Chapter 3636: People Fear Fame, Pigs Fear Getting Fat

"It seems you fellow Daoists are quite interested in our Palace Master!" the Fiendish Demon Lord said with a chuckle. The Mystic Talisman Saint Ancestor founded the Mystic Talisman Palace, and his followers refer to him as the Palace Master.

"Fellow Daoist Fang, you possess remarkable abilities. To hear our conversation before even arriving, that must be due to your Four-Eared Demonic Ape!" Cao Yuzhen said meaningfully.

The Fiendish Demon Lord kept an eighth-tier Four-Eared Demonic Ape, known for its acute hearing, capable of eavesdropping on conversations from a great distance.

"I rarely reveal my Four-Eared Demonic Ape to others, yet Madam Cao knows about it," the Fiendish Demon Lord said, a hint of surprise in his voice.

"I have visited the Demonic Realm and interacted with Madam Golden Ganoderma; she mentioned Fellow Daoist Fang," Cao Yuzhen explained.

"Hmph, it seems Madam Cao has a good relationship with *her*!" The Fiendish Demon Lord scoffed, a displeased expression on his face. From his tone, it was clear he held a grudge against Madam Golden Ganoderma.

He then turned his gaze to Ye Xuanji, stating gravely, "I hear Fairy Ye possesses a secret talisman crafted by the Palace Master. Would you be willing to trade it with me? The price is negotiable."

"Trade? What do you offer in return?" Ye Xuanji's tone was flat.

The Fiendish Demon Lord produced a black jade slip and handed it to Ye Xuanji.

Ye Xuanji took the jade slip, scanned it with her divine sense, then shook her head and returned it to the Fiendish Demon Lord.

"Fairy Ye, name your price. Heavenly Void fragments, spiritual herbs, demon cores, or refining materials are all acceptable. It's always good to have more friends." The Fiendish Demon Lord spoke meaningfully, his primary reason for visiting the Cao family this time being the secret talisman crafted by the Mystic Talisman Saint Ancestor.

Ye Xuanji took out a golden jade slip and tossed it to the Fiendish Demon Lord.

The Fiendish Demon Lord scanned it with his divine sense, his face darkening. He frowned and said, "Fairy Ye, isn't your appetite a bit too large? True Spirit Cores and True Spirit Essence Blood are extremely precious, not to mention the Nine-Revolving True Spirit Fruit, Heaven-Earth Jade Lotus, and Spirit-Molding Divine Milk."

"Trade is a matter of mutual consent. Do you think I must exchange something just because you desire the secret talisman? What a joke. Do you believe our Ye family lacks ordinary items?" Ye Xuanji retorted with a hint of mockery.

The Fiendish Demon Lord's face showed displeasure, and he was about to erupt in anger when Cao Yuzhen interjected, "Fellow Daoist Fang, this is not the Demonic Realm."

Hearing this, the Fiendish Demon Lord suppressed his rage and said, "Fairy Ye, may I see the secret talisman? I need to inspect it to determine its value."

"Show me what I desire first, otherwise, there's nothing to discuss," Ye Xuanji stated her condition.

The Fiendish Demon Lord's brow furrowed, but he said nothing further.

"Fellow Daoist Fang, are you not afraid of being ambushed, coming to the Azurewood Realm alone?" the Drunken Immortal asked meaningfully, noting that demonic cultivators and spiritual cultivators were traditionally at odds.

"Ambush? If anyone wishes to try, then let them," the Fiendish Demon Lord said with a dismissive, nonchalant smile.

His gaze then shifted to Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan. "These two must be the Azure Lotus Immortal Couple! To have killed Tong Shan, you truly possess remarkable ability."

"Fellow Daoist Fang, you flatter us. We merely joined forces with Fairy Ye and were fortunate to slay Tong Shan," Wang Changsheng humbly replied. He was modest, unsure why the Fiendish Demon Lord was praising them when they had no prior connection. Unsolicited goodwill often presages ill intent.

"Fortunate? Hmph, true ability is true ability; there's no such thing as mere fortune. I hear the Thunder Apricot Jade Immortal Fruit is in your possession. I can offer something in exchange." The Fiendish Demon Lord handed a black jade slip to Wang Changsheng as he spoke. "The Thunder Apricot Jade Immortal Fruit!"

