The trade

Emerging Clouds Peak, Thousand Mechanism Hall.

Fang Yuan, the "Senior Brother Fang" who served as the manager assigning miscellaneous duties, lay in a chair basking in the sun, tossing a few Spirit Stones in his hand. He marveled at how good life was!

Ever since becoming a manager, he had frequently exploited his position to demand all sorts of benefits, amassing a considerable fortune. Now he was wondering whether he should find a way to acquire another Foundation Establishment Pill and try to establish his foundation again.

As he pondered this, the light before him suddenly dimmed, and a figure appeared in front of him.

Fang Yuan snapped out of his thoughts and looked up. It was Xiao Yu.

"And who might this be? Junior Brother Xiao! Hmm? What can I... You've established your foundation?" Fang Yuan had been about to ask what Xiao Yu wanted when he suddenly noticed something amiss. He immediately scrambled to his feet and bowed deeply to Xiao Yu. "Junior Fang Yuan pays his respects to Martial Uncle. Congratulations on successfully establishing your foundation!"

"Haha, there's no need for such formality, Brother Fang. We've known each other for a long time. No need to stand on ceremony," Xiao Yu said with a smile.

"Thank you, Martial Uncle, but propriety cannot be neglected. It is only right that I observe a disciple's etiquette before you!" Fang Yuan said uneasily.

Not long ago, he had nearly offended the man before him. Who could have imagined that in just six months, his former junior brother would become his martial uncle? He was genuinely afraid Xiao Yu had come to make trouble for him.

Noticing his unease, Xiao Yu said, "Don't be nervous. I came today to return the Medicinal Garden token and ask you about someone." With a turn of his hand, a jade token appeared in his palm, and he handed it to Fang Yuan.

"Thank you, Martial Uncle. Whatever you need, please just say the word. I will tell you everything I know, holding nothing back," Fang Yuan promised as he accepted the token.

"You've worked here for years, so you should know a Qi Refining Stage disciple named Yan Kuan, right? Among the lower-ranking disciples, he's known as the 'Martial Fool.'"

"Yan Kuan? I know him. He is a member of the Yan cultivation family, one of the several cultivation clans affiliated with our Giant Sword Sect. They have several Foundation Establishment cultivators. I've heard the strongest among them is approaching the peak of Foundation Establishment and will soon be ready to attempt Core Formation!

"Yan Kuan has exceptional aptitude and cultivates very quickly, so although he isn't from the main lineage, his clan still values him highly."

Although he had no idea why Xiao Yu was asking about Yan Kuan, Fang Yuan hastily told him everything he knew.

"Good. Then do you know where he lives?" Xiao Yu asked, satisfied.

"Yes, yes! He's on Morning Mist Peak, at..." Fang Yuan immediately gave him a location, then provided some more detailed information about Yan Kuan.

"Very good. Thank you, then. Farewell!" With that, Xiao Yu immediately departed, flying toward Morning Mist Peak.

Watching Xiao Yu leave, Fang Yuan wiped nonexistent cold sweat from his forehead and muttered, "There really is no justice in this world. How can he be so lucky, establishing his foundation just like that? Fortunately, he didn't give me trouble over what happened before..."

Half an hour later, Xiao Yu landed before Qilin Pavilion on Morning Mist Peak. This was where the Giant Sword Sect raised spirit beasts. Although the sect's spirit beasts could not match the variety found at Spirit Beast Mountain, it did raise a number of useful Demon Beasts. There were beasts with special uses, such as Spirit-Seeking Mice, as well as fierce combat beasts such as Heavenly Tigers.

According to Fang Yuan, Yan Kuan loved sparring so much that many people in the sect had become utterly fed up with him and refused to have anything to do with him. Deprived of opponents, Yan Kuan had thought of this place. Some of its upper- or top-tier first-rank Demon Beasts occasionally went berserk, and he would take those opportunities to fight them and satisfy his craving.

"Moo! Moo!" Urgent bellows came from somewhere up the mountain, accompanied by the sounds of trees snapping. Xiao Yu's interest stirred, and he headed toward the noise.

A moment later, Xiao Yu reached a huge walled courtyard. Sweeping his gaze inside, he saw a man and a beast fighting.

The beast resembled a bull and was roughly ten feet in size. Xiao Yu recognized it as a Savage Bull Beast. These Demon Beasts had no particularly powerful abilities, only a few earth-attribute spells and the ability to charge with their bodies. The one before him was approaching the top tier of the first rank.

The man was a tall, barefoot young man with loose hair and rugged features, who looked twenty-six or twenty-seven. He was precisely the Yan Kuan Xiao Yu had come to find.

Yan Kuan controlled a huge silver sword that emitted streaks of silver Sword Aura, slashing relentlessly at the Savage Bull Beast.

A thick layer of yellow light formed over the Savage Bull Beast's body, resisting the Sword Aura. For the moment, the two were evenly matched. Although the Sword Aura could not break through the beast's defenses, each strike still hurt enough to make the beast howl.

Suddenly, the Savage Bull Beast stamped both forehooves heavily against the ground, and more than a dozen sharp earth spikes erupted beneath Yan Kuan's feet.

Just as the spikes were about to pierce him clean through, Yan Kuan tapped the ground lightly with his foot and sprang into the air, narrowly evading the attack.

"Hmph, paltry tricks! Slash!" At his command, the huge silver sword blazed once more, hurtling down at the Savage Bull Beast with astonishing might.

Seemingly aware of the power behind this attack, the Savage Bull Beast gathered all its magical power into its horns and thrust them up at the sword.

