Chapter 417: Exchange

Wang Changsheng looked up, and on the second floor of the restaurant, he saw Guangdong Ren’s familiar round face. Guangdong Ren held a golden-brown chicken drumstick in his hand, his mouth glistening with grease.

Wang Changsheng smiled sincerely and said, “Fellow Daoist Guang, you arrived in Guangyuan City so quickly!”

“I arrived half a year ago. If you’re free, come up and let’s have a couple of drinks.”

Wang Changsheng naturally didn’t refuse. He flew up to the second floor and sat down opposite Guangdong Ren.

Guangdong Ren had ordered a large table of food, all of which contained spiritual energy. He ate voraciously, his mouth dripping with oil. In his left hand, he held a golden-brown chicken drumstick, and in his right, a wine pot, taking a bite of the drumstick and then a sip of spiritual wine.

“This is Flame Serpent Wine, a third-tier spiritual wine. It’s made by soaking a third-tier Flame Serpent along with various other third-tier spiritual herbs, then burying it underground for ten years before it’s ready to drink. For Core Formation cultivators, it greatly enhances cultivation,” Guangdong Ren said with a smile as he poured a cup of wine for Wang Changsheng.

Wang Changsheng didn’t stand on ceremony, raising his cup to clink with Guangdong Ren’s. As the wine entered his stomach, it transformed into a surge of pure spiritual energy that rose within him. Wang Changsheng quickly circulated his cultivation technique to refine it. This single cup of spiritual wine was equivalent to several days of diligent cultivation for him. If he were to drink a whole jar, it would likely be equal to several months of his arduous practice.

He only had to consider it: a third-tier Flame Serpent combined with multiple third-tier spiritual herbs would cost at least one hundred thousand spiritual stones. Only someone like Guangdong Ren could afford to drink it. The Hundred Spirits Sect had been established for over a thousand years; its foundation was undoubtedly many times stronger than the Wang family’s.

Wang Changsheng looked at Guangdong Ren’s bulging belly, a pang of envy in his heart. Speaking of which, he knew two chubby Core Formation cultivators: Guangdong Ren and Meng Tianzheng from the Grand Unity Immortal Sect. Guangdong Ren was more carefree, while Meng Tianzheng was more serious.

“Oh, right, there’s an exchange event at Guangyuan Residence tomorrow night. Come with me! Meeting other fellow Daoists will be helpful for your future cultivation,” Guangdong Ren said casually, taking a bite of food.

“Guangyuan Residence? Purple Yang Daoist from Hundred Puppets Pavilion also invited me to participate.”

“What? You know him?”

Wang Changsheng shook his head and recounted the events, as there was nothing to hide.

Guangdong Ren realized, “Fellow Daoist Lu is famous for befriending other cultivators. He’s not only a third-tier artifact refiner but also a third-tier puppet master. You can discuss puppetry with him; how much he’s willing to share depends on your own skill.”

“A third-tier puppet master!” Wang Changsheng nodded discreetly. During the Foundation Establishment stage, he had relied on his ancestor’s inherited Spirit Reversion Disc and extensive practice to refine magical artifacts. Even if he failed, the cost was manageable. However, after advancing to the Core Formation stage, the cost of failure, whether refining spiritual treasures or third-tier puppet beasts, was too high for him to bear.

If he could exchange insights and receive guidance from fellow Daoists, it would be much easier. Relying solely on self-study would be too difficult. Wang Qingqi and Wang Changyue were examples of this; without guidance, merely using ancient texts wasn’t very effective. This was also why cultivators enjoyed holding exchange and discussion gatherings.

Guangdong Ren had a huge appetite; most of the large table of dishes ended up in his stomach. Wang Changsheng only ate a polite amount.

“Alright, I’ve eaten and drunk my fill. I’m going back for a nap. I’ll see you at Guangyuan Residence tomorrow night at You Shi (5-7 PM).” Guangdong Ren patted his bulging belly and swaggered downstairs.

Wang Changsheng found an inn and settled in.

A day passed quickly.

