Chapter 1567: Chapter 580: Rogue Cultivator Ding Yi, Spiritual Treasure Blood Sword_2

The Defense Magic Item, if not forged by a master Tool Casting Crafter, would inevitably suffer significant loss through self-manufacturing.

Just preparing the raw materials would cost him one to two million Spirit Stones, and if there were multiple failures afterward, there would definitely be further losses.

Therefore, Luo Chen was planning to keep a few million as a contingency.

But now…

Just as Luo Chen was hesitant, the urgent voice of Han Zhan came through.

“Luo Chen, you promised me!”

Luo Chen took a deep breath and declared loudly: “Five million five hundred thousand!”

As always, a strong bid!

On the high platform, Leng Ruolan’s face was all smiles.

“This Friend has bid five million five hundred thousand, will the friends from the Canghai Alliance continue to compete?”

Without further hesitation, the Golden Core Cultivator from the Canghai Alliance stated directly: “I’ll bid five million five hundred thousand as well!”

Leng Ruolan’s face stiffened, then she said with displeasure: “Friend, your next bid must exceed the previous one. You are not ignorant of this common rule, are you?”

The Canghai Alliance’s Golden Core Cultivator said with a smile: “Of course I understand. However, I saw in the auction list that if one can meet the special conditions set by the owner of the Soul Nourishing Wood, negotiation is possible. Now that my bid is the same as this Independent Cultivator Friend, why not arrange for us to have a private meeting with the owner of the Soul Nourishing Wood to discuss it?”

Leng Ruolan was momentarily taken aback, then appeared quite displeased.

Negotiating in private would mean that unless it involves an increase in Spirit Stones, they in Feileng City would not see much profit.

But since this had been stipulated beforehand, it was hard for her to refuse.

After asking Luo Chen again whether he wanted to raise the bid and receiving a negative answer,

She immediately arranged for this private meeting.

Meanwhile, the auction continued.

…

Under the guidance of Maid Ah Qing, Luo Chen arrived at a Side Hall.

Upon entering, he sensed a pair of sharp eyes staring intently at him.

He remained composed and took his seat directly.

The owner of the gaze continued to scrutinize Luo Chen: “My name is Shang Junshu, Young Master of the Four Seas Commerce Guild. May I ask for your esteemed name and background?”

The Four Seas Commerce Guild!

This was a renowned Great Power in the North Sea Cultivation World, with a Nascent Soul True Master within its ranks. After joining the Canghai Righteous Alliance, their influence grew even greater, making them the second most formidable commercial power in the North Sea next to the Tianyuan Business Alliance.

Shang Junshu claiming to be the Young Master of the Commerce Guild, doesn’t that imply that the Four Seas True Master is his father?

Luo Chen frowned slightly, “An insignificant nameless Independent Cultivator, not worth mentioning.”

Shang Junshu seemed unfazed, after all, that’s typical of Independent Cultivators, hiding their names and origins, too cautious to reveal any information.

He said seriously: “This Soul Nourishing Wood is intended for a close friend of my father. I hope you can be accommodating. If it’s simply a Soul Nourishing Wood you desire, we in the Commerce Guild also possess specimens of eight to nine hundred years, and with special techniques, their efficacy is comparable to that of thousand-year-old Soul Nourishing Wood.”

Luo Chen retorted, “Then why don’t you use that technique yourself?”

Suppressing his frustration, Shang Junshu patiently explained: “Soul Nourishing Wood nurtured using such techniques is only suitable for us Golden Core Cultivators to use. However, my father’s friend is a Nascent Soul True Master, for whom only thousand-year-old Soul Nourishing Wood will suffice. Friend, can you really not be accommodating?”

Luo Chen shook his head, “Let’s wait until we meet the owner of the Soul Nourishing Wood.”

Shang Junshu clenched his fist tightly, staring at Luo Chen for a long moment.

“Alright, then let’s leave it to our abilities when the time comes!”

They didn’t have to wait long.

Soon, the heavy sound of footsteps approached from outside the palace.

Both men looked up as a corpulent, fat-covered Golden Core Cultivator stepped into the Side Hall.

At a glance, Luo Chen and the other man were somewhat surprised.

It’s him!

The reason behind their reaction was simple, this owner of the Soul Nourishing Wood, many people “knew” him.

He was the Independent Golden Core Cultivator who, at the start of the auction, had bought the Third-order Black-green Treasure Basin Fish for seven million Spirit Stones.

This man had an extremely obese physique; from a distance, he looked like a greasy, large ball of meat.

Yet, his facial features were quite normal, even somewhat thin because of his prominent hooked nose, which contrasted with his plump body.

A thin face on a fat body, such a combination would leave a strong impression on anyone who saw it.

As soon as he entered, the man said with a laugh: “I am Ding Yi, what do you two gentlemen wish to discuss with me?”

Shang Junshu introduced himself first: “Shang Junshu, Young Master of the Four Seas Commerce Guild.”

Luo Chen, maintaining a modicum of courtesy, also revealed his alias: “Independent Cultivator Luo Hai, an honor to meet you, Ding Friend.”

Ding Yi acknowledged with a grunt, “Since you both wanted to meet me, it means you’re confident about meeting my special conditions, right?”

Shang Junshu confidently replied, “It should be possible. I not only manage the Four Seas Commerce Guild, but I also hold considerable power within the Canghai Alliance founded by Li Daneng. Given the resources of my Commerce Guild and the Canghai Alliance, meeting your requirements shouldn’t be a problem.”

“Quite confident indeed!” Ding Yi laughed, then stated his conditions.

“Ding once inadvertently entered a hidden realm early in my life and consumed an unknown heavenly spirit medicine. Although it greatly increased my cultivation, it also left me with the side effect of obesity. So, my conditions aren’t difficult–there are just two. The first is to lose weight.”

Uh…

Both Luo Chen and Shang Junshu were taken aback by this condition.

Lose weight?

That should pose no challenge.

For cultivators, refining spirit and transforming qi is the most basic and straightforward technique, so wouldn’t a cultivation technique operating over a few cycles dissolve the body fat?

While they both thought as such, neither questioned it aloud.

After pondering briefly, Shang Junshu took out a Jade Slip from the Storage Jade Belt wrapped around his waist.