C912 The Star Soul Vine

Adjacent to the Evil Sect's territory, atop a modest peak, stood a group of more than ten cultivators.

From a distance, they could make out the throngs of people moving between the mountains of the Evil Sect.

It appeared that many legendary beings from other races and cultivators from the Boundless Land were engaged in heated negotiations and bargaining.

They had all heard President Lyi's recent introduction and his impassioned speech.

They were now aware that President Lyi was the former head of the Babel Chamber of Commerce.

He was the visionary who had built the Babel Chamber of Commerce into a powerhouse, surpassing both the Artifact Sect and the Medicine God Sect, to become the dominant force in the southern Quietus Continent.

"Man, I'd like to check it out too. I wonder if they'd welcome someone like me."

"We might not be on the guest list, but I noticed others, just like us, trying to get in without being turned away."

"My concern is that we might become targets as soon as we step foot in there."

The small group of cultivators murmured among themselves, casting glances skyward now and then.

It was as if invisible eyes in the heavens were covertly watching them.

Zu Ann of Ascension Peak, wielding the Skywatch Mirror, could discern the minutiae of the three continents with the secret technique he had mastered. If Zu Ann so desired, he could undoubtedly observe their movements and overhear their conversations.

If Zu Ann was aware of their presence, then surely the mighty Primordial Spirit Stage cultivators from the upper sects, the Devil Palace, and the Demon Palace would be as well.

Their understanding of this made them indecisive.

"Brother Pei, aren't you curious to take a look?"

A lone cultivator at the Soul Wandering Stage addressed Pei Tianji, who stood silent and stoic on the cliff, gazing toward the Evil Sect. "The Star Soul Vine is an exotic treasure, originally procured by cultivators of the Boundless Land from the territories of the Star Race, and later transplanted to our world."

"Yet, the Star Soul Vine struggles to adapt to the Boundless Land, making its growth exceedingly difficult. As a result, a single vine of the Star Soul Vine commands a price of half a million Spirit Stones."

He sighed, "I've heard that of the three Star Soul Vines brought to the Boundless Land, the one at the Demon Palace withered, the one at the Profound Sky Sect was stolen and its whereabouts are unknown. Only the Silver Moon Sect still has the last vine, from which a piece can only be harvested every few decades."

"The Silver Moon Sect cherishes the Star Soul Vine's tendrils as priceless treasures, and they would never consider selling them."

"That vine you spotted on Babel Island could very well be the one stolen from the Profound Sky Sect. The Babel Chamber of Commerce sure has some nerve, charging half a million Spirit Stones!"

The man was filled with a sense of wonder and lament.

Pei Tianji, who had spent years submerged in the late Soul Wandering Stage, had meticulously refined numerous spiritual materials and pellets for the Yang God. After a century of gathering, his preparations were nearly complete.

All he lacked was a single tendril of the Star Soul Vine.

That tendril was the linchpin for his Heavenly Soul's transformation into a Yang God, absolutely indispensable!

After years of fruitless searching, he had encountered just one on Babel Island, priced at a staggering five hundred thousand Spirit Stones—a sum far beyond his means at the time.

Thus, the opportunity slipped through his fingers.

Before long, he learned that the Silver Moon Sect had acquired that very tendril and taken it back to their domain.

Now, not only was he unable to locate another Star Soul Vine tendril, but he also lacked the funds to purchase one.

Having lingered in the late Soul Wandering Stage for what felt like an eternity, he knew he needed to advance to the Yang God Stage soon. Otherwise, he feared he might lose both the courage and the means to do so.

With a heavy sigh, Pei Tianji said, "Even if the Evil Sect had a Star Soul Vine tendril, I still don't have enough Spirit Stones to buy it."

"How much do you have on hand?"

"Just a hundred and fifty thousand."

"That's definitely... well, it's probably not enough."

Pei Tianji's brow furrowed with worry, but then he shifted the conversation, "What about you, Brother Liang? The Black Thorn Wood you've been seeking is rare in the Boundless Land. I've heard that the Black Scale Clan in the Outland Star River cultivates it in abundance. It's a crucial component for your Spiritual Spell—do you have a source for it?"

Liang Mo shook his head, "It's easier said than done."

