Chapter 321: Extra Gift

"What?" Qiu Shengnan gasped, her eyes wide with shock. "You have more?"

Even Zhou Qidan choked, coughing several times. She was both surprised and annoyed.

"Just how many demon cores do you have, you scoundrel?"

She couldn't help but feel envious. Where did this boy get so many demon cores? Did he happen to stumble upon a rain of demon cores from the sky?

"Show them to me," she said, exasperated. She was growing curious.

The last one was already a remarkable Bronze-Scaled Black Centipede demon core. Surely, he wouldn't produce a late-stage Core Formation demon core this time?

Late-stage Core Formation demon cores, in the lands of the Nine Sects, belonged to sect masters or grand elders. A demon beast of that caliber was a top-tier entity among its kind, easily ranking among the top one hundred. The human cultivators capable of slaying such beasts were few and far between. It was even more impossible for a demon core of that level to be overlooked, allowing this boy to simply pick it up. It was most likely another mid-stage Core Formation demon beast core.

Jiang Fan didn't hesitate. He immediately pulled out a black jade box covered in sealing talismans. From the outside, it was impossible to tell what was inside.

"So mysterious?" Zhou Qidan took the black jade box. Tearing off the talismans and opening it, her cloudy old eyes suddenly widened in shock and disbelief: "A ninth-level Core Formation demon core!"

She rubbed her eyes in disbelief. Staring at the eye-sized demon core, which was several times smaller than a typical beast king's core, she remained speechless for a long time.

How much? Ninth-level Core Formation? Qiu Shengnan immediately rushed over, completely forgetting about proper etiquette. She squeezed her head in to peek into the jade box. Instantly, she felt a fierce aura emanating from within, sending an inexplicable chill down her spine, despite being a mid-stage Core Formation cultivator herself. It was as if an extremely terrifying beast king had appeared before her.

"Where... where did this come from?" Qiu Shengnan swallowed hard, vocalizing the intense curiosity in her heart.

Jiang Fan casually replied, "I picked it up."

Zhou Qidan's breathing became ragged. Her gaze fixed on Jiang Fan was incredibly complex as she asked, "You managed to pick up the demon core of Coldbone, one of the ten great generals under the Demon Emperor?"

"What?" Qiu Shengnan gasped, horrified. "This... this is Coldbone's demon core? It fell? Who killed it? And how did its demon core end up in your hands?"

Jiang Fan remained expressionless. Of course, he wasn't foolish enough to answer. Instead, he asked, "Senior, what do you think of this demon core?"

Zhou Qidan held the black jade box, an uncontrollable desire in her eyes. Such a premium demon core might not even appear by the end of the entire beast tide. It was impossible for her to find a better one. Now that it was presented to her, how could she let it go?

After a moment's hesitation, she spoke, "Boy, this Grand Elder wishes to buy this core. If you're willing, I'll offer one million spirit crystals. What do you say?"

One million? Qiu Shengnan felt dizzy. Many minor sects didn't even possess that many spirit crystals. With a single demon core, Jiang Fan could practically establish his own sect.

However, Jiang Fan declined, saying, "I am willing to part with it." Hearing this, Zhou Qidan nodded slightly, but without much joy. One million spirit crystals represented all her savings. Spending it all on this demon core, how could she be truly happy? One could only say it was an equal exchange, neither gaining nor losing.

However, Jiang Fan's next sentence made Zhou Qidan freeze. "However, I have no need for spirit crystals. I wish to exchange it for something from you, Senior."

He didn't want spirit crystals? Zhou Qidan's heart lightened, and a look of delight appeared in her eyes. "Then what do you want?" Nothing she possessed was worth a million spirit crystals.

Jiang Fan took a deep breath and stated his ultimate goal. "I practice the path of body tempering, and I'm currently stuck at a bottleneck. I need the bottle of Venomous Dragon Marrow that you possess, Senior. If you are willing, I will exchange this demon core for it."

Hearing this, the flicker of joy on Zhou Qidan's face vanished instantly. She hesitated for a long time, seemingly weighing her options. Finally, with a deep sigh, she reluctantly returned the Coldbone demon core to Jiang Fan. "If only you had come a day or two earlier. Now, it's too late. Alas! Such is fate."

Jiang Fan looked confused. Zhou Qidan was clearly tempted, so why did she ultimately give up? Unwilling to concede, he asked, "Senior, has your Venomous Dragon Marrow already been given to someone else?"

Zhou Qidan looked at the demon core in Jiang Fan's hand and sighed repeatedly, "Something like that."

Either it was given or it wasn't. What did "something like that" mean? Jiang Fan questioned, "Is there no room for negotiation?"

Zhou Qidan shook her head, regretfully saying, "I have already promised to give this item to someone. I gave my word and cannot go back on it. How great it would have been if you had come a day or two earlier. Alas!"

Jiang Fan rubbed his nose, a strange expression appearing on his face, and asked, "Senior, did you promise to give this item to a masked youth?"

Zhou Qidan froze, her gaze sharpening, and she frowned, "Who told you that?" A hint of wariness appeared in her eyes. This matter was known only to her and Xu Qingyang. How could this junior disciple from an outer sect know about it?

Jiang Fan didn't know whether to laugh or cry. That old man was certainly efficient. He had already made arrangements with Zhou Qidan so quickly. He took out the mask of Shadow Guard No. 1, put it on his face, and said, "Because I am that youth."

Even with Zhou Qidan's usual composure, she shot to her feet, utterly astonished. "How could it be you? No, you could have just taken it directly. Why go through the trouble of trading with me?" She was bewildered.

Jiang Fan smiled. "If it's something I can resolve myself, I prefer not to trouble the seniors." He really didn't want to owe that old man such a massive favor. Otherwise, repaying it someday might require more than just Coldbone's demon core.

Upon learning the reason, Zhou Qidan was at a loss for words. She found it both absurd and admirable. In this era, people constantly scheme and fight tooth and nail for benefits, taking every advantage they can. Individuals like Jiang Fan were a rare minority.

"You've really gone through a lot of trouble," Zhou Qidan said, a hint of fondness in her expression. She could imagine how difficult it must have been to obtain these demon cores and how much effort he had put in just to see her.

Jiang Fan smiled. "It's no trouble at all, because we both benefit, Senior." He pushed the black jade box into Zhou Qidan's hand. "So, our trade is settled."

Zhou Qidan's feelings were complex. From her sleeve, she took out a well-preserved jade bottle. Inside was half a bottle of viscous black liquid; even through the jade, it felt unsettling, causing a dizzying sensation.

"This is the marrow of a Demon Emperor-level venomous dragon, containing potent toxins," Zhou Qidan said, somewhat uneasily, as she handed it to Jiang Fan. He was only at the Foundation Establishment stage, and the virulent poison in this marrow would undoubtedly be fatal to him. A slight misstep could cost him his life.

After a moment's thought, she pulled out a yellowed, tattered scripture. "Fine, considering your sincerity, I'll give you this scripture. Cultivate it first. Once you've reached a certain level, then use the Venomous Dragon Marrow."

Jiang Fan took it, confused. Why was he receiving an extra cultivation method? Since it was a bonus, it probably wasn't anything particularly powerful, right?

Qiu Shengnan also glanced at it out of curiosity. But what she saw made her eyes narrow sharply in alarm. "Grand Elder Zhou!" she exclaimed, horrified. "How can you give this away?"