On the Sun Disc Above.
The two youngsters below were trapped in a stalemate, but the elders watching already determined the winner in their hearts.
With a crooked grin, Ma Pei leaned back into his throne and chuckled. "Hoho, Shameless Old Thief, the potential of this hunting hound of yours is not bad. Sure you want to give him up here?"
Tai Yinjun had an ugly look on his face but was unwilling to admit his loss so easily.
"Gah! If that dog of mine explodes, that dollie of yours won't get off lightly either!"
"Indeed, that heavenly flame is very powerful, but, hoho…" Ma Pei chortled and poured himself a cup of tea.
"With that cheap brat's strange physique, he won't croak that easily. And you know—once the match is decided, there's no law barring us from intervening."
A casual wave of his hand sent the tea cup floating over to the grumpy scarecrow…
Tai Yinjun humphed but still accepted it.
After a sip, his face eased and his squinted eyes shot Ma Pei a probing look. "A doll transformation quota?"
Ma Pei stroked his beard thoughtfully. "Hoho... I'm afraid that cheap brat won't be willing to settle for just that."
Thud! The teacup slammed onto the table and Tai Yinjun glared at the old man acting like it had nothing to do with him.
"Gah! Like that dollie will have any opinion! Greedy Old Fart! Is the spirit mine I bet not enough?! What more do you want?! My underpants?!"
Ma Pei slyly smiled. "Hohoh... far-off water can't quench the thirst at hand. I'm sure you all know, my pocket money has been a little tight recently after funding the bounty for that evil spawn…"
Tai Yinjun immediately understood what the old thing wanted and cursed.
"Greedy Old Fart! We all chipped in for that mess, and you're still looking to squeeze me dry?! Gah! Whatever! Fine! Five percent! Take it or forget it!"
Five percent of that evil spawn's bounty? That's 25 mid-grade spirit stones!
A happy smirk bloomed on Ma Pei's face and he hurriedly agreed. "Deal! Hoho, now... let's see if these brats will know when to stop biting…"
Once they each got the green light from the other, both elders passed down their messages.
"Cheap brat, call it quits and you'll pocket 250 spirit stones for sparing that dog's life! If you agree to these terms, accept that brat's surrender. If not... do what you want, but you're on your own!"
Hearing those half-persuasion, half-threat words ring in his mind, Bubai's heart nearly leapt out of his chest in excitement.
Holy Merlin! 250 low-grade spirit stones?! They're offering that much to buy this so-called genius's life?!
That's way better than the bottom line he hoped for!
But should he accept this deal?
The hatred had already been sown. Everybody knows: when you cut grass, it's best to cut the roots, too.
But if he swung the scythe now... what would he reap? Nothing but a negative profit game!
Cultivators fight for profit. Bubai was no exception.
Why else did he kick this loser towards the wall instead of the sea of fire? Isn't it just to preserve the loot?
But man proposes, god disposes. This choice led to a dead end.
Since getting that loot was now out of the question, settling for the under-the-table deal was the second best option!
Still, his momentum must not be lost.
Bubai spun his kunai in circles intimidatingly and arrogantly looked down at the desperate dog that should've received instructions but still looked like he'll never give up.
"...So? What's your choice?"
Ge Tianqi felt his pride roar defiantly and gnashed his teeth so hard that they were about to fall out, but... life came first.
That's why he still bowed his head in humiliation. "I... surrender."
"Good boy." Bubai smiled and relaxed the finger-gun charging up lightning behind his back. "Your surrender, I accept."
"Since both sides agree to the terms of surrender, there's no need to delay any longer. Ge Tianqi versus Mo Bubai—Mo Bubai wins!"
The announcement tolled the victory bell, but Bubai didn't even have time to celebrate when he suddenly felt a terrifyingly majestic presence press down upon the field...
In the span of less than a breath, all that seemingly-inextinguishable black fire around them got smothered out like they'd never existed!
That intangible presence came quickly and left quickly. But it was enough to make Bubai break out in cold sweat.
