Chapter 787: Large-Scale Acquisition

"Lead the way," Shi Chuankong said casually.

The green-clad maid quickly agreed and led the way, soon bringing the two to a private room where she served various rare fruits and fragrant tea for them to enjoy.

"These are the black fruits and mist spring tea, specialties of the Ten Plague Mountains. The taste is quite good. Fellow Daoist Li, please try some," Shi Chuankong introduced.

Han Li picked up a cup of fragrant tea with white mist swirling above it, took a sip, and nodded.

Just then, the door to the private room moved slightly, and a young woman in a pink dress entered. She was fully transformed into human form, with a peach-blossom face and a slender figure, showing no non-human traits.

"I apologize for keeping you two distinguished guests waiting. I am Meilan, the manager of Floating Gold Pavilion," the pink-dressed woman said with a smile as she walked in slowly.

As she moved, pink flowers occasionally drifted in the air around her, emitting a fragrance like orchids and musk.

Han Li raised an eyebrow slightly. This woman's cultivation was not low; she had reached the peak of the Golden Immortal stage, only one step away from the Tai Yi realm. Moreover, her true form was likely a tree demon, and the cultivation technique she practiced seemed quite extraordinary.

However, it was somewhat strange that someone of such high cultivation would serve as a mere manager at Floating Gold Pavilion.

The next moment, he understood: this was likely a business tactic of Floating Gold Pavilion—sending someone of higher cultivation than the customers to receive them, thereby gaining an advantage in momentum and easily taking the initiative through strategic guidance.

But such petty tricks were naturally useless against Han Li and Shi Chuankong. The two sat steadily, drinking tea without even a flicker in their eyes.

"May I ask what items you two distinguished guests wish to purchase at our pavilion?" Meilan asked, sitting down across from them, hiding her surprise at their composure.

"I heard that Floating Gold Pavilion is one of the largest shops in Black Weasel City, so I came here out of admiration. I have a major business deal to discuss with your pavilion. This is the deposit; please accept it, Manager Meilan," Shi Chuankong said leisurely, setting down his teacup and producing a storage bracelet, which he tossed over.

Meilan was taken aback, a look of surprise in her eyes, but she caught the bracelet.

As her divine sense probed inside, her face immediately showed shock.

Inside the storage bracelet were neatly stacked fifty thousand demon spirit stones, a sight that was profoundly striking.

"It is our honor to have the favor of two distinguished guests. May I ask what this major business deal refers to?" Meilan quickly realized she had lost her composure, composed herself, and reluctantly set down the storage bracelet.

Han Li, watching from the side, a hint of amusement flickered in his eyes.

Meilan had intended to intimidate them with her formidable cultivation, but Shi Chuankong turned the tables by throwing out a huge sum of money, seizing the initiative.

Thus, a silent contest had taken place between them, and Shi Chuankong had subtly gained the upper hand.

As expected of someone from Guangyuan Zhai, he was well-versed in business.

"We came to purchase a batch of high-grade Purple Sun Warm Jade," Shi Chuankong said without further beating around the bush.

"Purple Sun Warm Jade?" Meilan's expression shifted slightly, and then she fell silent.

"What, is your pavilion not interested in this deal?" Shi Chuankong asked, his eyes darkening.

"Please do not misunderstand, distinguished guests. We naturally wish to do business, but Purple Sun Warm Jade is scarce. Not to mention high-grade, we don't even have medium-grade," Meilan said with a troubled expression.

"I know this treasure is rare. How about this: regardless of the market price, we are willing to add thirty percent, but the goods must be of good quality," Shi Chuankong said after a moment's thought, tapping the table with his finger.

"You flatter me, sir. I am not trying to drive up the price; what I said is the truth. You two are probably not from Black Weasel City, are you? Forgive me for being blunt, but you seem quite unfamiliar with the situation regarding Purple Sun Warm Jade. It is true that this city produces Purple Sun Warm Jade, but the yield is extremely low, and most of it is controlled by the Black Weasel King, with only a small portion reaching the market. Although our pavilion is one of the largest in the city, we only have a very small amount of Purple Sun Warm Jade, and it is all low-grade," Meilan said with a bitter smile.

Han Li and Shi Chuankong's expressions darkened upon hearing this.

"So, your pavilion has no solution either?" Shi Chuankong said slowly after a moment of silence.

"I am truly sorry. If it were other goods, it would be easier, but for Purple Sun Warm Jade, our pavilion is helpless. I hope you two distinguished guests will understand," Meilan said with a sigh.

"In that case, we won't force the issue," Shi Chuankong said, taking back the storage bracelet.

Meilan watched the storage bracelet being taken back with longing, letting out a silent sigh.

"Manager Meilan, you mentioned earlier that your pavilion has some low-grade Purple Sun Warm Jade. Could you show it to us?" Han Li, who had been silent, suddenly spoke.

"Certainly, please wait a moment. I will fetch it right away," Meilan said, her eyes lighting up with joy as she stood up and quickly walked out.

"Fellow Daoist Shi, do you think what Meilan said is true?" Han Li asked, setting up a soundproof barrier around them after Meilan left.

