Unintended Immortality
Chapter 555: Refusal to Trade

Chapter 555: Refusal to Trade

“You’ve taken four of the spiritual resonances in total, so where are the remaining three?” The great monk seated at the highest position widened his eyes in excitement, displaying an unusual obsession with worldly treasures. “Why not take them all out for us to admire? It would be an eye-opening experience.”

“Yes, let us see them.”

“Bring them out quickly.”

“Buddy, don’t keep them hidden...”

The grand hall of the temple, which was supposed to be a place of serenity, suddenly became rather noisy.

“...”

Song You revealed a helpless expression. He placed the fire-element spiritual resonance on the table, then reached into his bulging bag again.

All the monks’ eyes followed his hand, locking onto the red glow infused with boundless mystique and spiritual resonance. They couldn’t bear to look away until the Daoist withdrew his hand once more.

At that moment, in the dim candlelit hall, an additional touch of colorless radiance appeared. Instantly, the monks shifted their gazes from the fire-element spiritual resonance and fixated on the newly revealed water-element spiritual resonance.

The whole process happened incredibly fast—so fast it was as if their gazes had been flung in that direction. Even Lady Calico was left staring in astonishment.

The spiritual resonance in the Daoist’s hand resembled water. Floating in his palm, it constantly changed shapes yet never dissipated. A faint mist rose from it, shimmering with a gentle luster.

In that moment, water-like reflections illuminated the floor and walls of the grand hall.

The monks’ gazes became even more entranced.

The great monk at the highest seat asked, “This is...?”

“This is the water-element spiritual resonance, obtained from an elusive and rootless place in the southeastern seas,” Song You explained. “This resonance belongs to the water element within the five elements. It is fluid and hard to grasp, mysterious and unfathomable. Though it carries the properties of water, it is far more than just that—it brims with vitality, encompasses all, and transforms endlessly.”

Under the water’s radiance, none of the monks averted their eyes.

They no longer looked at the fire-element spiritual resonance.

Nor did they have any interest left in the remaining two.

At this moment, their eyes held only this ethereal waterlight. Though it lacked the dazzling intensity of the red glow, they could all feel its profound mystique and infinite transformations.

It was a fragment of the great Dao itself, resonating deeply with them.

“Dao—... Your Excellency!”

The great monk at the highest seat could no longer sit still. He stood up abruptly, his eyes burning with fervor. Staggering forward two steps, he looked between Song You and the spiritual resonance in his hand, his voice trembling. “We... we are willing to exchange the Golden Awl for this spiritual resonance of heaven and earth. Would you be willing?”

But the moment he finished his sentence, he immediately changed his wording.

“Ah, no! The Golden Awl may be precious, but compared to this resonance of heaven and earth, it falls far too short. We are willing to exchange all the rare treasures, gold, and silver in our temple for this one piece of spiritual resonance!” The great monk stared intently at Song You after speaking. “Will you exchange it with us?”

“No.” The Daoist's voice echoed through the grand hall.

For a moment, silence filled the space.

“You have four of these resonances. Can’t you part with just one for us?”

“Daoist Master, you’re being too stingy.”

“We only ask for one!”

“Do you even know how many treasures our temple possesses? This Golden Awl may be our temple’s most prized possession, and it’s incomparably profound. But, we have several other treasures nearly as powerful, and even one that surpasses it. As for slightly lesser treasures, we have countless.

“And rare gems, such as the five-colored jade, are piled high within our temple. If we speak of gold and silver, we have enough wealth to purchase the entire Jadeite Kingdom!”

“We want to exchange all of those for just this one spiritual resonance! You would be gaining immensely!”

“Come now, friend, don’t refuse so quickly...”

One by one, voices rang out, each trying to persuade him.

Some even appeared a little frenzied.

“Impossible.”

Song You smiled slightly but refused without hesitation. He then addressed them calmly, “I have already explained to you all—these resonances do not belong to me. I am merely their temporary keeper. In the future, they will serve a great purpose in the world. Not only is it unthinkable to exchange them for treasure or wealth, but even carelessly abandoning them would be absolutely unacceptable.”

“Just one! You truly won’t even part with one? One of these resonances in exchange for treasures our temple has gathered over centuries—you could become a king, and yet you still refuse?”

“I need the spiritual resonances of all five directions. None can be missing.”

“Why is that?” The monks grew anxious, unable to sit still. Many of them stood up.

“There is no need to be impatient, for impatience changes nothing. It’s truly because the great forces of heaven and earth require their use. This is not something I have the authority to decide,” Song You replied calmly.

He continued, “Besides, even if that were not the case, these resonances are not something an ordinary person can simply take. The only reason I can carry them is because I bear a mission. If anyone else tried, they would not be able to lift them so easily. That is why I can store them in a simple cloth bag or leave them out in the open without fear of them being lost.”

