Lending It to You Would Cost Me Too Much

"What! Tongtian, you're going too far! I'm only asking to borrow a Spiritual Treasure, and you actually want payment? This concerns..."

In his fury, Hongjun nearly blurted out that this concerned attaining sagehood.

But he caught himself just in time.

He could not reveal that. If he did, Xu Tong would open his lion's maw and demand even more, doubling the price again.

At that thought, Hongjun hastily changed his tune.

"This concerns a private matter of mine. It isn't worth that much in itself."

Seeing Hongjun's disgruntled expression, Xu Tong fought back a laugh.

Nice try, saying it's a private matter. Then go settle it privately.

This time, Xu Tong had no intention of indulging him.

At Hongjun's words, Xu Tong immediately replied with an innocent expression.

"Dao Ancestor, if it's your private matter, that's all the more reason to charge you. Otherwise, why should I lend you a Spiritual Treasure? Are we that close?"

"Pfft!"

Xu Tong's words, coupled with that innocent expression, finally made Hongjun lose his composure.

Damn it, thank goodness this fellow never went to the Purple Cloud Palace.

Otherwise, if this brat had provoked me into losing my composure in front of all those mighty cultivators at the Purple Cloud Palace, I would have utterly disgraced myself.

Previously, Hongjun had been furious that Xu Tong refused to show him any respect and would not attend his lectures, no matter what.

Now, all he felt was relief.

Seeing Hongjun lose his composure, Xu Tong smiled and brought out the Nine Heavens Breathing Soil.

A clump of soil shimmering with multicolored light rested in Xu Tong's palm.

Hongjun's eyes instantly lit up.

This was precisely what he wanted.

Yet Xu Tong merely waved it before him, then immediately put it away again.

Hongjun froze for a moment, looking at Xu Tong in confusion.

Why put it away after bringing it out?

What does he mean?

Isn't he going to lend it to me?

Hongjun was puzzled.

But Xu Tong soon shattered his hopes.

"Dao Ancestor, as you saw, there's only this tiny bit of Nine Heavens Breathing Soil."

"To be frank with you, Dao Ancestor, although I, Tongtian, seek the Dao, I don't like stirring up trouble. I have a dream: to gather all the world's spiritual roots in my Medicine Garden."

"I'd like to try growing things like Flat Peach trees, Ginseng Fruit Trees, Apricot-Yellow Plum trees, and Immortal Jujube Trees. This Nine Heavens Breathing Soil simply isn't enough."

"With Nine Heavens Breathing Soil, every bit you use is a bit gone."

"If it weren't out of respect for you, Dao Ancestor, I wouldn't have brought out even a speck today."

"Besides, how much exactly do you want to borrow, Dao Ancestor? If it's too much, I won't lend it."

Hearing Xu Tong's words, Hongjun was so furious he could have coughed up blood.

To hell with you! You have a dream of growing plants? How can you spin such nonsense? I've been at your cultivation grounds all this time, and I haven't seen so much as a potted flower.

Forget growing the spiritual roots of heaven and earth. Even if every spiritual root in the Primordial World were given to him, with the way he spent all day in secluded cultivation at his cultivation grounds, he would probably let them all die.

The corners of Hongjun's eyes twitched with fury, but there was nothing he could do about Xu Tong.

He knew Xu Tong was jacking up the price on the spot, certain that he would not give up on the Nine Heavens Breathing Soil.

Hongjun even had a feeling that the other man might know exactly what the Nine Heavens Breathing Soil would be used for.

That was precisely why Xu Tong dared to keep bargaining with him.

Seeing Xu Tong still talking without pause, Hongjun finally could not sit still any longer.

"Stop, stop, stop. Fellow Daoist Tongtian, let's discuss exactly what payment you want before you'll lend me the Nine Heavens Breathing Soil."

By now, Hongjun understood that unless he let himself bleed a little today, he would never get his hands on it.

Only then did Xu Tong stop talking.

Old fellow, all that time I spent wearing him down wasn't wasted.

Xu Tong thought to himself.

Then he dropped the act and stated his terms outright.

"Dao Ancestor, I won't repeat how precious this thing is. If you want to borrow it, then out of respect for you, as long as you agree to a few requests and provide a few high-grade Innate Spiritual Treasures, I'll endure the pain of parting with this Nine Heavens Breathing Soil and lend it to you."

Xu Tong looked as though it pained him deeply.

Hearing this, Hongjun lost his composure again.

Just listen to that. Is that anything a human being would say?

You lend me one high-grade Spiritual Treasure for a few days, and you expect me to agree to several requests, then pay several high-grade Innate Spiritual Treasures in rent before you'll reluctantly part with it?

Isn't that valuing your Nine Heavens Breathing Soil a little too highly?

"Tongtian, get this straight. The Nine Heavens Breathing Soil is only an ordinary high-grade Spiritual Treasure."

Hongjun could hardly be blamed for getting so worked up.

If this avatar of Xu Tong's had not been protected by creation merit, Hongjun would already have slapped him.

In all the years since Hongjun attained the Dao, he had never suffered such humiliation.

But seeing Xu Tong's expression, which plainly said there was nothing to discuss unless he agreed...

Hongjun ultimately swallowed his anger.

How did I never notice before that this brat was so difficult to deal with?

Hongjun cursed inwardly.

As he watched the Nine Heavens Breathing Soil waving back and forth before him...

Hongjun finally compromised.

"I'll agree to one request at most, and provide one Innate Spiritual Treasure as compensation."

"If that still isn't enough, then forget the whole thing."

Hongjun made his greatest concession, but his heart kept bleeding.

Damn it, what kind of nonsense is this?

Hearing Hongjun's words, Xu Tong knew he could not push too far.

He had secured one request and an Innate Spiritual Treasure as compensation, and he would also gain a great deal of merit afterward. That was enough of a haul.

At that thought, Xu Tong nodded.

"All right. In that case, out of respect for you, Dao Ancestor, I'll take a small loss."

The corners of Hongjun's eyes twitched with rage, and he kept warning himself inwardly.

Don't get angry. Don't get angry. If you get angry, you lose.

The other man was just about to hand over the Nine Heavens Breathing Soil. If everything fell apart at this last step, all the anger he had endured would have been for nothing.

As someone who understood the bigger picture, Hongjun certainly would not lose the greater prize over a minor grievance.

The problem was that this fellow was truly infuriating.

All you're bloody doing is lending out one Spiritual Treasure.

I'm compensating you with a favor and giving you another Spiritual Treasure on top of it, yet you still claim you're taking a loss.

Although he knew perfectly well that Xu Tong was playing the injured party after pocketing the benefits, Hongjun could no longer be bothered to argue.

He genuinely feared that one wrong word would make Xu Tong change his mind again.

Then a single favor might no longer be enough to satisfy him.

To keep himself under control, Hongjun felt he had to finish negotiating with Xu Tong as quickly as possible.

Then he needed to leave at once, or he really would lose control.

"Tongtian, state your request. If it's reasonable, I'll agree."

Seeing that Hongjun's expression was off, Xu Tong knew he had pushed far enough.

A smile curled at the corners of Xu Tong's mouth.

Today, I'll make you bleed a little.

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