Chapter 988: Black Trader Online

Jiang Fan remembered.

Grand Elder Qin Wangchuan had given him this Jiangshan Yipin Tower token, which he had managed for many years. It was meant to make his future travels in Taicang Great Province more convenient. Now, it was time to activate it. He dripped a drop of his essence blood onto the token. The identity token vibrated gently, signifying its activation and its ability to receive information from other Guest Stewards.

Just then, that subtle ripple swept over again. The token emitted a series of beeping sounds. Jiang Fan perceived the message within through his spiritual sense.

"A client is offering a Bodhi Pill, in exchange for a ball of thunder energy."

Jiang Fan's eyes lit up. When cultivating the "Six Sections of Heavenly Thunder," thunder energy was indispensable. Although the Tongtian Marrow still contained several dozens of blood-red thunderbolts, it was far from enough to complete the remaining four sections. With thunder energy being offered right to his doorstep, how could he miss such an opportunity? He immediately sent a message: "I have one. Where is the client?"

On the merchant ship, Gu Xin'er smiled, "I've already posted the bounty for you. Now you just need to wait patiently."

"It'll be hard to find a Guest Steward in a short while..."

Beep, beep, beep!

Suddenly, her identity token vibrated. She swept her spiritual sense through it. Gu Xin'er looked astonished: "Someone accepted the bounty? And it's the Tyrant Guest Steward who has been hidden for so many years?"

"We all thought she was dead."

Upon hearing this, the young woman was delighted. Someone accepted the bounty right after it was posted? Her luck was too good!

"Where is he?" she asked.

Gu Xin'er sent the address. Soon, the other party replied again. Gu Xin'er's eyes widened: "Good heavens, he's nearby!"

An hour later, a figure shrouded in lightning, making it impossible to discern their form or face, arrived through the air. Gu Xin'er was surprised: "She's already achieved the Nascent Soul path?"

"She was only at the ninth-level Core Formation before."

She cupped her hands and said, "Congratulations, Tyrant Guest Steward, on successfully advancing to the Nascent Soul realm. When will you return to the Tower to receive your Vice Tower Master title?"

At Jiangshan Yipin Tower, those at the Core Formation realm were Guest Stewards. Only with significant contributions or by reaching the Nascent Soul realm could one be conferred the title of Vice Tower Master. However, Vice Tower Master was merely a title, carrying no real power. It simply meant receiving bounties at the Nascent Soul realm level and valuable allowances issued by Jiangshan Yipin Tower.

Jiang Fan looked at Gu Xin'er, feeling a bit confused. The person who sent the message was actually Vice Tower Master Gu! He hadn't revealed his identity. Few people exposed their identities in Jiangshan Yipin Tower, so why should he stand out?

"Vice Tower Master Gu, may I ask which client requires the Bodhi Pill?"

Gu Xin'er was puzzled that this Tyrant, whom she had never met, seemed to know her. However, she didn't think much of it and introduced, "This is our client."

"She needs a Bodhi Pill."

Jiang Fan observed the other party. She was at the perfected ninth-level Core Formation and was clearly suppressing her cultivation, ready to break through at any time. Her request for a Bodhi Pill now must be urgent. Having just passed through his own tribulation, as someone with similar experience, he naturally wouldn't make things difficult for her in such a crucial matter. He readily took out a Bodhi Pill and said, "Here you go."

The young woman was overjoyed and immediately took it, saying, "Thank you, Senior Tyrant." She then handed over a ball of compressed thunder energy, about the size of a goose egg, offering it to Jiang Fan with both hands. She had expected Jiang Fan to take advantage of her urgency and raise the price, which was not uncommon among Guest Stewards and Vice Tower Masters of Jiangshan Yipin Tower. Unexpectedly, the other party had such good integrity, being as trustworthy as Vice Tower Master Gu.

She immediately said, "Senior Tyrant, then I'd like to post another bounty through you."

"Whether it succeeds or not, I'll be grateful to you."

Since Jiang Fan had activated his token, more business was certainly welcome. He nodded and said, "Go on."

The young woman glanced at Gu Xin'er and said hesitantly, "I'd like to put out a bounty for a single grain of Space-Time Dust. It's for my master."

