Eternal Tale

Chapter 296: Transaction Completed

“Moo!!”

“Roar!!”

Brother Ox and Xiao Chi froze, their anger instantly turning into shock. Their insults, poised to erupt, were stuck in their throats as they realized their elder brother had arrived.

“Seriously? I’ve already finished the deal, and you two are still wandering around?” Chen Xun scolded, sounding mildly irritated. “Everyone else has a whole group with them, and here I am, alone—makes me seem less intimidating. Let’s go.”

“Moo~~”

“Brother Chen, already? Ox Bro and I were just about to head up.”

“Moo moo~~”

“Next time, we all go together,” Chen Xun grumbled, glancing back at them. “You two stand behind me, glaring at everyone. Let’s look more imposing!”

“Moo moo!” Brother Ox perked up. He was good at that. He gave Chen Xun a confident nudge, his eyes saying, "Leave it to me!"

“No problem, Brother Chen. If anyone dares act up, I’ll bark at them like a dog!” Xiao Chi puffed up his chest, showing off, trying to assure his brother that next time they'd fully back him up.

“Haha, good!” Chen Xun laughed, wrapping his arm around Brother Ox’s head as they strolled down the street. He was in a lighthearted mood. “You know how many spirit stones I spent?”

“Moo?!”

“How many, Brother Chen?” Both of them looked confused, especially Xiao Chi, who had just watched Brother Ox calculate the cost earlier. They'd only spent a thousand low-grade spirit stones.

Walking along the busy street, Chen Xun leaned in mysteriously and raised five fingers.

“Moo?”

“Fifty thousand low-grade spirit stones?”

“Guess again. Think bigger.”

“Moo moo!”

“Five hundred thousand low-grade spirit stones?”

“Heh, not even close,” Chen Xun said, suddenly raising his voice. “I spent five million mid-grade spirit stones in a single deal!”

The mental message vibrated through their minds, leaving Brother Ox and Xiao Chi in shock, their eyes nearly rolling back as their jaws dropped. For a moment, they were too stunned to speak, their pupils trembling with disbelief.

Could Brother Chen really be this bold and extravagant?

Chen Xun couldn’t hold back his laughter at their expressions, feeling a wave of satisfaction after pulling off such an impressive exaggeration.

Still dazed from the news, Brother Ox and Xiao Chi followed him as they slipped into the crowd and headed back to their old talisman shop.

Three months later.

Chen Xun’s transmission jade slip finally activated. With Brother Ox on his left and Xiao Chi on his right, they stood tall and formidable, ready to handle another deal.

Chen Xun's gaze sharpened as he headed out.

At an estate on the outskirts, layered with numerous restrictions, a middle-aged man sat calmly. Around him stood over a hundred cultivators, with even more guards hidden in the shadows. Behind him was Yun Zheng, her veil obscuring her face.

Outside, a faint breeze carried dust along the ground.

Three figures appeared on the horizon, causing everyone’s hearts to skip a beat.

A young man approached with a gentle smile, his movements so graceful it seemed as if he had merged with nature itself. His steps left phantom trails in the air, giving him an ethereal presence.

Behind him were two towering spirit beasts, their aura overwhelming, both standing on two legs with their arms crossed—posing like bodyguards. However, their gray, mismatched outfits gave them a somewhat comical appearance.

“Welcome, esteemed Daoist,” the middle-aged man rose, his expression unreadable. “The materials have been prepared.”

Chen Xun stopped, his gaze sweeping over the courtyard. In that moment, an invisible pressure enveloped the entire area, making everyone feel as though they were being closely watched—even the cultivators hidden in the shadows.

Several of them furrowed their brows, feeling uneasy. This young man was no ordinary person.

Suddenly, the air rippled, and three figures appeared in the courtyard, standing right in front of the middle-aged man like dark shadows falling over the area.

“Moo~~”

Brother Ox shifted his massive frame, surveying the surroundings and snorting out hot air. He couldn’t help but notice the sheer number of Nascent Soul cultivators present.

