Chapter 60: Matter Concluded, Magic

Chapter 60: Chapter 60: Matter Concluded, Magic

"The Concealing Breath Stele..."

"Heh, no wonder I couldn’t find the Insect Mother."

Steward Ma’s expression turned grim as he let out a cold laugh.

Having cultivated for so long, of course he knew what this talisman was used for.

The Concealing Breath Stele was a Middle-Grade Talisman inscribed with two types of runes—Concealment and Breath-Retraction. It could mask Spiritual Qi and hide one’s tracks, and was mainly used in cave residences or secret chambers.

"Who was it?"

Steward Ma lightly tapped his fingers on the table as faces flashed through his mind.

He was silent for several breaths.

Steward Ma reined in his thoughts, looked at the four people before him, and said in a low voice, "Tell me, how did you find it?"

Li Changsheng gave a slight nod to Elder Wang.

A flicker of delight appeared in Elder Wang’s eyes. He nodded back at him and began to recount the events.

He started with their initial suspicions, then described how Li Changsheng had used an insect swarm to search for the Insect Mother, leading to the discovery that something was amiss with He Qing. After killing He Qing, they found the Insect Mother and, after a bloody battle, successfully slayed it. Finally, he explained how they had rushed straight to Steward Ma to report their findings.

He only briefly mentioned what Liu Yong had said at the beginning.

Elder Wang emphasized how arduously they had searched, how he and Wu Yong had struggled to grievously wound the Insect Mother, and the losses they had suffered as a result, before Li Changsheng finally delivered the killing blow.

He also made a passing mention of the Spirit Stones in the pit but didn’t specify the exact quantity.

After speaking, Li Changsheng and Elder Wang placed the Insect Mother’s corpse and the talisman on the table beside Steward Ma, then stepped aside.

Wu Yong nodded slightly, clearly satisfied with Elder Wang’s account, while Liu Yong clutched his chest, a look of reluctance on his face.

Steward Ma picked up the talisman and examined it carefully, trying to find any traces on its surface.

After a moment, Steward Ma put down the talisman. He looked at the four of them and said with satisfaction, "You didn’t hide this talisman. Very good. Truly, very good!"

"We wouldn’t dare..."

The four of them hurriedly cupped their hands.

"This talisman is of great use to me, so I’ll be taking it."

Steward Ma waved his sleeve, storing away the insect’s corpse and the talisman. With a slight thought, four piles of sparkling Spirit Stones appeared on the table.

"Here are some Spirit Stones. Take your share and leave."

With that, he rose and left in a hurry.

"Safe travels, Steward."

The four said, cupping their hands.

After Steward Ma left, a figure dashed forward at high speed, scooped up one of the piles of Spirit Stones, and ran out of the room.

Li Changsheng, Wu Yong, and Elder Wang looked at each other, their expressions a mixture of amusement and exasperation.

So, Liu Yong was afraid they would split the reward according to their prior arrangement!

Li Changsheng walked over and glanced at the piles. Each was roughly the same size, containing a little over a hundred Spirit Stones.

The remaining three men each took a pile of Spirit Stones and left the room.

Once outside, Li Changsheng didn’t leave right away. He walked over to the Spirit Seed Zone.

He was greeted by a young man with thick eyebrows and large eyes, dressed in the uniform of an outer sect disciple.

Seeing him approach, the young man asked, "Junior Brother, what kind of spirit seeds are you looking to buy?"

Li Changsheng cupped his hands, took out a cutting of the Blood Bamboo Vine, and said, "Senior Brother, I was wondering if you have this type of vine?"

The young man took the vine, frowning as he examined it for a moment before handing it back. He shook his head. "Sorry, we don’t."

Li Changsheng felt a pang of disappointment. He took back the vine, put it away, and said, "Apologies for the trouble, Senior Brother, but I’d also like to buy enough fruit and vegetable seeds to plant half a mu of land..."

The young man nodded and turned to enter the storehouse.

「A short while later.」

Li Changsheng left the Spirit Seed Zone and entered the main hall, where he beckoned to a servant.

The servant trotted over to his side, bowed, and asked, "What can I do for you, my lord?"

