183: Treasure for Life

"This thing is called a 'teleportation pearl'," Xiao Buyu's voice wasn't loud, yet it clearly overpowered all the noise in the arena.

He held a peculiar pearl in his palm.

"Infuse Mental Energy, lock onto a direction, activate it—a million li, reached in an instant. It can only be used once, but it's enough to tear open a path to survival from a desperate situation."

A suppressed gasp instantly rose from the onlookers. Countless fervent gazes were fixed on the pearl, their greed almost solidifying.

"As for this Jade Slip..." Xiao Buyu's fingertip then picked up an ancient, dark-colored Jade Slip, covered in the marks of time.

"I retrieved it from a dead zone. It's been with me for almost ten years, and I haven't figured out a single thing about it. I'll give it to you. Maybe you're lucky enough to stumble upon its secret."

His gaze, like lightning, shot towards Zhang Sheng:

"Zhang Sheng, use these two items to exchange for my brother's life. Is it enough?"

Seeing the faint blue pearl, Zhang Sheng's pupils suddenly contracted!

Teleportation? A million li?!

The item Song Qingqing gave Song Xian to save his life... it was this thing!

That kid Song Xian, he really had damn good luck!

Xiao Buyu... a top Divine Power Realm expert! A four-star Qinglan Guard! If he had known Xiao Xuantian had such a powerful backer, he would have never accepted that death match!

Zhang Sheng suppressed the surging emotions in his heart, cupped his fists, and bowed deeply, adopting an extremely humble posture:

"Senior Xiao! This Junior has just arrived in Azure Mist City and did not know Brother Xuantian was your close kin. I have offended you! These items... this Junior would never dare to accept!"

"If I tell you to take them, then take them." Xiao Buyu's lips curved into a cold smile, his tone brooking no argument.

"There is no rule of taking back what I, Xiao Buyu, have given away!"

Invisible pressure descended like a mountain.

Zhang Sheng's Adam's apple bobbed. He no longer refused, reaching out to accept the heavy Jade Slip and the teleportation pearl.

The next moment, Xiao Buyu abruptly turned his head, his icy gaze, like a poisoned icicle, fiercely piercing towards Xiao Xuantian, who was slumped with a dejected aura beside him:

"Useless trash! You should have rotted in a pile of desolate beasts!" His voice was low.

"Come back with me! If you dare to come out and disgrace yourself again, I will cripple you with my own hands!"

Before his words finished, he reached out with a large hand, roughly grabbing Xiao Xuantian by the back of his collar like he was lifting a chick.

Xiao Xuantian let out a muffled groan, without even the strength to struggle, and was forcibly dragged off the ground.

Just as he turned, Xiao Buyu's ice-cold eyes precisely locked onto a faint, enchanting figure in the crowd.

"Li Meier—!" His voice wasn't loud, but it carried a chilling killing intent, like a tangible sound wave piercing through the crowd.

"Stay away from my brother! If I see you approach him by even half a step again..."

He paused, each word seemingly ground out from between his teeth:

"Even the King of Heaven won't be able to save your life!"

After speaking, Xiao Buyu's figure flickered, enveloping the ashen-faced Xiao Xuantian, transforming into a sharp azure rainbow, and instantly vanished above the martial arts arena.

The enchanting figure who had been called out—Li Meier—seemed not to have heard this death warning. She merely tilted her captivating face slightly, a faint, ambiguous curve appearing at the corner of her lips, then silently melted into the crowd and disappeared.

"Tsk, boring! A death match without anyone dying, what a waste of my time!" Wen Tao, who was watching the show, pouted and pulled the fat man beside him, ready to leave.

"Wait, Bamboo Pole!" Qian Che's small eyes, squeezed into slits by his fat, gleamed mischievously. He shook off Wen Tao's hand, and his mountain-like body, surprisingly agile, shot into the air, plummeting towards Zhang Sheng like a cannonball.

"You fatso, what are you trying to do now?" Wen Tao rubbed his forehead, following with a helpless expression.

Zhang Sheng had just turned to leave when the light before him suddenly dimmed.

A "mountain of flesh" landed steadily in front of him—it was Qian Che.

The layers of fat on his face piled up, almost obscuring his neck. His eyes narrowed into thin slits, and his greasy, plump face was full of "sincere" smiles:

"Brother Zhang Sheng! I am Qian Che, a two-star Qinglan Guard!" He rubbed his chubby hands, his small eyes gleaming with eager light.

"That move of yours just now... that Earth-attribute Spell that could mold the ground like playdough, it's simply divine! I wonder if Brother would be willing to... part with it and teach it?"

As an expert specializing in Earth-attribute Spells, Qian Che coveted Zhang Sheng's "Kun Yuan Dragon Capturing Hand" immensely!

Even the Ten Thousand Treasures Hall didn't have such supreme-grade goods. He bet that this was definitely a second-tier Heaven-Grade treasure Zhang Sheng had obtained from the Civilization Assessment!

Zhang Sheng raised an eyebrow: "Oh? What does Fellow Daoist Qian plan to exchange it for?" For him, it was just a matter of copying a Cultivation Technique Jade Slip.

