"Second-Grade Spirit Gathering Array Disc, thirty-five Spirit Stones, honest trade!"
In front of the Jade Platform, a few people exchanged pleasantries, and then the vendor took out a jade-colored array disc engraved with thirty-six array patterns, resembling a small tower, and handed it to Gu Yuan.
Gu Yuan took the array disc, carefully examined it, and revealed a look of joy on his face.
It was indeed a Second-Grade Array Disc.
With this item, the "Spiritual Flood Dragon Celestial Water" could surely be successfully condensed.
However, the price was indeed substantial.
The array disc alone required thirty-five Spirit Stones, and if you include the Spirit Stones needed for setting up the array, the total cost would be at least one hundred and fifty!
This expenditure could almost drain a typical Qi Refining disciple.
"No wonder there's a blue presence among the fortuitous opportunities; the Four Spirits Jade Pillar indeed requires too much."
Gu Yuan sighed in his heart.
The Spirit Stones needed for the array disc were barely covered by the Fire Dragon Child's gift and the ten Spirit Stones given by Qiu Mingshan when he joined.
But having only the array disc was not enough; the cost of setting up the array, now that's the big expenditure.
Gu Yuan didn't have that many Spirit Stones on him.
But he had two treasures: one was naturally the "Jade Flood Dragon Shuttle" given by Fire Dragon Child, and the second was "Cyan Crane Spirit Water".
Speaking of which, Gu Yuan really had a fate with the "Flood Dragon", as both of his only two treasures were named after "Flood Dragon".
The Jade Flood Dragon Shuttle was a high-grade Dharma Artifact, usable in the late stage of Qi Cultivation, but it only had swift escape capabilities and no offensive abilities, making its value relatively low. Gu Yuan estimated it could only be sold for sixty to seventy Spirit Stones.
That was far from enough for the array disc.
The second option was the "Cyan Crane Spirit Water".
This was genuine high-grade Spirit Water, even among the Cyan Peak Daoist School, it was considered a valuable treasure.
Ordinary disciples had never even seen it.
Even among noble family disciples, not everyone possessed it.
If Gu Yuan offered this item, he would surely gather enough for the array disc.
However, the "Spiritual Flood Dragon Celestial Water" had not yet been successfully condensed, and if there was an accident, it might not be good, so Gu Yuan decided to make dual preparations.
"I will buy the array disc."
Gu Yuan took out the Spirit Stones and bought the array disc first, then said, "But Senior Brother also knows that the array disc requires a lot of Spirit Stones, and I don't have that many Spirit Stones in hand. I want to use a treasure as collateral to borrow some from Senior Brother, just for a month. If, after a month, I haven't returned the Spirit Stones, this item will be given to Senior Brother for sale. However, if I repay the Spirit Stones, the item will be returned to me. How about it?"
"Hmm?"
"What item is it?"
The shadow behind the Jade Platform was slightly taken aback.
This was basically like "pawning".
But over a hundred Spirit Stones wasn't a small number; what treasure could be worth that much?
"Senior Brother, please take a look!"
Gu Yuan took out a jade bottle and displayed it.
"Cyan Crane Spirit Water!"
The shadow over the Jade Platform immediately became agitated.
"It's actually high-grade Spirit Water!"
"I offer two hundred, no, two hundred forty Spirit Stones to buy this item directly, how about it?"
This was truly a treasure; even if he didn't need it anymore, selling it to a noble family disciple could still yield a big profit.
Gu Yuan shook his head.
If the Spiritual Flood Dragon Celestial Water did not successfully condense, this item would be his guarantee to break through to the Qi Refining Fifth Layer; it could not be sold at this time.
"Two Senior Brothers, I have a method to handle this treasure, would you like to hear it?"
At this moment, the person who had led Gu Yuan into the Celestial Palace suddenly spoke.
"What method?"
Gu Yuan asked.
"Senior Brother is currently in urgent need of Spirit Stones; I and Senior Brother Maa can put some together and lend them to Senior Brother."
"Then, Senior Brother Maa and I can release news that in a month, there might be 'Cyan Crane Spirit Water' sold at the Dark Market, stirring up a storm."
