Buyer

After agreeing to Yang Huai's proposal, Feng Ying hurried back to Wanqu City and handed one Composite Cloud-Pattern Wood Carving to an elder of his clan, winning the elder's approval.

This "clan elder" was actually his father.

"Father, what do you think of this item? If our tribal warriors carry it during this year's joint hunt, could it reduce the risk of being attacked by wilderness evil spirits?"

Feng Lin was tall and powerfully built. Clad in a luxurious robe, thunderous might permeated his entire body. Standing in the courtyard, he glanced at the woodcarving in his hand and asked.

"Where did this evil-suppressing ritual object come from?"

"Father, don't worry about where it came from. Just tell me whether it works."

Feng Ying widened his eyes.

Feng Lin briefly examined the Human King Cloud-Pattern Woodcarving before him. Feeling the powerful force of suppression and purification emanating from the ritual object, he spoke after a moment.

"Of course it works, and it would be of great use!"

"But the value of such a ritual object must be extraordinary. Where did you get it?"

In Feng Lin's eyes, this object was already nearly a magic artifact.

Magic artifacts could only be consecrated in a few pieces when cultivators formed their Golden Core, making them incomparably precious!

Only some Celestials skilled in alchemy, or True Masters refining external pills, would consecrate a few alongside their Golden Core formation.

They contained the alchemical essence of the True Masters' Golden Core formation, capable of turning decay into something miraculous.

Yet as he carefully sensed the Human King Cloud-Pattern Woodcarving before him, Feng Lin's brow soon relaxed slightly.

There was still some difference between this object and a magic artifact consecrated through Golden Core formation. It should merely be a ritual object, one that had never received the fortune of Golden Core creation.

Still, it was more than enough to suppress ordinary evil spirits.

Within the wilderness, formless evil spirits actually outnumbered tangible demons and monsters. They excelled at twisting cultivators' perceptions and could imperceptibly incite the consciousness of living beings. Thus, evil spirits were harder to guard against than demons and monsters. This ritual object before him seemed to contain a thread of Sui King's power of light, capable of effectively suppressing evil spirits and inner demons.

That was truly rare.

Not only was it useful when traveling abroad, it was also of great significance to Foundation Establishment cultivators who were about to face the inner-demon trial.

He lowered it slightly and handed it back to Feng Ying.

Feng Ying hurriedly said.

"It isn't expensive. Three or four thousand-year spirit fruits are enough to exchange for one!"

"Father, if our branch's hunting party can all carry these during this year's hunt, could it help our tribe secure more prey, find more spirit fruits and mineral deposits over a thousand years old, and... perhaps even have our name reach the ruler's ears?"

Hope flickered deep in Feng Ying's eyes, though inwardly he grumbled.

Qingli, I've done all I can. As for whether Father can seal the deal, that depends on your luck.

Feng Lin's eyes immediately lit up at his words.

"My son actually has such ambition!"

He glanced at the woodcarving in his hand. He did not particularly care about the ritual object's value; what he cared about was Feng Ying's ambition and vision.

Though he was an elder of the Wind Clan, by his generation they had already fallen into a collateral branch. What he longed for day and night was nothing more than returning to the main line and gaining greater protection from the clan—along with more support, naturally.

As the leader of a tribe that had split off, he knew well how difficult it was to face the evil spirits and demons deep in the wilderness alone.

That was with them backed by a great city like Wanqu.

Other tribes, meanwhile, were often massacred in bloodbaths by demons and monsters, or occupied by evil spirits.

Meeting Feng Ying's gaze, he nodded.

"Since that is the case, we'll buy them. This time, the Fangfeng Tribe will form a six-person squad, including you. We'll purchase six woodcarvings at once. May they lend you a helping hand. If this lets us win the favor of the main line's elders, it will not be a loss!"

He chuckled merrily. Feng Ying's eyes brightened, and Feng Lin's consideration warmed his heart slightly.

Feng Lin then smiled and said.

"Now you can tell me which elder of the Daoist temple created this woodcarving, can't you?"

Feng Ying shook his head.

"It wasn't made by any elder."

After hesitating slightly, he said.

"It was made by a friend of mine!"

Surprise appeared in Feng Lin's eyes.

"Oh? You actually have such a capable friend by your side?"

Suspicion filled his gaze!

Feng Ying immediately said.

"It was Qingli!"

This time, Feng Lin was somewhat moved.

"The fellow disciple who exchanged that Essence-Nurturing Secret Art with you? Didn't you say he had only entered the gate of cultivation not long ago?"

Feng Lin remembered Qingli deeply. The emergence of the Lesser Heavenly Cycle Secret Art had raised the potential of the Fangfeng Tribe's next generation as a whole. It was equivalent to increasing the survival chances of many Fangfeng Tribe cultivators by several measures, and the entire Fangfeng Tribe had benefited from it.

Feng Ying's face showed some helplessness as he said.

