Six Harmonies Mad Demon, Divination (Monthly Pass Request)

A quarter of an hour later, the Grandmasters attending the trading convention gradually arrived.

Including those who came later, there were more than twenty people participating in this trading convention.

For such a high-standard gathering to draw so many people, honestly, it was a bit beyond Chen Ping'an's expectations.

In his view, having ten or twenty people attend this gathering would already have been excellent. After all, the minimum threshold for attendance was a Grandmaster at Jade Balance Middle Stage.

But clearly, he had underestimated the number of Grandmasters in Azure Dragon Province City.

Furthermore, it might also have been related to the Gu Family's Promotion Celebration, which had drawn Grandmasters from all over to Converge in Azure Dragon Province City.

However, for Chen Ping'an, the more attendees, the better. The more people there were, the higher the chance that precious treasures might be traded later!

I hope I can gain something good this time. Chen Ping'an thought to himself.

What made Chen Ping'an somewhat concerned was that, shortly before the gathering began, another Great Grandmaster had arrived.

The Six Harmonies Mad Demon Fist, Chu Kuangxiong!

Chu Kuangxiong did not belong to any faction, yet he was immensely famous among Rogue Cultivators, practically a banner for them.

In his early years, Chu Kuangxiong mainly roamed Flame Blaze Province. Only after becoming a Great Grandmaster did he begin appearing Within Azure Dragon Province. That had been nearly a hundred years ago.

According to the information Chen Ping'an had learned, it was said that Chu Kuangxiong had once been a son-in-law and seemed to have suffered some inhuman treatment, which had fostered his irritable, vicious, and violent temperament. He had committed no small amount of evil Within Azure Dragon Province.

Yet thanks to his Great Grandmaster realm, coupled with the lack of any concrete evidence, he had lived freely and comfortably, indulging himself to the fullest.

"Hahaha! Fairy Gu, it has been many days since we last met. Have you been well recently?"

The moment they met, Chu Kuangxiong spoke in a loud, boorish manner, as though he could run rampant without restraint.

Chu Kuangxiong's skin was dark and Gleaming with oil, his unkempt hair like grass. A small piece of blood-soaked beast hide covered his left eye.

"The trading convention is about to begin. Please take your seat promptly, Alliance Leader Chu." Gu Qingchan's expression remained tranquil, and she did not respond to his greeting.

Although Chu Kuangxiong was a Rogue Cultivator, he had cobbled together a Mad Demon Sect. He was the only person in the sect, yet he called himself its alliance leader.

"Hahaha, since Fairy Gu has spoken her golden words, how could this alliance dare refuse?" Chu Kuangxiong threw back his head in wild laughter. His one exposed eye stared brazenly at Gu Qingchan, his gaze Full of possessive desire.

Gu Qingchan's willow brows furrowed slightly, and A trace of displeasure appeared on her face.

But a guest was still a guest, and she ultimately did not flare up.

Fortunately, though Chu Kuangxiong's gaze was unrestrained, he was at least cooperative. He Crossed over the crowd and directly found himself a central seat.

Chu Kuangxiong's reputation was well known. He was easily angered, and with no conflicts of interest involved, naturally no Grandmaster wished to provoke him. Seeing him step forward, they all moved aside.

Chu Kuangxiong strode forward with his head held high, looking domineering and arrogant. Watching the reactions of the surrounding Grandmasters, a trace of contempt flashed through his heart.

Among martial artists, the strong reigned supreme!

Since one was weak, one had to bear everything imposed by the strong!

Chen Ping'an stood near the central area. As Chu Kuangxiong walked forward, he naturally had to pass by him, but Chen Ping'an was shrouded from head to toe in a black robe and did not move in the slightest.

Hmm?

Chu Kuangxiong frowned and swept a cold glance toward Chen Ping'an.

Though the path ahead was broad, the other's actions still stirred his dissatisfaction.

When the strong traveled, if the weak showed no reaction at all, how could that be called respect!?

Chen Ping'an seemed utterly unaware, remaining perfectly still.

"Move Aside!" A trace of brutality surfaced on Chu Kuangxiong's face.

