In peaceful times, Gu Immortals raise Gu and have low demand for Ordinary Gu. Purchasing was merely a secondary method—the primary means was self-production within Blessed Lands. There was a time flow differential between a Blessed Land and the outside world. One day outside meant many days within. One year outside meant many years within, with annual output to show for it. Gu Immortals typically wouldn't choose Bubble Fish because the price was too high. They would rather wait.
But in times of war, when Gu Immortals clashed frequently, the Immortal Gu they held as trump cards weren't commonly used. Ordinary Gu served as regular tools, consuming vast quantities. Bubble Fish thus became a commodity that all the major Gu Immortals competed to acquire during the Five Regions War.
Come to think of it, Fang Yuan had previously purchased Bubble Fish as well—to boost the production of his Star Firefly Gu.
Unfortunately, at the final moment in the Northern Plains, he was strapped for cash and had to sell nearly all his wolf packs, fox packs, vast numbers of Bubble Fish, Fur Men, and more.
Fang Yuan had originally had the chance to make a profit, but the world was unpredictable. In the end, because he sold in a hurry, he actually took a loss.
Now, in the Fox Immortal's Blessed Land, Bubble Fish were extremely scarce.
"I'll still need to buy Bubble Fish, but not now. In a few years, the Bubble Sea will be repaired, and the price of Bubble Fish will drop. At that point, I can invest Immortal Yuan Stones and buy a whole flock. Perhaps I should mass-produce these Bubble Fish and wait until the Five Regions War to make a fortune..."
Fang Yuan had just purchased over a thousand Star Firefly Gu, enough to last him a very long time. He wasn't in urgent need of a Bubble Fish swarm to boost production.
"You must be Xing Luo Xiao Xian?" A moment later, Fang Yuan found his target.
As it happened, his target was also paying attention to Bao Huang Heaven.
"That would be me. Senior, what would you like to buy? Prices are all negotiable." Xing Luo Xiao Xian's divine sense carried across, sounding quite enthusiastic—even carrying a hint of fawning.
Fang Yuan glanced at the goods she was selling. Not only were the quantities small, but they were also quite common items that nobody would be interested in, appearing destitute and shabby.
She was indeed a Gu Immortal, but not every Gu Immortal was wealthy. Combat, Gu refinement, research, and tribulation crossing all depleted a Gu Immortal's reserves and fortune.
From his past life's memories, Fang Yuan knew: this Xing Luo Xiao Xian was a newly ascended independent female Gu Immortal. With shallow foundations, she was in the difficult early stages of her career.
Xing Luo Xiao Xian, placed among mortals, would absolutely be a towering figure, inspiring worship. But placed in Bao Huang Heaven, among the various Gu Immortals, she appeared quite unremarkable.
"Who would have guessed that during the Five Regions War, this Xing Luo Xiao Xian would gradually shine? Starting out with the killer move Ice Stardust, she rapidly accumulated war wealth and eventually became a notable figure."
Fang Yuan couldn't help but marvel at the power of fate and time.
According to the Three Venerables, the Five Regions War was the curtain-raiser for a grand era—the era that would give birth to the Great Dream Immortal Venerable.
Every grand era that produced a Ninth Transformation Gu Immortal shared a common trait: amidst great wars and chaos, a large number of new Gu Immortals would emerge.
The old and new alternated, and the tides of the era crashed into brilliant spray. The collisions and exchanges between factions, forces, and individuals caused the Dao of Gu to develop at breakneck speed, changing with each passing day.
Fang Yuan was one of them.
He rose to prominence through the Blood Path, becoming a Central Continent Gu Immortal. But unfortunately, having only experienced the early portion of this grand era, he was forced to use the Spring Autumn Cicada to self-destruct.
"Do you have any killer moves for sale?" Gathering his emotions, Fang Yuan asked Xing Luo Xiao Xian.
"I... I only have one killer move here." Xing Luo Xiao Xian seemed a bit embarrassed. "It's an Ice Path killer move that I acquired by chance, called Cold Gauze. The asking price is half an Immortal Yuan Stone—this is the absolute minimum for a Fifth Transformation killer move!" That last sentence was said for fear that Fang Yuan would haggle down the price.
Fang Yuan read through the contents and said with a dissatisfied murmur: "This Cold Gauze killer move requires so many Fifth Transformation Gu, and the defensive effect is wide-area protection..."
To simultaneously activate so many Fifth Transformation Gu, one had to be a Gu Immortal. A mortal Gu Master's True Essence was limited—it was essentially impossible.
A large protective range meant the defensive power was lower than a typical single-target defensive killer move. And Gu Immortals usually fought alone, unless they practiced the Slave Path. But Slave Path Gu Immortals had their own defensive methods—why would they specifically choose an Ice Path killer move?
Xing Luo Xiao Xian smiled bitterly to herself. Fang Yuan had hit the nail on the head. These were precisely the reasons why the Cold Gauze killer move was so hard to sell.
But Xing Luo Xiao Xian had no choice. Her goods were limited, she was an independent cultivator, and having just started out, she needed vast cultivation resources.
Though she had successfully ascended to Gu Immortal, crossing her tribulation had left her penniless—most of her Gu had been destroyed. She had drawn up detailed plans, intending to plant massive numbers of Shiver Trees in her own Blessed Land. Her Blessed Land's environment was perfectly suited for Shiver Trees, but she lacked the crucial startup capital.
She had billions of Yuan Stones on hand, but not a single Immortal Yuan Stone.
The sellers of Shiver Tree seeds were few, and many required specific materials in exchange—or Immortal Yuan Stones. They had no interest in what Xing Luo Xiao Xian had to offer.
Hearing Fang Yuan's words, Xing Luo Xiao Xian's heart had already given up hope.