Li Guang replied, "I will send a message to Brother Lu once I have news."
But relying solely on Li Guang wasnât enough.
Lu Changsheng sent a message to Fire Cloud Venerable: "Fire Cloud Venerable, do you have any news on the Void Divine Crystal? Brother Lu is willing to pay any price!"
Fire Cloud Venerable quickly responded to Lu Changsheng: "If I hear anything about the Void Divine Crystal, I will notify you immediately, Daoist Lu."
These were two separate channels.
But Lu Changsheng didnât hold much hope in either of them.
So, Lu Changsheng got up and headed toward the Outer Mansion Trading Hall once again.
He needed to see if there was any information about the Void Divine Crystal in the Trading Hall.
The Trading Hall was as lively as ever.
Inner Mansion Martial Artists, Outer Mansion Martial Artists, and numerous martial artists from outside the Martial Saint Mansion had all gathered there.
This Trading Hall had essentially become a venue for martial artists to interact.
Lu Changsheng carefully examined each and every task.
However, after searching for several hours,
reviewing all the tasks in the Trading Hall,
he still couldnât find any tasks related to the Void Divine Crystal.
"Trying to obtain the Void Divine Crystal through tasks is almost impossible."
"However, I can also post a task of my own."
"Seek the Void Divine Crystal, or any clues about it, as long as the item is unowned!"
Lu Changsheng acted on this thought immediately.
He swiftly put up a signboard himself.
Sitting cross-legged on the ground, he waited quietly.
Yet, as soon as Lu Changsheng put the signboard up, it instantly drew attention.
The reason was simpleâthe reward listed on Lu Changshengâs signboard was... unusual!
Extremely unusual!
As a result, it piqued the curiosity of many.
"Hmm? This task is seeking the Void Divine Crystal or clues about it, and the reward is... a promise?"
"Just a promise to exchange for the Void Divine Crystal? Even a Martial Saintâs promise wouldnât be worth that!"
"Is this person supremely confident or just arrogant?"
"This taskâwait a thousand years and likely no one will accept it."
"Itâs truly... perplexing. Whatâs the value of a Divine Power Realm martial artistâs promise?"
Many people gathered around Lu Changsheng, shaking their heads continuously.
Lu Changshengâs desire for the Void Divine Crystal wasnât all that strange.
Among the thousands of tasks in the Trading Hall, all manner of bizarre requests could be found.
However, his reward wasnât treasures for refining a Sacred Body, not even Spirit Stones.
It was merely a promise?
Even if it were a Divine Power Realm martial artistâs promise, or a Martial Venerableâs,
hoping to exchange it for a Void Divine Crystal was nothing short of a foolâs dream!
The spectacle attracted the gaze of many in the Trading Hall toward Lu Changsheng.
However, most of those gazes were filled with ridicule.
Lu Changsheng remained impassive.
He didnât care at all.
Though others didnât understand, Lu Changsheng knew full well.
His promise was of unparalleled value!
Lu Changsheng simply sat there, eyes closed, waiting in silence.
Time passed, moment by moment.
An hour, three hours, five hours, ten hours...
In the blink of an eye, three days had gone by.
For these three days, people initially paid attention to Lu Changsheng.
But as time ticked away, by the third day,
almost no one was watching him anymore.
Even those who occasionally recognized Lu Changshengâs identity
âthe Inner Mansionâs top-ranked Divine Power martial artistâthought little of it.
A mere promise could not procure a Void Divine Crystal!
But Lu Changsheng remained unmoved.
He waited patiently as ever.
Until a woman approached, stopping in front of Lu Changsheng.
"Your promiseâdoes it apply even if the lead is only a clue?"
The womanâs clear voice rang out.
*Swish!*
Lu Changsheng opened his eyes and looked at her.
"Yes, clues are also acceptable. But the prerequisite is that the Void Divine Crystal is unowned."
Lu Changshengâs voice was calm as he spoke.
It had to be unowned.
After all, telling Lu Changsheng that a Void Divine Crystal lay within an Immortal Dao Sacred Land would be meaningless to him.
