Chapter 2651: Visiting Zhao Yunxiao

“Puppet beasts? How many do you have, Fellow Daoist Wang? I need to inspect the goods before I can give a price.”

Han Changfeng’s face was impassive.

Han Xuemei had gone to contact Zhenhai Palace and the Cold Flame Sect to acquire cultivation resources, primarily elixirs, talismans, formations, raw materials, and so on.

Han Changfeng was responsible for contacting other powers to purchase more cultivation resources.

The Wang family’s puppet beasts were quite renowned in this sea region. Han Changfeng had originally intended to seek out Wang Changsheng for discussions, but he didn't expect Wang Changsheng to approach him first.

Wang Changsheng took out a green storage ring and handed it to Han Changfeng.

Han Changfeng took the storage ring, scanned it with his divine sense, and remained outwardly calm, as if nothing unusual had happened.

Wang Changsheng presented hundreds of puppet beasts, including both fourth and fifth-tier puppets. There was a wide variety, from avian puppets to marine beast puppets.

Han Changfeng meticulously inspected them, inquiring about the puppet beasts' performance.

“Fellow Daoist Wang, the quality of this batch of puppet beasts is acceptable. There’s a slight difference compared to those from the Heavenly Secrets Sect and Divine Weapon Sect, but I can take them.”

Han Changfeng offered a relatively low price, a tactic to drive down the cost and secure greater profits.

“I heard that the human race in the Azure Glaze Sea Region has gone to war with the Witch Clan. I imagine puppet beasts wouldn't be very useful there now.”

Wang Changsheng said meaningfully.

Han Changfeng frowned. It seemed Wang Changsheng had received news, or perhaps, he had visited the Azure Glaze Sea Region himself.

“Indeed, a major war has erupted in the Azure Glaze Sea Region. However, we've already contacted Zhenhai Palace and the Cold Flame Sect, as well as the Divine Weapon Sect and the Heavenly Secrets Sect. Our demand for puppet beasts isn't high.”

Han Changfeng stated gravely. He naturally wanted to maintain the upper hand.

“In that case, I apologize for bothering you. I had originally intended to sell Fellow Daoist Han one or two sixth-tier puppet beasts, but it seems I was overthinking things.”

Wang Changsheng said with a tone of regret.

“Sixth-tier puppet beasts!”

A hint of surprise flashed in Han Changfeng’s eyes. Sixth-tier puppet beasts could be considered high-level strategic materials; even the Heavenly Secrets Sect and Divine Weapon Sect wouldn't sell them in large quantities.

“Fellow Daoist Wang, you jest. If you have sixth-tier puppet beasts for sale, the price is negotiable.”

Han Changfeng added an extra ten percent to his original offer.

“Sixth-tier puppet beasts are for trade only, not for sale. I'm looking for Dharma Idol materials or materials for artifact refining and formation arrangement. Here is the list. If Fellow Daoist Han is willing to cooperate with me, I can immediately dispatch people to transport cultivation resources from the mainland. Furthermore, our Wang family's affiliated forces can also assist.”

Wang Changsheng took out a green jade slip and handed it to Han Changfeng.

With the outbreak of war in the Azure Glaze Sea Region, the Han family would naturally prioritize negotiations with Zhenhai Palace and the Cold Flame Sect. While those two powers would reap the main benefits, the Wang family could at least get a share.

The Han family was an external power, with its development focus in the Azure Glaze Sea Region. To acquire more resources, they needed to negotiate with other forces. The most convenient option was Zhenhai Palace, whose main headquarters weren't particularly far from here; travel time could be reduced by using multiple teleportation arrays. The Cold Flame Sect was the next best option.

The Divine Weapon Sect and Heavenly Secrets Sect, however, focused their development on the mainland. Contacting them, even with teleportation arrays, would take several years at the fastest for a round trip, and possibly more than ten years.

Time was precious. Under normal circumstances, the Han family wouldn't have been concerned, but with the war potentially ending at any moment, they had to gather as many resources as possible and transport them back to the Azure Glaze Sea Region with utmost speed.

It was worth noting that they had been harassed by multiple seventh-tier demonic beasts on their way here, so the return journey's timing was uncertain.

If they returned late and the war ended, the acquired resources would be difficult to sell quickly, and would have to be stored in the family's treasury for gradual sale.

“Fellow Daoist Wang, your asking price is too high. If we cooperate with Zhenhai Palace, they can have their affiliated forces transport materials, which is much more capable than your Wang family.”

