Huh? Isn't this an adventure kingdom building game?!-Chapter 662 - 653: Let’s Lay Everything on the Table

However, the "NPC" identities triggering the side missions are becoming increasingly high-end, and their levels are getting higher, thus the new knowledge encountered is also becoming more interesting.

Plus, the system never plays around when it comes to rewards, so although Jiang Yuan complains, he actually enjoys doing side missions.

"Since there's no medicinal herbs, then..." He took out another bottle of Longevity Pills from his Storage Bag. The two people across from him raised their eyebrows, but said nothing.

Jiang Yuan took out two more Nine Netherworld Peaches and said with a smile, "Can these together be exchanged for the 'Ghost Immortal Scripture'?"

For the first time in his life, Qu Luming felt such a headache. He couldn't care less about his image and rubbed his face hard in frustration, "Senior Yuan, the 'Ghost Immortal Scripture' is the only true skill authorized to be cultivated by the Ghost Messengers acting on behalf of the Netherworld Fengdu; it's a solid Heavenly Level Cultivation Technique!

If Daoist Jiang can somehow gather a lifespan of five thousand years, in the spirit of showing sincerity of atonement, I shall offer it at a low price, how does that sound?"

"Five thousand years of lifespan? I think it's doable, but I'm not sure how Daoist Jiang feels about it?" Yuan Man thought, considering he wouldn't suffer a loss.

With the support of a five-thousand-year lifespan, perhaps there really is a way to find the method to replenish Life Origin, and by then, one might scale the peak of Immortality again!

Jiang Yuan immediately felt it wasn't worth it and hesitated, saying, "Currently, all my Elixirs and Nine Netherworld Peaches combined aren't even three thousand years of lifespan, where can I come up with five thousand? Besides, this cultivation technique, which is crucial for Ghost Cultivators, is of no great use to me, I don't think it's worth it."

Qu Luming: ...

This is such a headache! This way it doesn't work, that way doesn't either. Either you're not satisfied or she's not satisfied, what exactly do you want me to do?

Damn it, I'll have to settle the score with his main body later! Stuck with such a foolish main body, it's like I have blackened luck for eight generations!

"Five thousand years of lifespan, not a year less." He gritted his teeth and decided fiercely, "Besides the 'Ghost Immortal Scripture', I'll also disclose the secrets related to Life Origin to you, which is an absolute secret of heaven and earth. Plus, I've experienced it myself, so what I'm saying is not speculation but the solid truth. According to my instructions..."

He paused slightly, instinctively glancing at the door, afraid someone might eavesdrop, and lowered his voice a few notches, "If you follow my instructions, Daoist, even if one day you're unfortunate enough to die, your path won't end. You can completely, like me, rise again in the Netherworld as a Ghost Cultivator!"

Upon hearing this, Yuan Man's eyes lit up, "Well, it must be related to surplus Life Origin. After all, as a Demon Cultivator, Du Li's cultivated avatars will surely be the same kind of Demon Cultivators, and now you're a Ghost Cultivator, it must have something to do with forcibly seizing my good fortune back then."

"That's right, but I think you, Senior, wouldn't know the specifics of how to handle it, right?" Qu Luming also decided to go all out, without fear of offending the other party, openly saying, "I dare say it's a supreme secret of heaven and earth, because thus far at least I know I'm the only successful one.

Actually, originally Du Li snatched Senior's good fortune to seek benefits for himself. Later, by a stroke of fate, it turned me from a Demon Cultivator into a Ghost Cultivator, and only I and my main body know this secret.

Daoist Jiang makes a good point; you're currently a Human Race Cultivator and have no use for the 'Ghost Immortal Scripture', but if I disclose this secret along with it, this Heavenly Level Cultivation Technique would be your best back-up route—just have a bit of extra Life Origin, and when you die, you won't fear the end of your path. Just right to cultivate the orthodox Heavenly Level Technique; perhaps in the future, you'll ascend to become a Ghost Immortal."

For any Cultivator, the pursuit is undoubtedly to chase the grand Dao and ascend to immortality, willing to try even the most remote chances for it. Thus, Qu Luming felt this temptation was surely enough!

"Hmm, I indeed know only part of it and not all." Yuan Man saw no need to pretend to maintain so-called prestige, it's normal for a Great Demon in the Tribulation Crossing Realm to be unaware of some secrets, nodding, "If this method is truly obtained, perhaps in the future I die without the path disappearing, you'd have compensated your main body."

He chuckled helplessly, "Senior knows the weight of this secret, although I'm just an avatar taking the blame for the main body, strictly speaking, Du Li's actions truly have nothing to do with me.

Given the situation, let's just speak openly, Du Li schemingly ambushed you, Senior, will inevitably receive heavenly retribution!

Achieving even today's accomplishments wasn't easy for me. Having died once as a Demon Cultivator under Du Li, now transformed into a Ghost Cultivator, I don't want all my cultivation to go down the drain again.

I use the 'Ghost Immortal Scripture' and the method to use Life Origin to exchange for Daoist Jiang's five thousand years of lifespan Elixir for you, Senior, to make up for part of your loss; simultaneously revealing this secret to you, Senior, to change your opinion, so please let this matter go, Senior, I also need to find a way to live."

What he said was sincere, causing Yuan Man to feel a hint of guilt immediately.

Yes, after all, what the main body did has nothing to do with an avatar? But the vigorous vitality within him at this moment originally belonged to her; just thinking about it was deeply frustrating.

Jiang Yuan was secretly calculating, as long as he agrees to this transaction, he can get the first reward for the new side mission, the problem is how to make up the remaining three thousand years of lifespan?

