The Great Luo Dharma Seal

"It really is a Spirit Ghost?"

With a whoosh, Bai Jinfei flashed over, his eyes locked onto the Spirit Ghost inside the Ghost Raising Tower.

His gaze was burning with intense fervor.

Lu Li sat to the side, slowly munching on a crisp spirit fruit, remaining silent.

"Tsk tsk, what a pity. This low-grade Spirit Ghost has a golden luster; if it were given two or three hundred years to absorb pure yin ghost energy, it would likely advance to a mid-grade Spirit Ghost."

Bai Jinfei circled the Ghost Raising Tower, sighing with regret.

His expression was like that of a lecherous scoundrel peeking at a beauty bathing through a window.

Slap.

Lu Li slammed his large palm down, setting the Ghost Raising Tower onto the table, and asked unhurriedly, "Senior Brother, are you satisfied with this low-grade Spirit Ghost?"

"Satisfied, very satisfied!"

Bai Jinfei nodded, his smile infinitely amiable, and then waved his hand.

Instantly, the beauties in the hall retreated.

The sound of zithers and flutes ceased.

"Junior Brother, where did you get this Spirit Ghost?" Bai Jinfei glanced at the Ghost Raising Tower with some reluctance before sitting back in the main seat.

"Naturally, I caught it in the Ten Thousand Ghost Cave."

Lu Li answered readily.

"Junior Brother, you are truly lucky. I spent at least ten years in the Ten Thousand Ghost Cave, and I never encountered a single Spirit Ghost."

Bai Jinfei's face was full of envy.

"I just got lucky, that's all. But then again, this is only a low-grade Spirit Ghost, worth at most one spirit artifact. Why is Senior Brother so excited? Could it be that this low-grade Spirit Ghost has some other great use?"

Lu Li twirled the Ghost Raising Tower in his hand and asked with a sidelong glance.

Hearing this, a strange look flashed in Bai Jinfei's eyes, and his smile immediately became friendly and cordial. "Haha, Junior Brother, you're overthinking it. What other use could a low-grade Spirit Ghost have? But rest assured, Junior Brother, since you trust me so much, I will definitely give you a good price!"

"Good! Senior Brother is straightforward! I want this much!"

Lu Li raised his right hand and clenched it into a fist.

Then, he extended two fingers.

"Twenty thousand low-grade spirit stones? That's not impossible."

Bai Jinfei frowned slightly, then suddenly laughed. "However, we are all fellow disciples, a mere twenty thousand low-grade spirit stones..."

"Senior Brother, you guessed wrong."

At this moment, Lu Li interrupted with a cold face, "I said two hundred thousand low-grade spirit stones."

"What? Two hundred thousand!"

Upon hearing this, Bai Jinfei jumped up from his jade chair.

His eyes widened like eggs.

"That's right."

Lu Li nodded nonchalantly.

"Junior Brother, what is the meaning of this? You should know that a low-grade Spirit Ghost is only worth ten thousand low-grade spirit stones..." Bai Jinfei's expression turned gloomy and ugly.

He suddenly realized that he couldn't quite see through this new Junior Brother.

"Senior Brother, although we are of the same sect, you shouldn't try to take advantage of me. Forget it, if you don't want to buy it, I'll just have to go find Senior Sister Green Lotus. Thank you for your hospitality, Senior Brother, farewell."

Lu Li shook his head, put away the Ghost Raising Tower, cupped his hands, and prepared to leave.

"Green Lotus? Junior Brother, wait!"

Bai Jinfei's expression shifted, and he forced a smile. "Let's talk this over! We are fellow disciples, all one family, why be like this?"

"Oh? One family? Since we are all one family, shouldn't you, Senior Brother, be helping out your destitute Junior Brother? As for this two hundred thousand? Surely it can't be any less?"

Lu Li raised an eyebrow and asked with a cold sneer.

"This..."

The smile on Bai Jinfei's face stiffened once more, and he was left speechless.

Suddenly, he burst into laughter, his expression turning bright and sunny, his eyes filled with admiration as he cupped his hands. "Junior Brother Lu, what a masterful move! This round of the contest, I have lost! I am convinced of my defeat!"

This demeanor was open and generous, instantly making one feel favorable toward him.

Lu Li was also somewhat surprised.

"Junior Brother, since you've seen through it, I'll tell you the truth. An ordinary low-grade Spirit Ghost is indeed only worth ten thousand low-grade spirit stones. However, a certain Elder has recently been scouring for low-grade Spirit Ghosts to have his mid-grade Spirit Ghost devour them and advance to a high-grade Spirit Ghost."

Bai Jinfei sat back in his chair, picked up his jade cup, and said slowly.

"Oh? Then how many low-grade spirit stones can a low-grade Spirit Ghost sell for now?"

Lu Li became interested immediately.

"Five!"

Bai Jinfei extended a palm, his eyes gleaming. "Fifty thousand low-grade spirit stones!"

