Form an alliance?
After hearing Hua Zhimo's words, Lady Fang's brows slightly furrowed.
With a smile, Hua Zhimo said, "A marvel descends from heaven, and I believe not only you know about it, but others are also fully aware that an exotic treasure will be born in Haijiao. Now, just from what I know, within Haijiao, there are no less than ten martial artists of Heavenly Level. Those people aren't here just to eat their fill.
If you and I were to act separately, I think you can understand what our chances of snatching that exotic treasure would be..."
After listening to Hua Zhimo's words, Lady Fang nodded with a smile. "Then, if the two of us really do seize that exotic treasure, how would we divide it? No one can guarantee that there will be exactly two treasures. What if there's only one?"
Hua Zhimo chuckled and said, "That's an easy matter. Your cultivation is higher, so if there is only one exotic treasure, then it shall be yours. If there are two exotic treasures, then one of them shall be mine."
Upon hearing Hua Zhimo's proposal, Lady Fang didn't hesitate. "Since that's the case, we can form an alliance."
"Good. From now on, we are allies..." Hua Zhimo said with a grin.
Ding Fan watched the sly smiles of these two old foxes. Despite their cordial talk now, if the treasure did erge and there was only one, these two were sure to fight until blood was spilled.
However, by joining forces, their success rate would indeed be much higher. The two of them could work together to snatch the exotic treasure from others and then contend with each other, aning fewer opponents to face.
"Lady Fang, now that we are allies, I have so news I can share with you," Hua Zhimo said from the side.
"News? What kind of news?" Lady Fang turned her gaze to Hua Zhimo.
"At the bank of Donghe River, there is a level ground. Tonight, an elder of Mount Song is organizing a gathering there for the people who have co to Haijiao," Hua Zhimo revealed.
"An elder of Mount Song?" Lady Fang pondered for a mont before saying, "That elder of Mount Song must be over two hundred years old by now..."
Hua Zhimo said with a smirk, "That elder of Mount Song indeed has a long life, over two hundred years and still not dead, and his cultivation is said to have reached Heavenly Level third grade... on par with yours, Sister."
"It can't be that the elder of Mount Song is gathering everyone there for a al, right? There must be so purpose," Lady Fang enquired.
"The elder of Mount Song says that an exotic treasure is about to erge in Haijiao, and considering so many ancient martial arts masters are gathered here, he wants to hold an exchange eting," Hua Zhimo explained.
After hearing Hua Zhimo's words, Lady Fang looked puzzled. "An exchange eting? What is that?"
"An exchange eting is to bring everyone together so that those who have treasures they no longer need can exchange them with each other," Hua Zhimo clarified. "I hear quite a few people will attend, and many treasures will appear then."
Upon hearing this, Lady Fang's eyes lit up. "I've been to the Longxi Auction, such a place, yet I've never encountered any significant treasure. Hopefully, I'll achieve sothing tonight."
Ding Fan, who had been listening on the side, beca intrigued by the exchange eting and thought about checking it out. Perhaps he might obtain the treasure he wanted; it was a possibility.
Originally, Ding Fan had planned to leave Lady Fang directly, but now he was considering following along to take a look.
After Lady Fang and Hua Zhimo had finished discussing their plans, they set off straight away.
Since Lady Fang had given her word not to harm Ding Fan, Hua Zhimo did not make things difficult for him.
Soon after, the group of four directly traversed the forest, heading toward Donghe.
At that mont, Ding Fan was using a Magic Artifact that concealed one's cultivation, hiding his own cultivation level. Now, Ding Fan appeared to be just at the Earth Level peak.
Ding Fan had previously fought the demon cat alongside Dongfang Ying, so she was aware of his cultivation level.
The four of them sprinted for what seed like an hour before they finally found a river.
Following the river not far, the group ca to a campsite.
The campsite was not large, with only four tents, but around it were so defensive formations set up.
As soon as Hua Zhimo and Lady Fang arrived at the campsite, a handso man ca to greet them.
"May I inquire about the nas of our four guests and the reason for your visit?" the young man asked politely.
"We've co for the exchange eting tonight," Lady Fang said icily. "As for nas, they're just identifiers; knowing them or not doesn't really matter."
Although Lady Fang was reticent to leave her na, the young man did not press further. "Since it's for the exchange eting, please co into the camp to rest and have so tea while waiting."
Lady Fang and Hua Zhimo went ahead, with Ding Fan and Dongfang Ying following behind, and the four entered the campsite.
By one of the tents, there was a bonfire, around which seven or eight people sat sparsely. They were mostly seated in small groups and, despite keeping to themselves, were mutually cautious.
Lady Fang and Hua Zhimo found a smooth rock to sit on.
Ding Fan and Dongfang Ying each found a place to rest as well.
Before long, soone ca over and poured hot water for Ding Fan and the others.
Though it was just plain water, having a safe cup to drink in the heat of the jungle was quite a comfort.
"Have you heard? Soone has refined a Sixth Grade Foundation Building Pill!"
Just as they took their seats, Ding Fan and the others overheard soone nearby discussing sothing.
