Steady Cultivation: Starting With the Perk “Work Hard, Rest Hard” Chapter 529: The Battle with Wudaizi

Wudaizi roamed the black market alone, scrutinizing its Dao Principle architecture.

He determined that while the market was founded by a quasi-Dominator, they had likely only recently ascended to that rank.

Having finished his evaluation, he projected his thoughts inward to make contact with the Dao Principles governing the market.

Su Yuan soon intercepted the message.

[I am Wudaizi, master of the Wuliang Dao Court and successor to Dominator Wuyazi. I desire an audience with you, fellow Daoist, to discuss matters face-to-face.]

Su Yuan instantly transmitted his intent through the air, vibrating directly against Wudaizi’s eardrum.

"Fellow Daoist Wudaizi, what brings you here? Please be brief. I am currently indisposed, making a personal meeting unnecessary!"

Su Yuan’s voice resonated in a hollow and ethereal tone.

Wudaizi felt a slight internal irritation as he replied, "The Wuliang Dao Court seeks to establish a strategic alliance with you. I can station cultivators from our sect within your black market to bolster its prosperity and significantly inflate trading volume."

"Interesting. What are your terms?" Su Yuan queried calmly.

"I simply request that you authorize our court to intercept specific auction items before they go live. We can negotiate privately with the sellers, and we will certainly not shortchange you on the handling fees."

"In exchange, I am prepared to offer one hundred pieces of Chaos Jade Marrow! You surely recognize the value of Chaos Jade Marrow. It is a rare treasure found only in the depths of Chaos, possessing extraordinary properties for those seeking to comprehend Chaos Dao Principles!"

Wudaizi felt profoundly confident. The allure of one hundred pieces of Chaos Jade Marrow would tempt any quasi-Dominator in existence.

These gems were exceptionally scarce in the outside world, appearing only in hidden, specialized Secret Realms. Even the Wuliang Dao Court’s yield was minimal, with most surrendered to Dominator Wuyazi, leaving little for his own reach.

Su Yuan found the offer internally amusing. This supposed Chaos Jade Marrow was merely the Chaos Jade he already possessed in abundance. While he did require more of the item, receiving a mere hundred pieces was a laughable trade.

He replied bluntly, "I am afraid not, Fellow Daoist Wudaizi. Both the Stone Man King and Nation Lord Che Li have approached me as well. To avoid offending either party, I cannot commit to an alliance with you."

In truth, neither the Stone Man King nor Nation Lord Che Li had contacted him, yet Su Yuan gambled that Wudaizi would not verify the claim. Even if he attempted to fact-check with them, the ruse would hold; if they claimed ignorance, it could simply be dismissed as a tactical lie.

Wudaizi frowned, his expression darkening with visible annoyance.

"Should you ally with me, the rewards will be substantial. If the Chaos Jade Marrow is not enough, simply name your price!"

Su Yuan remained indifferent. The competition between three factions only ensured his own profits would remain high. Limiting himself to one partner would inevitably diminish his gains.

"I apologize, but I must refuse," Su Yuan replied coolly.

Wudaizi reined in his frustration and stated, "Then, at the very least, provide me with the seller's information regarding that Ancient Zither. The auction price reached levels far beyond its worth. That individual has gained wealth they have no right to possess, which is unacceptable. Reveal the buyer's identity to me."

A faint smirk appeared on Su Yuan’s lips. "I'm sorry, but seller information is strictly confidential. Those are the laws of the black market!"

Wudaizi’s face went stone-cold. "It appears that you, fellow Daoist, intend to make a rival of the Wuliang Dao Court! You reject this, and you obstruct that. Do you realize you are defying a major power supported by a Dominator?"

Wudaizi’s anger was clearly reaching a boiling point.

Su Yuan remained silent, feeling that no further discourse was warranted.

Having failed to make headway, Wudaizi resolved to force the issue.

Losing such a vast amount of capital meant the Wuliang Dao Court would be at a deficit in future auctions. He had to extract some form of compensation from the black market owner, or he would effectively drop out of this cycle of competition.

Wudaizi slammed his foot down with immense force, sending a surge of chaotic power toward the core of the market. This strike carried the crushing weight of the Chaos Great Dao and exerted immense destructive pressure.

At that exact moment, the Stone Man King and Che Li, who were idling nearby, sensed the outburst and fixed their gaze on Wudaizi’s position.

They were stunned that Wudaizi would dare to assault the owner of the market directly.

"Hmph!"

A chilling snort manifested out of nowhere near Wudaizi.

Wudaizi’s strike was instantly swallowed by an invisible wave of Chaos energy, dissipating into nothingness. Subsequently, a vast Chaos domain surged forward, enveloping Wudaizi and ripping him from the market's vicinity.

Before Wudaizi could even recover, he found himself transported across the sky, millions of light-years away.

The Stone Man King and Che Li exchanged looks before vanishing from the market, trailing after the disturbance.

Upon arriving, they observed two figures locked in fierce combat within a Chaos domain suspended in mid-air.

Wudaizi summoned a war blade, fusing eighteen Dao Principles to create an instrument of ultimate destructive power.

Confident, Wudaizi swung the blade.

He seamlessly tapped into his Little Chaos, which had already undergone thirty-seven evolutions and was gargantuan in scope. The Chaos Dao Intent pouring into his blade was overwhelming.

The slash was so potent it seemed to cleave through the very concept of Nothingness.

Su Yuan responded by condensing a sword identical to the Heaven-Splitting Divine Sword of the Seven Stars Divine Demon.

This weapon, forged from a thousand pieces of Chaos Jade, was thick with Chaos Origin.

As a quasi-Dominator artifact infused with Su Yuan’s twelve Fused Dao Principles, it was formidable. He, too, drew upon his Little Chaos to coat the blade in pure Chaos Dao Intent.

The two forces collided within the dome.

The lopsided victory Wudaizi expected never arrived. Instead, the collision forced them both back, their powers proving evenly matched.

A look of disbelief crossed Wudaizi’s face, but he refused to surrender, launching another flurry of strikes.

Though the true intent of Chaos flowed through every blade-light, Wudaizi’s weapon remained a construct of his own Chaos Great Dao rather than a true quasi-Dominator artifact.

Su Yuan, however, possessed the power of Creation. He had genuinely forged a twelve-element Fused Dao Treasure. Beneath the wash of his Little Chaos’s origin, the Heaven-Splitting Divine Sword had reached the caliber of a true quasi-Dominator artifact, greatly augmenting his strength.

They traded blow after blow, yet remained perfectly locked in a draw.

Su Yuan felt a flicker of regret. He dared not utilize his word tags, fearing that if a nearby Dominator spotted them, it would invite disaster. He had to rely solely on his own understanding of the Chaos Great Dao, supplemented by his Little Chaos and his forged blade. Matching a veteran quasi-Dominator like Wudaizi, who wielded eighteen-order Fused Dao Principles, was an accomplishment that surprised even him.