"I wiped out a small Cultivation Clan not long ago and got something good. Let’s see who wants it."

As he spoke, he took out a piece of dark purple Soul Wood, about a foot long, from a sack made of human skin.

The purple Soul Wood churned with a formless, cloud-like mist.

A strange, warm, and serene aura immediately spread out, clearing the minds and refreshing the Divine Souls of all the Demon Cultivators present.

"It’s a Tier Three Soul Nourishing Wood! It can nurture the Divine Soul, resist Heart Demons... It can even help open a Star Mansion and guide a Life Star!"

A knowledgeable Demon Cultivator couldn’t help but exclaim in shock.

Of course, other Demon Cultivators were suspicious, grumbling to themselves that something was fishy.

"Fellow Daoist, why are you trading this item away? You should know that Soul Nourishing Wood is incredibly effective for Cultivators at any stage. Why not keep it for yourself?"

The Beast Skin Demon Cultivator sneered, his voice rough.

"I’m not stupid. This is a Thousand-Year Soul Nourishing Wood. Not only is it miraculously effective, but for a Demon Cultivator trying to establish the strongest possible Star Mansion, it’s an essential item that increases the chances by twenty percent."

"Unfortunately, I cultivate the Blood Evil Demon Body. I intend to open a True Mansion, so I don’t need to worry about Divine Soul cultivation. This thing is useless to me."

"I see."

The Demon Cultivator’s gaze burned with fervor. "I wonder, what kind of Magical Treasure would you like to trade for it, Fellow Daoist?"

The Beast Skin Demon Cultivator said, "I’ll only trade for a treasure that can help me break through my Body Refinement bottleneck. An Earth Fiend Marrow Tempering Pill would be best, or a Body Refining Elixir of equal value, or Demon Beast Essence Blood!"

A few soft gasps immediately echoed through the hall.

The Earth Fiend Marrow Tempering Pill was a genuine Tier Three Body Refining Elixir.

Aside from a Purple Mansion True Demon, not a single Foundation Establishment Demon Cultivator present could successfully refine one.

"Fellow Daoist, it’s true that a Thousand-Year Soul Nourishing Wood can help open a Star Mansion. But since we’re all sitting here, it means none of us have a Dharma Gate for guiding a Life Star. We can only open True Mansions.

"To us, a Tier Three Soul Nourishing Wood may seem precious, but it’s actually of little practical use."

One of the Demon Cultivators said, "Your asking price is too high. How about this: I’ll offer five hundred mid-grade spirit stones for your Soul Nourishing Wood. What do you say?"

One mid-grade spirit stone was equal to one thousand low-grade spirit stones.

In other words, this unassuming piece of Soul Nourishing Wood was worth a full five hundred thousand low-grade spirit stones—the entire Spirit Stone income of the Qixing Royal Family for fifty years!

The Beast Skin Demon Cultivator scoffed. "Spirit Stones? I don’t need that stuff. I want something that will let me break through my bottleneck."

Another voice spoke up. "I have a bottle of Bone-rotting Blood Transformation Pills. It can stimulate the potential of the Flesh Body for a short time."

"While it’s not as good as the Tier Three Earth Fiend Body Refining Pill, it’s still a Tier Two High Grade Pill. Perhaps it could be of use to you, Fellow Daoist?"

"The side effects are too severe. No deal." The Beast Skin Demon Cultivator shook his head.

"How about a bottle of Essence Blood from a Tier Two Top Grade Demon Beast, the Earth Fire Lizard? It’s fiery and violent, perhaps it could be used for body tempering?"

"The properties don’t match. It’s not quite right."

Several more people made offers, but the Demon Cultivator rejected them all.

Seeing that the small exchange meeting was about to end, he grew anxious, a bloody glint flickering in his eyes.

Black Death Zhenren spoke calmly.

"Fellow Daoist, please be patient. While the Soul Nourishing Wood is excellent, the demand for it in our Demon Sect is indeed not high. Only a Demon Monarch Bloodline who can open a Star Mansion would need it. It’s normal to have difficulty trading for your desired item on short notice."

"In ten years, my Black Water Pool will host another small exchange meeting. You are welcome to return then."

"I can’t wait that long! The Blood Centipede Body Devourer... if I don’t break through within three years, all my cultivation will become someone else’s prize."

The Beast Skin Demon Cultivator took a deep breath, the bloody light in his eyes intensifying and his expression turning ferocious.

The centipede-shaped scar on his arm seemed to squirm, as if a real blood-colored centipede was hidden beneath his flesh and blood!

"Fine, the Earth Fire Lizard it is. It’s better than nothing."

Just as the Beast Skin Demon Cultivator was about to settle for second best and accept the offer for the Earth Fire Lizard, Qin Xuan finally spoke.

The Beast Skin Demon Cultivator’s eyes lit up at the sight.

"Do you have an Earth Fiend Body Tempering Pill, Fellow Daoist?"

"No." Qin Xuan shook his head.

His voice, altered by his cloak, was low and hoarse.

The Beast Skin Demon Cultivator was greatly disappointed.

But then Qin Xuan’s tone shifted as he continued, "However, I have something that might be of great help to your Blood Evil Body."

Qin Xuan took out a Small Ink Jade Bottle. A complex Sealing Talisman was pasted over its mouth.

Even so, wisps of an extremely pure and violent Qi and Blood Power seeped out, causing the skin sack at the Beast Skin Demon Cultivator’s waist to tremble violently.

"This is the refined essence of a juvenile Tier Four Demon Beast, the Black-Horned Ink Flood Dragon. It has been purified with a Secret Technique, removing its violent nature and preserving its essence.