With a thunderous bang, the huge sword rebounded, while the Savage Bull Beast staggered back more than a hundred feet with heavy, pounding steps. Then the beast shook its head, rolled its enormous eyes, and suddenly leaped out of the courtyard and ran into the distance, vanishing in the blink of an eye.

"Ah, what a letdown. I hadn't even had my fill yet!" Yan Kuan muttered as he watched the Savage Bull Beast flee.

Clap, clap, clap. "Excellent skills!" Xiao Yu applauded in praise.

"Who's there?" Yan Kuan started. Someone had been watching his battle, yet he had not noticed a thing.

Turning toward the courtyard entrance, he saw an ordinary-looking young man in black, about twenty-three or twenty-four, walk through the gate. The young man radiated the spiritual pressure unique to Foundation Establishment cultivators.

Not daring to be negligent, Yan Kuan stepped forward and saluted.

"Disciple Yan Kuan pays his respects to Martial Uncle!"

"No need for ceremony, Martial Nephew. Haha, I've heard of your reputation as the 'Martial Fool.' Now that I've seen you fight, you truly are impressive," Xiao Yu said with a smile by way of greeting.

"Ah, you flatter me, Martial Uncle. That's only a joke others make about me. It shouldn't be taken seriously."

"There's no need to be modest. My surname is Xiao. As it happens, we entered the sect in the same intake."

"I am slow-witted and cannot compare with your heaven-gifted talent, Martial Uncle. You are already a Foundation Establishment cultivator, while I am merely at the twelfth level of Qi Refining. May I ask what instructions you have for me?"

"I came here specifically to find you today because there is indeed something I need to trouble you with."

"You needn't speak of troubling me, Martial Uncle. Please give me your instructions."

Getting down to business, Xiao Yu's expression grew serious. "Here's the situation. I found your Sword-Controlling Technique quite remarkable, and I'm interested in it. I would like to make a trade with you. How about exchanging it with me? Price is no issue. Pills, Spirit Stones, magic tools, Spirit Talismans-I have some of all these. Feel free to name whatever you want."

"Well... Martial Uncle, could you allow me some time to consider?" Yan Kuan was both surprised and uneasy. He had not expected this man to seek him out specifically for this matter.

"Of course. Consider it right here. There's no need to worry. I won't let you lose out," Xiao Yu said, still smiling, though his words made it clear he intended to accomplish his goal today.

Yan Kuan's expression darkened at this. This was shaping up to be a forced sale. Silently weighing their respective strength, he had no confidence that he could escape a Foundation Establishment cultivator unscathed. Fortunately, this martial uncle did seem to intend an actual exchange rather than simply taking it by force.

He looked around again. There seemed to be no one else present. If I refuse, will this martial uncle do something to me? Yan Kuan kept weighing the risks and benefits.

After a long while, Yan Kuan finally made his decision. He took something from his Storage Bag and handed it to Xiao Yu. "Martial Uncle Xiao, I learned my Sword-Controlling Technique from this. It is no longer of any use to me, so please accept it as a gift!"

Xiao Yu accepted it and took a look. It was a silver page, its surface covered in fine, uneven runes. Although it appeared somewhat mysterious, he could make nothing of it.

Suppressing his excitement, Xiao Yu asked, "Martial Nephew, could you explain what is special about this page?"

Seeing that Xiao Yu seemed not to understand, Yan Kuan set aside his suspicions. Although the page was unusual, this martial uncle apparently did not know its secret. He replied, "Martial Uncle, the silver on the surface was added later. It was originally gold. Melt away its surface with fire, and you will understand."

At these words, fire flashed in Xiao Yu's hand, and a blazing fireball enveloped the page.

As the flames scorched it, the page's surface gradually melted, and silver droplets resembling mercury dripped steadily to the ground.

A moment later, a pristine golden page appeared amid the flames.

Extinguishing the flames, Xiao Yu picked up the newly revealed golden page and read it. Inscribed upon it was a Sword Cultivation Technique teaching how to control flying swords and specifically cultivate Sword Aura. It certainly appeared extraordinary!

After examining it for a moment, Xiao Yu said, "This Spell Seal is quite good, and I am indeed very interested in it. As for giving it to me for free, say no more of that, Martial Nephew. Since this is a trade, I naturally won't let you lose out.

"How about this? I see you still have some way to go before reaching the peak of the twelfth level. I have a few bottles of pills that may be useful to you. I'll give you this magic tool and some Spirit Talismans as well."

As he spoke, Xiao Yu took out three jade bottles, a magic tool shaped like an iron plate, and a stack of Spirit Talismans. The bottles contained Yellow Dragon Pills, Great Restoration Pills, and other pills. The iron plate was the top-grade magic tool he had obtained from the young man of the Blade Transforming Dock. The talismans were Fire Serpent Talismans, roughly seventy or eighty in total.

Together, these items were worth over a thousand Spirit Stones, already a tremendous fortune for a Qi Refining Stage disciple. Even among elite disciples, few could produce so much at once.

Sure enough, at the sight of these items, the clouds on Yan Kuan's face cleared, and he broke into a delighted smile.

"Thank you for your generous gift, Martial Uncle. Please take the page!"

He had already learned almost everything recorded on it. Although the golden page was made of an extraordinary material, trading an object whose other uses were unknown for resources worth over a thousand Spirit Stones was still worthwhile.

"Good. Since you're satisfied, Martial Nephew, I'll be on my way." With that, Xiao Yu immediately flew away on his magic tool.

"Farewell, Martial Uncle!" Yan Kuan gazed after Xiao Yu, somewhat lost in thought.