The Post Sky Tipping Era
Chapter 448 - 317: Cultivation in the Dharma-Ending Age

Chapter 448: Chapter 317: Cultivation in the Dharma-Ending Age

Xu Wen Dao and Wang Fan kept Li Yi behind, intending to discuss a partnership.

"You have quite a few storage magic artifacts in your hands; such items, though rare in this world, must not be uncommon in another. Do you have access to an unknown world?" Li Yi stopped in his tracks, turned, and posed the question.

"A world plagued by the Five Decays of Heaven and Man, depleted of Spiritual Energy, in the twilight of its Cultivation Era." Xu Wen Dao replied calmly: "That world plunged from a time of abundant cosmic energy straight into an era of exhaustion. Strong cultivators immediately perished upon transcending, while weaker ones desperately clung on, their previously powerful magic artifacts instantly degraded into mundane items, with some even decaying and falling to ruin."

"So in that world, magic artifacts are cheap, and storage magic artifacts cheaper still, because there’s no cosmic energy left; every time one is activated, it consumes the dwindling strength within one’s body, leading to a market flooded with them."

"Even so, purchasing them does require some compensation; the cultivators of that world do not accept gold and silver, only a type of stone imbued with abundant cosmic energy, known there as Spirit Stones. In theory, our world also has such stones, but regrettably, they haven’t been nourished by cosmic energy long enough to transform into Spirit Stones."

"However, Spirit Stones, although currency in that world, are not the most precious; what’s most valuable is Life Span."

Xu Wen Dao gazed at Li Yi, slowly revealing the truth.

"You have a Life Extending Pill; I hold the coordinates to an End of Dharma Cultivation World. If we collaborate, we can acquire the most precious resources of that world at the smallest cost. It is a win-win situation; what do you think?"

Li Yi did not answer but instead asked: "Since it’s the End of Dharma Cultivation World, why don’t you just plunder it? With your strength, snatching some magic artifacts shouldn’t be too difficult, right?"

"Strong sects still have some old monsters who have yet to die off and chose to hibernate, while weak sects are worthless."

Xu Wen Dao explained: "Even a centipede dies hard. Thus, the best approach is to trade. For Life Extending Pills, those old monsters would bankrupt themselves and give everything. As long as those magic artifacts aren’t fully defunct, once brought to our world and nourished by cosmic energy, they will soon manifest their wonders anew."

"Besides magic artifacts, there’s also the complete transmission of Daoist Skills,"

He had no reason to hide, for there was no need.

After all, Li Yi didn’t know the whereabouts of that world.

"Going by what you said, it’s indeed tempting, but regrettably, I have only one Life Extending Pill. I cannot continue the trading, thus I have to decline." Li Yi thought it over and ultimately shook his head in refusal.

He wasn’t swayed by the immense profit.

Because Li Yi knew very well that he couldn’t make such decisions alone; the outcome depended on the other party’s intentions. One might trade a Life Extending Pill for a hundred treasures, but only a piece of junk ends up in one’s hands. He wouldn’t underestimate human greed.

Moreover, if the trade went on for long and he revealed too many Life Extending Pills, he might even become a target of envy.

The risk was great and the benefits unstable; only a fool would undertake such a venture.

"Li Yi, your Life Extending Pill must also come from another world; this Elixir is clearly artificially concocted."

Xu Wen Dao played with the crystal clear Life Extending Pill in his hand and spoke: "I believe you don’t have a second Life Extending Pill, but that doesn’t mean the other world won’t have any. Tell me the coordinates of that world; I will make the inter-world journey. As for whether I can obtain Life Extending Pills, that will be my concern. In return, I can give you another storage magic artifact."

He wasn’t fixated on whether Li Yi had a stock of Life Extending Pills but was eying the resources behind him in the Four Seas and Eight Continents.

Obtaining the inter-world coordinates of the Four Seas and Eight Continents meant bypassing Li Yi to monopolize the resources of both worlds.

Given time, his achievements would be immeasurable.

"You really are quite greedy." Li Yi’s eyes narrowed suddenly: "You think a storage magic artifact is enough to trade for inter-world coordinates? That’s not a fair trade at all. To trade with me, you must show sincerity. The coordinates of that End of Dharma Cultivation World you hold seem quite appealing too; how about you put that on the table?"

Beside him, Wang Fan spoke: "Li Yi, you’re only in the Spiritual Realm; you can’t handle the risks of both worlds. Besides, you’ve just arrived at the Golden Academy and hardly have any money; you can’t afford to cross worlds. Hang on, without any inter-world travel, how did you manage to reach the world where the Life Extending Pill is?"

Then, as if awakening to something, he turned to look at Xu Wen Dao.

Xu Wen Dao seemed quite calm as well: "It looks like you’ve crossed through nodes and worlds. You must be a newcomer with quite an opportunity. Anyone who can come to Golden Academy is no simple character. I assume the Martial Arts heritage you possess also comes from that world. But there’s no need to keep it a secret. There are others besides you who have control over unique worlds, just like the End of Dharma Cultivation World I control, which is my exclusive domain. Besides me, no one knows that cross-world coordinate."

