Translator: CinderTL
"That place isn't a temple at all, but a den of depravity," Cui Xinyi said, her face contorted with disgust as she gazed at the golden Buddha statue atop the mountain. "The won who climb this mountain aren't here to seek enlightennt; they're here to participate in the Sun Moon Temple's selection of monks."
"Won participating in a temple's monk selection?" Song Wen asked, surprised.
Cui Xinyi replied, "The Sun Moon Temple has only one male monk: the temple's Ancestor, the Steady Light Buddha. He's not actually selecting monks, but playthings. However, the Steady Light Buddha offers extrely generous conditions, which has attracted countless shaless won."
At this point, Cui Xinyi seed to recall sothing that enraged her, and the disgust in her eyes transford into a blazing inferno of fury.
"There's not a single decent man in this world," she spat out venomously.
As soon as the words left her mouth, she seed to realize her outburst was inappropriate. Turning to Song Wen, she said apologetically, "Fellow Daoist Gou Jun, please don't misunderstand. I wasn't referring to you."
Song Wen raised a hand to touch his nose, forcing a sheepish smile.
He felt certain Cui Xinyi was talking about him.
"Who is this Steady Light Buddha? Why have I never heard of him? And how could your Cui Clan allow him to establish a foothold in Yaotai City?"
Cui Xinyi said, "This temple is rely a branch of the Sun Moon Temple. The true Sun Moon Temple lies on an island far to the south, hundreds of thousands of miles from here. I don't know the origins of the Steady Light Buddha, only that he's a Buddhist-Daoist cultivator at the Nascent Soul Stage. The Sun Moon Temple's presence helps my Cui Clan guard the southern border, preventing the Demon Race from infiltrating through the outer sea. That's why our Ancestor agreed to let them establish a branch in Yaotai City."
"A Buddhist-Daoist cultivator at the Nascent Soul Stage?" The confusion on Song Wen and ng Lengyu's faces remained unchanged.
Buddhist-Daoism wasn't prevalent in the Chaotic Sea. They had never heard of a Nascent Soul Stage Buddhist-Daoist cultivator.
Moreover, this person called himself the 'Steady Light Buddha,' which didn't sound like a proper Buddhist monk. What Buddhist monk would call himself a 'Buddha'? Follow current novᴇls on NoveI~Fire
"Fellow cultivators, spending too much ti in this filthy place will only dirty your eyes. Let's go sowhere else," Cui Xinyi said.
For the next few days, Song Wen remained in his guest room courtyard, not stepping out once.
One day, Cui Xinyi ca to invite Song Wen and ng Lengyu to Eastern Peng Peak.
"Gou Jun, let's go. The Cui Clan should have prepared all the treasures. Once the transaction is complete, we can return to the sect," ng Lengyu said confidently.
Song Wen nodded.
Following Cui Xinyi, Song Wen and ng Lengyu arrived at the Great Hall on Eastern Peng Peak.
Inside the hall, Cui Xuanjing was nowhere to be seen. Only a cultivator at the Peak Golden Core stage was present.
Moreover, Song Wen recognized this person: it was Cui Xinyi's grandfather, Cui Gu.
"My apologies for keeping you two Fellow Daoists waiting. The Cui Clan has prepared all the treasures. We can begin the exchange now."
As Cui Gu spoke, he tossed two Storage Rings toward ng Lengyu.
Without hesitation, ng Lengyu caught the rings and simultaneously produced two Storage Rings of her own, sending them toward Cui Gu with her Spiritual Power.
Cui Gu received the two Storage Rings and began a ticulous inventory.
anwhile, ng Lengyu briefly examined the two Storage Rings she had received. Then, she handed one of them, along with a jade slip, to Song Wen.
"Fellow Daoist Gou Jun, please refer to the list in the jade slip and verify the contents carefully."
Song Wen followed her instructions, ticulously examining each item within the Storage Ring.
The ring contained a vast array of items, all pills and Spirit Grass, with a total value exceeding several million low-grade Spirit Stones. However, these were all low-grade treasures, utterly useless to Song Wen.
Suddenly.
Song Wen's lowered eyes twitched slightly.
He had detected a fluctuation in Spirit Sense.
It was ng Lengyu!
She was transmitting a ssage to Cui Gu.
