Translator: CinderTL
"Ten high-grade spirit stones per stalk, and I can get you Mingqing Grass," Mi Man said. "As for True Yang Grass, I have no way to obtain it. The Spirit Jade Palace doesn't possess this spirit herb."
Song Wen replied, "I'll take the Mingqing Grass. But why no True Yang Grass? I understand your sect's Blood Essence Pill requires this herb."
Mi Man said, "You seem well-informed. While the Blood Essence Pill is unique to the Spirit Jade Palace, that doesn't mean we cultivate all the necessary spirit herbs ourselves. True Yang Grass is primarily produced in large quantities by the Myriad Swords Pavilion; the True Yang Grass used by the Spirit Jade Palace is exchanged from them."
"Since your sect purchases True Yang Grass, surely you could obtain a few stalks with your methods, fellow daoist?" Song Wen asked.
Mi Man replied, "Impossible. True Yang Grass has limited uses; within the Spirit Jade Palace, it's only used for refining the Blood Essence Pill. Although the Blood Essence Pill is merely a fifth-tier medicinal pill, its refinement is extremely difficult, typically requiring a sixth-tier pill refiner. The True Yang Grass purchased by the sect mostly ends up in the hands of these sixth-tier pill refiners. They're as stubborn as rocks and won't fall for my tricks. If you want True Yang Grass, you'll have to find a way to obtain it from the sect's sixth-tier pill refiners or try your luck at the Myriad Swords Pavilion."
"Since that's the case, I won't trouble you further with the True Yang Grass," Song Wen said. "When can you gather the Mingqing Grass, fellow daoist?"
Mi Man replied, "The Mingqing Grass is a trivial matter for me. I can deliver it to you at any time."
"Very well," Song Wen said. "In two hours, I'll be waiting for you at the Ping Shu River, ten thousand li east of Great Tan City."
"Why go to such trouble?" Mi Man asked. "We can simply trade in the city."
Song Wen chuckled. "I wouldn't dare meet you in the city, fellow daoist. With your methods, you could easily arrange my death within Great Tan City."
"Heh." Mi Man's voice dripped with disdain. "I thought you were exceptionally brave, yet you fear a weak woman like me."
"Fellow daoist, you are far from weak," Song Wen countered. "Most men in this world lack your skill."
"Fine, then let's meet at the Ping Shu River," Mi Man conceded.
Song Wen pocketed the jade slip, left the inn, and darted southward.
After traveling several thousand li away from the city, he circled back eastward.
Instead of heading directly to the agreed-upon location, he arrived at the upper reaches of the Ping Shu River, submerged himself in the water, and followed the current downstream.
When he was only about three thousand li from the agreed-upon location, Song Wen submerged into the muddy riverbed and summoned his Cosmic Transformation Incarnation, sending it ahead with the Shadow King Gu.
After advancing to the Void Refinement Stage, the Shadow King Gu's ability to extend his divine sense had significantly diminished, now only extending it by about forty percent.
His original divine sense range was approximately two thousand five hundred li. With the Shadow King Gu's assistance, it could reach three thousand five hundred li—still short of a Body Integration Stage cultivator's range, but surpassing that of most Void Refinement Stage cultivators.
The Cosmic Transformation Incarnation quickly arrived at the agreed-upon location, but Mi Man didn't appear immediately. It was only after about six or seven quarters of an hour that she finally arrived.
Seeing the Cosmic Transformation Incarnation waiting patiently on the riverbank, Mi Man's face immediately froze over with frost.
"Lei Yue, you're quite early."
A tender smile bloomed on the Cosmic Transformation Incarnation's face.
"The thought of seeing you stirred my heart, so naturally I came early to wait."
Mi Man scoffed. "Now I understand why Xu Mengyu fell for you. With your sweet talk, manipulating her must have been child's play. She was pampered by her master since childhood—how could she ever have seen through your honeyed words?"
The Cosmic Transformation Incarnation said, "Fellow Daoist, you flatter me. Where is the Mingqing Grass?"
"Here," Mi Man said, casually tossing out ten jade boxes.
The Cosmic Transformation Incarnation channeled spiritual power, levitating the boxes and opening them all at once.
Each box contained a foot-tall spirit grass, its verdant leaves unmistakably Clearbright Grass.
The Cosmic Transformation Incarnation stored the boxes and tossed out a hundred high-grade spirit stones.
After collecting the spirit stones, Mi Man asked, "Lei Yue, if you ever need more Clearbright Grass, come find me."
The Cosmic Transformation Incarnation replied, "At the price you're charging, I can't afford to buy much."
Mi Man countered, "If you buy a hundred plants at once, I'll give you a 30% discount. For a thousand, it's 50% off."
The Cosmic Transformation Incarnation looked puzzled. "Fellow Daoist, are you short on spirit stones?"
A wry smile flickered across Mi Man's face.
"I'm not as fortunate as Xu Mengyu, with a master who spoils her every whim. I'm just an ordinary disciple of the Spirit Jade Palace. I know nothing of pill refining, artifact crafting, talisman drawing, or array carving. How could I not be short on spirit stones? If I weren't, why would I force myself to smile and act so coy in front of you men?"
Hidden in the shadows, Song Wen, who was secretly controlling the Cosmic Transformation Incarnation from afar, shook his head at her words.
This woman is a master at twisting truth and falsehood.
She had clearly chosen to exploit male cultivators for personal gain, yet she spoke as if she had no choice in the matter.
But Song Wen wasn't bored enough to expose her. Through the Cosmic Transformation Incarnation, he said:
"Fellow Daoist Mi Man, I never imagined such hidden depths lay beneath your radiant exterior. It's truly lamentable."
"If you truly pity my plight," Mi Man retorted, "why not destroy the image stone?"
"Impossible!" the Cosmic Transformation Incarnation replied firmly.
Mi Man's expression immediately hardened, her gaze burning with resentment and grievance.
"What do you want? Do you intend to blackmail me with this image stone for the rest of my life?"
"Not at all," the Cosmic Transformation Incarnation said, changing the subject. "If you can procure ten stalks of True Yang Grass for me, I'll pay you two hundred high-grade spirit stones."
"Even in my current straits, I'm not so desperate as to need a mere two hundred high-grade spirit stones!" Mi Man snapped.
With that, she turned to leave. After flying only a few dozen meters, she abruptly stopped.
"Lei Yue, if you truly desire the True Yang Grass, try Yuncang Ridge. As far as I know, several members of the Myriad Swords Pavilion will be heading there soon to hunt a particular demon beast."
The Cosmic Transformation Incarnation's gaze scrutinized Mi Man, its voice laced with suspicion. "Fellow Daoist, why are you being so generous, offering me this information unprompted?"
"I'm simply being kind," Mi Man replied with a cold smile. "But be careful—Yuncang Ridge is home to seventh-tier demonic beasts, and those Myriad Swords Pavilion members are no pushovers either. Don't end up losing your life for nothing, without even obtaining the spirit grass."
Before her words faded, she soared into the sky and vanished into the distance.
Through the Cosmic Transformation Incarnation's eyes, Song Wen watched Mi Man's retreating figure with mild surprise.
His shadow void had revealed no noteworthy high-tier cultivators within a five-thousand-mile radius. He had expected Mi Man to bring her followers and seize the opportunity to harm him, but she had come alone.
Five thousand miles was the sensory range of a Body Integration Stage cultivator. Surely Mi Man wouldn't enlist a Great Ascension Stage cultivator to kill him? That would be giving far too much credit to a mere late Divine Transformation Stage cultivator like himself.
(End of the Chapter)
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