"Good, good, good." Elder Lu's face brightened with delight. If things were truly as Yang Kai said, then there was no rush to secure two Inner Core sets. He could start with one set for cultivation first and bide his time on the rest.
"The items can be exchanged, but this old man would like Elder Yang to top up with ten million High-grade Source Crystals. After all, these items are far too far off from what I originally asked for."
The old fellow looked honest enough, but his heart was blacker than they came. Yang Kai silently grumbled and answered without hesitation: "Five million."
Elder Lu fell silent for a moment, as if weighing his options, then finally nodded. "Deal."
Yang Kai immediately handed over another five million High-grade Source Crystals and retrieved the Heavenly Sound Treasure Box from Elder Lu, tucking it into his spatial ring.
"Junior Brother, you've only just become a Divine Temple Elder, and already you're spending so freely on the Temple's behalf. As your Senior Sister, I ought to thank you properly on behalf of all the Disciples. In the future, when their Cultivation bears fruit, they will surely remember your kindness." Gao Xueting's voice suddenly drifted into Yang Kai's ear.
Yang Kai's expression darkened. He turned to look, only to find Gao Xueting staring straight ahead at the stage, as if she hadn't been speaking to him at all.
"This… Senior Sister Gao, this treasure box was personally—"
Gao Xueting tilted her head, her gaze sharp. "Hmm?"
Yang Kai immediately changed his tune. "If the Divine Temple's Disciples wish to use it, then of course there's no problem."
Only then did Gao Xueting nod. "Junior Brother is very thoughtful."
Yang Kai let out a dry laugh. The bitterness in his mouth surpassed eating raw Coptis root. In his mind, he was already calculating how to have his cake and eat it too…
The exchange continued, and no shortage of rare treasures appeared on stage. One Emperor Realm expert after another stepped forward to present treasures hoarded for years, each time sparking a fierce bidding war. Still, on Qingyang Divine Temple's turf, everyone kept to the rules. Even when a deal fell through, they maintained their courtesy — no one dared cause trouble.
Yang Kai also made several moves, trading for some rare materials and even an ancient pill recipe.
It wasn't until dawn the next day that the exchange finally came to an end, and everyone rose together. As the host, the senior figures of the Qingyang Divine Temple, led by Qiu Ran, politely extended invitations for the guests to stay longer, but none actually did. One after another, they offered their farewells.
Before long, the hundred-plus Emperor Realm cultivators and the juniors and Disciples they had brought along had all departed.
"Junior Brother Yang. Come to Lingyu Peak a bit later — it's time to choose your residence." Qiu Ran suddenly spoke up.
Yang Kai nodded. "Sure, Brother Qiu. Give me a moment — I still have something to take care of."
With that, he shot out of the great hall in a streak of light.
Qiu Ran furrowed his brows and sighed. "Youths these days, always in such a rush."
He had no idea what Yang Kai was dashing off to handle at this hour, but the fact that it could put even the important matter of selecting a spirit peak on hold suggested something urgent.
A short while later, three hundred li from the Qingyang Divine Temple, Yang Kai materialized in midair. He swept his gaze around and locked onto a particular direction, cupping his fists. "Sect Master Zhang. Sorry to keep you waiting."
The void in that direction rippled, and from the center of the disturbance, an unremarkable middle-aged man appeared, stepping out from the spatial fold. A hint of surprise crossed his face. "Elder Yang has keen eyes."
He had hidden himself out of caution, never expecting Yang Kai to spot him at a glance. To be appointed Elder of the Qingyang Divine Temple — the man clearly had genuine ability. What struck him most was how young Yang Kai was. Comparing himself, Zhang Dashan felt a sudden sense of advanced age creeping in.
"I wonder what matter Elder Yang had in mind, asking me to wait here?"
When the exchange had broken up earlier, Zhang Dashan had been on his way out when Yang Kai's transmission reached him, which was why he had come to wait here. Otherwise, he would have long since returned to his own Sect.
If anyone else had sent him such a transmission, he could have simply ignored it. But Yang Kai held the title of Qingyang Divine Temple Elder, and he had to treat that with due respect. So he had waited.
Yang Kai smiled. "Sect Master Zhang, forgive me, but I would like you to transfer something to me."
Zhang Dashan's brow furrowed as understanding dawned. "The Great Unity Divine Water?"
When the previous owner of the Great Unity Divine Water had brought it out for exchange, Yang Kai had also made an offer — only to fail. In the end, the Great Unity Divine Water had ended up in his, Zhang Dashan's, hands. He and Yang Kai had never had any prior dealings, so if Yang Kai was seeking him out, the only possible reason was the Great Unity Divine Water.
"Precisely." Yang Kai nodded.
Zhang Dashan's guard immediately went up. His spiritual sense swept outward in every direction, as though ambushes might spring from the surrounding void at any moment.
Yang Kai laughed. "Sect Master Zhang, there's no need for that. I came alone and in all sincerity wish to trade for this Great Unity Divine Water."
Zhang Dashan frowned. "If that's the case, then I'm afraid I must disappoint Elder Yang. This Great Unity Divine Water is of great use to me, so—"
Yang Kai raised his hand. "Sect Master Zhang, there's no rush to refuse. Allow me to guess what you intend to use it for."
Zhang Dashan's frown deepened, growing visibly impatient at Yang Kai's persistence. He had already declined — what more was there to say?