After night fell, Wang Changsheng arrived early at Guangyuan Residence. Two Foundation Establishment cultivators guarded the entrance, allowing only Core Formation cultivators to enter.

On the third floor, over a dozen Core Formation cultivators had gathered. They sat in small groups, both men and women. Guangdong Ren was already there, communicating with Purple Yang Daoist via spiritual transmission.

Wang Changsheng walked over to them and sat down right next to Guangdong Ren.

“Fellow Daoist Guang, Fellow Daoist Lu, what are you discussing?” Wang Changsheng forced a smile and asked earnestly.

“Nothing much. Fellow Daoist Lu, this is Fellow Daoist Wang, whom I mentioned to you. He’s also quite interested in puppetry; you two can exchange insights,” Guangdong Ren said, introducing Wang Changsheng.

Purple Yang Daoist nodded and casually posed a few questions about third-tier puppet beasts. Wang Changsheng, having only a rudimentary understanding, couldn’t answer. Purple Yang Daoist then lost interest in the topic and changed the subject.

Time passed, and Core Formation cultivators gradually arrived. Suddenly, a ruddy-faced middle-aged man in a purple python robe walked up. Wang Changsheng’s eyes lit up upon seeing the middle-aged man, a look of joy appearing in his gaze. The middle-aged man was Wang Huaishan, Wang Ruyan’s grandfather.

Wang Huaishan’s gaze quickly swept over the cultivators present. Upon seeing Wang Changsheng, a hint of joy flashed in his eyes, and he walked towards him.

“Fellow Daoist Guang, Fellow Daoist Wang, long time no see.” Wang Huaishan forced a smile and sat down next to Wang Changsheng.

“Fellow Daoist Lu, let me introduce you: this is Fellow Daoist Wang. Fellow Daoist Wang, this is Fellow Daoist Lu from the Thousand Mechanisms Sect,” Guangdong Ren introduced them, without explicitly stating the relationship between Wang Changsheng and Wang Huaishan.

The four chatted casually. When he estimated the time was right, Purple Yang Daoist stood up and walked to the center of the crowd. He showed a sincere smile, clasped his hands towards the crowd, and said, “Welcome, fellow Daoists, to the exchange event organized by this humble Daoist. Now that most everyone has arrived, let’s begin the exchange. As the organizer, I shall start first!”

“Wait, Huang is here too!” A slightly hurried male voice came from downstairs. After a flurry of footsteps, Huang Fugui walked up. Huang Fugui’s gaze swept over the cultivators present. He found an empty table and sat down.

Purple Yang Daoist took out three materials: a golden-yellow ore, a black tortoise shell about two feet long, and a green wooden box.

“One piece of Aurite Ore, which can be used to refine flying daggers and flying swords; a tortoise shell from a third-tier low-grade Profound Jade Tortoise; and a third-tier low-grade demonic core. I wish to exchange these for spiritual wood over five hundred years old, or the spirit of a third-tier mid-grade demonic beast.”

The materials Purple Yang Daoist offered were good, but they were not what Wang Changsheng needed. He had attended the exchange event hoping to trade for third-tier Spiritual Water of Heaven and Earth.

Several Core Formation cultivators stepped forward to trade with Purple Yang Daoist. Wang Huaishan exchanged for the third-tier low-grade demonic core. All three items offered by Purple Yang Daoist were successfully exchanged.

Purple Yang Daoist set a good precedent. After he returned to his seat, Guangdong Ren stepped forward and took out four materials: a beast hide faintly glowing with blue light, a blue horn about a foot long, a fist-sized golden ore, and a green porcelain bottle.

“One beast hide from a third-tier low-grade Ice Wind Python, one horn from a third-tier low-grade Monocorn Thunder Rhinoceros, one piece of Golden Jade Stone, and a spirit from a third-tier low-grade demonic beast. I’m looking to exchange these for third-tier ingredients: spiritual honey, spiritual herbs, meat and essence blood from third-tier demonic beasts—any edible third-tier materials will do.”

Several Core Formation cultivators stepped forward and exchanged items with Guangdong Ren, acquiring the blue horn and the beast hide.