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It was indeed highly protective of Black She Temple, to the point that it could not bear to damage even a single stone statue.

Joy welled up in Shan Heyuan's heart. He said loudly, "Senior, we mean no harm. We only came to make a trade with you."

"A trade?" The Illusionless Tree gave a strange laugh. "What do you have to trade with me? Black She Temple has been in decline for so many years. You petty scoundrels can forget about threatening me!"

Shan Heyuan said, "You misunderstand, senior. The trade we have in mind has nothing to do with Black She Temple. To be precise, we only want to trade with you."

The Illusionless Tree let out another roar, sending Shan Heyuan stumbling two steps back. "Ha ha! What nonsense are you spouting, little cultivator? What could I possibly trade with you?"

Shan Heyuan said, "To tell you the truth, I'm a grower. I want a living branch that doesn't bear your mark, senior. I'm willing to trade fertilizer for it."

The Illusionless Tree scoffed. "What? You actually set your sights on me?!"

Shan Heyuan said sincerely, "Taking a small branch won't harm you, senior. If you're willing to trade, it would be a win for both of us."

Before the Illusionless Tree could speak, Shan Heyuan added, "I have a box of fertilizer here. Please try it first, senior. If it meets your standards, we can discuss a trade. If not, forget it. Consider it our apology for disturbing you."

The Illusionless Tree said, "I'd like to see what kind of fertilizer gives you the nerve to make such grand claims."

Shan Heyuan was fully confident. He took out a wooden box and handed it to Shen Duheng.

Shen Duheng flicked his hand, using a deft application of force to toss the wooden box straight toward the Illusionless Tree.

The Illusionless Tree cautiously extended a root to catch it, keeping the wooden box away from its main body.

Shan Heyuan said, "This is fertilizer we've just made. It has a rich mix of ingredients. You've lived here for so long, senior. There can't be much fertility left in the soil, can there?"

The Illusionless Tree held the wooden box but did not answer.

Shan Heyuan said, "You'll know once you try the fertilizer, senior. After you've tried it, we can discuss the trade."

The Illusionless Tree said mockingly, "Who knows whether that stuff of yours is harmful? There are plenty of petty scoundrels among you cultivators."

Shan Heyuan smiled. "Then you'll have to judge for yourself, senior. I'm sure a wise and mighty Spirit Plant like you can soon reach an accurate judgment."

The Illusionless Tree did not trust them. Even after accepting the fertilizer, it had no intention of trading with them.

Shan Heyuan knew this could not be rushed, so he and Shen Duheng made camp in the forest beside the Illusionless Tree. They planned to stay a few days and sound it out first.

The two had ample supplies in their storage rings, and with their abilities as cultivators, they built a small wooden cabin on the spot.

They put warming talismans and windproof talismans in the cabin, laid down a carpet, set up a wooden bed, added bedding, and lit incense. Just like that, a warm, cozy shelter appeared.

The Illusionless Tree was bound by its nature and could not leave its spot, but it could extend its Divine Sense.

Seeing Shan Heyuan and Shen Duheng take out all sorts of things and settle down comfortably, it could not help saying sourly, "You certainly know how to enjoy yourselves."

Shan Heyuan guessed that, since it presented itself as a mad creature, it probably had not spoken to anyone in a long time and was bound to be lonely. He struck up a conversation. "We're just making do. If a wealthy cultivator came here instead, he might even bring a whole palace."

The Illusionless Tree said darkly, "I dare him! Just watch me tear it down."

Shan Heyuan smiled. "It was only a hypothetical."

The Illusionless Tree fell silent. After quite a while, it said, "Your presence feels a little familiar, little cultivator."

Shan Heyuan reminded it, "We were just here a few days ago."

The Illusionless Tree said, "It has nothing to do with that."

Shan Heyuan could not guess. "Maybe I resemble someone you've met, senior? Have you used the fertilizer? Did it work?"

The Illusionless Tree snorted again. "What cultivator's product has no effect at all? There was too little fertilizer. Give me two more boxes to try."

Shan Heyuan said, "I can't. I don't have much fertilizer left, and I need to save it to trade with you, senior. Are you ready to trade with me?"

The Illusionless Tree said, "I don't want to trade with a miser!"

