Of the three innate races, the Dragon Clan was undoubtedly the wealthiest.
As far as Xuanjian knew, back during the Dragon-Han Tribulation, the Dragon Clan ruled the four seas, the Phoenix Clan commanded the skies, and the Qilin Clan ruled the four continents. Yet relying on their absolute, overwhelming strength, the Dragon Clan had forcefully seized half of the land and skies as well!
Coupled with the boundless four seas, the domain controlled by the Dragon Clan back then had reached an utterly terrifying proportion!
Added to the greedy nature inherent to dragons, they had certainly plundered the resources of Honghuang on a grand scale!
If they had discovered the Money-Shaking Gold Tree, it would not be surprising at all if they had brought it back to the Dragon Palace.
“The Dragon Clan, huh?”
“If it really is in the hands of the Dragon Clan, retrieving the Money-Shaking Gold Tree might be somewhat difficult,” Xuanjian mused to himself.
However, he was not overly concerned. “Still, it shouldn't be a major problem.”
According to Xuanjian's estimates, the strongest cultivator in the current Eastern Sea Dragon Palace was likely just a Daluo Golden Immortal.
Just a Daluo Golden Immortal.
Not a real threat.
With that thought in mind, Xuanjian fully activated his Wind-Thunder Cloud-Treading Boots to push forward.
Two thousand five hundred years later.
Xuanjian arrived at a certain sea domain within the Eastern Sea.
Compared to other places, the concentration of Innate Spiritual Qi in this sea domain was noticeably denser.
Presumably, vast quantities of Innate Spiritual Veins were buried beneath the seabed here!
Xuanjian stood high in the sky, gazing down at the surging blue waters beneath him. He spread his Primordial Spirit power, wanting to inspect the sea floor thoroughly.
However, just as Xuanjian's Primordial Spirit power penetrated into the depths of the ocean, a Primordial Spirit power far stronger than his own intercepted and pushed his Primordial Spirit power back out.
“How audacious!”
“Who dares pry into the territory of my Dragon Clan?”
A terrifying Daluo aura erupted from the seabed.
Xuanjian watched as the space before him trembled, and in the next instant, three golden cracks suddenly ruptured open.
A ten-thousand-zhang golden dragon burst through space, soaring across the cloudy seas of the ninth heaven before descending upon this spot.
The divine and majestic dragon head peered out from the cloud sea, its pair of golden dragon eyes staring tightly down at Xuanjian from on high. Vast dragon aura billowed around its body, which, combined with the Daluo aura, created an immense pressure. A single glance alone could make cultivators below Daluo tremble with dread.
In that split second, Xuanjian felt himself locked on by a qi mechanism.
A Daluo qi mechanism!
“Hmm?”
The golden dragon voiced its doubt. “Just a mere Taiyi?”
“Heh, in the eyes of the outside world, my Dragon Clan truly must have fallen. Even a mere Taiyi dares to pry into our territory with their Primordial Spirit.”
Xuanjian cupped his hands and said politely, “This poor Daoist is Xuanjian, hailing from Mount Zhou. I meant no offense to the Dragon Clan.”
The golden dragon exhaled dragon breath, pondering, “Mount Zhou?”
Inspecting Xuanjian closely and seeing that he bore none of the traits of the Wu tribe, the golden dragon relaxed slightly. “Junior, this is not a place you should come to. Depart immediately, and I can spare your life.”
Today was no longer the era when the Dragon Clan ran rampant across the four seas and four lands of Honghuang.
It was best to avoid inviting trouble whenever possible.
The golden dragon did not know whether this insignificant Taiyi had powerful friends or brothers behind him.
Just to be safe, it was better not to provoke him.
Besides, the Dragon Clan had suffered no loss anyway.
However, what angered the golden dragon was that even after he had let this mere Taiyi off and warned him to leave, the other party not only failed to take his warning seriously, but instead...
Xuanjian said, “Senior, I came to the Eastern Sea to search for an item known as the Money-Shaking Gold Tree. I wonder if it is in the hands of the Dragon Clan? If it is, I wish to ask for it.”
“Heh.”
The golden dragon sneered. “The Money-Shaking Gold Tree you speak of is indeed in the hands of my Dragon Clan. However... this item possesses boundless wondrous uses, far more precious than ordinary Top-Grade Innate Spiritual Treasures, with value comparable to a unique Heavenly Dao treasure. What does a mere Taiyi like you have to offer... Wait!”