Everyone's gazes Converged. They had not expected this Black Robe Old Monster to truly stand his ground!

At the Grandmaster level, some valued face, while others valued substance. But no matter what, yielding the way for a Great Grandmaster was not particularly humiliating.

Given the disparity in realms, it was perfectly normal for those in a lower realm to make way.

Yet in this situation, the only slightly abnormal thing was that Even if the Black Robe Old Monster did not yield, it would not affect Chu Kuangxiong's advance.

Of course, under Chu Kuangxiong's imposing might, such matters were mere trivial branches and leaves.

What Chu Kuangxiong wanted more was an attitude!

The attitude of a weakling respecting a strong man!

When making one's way in the world—especially as a Rogue Cultivator like him—what one needed was prestige!

And where did prestige come from?

It came from the attitudes of these weaklings!

Now that Chu Kuangxiong had suddenly spoken, everyone wanted to see exactly how this Black Robe Old Monster would respond.

Would he persist in Hard Confrontation to the end? Or retreat and yield?

Yet they did not get to see the Black Robe Old Monster's attitude, because just as Chu Kuangxiong's voice had Sounded, Gu Qingchan's delicate, crisp voice rang out.

"Alliance Leader Chu, mind the occasion! This is Wishful Treasure Pavilion's Heaven-Tier Trading Convention!"

"Since Fairy Gu has spoken." The brutality on Chu Kuangxiong's face receded somewhat. "Then this alliance will give the fairy some face!"

Having said that, he cast Chen Ping'an a cold glance and strode forward.

You'll pay for this!

The reason Chu Kuangxiong had achieved what he had today, making people wary of provoking him lightly, was that he believed might made right.

No matter the reason, since someone had challenged his authority today, he was bound to strike back.

Otherwise, these weaklings would never learn the consequences!

A Top Grandmaster? Very strong!

But unfortunately, before him, he was merely a weakling!

He had entered the Jade Balance Late Stage and become a Great Grandmaster nearly a century ago. He had long since inscribed two Spirit Fruit Spirit Marks.

Even among Great Grandmasters, his combat strength could not be considered weak.

Having roamed freely for many years and accumulated abundant resources, ordinary Top Grandmasters could not even last ten moves before him!

"Chu Kuangxiong!"

Chen Ping'an narrowed his eyes slightly.

He had come here today primarily for trade and did not wish to stir up needless trouble.

But if some blind fool truly came knocking, he would not mind opening a slaughter!

Though there would be some trouble afterward, with far too much loose ends to clean up, what could he do if they were dead set on seeking death?

Today, he was not using his true appearance! He could act even more recklessly.

However—

This was Azure Dragon Province City. If he truly made a move—

The commotion would be enormous, and there was no telling whether some Peak Great Grandmaster might step forward.

If he acted, then he had to be swift and clean, decisive and ruthless, leaving not a trace of leeway.

Should he succeed, he would immediately flee far away.

Chen Ping'an weighed the matter in his heart.

Chu Kuangxiong had been a Great Grandmaster for over a hundred years. It was impossible for him not to have some trump cards.

With Chen Ping'an's combat strength, defeating him would not be difficult, and severely wounding him would only Take More Effort. But killing him would still require a trace of luck.

Just as Chen Ping'an was weighing his options, the trading convention officially began as well.

"A divine weapon longsword suited for offense, a top-tier sword art divine skill inheritance, and a high-grade refined stone that can be used to forge a Powerful Divine Weapon. Cultivation technique inheritances related to spiritual power and spirituality will be given priority. Defensive Type divine weapons can also be accepted in trade."

It had to be said that the Heaven-Tier Trading Convention truly operated on a different level. Right from the start, a Great Grandmaster had proposed a trade involving divine weapons and cultivation techniques.

Other than some Grandmasters in the field who had disguised themselves out of caution, quite a few people still showed their true faces.

For one, this was Azure Dragon Province City, where security was Extremely High. No blind fool would casually make a move.

For another, appropriately displaying one's identity and status could itself serve as a form of deterrence at certain times.

