Cultivation Starting from Full Talent

Chapter 210: Chapter 208: No Value, No Threat

“Oh?”

Master Gen Shan smiled faintly, “I did not expect Fellow Daoist Zhang to have such fortune to possess a Pure Demon Pill, but…”

He expressed some regret, “Although the Pure Demon Pill is rare, it is still of no use to me.”

There are two uses for a Pure Demon Pill: one is to use it for Core Formation to become a Fake Pill Cultivator.

The other is to directly consume and refine it like Ning Daoran did for his second Core Formation. The essence Qi within the Pure Demon Pill is extremely dense, providing substantial benefits for cultivators at the Golden Core Stage to advance their cultivation.

In fact, there was once a practitioner in the middle stage of the Golden Core who successfully advanced to the late stage after consuming a Pure Demon Pill.

However, it seems Master Gen Shan indeed has no interest in this item.

“It doesn’t matter.”

Ning Daoran said, “I have another item, but I do not know if you would be interested.”

As he spoke, he gently patted his Storage Bag, and immediately, a segment of blood-red Spirit Bone emerged, the very one obtained from slaying the Bai Shu.

This Spirit Bone contained essence Qi and Yin Qi both extremely dense, a treasure for those of the Demon Path and Evil Cultivators, as it could be refined into an artifact highly compatible with one’s Lifebound Magical Treasure.

“A Magic Treasure Embryo?”

Even Mo Shaoting, who had been silent all along, couldn’t help but stare wide-eyed, “Fellow Daoist Zhang is truly fortunate, to have a Magic Treasure Embryo in addition to a Pure Demon Pill.”

“It was also a chance encounter.”

Ning Daoran said, “To obtain this embryo, I went through countless dangers and nearly perished without ever returning from a Secret Realm.”

“You are being too modest.”

Mo Shaoting was somewhat tempted, as any Magic Treasure Embryo is a treasure, personally refining a magical treasure enhances its compatibility with oneself, naturally increasing the power it can exert as a lifebound treasure.

Unfortunately, this embryo was of a Ghost Cultivator, clashing with the cultivation technique he practiced, the Cloud Thunder True Technique.

However, Master Gen Shan, who had remained silent, his gaze lingered on the Spirit Bone, finally spoke up:

“Fellow Daoist Zhang, do you really wish to exchange this Magic Treasure Embryo for the Dragon Sparrow True Feather?”

“Exactly so.”

Ning Daoran said, “The Magic Treasure Embryo is a rare item, might you want to reconsider?”

“The Dragon Sparrow True Feather is a Third-tier top-grade material. If refined into a magical treasure, the probability of it becoming a Third-tier top-grade magical treasure is extremely high. Whereas this Spirit Bone is merely an embryo, if flaws appear during the refining process, it might degrade to a Mid-Grade or even a Low-grade Magical Treasure.”

Master Gen Shan said, “If you could add a little more to the offer, I would consider exchanging it with you.”

“Master Gen Shan has spoken too much.”

Ning Daoran, confident that the other party needed the Spirit Bone, said, “Although the Dragon Sparrow True Feather is a Third-tier top-grade material, it is not an embryo and lacks any spirituality. If poorly refined, it could also downgrade to a Low-grade or even become merely a Spiritual Artifact. Both carry risks, and in my view, their values are equivalent, with no need for anything extra.”

Beside him, Chen Ping’er covered her mouth with a light laugh.

Ning Daoran’s meticulous nature was just as it had been in the past, unchanged.

“In that case…”

Master Gen Shan feigned hesitation for a moment, then spoke with a heavy tone, “I will heed your suggestion, the values are equivalent, let us proceed with the direct exchange.”

“Agreed!”

The next moment, the two completed the exchange: Master Gen Shan took the Spirit Bone, and Ning Daoran took a golden Dragon Sparrow True Feather.

The Dragon Sparrow, a Fire Attribute demon bird, once grown to the Third-tier Late-stage, is nearly as strong as a Human Clan Nascent Soul at the Early Stage, thus making the value of this Dragon Sparrow True Feather extremely high!

In Ning Daoran’s view, the value of the Dragon Sparrow True Feather surpassed that of the Spirit Bone.

As for why Master Gen Shan was willing to trade.

Nothing else, Master Gen Shan had fallen.

This person was likely a Demon Cultivator, hence he concealed his face and cultivation aura during the exchange meeting, hiding in such a manner certainly must have had its reasons.

Mo Shaoting and the other two Foundation Establishment cultivators had faces full of disappointment.

But there was nothing they could do, they could not bring out an item that satisfied Master Gen Shan.

The exchange meeting ended swiftly.

Ning Daoran did not leave immediately; instead, he continued to stay in the Floating Duckweed Workshop, collected some Refining Tool Books, found the refining methods for the Dragon Sparrow Fan, and other related auxiliary materials.

In the private room,

Chen Ping’er strategized for Ning Daoran.

“As the main feather, the Dragon Sparrow True Feather is essential, but for the secondary feathers, using Second-tier High-grade True Feathers instead is fine, there’s no need specifically to find Third-tier True Feathers. Moreover, the other auxiliary materials also have alternative materials, Fellow Daoist Ning doesn’t necessarily need to collect the ingredients listed in the formula.”

“Hmm.”

Ning Daoran nodded, “However, about the secondary feathers… I do indeed have them, and they are also of the Fire Attribute.”

He gently patted his Storage Bag, and immediately, several fiery red feathers wafted out, all Lifebound True Feathers and Third-tier Middle-grade materials!

“…”

Chen Ping’er was so surprised that her mouth hung open.

