Chapter 481 - 411: Transaction

Chapter 481: Chapter 411: Transaction

Chen Li calmly sized up the newcomers.

Of the two women, the slightly more slender one’s fluctuating aura indicated she had the Cultivation of the Spirit Realm Seventh Level: Inner Mansion Pass.

But her aura was rather weak and unstable, as if she had suffered a serious internal injury.

As for the other woman, who had a fuller and more graceful figure, Chen Li found her difficult to read.

This wasn’t because her Cultivation far surpassed his, but because Chen Li had currently hidden his Lifebound Primordial Spirit deep within, allowing his Second Primordial Spirit to take control of his body.

However, he could faintly sense traces of Primordial Qi circulating within the slightly fuller-figured woman.

Her aura was no stronger than his own; she was likely at the Guiyuan Pass level.

At the same time, the two women were also sizing up Chen Li.

The full-figured woman in the white dress looked at Chen Li through her hanging veil, her brow slightly furrowed.

She swept her Divine Sense over him. He was only at the Void Transformation level, yet the space between his meridians and Acupoints was completely empty, making him seem like he wasn’t a Martial Artist at all.

She found this very strange.

Seeing that both parties had arrived, Zhou Xuanzi tactfully smiled and said, "Since the buyer and seller are both present, I won’t delay your business. If you need anything, you can find me at any time."

With that, he cupped his hands in a salute and turned to leave the private room.

Chen Li gave a look, and Bai San and Gossip immediately stood up, followed Zhou Xuanzi out, and gently closed the door behind them.

Inside the private room, only Chen Li and the two women in white dresses remained.

Chen Li’s lips moved slightly, his voice condensing into a single line as he used sound transmission. "I have yet to ask, how should I address you two?"

The full-figured woman in the white dress replied in kind with a secret sound transmission, "We are but wanderers in the Jianghu. If we meet by chance, why must we know each other’s names?"

Chen Li didn’t press the issue and got straight to the point. "How do you two wish to trade? State your terms."

The full-figured woman’s voice was cold. "A True Intent Map in exchange for a Divine Sense Treasure, plus an Elixir or Heavenly Material and Earthly Treasure that can nourish or repair Divine Sense. The middleman should have conveyed the terms clearly."

Chen Li’s gaze shifted to the slender woman with the weak aura. "The Elixir to repair Divine Sense... that’s for this young lady, I presume?"

The full-figured woman’s eyes grew colder under her veiled hat. "Whether it is or isn’t seems to have nothing to do with you."

Chen Li stopped beating around the bush. "In that case, I’ll be blunt. The price is a bit high. However, if you can provide a True Intent Map that is confirmed to be ownerless and free of trouble, I can consider it. Why don’t you first show me an outline of the Martial Arts contained in the True Intent Map for me to inspect and verify?"

The full-figured woman transmitted a cold sneer. "And why shouldn’t you take out the Divine Sense Treasure for me to inspect first?"

Chen Li’s tone was calm. "If I’m not mistaken, you are a Grandmaster Guiyuan at the very least. With my meager Void Transformation Cultivation, I wouldn’t dare to casually show my treasures to others. Besides, it’s just a single Martial Arts technique. I’m sure you wouldn’t be so stingy."

The full-figured woman stared at Chen Li for a moment.

Finally, she raised a hand, took a booklet from her sleeve, and sent it flying smoothly through the air toward Chen Li with a gentle push.

Chen Li reached out, caught it, and opened it to take a closer look.

The cover was blank. The inner pages, written in neat, small script, described a Cultivation Technique called Flying Sword Skill.

Its description was quite captivating.

Cultivating this art would allow one to control a Longsword from a distance, injuring enemies from afar with unpredictable agility.

The end of the text even claimed that if one cultivated it to a high enough Realm, they could command their sword to fly freely, taking an enemy’s head from a thousand miles away, possessing infinite power.

However, Chen Li’s insight was on another level now.

With just a rough scan, he already understood.

This Cultivation Technique seemed profound and mysterious, but in reality, it was all flash and no substance.

The reason was simple.

Controlling a weapon from a distance was not difficult; Chen Li could do it himself.

Using Inner Qi or Primordial Qi to control objects from afar was, in essence, an extension of one’s own power.

The farther the distance, the weaker the control, the greater the decay in power, and the harder it became to maintain control.

This was common sense in the Martial Dao.

