Ten thousand high-grade spirit stones—not even the entire Confucian Sage Sect could likely gather such a sum.
That amounted to a full ten billion low-grade spirit stones, a sum that, outside of the Holy Land Immortal Dynasty-level powers, was truly beyond the reach of most individuals on the Immortal Martial Continent.
Moreover, the Plastic Origin Pill was priceless, with no market value. Even if a Ninth-Grade Pill Refiner were provided with all the necessary materials, the success rate of refining it was less than ten percent.
Therefore, Shen Zhao's price was not unreasonable, but rather perfectly reasonable, which made Kong Bai's position all the more awkward.
Yet Kong Bai desperately needed this Plastic Origin Pill. His senior brother, Kong Beiyan, had been ambushed thirty years ago, his foundation shattered, leaving him despondent. This pill was his only hope of restoring his confidence, and Kong Bai was determined to obtain it at any cost.
With a blush, he pleaded, "Fellow Daoist, I truly need this pill, but I don't have such a sum. Could I exchange it for other treasures?"
After a long moment of deliberation, Shen Zhao nodded. "If you'd taken this approach earlier, we might have been able to negotiate. Let's compromise: surrender all the spirit stones and spirit treasures you and your companions possess, and I'll also take one item from you. In return, consider the Plastic Origin Pill a gift. How does that sound?"
"What item?"
"The Gentleman's Jade."
"What?!"
Kong Bai startled, instinctively reaching for the translucent jade pendant at his waist.
It wasn't that Shen Zhao's demands were high; the terms were simply too simple.
"Fellow Daoist, are you certain you want to trade Gentleman's Jade for this Plastic Origin Pill?"
"What? You're unwilling? Planning to push your luck further? Just say yes or no."
"I'll trade!"
Fearing Shen Zhao might change his mind, Kong Bai immediately removed the Gentleman's Jade from his person and thrust it toward him.
After taking the jade, Shen Zhao nodded. "Alright. This Plastic Origin Pill is yours now. I'll have Liang Hao collect the payment later. If you're done here, please step aside. I have other matters to attend to."
"Many thanks, Fellow Daoist," Kong Bai said, his face beaming with joy as he carefully put away the Plastic Origin Pill and returned to his seat at the head table.
The next moment, Shen Zhao produced another Plastic Origin Pill and addressed the Su siblings. "I deeply apologize for the earlier incident. Now, let's continue our discussion.
Here's another Plastic Origin Pill. Its effects were clearly explained in the previous chapter, so I won't waste time repeating them. As for who gets it, that's your decision."
With that, he tossed the pill before them, adopting a condescending posture as he watched them.
Kong Bai and his group were stunned.
How could Shen Zhao casually produce two Plastic Origin Pills, treasures they had always considered priceless?
*Is the Public Arbitration Council's foundation truly this deep?*
The Su siblings stared at the Plastic Origin Pill lying on the ground, each lost in their own thoughts.
*This pill is my only chance to restore my foundation. I can't lose it.*
*If I have a chance to reshape my core, why should I give up?*
*Those two fools love me so much, they'll definitely give the pill to me, right?*
Each with their own ulterior motives, Su Jinyi was the first to snatch the pill. He turned to his siblings and said, "Third Brother, Little Sister, my cultivation is the highest among us. It should go to me."
Su Jinyun immediately lunged forward to snatch it back. "Second Brother, how can you say that? Even though my current cultivation is lower than yours, my potential is boundless. I should be the one to take it."
Seeing that neither brother was considering her, Su Xuejiao grew anxious. "Second Brother, Third Brother, please give me the pill. You always spoil me, don't you?"
Su Jinyi and Su Jinyun, still wrestling for the pill, replied, "Little Sister, your cultivation is too low. This pill would be wasted on you. Don't fight us for it this time."
Su Jinyun added, "That's right. We always let you have your way. It's your turn to let us have ours. Don't worry, once I recover my strength, I'll help you find another opportunity."
