Trading Counts as Plunder Too!

Mr. Yao did not dare say another word. He could only stand with his hands at his sides and wait quietly.

Xuan Qing looked at the young man ahead on the road, carrying a massive ruler on his back.

Xiao Yan still looked somewhat slender, but the outline of his future tall, upright frame was already faintly visible.

He was remarkably handsome. Though he had yet to shed the immaturity of youth, a trace of heroic spirit could already be seen in him.

A glint flashed through Xuan Qing's eyes.

He had finally arrived. Xuan Qing had long wanted to conduct an experiment.

Without drawing attention to himself, he took the Blood Lotus Crystal from his storage ring and placed it on the table before him.

The crimson crystal lay quietly atop the wooden table, a faint blood-colored glow seeping from its surface as an almost imperceptible scent of blood slowly drifted through the air.

On the street, Xiao Yan was hurrying along while looking around at the signboards of Myriad Medicine Hall. He was clearly planning to enter and purchase medicinal ingredients.

He did not notice Xuan Qing. He simply strode toward the entrance of Myriad Medicine Hall.

When Mr. Yao saw Xuan Qing suddenly place a blood-red crystal on the table, he was puzzled but did not dare ask. He merely stood obediently to one side.

Xiao Yan had already passed by Xuan Qing when his steps abruptly halted and his body stiffened slightly.

After hesitating for a moment, he turned back. His gaze locked onto the Blood Lotus Crystal on the wooden table as he cupped his hands toward Xuan Qing and asked,

"Brother, is this medicinal ingredient for sale?"

Xuan Qing lightly rubbed the Blood Lotus Crystal on the table with his fingertips. He raised his eyes to the young man before him, a faint smile curling at the corner of his lips.

"Oh? You want this one?"

Xiao Yan nodded, his eyes eager.

"I think this Yellow Lotus Crystal is quite unusual. I want to take it home for my collection. Is it for sale, Brother?"

Xuan Qing picked up the Blood Lotus Crystal and lightly waved it before Xiao Yan's eyes. A faint scent of blood spread through the air.

Xiao Yan's gaze swayed along with Xuan Qing's hand.

Xuan Qing closed his hand around the Blood Lotus Crystal and spoke calmly.

"Let's be frank. I'll sell you this Blood Lotus Crystal, but you'll have to trade something you have for it. I don't want money."

Xiao Yan was slightly taken aback. A troubled look appeared on his face, and his brows could not help knitting together.

"What does Brother want from me?"

Mr. Yao's heart skipped a beat. He quietly retreated half a step and did not dare interrupt.

He could tell that this Dou Emperor lord was clearly making things difficult for the young man on purpose.

Xuan Qing gently rubbed the surface of the Blood Lotus Crystal with his fingertips and said slowly,

"Give me any one of the Dou Techniques or cultivation methods you possess."

Xiao Yan closed his eyes and hesitated for a while, caught in an intense internal struggle.

"Fine. I'll give it to you."

Xiao Yan answered in a low voice, reached into his storage ring, and took out a Dou Technique scroll, presenting it with both hands.

"This is Eight Extremes Collapse, a high-grade Xuan-tier Dou Technique. I'll use it to exchange for this Blood Lotus Crystal."

Mr. Yao stared in stunned disbelief. A high-grade Xuan-tier Dou Technique was an exceedingly precious treasure, yet this young man was actually using it to trade for a medicinal ingredient.

His heart lurched.

Could this Blood Lotus Crystal of mine be some peerless treasure?

Oh no, oh no. I suffered a huge loss!

When he had acquired it, he had merely thought it was an ordinary Yellow Lotus Crystal stained red with blood.

He had originally planned to dispose of it casually. He had never imagined it could be exchanged for a high-grade Xuan-tier Dou Technique.

Xuan Qing accepted the Dou Technique scroll.

[Ding—Plundered Dou Technique: Eight Extremes Collapse. Reward obtained: Painting Spirit Array proficiency +30%.]

The system notification flashed through his mind.

Xuan Qing understood at once. As expected, trading for something also counted as plunder.

He casually stored Eight Extremes Collapse in his storage ring, then raised his hand and tossed the Blood Lotus Crystal to Xiao Yan.

