Longevity, starting from being a chicken raising servant Chapter 2288: 163: Exchange_3
Previously on Longevity, starting from being a chicken raising servant...
A radiant beam projected from the list, sweeping over it once before trembling slightly, failing to display any text for a long duration.
Wang Ba’s brow furrowed slightly at the sight.
Just then, a wary voice drifted in from outside the quiet room:
“Taoist Friend Taiyi, I serve as the guardian of the treasure chamber. I wonder if you might spare a moment for a brief word?”
Hearing this, Wang Ba instinctively shifted his gaze toward the armband resting upon the list and grasped the situation immediately, answering softly:
“Please, enter.”
With a wave of his hand, he unsealed the door. An elder with a long beard, clad in a reddish-brown robe adorned with cloud patterns, stood at the threshold. He offered Wang Ba a respectful greeting before stepping cautiously inside.
Upon entering, his eyes were drawn irresistibly to the Dao Treasure armband on the page, a flicker of suppressed excitement crossing his features.
Nevertheless, he remained focused on his task and addressed Wang Ba quickly:
“Taoist Friend, is it your intention to trade this treasure for cloud beads?”
Wang Ba gave a simple nod:
“Indeed. Since you have come personally, do you have something to discuss?”
The bearded elder shook his head hurriedly:
“There is no issue, it is simply that I have rarely seen anyone willing to part with a top-grade Dao Treasure. Consequently, our treasure chamber lacks much experience in valuing such items…”
Understanding the underlying request, Wang Ba raised his hand, lightly summoning the armband and letting it drift into the elder's grasp.
The elder’s face lit up with visible joy. Wasting no time, he produced several specialized tools, activated the Innate Cloud Ban, and performed a series of rigorous inspections on the artifact.
After a short while, the old man rubbed his palms together, nodded, and declared:
“This is truly a top-grade Dao Treasure… however, its offensive power is unexceptional, and its Innate Cloud Ban only just reaches the minimum requirements for its grade. Should you still wish to trade it for cloud beads, I can offer a price of eighty million on behalf of the Sect.”
“A mere eighty million…”
Wang Ba felt a wave of disappointment upon hearing the figure.
He had anticipated a sum of at least one or two hundred million, yet the reality fell short of those expectations.
Even if this eighty million were applied, a deficit of over seven hundred million remained.
“No matter, I shall exchange for the most critical items first; the rest can be sought later if the chance arises.”
Having reached a silent conclusion, Wang Ba spoke:
“Then let us proceed with the exchange for cloud beads.”
The elder’s expression beamed with delight as he quickly secured the armband Dao Treasure. Simultaneously, the count of cloud beads available to Wang Ba rose by eighty million.
Wang Ba proceeded to pick out his most urgent necessities, including the Tribulation Crossing Divine Pill, the Nine-Colored Divine Soil, a dozen Unification Spirit Beasts, and various world bones.
He finalized the trade for all of them.
One by one, these treasures emerged from the list and manifested before him.
Wang Ba inspected the Nine-Colored Divine Soil. Despite its grand name, it appeared as a mere speck of black, roughly the size of a grinding stone.
Furthermore, among the eight world bones stored by the Cloud Sky Sect, each possessed a unique hue and size, signaling that the laws woven within them were vastly different.
Staring at the collection of world bones, Wang Ba felt a stir of intuition:
“These materials can certainly assist me in grasping different laws to further refine my Dao Domain.”
Though he had only recently entered the early-stage Crossing Tribulation, his mastery of laws was far beyond that of his contemporaries. During his time in the Illusory Realm created by Heavenly Monarch Chao using the Silkworm Dragon Staff, he had spent eight thousand years comprehending Divine Beast Rules. Even if it was an illusion, the laws themselves were authentic. It was now simply a matter of time before his Dao Domain fully matured through these insights, allowing him to reach the Ninth-Tier Dao Domain. Once achieved, he would only need to nourish his Primordial Spirit to ascend to the middle-stage Crossing Tribulation.
It was merely a question of patience.
Noticing that Wang Ba had abandoned some of his initial choices, the bearded elder suddenly spoke up:
“Taoist Friend, are you in need of additional cloud beads?”
Wang Ba turned his gaze toward him and nodded slightly:
“Do you have a suggestion?”
Every item he had picked was vital for himself or the Little Cang World. If a path existed, he naturally wished to obtain everything he had selected.
Despite being a mere guardian, the elder seemed well-aware of Wang Ba’s recent accomplishments and proposed:
“Taoist Friend, you have already slain multiple Bodhisattvas and triumphed in magical combat; it is likely that no one in your current realm can match you. Recently, the Supreme True Buddha has been issuing frequent challenges for duels outside, and the unrest following our losses has been significant. With your prowess, you might consider intervening. Our Sect would provide cloud beads as a reward for your participation.”
“Magical combat?”
Wang Ba’s expression remained neutral, projecting an air of calm composure.
He had expected to engage in battles upon arriving in the Cloud Sky Realm and held no inherent dislike for the idea.
However, as a newcomer, he believed it was wiser to observe and listen rather than act impulsively.
For the moment, he simply nodded and inquired:
“Can the items I haven’t purchased yet be reserved for a while?”
The elder looked somewhat conflicted:
“I can hold them for you temporarily, but other Taoist friends might also seek to trade for them. It would be best if you did not wait too long.”
Wang Ba gave no definitive answer.
He could not guarantee how long he would be delayed, and without absolute confidence, he was unwilling to move recklessly.
His previous display of power had been born of necessity; once was sufficient for now.
He then bid farewell and exited the treasure chamber.
Outside, he found Chen Zhongqi still waiting for him.
“I apologize for keeping you.”
“It is no trouble at all.”
Chen Zhongqi snapped out of his daze and waved his hand dismissively, though his face still betrayed a sense of poorly hidden agitation.
Wang Ba followed Chen Zhongqi’s lingering gaze toward the space beyond the Cloud Sky Realm. There, he observed shimmering lights and clashing Dao Domains. Faint sounds of a chaotic struggle reached his ears, causing him to knit his brows slightly:
“Is the magical combat still ongoing?”
At the mention of the fight, Chen Zhongqi’s frustration boiled over, and he said angrily:
“Indeed. Each time they challenge us, those from the Supreme True Buddha dictate the terms. This round is a best-of-ten, where the first to six wins takes the victory. Three bouts have passed, and we have only secured one win. I fear this round is also lost… It is truly a shame I cannot step onto the field myself; if I could, I would definitely slay that demon monk with my blade!”