Some Grandmasters who had been active for many years might not possess Extremely Strong personal strength, but the networks behind them were intricate. Unless necessary, ordinary Grandmasters would not dare rashly provoke Grandmasters of this kind.

Chen Ping'an also knew something of this Great Grandmaster's background. He was a Supreme Elder of the Blazing Sun Pavilion. Having been renowned for over a hundred years, his combat strength was far from ordinary.

By Chen Ping'an's judgment, the other party might already have inscribed three spirit marks.

The value of the materials he had brought out for trade alone exceeded ten thousand Origin Crystals. He was truly extravagantly wealthy. When it came to wealth and foundations, Great Grandmasters were still in a league of their own.

Whether divine weapons or cultivation techniques, both were absolute hot commodities wherever they were placed.

The moment he finished his introduction, numerous Grandmasters joined the bidding.

Had Chen Ping'an not obtained that Tyrant Saber inheritance from the Gu Family, he would certainly have joined the competition for this top-tier divine skill inheritance.

But after obtaining Tyrant Saber, his horizons had risen considerably. If possible, he still wanted to acquire a Supreme Divine Skill.

For the time being, one Tyrant Saber, one Seven Absolute Divine Skill, and one Ten Thousand Demons Body Forging Art were already enough for him to cultivate for some time.

Given a choice, he naturally hoped for cultivation techniques with greater power.

The opening of the trading convention immediately sparked a scramble.

After several rounds of negotiation and maneuvering, this Great Grandmaster traded for something that interested him.

The trades that followed proceeded one after another, involving heavenly treasures, precious pills and great medicines, divine weapons and sharp artifacts, cultivation technique inheritances, secret intelligence, and much more.

Chen Ping'an also made two moves during this period. Once, he failed in the competition because he did not possess what the other party wanted, while his competitor Just right did. The other time, he successfully traded a small jar of Black Jade Balm from a Top Grandmaster.

Black Jade Balm was a precious healing medicine of considerable value, and even for Grandmasters, it was a rare item.

Black Jade Balm was more effective in healing external wounds, while its restorative effects on true essence and spirituality were not particularly strong. But Precisely because it was specialized, Black Jade Balm's efficacy against external injuries was exceptionally powerful and could greatly accelerate recovery.

Even for certain irreversible injuries, Black Jade Balm could ease them to a degree, providing Extremely Strong support for other healing medicines.

During the North Azure Rebellion, for instance, a Grandmaster had his arm crippled. But if he had possessed Black Jade Balm at the time and used it promptly, such an injury might have been avoided.

Yet Black Jade Balm was so potent that it was naturally exceedingly precious. This small jar alone cost Chen Ping'an a full two thousand Origin Crystals.

That was already half the value of a divine weapon.

And if the external injuries were severe and covered a large area, this small jar of Black Jade Balm would probably only last for one or two uses.

Ordinary Grandmasters could hardly afford to use it.

But items meant to preserve one's life had always been precious. A supreme medicine for treating external injuries like Black Jade Balm could save a life at a critical moment, so being a little expensive was no issue.

Chen Ping'an excelled in Body Tempering Cultivation Methods, but if he were injured, the wounds would certainly not be light.

With this Black Jade Balm, Chen Ping'an had a few more safeguards.

When competing for the Black Jade Balm just now, he had thought Chu Kuangxiong would trip him up. But whether it was out of consideration for Gu Qingchan's standing or for some other reason, Chu Kuangxiong had not actually made a move.

After stowing away the Black Jade Balm, Chen Ping'an's mood brightened.

As for injuries to spirituality, true essence, and physique, he had basically found solutions for all of them. The remedies for true essence had been seized elsewhere, while the medicines for the other two aspects were quite good as well.

If he truly went through a life-and-death battle, he now had a measure of security and confidence.

As everyone traded, Chen Ping'an also took the opportunity to learn quite a bit of information.

It had to be said, the best way to obtain information for free was to mingle in the right circles!

Circles suited to the kind of information one sought!

And this Heaven-Tier Trading Convention was precisely an excellent circle.

The cultivation realm Chen Ping'an displayed openly had not yet reached Grandmaster. Though his status as a prodigy gave him some standing, opportunities like this were actually not common.

