Translator: CinderTL
"Fellow Daoist Ji Yin, while 100,000 high-grade spirit stones are tempting, they're impractical right now. Why not offer something that could save your life instead?" You Ci suggested.
You Ci's audacious demand gave Song Wen, who had been struggling to persuade her, a sudden idea.
Song Wen flipped his hand and produced a jade slip, pressing it into You Ci's palm.
The slip had been blank moments before, but as Song Wen retrieved it, he inscribed several lines of text within.
The text described the function of the "Minor Teleportation Talisman."
After reading it, You Ci visibly stirred, a sharp glint flashing in her murky eyes.
"This isn't bad, but one talisman isn't enough."
"I can offer a maximum of three. If that's unacceptable, then we'll have to abandon this deal," Song Wen replied.
"Very well, three it is. However, I have one condition: the Truth-Hearing Technique must remain your personal practice. You cannot teach it to anyone else, especially not your current companions," You Ci insisted.
You Ci clearly intended to repeatedly sell the Truth-Hearing Technique, ideally to every member of the group.
"Naturally," Song Wen replied. "Rest assured, fellow daoist. I swear upon my Dao Heart that I will never reveal this secret art to anyone else."
You Ci nodded slightly, not dwelling further on Song Wen's words.
While a Dao Heart Oath lacked the binding force of a Soul Oath, cultivators generally avoided breaking such vows, especially high-tier cultivators who held this oath in even greater reverence.
A compromised Dao Heart could lead to stagnation in cultivation, or worse, the emergence of inner demons.
You Ci retrieved a jade slip and handed it to Song Wen.
"The cultivation method for the Truth-Hearing Technique is contained within this jade slip. What about your promised items?" You Ci asked.
Instead of directly handing over the Minor Teleportation Talismans, Song Wen reached into his robe and smoothly retrieved three talismans from his storage ring, placing them into a storage pouch hidden within his inner robes.
He then presented the pouch to You Ci.
You Ci accepted the pouch, briefly examined its contents, and a satisfied expression spread across her face.
Meanwhile, Song Wen held the jade slip You Ci had given him, sensed its contents, and nodded in approval.
"Thank you, fellow daoist, for your generosity," Song Wen said. "This journey is fraught with unpredictable dangers. Should I find myself in dire straits, I would be grateful for your assistance."
"Of course," You Ci replied with a smile.
The transaction was complete, and both parties were satisfied.
In truth, the three Minor Teleportation Talismans Song Wen had given were worth far less than 100,000 high-grade spirit stones. Even all the hundred-odd Minor Teleportation Talismans he carried, including the cost of spiritual materials and the 50,000 high-grade spirit stones he paid for talisman crafting, totaled less than 100,000 high-grade spirit stones.
However, it wasn't as if You Ci had been cheated.
Though she didn't know the true cost of the Minor Teleportation Talismans, the actual value of the Truth-Hearing Technique was also far less than 100,000 high-grade spirit stones.
As You Ci had said, spirit stones were valuable but currently impractical. Those three Minor Teleportation Talismans might very well save her life in some future crisis.
After exchanging a few more polite words with You Ci, Song Wen reduced his escape speed and moved to Wang Qiuyue's side at the rear of the group.
Wang Qiuyue glanced at the jade slip containing the Truth-Hearing Technique in Song Wen's hand, her eyes lighting up slightly. It was clear she was determined to obtain this secret art.
Song Wen didn't say much. He planned to memorize the Truth-Hearing Technique's cultivation technique and then secretly pass it to Wang Qiuyue at the first opportunity.
This secret art would be invaluable on their upcoming journey, and Wang Qiuyue had helped him considerably in the past. It was only fair to return the favor.
As for the Dao Heart Oath...
Heh!
Song Wen didn't even take heavenly dao oaths seriously, let alone this Dao Heart Oath.
His Dao Heart had always been unwavering—
Only immortality matters; everything else is fleeting!
Nothing in this world could shake his Dao Heart.
Meanwhile, on the other side...
Throughout Song Wen's transaction with You Ci, they communicated solely through divine sense. However, Daoist Monarch Yongcheng, Yuanrong, and the other Body Integration Stage cultivators could sense the exchange. While the Body Integration Stage cultivators struggled to decipher the content of the divine sense communication, Daoist Monarch Yongcheng and Yuanrong could easily eavesdrop without alerting Song Wen or You Ci.
Nevertheless, Daoist Monarch Yongcheng and the others remained unaware of what Song Wen had traded for the Truth-Hearing Technique. After all, Song Wen had only introduced the Minor Teleportation Talisman using a jade slip, and he had concealed the actual transaction with a storage pouch.
The Azure Jade Fox Clan's territory was extremely remote. The group traveled over ten million li before spotting scattered azure foxes in the mountain ranges below, all of low-tier rank.
They avoided disturbing these chance encounters and continued deeper into the Azure Jade Fox Clan's domain.
After another several hundred thousand li, they descended into a deep, abyss-like valley.
During the final tens of thousands of li, they captured several fifth and sixth-tier azure foxes and had You Ci interrogate them, confirming the existence of the Azure Jade Fox Clan's forbidden territory.
"The forbidden territory lies less than a hundred thousand li ahead," Daoist Monarch Yongcheng said. "Fellow Daoist Yuanrong, what are your plans now?"
Yuanrong raised his head, his gaze piercing through the dark valley to the faint glimmer of light remaining in the sky.
"Although these azure foxes claim only two eighth-tier foxes guard the forbidden territory, we shouldn't trust their words blindly. It's best to send someone to scout ahead. At the very least, we need to determine if there are any spiritual objects within the forbidden territory worth our attention."
"Scout ahead?" Daoist Monarch Yongcheng seemed surprised.
Since Yuanrong was proposing to send someone to scout, it couldn't be himself or Daoist Monarch Yongcheng. It would have to be someone from the Void Refinement Stage or Body Integration Stage cultivators.
However, with eighth-tier foxes guarding the forbidden territory, any carelessness by the scout could alert them, leading to an inevitable outcome.
"Fellow Daoist, who do you plan to send to scout ahead?" Daoist Monarch Yongcheng asked, a hint of amusement flickering in his eyes.
He knew Yuanrong would never sacrifice his own subordinates. He was curious which unfortunate cultivator Yuanrong would choose as the scapegoat.
Yuanrong's gaze swept across the assembled cultivators before finally settling on Song Wen.
"You seem to be called 'Ji Yin'? You'll be the one to scout ahead."
Song Wen stared in stunned disbelief.
Yuanrong had actually chosen him!
Throughout their journey, Song Wen had maintained an extremely low profile, doing nothing unnecessary and barely speaking a word, except when purchasing the secret art from You Ci.
He couldn't understand why Yuanrong had singled him out.
Could it be because he had purchased the Truth-Hearing Technique? But others had acquired the same secret art after him.
Sensing Song Wen's confusion and reluctance, Yuanrong continued, his voice growing colder.
"I've chosen you because you're a rogue cultivator. As far as I know, the Spirit Jade Palace and its affiliated cultivation forces have no record of someone like you. The rest here belong to established sects or noble families. I..."
Yuanrong paused, his already icy tone freezing over completely.
"I despise all rogue cultivators in this world!"
As if recalling something, Yuanrong's body radiated an unconcealed killing intent.
(End of the Chapter)
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