Trade

Five days later.

Rainbow Sound Flying Sword Factory.

Chen Liangyu approached Chen Daoxuan, his face full of worry. "Young Clan Leader, the spirit ore in the warehouse is only enough to sustain the factory's production for one more day."

It's been used up so quickly?

"Phew!"

Chen Daoxuan raised his head and exhaled a breath of stale air. "I already know about this. The day after tomorrow, I'll personally head to Guang'an Prefecture and sell this batch of flying swords."

As he spoke, he patted Chen Liangyu on the shoulder. "After I leave, I'll entrust the Rainbow Sound Flying Sword Factory to your care."

Hearing this, Chen Liangyu said solemnly, "I will not fail your trust."

"Mm."

Chen Daoxuan nodded in satisfaction. Just as he was about to offer a few more words of encouragement, he suddenly sensed a disturbance. He waved his hand. "Go take care of your work first."

"I'll take my leave."

He watched Chen Liangyu depart.

Chen Daoxuan took an azure scale from his Storage Bag.

At that moment, red light flickered across the azure scale, radiating faint warmth.

Chen Daoxuan immediately followed the method Luo Li had explained to him before. He injected a strand of true qi into the azure scale, then sank his Divine Sense into it.

The next moment.

A message flooded into Chen Daoxuan's mind.

"Four hundred li away. Redwood Island."

Chen Daoxuan raised his head and looked east of Twin Lakes Island.

According to the message Luo Li had sent, she seemed to want to trade with Chen Daoxuan on Redwood Island.

Redwood Island was a large uninhabited island near Twin Lakes Island, only around four hundred li away.

However, compared to Twin Lakes Island, cultivation resources on Redwood Island were even more barren.

Twin Lakes Island had at least possessed a Red Copper Mine vein and several Spirit Eyes for cultivators to cultivate with.

Redwood Island, on the other hand, had nothing but cedar trees called redwoods growing all over it. It had neither mineral resources such as spirit mines nor spiritual energy resources such as Spirit Eyes.

As for a resource as lofty as a Spirit Vein, that was even more out of the question.

It was an utterly desolate island. Aside from being even larger than Twin Lakes Island, it was practically useless to cultivators.

Forget Cultivation Families—even Rogue Cultivators were unwilling to settle in such a place.

In fact, near the sea region around Twin Lakes Island.

There were quite a number of island clusters, but almost none of the islands possessed cultivation resources.

At least according to the Chen Family's ancient records, within a thousand li of sea around here, apart from the few Spirit Eyes on Twin Lakes Island, the other islands were basically all barren islands without even a single Spirit Eye.

Of course.

It was also possible that a few Spirit Eyes lay hidden somewhere on those islands, undiscovered by anyone.

In any case.

Though the sea region around Twin Lakes Island had numerous islands, cultivators were few and far between.

It seemed that apart from the Chen Family of Twin Lakes Island, only a place called Maple Valley Island had a fifth layer of Qi Refining Rogue Cultivator staying there.

Upon receiving Luo Li's message, Chen Daoxuan was overjoyed.

Compared with going to Guang'an Prefecture to sell flying sword Magic Artifacts to Rogue Cultivators, trading with the Merfolk Tribe was clearly far more profitable.

At the Rogue Cultivator Market in Guang'an Prefecture.

No matter how high the price of a Rainbow Sound Flying Sword was, it would probably be difficult to sell it for more than one hundred Spirit Stones apiece.

Yet the price offered by the Merfolk Tribe was a full five times one hundred Spirit Stones.

From the standpoint of profit, whom he should prioritize trading with was self-evident.

For some time now, Chen Daoxuan had been constantly wondering when the Merfolk Tribe would come to trade with him. He had not expected news to arrive only after more than two months of waiting.

After sorting out his thoughts.

Chen Daoxuan counted the 178 flying swords in his Storage Bag, immediately cast the Wind Riding Technique, and flew alone toward Redwood Island.

Unlike the journey to Guang'an Prefecture, which required traveling nearly a hundred thousand li.

Redwood Island was only four hundred li from Twin Lakes Island. At Chen Daoxuan's fourth layer of Qi Refining cultivation, he could easily fly across such a distance.

Redwood Island.

Looking down from high above, Redwood Island was entirely shrouded in blazing red.

Because of this distinctive feature, even though it was Chen Daoxuan's first time visiting this Sea Island, he spotted it at a glance in the surrounding waters.

He descended from the sky and landed on the coastal cliffs of the island.

Chen Daoxuan took out the azure scale once more and injected a strand of true qi into it.

Right afterward, another message came through.

After discerning the direction, Chen Daoxuan flew toward the northern side of the island.

The sea north of Redwood Island.

Led by Luo Li, a group of merfolk lay in ambush amid a reef cluster several hundred meters below the surface.

A closer look revealed that nearly every one of these merfolk held a huge clam in their hands. Spiritual light spilled from the gaps between the shells.

Clearly, all those clams were filled with Spirit Stones the Merfolk Tribe had prepared for the trade.

"Princess, why hasn't he come yet?"

Among the merfolk, a male mermaid with bulging bronze muscles asked in a muffled voice.

"Don't rush. Wait a little longer."

Though Luo Li was uneasy as well, she patiently comforted her subordinates.

With the Princess having spoken, everyone continued to wait silently.

"He's here!"

Suddenly, a flash of delight crossed Luo Li's pretty face. "Come, let's go up!"

After giving the order, Luo Li took the lead and swam toward the surface.

The Merfolk Tribe moved extremely quickly in the sea.

Within only a few breaths, the group had reached the surface.

The moment Luo Li broke through the water, she saw Chen Daoxuan standing in the air. She cautiously swept the surroundings with her Divine Sense.

When she discovered that there was no one else around besides Chen Daoxuan, Luo Li could not help but let out a breath of relief.

"Human cultivator, you really are bold. You dared to come here alone. Aren't you afraid we'll kill you and swallow up your weapons?"

Seeing Chen Daoxuan remain so calm while alone under the watchful eyes of all the merfolk made Luo Li feel rather uncomfortable.

Had it been a mermaid surrounded and watched by a group of Human cultivators like this, they would have long since been trembling in fear.

Chen Daoxuan smiled. "I know the Merfolk Tribe values integrity above all else. I was willing to come alone precisely because I value the Merfolk Tribe's trustworthiness.

"Besides, trade between our two races benefits both sides. Why would you harm me? Surely you do not intend to trade with my race only once?

"After all, Magic Artifacts have a lifespan. Since you live in the deep sea year-round, the lifespan of your Magic Artifacts is likely even shorter. Would the Merfolk Tribe truly abandon long-term benefits merely to covet these hundred-odd flying swords before you?

"So why should I be afraid?"

Luo Li had intended to overwhelm him in presence, but with just a few words, Chen Daoxuan effortlessly dismantled the momentum she had painstakingly built.

Looking at the smiling Chen Daoxuan, Luo Li opened her mouth, but in the end could only say gloomily, "As expected of a Human cultivator. You truly have a silver tongue."

"Thank you for the compliment, Miss Luo!"

Chen Daoxuan cupped his hands. "But let us complete the trade as soon as possible. That will also put both our races at ease."

Upon hearing Chen Daoxuan mention the trade, Luo Li immediately cast aside her slight annoyance and asked excitedly, "How many weapons did you bring this time?"

Chen Daoxuan said nothing. He simply took more than a hundred flying swords directly from his Storage Bag.

At once.

Spiritual light flashed across the sea surface.

When the merfolk saw those sharp flying swords before them, every one of their eyes turned red.