Dear Merlin, how terrifying! This spiritual power… it felt completely different from what spiritual pressure he faced before.
It felt irresistible... as if one mistake from the other will crush him into meat paste like an ant!
Was this the true extent of a golden core elder's power? Or… did that Nascent Soul ancestor make a move?
Too little data. So, Bubai wasn't sure.
Regardless, it was the first time Bubai felt death brushing so close, and he didn't like it, not one bit. But…
Bubai looked around and saw the steamy shroud getting swept away, opening up his vision to the empty, scorched black canvas.
So much for Amaterasu.
Is this the legendary spiritual pressure suppression mentioned in those shonen stories… anything and everything can be crushed by the sheer gap in spiritual might?
Bubai was unclear about these profound, higher-realm matters, but at least the path to the exit was now clear.
That's the good thing about battling in an arena under supervision. Winners never worry about having no way out.
"Well, time to get going…"
No point in dwaddling in here. Even if he wanted to recover some losses, he can't because… there's nothing left to clean!
Everything got burned into nothingness. Not even slag or ashes was left.
His water vat. His handy heavy sword. His brief-lived human shield. All those needles and chains…
"Alas… all your noble sacrifices will be dearly remembered…"
Bubai sighed and his heart ached from the loss, but when he thought of the payment that'll soon fill his pockets, even the floor burning his feet didn't feel as painful!
Exit ahead! Reward chapters ahead! Just thinking about it made his steps get lighter and lighter…
That was until a strained voice called out from behind.
"W-wait!"
Bubai paused and glanced back at the loser who had a pained look on his ugly, bloodied face. "...Got a problem?"
Glaring at that ugly, smug face, Ge Tianqi panted like he was on his last leg but still forced his words out. "Give me back my... my fan."
Hearing this reminded Bubai about the magic fan he conveniently tossed into his pouch earlier.
"Your fan? Haha. You mean mine. I earned that loot, fair and square. And you want me to give that magic weapon back? Do you have a hole in your brain?"
"But you can't even use it!"
"I can sell it."
"You—!"
Ge Tianqi's furious gaze dropped to the black pouch hanging on Bubai's waist.
But no matter how much he glared at it, the pouch sat as still and closed as a tomb.
No fan was going to miraculously fly back into his hands.
Once a magic tool gets put away in a closed-off storage space, it was as good as sealing it away in another dimension.
Even though his unrefined storage pouch was technically a bag "open" to the public, unless somebody actually physically opened his pouch for this fan boy, that flying fan won't be going anywhere.
But will anybody do something that stupid to help this loser out?
"You want it back?" A playful grin stretched out on Bubai's face and his fingers drummed on the pouch.
"Tell you what. I'm feeling quite generous right now. So I can give you this one chance to redeem your precious flying fan."
Though bloodied and beaten, Ge Tianqi still dragged himself upright against the wall, just to sit at the negotiation table.
"...What do you want?"
Bubai grinned. "I've always been curious about what you kept in your real pouch…"
Ge Tianqi didn't even hesitate to rip out a pouch hidden within his sleeves. "Deal! Now, give my fan back!"
Bubai chuckled and wagged his finger. "No, no, no. Slow down. Don't be in such a rush. Do you think a random pouch of junk will be enough? What? Do I look like a fool who doesn't know the prices?"
Ge Tianqi looked like he wanted to bite that wagging finger off, but he still grit his teeth and spat out, "Just name your price."
"Ah… that…" Bubai sighed and dusted himself off.
"Look here—my clothes are half burnt to rags, and I barely have anything decent left to wear. Hmm. I think your plain old robe looks quite comfortable—"
"Don't even think about it! I risked my life to get this Sun Palace Spirit Robe and it's more valuable than that fan!"
"Oh really?" Bubai shrugged. "Well, suit yourself. A sword versus a shield. Your choice. But remember. This is your only chance. If you don't want your fan back…"
Bubai turned around and walked away…
Step. Step. Step…
One thousand one... one thousand two… one thousand th—
"WAIT!"
The art of negotiation, success!