Price

Jin Lianri was a middle Golden Core cultivator, a member of the Jin Household, and a Steward Elder of the Gold and Silver Alliance. By seniority, he was Jinge's uncle.

The Jin Household had endured for over a thousand years and had many members. As a result, some members were close in seniority despite being worlds apart in age.

Though Jin Lianri looked like a young man, he was actually an old fellow who had lived for over two hundred years.

Jinge, on the other hand, was only in his twenties, not even a fraction of the older man's age, yet he called him uncle.

Jinge was long accustomed to this clan uncle's flippant manner. After bowing, he told him what Yang Tianyou had asked of him.

"A Third-Tier Lower-Grade Law Treasure? And it fell into the hands of two Foundation Establishment Lineages? They're lucky. I'll go take a look, then. We came here to do business anyway, and one more deal won't make a difference."

Turning to business, Jin Lianri reined in his expression and grew more serious.

Meanwhile, Yang Tianyou and Zhao Yunxiao sat upright, waiting for the Gold and Silver Alliance's Golden Core cultivator to arrive.

Before long, a young man walked in, with Jinge following closely behind him.

The young man carried himself with an impressive bearing, and his stern expression held a touch of warmth. Besides the faint pressure befitting a Golden Core cultivator, he had the air of a merchant, much like Jinge.

Every Lineage had its own distinctive character, or rather, its own spirit.

The Yang Household's spirit tended toward calmness, decisiveness, and unity, much of it influenced by the Purple Moon Wolves.

The Zhao Household's spirit tended toward domination and arrogance, and its members brooked no opposition. This had much to do with their Lineage's Cultivation Practice Method.

The spirit of the Gold and Silver Alliance's Jin Household, however, was primarily mild, giving people a sense of warmth without sacrificing shrewdness.

That spirit had largely been shaped by the Jin Household's founding ancestor, the same ancestor who had built the Gold and Silver Alliance with his own hands.

"Greetings, Senior!"

Yang Tianyou and Zhao Yunxiao hurriedly rose and bowed, their expressions deeply respectful.

Before a Golden Core cultivator, the bit of pride they possessed as Lineage geniuses was hardly worth mentioning.

"Mm. You're the ones selling a Third Tier Law Treasure? Bring it out, then! For my nephew's sake, I'll give you a fair price after appraising it."

"Senior, to be honest, we didn't bring the Law Treasure with us. Sorry for the trouble, but could you come with us to fetch it? A somewhat lower price would be fine."

Yang Tianyou hurriedly lowered his head as he spoke softly.

"Come with you..."

Jin Lianri narrowed his eyes, and an invisible pressure descended over Yang Tianyou and Zhao Yunxiao, making them break out in cold sweat.

His thoughts turned, and after considering it, Jin Lianri agreed.

After all, they were only two Foundation Establishment Lineages. There was no need to be so cautious.

"I'll go, then! Jinge, stay here. I'm enough for this!"

Even so, to be safe, Jin Lianri told his nephew to stay behind.

That way, even if the two men before him were bait sent by a hostile force, Jinge could notify the Lineage in time.

A Golden Core cultivator was far faster than one at Foundation Establishment, all the more so for someone at the middle Golden Core stage like Jin Lianri.

He released a slender, fiery-red flying boat. It trembled, then became a red streak of light that flashed away and vanished over the horizon.

In less than half a shichen, Yang Tianyou and Zhao Yunxiao were once again above Dragon Valley Hall.

As the flying boat descended, Jin Lianri's eyes brightened slightly, red light surging within them. He had clearly activated a Fire-Attribute Eye Technique.

His gaze passed easily through the Two-Yi True Water Formation and fell directly upon the Dragon Valley Hall, which stood more than ten zhang tall.

"Is this... Dragon Valley Hall?"

Jin Lianri's eyes lit up. He recognized the hall at once.

A flood of understanding followed, answering all his earlier doubts.

It seemed that the Zhao Household and Yang Household had jointly discovered the treasure left behind by the Dragon Valley Sect. After inheriting its various legacies, they had been unable to divide Dragon Valley Hall between them, so they had used Jinge's connection to approach the Gold and Silver Alliance.

Having worked this out, much of his faint wariness dissipated, and his expression softened considerably.

Before long, Yang Dangmo and Zhao Zongkun emerged from the formation. At the sight of Jin Lianri, both were shaken and hurried over to bow.

"Yang Dangmo/Zhao Zongkun greets you, Senior!"

Jin Lianri nodded and smiled warmly. His manner toward Foundation Establishment cultivators was naturally different from his manner toward Qi Refining cultivators.

He said softly, "You two were fortunate to discover the legacy cave abode left behind by the Dragon Valley Sect. It seems you gained quite a lot?"

"The seniors of the Dragon Valley Sect did leave behind some legacies, but more than two hundred years have passed, and their desperate breakout back then consumed a great deal of resources. We didn't get much—only a modest haul.

"Now, Fellow Daoist Zhao and I are just hoping Dragon Valley Hall will fetch a few more Spirit Stones."

Yang Dangmo poured out his troubles with a bitter look. If Yang Tianyou hadn't known how much the Yang Household had gained, he would have believed him.

His impression of his Fifth Grandpa changed considerably, though Yang Tianyou showed none of it on his face.

"Oh?"

Jin Lianri wore the hint of a smile, but said no more about it and went straight to the point. "Are you two sure you want to sell Dragon Valley Hall? You should know that this is a Grotto-Heaven Law Treasure. Though the space inside isn't large, it would still be highly beneficial to a Lineage's development."

Yang Dangmo and Zhao Zongkun exchanged a glance. If they had a choice, of course they wouldn't want to sell Dragon Valley Hall.

But there was nothing to be done. They were two separate Lineages, after all, and hostile ones at that.

Of the two, Zhao Zongkun felt worse about it. The Zhao Household had discovered Dragon Valley Hall first, but who could have expected the Yang Household to barge in and take half the resources that should have all fallen into their hands?

But things had come to this, and anger was useless. He could only look for a chance to vent his resentment later.

"In that case, step aside. Once I've refined Dragon Valley Hall, I'll settle the price with you!"

With that, Jin Lianri stepped forward. Golden Core Law Power poured from his body in torrents, burrowing into Dragon Valley Hall from different angles like living spirit snakes.

The strength of a Golden Core cultivator was truly extraordinary. The towering Dragon Valley Hall soon began to shake, then rapidly shrank into an exquisite palm-sized hall that landed in Jin Lianri's hand.

At the sight, Yang Dangmo and Zhao Zongkun were filled with longing. The difference between a Golden Core Cultivator and a Foundation Establishment cultivator was even greater than the gap between Qi Refining and Foundation Establishment.

Only by reaching Golden Core could one be considered a regional power and truly step onto the vast stage of the Lu Wu Realm.

After putting away Dragon Valley Hall, Jin Lianri looked pleased. Now he could purchase more goods to take back to the Spirit Commandery.

Once his delight had passed, Jin Lianri looked at Yang Dangmo and Zhao Zongkun much more kindly. Under their anxious gazes, he slowly named his price.

"Six Foundation Establishment Pills, one hundred thousand Spirit Stones, and spirit items worth another hundred thousand Spirit Stones. How does that price sound?"