Seeing that Ye Qiuyue had already explained, Wu Li did not interject. He was still waiting for Qin Xiao's answer.
"What if a single Saint Origin Spirit Fruit were put up for auction? What price could it fetch?"
Qin Xiao was still unwilling to give up and continued to ask.
"Our Immortal Dao branch's auction house once auctioned off one. That was because a customer insisted on selling it; otherwise, our merchant association would have purchased it ourselves. In the end, that Saint Origin Spirit Fruit fetched one billion."
Wu Li did not hide anything and answered Qin Xiao directly.
"What? A single fruit is worth one billion?"
Even though Qin Xiao had prepared himself mentally, upon hearing the price of one billion, he was still shocked.
"Indeed. Although this is an auction price, you must understand that this item is priced but unavailable, so the auction price is essentially the market price."
Wu Li continued to explain.
"Then, Manager Li, do you have one billion?"
Qin Xiao asked with a hint of skepticism.
"Little friend Qin can rest easy on that score. This old man does have some savings, and even if it falls short, the merchant association will lend me the rest. You need not worry about whether I can afford it."
Wu Li did not mind Qin Xiao's doubt. After all, one billion was no small sum; it could well be called an astronomical figure.
Only the Immortal Dao Merchant Association possessed such financial strength. Even the Tianyuan Sect would likely find it difficult to produce one billion Spirit Stones on short notice.
"No matter, I was merely asking. I agree to your condition. If I truly obtain this Saint Origin Spirit Fruit in the Spirit Medicine Valley, I will certainly prioritize selling one to you."
Qin Xiao agreed to Wu Li's request outright.
Although he already possessed them, Qin Xiao was genuinely wary. Spirit liquid and spirit stones were, after all, merely wealth. Displaying wealth at most brought danger, but from what they said, the Saint Origin Spirit Fruit transcended mere wealth-it was a true treasure. Exposing wealth invited danger, but exposing a treasure invited death.
If the news that he held multiple Saint Origin Spirit Fruits were to leak, countless Soul Formation and Body Integration stage experts would hunt him down, and Great Ascension stage paragons might even descend to seize them.
"Hahaha! Having little friend Qin's word is enough. Whether it is obtained or not is of little consequence."
Seeing Qin Xiao agree, Wu Li's mood instantly brightened, and he laughed heartily.
For reasons even he could not fully explain, he simply felt that Qin Xiao was extraordinary and held a high probability of acquiring the Saint Origin Spirit Fruit. He was making an investment. If he succeeded, he would have a chance at a breakthrough; if not, he had lost nothing-it was merely the trade of a piece of information.
"That high-grade Body Refinement cultivation method lies deep within the Sword Tomb. While researching body refinement, this old man combed through numerous records and, by a fated chance, discovered an ancient text. It recorded that over ten thousand years ago, the Sword Tomb was merely a trial ground. Its predecessor was a first-rate sect of Qingzhou-the Divine Sword Sect."
Under Wu Li's narration, the origins of the Sword Tomb gradually came to light.
Back then, Qingzhou was the supreme holy land for sword cultivators across the entire continent, and because the strongest sword cultivators belonged to the Divine Sword Sect, practitioners flocked there from all directions.
The Divine Sword Sect could not take in every sword cultivator in the world, so before his ascension, the founding patriarch established the Sword Tomb. Anyone who could enter within one hundred li of the Sword Tomb could join the sect; those who penetrated five hundred li could become personal disciples; and anyone who cleared the Sword Tomb entirely would become the new sect leader.
Over time, it evolved into a testing ground for the sect's disciples, who took immense pride in clearing it. As generations passed, countless people challenged the tomb, and countless perished within.
Although the Divine Sword Sect was a first-rate sect, its numbers were small, and its members were all sword fanatics indifferent to the relics left behind in the tomb. Gradually, the Sword Tomb transformed into a veritable treasure land.
Later, a rare genius emerged within the sect who practiced sword and body dual cultivation. He was the only person since the founding patriarch who managed to step one thousand li into the Sword Tomb. Yet for reasons unknown, he simply stood there clutching his sword and never came out again. Some claimed he had exhausted his vitality forcing his way to that spot, dying of old age.
More people suspected he had been ambushed-that someone envious of his talent and fearful of him becoming the sect leader had resorted to underhanded methods. Opinions varied widely.