"If, after a month, Senior Brother still wants to sell the Spirit Water, we can take the opportunity to auction it for a high price, Senior Brother takes the majority, and Senior Brother Maa and I divide the rest."
"If Senior Brother doesn't want to sell it, just give Senior Brother Maa and me some interest to retrieve the Spirit Water, how about it?"
The shadow proposed.
This proposal was a win-win for the two with pseudonyms Senior Brother Maa.
And Gu Yuan didn't have to give up much, just a bit of interest.
"Let's go with this method!"
Gu Yuan pondered for a moment and then agreed.
Since he wanted to prepare both options, some additional expenses were inevitable; this was unavoidable.
Subsequently, the three of them signed a contract in the Celestial Palace, agreeing to this matter.
The contract was supported by a Golden Core Seal, unable to be reneged, offering significant security.
Then, Gu Yuan placed the "Cyan Crane Spirit Water" in the Celestial Palace for safekeeping, and left the Dark Market with one hundred fifty Spirit Stones and the array disc.
...
...
The Celestial Star Dark Market truly lived up to the Golden Core Seal construction; with a mere thought, Gu Yuan left the Dark Market.
Not only that, but his reappearance wasn't at the pavilion entrance, he was hidden perfectly in the throngs of people at the market, masking his trail.
Gu Yuan pretended to browse briefly at the market, then rode the Cloud-Stepping Shuttle issued by the Daoist School, returning to the Cave Mansion.
But at the Cave Mansion entrance, Gu Yuan saw a familiar figure.
Lan Tianlu, with silver hair and blue eyes, riding a Celestial Horse, was waiting in front of Gu Yuan's Cave Mansion.
"Senior Brother Gu!"
Upon spotting Gu Yuan, Lan Tianlu dismounted, respectfully saluting him.
"Junior Brother Lan?!"
Gu Yuan narrowed his eyes, glancing at the seemingly calm youth before chuckling softly.
He knew they would meet again, but he hadn't expected it to be this soon.
"It seems... the Golden Core's protection ends here."
Gu Yuan sighed internally.
Though the youth before him seemed respectful, compared to Senior Brother Yangg's performance in the Demon Cave, it fell quite short.
The intent to kill was chilling.
Clearly, he already knew the truth about Gu Yuan's joining.
But this matter, Gu Yuan had long been prepared for, having devised countermeasures, so there was no panic.
"Senior Brother Gu, the other day I was offensive, my mistake. As an apology, I am willing to help relocate you to the Cave Mansion on Cyan Light Island."
"The concentration of Spiritual Qi on Cyan Light Island is thirty percent higher, and that Cave Mansion was left by a noble family disciple, with a wealth of treasures and luxuries. Would Senior Brother care to move there?!"
"All related expenses will be on me!"
Lan Tianlu lowered his head, speaking gently and humbly, beseeching Gu Yuan.
But Gu Yuan just smiled slightly.
"Then what about this Cave Mansion?"
"Since Junior Brother made a mistake, he naturally should be punished by facing the wall in the Cave Mansion to reflect!"
Lan Tianlu still kept his head down.
"Junior Brother Lan... if it were me, I would immediately call upon Foundation Establishment elders, find an excuse, capture me, and then force me to exchange Cave Mansions."
"Or, use Top-Grade Spiritual Water or Foundation Establishment Spirit Object to entice me to exchange Cave Mansions."
"Or perhaps use the Daoist Academy Decree to challenge me according to the 'Duel' law."
"Instead of offering such trivial benefits with childish words that make one laugh."
Gu Yuan shook his head.
"Gu Yuan!"
"You opportunist!"
"How dare you seize my opportunity!"
"You refuse a toast only to drink a forfeit, do you even deserve to enjoy Top-Grade Spiritual Water?!"
"Duel!"
"I challenge you to a duel!"
Gu Yuan's words completely shattered Lan Tianlu's composure; he raised his head suddenly, eyes filled with maddened fury and killing intent.
"Boom!"
Lan Tianlu's palm surged with blue lightning, a Dharma Seal resembling a raptor suddenly appeared, bursting with power, shooting towards Gu Yuan's forehead.