Xiao Chi's eyes glinted with fiery light as his body grew even larger than Brother Ox’s. His aura surged, ready to assert dominance and support Brother Chen.

In the meantime, Xiao Chi's sly gaze flitted around, trying to pick out the weakest human cultivator to intimidate.

The tension in the courtyard spiked, and many hearts raced as they realized just how quickly these three had arrived.

The middle-aged man took a deep breath, knowing the pressure he faced from these three was immense. This person was likely beyond the Nascent Soul stage.

“Daoist, do you have the goods?” Chen Xun asked with a slight smile.

“Of course.” The man motioned to one of his subordinates, who walked forward and respectfully placed two storage rings on the table.

“Xiao Chi, check the goods,” Chen Xun instructed, still smiling. “Brother Ox, place the spirit stones on the table for our esteemed friend here.”

“Moo!”

“No problem, Brother!”

Both Brother Ox and Xiao Chi moved swiftly. Meanwhile, the other side began verifying the spirit stones. The atmosphere in the courtyard grew tense.

“Master, no issues,” the subordinate reported.

“No problem here either, Brother Chen!” Xiao Chi called out after inspecting the materials.

As soon as they spoke, the air in the courtyard relaxed, and it became clear that neither side intended to betray the other. The transaction was too important, and any foul play would have far-reaching consequences.

The middle-aged man’s organization had gone to great lengths to procure these forbidden materials, with even high-ranking cultivators involved.

“As expected of Sansheng Pavilion. I knew I could trust you,” Chen Xun said, satisfied as he took the storage rings. “If there’s a next time, we’ll come to you again.”

“You flatter me, Daoist. Please accept this jade pendant and communication slip,” the man said with a hearty laugh, appearing quite magnanimous. “You three will always be esteemed guests of Sansheng Pavilion. If you ever need anything, you’ll get the best prices.”

“Generous as always!” Chen Xun replied with a grin.

At that moment, Yun Zheng stepped forward, holding out a transmission jade slip with both hands. “Senior, thank you again for trusting me and giving me this opportunity.”

Chen Xun took the jade slip with a nod, then glanced back at the middle-aged man. “I’ll hold onto this then. Until next time.”

“Safe travels, Daoist.”

“Farewell, Senior.”

The surrounding cultivators all bowed deeply, feeling a collective sigh of relief. It was a massive transaction, and they were all glad nothing had gone wrong.

In a brief ripple of air, the three figures vanished without a trace, not lingering a second longer.

“Father.”

“Zheng’er, you handled this perfectly. As for that other matter, I trust you to make your own decisions. The family won’t interfere any further.”

“Yes!” Yun Zheng’s heart surged with excitement. These seniors had proven themselves trustworthy. She had staked her reputation on this deal, making a bold promise to her family. Now, the results spoke for themselves.

Few dared to engage in such business with mysterious cultivators, but her encounter with them in the Western Seas had convinced her to take the gamble. Her intuition had proven correct.

The middle-aged man let out a booming laugh, his mood soaring. Their family had made a profit of a million mid-grade spirit stones from this deal!

The connections they had built in the process would also strengthen their family’s network, elevating them beyond simple wealth.

“Everyone, leave the premises for now.”

“Yes, Master!”

The courtyard quickly emptied, leaving behind only the rustling of leaves in the wind.

Back in Guiyi City.

Outside their rundown talisman shop, the two Crane Spirit Trees swayed gently in the wind. Chen Xun was quietly closing the door behind them.

As they all turned toward the horizon, the next part of their journey awaited.

“Brothers, time for the next step. Destination—beside the Celestial River.”

“Moo moo~~!”

“You got it, Brother Chen!”

The three of them set off, each holding sea beast jerky that Chen Xun had prepared himself. Pots and pans clanged together as they hung from Brother Ox, while Xiao Chi stuffed several storage rings into the bags.

As they left, the Crane Spirit Tree’s falling leaves gently brushed their shoulders, not hindering their journey in the slightest...