Then, overnight, the Divine Sword Sect was wiped out, leaving not a single soul behind. No one knew what truly transpired. Some said they had offended an irresistible power; others claimed the members of the sect had taken all their treasures and retreated into the Sword Tomb. Regardless, the Divine Sword Sect vanished, but the Sword Tomb remained.
The theory that the sect members had retreated into the tomb persisted because, from that day onward, the Sword Tomb was sealed off, becoming a secret realm that opened only once every decade.
When the Sword Tomb eventually reopened, restrictions were put in place: anyone over a hundred years of age was barred from entry. Yet even though many Soul Formation stage cultivators under a hundred entered, none ever encountered a living person inside. Slowly, the Sword Tomb devolved into a conventional secret realm, and the history of the Divine Sword Sect faded into the river of time, known to fewer and fewer.
"That does not sound right, Manager Li. According to you, no one has set foot a thousand li deep into the Sword Tomb for over ten thousand years. How could I possibly go that far, let alone obtain his body refinement method?"
Having heard the tale, Qin Xiao roughly understood the situation, but over ten thousand years had passed without anyone succeeding-what hope did he have?
In essence, this information amounted to nothing. Was Manager Li simply toying with him?
"Little friend, do not be impatient. You are young yet already possess such a physique; I am certain you can reach that depth before turning a hundred. Furthermore, terrifying pressure fills the Sword Tomb, growing heavier the further you advance. You can use this pressure to temper your physical body continuously until you are strong enough to reach the manual. By then, it will be a complete transformation."
Knowing that his clue, while true, offered no immediate value, Wu Li hurriedly explained.
"Moreover, the deeper you go, the stronger the physical remains of those who fell before you. They likely left behind body refinement methods as well. Even if inferior to that genius's technique, they will not fall short by much, allowing you to progress step by step. Body refinement is a long journey; haste makes waste."
Seeing Qin Xiao's expression darken, Wu Li quickly added his rationale.
"Very well, your words make sense. You provided the clue, and my inability to retrieve it is no fault of yours. The condition I promised still stands."
Though Qin Xiao felt slightly shortchanged, it was indeed a valuable clue and suggestion. Besides, he had no shortage of Saint Origin Spirit Fruits, so doing a favor here might prove useful if he ever needed Wu Li's help in the future.
"It seems this old man has judged a gentleman with a petty mind. I worried little friend Qin might renege on his word, yet you are remarkably magnanimous. Consider me in your debt."
Wu Li said with a trace of awkwardness.
His information was genuine and reliable, but compared to the purchase rights of a Saint Origin Spirit Fruit, it fell somewhat short.
"Manager Li is too polite. We are acquaintances now, and naturally I would offer my goods to acquaintances first."
Once he thought it through, Qin Xiao let the matter drop. He indeed needed a reliable intermediary to market his Saint Origin Spirit Fruits in the future. Dealing with the merchant association as a whole carried too much risk, but utilizing Wu Li alone might prove an excellent arrangement.
After all, Wu Li belonged to the Immortal Dao Merchant Association and was destined to break through to the Body Integration stage. With cultivation, connections, and sales channels, he was an ideal candidate.
"Since our business is concluded, we shall take our leave."
Qin Xiao had no desire to linger, as he still intended to visit the Heavenly Clothes Pavilion. He had never been there before and wished to broaden his horizons and familiarize himself with the location.
"Young Master Qin, a pleasant cooperation. If you acquire any fine goods in the future, please continue to bring them to our Immortal Dao Merchant Association. Should you wish to purchase anything, seek us out as well. Of course, even if our association lacks it in stock, leave your request, and we will move mountains to find it for you."
Seeing Qin Xiao and his group preparing to leave, Ling Ruoxue did not press them to stay, offering a few polite parting remarks.
"Naturally. A pleasant cooperation."
Qin Xiao replied briefly before leading his people away.
"Old Six, I never took you for such a schemer. All six of us brothers are in the late Soul Formation stage, yet you are plotting to break through to the peak of Soul Formation first!"
Wu Jian gestured accusingly at Wu Li.
"Brothers, I am not like you. You can cast aside mundane duties and cultivate in peace. I must cultivate while also managing the association's affairs; my cultivation time is already meager, so I must seize every advantage. Otherwise, by the time you big brothers all reach the Soul Formation peak, I will still be stuck in the late stage."
Wu Li was left speechless. Were these truly his biological brothers? They piled all the daily administration onto his shoulders while they cultivated in seclusion, and now they had the nerve to criticize him!