"A million... heh heh." Li Younan chuckled lightly, looking thoroughly unconcerned as he turned to Fang Tianzhong. "Brother Fang, do you really think the flesh of the Red Candle Fruit is only worth a million? If that's truly all it's worth, then I'll simply take my leave!"
"Five million!" Fang Tianzhong's expression didn't change, but the price he offered had jumped fivefold.
Li Younan, who had been about to step away, set his foot back down, a flash of temptation crossing his face.
This time, though the Medicine Pill Sect hadn't managed to secure the Red Candle Fruit, if every faction that had grabbed a piece of flesh was willing to pay him five million, then this trip would still yield a handsome profit.
Besides, cut apart as it was, the flesh of the Red Candle Fruit wasn't quite as heaven-defying in value anymore.
So he hesitated on the spot, pondering whether he should keep pushing the price higher.
While he was deep in thought, over by the Glass Gate, Yin Sudie suddenly cast her beautiful gaze toward Dai Yuan. Her red lips moved several times, clearly sending a voice transmission to the latter.
Dai Yuan's delicate brows furrowed, and a hint of displeasure surfaced on her face, though she sent a reply regardless.
The next moment, Yin Sudie's alluring features brightened with a cheerful expression, and she giggled. "You senior brothers may continue your discussions—this little sister will take her leave first."
With those words, she turned and departed swiftly, taking several elite members of the Glass Gate with her.
Everyone was stunned. Just moments ago, Yin Sudie had used that ribbon-like artifact to seize a piece of the fruit flesh with overwhelming momentum. Who would have thought she would leave without even obtaining the preservation method?
But soon, everyone understood.
When it came to mastery of herbal medicine among those present, besides Li Younan—the outstanding disciple from the Medicine Pill Sect—there was also Dai Yuan! It seemed Yin Sudie had learned something from Dai Yuan, which was why she had departed so decisively.
Carrying such a treasure, Yin Sudie naturally had no desire to linger in this dangerous place.
In an instant, several people cast burning looks toward Dai Yuan, apparently hoping to learn from her the proper way to preserve the medicinal efficacy of the Red Candle Fruit.
Seeing this, Li Younan realized that if he didn't agree now, the five million would slip from his grasp entirely. He had been so dejected earlier that he had momentarily forgotten about Dai Yuan. Though this woman hailed from the Glass Gate, she had been studying herbal medicine for years due to certain special circumstances. She certainly knew the preservation method as well. Cursing himself inwardly, he quickly nodded toward Fang Tianzhong. "Fine, five million it is. I'll go along with Brother Fang's terms!"
Fang Tianzhong gave a slight nod, showing no intention of going back on his word. Li Younan sent a rapid voice transmission, and after a brief moment of consideration, Fang Tianzhong silently led the members of the Thunder Platform Sect away at a quick pace.
Meanwhile, Qu Changfeng and that rough-looking yet astonishingly imposing big man exchanged a few hesitant glances before also sending voice transmissions to Li Younan. Then, all of them departed one after another, clearly satisfied.
"Let's go too." Wei Guchang grinned. He had also obtained a piece of Red Candle Fruit flesh. Though the Shadow Moon Hall had sent very few people this time—just him and Dong Xuan'er—sometimes fortune simply couldn't be resisted. He hadn't expected anything, yet when the Star Emperor Gate disciple had cut open the Red Candle Fruit, a piece of flesh had flown right in front of him. He had caught it immediately, making the whole thing almost absurdly easy. Compared to the others who had risked life and limb just to grab their share, his luck was practically bursting at the seams.
It felt as though all the misfortune he had experienced since entering the third layer of the Scorching Flame Sand Lands had been wiped clean in an instant.
Dai Yuan and Dong Xuan'er were close friends, so she naturally wouldn't be stingy about sharing the preservation method. He had no need to make any deal with Li Younan.
"Brother Wei, wait!" Li Younan saw him about to leave and hurriedly called out to stop him.
"What's the matter? Does Brother Li have some further advice?" Wei Guchang halted mid-step and turned his head sharply, his expression turning cold. His power gathered covertly beneath the surface, ready to strike at a moment's notice.
Seeing him so on guard, Li Younan immediately realized the misunderstanding and waved his hands repeatedly. "There's no need to be so tense, Brother Wei. Though Li and Brother Wei haven't had many dealings, I'm not the sort of person to scheme against others. Brother Wei should know that much."
Hearing this, Wei Guchang's wariness eased slightly, and he nodded gently. "I naturally know Brother Li's character, but... heh, this is hardly a place to linger."
As he spoke, his gaze swept casually in every direction. All around them, the numerous martial artists who had walked away empty-handed from the scramble for the Red Candle Fruit were staring at Wei Guchang, clearly weighing whether now was the time to strike and keep him from leaving.
Seeing this, Li Younan raised his voice. "Everyone, please calm yourselves. If it were a complete Red Candle Fruit, it would certainly be worth fighting over. But now that it's been cut into several pieces, Brother Wei has only one of them. How much medicinal efficacy it actually retains is still unknown. Surely none of you want to make a powerful enemy over something so uncertain?"
That Li Younan was actually speaking up for Wei Guchang, pulling him out of this dangerous vortex, left Wei Guchang wearing a thoroughly peculiar expression.
"Brother Li, I have just one question. Can the cut flesh of the Red Candle Fruit still grant a Void Return Realm powerhouse the power to break through their bottleneck?" A young man in a white robe furrowed his brow and asked. Embroidered on the chest of his white robe was a white cloud.
That was the emblem of the Ethereal Gate.