LGHTNOVELBOOK Chapter 419 - 419: The Trade of Dharma
Chapter 419: Chapter 419: The Trade of Dharma
Elder Brother Guo’s question was also an investigation into potential abuses.
Now, for Yu Changqing, let alone being at the eighth layer of transcending the mortal realm, even if she were at the eighth layer of Qi Refining and had a Gathering Spirit Array Plate, she could only cultivate by herself—she might even share it with other cultivators, but if she dared share it with her family members, she would still be violating the rules between the immortal and the mortal realms.
However, Yu Changqing faced the matter with an open heart, “This is Senior Feng’s cultivation ground. If common folks occasionally pass by out of curiosity, I should not be too harsh.”
No wonder instances of siphoning spiritual energy are rare. There were too many regulations, and if the whole courtyard were filled with Yu Family members, as long as an inspector looked into it, Yu Changqing would still be in big trouble.
But if the owner of the courtyard was a “senior” at the third level of Qi Refinement, then having a few Yu Family members among those taking in spiritual energy wasn’t a problem.
Elder Brother Guo felt helpless at such a response. He wanted to make things difficult for the other party, but he also had to consider Feng Jun’s involvement.
He glanced at Feng Jun and said thoughtfully, “Fellow Daoist, are you related to the Wuyou Platform in some way that you act as its protector?”
Feng Jun chuckled, “What need is there for any relation? The entire Mount Zhige is mine. If a junior wishes to cultivate here, how could I not offer some conveniences?”
Elder Brother Guo was taken aback for a moment, then burst out laughing, “I’ve heard that Fellow Daoist possesses the Bai Li Voice Transmission Technique. Would you be willing to share a thing or two?”
“Share?” Feng Jun felt a bit dizzy with the request. You want to share without saying anything, what’s with the audacity?
Seeing the look on his face, Elder Brother Guo realized he had misunderstood and cleared his throat, “I have my reasons.”
It turns out that people in this realm feel ashamed to talk about trade, always feeling that it’s too blatant, not subtle enough.
Indeed, this is a phenomenon that appears in societies where moral standards have strong binding force.
When I talk about sharing with you, if you share with me, I will naturally share something of mine with you.
The essence is still trade, but it’s filled with much more human touch.
As for someone who breaches the agreement and pretends not to understand—the moral society naturally has its own set of standards.
Elder Brother Guo already knew what had taken place here before he arrived, and their appearance was timed right after Yu Changqing activated the Spirit Gathering Array.
Many things belonging to Feng Jun were regarded as quite good by him, but what he cared about most was the walkie-talkie.
Previously, communicating over a distance of four or five li was achievable even in the beginning stage of Qi Refinement, just like the conversation that just took place.
But that was when both parties intentionally did so. If you were to try that with such ease during battle, it would be impossible.
Even if it were possible during a fight, shouting across such a distance would not only be heard by one’s own side but the enemy as well.
Of course, these were the woes of someone in the Qi Refinement realm. If one reached the Dust-Free Stage, they could perform point-to-point voice transmission across thirty to fifty li.
Reaching the Golden Core Stage, transmitting voice over three to five hundred li wouldn’t be an issue either.
No matter how you look at it, he knew the other party possessed a technique that allowed for distant voice transmission, and he wanted to get his hands on it.
Feng Jun laughed upon hearing it, “That’s easy, it’s purchasable with Spirit Stones.”
“Perhaps I wasn’t clear enough,” Elder Brother Guo spoke gravely, “I want the voice transmission technique… the voice transmission Dharma.”
I did understand! Feng Jun felt a bit exasperated, that’s a techie’s stuff, I’m from the liberal arts.
He truly didn’t understand the principle behind walkie-talkies, and there was no Dharma to speak of.
Of course, he could learn if he didn’t understand. Despite being from the liberal arts, Feng was quite intelligent and had a spirit of inquiry.
But the key issue was… the system! Walkie-talkies didn’t just appear out of nowhere; they were products that emerged after industrial systems had developed. Without a mature industrial system, talking about walkie-talkies was just preposterous.
Feng Jun had a clear judgment on this, but… didn’t he also want to obtain other Techniques? It might be worth probing, “What Dharma can you share with me then?”
Elder Brother Guo started bargaining, “Your voice transmission technique is something that can only occasionally be used during the Qi Refinement stage…”
If I throw a couple of satellites into the sky, you at the Nascent Soul Stage could still make use of it! Feng Jun cleared his throat, “You don’t know the value of my Dharma.”
Elder Brother Guo was well prepared and did not argue further, “I can share with you the Niu Family’s Tracking Technique of Pine Cypress Peak, the Fang Family’s Thunder Technique of Guanquan Valley, and the Essence Blood Talisman Technique of the Fu Family… but you can only choose one.”
“I won’t choose any!” Feng Jun shook his head decisively, I’m offering you a whole system, and you just give me that little bit?
Of course, he admitted that according to the other’s perspective, the exchange wasn’t bad. Whether it was any of the Techniques, all were something he wanted to learn.
The Tracking Technique sounded great. Whoever dared to mess with me, I would track them to their den.
The Thunder Technique… he had been charging himself to the point of nausea, and only now had he gotten used to getting electrocuted so much so that it seemed to stimulate dopamine release, and he somewhat enjoyed the process.
But enjoying the process didn’t necessarily mean he had to charge by tying himself to a wire, right? Wouldn’t it be more straightforward if a bolt of lightning struck down?
As for Talisman Techniques… that was even better. He was currently studying talismans.