"So, Li Yi, name your price. I remember the cross-node value of Golden Academy is 100,000 points. How about selling it to me for 100,000 points? Moreover, selling it to me won’t affect your future world-crossing. One more or one less person knowing about a world doesn’t make a big difference. You alone can’t exhaust the resources of an entire world. Of course, neither can I with you."

His words were sincere, and he appeared to have a point.

However, it was impossible for Li Yi to let someone he did not trust to go to the Four Seas and Eight Continents. That was the retreat he had left for himself in Tianchang City. Should the Sky Tipping event erupt, he would need to take his family, relatives, and friends to live in the Four Seas and Eight Continents.

Immediately, Li Yi smiled lightly: "How about this: I spend 100,000 points to buy the coordinates of your End of Dharma Cultivation World. Take the money and then come to me to purchase a Life Extending Pill. I will make an effort to break through to the Soul Realm and get some more Life Extending Pills. Wouldn’t that be more fair?"

As soon as these words came out, Xu Wen Dao’s expression sank: "According to what you’re saying, wouldn’t I be working for you?"

"But according to what you said, it’s not just about making me work for you. You want to buy an entire world’s coordinates for a sum of money. I would have to give you all of what’s left of my assets. You’re way better at calculations than me," Li Yi said. "Your terms have no sincerity; I think we can’t come to an agreement. This deal ends here; I have a Storage Magic Artifact, and that’s enough for me."

"You may have enough, but a single Life Extending Pill is far from enough for me. Guarding a world full of treasures without the key to unlock them is not a pleasant feeling," Xu Wen Dao stated, looking at him.

"That’s your incompetence, unable to steal them or buy them. Sort it out yourself. I can’t be bothered to deal with it." Li Yi shook his head, stepping around the blocking Wang Fan in front of him and walking out with large strides.

However, just as he stepped out, his movement abruptly halted.

The path ahead had disappeared, only to be replaced by a boundless desert. A whistling yellow wind was sweeping up the sand, which touched his face with a vivid sensation, incredibly bewildering.

"Illusion?" The color drained from Li Yi’s face, his eyes brightened, yet he failed to see through the illusion.

"This isn’t an illusion; it’s a Formation, as well as a kind of Magic Artifact. It might seem fictitious, but it’s all real. You’ve entered into a Formation space. Without Xu Wen Dao’s permission, you won’t be able to leave here with your abilities," Wang Fan’s voice suddenly resounded, his figure appearing out of thin air in a gust of yellow wind.

"So, you want to imprison me?" Li Yi’s gaze turned icy in an instant.

"Not really, we just hope you’d reconsider, Li Yi. After all, we really do need Life Extending Pills. Just tell us the location of the cross-node, and we can offer more money. We all are students of Golden Academy, and we’ll have to face each other sooner or later. We don’t want things to get too stiff," said Wang Fan.

Li Yi laughed out of exasperation: "Your conditions are a trade? They show no sincerity. If you want a fair trade, at least bring out the coordinates for your End of Dharma Cultivation World. Why should my world be freely exposed when you’re hiding yours?"

"Because our strength is much greater than yours – isn’t that reason enough?" Suddenly, Xu Wen Dao’s voice echoed through this desert world, tinged with a hint of coldness: "Li Yi, I’m giving you a chance to reconsider."

"Are you threatening me?" said Li Yi.

"If that’s what you believe, you can consider it a threat," continued the voice of Xu Wen Dao.

Li Yi responded: "Such actions are not allowed within Golden Academy. If discovered, you could be stripped of your student status."

"The key is to have evidence. In this Formation, if you died, no traces would be left behind. Li Yi, do you think your own life is more important, or is a world’s coordinates more important?" Amid the swirling sandstorm, Wang Fan’s voice carried a certain oppressive tone.

"Then do you think your life is more important, or is a world’s coordinates more important?" Li Yi stared at him and said: "Just now, Xu Wen Dao talked for so long without showing up. If I’m not mistaken, he must be maintaining the operation of this Formation, so it’s just the two of us here."

"Do you think you can take me down?"

Wang Fan was taken aback, then cracked a smile: "You’re quite arrogant. A cultivator in the Spiritual Realm thinks he can defeat someone in the Soul Realm? You must have been beaten by the examiner during your Golden Academy entrance examination. Let me tell you, the cultivators who become examiners are the weakest of Golden Academy."

"You couldn’t even defeat an examiner, so you think you can win against me?"

Li Yi replied: "I couldn’t beat them before, but it might not be the case now. If you don’t value your life, you can try."

Huh?

Wang Fan’s eyes narrowed suddenly: "The previous assessment was only half a month ago. In such a short period of time, could you really defy the heavens?"