"This matter is non-negotiable."
Qin Sheng was resolute. "If you won't go to Shaking Light, then I won't go to the place you mentioned either. We can just find somewhere to complete the transaction."
"Fine."
Duan De inwardly regretted losing an opportunity to rob him.
This kid was not only black-hearted, but also cunning and cautious—truly difficult to deal with.
The two casually chose a direction and flew a hundred thousand miles before finally stopping in an uninhabited valley.
"Let me see the Chaotic Ruin Dust first." Duan De was extremely eager.
"Fine. I'll take a loss, then."
Qin Sheng took out a grain-of-rice-sized speck of black soil from his Sea of Bitterness and waved it before Duan De. Duan De's eyes went wide.
"That's right, this is Chaotic Ruin Dust!"
Duan De was thrilled and reached out to grab it. This item was crucial to him, yet exceptionally rare—harder to obtain even than Immortal Metal.
Immortal Metal existed in every generation, but only a few portions of Chaotic Ruin Dust had appeared since ancient times.
"Please show some restraint, fellow Daoist." Qin Sheng put the Chaotic Ruin Dust away and said,
"Where are the things I asked for?"
Duan De first took out a piece of black bone and introduced it.
"This is Source Technique."
Qin Sheng frowned. "We agreed that you would trade a Dao-Life Mother Stone and an Imperial technique. Are you trying to fool me with a mere Source Technique?"
Duan De protested, "This is Source Technique passed down from the Origin Emperor! It is no worse than any Great Emperor's secret art!"
"If the Origin Emperor Technique were not the only Imperial technique I had on hand, I would never have traded it to you!"
Upon hearing that, Qin Sheng broke into a radiant smile.
"An Origin Emperor's technique? Fellow Daoist, you truly keep your word. Source Technique is good—Source Technique is worth learning. I agree."
There was no need to doubt whether Duan De knew Source Technique. The Origin Emperor was one of his past lives.
When exploring tombs and ruins, he also needed Source Technique to support him. It was practically an essential inheritance in every one of his lifetimes.
As for Duan De claiming that he had only one Imperial technique, Qin Sheng definitely did not believe him.
For one thing, Duan De had certainly cultivated the complete Tribulation Transcendence Heavenly Art.
Duan De then took out a tattered piece of cloth covered in mildew. He slightly lifted one corner, revealing a heart-sized stone wrapped inside, its surface flowing with multiple colors.
At the same time, sacred, ancient, boundless life essence leaked out. Duan De immediately covered it back up.
Qin Sheng's heart stirred. What was this rag?
After wrapping Immortal Material in it, it could completely conceal all aura and power.
"This is the Dao-Life Mother Stone."
As he looked at the stone, the pained expression on Duan De's face was incredibly obvious.
A Source Technique inheritance was knowledge; it could be copied, so giving it away was no great loss. Besides, he had not produced the entire Origin Emperor Scripture, only the technique portion.
But the Dao-Life Mother Stone was different. It was hard to say whether a second piece could still be found anywhere in the current universe.
"Why is it so small?" Qin Sheng asked suspiciously.
"Is that enough to forge a weapon?"
"Qin, don't push your luck!" Duan De glared at him viciously.
"This is the origin of all life in the Myriad Heavens, the source of the universe's spirituality. All living beings and all things were born because of it. It may look tiny, but it is actually inexhaustible. Once you refine it, forget forging a coffin—even refining an entire palace would be no problem!"
"How do I know you aren't lying to me?" Qin Sheng said.
"How about this? Let me inspect the stone first and verify the goods."
"You black-hearted bastard, you're still trying to cheat this Daoist." Duan De saw through Qin Sheng's little scheme.
"One hand pays, the other delivers."
Qin Sheng narrowed his eyes, his gaze shifting between the black bone and the rag. He shook his head.
"If you're unwilling to let me inspect the Dao-Life Mother Stone, then forget it. But I have to examine the Source Technique first."
"Who knows whether you brought fake goods to fool me? If it turns out to be fake, wouldn't I suffer a huge loss after the transaction is complete?"
"No!" Duan De refused outright.
"I think it's feasible."
Qin Sheng emphasized, "This is my bottom line."
Duan De's desire for the Chaotic Ruin Dust far exceeded his need for the Dao-Life Mother Stone. That was Qin Sheng's confidence in setting conditions.
However, Qin Sheng could not push Duan De too hard, so he said,
"Put yourself in my shoes, fellow Daoist. If I were trading an inheritance with you, you would certainly have the same concerns."
"Besides, the Dao-Life Mother Stone is the most suitable Immortal Material for Chaotic Ruin Dust. I cannot give it up merely because I covet your Source Technique. That would be putting the cart before the horse, wouldn't it?"
Duan De's expression kept changing. In the end, he reluctantly handed the bone fragment to Qin Sheng.
