Chapter 1570: Dai Family

"This is a bottle of diluted Myriad Poison Paste," explained Dongfang Shiyu. "Myriad Poison Paste is a spiritual substance of heaven and earth, highly favored by poisonous insects and beasts, and beneficial for their advancement." He added that its toxicity is extremely potent, comparable to the Ten Absolute Poisons. Even Nascent Soul cultivators would not dare to touch it. Myriad Poison Paste can be used for alchemy, artifact refining, and setting up formations. However, it's scarce and so toxic that alchemists usually dilute it before use.

"Diluted Myriad Poison Paste!" Wang Yingjie expressed some disappointment. He would have been interested if it were undiluted. The most valuable item he possessed was a set of puppet beasts, worth several million spirit stones, which he naturally intended to exchange for something truly good.

While the items Dongfang Shiyu presented were not bad, they weren't what Wang Yingjie specifically needed, though he wasn't entirely uninterested. Over a dozen cultivators communicated with Dongfang Shiyu via spiritual messages, presenting their treasures for exchange. Dongfang Shiyu acquired several valuable items, a broad smile spreading across his face.

The cultivators then took turns stepping forward to display their treasures and state what they wished to exchange for. Most sought elixirs, followed by magical artifacts, high-grade talismans, or formations – items that could enhance their personal strength. Only a portion of the cultivators successfully exchanged for what they needed.

After about the time it takes to steep a cup of tea, Wang Yingjie produced four glimmering metal spheres, each a different color and covered in intricate spiritual patterns. These were the Four-Symbol Puppet Beasts, capable of deploying four Demon-Slaying Formations. Two Core Formation cultivators could control them, making the Four-Symbol Puppet Beasts equivalent to four fearless Core Formation realm guards.

Each puppet beast was a low-grade third-tier item, and the entire set was valued at around 3.5 million spirit stones. To acquire this third-tier puppet beast set, he had nearly emptied his personal fortune and borrowed a significant amount of spirit stones from many of his clansmen.

If he failed to exchange them for something desirable, Wang Yingjie could return the Four-Symbol Puppet Beasts to his clan and reclaim most of his assets, though there would certainly be some loss. Wang Yingjie didn't mind this small loss, believing that one must give to gain. If successful, he might become one of the clan's "Two Heroes," significantly increasing his chances of advancing to the Nascent Soul stage. Relying solely on his own power, such an advancement would be impossible unless he possessed exceptional luck, like Huang Fugui, who acquired treasures worth over ten million spirit stones.

"A set of puppet beasts? And third-tier ones at that!" A flicker of surprise crossed Dongfang Shiyu's eyes, and his breathing grew heavier. Few powers in the South Sea cultivation world sold third-tier puppet beasts. The most renowned was the Divine Weapons Palace, one of the Ten Great Sects, followed by the Wang Clan of Qinglian Island. While the Wang Clan's sets of puppet beasts were immensely powerful, their flaw was also apparent: they consumed a significant amount of spiritual sense.

The Wang Clan rarely sold third-tier puppet beast sets. A single low-grade third-tier puppet beast cost around 700,000 spirit stones, with sets being even more expensive. The set Wang Yingjie presented could easily fetch at least 3.5 million spirit stones—a substantial sum, though the cultivators present might be able to collectively afford it.

"I wish to exchange these for a fourth-tier lightning-attribute demon core, an ice-attribute flood dragon demon core, rare artifact refining materials, or materials of equivalent value," Wang Yingjie announced loudly. He knew that no single cultivator present would likely have items to exchange for the Four-Symbol Puppet Beasts, but a few pooling their resources might be able to.

All the cultivators present were interested in this third-tier puppet beast set, especially Miao Yunwei. The Miao Clan had two Nascent Soul cultivators, but their number of Core Formation cultivators was relatively small, lacking many high-level experts. Acquiring this third-tier puppet beast set would strengthen the clan's foundation, but he didn't possess the items Wang Yingjie requested.