"While speaking with her, I secretly used a mind-link technique that can to some extent detect the truth of what is said. Based on the technique's feedback, she was not lying," Shi Chuankong said.

"So, it seems it will indeed be difficult for us to buy high-grade Purple Sun Warm Jade," Han Li said with a frown.

"We'll do what we can and leave the rest to fate. If we really can't buy any, there's no help for it. Purple Sun Warm Jade is divided into three grades: low, medium, and high. The differences between them are significant. Low-grade Purple Sun Warm Jade has only average effects on nourishing the soul, so buying it would be of little use," Shi Chuankong said indifferently, as if not too concerned.

"Whether high-grade or low-grade, since it might be useful for the Soul-Devouring Beast, we cannot let it slip by," Han Li said flatly.

Purple Sun Warm Jade was related to the Soul-Devouring Beast's recovery, and he had to acquire it no matter what.

Shi Chuankong smiled but said nothing.

The two did not speak further, each seemingly lost in thought.

After a while, footsteps were heard from outside.

Han Li waved his hand, dispelling the surrounding restrictions. The door to the private room opened, and Meilan entered, holding a square purple jade box.

"Sorry to keep you waiting. These are all the Purple Sun Warm Jade our pavilion has. Please take a look," Meilan said, placing the jade box in front of Han Li.

Han Li opened the box to reveal twenty or thirty fist-sized purple crystals, emitting a faint purple glow that was quite beautiful.

However, occasional flaws could be seen on these crystals, marring the overall appearance and making the purple light impure.

He picked up a purple crystal and felt it warm to the touch. A stream of heat passed through his body to his mind, enveloping his soul.

His soul immediately felt as if bathed in a warm spring breeze, extraordinarily comfortable.

Delighted, he thought that this Purple Sun Warm Jade indeed had a beneficial effect on the soul and should be effective for the Soul-Devouring Beast.

"Although these Purple Sun Warm Jade are low-grade, they are still quite good. What do you think, fellow Daoist?" Meilan asked, seeing Han Li holding a piece of Purple Sun Warm Jade without speaking for a long time, appearing lost in thought.

"How much are these Purple Sun Warm Jade?" Han Li asked noncommittally, placing the piece back in the jade box.

Meilan glanced at Han Li, deliberated inwardly, and quoted a price ten percent higher than the market rate.

"Deal," Han Li said. The price was within his expectations, so he didn't bother to haggle and agreed.

Having killed Tie Yu and others and taken their storage devices, Han Li now had a considerable amount of demon spirit stones, so this sum was nothing to him.

He put away the purple jade box and then produced a storage ring, handing it to Meilan.

"Thank you for your patronage," Meilan said, her divine sense sweeping over the storage ring, a hint of smile in her eyes.

With the transaction complete, Han Li and the other did not linger and soon took their leave.

Meilan personally saw them out of Floating Gold Pavilion, observing all courtesies, before returning inside.

"How did it go, seniors?" Lu Xie, who had been waiting by the roadside, immediately approached when he saw them come out.

"Some things are not for you to ask. Don't be nosy; just focus on leading the way. On to the next shop," Shi Chuankong said, his tone slightly cold.

"Yes," Lu Xie trembled and quickly agreed. He refrained from asking further questions and drove the beast carriage forward, soon stopping in front of a tall tower-like shop.

Han Li and the other alighted from the carriage and walked straight into the tower shop. Half an hour later, they came out again.

"On to the next one," Han Li ordered flatly.

Thus, before nightfall, the two visited six or seven large shops in succession, clearing out their entire stock of Purple Sun Warm Jade.

That night, in a room at an inn within the city.

Han Li made hand seals and waved his hands. Array flags flew out from his sleeves and landed around the room, forming several layers of restrictive light curtains that enveloped the entire room.

After doing this, his expression relaxed. A silver light flashed in his hand, and a silver light door appeared.

Han Li stepped through the door and entered the Flower Branch Space.

In the pavilion within the Flower Branch Space, the Soul-Devouring Beast lay on a bed, still unconscious.

Her face was pale, her cheeks somewhat translucent, and from time to time, streams of black qi emanated from her body, dissipating into the air.

Seeing the Soul-Devouring Beast in this state, Han Li's expression changed slightly.

Her condition had worsened compared to when he had checked a few days ago, and the rate at which her spiritual energy dissipated had increased significantly.

He took a deep breath, quickly regained his composure, and waved his hand toward a nearby table.

A flash of green light passed, and five or six jade boxes of various sizes appeared on the table, filled with Purple Sun Warm Jade. Counting them, there were over two hundred pieces.

All of these Purple Sun Warm Jade were low-grade; not a single medium-grade piece was among them.

Although he hadn't bought any medium-grade Purple Sun Warm Jade, such a large quantity of low-grade should still have some effect.

However, such a sweeping purchase of Purple Sun Warm Jade had likely attracted the attention of some well-informed individuals in Black Weasel City.

Fortunately, Black Weasel City was a thriving trade hub with many traveling merchants, and there were plenty of businessmen like them, so the two did not stand out too much.

Nevertheless, he and Shi Chuankong had already agreed to stay one more day to acquire Purple Sun Warm Jade. Regardless of the outcome, they would leave immediately afterward to avoid unnecessary trouble.