「The next day.」

「Canghai Mountain.」

This mountain peak was the heart of Weiyuan Immortal City, the abbey of Canghai.

Within it, a bountiful, third-rank, high-grade Spirit Vein caused the entire peak to be wreathed in immortal energy, pulsing with spiritual vitality.

"As expected of a Perfected Person’s abbey..."

Su Ye arrived at Canghai Mountain, and as he sensed the active spiritual vitality, he couldn’t help but sigh in admiration.

"Mr. Su, please follow me. Mr. Sikong is waiting for you."

As a show of respect, Bai Xiuying had come out to greet him and lead the way.

Perhaps because her serious injuries had yet to heal, the usually heroic and valiant Sword Immortal now carried a rare air of delicate fragility, like a willow swaying in the wind.

"Yes... I’m sorry to trouble you, Miss Bai."

Su Ye nodded, his tone polite and courteous.

’From Bai Xiuying’s behavior, it seems Weiyuan Immortal City holds no ill will toward me.’

’Sikong Xin wants to see me... It’s likely about gratitude, a trade, cooperation, and... a recruitment offer?’

’This is a good opportunity. I can use it to reach some cooperative agreements with Weiyuan Immortal City, acquire resources, and pave the way for my own cultivation path...’

As his thoughts turned, Su Ye considered the conversation to come.

Soon, under Bai Xiuying’s guidance, Su Ye passed through several layers of restrictions and checkpoints, arriving at a white jade palace within Canghai Mountain.

"Mr. Su, please enter."

Bai Xiuying gestured for Su Ye to enter the palace, while she herself remained standing outside.

"Alright." Su Ye had no suspicions.

If Weiyuan Immortal City had malicious intentions, there would be no need for such formalities.

Stepping into the white jade palace, he came face-to-face with a Daoist in a greyish-white robe who wore a gentle smile.

HUM.

The moment he saw this Daoist!

Su Ye blinked, his heart stirring.

An endless sea of lightning, flashing with silver-white sparks, seemed to appear before his eyes!

Su Ye’s incredibly sharp spiritual perception felt an almost tangible pressure washing over him!

’Sikong Xin...’

’So this is... a Core Formation Perfected Person at their peak?’

’So strong...’

Ripples of emotion spread through Su Ye’s heart.

By his estimation, even if [Soul-Chasing, Life-Taking] was off cooldown, if he were to fight Sikong Xin to the death with no retreat...

...the most likely outcome would be his own death in exchange for injuring Sikong Xin!

’The barrier between major cultivation realms is like a celestial chasm for a cultivator...’

’And that’s true even for me!’

As this thought passed through his mind, Su Ye’s desire for a higher realm grew even stronger.

"Haaa..."

Ending his train of thought, Su Ye feigned being overwhelmed by the man’s presence.

After pausing for a few breaths, he finally walked forward and cupped his fist in a salute.

"I am Su Ye. It is an honor to meet Perfected Person Tianqiong!"

Core Formation cultivators could call themselves ’Perfected Persons,’ and Sikong Xin’s Daoist title was Tianqiong.

"Mr. Su... there is no need for such ceremony."

Sikong Xin said with a smile, a flash of surprise in his eyes.

He had thought that with Su Ye’s level of cultivation, it would have taken him much longer to break free from the influence of his spiritual pressure...

’Not bad... His Divine Sense is naturally powerful, and his temperament is firm...’

’Miss Bai is a good judge of character. This Mr. Su... is truly extraordinary.’

Sikong Xin nodded to himself, his goodwill and appreciation for Su Ye growing.

"Yesterday, I must thank you for stepping in and saving my junior sister from peril... I have prepared a gift as thanks, and I must insist you accept it..."

Sikong Xin said with a gentle smile.

A jade box slowly flew toward Su Ye.

Inside the jade box rested a pill that was crystalline, snow-white, and naturally adorned with several pill veins.

Su Ye’s eyes flickered as he recognized the type of pill.

It was, unexpectedly, a Chongyuan Elixir!