"Its effect is several times more potent than an Earth Fiend Marrow Tempering Pill. If you can withstand it, its benefit for a Body Refinement breakthrough surpasses that of any pill."

Qin Xuan said calmly, "It’s more than enough to trade for the Soul Nourishing Wood in your hands."

"Refined essence from a Tier Four Demon Beast?!"

The Beast Skin Demon Cultivator shot to his feet, a terrifying light erupting in his eyes. He stared intently at the Small Ink Jade Bottle, his breathing growing heavier.

A Tier Four Demon Beast was equivalent to a Golden Core Cultivator; its bloodline essence was incomparably precious.

Especially since it had been refined, its value was even harder to estimate.

For a Body Refinement Demon Cultivator like him, the temptation was unparalleled.

A few low gasps also came from the surroundings. The gazes directed at Qin Xuan were filled with shock, as they clearly hadn’t expected someone to produce such an incredible item.

Qin Xuan shook his head, emphasizing the word ’juvenile’.

"It’s not from a full-fledged Tier Four Demon Beast, but from a juvenile. It only had Foundation Establishment Cultivation, not yet Golden Core. See if you’re still willing to trade."

The Beast Skin Demon Cultivator fell into deep thought.

The Female Cultivator who practiced a Charm Skill cooed, "Fellow Daoist, this Tier Four Demon Beast’s Essence Blood would indeed be precious if it were from an adult, but it’s only a juvenile with the actual cultivation of a Foundation Establishment. It’s not valuable enough for the Soul Nourishing Wood. I am willing to offer..."

"I’ll trade!"

Before she could finish, the Beast Skin Demon Cultivator roared, afraid that Qin Xuan would go back on his word. He shoved the Soul Nourishing Wood forward and simultaneously reached for the Small Ink Jade Bottle with his large hand.

Qin Xuan carefully scanned the Soul Nourishing Wood with his Divine Sense, confirming its age and quality were correct and that there were no hidden tricks. Only then did he hand over the ink jade bottle.

The two quickly completed the exchange.

The Beast Skin Demon Cultivator impatiently peeled back a corner of the Talisman to sense the aura within the bottle. His face instantly filled with ecstasy, and he burst out laughing.

"Excellent! Excellent! Excellent! Thank you, Fellow Daoist!"

With that, he stood up directly, cupped his fist towards Black Death Zhenren, and said, "Master Huang, I am in a hurry to return to seclusion. I’ll be taking my leave!"

The Beast Skin Demon Cultivator, who called himself Jiang, was unwilling to stay even a moment longer.

Black Death Zhenren nodded slightly.

Qin Xuan placed the Thousand-Year Soul Nourishing Wood into a prepared jade box and affixed several Restriction Talismans to it. A great weight was finally lifted from his heart.

’Now that I have the Thousand-Year Soul Nourishing Wood, the next step is to refine pills and Spiritual Liquid!’

Qin Xuan said no more and continued to sit quietly.

He acted as if he had just completed a trivial transaction, but in reality, most of his attention was on his newly acquired treasure, and he remained wary of the hidden gazes from his surroundings.

The small meeting continued, and several more Magical Treasures, shimmering with grim demonic light, appeared, but none of them piqued Qin Xuan’s interest.

As soon as the meeting ended, Qin Xuan immediately fled into the distance.

...

’They’re actually true to their word. Not a single person tracked or ambushed me on the way here?’

Slightly disappointed, Qin Xuan quietly withdrew the several killing moves he had prepared up his sleeve.

A few of those killing moves had been specifically designed with Black Death Zhenren, a True Mansion Second Level expert, as the hypothetical enemy.

Unfortunately, he didn’t get to use them.

After circling the Holy Sect’s territory seven or eight times, changing his identity five or six times, and waiting for twenty to thirty days to confirm he wasn’t being followed, Qin Xuan finally returned.

Upon returning to Heart Rot Valley, he immediately took out the Thousand-Year Soul Nourishing Wood and the Eight Desolates Forging Fire Furnace.

"Senior Desolate Furnace, may I ask what wondrous use this Earth Vein Spiritual Qi has in forging a Dao Golden Core?"

This time, Qin Xuan was much more respectful of the rules than before.

Cyan smoke curled up, and the Spirit Body of a Cyan-robed Little Daoist Child with his hair in a Daoist topknot emerged from the Furnace Cauldron.

The Cyan-robed Little Daoist Child was very satisfied with Qin Xuan’s attitude.

"You’re only at Foundation Establishment. How could you know that the Earth Vein is beneficial for the Golden Core?"

The Cyan-robed Little Daoist Child asked curiously.

"I learned of it by a fortunate coincidence. I ask for Senior’s guidance." 𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

Qin Xuan asked with genuine humility.

"It’s simple. A Golden Core True Monarch needs a Blessed Land to support them, and this Blessed Land is transformed from the Purple Mansion."

"You must understand that a Blessed Land elevated from a Purple Mansion is a small world in itself. And since it is a small world, it can evolve mountains, rivers, plants, and living beings."

"And the Earth Vein Spiritual Qi of the Circulation Realm is a crucial component in forming a Golden Core Blessed Land!"

The Cyan-robed Little Daoist Child put on an adult-like air, shaking his head as he spoke with great authority.

Qin Xuan’s eyes widened, his mind reeling in shock. His understanding of the world had been completely overturned.

’A Golden Core True Monarch can actually create a small world inside their own body!’

He had always thought that a Golden Core Blessed Land was a fragment of an Outer World Celestial Realm, similar to a Spatial Treasure like the Black Flood Dragon’s Reverse Scale. Now, it seemed he was completely and utterly wrong.