Han Changfeng haggled.

“Fellow Daoist Han is correct, other items are one thing, but can Zhenhai Palace truly gather so many puppet beasts from the mainland in such a short time? If Fellow Daoist Han is willing to cooperate, I can offer three sixth-tier puppets for exchange. Your Han family can feast, while our Wang family merely gets a sip of soup, surely that's acceptable!”

Wang Changsheng said gravely. What they were truly vying for now was time.

Putting himself in their shoes, if he were a high-ranking member of the Han family, he wouldn't stay on the Profound Spirit Continent for too long either.

Han Changfeng pondered for a long while, then discussed the exchange items with Wang Changsheng.

They discussed for over an hour before reaching an agreement.

The Wang family exchanged puppet beasts for cultivation resources, including materials for artifact refining, talisman making, elixir concoction, formation arrangement, and Dharma Idol materials. The most valuable among these were five pieces of six-tier Thunder Ray beast hide, fifteen sets of Dharma Idol materials, twenty Yin Beads left by Void Refinement stage ghosts, and a low-grade sixth-tier Darkwater Tortoise shell.

Three sixth-tier puppet beasts were exchanged with the Han family, along with a batch of elixirs, spiritual wood, and ores. The total value of this deal exceeded a billion, but this was just a small portion. The Han family's transactions with Zhenhai Palace and the Cold Flame Sect were much larger, which was why the Han family sent three Integration stage cultivators to lead their team.

With the cultivation resources acquired from Zhenhai Palace and the Cold Flame Sect, in addition to this deal with the Wang family, the Han family was almost ready to return to the Azure Glaze Sea Region.

“Fellow Daoist Han, I wish us a pleasant cooperation.”

Wang Changsheng raised his teacup and clinked it against Han Changfeng's.

“To a pleasant cooperation.”

After half a quarter-hour of small talk, Han Changfeng took his leave. Wang Changsheng also departed from Green Lotus Abode and arrived at the entrance of a vast estate. The estate's gates were closed, so Wang Changsheng sent out a sound transmission talisman.

A moment later, the gates opened, and Huang Yun'er emerged. She had already advanced to the Void Refinement stage.

“Junior Sister Huang, congratulations!”

Wang Changsheng offered his congratulations, realizing that the high-ranking members of Zhenhai Palace were indeed supporting the Ascended faction, given that even Huang Yun'er had reached the Void Refinement stage.

“Senior Brother Wang, long time no see. Please follow me.”

Huang Yun'er led Wang Changsheng into the estate, adorned with exotic flowers and rare plants, pavilions, and winding corridors of strange rock formations.

A short while later, Wang Changsheng and Huang Yun'er arrived at a small courtyard. Inside the courtyard was a two-story blue pavilion, next to which stood a rotating waterwheel. Beside the waterwheel was a blue stone platform.

Zhao Yunxiao was seated in a stone pavilion. He seemed surprised to see Wang Changsheng.

It was beyond his expectation that Wang Changsheng had actually reached the Great Perfection of the Void Refinement stage.

“Disciple greets Martial Uncle Zhao.”

Wang Changsheng bowed respectfully.

Zhao Yunxiao nodded, smiling, “It’s been many years. Your magic power has advanced considerably. Excellent. Your master would surely be pleased to know.”

“It is all thanks to Martial Uncle Chen’s diligent guidance.”

Wang Changsheng’s expression was respectful.

Zhao Yunxiao waved his hand at Huang Yun'er, who discreetly withdrew.

“Have you been in secluded cultivation all these years? You didn't even attend Junior Sister Song's Integration Ceremony.”

Zhao Yunxiao asked casually.

“My wife and I traveled to the Azure Glaze Sea Region and only recently returned.”

Wang Changsheng then spoke of the war in the Azure Glaze Sea Region, a fact Zhao Yunxiao was already well aware of.

It was impossible for the Han family to completely blockade the news. There were large-scale communication arrays connecting the Azure Glaze Sea Region and the Profound Spirit Continent, which were not typically activated, and also large-scale teleportation arrays, similarly not easily used.

Activating these large communication and teleportation arrays required the consumption of special formation materials. Unless the human race in both the Azure Glaze Sea Region and the Profound Spirit Continent faced a life-or-death crisis, they wouldn't be easily utilized.

Given the Han family's extensive procurement of cultivation resources, Zhenhai Palace and the Cold Flame Sect naturally wouldn't believe there wasn't a major war in the Azure Glaze Sea Region, especially with ship passengers as witnesses.