Perhaps it was the Daoist’s composure that subdued them, or perhaps his words reassured them, but the monks gradually settled down and returned to their seats.

“You mean to say...”

“You may try and see if you can lift it.”

“Truly?”

“Truly.”

“And if we can?”

“If any of you can lift it at this moment, then I will agree to the exchange.” Song You’s tone remained indifferent.

“I'll go first!”

The great monk seated to Song You’s upper side suddenly stood up.

His monk’s robe billowed, exuding an air of authority.

As he strode forward, he lifted his robe sleeves, revealing arms that were unusually thick and powerful, far beyond those of an ordinary man.

“Let me try!”

Without another word, the great monk reached out to grasp the spiritual resonance.

But the moment his hand touched it, he couldn’t even hold onto it, let alone lift it.

When he spread his fingers to grab it, the resonance slipped through his grasp like water, flowing silently between his fingers, only to reform once it left his hand. When he attempted to scoop it up, the resonance transformed with boundless fluidity, slipping effortlessly away from his hands.

Even when he finally managed to cup it in his palms, no matter how tightly he clenched his fingers, the resonance seeped through, as if it were light and air itself.

Frustrated, the great monk resorted to using a bowl.

This time, he did manage to contain it—but the resonance simply floated inside, weightless and unmoving. Though he held the bowl firmly, he found himself utterly unable to move it.

He gritted his teeth, his face turning red from exertion. Veins and muscles bulged across his arms, straining with immense force—but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t shift the resonance in the slightest.

Instead—crack!—he shattered the bowl.

The entire scene unfolded like a silent pantomime, a performance both mystical and absurd.

The Daoist remained seated, casually watching while eating grapes.

“This is impossible...”

The monks stared wide-eyed in shock.

The great monk himself shook his head repeatedly.

Only he knew the sheer force he had just exerted—thousands, perhaps tens of thousands of jin of strength—yet the spiritual resonance had not budged in the slightest.

And yet, strangely enough, the resonance simply floated in midair, seemingly weightless. There was no resistance, nothing in the air to anchor it down—so why couldn’t he move it? Furthermore, just moments ago, two low-ranking monks had easily carried the bag that contained it. So why was it now completely immovable?

“I'll do it!”

Another monk stepped forward.

Song You remained seated, still as composed as ever. He even found time to play with a cat.

The fire-element spiritual resonance, a natural creation of heaven and earth, had not come into his possession easily. Even the mighty Flaming Sun True Lord—an Ancient Great Being, whose attributes aligned perfectly with fire—had to prepare for days and expend significant effort to retrieve it from the depths of the earth.

Did these monks, possessing only minor cultivation, truly believe they could take a spiritual resonance that had already been assigned its purpose by the heaven and earth without his permission?

And yet, the monks were relentless.

One after another, they stepped forward—including the great monk at the highest seat himself. Each tried a different approach—some using brute strength, some chanting incantations, others devising intricate counteracting techniques to move it.

Not a single one succeeded.

Some monks, unwilling to accept defeat, even tried multiple times.

“You are all wasting your efforts,” Song You told them. “Only a few, even among the great demons of Great Yan and the deities in the heavens, could claim with certainty that they could lift it.”

“...”

The monks exchanged glances. Finally, they conceded, retreating back to their seats. They looked at the Daoist, who remained completely unfazed, before sighing in resignation.

“Daoist Master, you are absolutely unwilling to trade?”

“I am not trading.”

“Then what about your Water-Splitting Blade? We’ll trade it for this Golden Awl—no, for another treasure instead.”

The head monk at the highest seat now set his sights on the Daoist’s blade. Initially, he had intended to trade the Golden Awl for it, but upon considering that the Water-Splitting Blade and the Golden Awl were of equal value, he felt it would be too much of a loss. So he quickly adjusted his proposal, his eyes darting with calculation.

“Our temple possesses another treasure—something truly remarkable. In the language of Great Yan, it would be called a Qiankun Pouch[1].

“It is only this small—much smaller than your cloth bag—but it can hold several baskets' worth of items. Daoist Master, you carry so many belongings on your travels; wouldn't it be much more convenient if you had this? With just one pouch, you could store everything effortlessly!”

“Exactly! Much more convenient!”

“This is a great deal!”

The monks all nodded in agreement, turning their heads in unison to look at the Daoist.

A calico cat sat nearby, gazing up at them with a serious expression. Then, mimicking the monks, she turned her head to look at her Daoist priest.

Lady Calico was a sentimental cat. The blade had accompanied her for so long, and she had developed an attachment to it. She clearly didn’t want to trade it. But at the same time, she felt that the monk had made a good point. However, she was just a cat—merely a cat raised by the Daoist—so naturally, the decision was not hers to make.

