Chapter 1270: Fire Qilin Stone

Initially, she didn't know the Wang family was the culprit.

By chance, she learned that the Wang family had collaborated with multiple forces to open the Five Dragon Secret Realm. The Wang family also possessed two Five Dragon Tokens, one of which was the Water Dragon Token.

The Water Dragon Token was the Song family's treasured heirloom, and few people knew this secret.

Soon after the Song family was annihilated, the Wang family collaborated with other forces to open the Five Dragon Secret Realm. This was clearly a long-planned conspiracy, and Song Yuzhen had to avenge her deceased clansmen.

The body she had taken over was named Song Yuning, differing from her original name by only one character. Song Yuning had come from other sea regions to the Fire Dolphin Sea Region to make a living. Thanks to her beautiful appearance, she was taken as a concubine by True Monarch Jinjing. Had she not become pregnant with his child, she would not have been able to be promoted to his wife.

At dusk, the sky darkened, but the Kyoto market district was as bright as day, and the streets were much more crowded than during the day.

Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan appeared in front of a five-story blue pavilion. A silver plaque hung high above its entrance, bearing the three golden characters "Tianxiang Tea."

Two Foundation Establishment cultivators guarded the entrance, but they did not obstruct Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan, allowing them to enter.

The interior of the pavilion was elegantly furnished. The main hall was empty, but upon reaching the third floor, they saw four Nascent Soul cultivators—three men and one woman. Murong Bo was also among them.

As Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan walked up, the four Nascent Soul cultivators all looked towards them.

"Fellow Daoist Wang, Madam Wang, you've arrived," Murong Bo said cordially, a warm smile on his face. "Let me introduce you. This is Fellow Daoist Yang from the Seven Absolutes Sect, Fellow Daoist Kong from the Luyang Royal Mansion, and Fellow Daoist Song from the Three Flames Palace. As for Fellow Daoist Wang and Madam Wang, there's no need for an introduction, right? I'm sure the three of you have heard of the Azure Lotus Immortals."

"Fellow Daoist Song, thank you for your assistance last time," Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan said in unison, their gaze falling upon the only woman with the surname Song.

Song Xiruo, the Deputy Palace Master of the Three Flames Palace, had offered assistance during their trip to the Purple Fire Abyss.

"It was no trouble at all," Song Xiruo said with a faint, indifferent smile. "Fellow Daoist Wang and Madam Wang are too polite."

"A small kindness should be repaid with a flowing spring," Wang Changsheng said gratefully. "While it may have been a small favor to Fellow Daoist Song, my wife and I will never forget it." Wang Ruyan then took out a white piece of wood, about a zhang long, and handed it to Song Xiruo with both hands.

"This is a three-thousand-year-old Snow Wood," Wang Ruyan said. "Thank you, Fellow Daoist Song, for your assistance. Otherwise, who knows what misfortune might have befallen our clansmen!"

Song Xiruo's assistance was of moderate significance. Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan hadn't expected Song Xiruo to be present, but since they had encountered her, they naturally had to express their gratitude properly.

This was a gesture akin to 'buying bones with a thousand gold'—Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan wanted to convey to other Nascent Soul cultivators that they never mistreated their friends. Song Xiruo had helped their junior and received a three-thousand-year-old Snow Wood in return; surely, if she were to help them personally, the reward would be even greater?

They needed Tier 4 healing elixirs. Having just arrived in the Central Plains Immortal Cultivation World, they knew very few Nascent Soul cultivators. Thus, they had to spend heavily to gain the favor of other Nascent Soul cultivators.

"What a fine saying: 'A small kindness should be repaid with a flowing spring,'" an elegant old man in white robes, wearing a scholar's headscarf, said with a smile, stroking his beard lightly. "Our Kong family's ancestor left behind this very teaching as a family motto. Excellent, Fellow Daoist Wang, Madam Wang."

Song Xiruo accepted the Snow Wood without ceremony, put it away, and said with a smile, "Fellow Daoist Murong, if no one else is coming, let's exchange some materials first! It won't be too late to go to the underground auction afterward."

