Heaven and Earth May Be Vast, but Reason Is Greatest

Heaven and Earth May Be Vast, but Reason Is Greatest

"No deal."

Qin Sheng was resolute. "If you won't go to Shaking Light, I won't go to the place you mentioned either. We can just find somewhere to complete the transaction."

"Fine."

Duan De felt regretful. He had lost an opportunity to rob someone who was trying to rob him.

This kid was not only black-hearted, but also cunning and cautious. He was truly difficult to deal with.

The two casually chose a direction and flew for a hundred thousand li before finally stopping in an uninhabited valley.

"Let me see the Chaotic Ruin Dust first." Duan De was eager.

"Fine, I'll take a loss."

Qin Sheng took out a grain-of-rice-sized clump of black soil from his Sea of Bitterness and waved it before Duan De. Duan De's eyes nearly popped out.

"That's right, this is Chaotic Ruin Dust!"

Duan De was extremely excited and reached out to take it. This item was of vital importance to him, yet it was exceedingly rare—harder to obtain even than Immortal Metal.

Immortal Metal existed in every generation, but only a handful of pieces of Chaotic Ruin Dust had appeared since ancient times in the chaotic world.

"Please show some restraint, fellow Daoist." Qin Sheng put away the Chaotic Ruin Dust. "Where are the things I asked for?"

Duan De first took out a black bone and introduced it, "This is Origin Technique."

Qin Sheng frowned. "We agreed that you would trade a Dao-Life Mother Stone and an emperor technique. Are you trying to fool me with a single Origin Technique?"

Duan De protested indignantly, "My Origin Technique was passed down from the Origin Emperor. It is no worse than any Great Emperor's secret art!"

"If this were not the only Origin Emperor technique I had on hand, I would never have traded it to you!"

Upon hearing this, Qin Sheng revealed a brilliant smile.

"An Origin Emperor technique? Fellow Daoist, you truly are trustworthy. Origin Technique is good. Origin Technique must be learned. I agree."

There was no need to doubt whether Duan De knew Origin Technique. The Origin Emperor was one of his past lives.

When he usually explored tombs and ruins, he also needed Origin Technique to support him. It was practically an essential inheritance in every one of his lives.

As for Duan De claiming that he only had one emperor technique, Qin Sheng absolutely did not believe it.

To say nothing else, Duan De had definitely cultivated the complete Tribulation Transcendence Heavenly Art.

Duan De took out another tattered piece of cloth, covered in mildew spots. He slightly opened one corner, revealing a heart-sized stone wrapped inside, flowing with multiple colors.

At the same time, sacred, ancient, boundless life energy leaked out. Duan De immediately covered the cloth again.

Qin Sheng's heart stirred. What was this piece of cloth?

After wrapping Immortal Material in it, it could completely conceal all aura and power.

"This is the Dao-Life Mother Stone."

As Duan De looked at the stone, the pained expression on his face was incredibly obvious.

The Origin Technique inheritance was knowledge and could be copied. Giving it away was no great loss. Besides, he had not brought out the complete Origin Emperor Scripture, only the section on techniques.

But the Dao-Life Mother Stone was different. It was hard to say whether a second one could still be found anywhere in the universe.

"Why is it so small?" Qin Sheng asked suspiciously. "Is this enough to forge a weapon?"

"Qin, don't push your luck!" Duan De glared at him viciously.

"This is the origin of life in all heavens, the source of the universe's spirituality. All living things and all creation were born because of it. It may appear tiny, but it is actually inexhaustible. Once you refine it, let alone forging a coffin, it would be enough to sacrifice-refine an entire palace!"

"How do I know whether you're 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 Dao Master." Duan De saw through Qin Sheng's little scheme.

"Payment and goods exchanged at the same time."

Qin Sheng narrowed his eyes, his gaze shifting between the black bone and the piece of cloth. He shook his head.

"If you won't let me inspect the Dao-Life Mother Stone, then forget it. But I must examine the Origin Technique first."

"Who knows whether you brought fake goods to fool me? What if it's 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 Chaotic Ruin Dust far surpassed his need for the Dao-Life Mother Stone. That was where Qin Sheng found the confidence to set his conditions.

However, Qin Sheng could not force Duan De too far, so he said, "Put yourself in my shoes, fellow Daoist. If I were trading an inheritance with you, you would definitely have the same concerns."