With Chen Li’s current Dharma Aspect Cultivation, he could only maintain full power within a range of ten zhang.

Beyond fifty zhang, its power would be greatly diminished.

Beyond a hundred zhang, it probably couldn’t even kill an ordinary Qi Realm Martial Artist.

As for taking someone’s head from a thousand miles away?

Chen Li just treated it as boastful nonsense.

This Flying Sword Skill was more like a niche technique for showing off and intimidation, not a practical ultimate skill for direct combat.

It wasn’t very practical.

However, Chen Li’s intention wasn’t to use it as a Combat Technique, but merely to use its True Intent to enlighten his Second Primordial Spirit.

Even if the Cultivation Technique lacked practicality, it didn’t really matter.

The Cultivation Technique’s flaws, however, became his bargaining chip.

"Ma’am, this Flying Sword Skill of yours... is certainly unique."

Chen Li closed the booklet, looked up at the full-figured woman, and his sound transmission carried a playful tone. "But from my perspective, its ability for remote Sword Control is likely an exaggeration. For actual combat... it’s truly limited."

He paused, then said, "For this Cultivation Technique, I can only offer one of the items. A Divine Sense Treasure, or a Heavenly Material and Earthly Treasure to repair Divine Sense. Choose one."

"Frog in a well!"

The full-figured woman in white said coldly, "Do you have any idea about the origin of this technique? In the past, a great expert wielded this Swordsmanship, dominating the nineteen prefectures with a single sword, completely unstoppable. This is a true Sword Immortal’s legacy!"

"You don’t have to try and fool me."

Chen Li’s expression remained unchanged as he replied via sound transmission, "Even if some expert truly dominated the world with this technique, there must have been other reasons. Perhaps they possessed a Divine Weapon, or had some other fortuitous encounter. Judging by this Cultivation Technique alone... it is absolutely not worth the price you’re asking."

He paused, looked at the tall woman, and continued, "I’m sticking to my offer. A Divine Sense Treasure, or an elixir for Divine Sense. The effects of either should be able to alleviate this young lady’s Divine Sense injury. If you are unwilling to trade..."

Chen Li made a "please leave" gesture. "Then please, be on your way."

"You!!"

The full-figured woman’s breath caught in her throat. The air around her rippled faintly, and a wave of killing intent instantly spread, and though it wasn’t fully released, the temperature in the private room seemed to drop by several degrees.

She was clearly angered by Chen Li’s words, which had turned the tables on her.

After all, it was Chen Li’s side that had sought to purchase a True Intent Map through a middleman, yet now he was acting as if he couldn’t care less whether the deal went through or not. How could she not be furious?

But she had to admit, Chen Li had her by her weak spot.

The tall woman’s Divine Sense injury had lingered for many years. Ordinary medicines had little effect, and she urgently needed a true Divine Sense Treasure or Elixir to stabilize her foundation.

Treasures that could directly nourish and repair Divine Sense were exceedingly rare in the world. They were usually held by powerful experts and seldom offered for trade.

After searching for so many years, this was the best chance she’d had in a long time. She couldn’t let it go.

The tall, slender woman with the weak aura gently tugged on the full-figured woman’s sleeve.

The two were silent for a moment, obviously communicating rapidly via a Sound Transmission Secret Skill.

A dozen or so breaths later, the full-figured woman in white raised her head. Her gaze shot coldly toward Chen Li through her veil, like tangible needles of ice.

"We’ll trade. We want the Divine Sense Treasure. But I will only hand over the True Intent of Martial Dao Map after we have tested it on the spot and confirmed it’s effective."

Chen Li didn’t mind.

"Fine."

He immediately took the Relic from his robes.

This was the very same Divine Sense Treasure he had obtained from the Eight Generals of Wind Gate.

With a flick of his wrist, the Relic flew smoothly toward the full-figured woman in white.

"Hold it under your tongue and circulate your Cultivation Technique to feel its effects. This item can stabilize the Soul Body, nourish the Divine Sense, and protect it from dissipating. You’ll know if it’s what you need once you try it."

The full-figured woman in white took the Relic, picked up a clean teacup from the table, poured in some Qingshui, and carefully washed the Relic several times.

After doing this, she turned slightly to the side, raised her hand, and gently lifted the conical hat from her head, along with the veil attached to it.

Under the veil, half of an exquisite face was revealed. She looked to be about thirty, her skin as white as jade, her features delicate.

She placed the Relic in her mouth, held it under her tongue, closed her eyes, and silently circulated her Cultivation Technique.