And to be fair, each of these three choices, if expanded, could well be not just a single Dharma, but possibly a system—even if it was a very refined micro-system.
Elder Brother Guo’s brilliance lay in the fact that he didn’t promise a complete system, which was an excellent negotiation tactic.
Feng Jun would certainly choose to refuse because he didn’t feel that these three refined systems could be stronger than the industrial system.
And… his understanding of the industrial system was truly appalling!
The smile on Elder Brother Guo’s face congealed, “Why not choose it?”
“It’s not worth it,” Feng Jun replied with a smile, shaking his head without offering any explanations—though he had more reasons.
The reasons he didn’t verbalize were guessed by Elder Brother Guo, so his face darkened, “My surname is Guo, from Pine Cypress Peak.”
Pine Cypress Peak was one of the two peaks and a valley, with the Yan Family at the helm, and several vassal families beneath them.
Feng Jun shook his head, answering crisply, “Sorry, I don’t understand what you mean… Could you clarify?”
Elder Brother Guo looked at his hair thoughtfully, glanced at Yu Changqing, pondered for a moment, and then shook his head, “Then forget it. Fellow Daoist is cultivating here in peace. Do you have any needs?”
“I am collecting Dharma methods from various Cultivation Techniques,” Feng Jun immediately replied upon hearing that the other party was still willing to trade, “If you are willing to sell any Dharma, I am interested in buying.”
Elder Brother Guo looked at him strangely, “Aren’t you the one who looked down on the Dharma I just mentioned?”
“It’s not fun to talk like that, fellow Daoist,” Feng Jun said gravely, “My Dharma involves extensive content, moreover… it’s all legitimately obtained!”
This was also the reason he outright refused—You’re just surnamed Guo, yet the Dharma you offer belongs to the Niu Family, the Fang Family, and the Fu Family.
Those owned Techniques would undoubtedly bring trouble if cultivated. Although there were many instances of forceful acquisitions in the Cultivation World, he didn’t want to break these rules during a public transaction.
Upon hearing this, Elder Brother Guo’s face immediately turned sour, “Are you suggesting my numerous Dharma are illicitly obtained?”
Feng Jun was not intimidated by the prospect of offending the Inspector. Nevertheless, he had no interest in making an enemy over such a trivial matter.
He answered earnestly, “For fellow Daoist, those Dharma may have been obtained legitimately, but if I share my own family’s Dharma, naturally I’d want to receive Dharma originally from fellow Daoist. Exchanging them for someone else’s Dharma… wouldn’t that undervalue me?”
His words seemed justified—My own heritage for yours.
But in fact, he still didn’t quite trust the other party—Your items, young man, might not all have a clear source.
Elder Brother Guo sighed helplessly upon hearing this. He would not dare to share these Dharma if he were not relatively confident of avoiding trouble. But to say that all of his items were impeccably sourced would also be impossible.
He mused for a moment and then asked, “So, you’re saying you’d be willing to trade these Dharma for Spirit Stones?”
“Of course,” Feng Jun answered without hesitation, “Spirit Stones come with less karma, as long as your price is reasonable.”
Does this kid have a wealth of Spirit Stones? Elder Brother Guo observed him, hesitating inwardly. Although only at the Third Level of Qi Refinement, Spirit Stones were not abundant in his hands—Cultivators are always in need of Spirit Stones.
So he asked gravely, “Which of these three Dharma would you like?”
“I want all three,” Feng Jun replied with a smile, unwilling to be perceived as destitute and thus vulnerable.
Being wealthy didn’t guarantee a background, but being poor surely meant having none—a principle applicable in any society.
Of course, he would not present himself as a gullible target, so he added, “As long as the price is right.”
Elder Brother Guo watched him curiously, “Do you have any idea how many Spirit Stones a single Dharma is worth?”
“Who trades Dharma like that?” Feng Jun glanced at him, “The specifics should be discussed in detail. There are Dharmas worth only a single Spirit Stone; the key is whether you’re interested in buying, right?”
Elder Brother Guo pondered for a while, then nodded slowly, “That makes sense. Of these three Dharma… which does fellow Daoist desire most?”
Feng Jun contemplated before answering, “The one I’d most like to obtain… should be the Essence Blood Talisman Technique, I suppose.”
“Alright, I understand,” Elder Brother Guo nodded, “I don’t have these Dharmas on me. After I finish with some urgent matters, I’ll come back to discuss the trade with you.”
“That would be most appreciated,” Feng Jun nodded with a smile, “I’m also interested in Talisman materials or rare Pills.”
Elder Brother Guo laughed heartily, “Haha, I’m still in need of Pills, but I do have some Talisman materials.”
Feng Jun smiled in reply, “Then, I look forward to fellow Daoist’s next visit.”
The three visitors arrived unexpectedly but their departure seemed somewhat protracted.
Elder Brother Guo borrowed Yu Changqing’s Array Plate, claiming he needed to restore his Spiritual Energy, and cultivated within the Spirit Gathering Array for a full five days.
Obviously, the term ‘borrowed’ meant that the drive Spirit Stones for the Array Plate were at his own expense, and he also had to let Yu Changqing enter to share the Spiritual Energy.
The other two Qi Refiners at the First Layer could only watch with envy, filled with a complex mix of jealousy and resentment—replenishing Spiritual Energy while traversing the Mortal World was truly challenging.
In the Mortal World, they often encountered Spirit Gathering Arrays, but the Cultivators who could carry such arrays were generally at least at the Mid-stage Qi Refining. Where could they find the courage to ask to borrow a Spirit Gathering Array from those Cultivators?