Chapter 112: Innate Rebellious Spirit Yu Tangtang

This would significantly accelerate his timeline, proving to be a worthwhile endeavor. It would even be a profitable situation for Yu Tangtang, a true win-win.

The challenge, then, lay in achieving an equitable transaction. This would require some careful negotiation. He wouldn't reveal the Flood Dragon Inner Core he possessed until his objective was met, a fact Yu Tangtang would find difficult to verify. It was merely an aura, easily dismissed.

In the clearing, the atmosphere suddenly fell silent. With Yu Tangtang having spoken, Tantai Chan dared not defy her master's wishes. Humiliated so openly by the little one, she could no longer maintain her strong facade.

After a long silence, she finally spoke. "I'll talk to Tangtang. You can wait here for a bit."

Wang Yu shook his head. "I'd like to speak with Sister Tangtang first. Senior Tantai, please excuse us."

"You—"

"Withdraw!" The little one glared at Tantai Chan, her tone leaving no room for argument. Tantai Chan was so stunned she could barely breathe, her breaths coming in ragged gasps. Stiffly, she stepped inside the dwelling.

Only then did Wang Yu smile and say, "Sister Tangtang, shall we talk?"

The little one shifted, settling onto the still-warm octagonal stool Tantai Chan had just left. Her delicate face lifted, emanating a distinct aura of authority. Her voice, however, was clear and crisp, still tinged with a childish lisp and a slight nasal tone: "Tell me, what's with that aura around you?"

This precocious demeanor made Wang Yu chuckle involuntarily. He then reached into his robe. He pulled out a slightly burnt, aromatic pill. It was the "Beauty-Preserving Pill," a failed creation Yu Tangtang had concocted in a pot during their meeting over ten years ago, which had resulted in the waste of numerous second-tier Moonlight Fruits.

One reason Wang Yu desired to trade with her was her "extravagance"—that disdainful attitude towards spiritual herbs, which he found particularly captivating.

It was peculiar that after more than a decade, Yu Tangtang was nearing twenty years old, and her cultivation had advanced to the first level of Foundation Establishment, yet her physical appearance remained unchanged. He had never heard of demonic beasts maintaining a childlike form during cultivation. Furthermore, only Nascent Soul demonic beasts possessed the ability to transform into human shape, yet Yu Tangtang had already appeared as a human child during her Qi Condensation stage. This highlighted her uniqueness. Her father, the Blood-Eyed Demonic Flood Dragon, surely knew the underlying reason, but Wang Yu found it difficult, even dared not, to inquire.

When Wang Yu produced the Beauty-Preserving Pill, Yu Tangtang's initial reaction was one of embarrassment. Her beautiful eyes darted around, and she feigned annoyance, saying, "Why did you take that out? I told you it was a gift! Hurry up and eat it."

Wang Yu helplessly massaged his forehead. "Sister Tangtang, that's not what I meant. There's an ancient human proverb: 'If you cast me a wooden peach, I will repay you with a precious jade.' Back then, you gave a second-tier Beauty-Preserving Pill to a young Qi Condensation cultivator. Now that I possess a treasure you need, it's only natural that I would wish to offer it to you immediately. However, this item was not easily acquired; it nearly cost me my life. To simply give it away would be to squander the risks I took."

"I understand, I understand," Yu Tangtang declared grandly, standing on the octagonal stool with her hands on her hips. "Tell me, what treasure is it? I'll fetch something from my father's treasury to trade with you—two for one. Isn't that fair enough?"

Wang Yu's eyelids twitched, a sense of foreboding washing over him. He quickly spoke. "It's a third-tier Flood Dragon Inner Core. There's no need for a two-for-one exchange. I only require two second-tier Foundation Establishment spiritual items, one of which should ideally be for breaking through to Body Refinement Foundation Establishment. Additionally, there are two small favors that Senior Tantai can assist me with."

