No sooner had the words fallen than a small formation of light appeared at the passage exit below, and a hunchbacked old man in gray robes stepped out.
The hunchbacked old man had dull eyes and graying hair, giving the withered impression of someone utterly drained of vitality.
"Fellow Daoist Solid Rock, have I come to the wrong place? Is this not the Three Venerable Stone Market? I heard an opportunity to attain a Golden Core had appeared here, so I brought my beloved son to try his luck and see whether this opportunity was truly meant for him." The yellow-haired girl glanced at the hunchbacked old man and rolled her eyes as she answered.
"To think even Fellow Daoist Xiong has heard the news. This very matter has been troubling me. It happens to be my turn to oversee the stone market this year, and I never expected something like this to arise. It leaves me in something of a predicament," the hunchbacked old man replied woodenly.
"A predicament? What predicament? I never said I would refuse to pay Spirit Stones and simply snatch the opportunity and leave. Your stone market can sell its wares just as it always has," the yellow-haired girl said with a snort.
"You must be joking, Fellow Daoist Sky Bear. Members of your race have visited the Three Venerable Stone Market before, but none were as bold as you, moving your entire lair here outright, as though you wanted everyone in the Chaotic Spirit Domain to know you had arrived." The hunchbacked old man yawned, still looking utterly listless.
"Enough nonsense. Now that I know an opportunity to attain a Golden Core has appeared here, how could I possibly give it up?
"As for bringing Black Cloud Mountain here, that was naturally a precaution.