In the Treasure Yellow Heaven, the more valuable a commodity was, the more magnificent and dazzling the treasure radiance it emitted.
At this particular stall, the radiance remained at a consistently brilliant level. Compared to the surrounding stalls, it was like a roaring bonfire amid a forest of torches.
The divine sense of Southern Border Gu Immortal Tie Quzhong lingered and circled around this very stall.
"I'd like to buy three thousand Copper Dragon Fish. Hmm..." After a moment's hesitation, Tie Quzhong added, "Also, two hundred Silver Dragon Fish."
The transaction was completed quickly, and Tie Quzhong paid a considerable sum of Immortal Essence Stones.
When he withdrew his divine sense, his true body was still soaring through the Southern Border sky, his field of vision shrouded in clouds and mist.
Most of the worry in Tie Quzhong's heart eased.
"With these Dragon Fish, the problem of feeding my Seventh Transformation Blade Gu is temporarily resolved. But Dragon Fish can only serve as a stopgap substitute. If I want a truly lasting, self-sustaining solution, I'll still need to construct a White Steel Juice resource point within my Immortal Orifice."
White Steel was a Sixth Transformation immortal material, one of the essences of earth veins. White Steel Juice, on the other hand, was a Seventh Transformation immortal material—typically only obtainable in small quantities from large-scale White Steel deposits.
For Tie Quzhong to build a resource point capable of producing White Steel Juice on his own—that was an ambitious undertaking that demanded long-term effort.
But if he didn't solve the root problem, repeatedly purchasing Dragon Fish to feed his Seventh Transformation Blade Gu would prove enormously expensive over time—extremely cost-inefficient.
The cultivation of Gu Immortals wasn't all about fighting and killing. Managing logistics and rear-area operations was often even more important.
Thinking of White Steel Juice, Tie Quzhong couldn't help but glance to his right. Several hundred paces away, another Gu Immortal was flying alongside him.
"Fellow Immortal Shang Huzhang," Tie Quzhong transmitted.
The Shang family Gu Immortal immediately responded, his expression tense: "Fellow Immortal Tie—have you discovered a trace of that old devil Fang Yuan?"
It turned out that Tie Quzhong and Shang Huzhang, both Seventh Transformation Gu Immortals, had been drawn from Southern Border's Righteous Path forces specifically to hunt down and apprehend Fang Yuan.
Thanks to Lu Weiyin's active involvement, the pursuit team had stayed hot on Fang Yuan's trail all along, regularly receiving updates on his latest movements.
This time, when the group of Gu Immortals rushed to southeastern Southern Border, the Eighth Transformation Time Path Gu Immortal Xia Cha had—on Lu Weiyin's recommendation—ordered the Gu Immortals to pair up and search in every direction for new leads.
Shang Huzhang and Tie Quzhong were one such pair.
Tie Quzhong smiled faintly: "No need to be nervous, Fellow Immortal Shang. I simply wanted to ask about White Steel Juice."
Shang Huzhang listened and relaxed slightly, smiling in return: "So Fellow Immortal Tie Quzhong wants to build a White Steel Juice resource point to cover the feeding needs of his Blade Gu. That's not difficult—the Shang family can certainly arrange it. However, the price..."
The two haggled back and forth. The Shang family's final offer was by no means cheap, but Tie Quzhong had already made up his mind and gritted his teeth to accept.
Having closed a significant deal, Shang Huzhang's smile grew a shade wider. He praised enthusiastically: "Fellow Immortal Tie's decision to build a resource point this time is truly a wise move. Though the upfront investment is considerable, in the long run, it's far more economical."
"Indeed. Just like this time—I bought Dragon Fish as a partial substitute for White Steel Juice. Over time, the costs add up significantly," Tie Quzhong sighed.
Shang Huzhang's eyes suddenly lit up: "Dragon Fish? To be perfectly honest, the Shang family also runs a Dragon Fish stall in the Treasure Yellow Heaven. We carry not only ordinary Dragon Fish, but Copper Dragon Fish as well. Ah, if only Fellow Immortal Tie had mentioned this sooner—I could have offered you a much better deal."
Tie Quzhong chuckled: "So the Shang family is in the Dragon Fish trade as well?"
"The Shang family takes an interest in all kinds of business. The Dragon Fish trade—you know this as well, Fellow Immortal Tie—the biggest player is none other than Fang Yuan himself! We won't let that demonic fiend profit off our transactions! Come, come—I'll introduce you to this stall. They're absolutely one of our own. Trading with anyone else risks funding the enemy." Shang Huzhang's attitude was exceptionally enthusiastic.
Tie Quzhong could only offer repeated thanks and do his best to be agreeable, though inwardly he was unconvinced.
Even with the Shang family's discounts, the price of Dragon Fish was still on the high side. Besides, the stall only carried Copper Dragon Fish—no Silver Dragon Fish one tier above.
Fang Yuan had slain Qin Baihe and You Chan, seizing the throne of the number one Dragon Fish merchant. Naturally, Fairy Ziwei was well aware of this. When she had widely exposed Fang Yuan's secrets in the Treasure Yellow Heaven earlier—everything from the Great Thief Ghost Hand and beyond—she naturally hadn't overlooked his Dragon Fish business.
And so, every Gu Immortal under heaven knew: Fang Yuan's Dragon Fish trading operation in the Treasure Yellow Heaven was phenomenally prosperous—the largest in the world.