Chapter 18

"Of course, everything remains the same! As long as you can produce treasures, I can afford to exchange them. I'll give you as much merit as you want!"

The Sages all smiled when they heard this.

The Two Sages of the West were the first to take out a Mid-grade Innate Spiritual Treasure and a thousand Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures.

Having already sold treasures to Lu Changsheng earlier, their reserves were no longer as abundant as before. This was all they could take out in exchange for merit.

"Fellow Daoist Changsheng, please count them."

Zhunti spoke with a smile.

They were already familiar with the process and handled it with ease.

Lu Changsheng swept his gaze over the treasures brought out by the two Sages. Most were unremarkable, but one Chaos Enlightenment Stone was fairly decent.

"A Chaos Enlightenment Stone? That's a fine treasure."

The Chaos Enlightenment Stone was of extremely high grade. It was somewhat beneficial even to Sages and could be used during enlightenment to increase the speed of comprehension and achieve twice the result with half the effort.

As Lu Changsheng murmured, he motioned for Kunpeng to collect the treasures and set them aside, intending to process them all after every Sage had finished exchanging their treasures.

With the Two Sages of the West taking the lead, the atmosphere gradually became more relaxed.

Nuwa spoke next:

"I don't have many treasures, so I'll exchange these two magical treasures."

As she spoke, she took out two magical treasures and handed them to Lu Changsheng.

Kunpeng, East King Duke, and Randeng turned their eyes toward the treasures Nuwa had brought out.

A subtle expression crossed Lu Changsheng's face.

After all, the three of them had not seen a Top-grade Innate Spiritual Treasure in a long time.

He accepted the two treasures and examined them carefully.

The Top-grade Innate Spiritual Treasure was called the Primordial Tai Shang Buddhist Duster.

It was a magical treasure balanced between offense and defense, achieving a rare equilibrium between attack and protection.

Compared with treasures that focused solely on offense or defense, such balanced attributes were truly precious.

To Lu Changsheng, however, it seemed somewhat superfluous.

He only favored magical treasures with powerful killing potential.

Defense? Why would he need defense?

Aside from the Top-grade Innate Spiritual Treasure, the other treasure was also high-grade—a High-grade Innate Spiritual Root.

Lu Changsheng already possessed a Top-grade Innate Spiritual Root, so he was not particularly interested in this High-grade Innate Spiritual Root.

He accepted everything with a smile and instructed Kunpeng to record it in the ledger.

The Sages did not mind. After all, from ancient times until now, no one had dared to default on what they owed a Sage.

After Nuwa presented her treasures, Tongtian stepped forward.

"I came here in a hurry and didn't have time to prepare many valuable treasures. I hope you won't take offense, Fellow Daoist."

As he spoke, Tongtian took out several Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures, magical treasures, and spiritual roots.

Although there were more of them than Nuwa had offered, their grades were somewhat lower.

The best among them was merely a Mid-grade Innate Spiritual Treasure—the Purple Lightning Hammer.

It was obvious that Tongtian was still somewhat reluctant to part with it.

Lu Changsheng accepted everything without discrimination and ordered Kunpeng to register each item.

After Tongtian, Laozi also stepped forward.

"Fellow Daoist, why not take a look at my pills as well?"

With a sweep of his great sleeve, several hundred gourds appeared before everyone.

"These are pills I refined over many years,"

Laozi introduced them as he displayed them.

"There are thirty Nine-Turn Golden Elixirs, a total of six thousand seven hundred and eighty-two pills from the first to the eighth turn, and more than three thousand eight hundred other pills for healing and enlightenment."

Everyone was shocked by what they saw. None of them had expected Laozi to bring out everything he had.

Primordial and Tongtian were also deeply surprised. Their elder brother was actually willing to pay such a price.

Lu Changsheng was not particularly concerned with the quantity of pills, since most of them were no longer of much use to someone at the Pseudo-Saint level.

The only thing that caught his attention was the Nine-Turn Golden Elixir.

It was said that this elixir could instantly allow a mortal to ascend and become an immortal. It had some effect even on Pseudo-Saints, though the results were not particularly obvious.