"Even if you can't recover, we'll still protect you."
Hearing this, Su Xuejiao refused to let them have their way. She immediately roared and joined the fray.
"Mine! This pill belongs to me alone!"
"Get lost! Dare to compete with me again, and don't blame me for turning on you!"
"Pah! Look at yourself! The Su Family has been raising you all these years, and now that your elder brother is in trouble, you have the nerve to snatch this?"
In the face of absolute self-interest, the pretense of Su Family kinship quickly crumbled, revealing their ugliest sides to the world.
Yin Jiao'e felt numb watching the three siblings wrestle. She couldn't reconcile the scene with the harmonious family gathering from just a few days ago.
When she looked at Shen Zhao, her eyes filled with wariness.
*What a cunning move, to strike at the heart! He's turned these siblings against each other with such ease.*
But then, many disciples who had been eyeing the pill began to show greed.
"Damn, that's a Plastic Origin Pill! A priceless treasure!"
"To let these ants use it? What a waste!"
"Why not seize it now? We can sell it on the black market and split the spirit stones. What do you say?"
"Let's do it! Take the gamble! From a shack to a mansion—let's go!"
The next moment, countless cultivators surged forward, shoving the brawling trio to the ground and madly scrambling for the pill.
The public trial committee, witnessing this scene, also grew greedy.
The three foolish fellows exchanged glances before turning to Shen Zhao. "Fellow Daoist, are you truly willing to let these juniors have the Plastic Origin Pill?"
"Of course," he replied.
"What about us?"
"Don't ask me. The Plastic Origin Pill now belongs to the Su Family."
As soon as he finished speaking, the trio immediately joined the fray.
"Hey~ You bastards! Drop the treasure if you know what's good for you!"
"Listen to Brother Pan's advice—this treasure's waters run too deep for you to handle!"
"Exactly! Such a heaven-defying fortune should be surrendered to us for safekeeping!"
The entire arena erupted into chaos, utterly devoid of the solemnity expected of a martial competition.
Su Jinyi was swept off his feet by the surging crowd, enduring countless stomping feet.
Yet he still crawled from under the legs of the crowd, shouting hoarsely, "It's mine! Mine! No one will take it from me!"
But no one paid attention to the fool. More feet swept over his head like a whirlwind.
Su Jinyun was knocked to the ground with a single punch, looking as frail as a young girl.
He struggled to rise and rejoin the scramble, but his thigh was slapped, and a righteous voice boomed in his ear.
"Well, you're quite sturdy, aren't you?"
"What do you want~?"
"Oh, you're blushing~ Let me take a look."
"Who are you? What do you want?!"
"Just checking if you're developing normally~"
"No~~"
"Be a good boy, let me see~"
While Su Jinyun was being bullied by a burly man, Su Xuejiao was being held down by a group of female cultivators and slapped repeatedly.
During the grand competition, Su Xuejiao had been flirting with many male cultivators, some of whom were married. This had festered a deep resentment in the women's hearts.
Now was the perfect time to vent their fury.
"How dare you seduce my man? I'll beat you to death, you little vixen!"
"Think you can get away with seducing men just because you have a foxy face?"
"Tell me, did you seduce my Dao companion that day? Did you sleep with him?"
"I'll scratch your face to pieces!"
"You slut! I'll teach you a lesson in seducing men! I'll beat you to death, you shameless bitch!"
"Tear off her clothes! Let the world see her filthy body!"
"No, please! I beg you, let me go~"
Su Xuejiao had never endured such humiliation. With her cultivation shattered, she could only desperately clutch her inner shirt, which she hadn't bothered to put on, as the female cultivators tore at her and beat her.
Seeing this scene, Yin Jiao'e's mind went completely blank.
Just then, the boss of the underground money house, Niu Duren, a fifty-year-old man with a portly build and a lecherous face, stepped forward.
"Madam, when will you repay the debt you owe the Niu Duren Money House?"
Yin Jiao'e flinched, her heart trembling as she looked at the corpulent, lecherous man.