A rank-breaking elixir used to help cultivators break through the bottleneck to Late-stage Foundation Establishment.

Su Ye recalled that during the whale hunt, Bai Xiuying had tried to win him over with this very same rare Spirit Pill!

"Furthermore..."

Gazing at the veins on the Chongyuan Elixir, Su Ye’s heart stirred with surprise.

"The pill veins formed naturally... Senior Tianqiong, could this be a High-quality Chongyuan Elixir?"

Su Ye knew that pills were graded as standard-quality and low-quality.

But above standard-quality were even better ’high-quality’ pills, whose defining feature was naturally formed pill veins!

They had better medicinal effects, less pill toxin, and a gentler medicinal strength...

In short, high-quality pills had no drawbacks, only advantages!

However, refining a high-quality pill placed much stricter demands on an Alchemist’s skill!

This was especially true for a second-rank, high-grade pill like the Chongyuan Elixir, which was already difficult to refine.

Even for an Alchemy Master, successfully refining a High-quality Chongyuan Elixir was largely a matter of luck!

"Indeed."

Sikong Xin nodded with a slight smile.

For Weiyuan Immortal City, a High-quality Chongyuan Elixir was also a rare and foundational resource.

This elixir had been sealed away for several decades.

But now, Sikong Xin was putting it to use for the sole purpose of befriending Su Ye and forging a positive connection!

And Su Ye was very satisfied with this gift.

’Even though I’ve already entered Late-stage Foundation Establishment, this elixir is useless to me.’

’However, with this elixir in my possession, it will seem perfectly normal when I reveal my Late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivation base soon!’

’In a way... it raises the perceived level of my normal strength?’

’Moreover, I can bestow this precious elixir on someone else and create a Late-stage Foundation Establishment subordinate...’

With these thoughts in mind, Su Ye’s expression filled with delight as he offered his solemn thanks.

"Thank you, Senior!"

"I’m glad you’re satisfied, Mr. Su..." Sikong Xin chuckled.

With this gift laying the groundwork,

The subsequent conversation between Su Ye and Sikong Xin proceeded in a very friendly atmosphere.

Soon, Sikong Xin proposed a trade for the ’Gate-Opening’ Array Plate and its creation method.

He also invited Su Ye to participate in clearing out the monsters from the ’Reverse World’.

Su Ye had already anticipated all of this.

Thus, he went with the flow and stated his own requests.

"Azure Sea Dragon Scale Wood and Profound Origin Spirit Iron?"

Sikong Xin was somewhat surprised.

He hadn’t expected Su Ye’s request to be for these two third-rank spiritual materials.

After all, he didn’t know that in Su Ye’s eyes,

The Azure Sea Dragon Scale Wood had a ninety-five percent compatibility rating.

The Profound Origin Spirit Iron had an eighty-seven percent compatibility rating.

These two third-rank spiritual materials were, among all those Su Ye had discovered so far, the most suitable materials for his advancement.

Sikong Xin did not press for details.

After all, every cultivator had their own secrets.

After confirming Su Ye’s request, he thought for a moment, pulled up the warehouse inventory, and said,

"We have quite a bit of both these spiritual materials in the warehouse..."

Sikong Xin quoted a number that made Su Ye’s eyes light up with joy.

Based on this number, combined with Su Ye’s previous accumulation, he now had enough materials to advance the Ghostly Flood Dragon!

"However, you are also aware of how precious third-rank spiritual materials are."

"The Array Plate is good, but it’s not enough to trade for the entire stock..." Sikong Xin said.

Su Ye nodded in understanding.

Following this, the two negotiated for a while and reached an agreement.

The ’Gate-Opening’ Array Plate and its creation method would be exchanged for half of the stored spiritual materials.

The remaining spiritual materials would be handled through a point-based system.

As Su Ye cleared out the ’Reverse World’, he would earn corresponding points for each monster he killed, which he could then use for the exchange.

Su Ye also looked over the detailed mechanics of the point exchange system.

It wasn’t some deceptive ’slash-the-price’ game designed to make a fool of him; it was a sincere offer!