Xu Bai did not respond.
He simply pointed to the Endstone Disc above his head and asked calmly, âDoes your Five Elders Association need this?â
Liu Wenyu was momentarily stunned, then nodded repeatedly.
âBefore coming here, our organization had already given instructions: a fair tradeâone Disc in exchange for one True Temptation Fruit,â Xu Bai said, looking up.
Liu Wenyu nodded slightly. He did not think Xu Bai was asking for too much. In fact, he believed that the Five Elders Association was getting a great deal in this trade.
His gaze lingered greedily on the Endstone Plate, and he said, âThat shouldn't be a problem. However, I still need to report to my superiors for confirmation.â
Hearing this, Xu Bai handed him another Endstone Plate and said, âKeep this with you for now. The outside world is full of Tianxuan Mirrorâs eyes. If you accidentally expose yourself, things could turn bad.â
At the same time, Xu Bai explained in detail how to use the Endstone Plate.
Liu Wenyuâs eyes flickered with excitement, and he felt a slight sense of gratitude toward Xu Bai. âFellow Daoist, your foresight is commendable. In these difficult times, our two groups should indeed join forces to overcome the crisis.â
Xu Bai waved his hand dismissively. âGo on then. Hurry back, Iâll be waiting here.â
Liu Wenyu nodded before transforming into a streak of light and disappearing.
He returned in less than half an hour, rushing back in a hurry.
âThe higher-ups have agreed to the trade. However, thereâs one issueâhow many of these Heaven-Concealing Discs can your Heaven-Suppressing Society provide?â Liu Wenyu asked.
âThese items are difficult to refine, and even our organization doesnât have enough,â Xu Bai said solemnly.
This was within Liu Wenyuâs expectations. However, Xu Baiâs next words sent a shock through his heart.
âAt most, we can only spare a few hundred for you.â Xu Bai sighed, sounding somewhat helpless.
âSo many?!â Liu Wenyuâs face was filled with astonishment, and he blurted out in shock.
Instantly, a wave of regret surged within him.
He had realized that these Heaven-Concealing Discs might not be as valuable as he had initially thought.
âToo many? Then letâs make it a hundred instead. After all, if your Five Elders Association doesnât want them, there are plenty of cultivators who do.â Xu Bai snorted coldly, his tone straightforward.
âWhen I say a few hundred, of course, they will be delivered in batches. Did you think these things grow like weeds, just needing water to sprout?â
âNo, no, not too many at all.â Liu Wenyu hurriedly reassured him.
âHowever, we donât have that much True Temptation Fruit in stockâŠâ Liu Wenyu said hesitantly.
âSame as beforeâany valuable resources will do.â Xu Bai waved his hand dismissively. âIn fact, we could even lend you a batch of Heaven-Concealing Discs first.â
âButâŠâ Xu Baiâs tone grew serious. âThe organization believes that we need to strengthen our cooperation further.â
âStrengthen cooperation?â Liu Wenyu frowned slightly.
âEver since the Ten Thousand Immortal Alliance established the Rebirth Mansion, and since the Tianxuan Mirror began its strange movements, our once-promising situation has taken a sudden turn for the worse. If the Rebirth Heavenly Sovereign has truly defied fate and cannot be stopped, so be it. But now, the Tianxuan Mirror is scanning countless small worlds across Xuanhuang, attempting to ascendâand your Five Elders Association remains indifferentâŠâ
âWith five Heavenly Sovereigns on your side, surely you have some means of counteracting this, donât you?â Xu Bai asked, clearly dissatisfied.
âWhat exactly are you all doing?â
Liu Wenyu hesitated, as if he wanted to say something but held back.
After a long silence, he sighed in defeat. âItâs not just you, Daoist. I, too, have many doubts about this matter.â
âPerhaps, I can use this trade as an opportunity to find out the truth.â His expression was unreadable.
âThe situation is urgent. The sooner we trade, the better. Three days from now, outside Tianliang City, in Wuliang Mountain.â
After setting the location for the exchange, Liu Wenyu prepared to leave.
âDonât forgetâthe Heaven-Concealing Disc I gave you earlier counts as part of the trade,â Xu Bai reminded him.
Liu Wenyuâs steps faltered slightly upon hearing this, then he quickened his pace even more.
A moment later, Xu Bai also left the room, turning into a streak of light and disappearing into the distance.
Wuliang Mountain
Since the Boundless Wall incidentâwhere cultivators were swallowed by the wallâthe already remote Wuliang Mountain had become even more deserted.
Very few cultivators in the world understood the true nature of the Boundless Wallâs enlightenment.
Moreover, most cultivators were now focused on conquering small worlds and earning merits.
As a result, even fewer people ventured here.
After all, if one died in battle, they could be resurrected. But if they were swallowed by the Boundless Wall, there was no telling what would happen.
Xu Bai silently arrived at the bottom of a valley in Wuliang Mountain.
From a distance, he gazed at the Boundless Wall, its surface as smooth as a mirror, and patiently waited.
"I heard that it was you who rescued Guan Xingxiu's nephew from the Boundless Wall last time?"
Suddenly, a voice rang out behind Xu Bai.
Xu Bai was startled.
Turning around, he saw a middle-aged cultivator dressed in a purple-gold Daoist robe standing beside him.
The man was quietly observing the Boundless Wall without looking at Xu Bai.
But it was clear that he was the one who had just spoken.
Xu Bai's heart grew heavy.
Even though the man had deliberately concealed his aura, the fact that Xu Bai couldn't sense his presence at all was enough to determine the truth of his cultivation level.
A Dao Integration Immortal Sage!
"Senior, it was merely by luck that I managed to rescue Guan Changge," Xu Bai replied respectfully.
At the same time, his mind raced as he tried to deduce the other party's identity.
At this time and place, someone of this cultivation level appearing hereâ
It couldn't be a coincidence.
"Could he be the contact for the Five Elders Association's transaction this time?" Xu Bai speculated.
"A Dao Integration Immortal Sage, acting as a spy for the Five Elders Association�"
In an instant, the identity of the purple-gold-robed cultivator became obvious.
Immortal Sage Ziqiong.
The Supreme Commander of the Ten Thousand Immortal Allianceâs Martial Hall.
Even though Xu Bai had already learned from his past lives that this man was a spy,
Seeing Immortal Sage Ziqiong suddenly appear in front of him still gave him a bit of a shock.
Without revealing anything, Xu Bai cautiously probed,
"May I ask, Senior�"
"I represent the Five Elders Association. Iâm here to conduct a transaction with your Heaven-Suppressing Society."
To Xu Baiâs surprise, Immortal Sage Ziqiong stated his purpose outright, without any attempt to conceal it.
Xu Bai fell silent.
He couldn't quite figure out the manâs intentions and was carefully considering his next move.
Fortunately, it was only a clone of himself present, so he didn't feel too panicked.
"So, you've recognized my identity? Interesting. I've been overseeing the Martial Hall headquarters for many years without stepping outside."
"Your Heaven-Suppressing Society is quite something."
Immortal Sage Ziqiong glanced at Xu Bai and smiled slightly.
"Senior flatters us. I was simply startled to learn of your true identity so suddenlyâI wasnât sure what to say," Xu Bai said, cupping his hands and putting on a nervous expression.