"After you memorize the Source Technique, return the bone fragment to me. It isn't part of the trade."
"Don't worry, don't worry. I'll only take what I'm entitled to." Qin Sheng smiled.
Very good. It seemed the bone fragment itself was also a treasure.
The black bone fragment did not come from a human body, but from some beast. Dao script resembling tadpoles covered its surface.
Qin Sheng imprinted the Dao script with his Divine Thought and deeply felt its profundity. Celestial phenomena, terrain, the universe, void, and more were all contained within.
Worthy indeed of the Origin Emperor's Source Technique!
Qin Sheng branded the Dao script into his mind, never to forget it. Then he looked at Duan De and said,
"Fellow Daoist, where is the Origin Emperor's cultivation scripture?"
Duan De rolled his eyes. "Take it or leave it."
"I'll take it, of course." Qin Sheng smiled. "Now for the formal transaction. I'll give you the Chaotic Ruin Dust and this bone fragment, while you give me the Dao-Life Mother Stone. We hand them over at the same time."
"Fellow Daoist, don't play any tricks."
"I was about to say the same thing to you!" Duan De shot back.
Grain after grain of black dust flew from Qin Sheng's Sea of Bitterness, and Duan De's eyes turned red.
This should have been his!
"More, a little more," Duan De muttered.
When the Chaotic Ruin Dust had accumulated to the size of half a head, Qin Sheng stopped.
"That's all?" Duan De was greatly dissatisfied.
"That's not very honorable of you."
"That's all there is. Are you trading or not?" Qin Sheng was firm.
There was no helping it. After he took out this much Chaotic Ruin Dust, the Swallowing Heaven Devil Canopy reacted, suppressing the remaining dust so that he could not extract even a little more.
"Trade!"
Duan De opened the rag and pushed the Dao-Life Divine Stone toward Qin Sheng. Qin Sheng likewise pushed the two items toward him. The process was slow, as both guarded against the other playing tricks.
The moment they could touch the other's treasures, Qin Sheng and Duan De both snatched them away at top speed.
The Dao-Life Mother Stone entered his Sea of Bitterness, and the Swallowing Heaven Devil Canopy immediately reacted, suppressing and sealing it so that it could neither harm Qin Sheng nor escape.
Qin Sheng rejoiced inwardly. It was genuine!
Boom!
Heaven and earth thundered. Qin Sheng brought out the Imitation Dragon-patterned Black Gold Cauldron and smashed it at Duan De. The Wicked Daoist was no slower, immediately launching a jade bottle whose aura soared to the heavens, no weaker than Qin Sheng's cauldron.
The cauldron and bottle collided, shattering mountains and cracking the earth.
"Fellow Daoist, what a black heart you have!"
"Qin Immortal, I knew you wouldn't behave yourself, but this time, this Daoist is destined to be one step ahead!"
Duan De burst into laughter, his arrogance soaring.
"It has always been this Daoist who cheats others. If I don't reclaim everything you owed me before today, I'll take your surname!"
Duan De waved the rag in his hand, and an incomparably terrifying aura spread out, like the Death God emerging into the world or the Netherworld descending.
The patches of mildew on the rag actually began to flow like living blood.
The earth rumbled and exploded, the destruction spreading a thousand miles in an instant. Yin energy rose, while phantoms of wronged souls and zombies covered the land.
Qin Sheng was startled. That Fatty's rag really was a treasure!
"Hand over the Chaotic Ruin Dust on you, along with my Dao-Life Mother Stone!" Duan De said spiritedly.
Qin Sheng sighed softly. "Fellow Daoist, I never expected you to be this kind of person. You have disappointed me too much. My sincerity has gone to the dogs."
"Back when we first met outside the Demon Emperor's Tomb, how harmonious we were, how our laughter never ceased."
"Only a short year has passed, yet fellow Daoist has become like this. You have already entered the Demonic Path. How heartbreaking."
"You really do have a silver tongue." Duan De looked quite pleased with himself.
"Unfortunately, even if you talk until the sky falls today, it will be useless!"
Qin Sheng shook his head. "Enough, enough. The Buddhists say that the Sea of Bitterness is boundless, but turning back leads to shore. Let me enlighten you with the ultimate reason of the Human World."
A black canopy appeared in Qin Sheng's hand, the ghost face upon it vivid and lifelike.
Strands of aura spread forth, destroying mountains and rivers across ten thousand miles, sweeping away the Death God and Netherworld.
Qin Sheng looked at Duan De and smiled slightly, revealing his white teeth.
"Fellow Daoist, what do you think of my 'reason'?"
At the sight of the Swallowing Heaven Devil Canopy, Duan De's face turned green. He recognized it.
"Qin Immortal, actually, my name is Qin De."
Qin Sheng smiled in satisfaction. See? Sometimes there was no need for fighting and killing. After all, everyone was someone who could be reasoned with.
Before you continue