Now that such an opportunity had come along, he naturally would not let it slip away easily, absorbing and digesting all sorts of information one by one.

The information exchanged among the Grandmasters present was rather miscellaneous, but what Chen Ping'an cared about most was news concerning the two great academies!

The Great Qian Dynasty had four regions: east, south, west, and north!

The Southern Territory, Yin Yang Academy!

The Northern Territory, Jixia Academy!

The main exchange was between two Great Grandmasters, with Top Grandmasters occasionally joining in. Yet the topic they truly discussed was not centered on the two great academies themselves.

Rather, it concerned a divination lineage.

Both great academies offered studies in the art of divination, but their specific lineages differed vastly.

One emphasized Heavenly Dipper Astrology, while the other emphasized Earthly Yin-Yang.

It could be said that each had its own distinctive features!

What was being discussed at the trading convention was precisely a divination lineage originating from Yin Yang Academy!

The art of divination could reveal fortune and misfortune, blessing and calamity. If cultivated to a profound realm, it could even draw upon destiny and the secrets of heaven, alter one's path and trajectory, and perhaps even change fate itself.

When this matter was mentioned, even the Great Grandmasters were full of keen interest.

If one could learn the secrets of fate in advance and adapt to the times, then whatever one sought to accomplish might gain the full advantage of heaven's timing and earth's benefit, with nothing failing to go smoothly!

"The art of divination." Chen Ping'an quietly committed it to memory.

His level of perspective was not low; among his peers, he counted as outstanding. But compared to veteran Great Grandmasters who had weathered several centuries of storms, he still fell far short.

Though his progress was fierce, accumulation and foundation often required time to temper.

"Less than five years into cultivation, yet already nearing the realm of Great Grandmaster. There is no need to force too much in such matters or be overly harsh on oneself. Build up step by step, one footprint after another, and one will surely climb ever higher, ascending to the summit!"

Besides the art of divination, Chen Ping'an also saw a Top Grandmaster trade for a Cloud Pattern Longevity Fruit from a Great Grandmaster.

The Cloud Pattern Longevity Fruit was one of the heavenly treasures, considered a precious medicinal herb.

If one had a suitable alchemist of profound skill, along with numerous supplementary ingredients, it could be refined into several Longevity Pills.

Of course.

Any martial Cultivator, whether cultivating qi and blood, inner qi, mystic light, or jade balance, would eventually reach the end of their lifespan. Under such circumstances, pills and precious medicines that could prolong life were undoubtedly extremely sought-after.

However, when pills or longevity fruits of the same type were consumed a second time, their effects would plummet drastically.

Thus, there was no lack of such items on the market.

Of course, no matter how widely they circulated, they would not appear through ordinary trading channels. They mostly Appeared at high-standard trading conventions such as this one, or at large auctions.

The grade of this Cloud Pattern Longevity Fruit was not particularly high. If consumed directly, it could probably extend one's life by eight to ten years.

If one could find a suitable alchemist and make some preparations, then refining it into several Longevity Pills capable of extending one's life by half a century should not be difficult.

As for exactly how many pills could be refined and how effective they would be, that would still depend on the alchemist's skill, as well as the grade and types of supplementary ingredients.

"Fellow Daoist, having purchased this Cloud Pattern Longevity Fruit, do you intend to consume it directly, or refine it into Longevity Pills? If it is the latter, this old man knows Flame Leaf Alchemist of Returning Spring Hall and can help make an introduction."

There had been many competitors for the Cloud Pattern Longevity Fruit. After that Top Grandmaster had emerged victorious, settled the payment, and tucked it away, another Top Grandmaster spoke up to inquire.

"Flame Leaf Alchemist!" The listeners' eyes lit up.

Returning Spring Hall was a treasure pavilion force within Azure Dragon Province City, specializing in alchemy and precious medicines. Beneath the Azure Dragon Three Great Noble Families, it was one of the foremost powers.

Flame Leaf Alchemist was Returning Spring Hall's chief alchemist. He had been immersed in the Dao of alchemy for two hundred years, possessed superb skill, and was especially adept at refining auxiliary pills. His reputation in Azure Dragon Province City was far from small!