Xiao Yan hurriedly reached out and caught it securely.

Overjoyed, he tightly gripped the Blood Lotus Crystal and cupped his hands toward Xuan Qing. "Thank you, Brother."

After saying that, Xiao Yan did not dare linger. He hurriedly turned and quickly left Myriad Medicine Hall, focused entirely on finding a place to study the Blood Lotus Crystal.

Mr. Yao remained where he was, his face still full of disbelief as he muttered to himself.

"A high-grade Xuan-tier Dou Technique... What exactly is the origin of this medicinal ingredient?"

Xuan Qing glanced at him.

"It is merely a relatively rare medicinal ingredient. It is only useful to certain people."

"Teacher, why did we give him the Dou Technique? Couldn't we have just taken it by force?"

As Xiao Yan surveyed his surroundings, he spoke softly to A Piao, who floated beside him in midair.

Yao Lao's phantom hovered above Xiao Yan's shoulder. He raised a hand and lightly rapped Xiao Yan on the head, his tone carrying a hint of helplessness.

"You think having me makes you invincible, don't you?"

Xiao Yan covered his head, somewhat unconvinced.

"Teacher, I just think that giving up Eight Extremes Collapse like that was far too much of a loss."

Yao Lao's expression turned grave, carrying a note of warning.

"Let me tell you: that man is only around twenty years old, yet he is already a Dou Emperor. I examined him carefully just now, and his aura was unfathomable. With our current strength, we do not stand the slightest chance against him."

Xiao Yan's heart jolted, and his pupils contracted slightly.

A Dou Emperor?

He had never imagined that the seemingly calm young man from before was actually a Dou Emperor.

What was even more unexpected was that the young man was around his own age, yet had already become a Dou Emperor at twenty.

Yao Lao sighed inwardly. He had actually seen through Xuan Qing's true age—the other party was only fifteen.

But if he told Xiao Yan the truth, such heaven-defying talent would likely deal a direct blow to Xiao Yan's confidence.

Thus, he had deliberately exaggerated Xuan Qing's age to warn Xiao Yan without crushing him completely.

"Then... was that Blood Lotus Crystal truly worth a high-grade Xuan-tier Dou Technique?" Xiao Yan tightly gripped the Blood Lotus Crystal in his palm.

Yao Lao's gaze fell upon the crimson crystal as he slowly spoke.

"To others, it may not be much of a treasure, but to you, it is absolutely worth it."

Xiao Yan froze. "Why?"

"If you want to devour Heavenly Flames, you must have Blood Lotus Pills refined using this thing."

Yao Lao's tone was solemn.

"Blood Lotus Pills are fifth-grade medicinal pills. They can withstand the scorching heat of Heavenly Flames and are an indispensable pill for devouring Heavenly Flames. This Blood Lotus Crystal is the core primary ingredient for refining Blood Lotus Pills."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Yan immediately understood. His hand tightened involuntarily.

So the thing he had exchanged Eight Extremes Collapse for was actually the key ingredient for refining the pill needed to devour Heavenly Flames.

Meanwhile, Xuan Qing had returned to the valley and was sitting in a rocking chair, lost in thought.

If Yao Chen possessed Ling Yin, just how much strength could he unleash?

Yao Chen could possess Da Dou Shi-level Xiao Yan and fight Yun Shan, who was comparable to a Dou Zong. If he possessed a Dou Emperor, wouldn't he be comparable to a High-Rank Dou Zong?

If he faced an ordinary Low-Rank Dou Zong from the Jia Ma Empire, Xuan Qing would definitely have no problem!

But asking him to fight a High-Rank Dou Zong with the combat techniques of a Nine-Turn Dou Venerable...

He might as well wash up and go to bed. He would probably be pinned to the ground with a single slap, unable to even dig himself out!

At that thought, Xuan Qing raised a hand and rubbed his brow, irritation welling up within him.

What troubled him most was still the Flame Mantra.

This cultivation method was simply too tempting, but obtaining it from Xiao Yan would be no easy task.

Just as his thoughts were in turmoil, Xiao Yi Xian, who had just finished a round of cultivation, slowly walked over from the side.