"Don't worry, I will definitely repay the debt."
Niu Duren smirked. "Madam, you signed a gambling contract. You bet that your daughter would rank among the top ten in the Grand Competition. Now that the bet is lost, according to the agreement and the twelvefold odds, you owe the Niu Duren Money House three million six hundred thousand spirit stones. May I ask how you plan to pay?"
Yin Jiao'e turned pale at the mention of the sum.
Three million six hundred thousand spirit stones?
Even if the entire Su Family's assets were pooled, they wouldn't have that much.
"N-Niu Manager, could you give me a few more days? I-I'll go back and raise the funds immediately and repay you right away."
Niu Duren chuckled. "Madam, you must have borrowed this money behind your family's back, didn't you?"
Yin Jiao'e bit her lower lip, remaining silent.
"So, Madam, you wouldn't want your husband to find out about this, would you?"
"W-What do you want?"
"Since you can't pay the money, you'll have to repay the debt in the way I suggest."
"What method?"
"Your daughter is quite pretty. Send her to the Heavenly Immortal Pavilion for training, and she'll undoubtedly become another renowned courtesan in Great Liang City. Your two sons are also well-built; selling their asses could fetch a good price."
Yin Jiao'e's pupils contracted, unable to believe that the fate of her loved ones could be so dire.
Niu Duren gave Yin Jiao'e a thorough once-over, clicking his tongue. "As for you, Madam, your charm and beauty remain undiminished. Why not spend a year with me? During that time, I'll ensure you experience a life you've never known. I'm confident you'll love it."
Yin Jiao'e stared at Niu Duren's lecherous gaze, imagining his greasy, corpulent form. Cold sweat broke out on her forehead as she forced a strained smile. "M-Manager Niu, please give me ten more days. I'll have the spirit stones to you in ten days."
"Three days. I'll give you only three days. If I don't see the spirit stones by then, you'll have to do as I say. Don't even think about running—you won't escape me."
With a leering grin, Niu Duren turned and left, leaving Yin Jiao'e disheveled and alone in the wind.
The situation had spiraled completely out of control. For such a grand spectacle, Shen Zhao and Liang Hao, those old schemers, had been waiting too long.
"Thousands of people scrambling for a single pill—a scene like this comes once a century. Today has been quite an eye-opener."
Only Wu Yousheng found the entire scene amusing, watching with keen interest from his elevated perch.
***
The farce lasted for half an hour, but the four members of the Su family ultimately failed to secure the Plastic Origin Pill, fleeing the scene with bruised and swollen faces.
Due to the chaos, even Shen Zhao couldn't tell who had ended up with the pill.
But it didn't matter. For Shen Zhao, with the right materials, he could craft dozens of such pills.
In the following days of the competition, Shen Zhao's immense wealth and Su Yunying's formidable strength led all their opponents to voluntarily concede.
Thus, Su Yunying smoothly advanced to the finals.
To Shen Zhao's surprise, her opponent turned out to be Linghu Ming.
Linghu Ming hailed from the Linghu Clan of the Dao Domain. His mother was the Holy Maiden of the Demon Domain, and his father was Linghu Mo, the Sword Emperor of the Heavenly Citadel Holy Dynasty. This union produced Linghu Ming, who inherited both the Heavenly Demon Illusionary Divine Art and the Heaven and Earth Traverse Sword—two peerless techniques that made him a prodigy among prodigies of his generation.
In their previous nine lives, Shen Zhao had clashed with Linghu Ming three days and three nights while seeking the Dao Profound Heavenly Scripture in the Dao Domain, neither able to gain the upper hand. During those exchanges, they had forged a bond of mutual respect, becoming sworn brothers despite their rivalry.
But now, how could Linghu Ming be in the Southern Domain?
Puzzled, Shen Zhao probed Linghu Ming with his divine sense.
"Damn it, he's at the third stage of the Egoless Realm! How is his cultivation so much higher than in our past lives?"
-----------------------
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