The Illusionless Tree was quite talkative, exchanging a few words with Shan Heyuan from time to time.

Whenever Shan Heyuan heard it, he answered.

Shen Duheng sat cross-legged in the cabin, cultivating and paying them no attention.

For a time, the atmosphere was rather harmonious.

There were many spirit herbs in the forest, and Shan Heyuan went with Shen Duheng to gather some nearby every day.

These spirit herbs were not of a particularly high grade, but they were at least Qi Refining Seventh Stage, much like the ones in his courtyard.

Even if they failed to make a trade with the Illusionless Tree, they had obtained so many spirit herbs that their trip would not have been in vain.

Three days passed in the blink of an eye.

He had to go to work at the Supreme Harmony Sect in two days. Feeling that he could not stay any longer, Shan Heyuan took the initiative to ask the Illusionless Tree, "Senior, have you made up your mind? I only need a branch as long as my forearm."

The Illusionless Tree said, "How many pellets of that fertilizer can you give me?"

Shan Heyuan had his answer ready. "Ten thousand."

The Illusionless Tree said, "A hundred thousand!"

This fellow really knew how to open a lion's jaws.

Shan Heyuan drew a sharp breath and negotiated with the Illusionless Tree. "It took me a long time to scrape together ten thousand pellets. I don't have any more. Besides, even if you give me a branch, senior, I might not be able to keep it alive. Any more than ten thousand pellets, and I'd lose the pants off my legs."

The Illusionless Tree said, "You cultivators have always been crafty. I don't believe you only have ten thousand."

Shan Heyuan said, "Senior, I'm only a Qi Refining Realm cultivator. You know how poor Qi Refining Realm cultivators are."

The Illusionless Tree snorted. "Isn't that fellow beside you a Core Formation Cultivator?"

Shan Heyuan said, "But he's a sword cultivator."

The poverty of sword cultivators was known throughout the world.

The negotiations reached another deadlock.

Shan Heyuan had grown familiar with the Illusionless Tree and knew its temperament. He stressed, "Senior, ten thousand fertilizer pills is the most I can offer. If you don't agree, even if we come back next time, that's all we'll be able to give you. But we might not come back next time."

The Illusionless Tree said, "I don't believe you scheming cultivators."

Shen Duheng said from the side, "Let's go."

Shan Heyuan sighed and began packing.

The cabin could stay, but they had to take the things inside.

Shan Heyuan packed very slowly, waiting all the while for the Illusionless Tree to change its mind.

Even when they had packed everything and were ready to leave, the Illusionless Tree still showed no sign of changing its mind.

Shan Heyuan was very disappointed. He said to Shen Duheng, "Let's go."

Shen Duheng said nothing. He tossed out his spirit sword, ready to take him back.

Just as the two were about to leave, the Illusionless Tree suddenly called out to stop them. "Wait. Ten thousand it is. I can give you a small branch."

Sure enough, the Illusionless Tree was the first to lose its patience!

Shan Heyuan was overjoyed. "Which branch will you give me, senior?"

The Illusionless Tree's fine, dense roots held up a dark brown branch only three inches long. "This one."

Shan Heyuan narrowed his eyes and examined it. After looking for quite a while, he still could not tell whether it was a branch of the Illusionless Tree or whether it bore the tree's mark.

Shan Heyuan asked, "Could you bring it closer, senior? I can't see it clearly."

"No." The Illusionless Tree drew out the word and laughed. "A clever, adorable cultivator like you should be able to reach an accurate judgment soon."

The Illusionless Tree had actually thrown Shan Heyuan's own words back at him.

What a spirit tree, repaying even the slightest grievance.

Shan Heyuan wore an indescribable expression. He did not dare bring his Divine Sense close for a look, afraid of falling into a trap, so he could only rely on his instincts to judge whether anything was wrong with the branch.

Shan Heyuan looked for quite a while. He could only tell that it was indeed a branch of the Illusionless Tree; he could not tell whether it bore the tree's mark.

His cultivation was too low, and the Illusionless Tree's grade was too high.

If it bore a mark, the branch could not grow into a new plant.

That was also why they would rather go to such lengths to trade for a branch with the Illusionless Tree than simply steal one.