Elder Wu returned the six-star bone fragment, now devoid of starlight, to Jian Xiaolou. "Many thanks, many thanks."
Jian Xiaolou probed cautiously, "Have you obtained the opportunity to ascend?"
Elder Wu could hardly contain his joy. "The immortal has pointed the way for me."
"An immortal..." Jian Xiaolou hesitated for a moment, suppressing a chuckle. It seemed the Prophets Tribe was not as insightful as they claimed. They truly believed that beyond the Crimson Sky lay the Immortal Realm.
Following the "immortal's" instructions, Elder Wu went to the destroyed immortal stele, dug three feet into the ground, and unearthed a jade box.
Beaming, he announced his retreat into seclusion and instructed the Shenmu Tribe to host a grand banquet for Jian Xiaolou.
Though puzzled by the command, the Shenmu Tribe unconditionally obeyed their High Priest. He declared her an honored guest, and so she was. After all, it was also the High Priest who had decreed the Shenmu Tribe to guard the immortal stele.
From a prisoner to a VIP, Jian Xiaolou deeply felt the extremes of fortune. Li Jianzhao, sharing her newly gained privilege, sat beside her at the feast, looking perplexed. "What exactly did you give that dwarf elder?"
Jian Xiaolou shook her head, equally curious.
Yet, for two days and two nights, the banquet offered no opportunity to contact Ye You.
Li Jianzhao didn't press further. He half-heartedly picked at the brightly colored fruits, finding none to his liking, and grimaced at the Shenmu people dancing around the Spirit Gathering Tree.
Distracted, Jian Xiaolou's divine sense repeatedly reached out, hoping Ye You would soon find her, as he knew she was at the stele.
Instead, her divine sense detected two guests escorted into the hall—two princes of the Demon Kingdom, accompanied by two Nascent Soul demon cultivators.
Mingxiu stepped forward to greet Xie Xing.
Xie Canghai's face darkened instantly. He rose abruptly, smashing his cup. "Who allowed you in here!"
The question was directed at Mingxiu, though his eyes were fixed on Xie Xing.
Xie Xing rebuked, "They aided you at the Eastern Sea, and this is how you treat your benefactors?"
Xie Canghai was about to retort when Liuli tugged at his sleeve, shaking her head.
Xie Yinzhu shot him meaningful glances: Father, show some decorum. Guests are watching.
Xie Canghai grudgingly sat down.
After exchanging pleasantries, Mingxiu pulled a storage ring from his sleeve. "Patriarch Xie, we've come at my father's behest to request a treasure from you."
Xie Xing, accustomed to such dealings, took the ring without hesitation.
Inside were an array of cultivation resources from the Central Heaven Domain.
Jian Xiaolou noticed the Shenmu people remained composed. She surmised that bartering was a common practice here—a necessity given their confinement to the Sighing Forest. Though they lacked spiritual energy, they required cultivation resources.
Finding Mingxiu's verbosity tiresome, Maodian cut straight to the point. "We seek the King of Longevity Fruits."
The hall erupted in murmurs.
Jian Xiaolou whispered to Huaiyou, "What is the King of Longevity Fruits?"
"A regular Longevity Fruit grants fifty years of lifespan, but one can only consume it once. However, the Shenmu people, due to their unique constitution, can continue consuming them, accumulating up to a thousand years of life. Occasionally, a mutated fruit—the King of Longevity Fruits—will appear, bestowing five hundred years, even on those who've already consumed regular fruits."
For Huaiyou, who had lived for over ten thousand years, Longevity Fruits held no allure. He spoke indifferently, "These mutated fruits are exceedingly rare."
Jian Xiaolou's eyes lit up. She immediately thought of Bai Lixi, who had only seventy years of lifespan left.
Still, with the Bai Clan's wealth, it seemed improbable that they couldn't procure such a fruit.
Sure enough, Xie Xing refused outright. "We have very few of these fruits reserved for emergencies. We won't trade them."