Direct consumption and refining it into Longevity Pills each had their own advantages and drawbacks.

The former offered a more certain result. The latter carried greater risk, but the corresponding returns would also be higher.

To refine a Longevity Pill, one had to pay a considerable price to hire an alchemist, and additionally purchase various auxiliary treasures and spiritual materials for pill refinement.

And where longevity was concerned, auxiliary treasures and spiritual materials of this kind were mostly Not Bad in value.

Furthermore, one had to expend additional painstaking effort and energy, as well as wait through a period of time, all to gamble on an unknown possibility.

If the finished Longevity Pills were of sufficiently high grade and plentiful enough, then after offsetting the expenses of preparing the refinement, one could still make a hefty profit in the end.

But if the finished pills were mediocre or even inferior in grade, and few in number, the result would only be a massive loss!

Of course, the worst outcome would be drawing water with a bamboo basket and ending up empty-handed. Apart from failing to secure the certain benefit of the longevity fruit, all the extra stakes invested into the pill refinement would go down the drain.

Faced with such an outcome, an ordinary Grandmaster would likely find it difficult to accept.

After all, spiritual materials and auxiliary ingredients of this caliber, along with the cost of hiring an alchemist, were not something even a Top Grandmaster could casually afford.

The slightest misstep could cost more than ten years of accumulated wealth. If it all came to drawing water with a bamboo basket, then decades of amassed foundations would be poured into it entirely.

That Top Grandmaster pondered for a moment before finally stating that he needed to consider it.

"If Fellow Daoist has thought it through, simply come find This Old Man." Upon hearing this, disappointment flashed through the eyes of the Grandmaster who had asked earlier.

If he could successfully introduce the alchemist, he would naturally gain no small benefit himself. Now that the other party said he needed to consider it, disappointment was inevitable.

As the saying went, Wealth, Companion, Technique, Location—with wealth placed first. To cultivate properly, one naturally could not avoid that word: wealth.

Grandmaster retainers, Grandmaster missions, Grandmaster bodyguards, and the like were all ways for Grandmasters to obtain wealth and cultivation resources.

Some Grandmasters who did particularly well, aside from their regular income, would also have certain side businesses not fit to be spoken of to outsiders. Their streams of wealth flowed in from all directions.

In short, everyone had their own means and their own calculations.

Cultivation was not easy; Even if one was a Grandmaster, the same held true!

Though one's cultivation rose, the value of the corresponding cultivation arts, weapons, spiritual items, treasured materials, and countless auxiliary objects rose along with it.

As the trading continued, it was soon Chen Ping'an's turn.

Under everyone's watchful eyes, Chen Ping'an concisely stated his needs.

"This seat requires inheritances of Supreme Divine Skills, with no restrictions on type, as well as divine weapons of the confinement and restriction categories. Origin Crystals will be the primary medium of trade."

Chen Ping'an's words immediately drew quite a few gazes.

Whether the former or the latter, both were exceedingly rare items; the same was true even for Great Grandmasters. His opening offer was so lavish that it naturally stirred probing intentions in many.

Gu Qingchan's beautiful eyes lit up with a glimmer of unusual brilliance.

"Supreme Divine Skills? Functional divine weapons?" Chu Kuangxiong sneered, but said nothing more.

Divine weapons were rare, but for Top Grandmasters, so long as they were willing to put in a certain amount of effort, they could ultimately obtain one.

But functional divine weapons such as those of the confinement and restriction categories were different. Among divine weapons of the same grade, they were inherently the rarest type.

Even if someone possessed one, they might not necessarily take it out for trade.

Whether one could obtain one still depended, to a certain extent, on luck.

"Supreme Divine Skills!" Zhu Changlie looked at the Black Robe Old Monster not far away, faint surprise rising in his heart.

At the Last time's gathering, the other party had mentioned only top-tier divine skills. Yet after little more than a month, at this gathering, the Black Robe Old Monster had directly started with Supreme Divine Skills.