Laozi seemed to notice that Lu Changsheng was not very enthusiastic about it. After pondering for a moment, he generously took out another pill and said, "This is a Realm-Breaking Elixir. After taking it, a Pseudo-Saint can directly break through one minor realm."

Seeing Laozi even bring out such an extraordinary elixir, Kunpeng, East King Duke, and Randeng nearly drooled with envy. The Sages could not help exclaiming in amazement either.

Seeing his elder brother's generosity, Primordial Heavenly Lord refused to fall behind. With a wave of his hand, he offered several hundred magical treasures and laughed heartily.

"Fellow Daoist Changsheng, I have no other talents. I merely enjoy refining some inferior magical treasures."

The appearance of several hundred magical treasures made Kunpeng and the others burn with envy.

Although most of them were Acquired magical treasures, they had all been made by a Sage. Their power was far beyond that of ordinary Acquired magical treasures.

Kunpeng, whose eyes were already dazzled by the display, instinctively began counting.

"There are three hundred and seventy-six magical treasures in total, including seventy-six Acquired Supreme Treasures. Among them is even one High-grade Innate Spiritual Treasure."

East King Duke and Randeng were also amazed by the wealth of a Sage's treasury.

However, when they thought that even the Six Sages of the Great Desolation were willing to lower themselves and bring out treasures they had collected for years in exchange for merit, the three of them could not help sighing.

"Sure enough, all living beings are equal before merit."

Lu Changsheng handed all the magical treasures to Kunpeng for counting and instructed him, "Calculate how much merit each Sage can obtain."

"As you command, Great Master."

Kunpeng answered respectfully and began converting the value with great care.

Under the gazes of the Six Sages, he checked and rechecked everything a hundred times before swallowing and reporting, "Great Master, Saint Nuwa can exchange them for eight million merit."

Saint Jieyin and Saint Zhunti each exchanged their treasures for eight million merit.

Saint Tongtian obtained thirteen million merit.

Saint Taiqing Laozi exchanged his treasures for eighteen million merit.

Saint Primordial exchanged his treasures for twenty-three million merit.

Altogether, they amounted to seventy million merit.

When Kunpeng announced the figure of seventy million merit, even the Six Sages of the Great Desolation held their breath for a moment.

After all, this was a full seventy million merit.

With the aid of Primordial Violet Qi, it would almost be enough to prove the Primordial Grand Unity Dao.

Yet when Lu Changsheng heard the number, his expression remained completely calm, even carrying a trace of indifference.

Seventy million merit was simply too little to stir his emotions. Instead, he felt somewhat disappointed.

Compared with one hundred trillion, this number was truly insignificant.

"Seventy million? It's not even a hundred million. What a disappointment!"

Lu Changsheng sighed softly and casually took out ten thousand mu of Golden Cloud of Merit.

When the golden cloud appeared, its radiance illuminated the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths.

The Six Sages were nearly unable to open their eyes beneath the dazzling golden light, yet their faces were filled with undisguised joy.

It was as if they were saying—The light is too dazzling, but this is wonderful!

Lu Changsheng did not care in the slightest. He divided the Golden Cloud of Merit among the Six Sages according to the amount they were owed.

When Laozi and the other Sages who were meeting Lu Changsheng for the first time actually received the Golden Cloud of Merit, they could not help showing astonishment.

After all, this was seventy million merit. When Nuwa created humanity, she had received only fifty million merit, and that was already a rare accumulation of great merit in the Great Desolation.

Yet Lu Changsheng, merely a Pseudo-Saint, had casually taken out seventy million merit and even complained, "It doesn't even amount to a hundred million."

A hundred million merit? Could something like that really be imagined so casually?

They begged forgiveness for their limited horizons. After all, they had never seen so much merit before.

Seeing the Six Sages staring blankly while holding their merit, Lu Changsheng could not help feeling speechless.

He could not resist complaining:

"You Sages only brought out this little bit each. You have no sincerity at all.

"The dignified Six Sages of the Great Desolation combined could exchange only seventy million merit. That's not even as much as Hong Yun's three hundred million merit by himself.

"If I were you, I would have desperately exchanged at least three to five hundred million merit!"

The Six Sages were all stunned when they heard Lu Changsheng's words, and their emotions became turbulent.