"That fellow also possesses innate talent. Naturally, his cultivation has advanced rapidly. His comprehension in cultivating the heart seems astonishing!"

He then laid out his arrangement with Qingli in full.

When he heard that Qingli and Feng Ying would split the profits from selling the Cloud-Pattern Woodcarvings, Feng Lin was momentarily stunned before sighing.

"He truly considers you a friend!"

Feng Ying nodded.

After leaving Wanqu City, he went on to find Daoist Yuanlu and Daoist Huayang separately, quickly finalizing a deal with each of the two Daoist novices.

Both had tribesmen behind them who would also participate in the joint hunt of the various tribes this time, and they too intended to compete for its prizes. Daoist Yuanlu in particular was brimming with ambition.

Meanwhile, Yang Huai had not been idle either. He sought out Bai Lingzhen, the chief of the alchemy room, for cooperation.

However, unlike the compensation he offered Feng Ying, Yang Huai only offered Bai Lingzhen one thousand-year-or-greater spirit fruit for every Composite Cloud-Pattern Human King Woodcarving sold. Moreover, he raised the price of every Composite Cloud-Pattern Human King Woodcarving by a notch, making it five thousand-year-or-greater spirit fruits in exchange for one Composite Cloud-Pattern Human King Woodcarving.

The price offered to the Wind Clan was four thousand-year-or-greater spirit fruits for one Composite Cloud-Pattern Human King Woodcarving.

Yang Huai was certain that, for the sake of their lives, these people would certainly pay a high price to buy them.

For the children of tribal leaders like Feng Ying, five thousand-year-or-greater spirit fruits were painful to part with, but still within reach.

Inside the alchemy room, Bai Lingzhen frowned slightly at the terms Yang Huai had tossed out.

"I want two."

Yang Huai shook his head at those words.

Bai Lingzhen was not Feng Ying. He had not earned the right for Yang Huai to yield that much profit.

"Two is too much. If it comes to it, I'll spend some effort going door to door to promote them myself! It doesn't matter if I sell a little less!"

Seeing Yang Huai rise, Bai Lingzhen said.

"What if I told you I could directly help you sell dozens of carvings?"

"Hmm?"

Yang Huai immediately stopped, looking at the alchemy room chief in slight surprise. After pondering for a moment, he said.

"If that is the case, then two would not be impossible!"

After all, the price had been raised, so he would still make a little profit. Besides, he truly would not honestly report every Cloud-Pattern Human King Woodcarving he made to the fire-worker Daoists in the kitchen. He would withhold a portion no matter what.

As news spread that the joint hunt of the various tribes would be held outside Wanqu City half a month later, the entire Daoist temple became busy, and Yang Huai became even busier.

Over this half month, he practically stationed himself at the kitchen entrance, carving as many Cloud-Pattern Human King Woodcarvings as possible.

Good news had already begun arriving one after another. Feng Ying had secured several large orders for him. Most requested Composite Cloud-Pattern Wood Carvings containing Sui King Dao Rhyme at the minor accomplishment level. A smaller portion of buyers wanted the inferior entry-level Cloud-Pattern Woodcarvings, while others wanted single cloud-pattern woodcarvings.

Yang Huai had now introduced three kinds of Cloud-Pattern Woodcarvings. Composite Cloud-Pattern Wood Carvings containing minor accomplishment-level Sui King Dao Rhyme were mostly worth five thousand-year-or-greater spirit fruits, with only a few buyers, such as the Wind Clan and Daoist Yuanlu, receiving a reduced price of four thousand-year-or-greater spirit fruits.

Those containing entry-level Dao Rhyme, likewise with multiple cloud patterns, cost three thousand-year-or-greater spirit fruits.

Single cloud-pattern woodcarvings cost two thousand-year-or-greater spirit fruits.

On the other side, Bai Lingzhen from the alchemy room also sent good news. He had finalized seven or eight deals, each requesting five to seven Composite Cloud-Pattern Wood Carvings, and more news continued to arrive.

To be honest, half a month felt rather tight for Yang Huai.

Yet deep in his heart, he was exhilarated.

With this half month of work, he should be able to gather the spirit fruits and spirit medicines needed to forge two hundred and six Innate Geng Metal Spirit Bones. Even if there was still a shortfall, it would not be much.

Seeing Yang Huai's activities, the many fire-worker Daoists in the kitchen also caught wind of the matter. All of them sighed in admiration. This inner disciple of the kitchen truly had a way of making money.

They might not be able to guess the eventual outcome of the joint hunt between the tribes, but Qingli before their eyes was already unquestionably one of its winners.

Yet such a massive income truly made people's eyes redden with envy.

They feared that excess could turn into disaster. Such an enormous harvest might invite unforeseen danger!

Thus, the fire-worker Daoists advised Yang Huai to temporarily move out of the residence quarters and stay in the Slaughter Hall first, lest someone secretly harm him.