Ning Daoran smiled slightly, “In the past, during an exploration of a Secret Realm, I opened a treasure box and fortuitously obtained so many True Feathers, kept unused, all to wait for a Third-tier top-grade main feather, hoping that when refining this treasure, it would reach the Third-tier top-grade, and now I have finally found it.”

“Fellow Daoist has good fortune…”

Chen Ping’er covered her mouth with a light laugh.

And in fact, if she had thought about it a little more, she might have guessed some clues.

Being able to take out so many True Feathers at once, and all from a single Third-tier Middle-stage demon bird… and in Qingzhou, Kuizhou, Ningzhou region, there seems to be only that one Third-tier Middle-stage demon bird left…

Fire Falcon, one of the Five Saints of Five Saints Mountain!

Thus, Ning Daoran revised his refining formula and finally lacked only one auxiliary material, Shadowless Wood.

Shadowless Wood was an extremely rare refining material. Furthermore, very few treasures required Shadowless Wood specifically, but unfortunately, the Dragon Sparrow Fan did.

However, there was no Shadowless Wood in the Floating Duckweed Workshop.

“Fellow Daoist Ning, your concubine does actually know about Shadowless Wood. I’ve heard that Sect Master Mo Yunting of the Divine Weapon Sect has a piece of Shadowless Wood. Now that you are at the Golden Core Stage, perhaps if you visit the Divine Weapon Sect, Sect Master Mo might be willing to part with it.”

“Agreed.”

Ning Daoran stood up and headed for the Divine Weapon Sect.

…

Red Leaf Valley.

Drizzling autumn rain.

Ning Daoran reverted back to his original appearance, a robe of blue with a Golden Core aura emanating from him. After being reported by the manager, he soon met with the brothers Mo Yunting and Mo Shaoting.

“Fellow Daoist Ning!”

Mo Yunting was extremely enthusiastic, smiling, “The last time Fellow Daoist visited, I was in seclusion, so I couldn’t meet you. I hope Fellow Daoist is not upset.”

“Sect Master speaks too modestly. We are all cultivators, and once we step into cultivation, it’s easy to lose track of time. This is an inevitable thing; I certainly hold no grudges.”

“That’s very good to hear.”

Mo Yunting said, “Fellow Daoist, have you changed your mind this time about becoming a Guest Elder in the Divine Weapon Sect?”

“That’s not it.”

Ning Daoran said, “I heard that Sect Master Mo has a piece of Shadowless Wood. Coincidentally, a treasure I’ve been planning to refine these past few years requires Shadowless Wood, so I boldly came to ask for just a small piece.”

“Oh?”

When Ning Daoran expressed his unwillingness to become a Guest Elder, a flicker of displeasure flashed across Mo Yunting’s eyes.

For someone like Mo Yunting, a Golden Core Middle Stage Great Cultivator and also a Divine Craftsman, there was no need to be entirely respectful to an Early Stage Golden Core cultivator like Ning Daoran, yet the latter was still so ungracious.

“Fellow Daoist Ning.”

Mo Yunting said with a smile full of regret, “I apologize, this Shadowless Wood… I too plan to use it as auxiliary material for my Lifebound Magical Treasure, and I originally only have a very small piece, so I can’t part with it. I hope you won’t take it personally.”

‘Is that a rejection?’

Ning Daoran was somewhat speechless. Clearly, the Mo brothers really didn’t take him, an Early Stage Golden Core cultivator, seriously at all.

“It’s okay.”

He slowly stood up and said, “If that is the case, I shall take my leave.”

The Mo brothers did not retain him and allowed him to leave the mountain.

…

Inside the living room.

Only after Ning Daoran turned into a tunneling light and left did the brothers finally speak.

“Is that guy still staying at Ou Yeping’s sword casting shop?”

“Exactly.”

Mo Shaoting said, “The agents we sent to scout reported that his Early Stage Golden Core Spiritual Beast is now following Ou Yeping and learning the Wind and Thunder Hammer Technique.”

“Hmph…”

Mo Yunting frowned, “Such ignorance… What’s with that sword casting shop? It’s practically using the leftover materials from our Divine Weapon Sect. Even the Wind and Thunder Hammer Technique is just a fragment evolved from our Divine Weapon Sect’s Wanxiang Cloud Thunder Hammer Technique. He is truly ridiculous.”

“This guy is living in Fanshu City and should be leaving soon, plus his Basic Skills cultivation technique is the Evergreen Technique, which is not conducive to combat…”

“Mmm, let’s not bother with him, he poses no value or threat to us here in Red Leaf Valley.”

…

The refining of the Dragon Sparrow Fan was temporarily shelved.

Ning Daoran dispatched dozens of Second-class Paperfolk to the surrounding States to scout for news of Shadowless Wood, hoping to expedite the refinement of the Treasure Fan so the True Feather Fan could retire sooner.

Recently, some incidents occurred in the city.

According to information provided by Sang Ping’an, there had recently been a series of brutal killings in the city, with several brothel women murdered.

And all these women shared one common trait—they sold their skills, not their bodies.

“And what else?”

Ning Daoran frowned and asked, “Any other characteristics?”

He even suspected that Old Demon Ye had been reborn. Who else could be so twisted?

Sang Ping’an furrowed his brow, “Also… a friend of mine who is a forensic doctor said that these women were all virgins, the murderer only tortured them but didn’t physically possess them before or after their deaths.”

It seemed the murderer was truly deranged.

Yet, how could there be no witnesses, no evidence in brothel murders within the city? How could this case have turned into a cold case?

What on earth was the government doing?

…

“I’m going to the Floating Duckweed Workshop.”

He slowly stood up, already having guessed to a great extent who the murderer was.