This Kyoto auction was quite large in scale, attracting many Nascent Soul cultivators. Some powerful merchants seized the opportunity to host underground auctions, and there was more than one such event.

Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan did not object; they welcomed it.

The six of them took out materials to exchange. However, the items they produced were not particularly valuable. The truly good items, of course, would be exchanged at the underground auction to maximize their benefits.

Wang Changsheng took out a large quantity of demonic beast materials, including a Tier 4 demonic core.

"These materials can be exchanged for Tier 4 elixirs or materials of equivalent value."

Naturally, he wouldn't openly state that he wanted to exchange for Tier 4 healing elixirs. That would be tantamount to telling others they were severely injured. If it were only minor injuries, there would be no need for healing elixirs; a decade or eight years of quiet recuperation would suffice.

"Fellow Daoist Wang," Song Xiruo transmitted, her beautiful eyes filled with anticipation, "how about I exchange a hundred catties of Blazing Scarlet Sand for that Tier 4 demonic core?"

A Tier 4 demonic core was more valuable than even a thousand-year spirit medicine. Blazing Scarlet Sand was an excellent fire-attribute refining material; although the Three Flames Palace controlled a large Blazing Scarlet Sand mine, it only produced over a hundred catties per year.

Wang Changsheng shook his head. While Blazing Scarlet Sand was a good refining material, it was still a bit lacking for repairing the Blazing Sun Divine Pagoda. Exchanging it for a Tier 4 demonic core would be too great a loss.

"Fellow Daoist Wang," Murong Bo offered, "how about I exchange this Tier 4 Golden-Eyed Thunder Tortoise shell for that Tier 4 demonic core?"

Murong Bo took out a pale golden tortoise shell, its surface etched with some profound golden patterns.

"Fellow Daoist Murong," Wang Changsheng replied, "a Tier 4 demonic tortoise shell cannot compare in value to a Tier 4 demonic core. You'll need to offer some more materials!"

It was widely known that demonic cores were the most precious materials from demonic beasts.

Murong Bo hesitated slightly, then took out a green jade box and handed it to Wang Changsheng. He transmitted his voice, saying, "Inside here is a Fire Kylin Stone. This stone has been corrupted by demonic energy, but a portion of it remains uncorrupted, from which some Fire Kylin Sand can be extracted."

He had obtained this Fire Kylin Stone over a hundred years ago. Three Nascent Soul cultivators, working together, had spent several years to extract only a small amount of Fire Kylin Sand. Fire Kylin Sand was a top-tier fire-attribute refining material, suitable even for crafting spirit treasures. Had it not been tainted by demonic energy, its value would not have been so greatly diminished.

According to his estimation, even if three Nascent Soul cultivators worked together, they wouldn't be able to extract much Fire Kylin Sand, and it would take a long time. This Fire Kylin Stone was akin to a chicken rib—flavorless to eat, yet a pity to discard.

If Fire Kylin Sand could be easily extracted, he wouldn't have offered it for exchange.

Wang Changsheng was somewhat surprised. He opened the jade box to see a fist-sized black ore inside. Faint red light shimmered on its surface, which was enveloped in a layer of crimson flames, emitting immense heat waves.

Wang Changsheng thought for a moment and agreed.

The Azure Lotus Cauldron could purify refining materials; he had already tested this. Before this, he had obtained a Dragon Blood Stone that was also corrupted. He placed the Dragon Blood Stone in the Azure Lotus Cauldron, and the cauldron had actually separated the impurities, purifying the Dragon Blood Stone.

Perhaps the Azure Lotus Cauldron could purify this Fire Kylin Stone, corrupted by demonic energy. Even if it failed, it wouldn't be a great loss.

"The time is about right," Murong Bo said, putting away the Tier 4 demonic core, his brows and eyes beaming with joy. "The underground auction is about to begin. Let's go!"

Leaving Tianxiang Tea, the six of them walked towards a secluded street.