"Deal! Many thanks! Farewell!"

As soon as the words fell, Lu Li shoved the Ghost Raising Tower into his robes, sprang to his feet, cupped his hands, and prepared to leave immediately.

"Junior Brother, wait! Didn't you say you were going to sell the Spirit Ghost to me?"

Bai Jinfei panicked and hurriedly shouted.

"Ah? Senior Brother, are you mistaken? We are members of the Demonic Sect—insidious, cunning, and breaking our word is just part of our daily routine. You're so honest and trustworthy; could it be that you're an undercover agent sent by the righteous path?"

Lu Li stopped in his tracks and retorted.

"..."

Bai Jinfei's mouth twitched.

He actually couldn't find a single word to refute that.

Seeing that Lu Li was truly about to leave, Bai Jinfei sighed helplessly. "Junior Brother, let me tell you the truth. The price of this low-grade Spirit Ghost rose to one hundred thousand low-grade spirit stones last night! I'll give you one hundred thousand—just sell this Spirit Ghost to me!"

"Really?"

Lu Li's eyes lit up.

"Absolutely true!"

Bai Jinfei swore with utmost sincerity. "I swear to the Yin Underworld Patriarch: if I have spoken even half a lie, may I be struck down by heaven and earth!"

He actually invoked the founder of the Yin Underworld Ghost Sect to swear an oath? It seemed to be true.

Going from ten thousand to one hundred thousand was truly an unexpected windfall.

Lu Li pondered for a moment, then ultimately shook his head.

"Junior Brother, even a lion's share has its limits! I'm making absolutely no profit on this deal!"

Bai Jinfei's face darkened, and he said coldly.

"Senior Brother Lu, you aren't making a profit from me, but you'll turn around and sell this Spirit Ghost to that Elder. By solving his urgent need, you'll earn the Elder's favor."

Standing at the entrance of the hall, Lu Li smiled meaningfully.

The brilliant sunlight shone upon him, forming a halo that made Bai Jinfei squint.

After a long while, he kept a cold face and said slowly, "Junior Brother Lu, I really underestimated you. I didn't expect that at such a young age, you could see through the human heart. No wonder Master took you as a personal disciple despite your low cultivation. Fine, fine. I won't buy this Spirit Ghost. You go ahead and earn that one hundred thousand spirit stones and the Elder's favor. Someone, see the guest out."

"Senior Brother, you've misunderstood. I didn't say I wouldn't sell it to you."

Just then, Lu Li suddenly darted back, sat down on the chair, and laughed.

"Hm?"

Bai Jinfei narrowed his eyes into slits. "Junior Brother, what do you mean?"

"Nothing much. This Spirit Ghost might increase in value later, but I'll still sell it to you for one hundred thousand. The markup and the Elder's favor will belong to you, Senior Brother."

Lu Li smiled.

"Why?"

Bai Jinfei was somewhat puzzled.

"It's simple. No matter how great that Elder's favor is, it has its limits—at most, he'll help me with a small favor later. However, people in the Demonic Sect are naturally cold and ungrateful; he might not even bother to help. It's better to sell it to you, Senior Brother. This way, you make a profit, I make a profit, and everyone stays on good terms. Isn't that the best of both worlds?"

Lu Li explained with a smile.

After hearing this, strange lights flickered in Bai Jinfei's eyes. He stared at Lu Li for a long time before cupping his hands. "Junior Brother Lu, your mind is truly exquisite. I am truly impressed!"

His words carried a hint of genuine sincerity.

"Senior Brother, you are too kind."

Lu Li waved his hand with a smile. "By the way, do you have any Buddhist cultivation techniques? The body-refining technique I practice is a 'demonic' version of the Vajra Art, and I'm currently stuck at a bottleneck. I want to use some Buddhist techniques to gain insight; perhaps I can draw parallels and break through my realm."

Lu Li asked casually.

"A 'demonic' version of the Vajra Art? What a coincidence, I've practiced that too, and I've collected quite a few Buddhist scriptures and techniques. Take a look, Junior Brother."

Bai Jinfei flicked his sleeve, and a large pile of jade slips and ancient books appeared on the floor.

Lu Li took a fancy to one of them at a glance, reached out, and grabbed it.

He flipped it open.

Oh.

The illustrations inside weren't wearing any clothes.

It was the Great Joy Zen Method, unsuitable for righteous cultivation.

But Lu Li always kept in mind that he was a member of the Demonic Sect, so he gave it a look of extreme disdain before tossing it aside.

This Great Joy Zen Method was incomplete; he couldn't learn it anyway.

Then, Lu Li picked up another ancient book and began to flip through them one by one.

It was a Buddhist scripture.

However, the moment he finished reading it.

A crisp chime rang out as the system notification sounded:

"You have perused the Great Luo Crossing the Red Dust Sutra and discovered a hidden Buddhist seal technique within."

"Congratulations to the host, you have learned the Great Luo Dharma Seal."