Li Changsheng stated his purpose directly, "I’ve just arrived and need to buy some furniture and household items."

Hearing this, the servant’s eyes lit up. "What do you need, my lord?" he asked eagerly.

Li Changsheng shook his head. "I need everything."

The servant understood immediately and, patting his chest, guaranteed he would arrange for everything.

Li Changsheng nodded, gave his address, and left a Spirit Stone. The servant saw him off respectfully as he departed the Spirit Field Hall.

Not far from the hall, he saw Wu Yong and Elder Wang standing at the edge of the square.

Seeing him emerge, Elder Wang waved him over.

’Why are they looking for me?’

Puzzled, Li Changsheng walked toward them.

As he drew closer, Li Changsheng asked in confusion, "Senior Brothers, what is this about?"

The two exchanged a look. Elder Wang cupped his hands and said, "Junior Brother, forgive my bluntness, but what is the magic you cultivate?"

Wu Yong, standing to the side, was also watching him intently.

Li Changsheng’s mind raced. He frowned and feigned displeasure. "Senior Brother, what are you implying?"

"I... well, you see..."

Elder Wang looked awkward, at a loss for words...

Wu Yong shot him a disdainful glance before looking at Li Changsheng and asking bluntly, "The Spirit Insect Manipulator magic you use—is it one recorded by the sect, or is it your own?"

Elder Wang looked at him, full of anticipation.

Li Changsheng thought to himself, ’Just as I expected. They’re after the insect seal I cultivate.’

He pretended to hesitate for a moment, then shook his head. "I obtained it through a fortunate encounter. The sect shouldn’t have it in its records."

Wu Yong’s face lit up with excitement. "What rank is it? Are you selling?"

Elder Wang covered his face, regretting having come with Wu Yong. ’Who asks so directly? Isn’t that just asking to offend someone?’

But just as he was stewing in regret...

Li Changsheng’s voice rang out.

"First-rank top-grade. What price can you offer?"

"What!"

Elder Wang lowered his hand and stared at Li Changsheng in disbelief.

Li Changsheng looked at Elder Wang, confused. "What’s wrong?"

Elder Wang shook his head quickly, his gaze a bit strange.

Ignoring Elder Wang, Wu Yong stared at him with burning eyes. "Name a price. As long as I can afford it, I’ll pay it!"

Elder Wang: "..."

’That’s not what we agreed to say earlier! Now that you’ve said that, the price is going to be astronomical!’

’He’s that desperate?’

Li Changsheng was delighted and was just about to name an exorbitant price.

But the words died on his lips. He’d almost forgotten—his magic wasn’t complete.

A complete first-rank top-grade magic would be priced between three hundred and one thousand Spirit Stones.

An incomplete one... well, that was hard to say.

After a moment of hesitation,

Li Changsheng decided to be frank and let them make the first offer.

"Don’t get too excited. This magic of mine is incomplete!"

"Huh?" "What!"

As expected, upon hearing this, both of them looked at him in disbelief.

Li Changsheng flipped his hand over, revealing a fragmented jade stone engraved with half of a Four-winged Centipede, and gave it a little shake.

"Even though a part of it is missing, it can still be practiced..."

Wu Yong’s expression darkened slightly, and he hesitated.

An incomplete magic meant its pathway diagram was flawed. Although it could be practiced, its power would be greatly reduced, and there was a high chance of unknown hidden dangers.

Disappointment filled Elder Wang’s heart. He shook his head and sighed, "What a pity..."

He flipped his hand over to reveal a palm-sized, pearly-white paper crane. He infused it with Spiritual Power and tossed it into the air.

With a flash of spiritual light, the paper crane expanded to a wingspan of three meters.

Elder Wang stepped onto it, cupped his hands toward the other two, and rode the crane toward the mountain peak.

Li Changsheng was inwardly annoyed. ’Sigh, an incomplete magic really isn’t worth many Spirit Stones!’

He watched with an envious expression as the paper crane flew higher and farther away.

’I have a field and a house now, and even a mount, but Xiaohua can’t fly!’

’Mm... I’ll definitely have to get one in the future!’

Just as he was lost in thought,

Wu Yong suddenly said, "Three hundred Spirit Stones!"