Only now did the golden dragon realize that this Taiyi cultivator calling himself Xuanjian did not seem simple at all.
The boots on his feet were a Low-Grade Innate Spiritual Treasure, the robes on his body were a Top-Grade Innate Spiritual Treasure, the item hanging at his waist was a Top-Grade Innate Spiritual Treasure, and even the hairpin securing his hair bun was a Top-Grade Innate Spiritual Treasure?
Three Top-Grade Innate Spiritual Treasures?
Isn't this... a bit too absurdly wealthy?
If these Top-Grade Innate Spiritual Treasures were all companion spiritual treasures born with this cultivator, that would be terrifying beyond belief.
“Senior, I am willing to offer two Top-Grade Innate Spiritual Treasures in exchange,” Xuanjian said.
In Honghuang, everything was governed by the cycle of karma, where retribution never failed.
If he were to forcibly rob the Dragon Clan today, a karmic relation would be forged between him and them. The deeper and greater the entanglement of karma, the more it would hinder his cultivation progress over time and give rise to inner demons!
And when a tribulation arrived... these karmic ties would erupt all at once!
One must never assume a tribulation was a trial for only a single race.
Tribulations were trials for all living beings.
This was precisely why Honghuang cultivators were so fond of entering seclusion at the drop of a hat.
As long as I don't step outside, karma can't catch up to me.
This was also why Xuanjian was willing to offer two Top-Grade Innate Spiritual Treasures in trade with the Dragon Clan.
If he could avoid fighting, he would avoid fighting.
If a matter could be settled through peaceful means, he would settle it peacefully.
“You certainly are generous with your offers.”
The golden dragon was genuinely stunned by Xuanjian's offer.
Although the capabilities of the Money-Shaking Gold Tree were profound and its value rivaled a unique Heavenly Dao treasure, offering two Top-Grade Innate Spiritual Treasures at once...
It was still far too lavish.
Even the Dragon Clan did not possess many Top-Grade Innate Spiritual Treasures.
Xuanjian, however, did not mind.
Generous?
Perhaps.
But whatever he gave away today could all be earned back once he opened his merchant association in the future!
“Are you an Innate Sacred Being?” the golden dragon asked.
Xuanjian nodded. “Indeed.”
“I do not want your Innate Spiritual Treasures. I want a promise from you.”
The golden dragon's response caught Xuanjian off guard.
The golden dragon continued, “I can give you the Money-Shaking Gold Tree. However, in the future, if my Dragon Clan faces a crisis, you must act three times to help us overcome our difficulties.”
The golden dragon was placing a bet.
He was betting that Xuanjian's future achievements would not stop at the Daluo Golden Immortal realm.
If he won this bet, the Dragon Clan would gain a reliable ally in the future.
And if he lost...
Then he, Ao Yin, would simply accept that he had been blind.
Besides, the situation of the Dragon Clan could hardly get any worse than it already was.
For Xuanjian, he would have preferred to trade two Top-Grade Innate Spiritual Treasures with the Dragon Clan.
That way, it would be a clean deal with no lingering ties.
There would be no karma left between them.
However, fulfilling Ao Yin's condition—helping the Dragon Clan overcome crises in the future—would inevitably draw him into karmic entanglements with others.
For a merchant, this was not a very profitable transaction.
Yet seeing the golden dragon's unyielding stance, Xuanjian let out a helpless sigh. “Very well. This poor Daoist agrees to your terms.”
“You kid...”
Ao Yin raised an eyebrow, exasperated. “Getting a unique Heavenly Dao treasure just for promising to lend a hand three times in the future, and you're still looking reluctant?”
Clouds billowed across the sky as golden light radiated ten thousand feet out.
The ten-thousand-zhang dragon body gradually shrank amidst the golden light, eventually transforming into a dignified middle-aged man clad in a golden dragon robe.
“Let us go. This king shall take you to retrieve that treasure,” Ao Yin said, leading the way.
Though helpless, Xuanjian accepted the situation. Taking a small loss was better than losing out on the Money-Shaking Gold Tree, which he could not possibly give up.
“Are you the current Dragon King of the Eastern Sea Dragon Clan?”
“That is correct.”
“Then... do you know Ao Guang?”
“You know my son?”
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