Space-Time Dust? Jiang Fan had never heard of this item before. "What does it look like?" he asked.

The young woman pondered, "How to describe it? It looks like a very ordinary, moon-white granule."

"It can preserve all things from decay and extend one's lifespan."

Jiang Fan's heart stirred. He recalled the moon-white impurities he had refined from the black box his mother left behind. That black box had also been buried underground for many years, remaining perfectly preserved and undecomposed. Moreover, refining it had been extremely difficult. Could that be Space-Time Dust?

Gu Xin'er pursed her lips and said, "Tyrant, don't even think about this bounty. There won't be any response."

"To this day, there have been at least over a hundred bounties for Space-Time Dust."

"The highest bounty offered was a Lingtian Pill."

"But no bounty has ever been completed."

"Posting an unfulfillable bounty will affect your rating."

Upon hearing this, the young woman quickly said, "Then never mind."

"I won't trouble Senior Tyrant."

To her surprise, Jiang Fan thoughtfully said, "I do happen to have a grain of Space-Time Dust."

Gu Xin'er was stunned: "You have Space-Time Dust? Don't joke around!"

"That's a legendary item!"

"Even Soul Transformation realm cultivators yearn for it but can't acquire it!"

Jiang Fan said no more. From the at least thousand-plus grains of Space-Time Dust he possessed, he took out one, spread it on his palm, and asked, "Is this it?"

The pale-robed woman, who had been staring at the sea with a worried, furrowed brow, appeared before Jiang Fan as if a ghost. Her eyes widened, and she exclaimed, "Such powerful temporal energy! It's undoubtedly Space-Time Dust!"

"I want it! I want this!"

She took out a crystal box, heavily sealed and wrapped. Inside lay a five-colored spirit-patterned pill. It was precisely the Lingtian Pill, coveted by perfected ninth-level Core Formation cultivators!

Jiang Fan's eyes widened in disbelief! This was a Lingtian Pill? He thought about how much effort he had expended and how many risks he had taken for the opportunity to undergo tribulation. And now, a single grain of dust was exchanged for it? He felt like spitting blood, utterly dejected. However, this also demonstrated the immense value of Space-Time Dust.

The young woman also exclaimed repeatedly, "Thank you, Senior Tyrant, you even have this item!"

"You're truly amazing."

Jiang Fan wasn't swayed by such flattery. He put away the Space-Time Dust and calmly stated, "Apologies, but I don't intend to exchange it with you." For urgently needed items, he wouldn't make things difficult. But Space-Time Dust was clearly not one. Why shouldn't he wait for a higher bid? Since so many people sought it without success, its value was clearly higher than a single Lingtian Pill. There was no need for him to sell it cheaply.

"I will disseminate the news of Space-Time Dust to all Vice Tower Masters and Guest Stewards of Jiangshan Yipin Tower."

"It won't be too late to sell it once a client offers a higher price."

The palace-robed woman grew anxious. Those who needed Space-Time Dust were as numerous as ox hairs; many Nine-Orifice Nascent Soul cultivators were wealthier and more influential than her. Even the old man from the Fire Worship Sect was searching everywhere for Space-Time Dust. If the news truly went public and they all wanted it, how could she possibly compete with them?

"Two Lingtian Pills!" the palace-robed woman grit her teeth, saying with immense pain.

In truth, she was secretly overjoyed. A Soul Transformation realm expert had once offered three Lingtian Pills, or a chance for them to act as a killer, in exchange for a single grain of Space-Time Dust. If she could acquire it for two, it would be an absolute windfall!

Gu Xin'er's eyes turned red with envy. There was no need to explain how precious Lingtian Pills were, was there? Getting two at once, the Tyrant was making a huge profit.

"I think I'll still release the information publicly," Jiang Fan said after a moment of contemplation.

Gu Xin'er's eyes widened, and she quickly sent a voice transmission: "Two Lingtian Pills are enough!"

"One Lingtian Pill for a grain of Space-Time Dust is an absolutely fair trade."

"Even among the elders of the Three Divine Sects and Seven Great Cults, only top-tier grand experts possess one or two."

Jiang Fan rolled his eyes at her: "Instead of helping me raise the price, you're holding me back?"

"No wonder you can't get rich."

"Go learn a thing or two!"