ji Luo's face was full of bitterness, did he need to say it?

But what if this guy sets traps again?

You may not fear, but I, Old Ji, do.

If I'm trapped for a few hundred years and you quietly leave, I'll have no place to weep.

Despite his inner resentment, upon seeing Ding Huan still setting up the Gathering Spirit Divine Array, he could only begrudgingly move over to Ding Huan's side.

Cultivating alongside Ding Huan at least meant having Ding Huan as a shield.

On his own, not only would cultivation be slower, but who knew if the horse-faced guy wouldn't suddenly grab Old Ji?

(Goodnight Daoist friends, please support with your votes!)