He returned the storage ring.
To her surprise, Mingxiu accepted it calmly, then retrieved a jade box from his sleeve. "If these items are insufficient, perhaps this might suffice?"
Xie Xing didn't even glance at it. "No treasure will persuade me. Your Highnesses should—"
But when Mingxiu opened the box, Xie Xing's eyes widened, his words trailing off.
Sitting to Xie Xing's right, Jian Xiaolou caught sight of its contents: ten six-pointed star crystals and twenty-two five-pointed star crystals.
Even a sliver of star crystal from Suhe's fingers was deemed priceless. According to Shanglu, they were opportunities money couldn't buy.
She scrutinized Xie Xing's expression, curious if he would be swayed.
After a pause, Xie Xing furrowed his brow. "Such a bounty of star crystals—has the Demon Emperor breached Phoenix Palace again?"
Mingxiu nodded slightly, sighing. "The Northern Kingdom is in its icebound season, and the sea of fire has weakened. This venture yielded great rewards, but the losses were severe. Even my father suffered fire poison; otherwise, he would have come personally."
Xie Xing touched the crystals, contemplating. "Are you certain you wish to trade?"
"Yes."
Clearly, star crystals held immense influence. Jian Xiaolou quickly asked, "Patriarch Xie, can star crystals... these star crystals, be exchanged for the King of Longevity Fruits? If so, may I purchase one?"
Both Mingxiu and Xie Xing were startled.
One of the Nascent Soul demon cultivators sneered, "Little girl, do you even know what these treasures are?"
To obtain these crystals, the demon clan had lost countless elites.
Jian Xiaolou feigned ignorance. "I don't know what they are, but my master gave me some. I'm willing to trade all of them for the fruit."
The Nascent Soul cultivator sneered again. "Your master..."
Li Jianzhao interjected, "Don't look down on her. Her master is Zen Spirit Child!"
The demon cultivators were visibly taken aback, and Xie Xing, who had clearly heard of Zen Spirit Child, asked, "Miss Jian, at such a young age, why would you need the King of Longevity Fruits?"
Jian Xiaolou couldn't reveal Bai Lixi's situation. "A friend of mine is nearing the end of their lifespan. I wish to gift it to them."
Xie Xing hesitated. "But our clan only has one..."
Xie Yinzhu blinked in confusion. Wasn't there three?
Mingxiu turned to Jian Xiaolou. "Miss Jian, my second uncle has less than thirty years to live due to severe injuries sustained in Phoenix Palace. He urgently needs this fruit to extend his life. Could you consider yielding?"
Thirty years. Bai Lixi had seventy. Jian Xiaolou asked, "Patriarch Xie, when will the next King of Longevity Fruits appear?"
"It's uncertain—perhaps a century, perhaps a millennium."
In other words, no guarantees. Jian Xiaolou deliberated. Bai Lixi claimed she could form her Nascent Soul within seventy years, which would extend her lifespan. But what if something went wrong with her body?
Although Mingxiu had aided them, Jian Xiaolou resolved to prioritize her own needs.
Xie Xing interjected, "Since both parties desire the fruit, let's follow Crimson Sky's rule: it goes to the highest bidder."
Jian Xiaolou glanced at him skeptically. Was there really only one fruit?
Mingxiu clearly shared her doubts but didn't dare risk it. He handed the storage ring back to Jian Xiaolou. "Miss Jian, if you withdraw, this is yours."
Jian Xiaolou shook her head. "Apologies, but I also need this fruit."
"Then, how much will you bid?" Xie Xing asked.
Jian Xiaolou had no money but trusted Suhe's resources. Gritting her teeth, she said, "I'll bid double."
The escalating bidding war intensified, with Jian Xiaolou unwavering in her resolve to outbid Mingxiu, no matter the cost—future debt or personal sacrifice.
Jian Xiaolou knew she had made an enemy of Mingxiu, but for her, some people were worth any cost.