The gazes of all the Grand Ascension cultivators converged on Wang Changsheng, their expressions varied. Some were hearing of this for the first time, while others had heard rumors before, though they knew such rumors weren't always true.

Wang Changsheng took the jade slip and scanned it with his divine sense. It indeed contained many valuable items, but they paled in comparison to the Thunder Apricot Jade Immortal Fruit, especially since the fruit itself was not yet ripe.

"I do possess a Thunder Apricot Jade Immortal Fruit tree, but it will take another hundred thousand years to mature, unless it receives a substantial amount of Creation Dew." Wang Changsheng returned the jade slip to the Fiendish Demon Lord, stating the truth.

It was a fact that he had killed Tong Shan, and claiming he didn't have the Thunder Apricot Jade Immortal Fruit wouldn't be believed by outsiders, as there were still Grand Ascension cultivators from the Tang Clan alive who could testify that the fruit had been on Tong Shan. Wang Changsheng saw no need to deny it. Both the Soul Extinguishing Disk and the Thunder Apricot Jade Immortal Fruit held great appeal for Grand Ascension cultivators, especially the latter. However, in the world of cultivation, strength reigned supreme, and with his current power, ordinary Grand Ascension cultivators were no match for him.

"It takes another hundred thousand years to mature? Are you trying to trick me?" The Fiendish Demon Lord's face showed displeasure.

"Am I to produce the Thunder Apricot Jade Immortal Fruit for Fellow Daoist Fang's inspection?" Wang Changsheng snorted dismissively.

"How about this, Fellow Daoist Wang? Let's have a sparring match. If I win, you let me see the Thunder Apricot Jade Immortal Fruit. If I lose, I'll give you an item," the Fiendish Demon Lord suggested.

"I desire a Heavenly Treasure. Can you produce one? I'm not lacking in ordinary items," Wang Changsheng said with a faint smile, implying the Fiendish Demon Lord was taking him lightly.

"If not a Heavenly Treasure, then ten items might suffice," Wang Ruyan demanded, making an exorbitant offer.

"Ten items? Madam Wang, you have quite an appetite. At most, three items." The Fiendish Demon Lord haggled.

"Five items! Fellow Daoist Fang, as one of the Ten Great Saint Ancestors of the Demonic Realm, your strength is surely formidable," Wang Changsheng said with a subtle implication.

"Five it is, then. But let it be known, I will not hold back," the Fiendish Demon Lord agreed, speaking with a hint of threat.

"No problem. I also wish to witness Fellow Daoist Fang's divine abilities," Wang Changsheng accepted. Both were at the mid-Grand Ascension stage, and having opened two apertures, he felt no fear of his opponent.

"Wait, count me in for the sparring. How about I be the first to experience Fellow Daoist Fang's formidable skills?" Chen Yueying interjected. She had also opened one aperture and wished to see how much her divine abilities had improved.

"Very well. If Fairy Ye is interested, she can also participate," the Fiendish Demon Lord said meaningfully.

"Talk to me after you defeat Fairy Chen and Fellow Daoist Wang," Ye Xuanji replied coolly, appearing to disregard the Fiendish Demon Lord.

"Since you fellow Daoists wish to spar, our Cao family can provide a venue. However, let me state upfront: it must be a friendly match. Regardless of who it is, if anyone dares to use lethal force, then don't blame our Cao family for being impolite," Cao Yuzhen stated solemnly. If someone were to die during a sparring match, it would tarnish the Cao family's reputation.

Wang Changsheng and the other two agreed, naturally knowing to exercise restraint.

Cao Yuzhen led them to a massive valley surrounded on three sides by mountains. The valley floor was barren, showing signs of past battles.

Chen Yueying and the Fiendish Demon Lord stood within the valley, hundreds of feet apart.

Cao Yuzhen took out a flickering yellow formation disc, cast several incantations, and the three mountain peaks began to tremble slightly. A massive yellow light barrier materialized, enveloping Chen Yueying and the Fiendish Demon Lord.

As the sparring began, Chen Yueying stomped her right foot firmly on the ground. The earth transformed into sand, and countless grains of sand were swept into the air by a fierce wind, creating a cloud of dust. She formed a hand seal, and countless yellow sand grains coalesced, forming a colossal yellow sand dragon that lunged towards the Fiendish Demon Lord. With a flick of her right hand, a yellow light shot out and vanished.