Song You simply smiled and said, “As I mentioned before, the Water-Splitting Blade does not belong to me. The only thing I truly own is this bamboo staff.”

“Then this Water-Splitting Blade...?”

“It is a gift from me to Lady Calico. It already belongs to her. Even when I need to use it, I must borrow it from her. I have no authority to make decisions regarding it.” Song You continued, “Besides, my Lady Calico is quite fond of this little blade. She has used it for many years and is well accustomed to it. So, she will not trade it.”

Hearing this, the cat seemed reassured. She withdrew her gaze from her master and turned back to the monks, lifting her head and saying firmly, “Meow!”

The monks were immediately filled with regret.

A long while passed before they finally remembered that there were still two more spiritual resonances they had yet to see. Once again, they began clamoring, urging the Daoist to reveal the remaining resonances for them to admire.

The monks felt both satisfied and regretful.

The night deepened.

The wine before the Daoist was a fine grape wine, worthy of the exquisitely crafted wine jug and cups. It was not strong, primarily carrying the aroma of grapes and a sweet-tart fruitiness, seemingly meant for leisurely sipping rather than heavy drinking. Song You couldn’t help but drink a little more, and by now, he had already finished half a jug.

The roasted chicken and grilled fish, however, he had barely touched. The cat had eaten some, but they had long gone cold.

Not a single grape remained.

The milk had also been licked clean by the cat.

Finally, the head monk seated at the highest seat spoke, his voice filled with both admiration and regret.

“Daoist Master, you are indeed an honored guest, truly a great cultivator from the Celestial Empire. Thanks to you, today we have had the fortune to witness what a true treasure of the great Dao looks like. It has been a thrilling experience! But alas, such a divine treasure is right before our eyes, yet we cannot possess it...”

He paused for a moment, then stood up.

“But Daoist Master, rest assured. Since you are unwilling to trade, we shall not force the matter. We are not the kind to resort to underhanded means. Now that it is late, please allow us to offer you the best guest chamber in the temple for a good night's rest. Tomorrow morning, we shall personally escort you down the mountain.”

“Many thanks for your hospitality.” Song You also stood and returned the gesture.

“Meow!”

The cat imitated the Daoist, straightening up and bowing in return.

The head monk was not surprised and simply waved his hand.

Immediately, two attending monks stepped forward, lifting the Daoist’s heavy bedding bag and following him toward the door.

Behind them, the candle flames flickered. The many monks seated in front of their mats all turned their heads toward the door in unison, their posture nearly identical, silent as they stared at the Daoist’s bedding bag.

Moments ago, not a single one of them had been able to lift even one of the spiritual resonances. Yet now, all four were packed inside that very bag—carried away with ease.

Outside, the air was still filled with the sound of chanting. The monks of the temple had not yet rested.

Beyond that, there was no other sound.

Led by the monks, the Daoist followed the long corridor, passing through courtyard after courtyard, heading toward the guest chambers.

“Flutter, flutter, flutter...”

A swallow flitted through the night sky, following them.

“The masters here are truly diligent.”

“Diligence earns the favor of the world, Your Excellency. Diligence allows one to comprehend the true essence of the Buddha’s teachings,” replied the monk leading the way.

“No wonder you all have such great cultivation skills.”

“We cannot compare to you, Your Excellency.”

“Are there any other guests in the temple?”

“None. Only you, Your Excellency.”

“Is that so...”

Song You smiled slightly and said no more.

At present, the Western Regions were fervently devoted to Buddhism. Jade City, the largest and most prosperous city in the region, naturally had a grand and resplendent temple just outside its borders. That was not surprising.

What was surprising was that such a large temple had no other guests staying the night, especially since it had rained at dusk.

For such a grand temple to have no food was also peculiar.

The rain had fallen only here, not in Jade City. And oddly enough, not long after he entered the temple to seek shelter, the rain had stopped. That, too, was strange.

Even if this entire temple was run by demons, or even built by them, that alone would not be enough to explain all these anomalies. As long as such a large temple stood here for a long time, travelers were bound to come. And where travelers came, the temple should have at least some food prepared.

They had been waiting here specifically for him.

1. "Qiankun" (乾坤) is a concept rooted in Daoist culture with multiple meanings:

It refers to the Qian and Kun trigrams in the Book of Changes (I Ching).

It signifies Heaven and Earth.

It symbolizes the Sun and Moon.

It represents Yin and Yang, or hardness and softness.

It can refer to the nation, rivers and mountains, or the realm under Heaven (i.e., the world or empire).

It denotes the overall situation or the bigger picture.

It may also refer to the emperor and empress. ☜