A moment later, a flash of unconcealable surprise appeared in her eyes.

’This treasure, just as Chen Li said, truly has the miraculous effect of stabilizing and nourishing.’

She put the Relic away safely, took something from a place close to her chest inside her robes, and tossed it toward Chen Li without even looking at it.

"The True Intent is hidden within this sword. Probe it with your Divine Sense, and you will be able to sense it."

Chen Li raised his hand and caught it. It was slightly heavy, with a cool, smooth texture.

Looking closely, he saw it was a Jade Sword, only about the length of his palm.

Chen Li did as she said, extending a wisp of his Divine Sense toward the Jade Sword.

The moment his Divine Sense made contact with the Jade Sword...

ZING!

An intangible sword cry rang out in his sea of consciousness.

Within the Jade Sword, a vast, sharp, and terrifying Sword Intent—one that seemed capable of severing all things and annihilating the myriad creations—suddenly erupted, surging back along his wisp of Divine Sense.

Chen Li’s probing wisp of Divine Sense was instantly obliterated by the Sword Intent, dissipating into nothingness.

However, in that fleeting instant of contact, Chen Li had already seen it clearly: the incomparably magnificent True Intent of Martial Dao inside the Jade Sword, formed from pure Sword Intent.

Although it was just a fleeting glance, the majestic conception and the pure True Intent of destruction and annihilation shook his Heart Spirit.

’This True Intent Map... its level is far higher than I expected!’

’It seems what the woman said wasn’t a complete lie. At the very least, the origin of this True Intent Map must be extraordinary.’

Chen Li suppressed the waves in his heart, carefully put away the Jade Sword, and cupped his hands toward the two women with a smile. "A pleasure doing business with you."

The full-figured woman in white snorted coldly, said nothing more, and turned to leave the private room, her figure quickly disappearing.

Not long after they left, Zhou Xuanzi returned with Bai San and Gossip.

Bai San leaned in and asked in a low voice, "Master, did it work out?"

Chen Li nodded, his gaze turning to Zhou Xuanzi as he asked directly, "Thank you for your trouble. What is the fee?"

Zhou Xuanzi smiled. "That will be one hundred taels... of gold."

"One hundred taels?! Old Zhou, are you fucking robbing us?!"

Before the words were even out, Gossip jumped up. "This kind of matchmaking is fifty taels of gold, tops! Do you take our Master for a fool?"

Zhou Xuanzi put on a pained expression. "Aiyo, my dear Master Bao, please don’t tear down my stage. Times have changed! Ever since the Pig Emperor died, the Black Market has been in turmoil. The rules are a mess, and the prices have gone up. It’s not easy for a brother to make a living, so please be understanding."

Chen Li, however, didn’t haggle. He took out one hundred taels of golden leaves and handed them over.

"Since Mr. Zhou also feels that the Black Market is not as stable as it used to be, I wonder if you might be interested in a more reliable path?"

Zhou Xuanzi happily put away the golden bag, then paused upon hearing this. "Master Chen’s meaning is?"

"My side can provide a certain amount of Cultivation Medicinal Cuisine resources annually, or a stable stipend of gold and silver. All I ask is that you handle some matters for me when necessary."

Zhou Xuanzi was clearly taken aback. Surprise and hesitation flashed in his eyes, finally turning into a wry smile. "You are generous, Master. I appreciate the sentiment. It’s just... I’m used to being on my own, floundering in the muddy waters of the Black Market. I’m not thinking of coming ashore just yet. I am unworthy of this kind offer."

Chen Li didn’t press him. He smiled and said, "No matter. You can take your time to consider it. If you change your mind, you can find Old Bao at any time. My offer stands for one year."

Zhou Xuanzi cupped his hands. "You are magnanimous, Master. I will remember this. If you have need of me in the future, I will be willing to offer my humble services."

With the transaction complete, Chen Li didn’t linger. He stood up and led the way out of the private room.

Bai San and Gossip quickly followed.

The three of them passed through the noisy main hall of the Hongyan Pavilion, walked out the door, and blended into the night market of Jiangkou County.

They had walked no more than a hundred paces when an icy, bone-chilling sensation, like needles on his back, rose up without any warning!

It wasn’t killing intent, but a pure, malicious sense of being watched.

’I’m being targeted!’

Chen Li’s steps faltered. He turned and swept his gaze across the long street.

It was empty.