"Hehe, watch this!" Qian Che's plump hand swept across his storage ring, and a Jade Slip flew out.

The jade was warm and lustrous, imbued with Spiritual Qi, and three ancient characters were clearly carved on its surface—Earth Movement Technique!

"Brother Zhang Sheng, this 'Earth Movement Technique' is my most prized treasure! Second-tier Heaven-Grade. If you cultivate it to the Perfected State, you can comprehend its True Intent!

When you Breakthrough to the Divine Power Realm, hehe..." Qian Che took a step closer, lowering his voice, a tempting allure in his tone.

"Earth Escape Divine Ability, within reach! Can't win? Just burrow and run! It's an absolute life-saving skill!"

He waved his plump hand again, and an empty Jade Slip of similar quality accurately landed in Zhang Sheng's hand:

"Here, I know Brother might not have such good Materials! It's a gift!"

Zhang Sheng didn't waste words. He tapped the blank Jade Slip with his fingertip, Mental Energy surging, and instantly imprinted the complete Cultivation Technique information of the "Kun Yuan Dragon Capturing Hand" into it, then handed it to Qian Che.

Qian Che snatched it, his plump face trembling with excitement, and nearly drooled at the thought of the terrifying power that could crush the earth: "Hahaha! Good brother! So straightforward!"

"Fatty! Done? Can we go kill desolate beasts now?" Wen Tao urged impatiently from the side.

"Let's go, let's go! Brother Zhang Sheng, I won't thank you for this great kindness! Come to my Immortal Cave another day, I'll treat you to a good meal! All you can eat!" Qian Che generously threw a communication jade slip to Zhang Sheng. His corpulent body erupted with a speed unfitting his size, transforming into an earthy-yellow rainbow that shot into the sky, with Wen Tao following closely behind.

The clamor dispersed.

Zhang Sheng returned to his temporary residence, his brows slightly furrowed.

Xiao Xuantian's provocation... was too deliberate.

Even for a spot in the top ten thousand of the fledgling tiger ranking, seeking him out was too much of a coincidence.

However, Xiao Buyu's last remark... it was clearly a Divine Sense message warning Li Meier, yet he deliberately made sure Zhang Sheng "heard" it clearly... what was he implying? Was Xiao Xuantian being manipulated by that woman named Li Meier?

He immediately took out his omniscient jade slip to inquire.

On the fledgling tiger ranking, there was no name "Li Meier."

"She's hiding deep enough..." Zhang Sheng's eyes chilled slightly. "No matter who you are, or what tricks you want to play... I'll be waiting." A hint of vigilance took root in his heart.

However, this conflict yielded far more than expected.

That teleportation pearl, with its faint spatial energy fluctuations—this was a true life-saving trump card!

It was usually a rare item that could only be crafted by Divine Power Realm or even Star God Realm mighty figures who had comprehended spatial teleportation Divine Abilities.

The other ancient Jade Slip... Zhang Sheng held it between his fingertips.

It was cold and heavy to the touch, covered in the marks of time.

He condensed his Divine Sense to probe it—it was like a stone sinking into the sea!

His Divine Sense touched the surface of the Jade Slip, yet it was like hitting an ordinary stubborn rock, unable to stir up even a ripple, let alone penetrate inside.

"Tsk, who knows how many people have handled it, and it remains a mystery." Zhang Sheng pouted, casually tossing it into the depths of his storage ring.

Finally, there was the "Earth Movement Technique" exchanged by Qian Che.

"A Spell specifically for digging holes?" Zhang Sheng caressed the warm Jade Slip, a sharp glint in his eyes.

"But cultivated to a profound level, one can comprehend the Earth Escape Divine Ability... this deal was worth it!" You can never have too many life-saving abilities.

After a brief rest, Zhang Sheng headed straight for the Mission Hall.

The authority of a one-star Qinglan Guard was too low; even looking at good items in the Ten Thousand Treasures Hall was difficult.

merit points! Star promotion! These were the immediate priorities!

Stepping into the grand Mission Hall, the light screen flowed, information cascading like a waterfall:

"Acquiring True Fetus Realm Desolate Beast Cores: 10 merit points/core"

"Acquiring Divine Power Realm Desolate Beast Cores: 1000 merit points/core"

"Acquiring second-tier Talismans (High Grade - supreme-grade): 10-100 merit points/Talisman. Soul-Confusing Talisman (88 merit points), Immobilization Talisman (100 merit points)"

"Selling second-tier Medicinal Pills: High Grade essence pill (50 merit points/pill), supreme-grade essence pill (500 merit points/pill)"

"Acquiring/Selling second-tier Cultivation Technique Jade Slips: 100-300 merit points (limited for regular Spells). Wind-Lightning, Light-Dark attribute Jade Slips (high price, unlimited acquisition)"

...Zhang Sheng's gaze rapidly swept across the light screen, his brain quickly calculating cost-effectiveness.

Desolate Beast Cores, essence pills, Talismans... paths to acquiring merit points became clear in his mind.