"Fellow Daoist Cui Gu, it seems sothing is missing from the treasures your clan provided."
ng Lengyu's Spirit Sense cultivation was a full major realm lower than Song Wen's. He effortlessly intercepted the contents of her transmission.
Cui Gu replied, "Fellow Daoist ng, due to unforeseen circumstances, we haven't yet obtained the Corpse Fiend Essence."
"The Corpse Fiend Essence is the most crucial item in the Cui Clan's contribution to this trade. Without it, I fear this deal will have to be called off," ng Lengyu's voice carried a hint of displeasure.
Cui Gu said, "Fellow Daoist ng, the Cui Clan is currently in dire need of Living Souls. We implore you to show so leniency. Once we secure the Corpse Fiend Essence, we will deliver it to your sect imdiately."
ng Lengyu replied, "Fellow Daoist Cui Gu, you're putting in a difficult position. Without the Corpse Fiend Essence, I won't be able to explain this to the Demon Sovereign when I return to the sect. The Wu Ji Sect slaughtered hundreds of millions of two-legged sheep and spent countless spiritual materials to gather enough Living Souls. Yet the Cui Clan can't even provide the Corpse Fiend Essence? Isn't that just a case of getting sothing for nothing?"
Cui Gu said, "Fellow Daoist ng, why must you speak so harshly?"
ng Lengyu replied, "Fellow Daoist Cui, it's not that I'm speaking harshly, but that you're being too demanding. Senior Cui Xuanjing said just a few days ago that if we waited a few more days, we could obtain the Corpse Fiend Essence smoothly. Now, not only can the Cui Clan not produce the essence, but they're also trying to force the transaction through. I'm afraid I can't comply."
The two continued their silent argunt. Unbeknownst to them, Song Wen, who was busy counting pills and Spirit Grass nearby, had overheard their entire conversation through their ntal transmissions.
From Cui Gu's words, it was clear that the Cui Clan had been confident of obtaining the Corpse Fiend Essence but had encountered an unexpected setback.
Recalling Senior Cui Xuanjing's injuries from a few days ago and his absence from today's transaction, Song Wen ford a rough hypothesis:
The Cui Clan knew where the Corpse Fiend Essence was located, but the area was extrely dangerous. Even Senior Cui Xuanjing's personal efforts had failed, leaving him with non-trivial injuries.
Song Wen raised his eyes slightly, scanning the three figures in the Great Hall.
ng Lengyu, Cui Gu, and Cui Xinyi.
Song Wen pondered inwardly: Which of these three is most likely to know the location of the Corpse Fiend Essence?
ng Lengyu was probably clueless.
Cui Xinyi had a slim chance, but Song Wen couldn't be certain.
Cui Gu was the most likely to know the Corpse Fiend Essence's location.
As Song Wen was lost in thought, ng Lengyu's voice suddenly cut through the air.
"Gou Jun, no need to count."
ng Lengyu reached out and snatched the Storage Ring from Song Wen's hand.
Then, she held up the two Storage Rings in her hand and addressed Cui Gu.
"Fellow Daoist Cui Gu, this transaction is canceled. Please return our sect's treasures."
Cui Gu clenched his right hand, firmly gripping the two Storage Rings.
"Fellow Daoist ng, there's no way I'm letting you take these treasures back to the Wu Ji Sect."
ng Lengyu retorted, "Cui Gu, you need to consider the consequences of your actions. Aren't you afraid that this could lead to a rift between the Cui Clan and the Wu Ji Sect, potentially sparking a war between us?"
Cui Gu replied, "With the Demon Race eyeing us like hungry wolves, their threat to humanity hangs over our heads like a sharp sword. The Wu Ji Sect wouldn't risk a conflict with the Cui Clan over a few treasures. But you two, if you return empty-handed, Demon Sovereign Ye Hua won't let you off easily. Why not change your allegiance and join the Cui Clan instead?"
As he spoke, a smile played on Cui Gu's lips.
"Fellow Daoist ng, you've been at the Peak Golden Core realm for years, yet you've failed to form your Nascent Soul. I suspect you lack the necessary treasures to aid in Core Formation. Fortunately, the Cui Clan still possesses a Primordial Nascent Soul Pill. I can personally guarantee that if you agree to join the Cui Clan, I'll bestow this pill upon you."
(End of the Chapter)
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