If he practices Alchemy to refine Longevity Pills, he has the main medicine, the Centenarian Fruit, but he lacks enough auxiliary medicines;

To ripen the Nine Netherworld Peaches, it needs four hundred years to bloom, four hundred years to fruit, and four hundred years to mature, totaling twelve Acceleration Cards to use, and it's uncertain how many fruits will be produced, possibly still unable to gather enough…

It seems further bargaining is necessary.

"What Daoist Qu says is indeed reasonable, but both the 'Ghost Immortal Scripture' and the specific usage of Life Origin are meant as fallback plans for unfortunate situations. Moreover, I think success requires extra Life Origin besides one's own, which makes the threshold very high."

Jiang Yuan, contemplating bargaining theories he had read online, first pointed out the weaknesses of the other party's "wares," setting up for negotiations, "But how easy is it to seek extra Life Origin?

I certainly can't also resort to forceful seizure, can I? That would go against the true essence of cultivation. I consider myself a righteous cultivator and would never rob others of their fortune for personal gain. Therefore, even knowing the method will probably be useless."

Yuan Man nodded in agreement, understanding that no decent person would rob others of their vital essence.

It is indeed impossible for any cultivator to easily part with their Life Origin, so even knowing the method without a corrupt mindset is futile.

"However..." Seeing the other party's gloomy expression, Jiang Yuan shifted his tone and continued, "Meeting by chance is still fate. I too wish to facilitate this transaction but lack the resources for refining Longevity Pills."

If I propose two conditions and you both can agree, we three can all make concessions, and this matter will be settled. How about that?"

Yuan Man wanted five thousand years of lifespan; Qu Luming wanted to rid himself of this mess quickly to plan for the future. Both immediately signaled him to present his conditions.

"The first point naturally concerns the materials for refining Longevity Pills. I know City Lord Yuan honors her word, and currently, Cloud City's underground caves indeed face shortages. How about this, I first give you two thousand years of lifespan; meanwhile, I assist Miss Hu Jiu in identifying the moles and rats in the underground caves.

Once material production returns to normal, you can allocate ten Spirit Medicines from time to time, and I will refine the remaining pills needed for three thousand years of lifespan for the City Lord. How about that?"

The conditions proposed by Jiang Yuan had room for negotiation, and he also promised to help the little Fox Demon in investigating traitors. Yuan Man, having limited reach and urgently needing lifespan, would no longer be bound by time with these two thousand years.

With time and energy to manage the underground caves, she believed it wouldn't take long to restore their former glory, at which point sparing some materials would not be difficult.

After considering the feasibility, Yuan Man nodded in agreement, "That works too, but we must wait for the recovery of material production from the underground caves. As long as the supply meets the demand, the rest can be used for Daoist's alchemy. But as for the price..."

She calculated clearly, knowing that the five thousand years of lifespan were exchanged for the 'Ghost Immortal Scripture' and Life Origin secrets, so materials needed for alchemy must naturally be paid for.

"We can pay according to market prices, but we should have a gentleman's agreement that if there are extra Spirit Medicines, I get the priority to purchase them, okay?" This was the first time Jiang Yuan was haggling with a powerful figure, and nobody wants to lose even a bit, all aiming for maximum advantage.

Yuan Man agreed, "Of course, but I ask Daoist to keep the underground caves matter confidential, or else the entire Wilderness World might collapse, which would be troublesome."

Jiang Yuan agreed, turning to Qu Luming, "The second condition, I also want that Clear Dew Pill from Daoist Qu. Incidentally, I'd also like to know its origin, as detailed as possible."

Last time "The Top Brother" Du Yiyun urgently sought help, he aided him through the crisis under the name of the Demon God.

Qu Luming, who was investigating Demon Cultivators, did not recognize him and even gifted two Third Grade Clear Dew Pills due to the other's 'origin'. Since Du Yiyun, being a Demon Cultivator, didn't need the Demon Cultivator's pills and deemed the Third Grade pills precious, he used them for offering, which eventually ended up in Jiang Yuan's hands.

The system identified extremely rare Lucky Red Cherry Blossoms mixed within, which added a luck bonus to the otherwise ordinary Clear Dew Pill.

He wanted to know where the Lucky Red Cherry Blossoms were mixed in, hoping to find and cultivate one, thereby enabling him to refine luck-enhanced pills or one-time items.

Jiang Yuan had been looking for a chance to inquire with Qu Luming but didn't know how to start.

Fortunately, at today's meeting to discuss transactions, among the dazzling array of treasures pulled out from the storage bag was a Clear Dew Pill, wasn't that timely?

"The origin of the pill..." Qu Luming was taken aback by the question, then realized it was normal for an Alchemist to be interested in pills, perhaps seeking the pill formula.

Many Alchemists are known to have a hobby of collecting pill formulas, whether they are useful or not, as it's considered a unique asset to acquire one whenever possible.

"This pill was actually given to me by Du Li." He handed over the Third Grade Clear Dew Pill with both hands and replied after thinking carefully, "Alchemists are scarce in the Wilderness World, and if you need alchemy, you have to invite Alchemists from other worlds. The Demon Realm Alliance intentionally invited several times, among them a Sixth Grade Alchemist, if I'm not mistaken, named Yao Wuchen.

He seems to be from the Zi Yao Star, a world said to be governed by Human Race cultivators. If Daoist Jiang is interested, next time there's news about inviting Alchemists or ordering pills, I can take you to meet the person."

Compared to Heavenly Level techniques and the secrets of Life Origin, a Third Grade pill that could be casually gifted was purely an extra, and Qu Luming was quite willing to leave a lead for continued contact; this Daoist, whose origin was untraceable and even absent from the Book of Life and Death, was truly fascinating!