This black stone was only the size of a palm. It was light in the hand, even lighter than an ordinary stone, and from the outside, it looked no different from one.
But when Yang An saw the contents of the information panel, his heart jolted.
It sealed a living creature inside?!
In other words, within such an inconspicuous stone, a living being had actually been sealed!
Besides that, the price of using a Vitality Replenishing Stone made Yang An's heart tremble even more.
Once this thing was used, not only would the living creature sealed within die, but the user's lifespan would also be diminished, then silently and unknowingly transferred to Black Brow.
What a fine method indeed!
Now Yang An could also guess why Pan Yu had vanished, and where she had gone after vanishing.
She was likely inside one of these four Vitality Replenishing Stones!
Having seen the description in the information panel, he became even more certain that Pan Yu's disappearance had been Black Brow's doing.
This fellow looked sinister and cunning. When they had first met, he had even pretended to be so approachable. In the end, one's face truly reflected one's heart.
Seeing the cultivators nearby grow interested in the Vitality Replenishing Stones after hearing Black Brow's explanation, Yang An immediately spoke before them.
"Fellow Daoist, these Vitality Replenishing Stones are quite extraordinary, to possess such wondrous effects. I have taken a liking to them upon seeing them and wish to make an exchange. May I ask if you have any more? I would like to take them all together."
Upon hearing Yang An's words, Black Brow merely chuckled. He was certain that the two of them could never see through his disguise, so he remained perfectly calm.
"Please do not take offense, Fellow Daoist. Vitality Replenishing Stones are extremely difficult to refine. These four are already my entire fortune. If Fellow Daoist wishes to exchange for them, feel free to name your offer. Everything is negotiable."
Even if Black Brow kept these things for himself, they were of no use to him. Only after selling them would they benefit him.
Thus, Black Brow did not conceal it. He truly only had these four, and one of them had only recently been successfully refined.
Hearing that there were only four, Yang An nodded. Without waiting for the other cultivators beside him to speak, he said without the slightest hesitation:
"Fine. I'll take all four!"
With that, he reached out and swept all four Vitality Replenishing Stones into his arms.
Pan Shi, standing nearby, grew somewhat anxious. Had Fellow Daoist Yang not said he had found a clue? Why was he buying things instead?
With every additional minute that his junior sister remained missing, his heart grew heavier, and his worry deepened.
But in the very next moment, Yang An, who had just gathered all the Vitality Replenishing Stones into his arms, suddenly swept out his hand.
"Take him down!"
This order was naturally directed at the Muckworm Children beside him. With Mother Diviner True Person's command, they obeyed every one of Yang An's requests without question.
At Yang An's shout, several Muckworm Children immediately rushed over from all directions and surrounded Black Brow in an instant.
At the sight of this, Black Brow could no longer remain composed. He hurriedly rose from the ground, his face filled with panic.
"Little masters, what are you doing? I have not violated the rules of the Communal Feast Convention. You cannot arrest me!"
The Muckworm Children merely followed Yang An's orders and paid no heed whatsoever to Black Brow's explanation.
Black Brow had clearly not expected Yang An to be able to command these children, and he was even more shocked.
These were all children under Mother Diviner True Person's command, yet they were listening to Yang An's orders. Just who was this man?
Faintly, Black Brow suddenly had a premonition that he had caused a terrible disaster.
Seeing that the children remained unmoved, Black Brow hurriedly turned to Yang An again, still pretending not to know him.
"Fellow Daoist! What are you trying to do? Have I somehow offended you? I beg Fellow Daoist to show mercy. If Fellow Daoist wants these Vitality Replenishing Stones, take them all. I can give them to Fellow Daoist. Please do not make things difficult for me."
"Make things difficult for you?"
Yang An smiled and simply stopped pretending as well.
"Fellow Daoist Black Brow, if you still wish to keep acting at this point, that is up to you. I will not waste any more words on you.
Hand over the method for undoing the seal on the Flesh Beast Yuan Replenishing Stones! You should understand what I am talking about!"
Yang An was straightforward and direct, too lazy to beat around the bush. Since matters had been laid out so plainly, if Black Brow still insisted on playing dumb despite knowing full well, then force was the only option.
Of course, Yang An would not be the one using force. He had no ability to fight, and he knew exactly how much he weighed. If anyone was to act, it would be these Muckworm Children, along with Pan Shi.
"What? He is Black Brow?"
Pan Shi's eyes immediately widened. He had clearly never expected that the cultivator before them was actually the snake Daoist who had boarded the ship with them to come here.
In an instant, Pan Shi realized something.
Since Fellow Daoist Yang had called him out by name and spoken of undoing a seal, he had clearly seen something. It must surely be connected to his junior sister.
Pan Shi immediately glared at Black Brow, his face full of fury.
Black Brow had likewise never expected his identity to be exposed so abruptly. He looked at Yang An in utter astonishment.
He had disguised himself so thoroughly, yet the other party had still recognized him. If not for seeing Pan Shi's reaction, he would have begun to suspect that the Water-Repelling Lotus Seed he had taken was fake.
But what shocked him even more was not this, but Yang An demanding that he hand over the method to undo the seal on the Flesh Beast Yuan Replenishing Stones!
From beginning to end, he had never told anyone that these were Flesh Beast Yuan Replenishing Stones.
That meant Yang An had identified the true name of the Flesh Beast Yuan Replenishing Stones in a single breath. He definitely knew information about this thing.
But how was that possible?!
The Three Veins Transformation Technique was an ancient secret art he had obtained by chance in the past. He was certain that no one besides himself knew of it.
It was precisely by relying on this that Black Brow had used the Three Veins Transformation Technique to earn himself quite a bit of lifespan, and he had never once failed.
But how did the other party know?!
Seeing Black Brow remain silent for so long, Yang An frowned.
"Could it be that Fellow Daoist Black Brow wants me to spell it out? Then I shall say it once more: hand over the Three Veins Transformation Technique, and undo the seal on Fellow Daoist Pan Yu!
Otherwise, I guarantee that these little masters will show no mercy. Fellow Daoist should also forget about leaving the Xi Yue River alive today."
Upon hearing Yang An's words, the Muckworm Children who had already surrounded Black Brow stepped closer, as though they could strike at any moment.
Now Black Brow was completely certain. Yang An truly knew of the Three Veins Transformation Technique; the other party knew his background like the palm of his hand.
If he had still harbored thoughts of muddling through just now, he was now utterly despairing.
For a moment, Black Brow was filled with regret. He blamed himself for failing to restrain the greed in his heart, for actually laying hands on Pan Yu within Tianjiang Dragon Manor. He had truly been possessed by ghosts.
If this had been outside Tianjiang Dragon Manor, then even if he were surrounded, he would have had a way to escape.
But this was Tianjiang Dragon Manor beneath the water. Until the Communal Feast Convention ended, there was no way to leave. Black Brow had participated in the convention for several years in a row, and he knew this clearly.
These children could actually be commanded so casually. The other party's background was likely terrifyingly immense. Coupled with being inside this Dragon Manor from which there was no escape, that was what truly drove him to despair.
At this point, he had no other choice. He regretted it so deeply that his intestines were practically turning green.
Why had his hand been so damned restless? Why could he not restrain himself?
He even wanted to slap himself twice, but then suddenly remembered.
Oh, he had no hands!
"Fellow Daoist, do not act rashly! Do not act rashly!"
"It was I who was possessed by ghosts, blind and unable to recognize a towering mountain! I will undo Fellow Daoist Pan Yu's seal at once, and I will offer up the Three Veins Transformation Technique as well. I only hope Fellow Daoist can spare me a path to live!"
Before you continue