He glanced several times at the Black Robe Old Monster, vaguely feeling that the man was somewhat mysterious. Then he recalled Fairy Gu's attitude toward him.

This Black Robe Old Monster...

"This Old Man has a Mystic Light Mirror here. It is a restriction-type divine weapon. I wonder whether it meets Fellow Daoist's needs." The speaker was a Man clad in a tattered old robe, his face aged and weathered.

Chen Ping'an glanced at him, his voice somewhat hoarse. "Please give a detailed introduction, Fellow Daoist."

The other party did not continue speaking aloud. Instead, he used voice transmission to briefly and concisely explain the Mystic Light Mirror's functions.

After hearing him out, Chen Ping'an felt slightly disappointed.

This Mystic Light Mirror was indeed a restriction-type divine weapon, but while its overall function was Not to the extent of being useless, its effectiveness was extremely limited.

It was neither the kind of restriction that directly bound an enemy, nor one that enveloped a certain area. Rather, it required spiritual power to activate it, firing a ray of mystic light from the Mystic Light Mirror. If it struck an enemy, it could slow them down.

Not only did it have many restrictions on use, its restrictive effect was far from ideal as well.

However, Chen Ping'an did not give up so readily, and asked further about certain functional details.

The other party did not hide anything either, answering each question in turn.

The Mystic Light Mirror's primary restrictive function was to slow speed. It had no restrictive effect whatsoever on true essence or spirituality. The prerequisite for it taking effect was still that the mystic light had to strike the target.

Fortunately, the mystic light was not slow. If its spirituality was abundant, its speed upon activation could increase by another degree.

When catching someone unprepared, ordinary Veteran Grandmasters could not evade it. Even against Top Grandmasters, there was an extremely high chance of landing a hit.

But when it came to Great Grandmasters... that would depend entirely on luck. And even if it hit, the effect would not be especially ideal. Being able to reduce the opponent's speed by ten or twenty percent would already be highly optimistic.

"Reduce speed by ten or twenty percent."

After learning more through several exchanges, Chen Ping'an fell into brief contemplation.

The restriction-type divine weapon he needed was truly meant to target Great Grandmasters. What did he need to restrict Veteran Grandmasters or Top Grandmasters for? With sheer strength alone, he could crush them head-on.

He had Cultivated the Soaring Dragon Movement Technique to perfection. Coupled with his realm, his speed was not slow among Great Grandmasters. But if he faced a Great Grandmaster who cultivated a supreme movement technique, he would pale in comparison.

But if it could shave off ten or twenty percent of the opponent's speed, perhaps...

It could pull them onto the same level.

If this Mystic Light Mirror could guarantee a one-hundred-percent hit rate, then even if its effect were weaker, he would have traded for it straight away. But whether it hit depended on probability, and from the other party's description, that probability was hardly small—there was even an element of luck involved. That left him a bit hesitant.

Then again, if it truly had none of these flaws or drawbacks, the other party would never have offered it for trade. They could have kept it as a Trump card tucked away at the bottom of the chest.

Though this Mystic Light Mirror was not bad, it still fell far short of what he wanted. The Trading Convention had not yet ended, so he decided to wait and see.

Though he possessed considerable wealth, after deducting his earlier expenses, he had fewer than twenty thousand Origin Crystals he could truly use. He still needed to concentrate his funds and handle the major matters first!

"Fellow Daoist, how about we discuss this in detail after the convention ends?"

After pondering for a moment, Chen Ping'an finally gave his reply.

"Alright." The other party answered with a single word, clearly not holding out much hope.

There had been no news whatsoever regarding Supreme Divine Skills during this round of trade offers, leaving Chen Ping'an somewhat disappointed. It seemed that even Great Grandmasters would not casually trade the inheritance of a Supreme Divine Skill.

But then he recalled what Gu Qingchan had said: several finale items would be auctioned off later in the convention. That stirred a little interest in him.

Hopefully, what came next would not disappoint him.

The trades that followed became considerably more lively. Clearly, as long as their demands were not set especially high, quite a few Grandmasters present could meet them.

Chen Ping'an also saw the item Lu Yuanzai was preparing to trade—a bloodstained Demon Beast Egg.