Big brother, this is merit.

Fifty million merit was already an astronomical figure in the Great Desolation.

Yet you say seventy million is too little.

A hundred million is merely acceptable.

Three to five hundred million could be obtained just like that?

Could a living being of the Great Desolation really say such things?

If anyone else had said this,

the Six Sages would have taken turns making him suffer.

While the Six Sages stood there in astonishment,

lost in self-doubt,

Lu Changsheng suddenly turned to look at Laozi.

He remembered that Laozi seemed to possess a magical treasure that was quite beautiful.

With that thought, Lu Changsheng continued speaking:

"Saint Taiqing, I heard that your Heaven and Earth Mysterious Yellow Exquisite Pagoda was an Acquired first-ranked defensive Merit Supreme Treasure formed from twenty percent of the merit of the creation of the heavens and earth.

"Its might is directly comparable to an Innate Supreme Treasure. Once summoned, it makes one invincible.

"I wonder if you would be interested in selling it?"

When Laozi heard Lu Changsheng, he was stunned for a moment before waving his hand with a smile.

"This is my Companion Spiritual Treasure. How could I sell it?"

In the Great Desolation World,

the vast majority of cultivators possessed a Companion Spiritual Treasure.

It was a treasure that had grown alongside them, shared the deepest rapport with them, and was of exceptional quality.

Every cultivator regarded such a treasure as priceless.

After all, emotionally, it was no longer merely a magical treasure.

After hearing Laozi's answer, Lu Changsheng raised the corners of his mouth in a bold smile.

"Saint Taiqing, the last person who said that was Fellow Daoist Hong Yun!"

He believed that as long as something could be exchanged, it must have a price.

Refusal merely meant that the price was not high enough.

Laozi was stunned when he heard this.

For a moment, he did not understand why Lu Changsheng had brought up Hong Yun.

But Lu Changsheng's next offer soon made him understand.

"Thirty-five million merit. Will you sell it?"

Although the Heaven and Earth Mysterious Yellow Exquisite Pagoda was close to being an Innate Supreme Treasure,

it was ultimately not a true Innate Supreme Treasure.

Lu Changsheng did not dare offer too high a price.

He was worried that the system would not approve it,

so he tentatively offered thirty million.

When Laozi heard the figure, his breathing caught.

Thirty million merit...

Why would he need to pursue inaction anymore?

Added to the merit he had exchanged earlier, it would be enough for him to break through two realms in succession.

These were two realms at the Sage level.

Thinking of this, Laozi spoke with difficulty:

"Thirty million... That's really somewhat..."

Laozi actually wanted to agree.

But this was, after all, his Companion Spiritual Treasure.

He still had some emotional attachment to it.

That was why he appeared hesitant.

However, everyone could more or less understand his expression and intentions. The deal was clearly going to be made.

Lu Changsheng, however, interrupted Laozi without hesitation.

He was testing the system's bottom line for the offer.

Thus, he continued:

"Think about it carefully. Thirty million doesn't seem quite appropriate.

"How about this? I'll help you lower the price."

Upon hearing this, Kunpeng and the others instantly understood.

They could not help recalling the scene of the Great Master bargaining with Hong Yun.

They secretly shouted in their hearts:

"Here he comes! He's here! The bargaining genius has logged on!"

When Laozi heard that Lu Changsheng intended to lower the price, he frowned slightly.

After all, this was his Companion Spiritual Treasure, and thirty million merit was not a high price.

If it went any lower, he would truly have to hesitate.

"Fellow Daoist, if you think the price is too high—"

Laozi had not yet finished speaking when Lu Changsheng interrupted him again:

"How about forty million merit?"

Hearing Lu Changsheng "bargain,"

a crowd of Saints fell completely silent.

Was this what bargaining was?

Wasn't bargaining supposed to drive the price down?

What kind of bargaining genius was this? He could actually raise the price?

When Laozi heard this price, his face immediately flushed with delight:

"Fellow Daoist, you really are good at bargaining.

Then forty million it is!"

As he spoke, Lu Changsheng did not even blink as he directly produced forty million merit.

Once again, he dazzled the eyes of all the Saints.