"And the Dao-Life Mother Stone is the most suitable Immortal Material for Chaotic Ruin Dust. I cannot abandon it merely because I covet your Origin Technique. That would be putting the cart before the horse, wouldn't it?"

Duan De's expression shifted unpredictably. In the end, he reluctantly handed the bone fragment to Qin Sheng.

"After you memorize the Origin Technique, return the bone fragment to me. It isn't part of the deal."

"Don't worry, don't worry. I'll only take what belongs to me." 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 inscriptions like tadpoles covered its surface.

Qin Sheng branded these Dao inscriptions into his divine sense, deeply sensing their profundity. Celestial phenomena, terrain, the cosmic void, and more were all contained within them.

As expected of the Origin Emperor's Origin Technique!

Qin Sheng imprinted these Dao inscriptions into his heart, never to forget them. 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 we'll proceed with the official transaction. I'll give you the Chaotic Ruin Dust and this bone fragment, while you give me the Dao-Life Mother Stone. We exchange them at the same time."

"Don't play any tricks, fellow Daoist."

"I was about to say the same thing to you!" Duan De shot back.

Grain after grain of black dust flew out from Qin Sheng's Sea of Bitterness. Duan De's eyes turned red.

This was supposed to have been his!

"More, a little more," Duan De muttered.

When the Chaotic Ruin Dust had accumulated to half the size of a head, Qin Sheng stopped.

"That's all?" Duan De was greatly dissatisfied.

"You're being rather dishonest here."

"That's all there is. Are you trading or not?" Qin Sheng was forceful.

He had no choice. After taking out this much Chaotic Ruin Dust, the Swallowing Heaven Devil Canopy reacted, suppressing the remaining Ruin Dust and making it impossible to draw out even a little more.

"Trade!"

Duan De opened the cloth and pushed the Dao-Life Mother 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 instant they could touch the other's treasures, Qin Sheng and Duan De both snatched them away at the fastest speed possible.

The Dao-Life Mother Stone entered Qin Sheng's 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 trembled as Qin Sheng sent the Imitation Dragon-patterned Black Gold Cauldron smashing toward Duan De. The shameless Daoist was no slower, directly sending out a jade bottle whose aura soared to the heavens, no weaker than Qin Sheng's cauldron.

The cauldron and bottle collided, causing mountains to collapse and the earth to split.

"Fellow Daoist, what a black heart you have!"

"Immortal Qin, I knew you wouldn't behave honestly. But this time, this Dao Master is destined to be one step ahead!"

Duan De burst into loud laughter, incomparably arrogant.

"Only this Dao Master has ever cheated others. If I don't recover everything you owed me before today, I'll take your surname!"

Duan De waved the tattered cloth in his hand. An incomparably terrifying aura spread out, like the birth of the God of Death or the descent of the underworld.

The mildew spots on the cloth actually began to flow, like living blood.

The earth rumbled and exploded apart, spreading a thousand li in an instant. Yin energy rose, while the phantoms of resentful souls and zombies covered the land.

Qin Sheng was startled. This dead fat man's piece of cloth really was a treasure!

"Hand over the Chaotic Ruin Dust on you, along with my Dao-Life Mother Stone!" Duan De declared 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 truly been fed to the dogs."

"Thinking back to when we first met outside the Demon Emperor's Tomb, how harmonious things were between us, with laughter and cheerful conversation never ceasing."

"Yet in merely this short year, fellow Daoist, you have become like this. You have entered the demonic path. It is truly heartbreaking."

"You certainly know how to talk." Duan De looked very pleased with himself.

"Unfortunately, even if you talk until the sky breaks 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 awaken you with the ultimate reason of this mortal world."

A black canopy was unleashed by Qin Sheng, the ghostly face upon it vivid and lifelike.

Strands of aura spread forth, destroying mountains and rivers for ten thousand li and sweeping away the God of Death and the underworld.

Qin Sheng looked at Duan De, smiled slightly, and revealed his white teeth.

"Fellow Daoist, what do you think of my 'reason'?"

When Duan De saw the Swallowing Heaven Devil Canopy, his face turned green. He recognized it.

"Immortal Qin, my name is actually Qin De."

Qin Sheng smiled in satisfaction. Look, sometimes there was no need for fighting and killing. After all, everyone was someone who could be reasoned with.