As he swiftly laid out his terms, Wang Yu's vague sense of unease gradually dissipated. He glanced at the sky with a hint of suspicion, feeling utterly bewildered.

"Simple. I'll handle anything concerning Xiaohan; I'll agree on her behalf."

"Then... alright."

Yu Tangtang jumped off the stool and extended her small, open hand. Her lips curved into a smile, revealing two tiny fangs. "Hand it over."

"This..." Wang Yu firmly shook his head. "Let's keep things separate. While you are indeed my Sister Tangtang, this treasure is too valuable to me. I'll wait for you here."

"Hmph—"

"You don't trust me." Yu Tangtang pouted, her large eyes misty, a profound sense of grievance practically radiating from her.

"Those are two separate matters. A transaction is a transaction, and friendship is friendship."

"Alright, alright, Wang Yu, was it? I'll remember you. I, Yu Tangtang, always keep my word!"

With that, Yu Tangtang angrily pulled out a small bell. She shook it gently, and the clouds in the sky stirred as a Three-Colored Dragon Sparrow poked out its head, its aura clearly indicating it had reached the mid-Core Formation stage.

"Caique, take me back to my father's cave dwelling."

"Right away, young mistress."

The Three-Colored Dragon Sparrow quickly descended. Wang Yu realized this was the very beast that had been observing him earlier. No wonder he had felt a sense of dread; it had likely witnessed the entire negotiation. He wondered if it would inform the Blood-Eyed Demonic Flood Dragon. Yu Tangtang was young and naive, making her easy to trick. No, this wasn't deception. In terms of value, Yu Tangtang was undoubtedly gaining a significant advantage, which was the true reason the Three-Colored Dragon Sparrow hadn't interfered. However, for some seasoned cultivators, outright seizure would be the most profitable course of action. As a Qi Condensation cultivator, he fundamentally lacked the standing for an equal transaction. This had been his greatest worry upon arrival: whether Sister Tangtang was sufficiently esteemed by her father.

At that moment, Yu Tangtang turned and spoke to Wang Yu once more. "Wait for me here; I'll be back within half a day."

"Alright."

His lingering worries needed no further mention. Seeing Yu Tangtang depart on the Three-Colored Dragon Sparrow, he could only settle his anxieties. Regardless of the outcome, it was always worth a shot.

Creak—

The moment Yu Tangtang left, Tantai Chan, though not secretly listening with her spiritual sense, had been constantly monitoring the activity outside. She now emerged, her expression displeased as she stared at Wang Yu. "You really know how to stir up trouble. Where's Tangtang?"

"She returned to her cave dwelling to fetch something for me. She'll be back shortly."

"Heh, you're truly mad. Do you even know who Yu Tangtang is?"

"I do."

"You know, yet you still..."

Tantai Chan was exasperated, but seeing Wang Yu's indifferent expression, she found herself without the standing to press further. She could only let out a long sigh in her heart.

Years ago, she had encountered Yu Tangtang by chance during an unexpected incident. Upon learning her identity, Tantai Chan believed it was a golden opportunity for a swift ascent. Given Yu Tangtang's innocent and guileless nature, she was easily trusting. Tantai Chan had initially planned to foster a good relationship and then seek further benefits. However, after a year together, she had yet to receive any recompense; in fact, much of her personal wealth had been spent. Moreover, she had found herself in trouble at the time and urgently required a sum of spirit stones to atone for her misdeeds. She thus risked a deception, only to be directly captured alive by the Three-Colored Dragon Sparrow and forcibly made to sign a blood pact, effectively becoming Yu Tangtang's human slave.

The Blood Pact, an advanced technique devised by humans to enslave demonic beasts, was incredibly difficult to break, even for Nascent Soul cultivators. From that day forward, she became Yu Tangtang's Xiaohan, Chan'er, nanny, and human slave. Despite still being a young woman, she was compelled to cultivate special techniques to stimulate lactation... all to lull Yu Tangtang to sleep. Her life's fortunes had been utterly overturned.