The cultivators promptly sent spiritual messages to Wang Yingjie, presenting their treasures for his inspection. While the items offered were decent—elixirs to improve magical power, secret talismans, fourth-tier formations, and so on—Wang Yingjie was somewhat tempted but ultimately did not make an exchange, as none of them were what he truly sought.

Seeing that no one had offered what he desired, Wang Yingjie, a little disappointed, put away the Four-Symbol Puppet Beasts and returned to his seat. Miao Yunwei then stepped forward, offering over a dozen materials for exchange. He sought alchemy ingredients, specifically spirit herbs aged seven to eight hundred years or third-tier demon cores.

Miao Yunwei successfully exchanged for several third-tier demon cores, his face beaming with joy, a stark contrast to Wang Yingjie's disappointed expression.

An hour later, the exchange gathering concluded. Most cultivators had acquired what they needed, a faint smile gracing their faces. After chatting for roughly half an hour, the cultivators gradually departed, heading back to their respective homes. Wang Yingjie dejectedly exited the pavilion, and Miao Yunwei followed after him.

"Fellow Daoist Wang, please wait."

"Fellow Daoist Miao, how may I help you?" Wang Yingjie politely asked, a glimmer of expectation rising in his heart.

"Nothing in particular, but since we've met, let's wander around together!" Miao Yunwei said enthusiastically. The Wang Clan wielded considerable influence in the South Sea cultivation world, and befriending a Wang clan member could benefit the Miao Clan's business. Miao Jiale was acquainted with Wang Qingshan, but their relationship wasn't deep, as they hadn't interacted much.

Wang Yingjie felt a pang of disappointment but nodded. The two then ambled through the market. As the Dao Discussion Assembly drew near, the number of cultivators in the market surged. These cultivators came from all corners of the world, though those from the South Sea cultivation world were the most numerous.

After about the time it takes to steep a cup of tea, Wang Yingjie and Miao Yunwei found themselves in a thousand-acre bluestone plaza. The plaza was dotted with numerous small stalls, offering a diverse array of goods, most of which were ordinary. As they chatted, Wang Yingjie and Miao Yunwei surveyed the wares at the stalls. After making a round, they saw many peculiar items, but few truly piqued their interest.

"Fellow Daoist Miao, what a coincidence!" A clear, bell-like female voice suddenly rang out. Miao Yunwei looked towards the source of the sound and saw a slender, alluring young woman with striking features. She wore a green long dress, and her peach blossom eyes were glistening, exuding a captivating femininity.

"Fellow Daoist Miao, who is this?" Wang Yingjie asked casually.

"This is Fairy Dai," Miao Yunwei introduced enthusiastically. "Fairy Dai is from the Dai Clan of Qingfeng Mountain. The Dai Clan and our Miao Clan are generational acquaintances. Fairy Dai, this is Fellow Daoist Wang from the Wang Clan of Qinglian Island." He added that the Dai Clan had a legacy of over three thousand years and nearly became an allied royal family during its peak. However, the Dai Clan had since declined and no longer had any Nascent Soul cultivators within its ranks.

"I am Wang Yingjie. It's a pleasure to meet Fairy Dai," Wang Yingjie greeted politely. He had never been to the Central Plains cultivation world and had not heard of the Dai Clan.

"So it is Fellow Daoist Wang. My apologies for not recognizing you sooner," the young woman in the green dress said warmly, her tone friendly. With the Wang Clan prospering and the Dai Clan increasingly declining, she naturally wished to befriend Wang Yingjie.

"Why don't we find a place to chat? We have nothing else to do anyway," Wang Yingjie suggested. Miao Yunwei and the young woman readily agreed.

Fifteen minutes later, the three of them were seated in a private room at a teahouse. They drank tea and conversed. During their casual chat, Wang Yingjie learned that the young woman in the green dress was named Dai Ruoyun, the only daughter of the Dai Clan head and the undisputed choice for the clan's next leader.