He couldnât possibly go there and steal it, could he?
The woman had, in fact, already inquired about Lu Changshengâs identity.
He was the Inner Mansionâs foremost martial artist.
He had even condensed Infinite Divine Power.
Currently, he was the master of the number one Cave Mansion in the Inner Mansion,
with the potential to achieve Martial Saint in the future!
Not just an ordinary Martial Saint, either.
For a martial artist of such boundless prospects, even a promise wasnât easily granted.
And this woman just happened to have information concerning the Void Divine Crystal.
To her, trading a mere piece of information for Lu Changshengâs promise was entirely worthwhile.
After all, the place she knew of was somewhere she could never acquire the Void Divine Crystal from anyway.
"I know a place where there is a Void Divine Crystal!"
The woman took a deep breath and spoke in a resolute tone.
"Oh?"
Lu Changshengâs eyes lit up.
"Come, weâll speak in the Cave Mansion."
Lu Changsheng immediately put away the task signboard and led the woman to the number one Cave Mansion.
The woman glanced around as she entered and examined the number one Cave Mansion.
"This is my first time in the number one Cave Mansion."
"Right, my name is Zhang Shu. Iâm an Outer Mansion disciple of the Martial Saint Mansion."
"I know you as Venerable Lu, the Inner Mansionâs top Divine Power martial artist who has condensed Infinite Divine Power. Your promise is of great use to me, but you must fulfill it first!"
Zhang Shu bit her lip and spoke firmly, enunciating each word.
"Fulfill it first?"
Lu Changshengâs eyes narrowed slightly.
He studied Zhang Shu closely.
A Divine Power Realm martial artistâ
clearly not a Martial Venerable.
If she were demanding that he fulfill the promise first, she must be facing some kind of trouble.
And it seemed the trouble was no small matter.
"Tell me firstâwhat is it you want me to do?"
"Become my Dao companion!"
"I want to be your Dao companion, Lu Daoist!"
"As long as you agree, I will immediately tell you the information on the Void Divine Crystal."
Lu Changsheng was slightly stunned.
A Dao companion?
He had never imagined that this womanâs request would be to become his Dao companion.
"Wait, you and I are complete strangers, and now you want me to become your Dao companion?"
"Be honestâwhatâs your real motive?"
Lu Changsheng pressed further.
He didnât believe that someone who had cultivated Divine Skills would seek him out as a Dao companion merely out of admiration.
That was impossible!
Zhang Shu hesitated for a moment, then said earnestly, "I come from a martial arts clan. Iâm the most talented in the family, becoming a Divine Power Realm martial artist and even joining the Martial Saint Mansion as an Outer Mansion martial artist."
"But now, a Martial Saint-level power is forcing an arranged marriage on me to annex my family."
"I canât refuse, and my family canât refuse either."
"However, if I were to become your Dao companion, with your status as the Inner Mansionâs top-ranked martial artist, I believe that Martial Saint clan wouldnât dare press too hard. Itâs merely a temporary measure..."
Lu Changsheng understood.
She wanted to use him as a shield.
"A Martial Saint-level power..."
Lu Changsheng furrowed his brows slightly.
It was a bit of a hassle.
But not an insurmountable one.
"How much time can your family hold out?"
"Or rather, how long can you delay them to the best of your ability?"
Zhang Shu hesitated briefly, then answered, "The family has already agreedâI must consummate the arranged marriage after my ten-year term in the Martial Saint Mansion is complete."
"As of now, I only have three years left."
Hearing this, Lu Changsheng nodded slightly and said, "Three years? Thatâs sufficient."
"In truth, thereâs no need for you to sacrifice yourself to become my Dao companion."
"I can give you a promise. Once I become a Martial Saint, I will do everything in my power to resolve the Martial Saint-level threat for you."
"Three years is enough time for me to achieve Martial Saint. The question isâdo you trust me, Lu Changsheng?"
After speaking, Lu Changshengâs gaze fixed calmly but firmly on Zhang Shu.