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Chapter 101: Transaction (Part Four)
Chapter 101: Transaction (Part Four)
Elder Yu had lived for a hundred and fifty years, cultivating to the Foundation Establishment stage.
During this long life, he had interacted with all sorts of cultivators, including many array masters.
However, Elder Yu didn't have a favorable impression of most array masters.
Those from influential clans or sects looked down on solitary cultivators, and some array masters who were once solitary cultivators now felt superior, acting even more disdainfully towards their former peers than those with sect backgrounds.
And because the art of arrays was difficult to master and array masters were rare, they tended to be the most arrogant and haughty of all.
Out of respect for a Foundation Establishment cultivator, some array masters would be polite on the surface, but when asked to set up an array, they would make exorbitant demands.
If you tried to negotiate, they would take offense, questioning if you thought their arrays weren't worth the price. And if you didn't bargain, the high cost of spirit stones would be beyond what most solitary cultivators could afford.
Yet, in this world, array masters were few, while cultivators in need of arrays were many. Sometimes, despite their outrageous demands, you had no choice but to agree.
For this reason, Elder Yu treated array masters with respect on the surface, but deep down, he disliked them intensely.
When Mo Hua frowned, Elder Yu guessed that the deal was probably off. Eight spirit stones were the most he could offer; he simply couldn't afford any more.
Although he was a Foundation Establishment cultivator, he was unaffiliated with any sect or clan, so he had to rely on his own earnings. On top of that, he also had to manage the trivial matters of the demon hunters, so he wasn't much wealthier than cultivators at the Qi Refining stage.
Elder Yu felt a bit dissatisfied with Mo Hua. Despite his young age and innocent appearance, when it came to spirit stones, he seemed just as greedy as the other array masters.
As expected, all array masters were cut from the same cloth, and none of them were any good.
"How much do you want?" Elder Yu asked, his tone turning unfriendly. He wanted to see just how much Mo Hua would demand.
Mo Hua thought for a moment before replying, "Three, I guess."
Elder Yu let out a cold huff.
The room fell silent for a moment, and then Elder Yu asked hesitantly, as if he couldn't quite believe his ears, "How much?"
"Three," Mo Hua repeated.
"Three?!"
Elder Yu raised an eyebrow, and in that instant, Mo Hua seemed even more endearing in his eyes.
But then he wondered if the boy was being foolish. Who tried to haggle by raising the price instead of lowering it?
"Are you sure you only want three?"
"Yes, three spirit stones will be enough. But I do have one small condition." Mo Hua said.
"Condition?" Elder Yu was taken aback. "What is it?"
"I want some spirit ink. I need all five elemental attributes—gold, wood, water, fire, and earth. I use them for practicing arrays, so I don't need a lot. You can decide the amount. Just consider it an additional reward."
"That's all?"
"That's all," Mo Hua nodded.
"That's easy enough," Elder Yu said immediately.
Some spirit ink was nothing. Although it would cost him some spirit stones, it was nothing compared to the price of a hundred Iron Armor Arrays. As a Foundation Establishment cultivator, he had his own connections, and he could get decent spirit ink without spending too many spirit stones. This would save him a significant sum.
As Elder Yu looked at Mo Hua, he suddenly felt that the boy was becoming more and more charming the longer he looked at him.
And he wanted spirit ink for practicing arrays?
"Impressive! Diligent and eager to learn, no wonder you're so skilled at drawing arrays at such a young age!" Elder Yu praised inwardly.
But then he worried that Mo Hua might be getting the short end of the stick, so he asked, "Are you sure three spirit stones will be enough? I don't want you to lose out on this deal."
"It's fine. Three spirit stones is already quite a lot. Besides, we're all solitary cultivators, and we should look out for each other. That's what my father always tells me," Mo Hua said in his youthful voice.
That sentence warmed Elder Yu's heart.
After much contemplation, Mo Hua decided to stay.
While the cultivation world outside was vast and boundless, he would still be just one of countless cultivators with low cultivation bases and vague prospects. But in Tongxian City, he was a revered Qi Refining cultivator who could make a significant difference. He could ease the hardships of many, protect them from harm, and improve the lives of most solitary cultivators.
Hearing such words from little Mo Hua brought Elder Yu great comfort.
Elder Yu stared at Mo Hua, looking him up and down, and his admiration for the boy grew.
Just look at how well Mo Shan raised this son!
Feeling a bit unnerved by Elder Yu's intense gaze, Mo Hua asked, "Elder Yu, is something wrong?"
"No, no, you're absolutely right!" Elder Yu exclaimed. "Tomorrow, I'll have someone send over the Thornshell Armor. As for the spirit ink, I'll help you gather it. You need all five elemental attributes, right? I'll send it over once I have them all. Rest assured, since you've helped me out of this pinch, I won't let you suffer a loss. If you need anything in the future, feel free to come to me."
Mo Hua's face lit up with joy. "Thank you, Elder!"
"It's nothing, really," Elder Yu waved his hand dismissively. Then, with a concerned tone, he added, "Why don't you get some rest now? You're still so young; don't stay up too late."
"Okay," Mo Hua nodded.
Elder Yu turned to leave, but after taking a few steps, he paused as if he had suddenly remembered something. He hesitated for a moment before turning back.
Puzzled by his behavior, Mo Hua asked, "Elder Yu, is there something else?"
Clearing his throat, Elder Yu quietly took out a storage bag. "I... ahem, I have two grandsons. They... they need your help with a formation as well."
"Is it urgent?" Mo Hua inquired.
"It's a little urgent, but not extremely so. You can work on it whenever you have free time," Elder Yu replied.
Elder Yu's grandsons were in the same batch of demon hunters as Dahou and the others, and they had already started hunting demons in the mountains.
While most people were distant with their grandchildren, Elder Yu, who had been indifferent towards his son, doted on his two grandsons. Every time they returned from the mountains with injuries, it pained his heart.
As a Qi Refining cultivator, he couldn't just casually enter the mountains.
If a Qi Refining cultivator frequently ventured into the mountains, the demons would see it as a provocation, attracting second-grade demons. In Tongxian City, second-grade demons were virtually unstoppable.
There weren't many Qi Refining cultivators in Tongxian City to begin with, and it was even more difficult to gather them together to hunt demons. Even if they did join forces, they would struggle against a second-grade demon.
And if they failed, and a second-grade demon devoured one or two Qi Refining cultivators, the consequences would be dire.
Therefore, unless necessary, Elder Yu, as a Qi Refining cultivator, generally refrained from entering the Daheshan Mountains. He might wander around the outer mountains, but if he ventured into the inner mountains, he would try to conceal his cultivation base.
Because he couldn't enter the mountains casually, he often worried about the safety of his grandsons. By drawing an Iron Armor Formation on their Tendril Armor, he could provide them with some means of protection, giving him some peace of mind.
"Sure, I'll help you whenever I have free time!" Mo Hua agreed.
Elder Yu nodded. Seeing that Mo Hua was about to return to his room, he gently reminded him, "Take your time with those formations. It doesn't matter if you do a little more or less, just don't overexert yourself."
The usually stern Elder Yu's voice was now filled with warmth and kindness.
(End of Chapter)
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