Because the others were discussing the Sixth Grade Foundation Building Pill, Ding Fan actually concentrated and listened carefully.
"A Sixth Grade Foundation Building Pill? Impossible, right? You have to realize, any Foundation Building Pill above the Second Grade is a treasure."
"Why would I lie to you? I truly saw it, it was indeed a Sixth Grade Pill."
Ding Fan looked at the person who was speaking; he was an old man around sixty years old, and he had an honest and naive appearance.
Ding Fan didn't recognize this person but the Sixth Grade Foundation Building Pill he ntioned was indeed refined by him. Ding Fan thought it must have been seen by this man during the auction.
"Old Sun, you're usually honest and straightforward, why are you exaggerating now after not seeing you for a while?" Soone shook their head in disbelief. "Even if you had the materials, you wouldn't be able to refine a Sixth Grade Foundation Building Pill."
"How could I possibly lie to you? I'm an alchemist too. The fragrance of pills above the Sixth Grade fades with age, but that person's Sixth Grade Foundation Building Pill had a rich, intense aroma. Moreover, the dicine Pill also had bursts of herbal scent. dicine Pills passed down through ti, no matter how well preserved, wouldn't have a herbal scent. The fact that the Sixth Grade dicine Pill has such a scent makes it clear that it was refined not too long ago!" the honest elder explained.
Having listened to this, Ding Fan actually held a certain appreciation for this honest elder.
The fact that the honest elder could deduce the age of the Pill just from its scent showed a ticulous mind which was quite admirable.
"Old Sun, do you know? A Sixth Grade Pill is an absolute treasure. I fear that no one tonight will be able to bring out a Magic Artifact to trade for that Sixth Grade Pill. I think you've beco delusional from your obsession with pill refinent," soone teased.
"Old Sun must have dread about the Sixth Grade Foundation Building Pill."
"Old Sun, you've really studied dicine Pills until you've gone silly..."
At that mont, everyone around started ridiculing Old Sun.
"I really didn't lie to you," Old Sun's face reddened with anxiety, causing his speech to beco sowhat inarticulate.
"Alright, as long as you know you didn't lie to us..."
Seeing Old Sun like this, the crowd burst into another wave of laughter.
Upon seeing everyone's reaction, Old Sun shouted loudly, "I do know that person, and one day, I will bring him here so you all can see for yourselves."
Ding Fan was slightly taken aback; from Old Sun's words, it seed he rembered Ding Fan's appearance.
However, after a brief mont of distraction, Ding Fan felt there was no need to worry. Every ti Ding Fan went to the auction, he did so in disguise, and he did not believe anyone could rember his appearance.
"What kind of person was he?" soone asked Old Sun jokingly.
"He was a young man of about twenty-two or twenty-three..."
Before Old Sun could finish, everyone present burst into laughter once more. Even Dongfang Ying, who had been listening to the commotion from the side, couldn't hide her contemptuous smirk.
Twenty-two or twenty-three years old – what could that age possibly achieve? They didn't believe that such a young person could refine a Sixth Grade Foundation Building Pill. To this group, being able to refine even a First Grade Foundation Building Pill was already challenging enough.
Amidst the laughter, Old Sun's words were drowned out by the crowd. Soon, seeing that no one was taking him seriously, Old Sun stopped speaking altogether.
"Really, people today are just unrealistic. A twenty-one or twenty-two year old capable of refining a Sixth Grade Pill? If there really was such a person, wouldn't they be a god?" Dongfang Ying said disdainfully.
Ding Fan didn't pay attention to Dongfang Ying.
Ding Fan was able to refine a Sixth Grade Pill because firstly, he possessed the Heaven and Earth Strange Fire known as the Nine Luminaries Fire, and secondly, due to the Ancient Cauldron. Now, he also had Zizi to assist him.
Together with just a little bit of luck, he had successfully refined a Sixth Grade Pill.
Now, Ding Fan was curious what Dongfang Ying's expression would be if she knew that the Sixth Grade Pill was refined by him.
After chatting by the campfire for a while, a few more groups arrived until around ten o'clock at night when the exchange eting officially began.
The exchange eting was held in a tropical jungle, yet the attendance was substantial. Ding Fan estimated that there were likely more than fifty participants.
The organizers had prepared several bonfires, so despite it being night, the area was as bright as daylight.
Bang, bang... At that mont, the sound of a wooden stick beating erged.
People resting by the fire gathered towards a large rock.
Then, a figure appeared before everyone atop the large rock.
It was an old man with white hair, white beard, and white eyebrows. He looked hunched over, leaning on a cane, leaving one to wonder just how old he might be.
Although the old man seed ancient and feeble, his movent technique that had just been displayed revealed his formidable cultivation, earning him a round of applause.
Those who knew the old man recognized him imdiately.
He was the organizer of this auction, Elder of Mount Song.
"My friends, thank you for honoring this old man from Mount Song by attending this exchange eting," the Elder of Mount Song spoke amicably, standing on the rock.
Although the volu of Elder of Mount Song's voice was soft, he employed his Inner Strength to project his voice, making it seem as though he was speaking right in front of everyone.
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