Hu Yao was stunned. Directly trading with Spirit Stones?
Would this not be too humiliating for the senior?
But besides Spirit Stones, what else could they offer?
Murong Lang was overjoyed; it was wonderful to be able to continue receiving guidance.
Yet, he raised another question, "Senior, how many Spirit Stones do you think would be appropriate?"
Hu Yao also looked toward Chen Qing, clearly very concerned about this issue.
Chen Qing crossed his arms and smiled, "Any amount is fine; you all can discuss it among yourselves."
Murong Lang had an epiphany; surely, the senior didn't care about their Spirit Stones at all!
Senior Taichu was simply making things convenient for them!
Hu Yao was equally excited. What did 'any amount' mean?
It meant that Senior Taichu truly didn't care how many Spirit Stones they could offer!
Just when she thought her cultivation journey would be smooth sailing from now on, she remembered something else.
Senior Taichu might not care how many Spirit Stones they offered, but what he probably cared about was their sincerity.
Her gaze fell on Murong Lang, clearly wanting to know what sort of price he would suggest.
Murong Lang had no intention of speaking; his mind was racing with intense thought.
How much would be appropriate?
Senior Taichu didn't care about the amount, what he cared about was their sincerity.
In the end, he remained silent, anticipating a price proposal from Hu Yao.
If Hu Yao's suggested price angered the senior, he would hastily remedy the situation.
Hu Yao felt as though she was sweating bullets. Tentatively, she asked, "Would one-eighth be acceptable?"
Murong Lang quickly glanced at Chen Qing, ready to intervene at any sign of displeasure from the senior.
Seeing no reaction from Chen Qing, Hu Yao hurriedly added, "That is, we would offer you one-eighth of the Spirit Stones typically needed for a Bug to advance one stage!"
Chen Qing understood Hu Yao's meaning. Generally speaking, after cultivating Bugs for so long in this world of cultivation, there was an approximate price in Spirit Stones for each type of Bug to advance a stage.
Take Hu Yao's Power Bug, for example; it typically requires around ten thousand lower grade Spirit Stones for a transformation, possibly more or less than that amount.
According to Hu Yao's intention, she would offer Chen Qing one thousand two hundred and fifty lower grade Spirit Stones, and then Chen Qing would impart guidance to her.
This price, Chen Qing could accept.
But to ensure their growth, so they could earn more Spirit Stones, he had to appear as though he didn't need Spirit Stones too much.
Thinking this, Chen Qing nonchalantly suggested, "One-tenth."
Murong Lang's folding fan dropped to the ground. Although the difference between ten and eight was not large, for them, it equated to eightfold versus tenfold growth compared to ordinary people!
Think about it, ordinary people would need to spend ten thousand Spirit Stones for their Bugs to advance, but they would only need to pay one-tenth of the cost!
That's merely a thousand Spirit Stones!
What kind of concept was this?
Senior Taichu truly did not care about Spirit Stones at all; this was just an excuse for him to help them.
At that moment, Murong Lang, afraid that Hu Yao's inexperience might raise the bid and offend Chen Qing, quickly said, "Senior, my Thunder Butterfly needs roughly two hundred Spirit Stones to advance from the Fourth to the Fifth Transformation. I am willing to offer twenty Spirit Stones for your guidance!"
Chen Qing's heart pounded furiously.
After all my efforts at feigning indifference, you offer just twenty Spirit Stones, tossing alms to a beggar?
But upon seeing those twenty Spirit Stones, his emotions instantly settled down.
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That was twenty medium-grade Spirit Stones!
One medium-grade Spirit Stone could be exchanged for one hundred low-grade Spirit Stones, that is, two thousand low-grade Spirit Stones!
No wonder they said that day a sword bug costs one hundred and sixty Spirit Stones, it turns out that at the scholar's place, transactions are usually done with medium-grade Spirit Stones!
Struck rich!
Struck rich!
This time it's a real windfall!
Murong Lang reverently held the twenty medium-grade Spirit Stones in front of Chen Qing, Chen Qing did not even glance at them and opened his mouth to say, "Thunder Cloud Mother Qi."
Murong Lang bowed with hands held before him, "Thank you, Senior Xie, for the guidance!"
Seeing that Murong Lang had received the guidance, Hu Yao no longer waited, took out ten medium-grade Spirit Stones, and placed them in front of Chen Qing with both hands, "Please grant your guidance, Senior."
Chen Qing indifferently replied, "Foundation Establishment tiger demon teeth."
Hu Yao giggled, "Thank you, Senior."
Foundation Establishment tiger demon teeth might be hard to come by for others, but for Hu Yao, wasn't that a piece of cake?
Just go back and ask dear daddy if his teeth hurt.
With the transactions completed, no one knew quite what to say for a moment, until Chen Qing suggested, "You may start to exchange information now."
Only then did Hu Yao remember there was still a deal she had not made, "About the sword bug matter, it might have to wait for some time, I must find an opportunity."
Murong Lang nodded. At this moment, obtaining the sword bug was no longer an urgent matter for him; being able to attend this gathering was what he considered most important.
"Don't rush; consolidate yourself for a while. Don't take risks."
Seeing that Murong Lang was not in a hurry, Hu Yao also felt relieved.
Once Senior Taichu joined this gathering, everyone participating would change.
She must seize this opportunity!
Murong Lang also consulted about the application of the sword bug, and Hu Yao provided some simple answers.
"The use of the sword bug still requires the sword scripture as guidance."
"The sword bug needs to be paired with special swordsmanship."
"If there's no corresponding swordsmanship, its power will be greatly reduced."
"However, such things are not easily obtained; they are the closely-guarded secrets of a sect."
It was the first time Chen Qing had heard about the sword scripture, supposedly the Wuyou Mountain held a copy, in the hands of the Mountain Master.
Apart from gaining the Mountain Master's approval, there was no other way to learn it.
The two conversed a little while longer, and seeing that there was nothing more to say, Chen Qing said, "Then today's gathering is concluded."
Murong Lang and Hu Yao stood up and respectfully said, "We look forward to meeting with you again."
Hu Yao reached up to remove the mask from her face; the smell of squirrels in the tree hollow always made her hungry.
But in the end, she did not go and catch a few squirrels to roast and eat; their meat was too scant.
She decided to go catch some big, fat moles to fill her stomach.
In the Thunder Land, Murong Lang removed the mask from his face, stepped out of the quiet room, and looked at the child waiting outside the door, "Have you heard the legend of Taichu?"
The child was puzzled, "Sir, what is Taichu?"
Murong Lang smiled and shook his head, reached out to ruffle the child's hair, turned, and left, softly saying to himself, "In time, you will hear."
Moments later, he slapped his forehead, "Damn, got too excited before, forgot to confirm a time with Senior Taichu!"
"Next time I go, I must bring it up with Senior."
As for Red Lotus, he harbored no expectations; that girl looked blunt and straightforward, a bit slow on the uptake.
Meanwhile, the original host of this gathering, the leader of the Jiguang Cult branch that Murong Lang and Hu Yao spoke of, was battling the tempestuous storm.
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