Trade by Barter?

Yun Yun's deep eyes reflected waves of confusion. A human was actually living with magical beasts—no one would believe it.

But when she heard him call the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King his mount, even Yun Yun could not help but draw in a sharp breath.

A dignified Sixth-Tier Magical Beast was willingly serving as a human's mount. It was truly unbelievable.

And since he could subdue a Sixth-Tier Magical Beast, there was no doubt about his strength. He had likely long since broken through the Dou Emperor barrier and advanced to the Dou Zong realm?!

Yun Yun pursed her alluring lips, landed steadily on the ground, folded away the wings behind her, and cupped her hands in greeting. "I am Yun Yun, Misty Cloud Sect Leader. Greetings, Mister Jiang Cheng."

Jiang Cheng smiled. "Sect Master Yun, there is no need for courtesy. It was reckless just now. I hope you will forgive it."

As the Confucian Sage, he naturally had no airs about him. Instead, he was gentle and approachable, giving others the feeling of being with family.

As the two spoke, atop a distant mountain peak, a plainly dressed youth smacked his lips and could not help asking:

"Teacher, who is that person? He actually intimidated the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King and that Dou Emperor in an instant..."

The Soul Body beside the youth stroked his little beard and murmured, "There is no aura of an expert on him."

"What?" The youth's eyes widened in astonishment. "Could he be an ordinary person?"

"What are you thinking, brat? If he were an ordinary person, do you think he could have made it here alive?"

After Old Yao said that, Xiao Yan could not help nodding. Indeed, if he had been an ordinary person, he would probably have long become a magical beast's dinner, much less made it deep into the eastern mountain range.

Yet curiosity rose in his heart. Could that man also be a Dou Emperor Expert... or perhaps a Dou Zong?!

Xiao Yan swallowed unconsciously, his heart filled with shock. If he truly was a Dou Zong Expert, that would be utterly unbelievable.

Jiang Cheng glanced at the distant mountains, nodded with a faint smile, then shifted his gaze to Yun Yun, the Misty Cloud Sect Leader.

"I heard Sect Master Yun wishes to obtain Amethyst Spirit Crystal?"

Yun Yun pursed her lips and nodded. "Yes, sir. For certain reasons, I need Amethyst Spirit Crystal to refine pills. I hope you can put in a word for me and ask the Lion King to give me some Amethyst Spirit Crystal."

After considering it repeatedly, Jiang Cheng said, "I can give you the Amethyst Spirit Crystal. But Sect Master Yun, what do you intend to offer in exchange?"

"An exchange..."

Yun Yun thought for a moment. "I am willing to offer a Mysterious Tier High-grade Fighting Skill Cultivation Method suitable for the Lion King's cultivation. If you find that insufficient, sir, I can add some pills as well."

The Purple Crystal Winged Lion King snorted coldly. Compared to such things, it cared more about this human woman.

Magical beasts could improve their cultivation by devouring high-level humans as well. However, its Master had no intention of letting it harm the Misty Cloud Sect Leader, so it could only gaze at plums to quench its thirst.

Jiang Cheng stroked his chin and pointed toward Yun Yun's chest.

Yun Yun's pretty face reddened slightly, and she unconsciously retreated half a step. She watched Mister Jiang Cheng before her warily, one hand covering her chest.

"Mister Jiang Cheng, I am not that kind of person..."

"Ah?"

Jiang Cheng froze for a moment, then seemed to realize something and smiled.

"Sect Master Yun, you misunderstand. I mean the pendant on your chest. Could you give it to me?"

Hearing this, Yun Yun unconsciously touched the pendant on her chest. It was something her birth father had left her before he died.

Even after all these years, the pendant on her chest still held great significance for her.

Yun Yun bit her lower lip lightly. "I am sorry, Mister Jiang Cheng. This is the only keepsake my birth father left behind. It means far too much to me. Please forgive me, but I cannot give it to you."

"Then there is nothing to be done."

Jiang Cheng shrugged. He enjoyed collecting treasures from across the world, and the pendant Yun Yun wore was also a rare treasure. It had been forged from superior spirit crystal, crystal-clear and translucent, and at night, it emitted a faint glow under the moonlight's refraction.

It was very beautiful.

It would also make a fine lamp.

Yun Yun took a deep breath. "In that case, I have troubled you, Mister Jiang Cheng."

She had not come with the determination to obtain it at all costs. Moreover, since Mister Jiang Cheng was unwilling to trade, she had no reason to seize it by force.

Jiang Cheng patted the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King on the head and turned to leave.

The Purple Crystal Winged Lion King let out a low roar. "Human woman, this is my territory. It is not a place where you can come and go as you please."

Yun Yun, who had just been about to leave, suddenly stopped. She turned sideways and looked at the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King threatening her. Instinctively, she summoned her weapon, prepared to fight it to the death.

But Jiang Cheng spoke to stop it. "Do not be rude. A visitor is a guest. How can you be so lacking in manners?"

The Purple Crystal Winged Lion King deeply lowered its head. Though Confucian Sage was merely a title, it carried the meanings of gentleness and refinement, modesty and sincerity, vast learning and many talents, ancient sages and worthy men, profound kindness and grace, and farsightedness.

The meaning of Ru in a name was gentleness and refinement, modesty and sincerity, and vast learning and many talents; the meaning of Sage in a name was ancient sages and worthy men, profound kindness and grace, and farsightedness.

If one only knew how to rob and plunder, one could not be called a Confucian Sage.

"Sect Master Yun, I live in a dense forest in the northeastern part of the Monster Mountain Range. If you need anything in the future, feel free to come by, though you will need to trade item for item."

Upon hearing this, Yun Yun nodded in acknowledgment. She warily watched the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King before her, and after confirming there was no threat, she summoned her wings. The instant her crisp high heels touched the ground, she turned and departed.

Jiang Cheng only smiled without speaking, then sat atop the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King. Since it had become his mount, he naturally had to see what it felt like.

The Purple Crystal Winged Lion King slowly flapped the wings behind it, and its enormous body rose into the air. Its powerful presence instantly made the surrounding high-level magical beasts bow their heads in submission and kneel in salute.

Clearly, the fear the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King inspired in them was simply too great. Even when it left, they had to kneel and pay their respects.

The Little Purple Crystal Winged Lion King naturally followed its father. It also began curiously examining this unfamiliar human, unable to understand why its father was being so humble...

Xiao Yan took the chance to hide, staring warily at Jiang Cheng's position. Against an expert of this level, even Teacher probably had no way to contend.

Only after the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King had gone far away did Xiao Yan run out from behind the rocks, panting heavily as he exclaimed, "Terrifying! A Sixth-Tier Magical Beast, the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King, serving as a mount; a single sentence made that Dou Emperor Expert leave this place. With such intimidating power alone, he could probably destroy a Da Dou Shi, right?"

"Yes, that aura was indeed terrifying, yet it carried no killing intent. It seems he is not the decisive and ruthless sort."

Yao Chen also began assessing Jiang Cheng. It was best to befriend an expert like him whenever possible; otherwise, he might very well become a threat in the future.