Atop Dwarf Mountain, the group sighed collectively, their gazes filled with longing as they looked toward the mountains where the Evil Sect resided. With a mix of hesitation and uncertainty, none dared to take the decisive step forward.

Hundreds of visitors like them were hesitating just beyond the mountains.

With a whoosh, under the cloak of night, Beru, an elder from the Star Race whose robe shimmered like the Milky Way, glided over from the direction of the Evil Sect and came to a halt before Pei Tianji.

All those assembled at Dwarf Mountain were taken aback by his presence, their gazes turning to him in wonder.

"I am called Beru, of the Star Race, a Nine Stars Sage," he said to Pei Tianji in fluent human tongue, a smile gracing his lips. "I happened to overhear your conversation about the Star Soul Vine. Is that correct?"

"Star Race!" Pei Tianji was visibly startled. "You?"

With a slight smile and a flourish reminiscent of a magician, Beru revealed a miniature Star Soul Vine in the palm of his hand.

This Star Soul Vine, with its crystal-clear tendrils, shone brilliantly. At a glance, it seemed as though each vine was brimming with countless tiny, dazzling stars, making it incredibly splendid and mysterious.

"Star Soul Vine!" Pei Tianji could no longer contain his inner turmoil, his breath growing ragged with excitement.

In the vast expanse of the Boundless Land, only three Star Soul Vines had been transplanted. One had perished, another was lost, leaving only the last one in the care of the Silver Moon Sect, which spared no expense in its preservation.

Rumor had it that at least three elders from the Silver Moon Sect were always seated nearby, vigilantly guarding the vine.

In his lifetime, Pei Tianji had only ever glimpsed a single vine on Babel Island, never a whole Star Soul Vine.

"This is the Star Soul Vine! Indeed, it's as wondrous as they say!"

"We only have one remaining in our Boundless Land!"

"The Star Soul Vine truly deserves its reputation."

The onlookers, who had been eager yet cautious about entering the Evil Sect's mountain range, crowded around, marveling and gasping in awe.

"How many Spirit Stones do you possess?" Beru inquired, his smile unwavering.

"Just 150,000 left," Pei Tianji admitted, his cheeks flushing with embarrassment. He hurriedly added, "I also have a few valuable items that could fetch about 50,000 Spirit Stones, but I haven't had the chance to sell them yet! Elder, if you would permit, I could try to borrow some more from a few friends."

With that, he turned to Liang Mo with urgency, "Brother Liang?"

"I can lend you 50,000," Liang Mo said with a wry smile.

"Elder, could you spare me a vine?" Pei Tianji pleaded desperately.

Beru's expression turned peculiar.

Worried about upsetting Beru or becoming a nuisance, Pei Tianji kept quiet when he noticed Beru's silence, not daring to make a sound.

After a moment, the Nine Stars Sage of the Star Race nonchalantly, and even somewhat brusquely, snapped off a vine from the Star Soul Vine right in front of Pei Tianji.

"Be careful!" Pei Tianji cried out in alarm.

"The Star Soul Vine isn't as delicate as you think, and there aren't many intricacies to preserving its vines," Beru explained as he handed the shimmering vine to Pei Tianji. "Fifty thousand Spirit Stones will suffice."

"What? Can you repeat that?" Pei Tianji was stunned.

The others were equally shocked.

Across the way at Babel Island, the price was set in stone: a vine from the Star Soul Vine, valued at five hundred thousand, was being offered by this elder of the Star Race for a mere fifty thousand!

That was a tenth of the listed price!

Moreover, it was a particularly long vine, freshly broken off from the Star Soul Vine itself!

"Just fifty thousand," Beru reiterated.

"Oh, oh, thank you! I'll pay immediately. I'm so grateful, truly..." Pei Tianji babbled as he frantically pulled out a stream of Spirit Stones from his Mustard Seed Bracelet.

With a sweep of his sleeve, Beru devoured the Spirit Stones like a giant serpent.

"That's enough, just fifty thousand!" Beru interjected, halting Pei Tianji's continued outpouring of Spirit Stones. He gave Pei Tianji an approving look and added, "Next time you make a purchase, I might consider lowering the price even further."

With those words and a satisfied smile, Beru turned and soared back to the Evil Sect.

As he departed, something seemed to strike Beru, and he glanced back at Liang Mo, remarking offhandedly, "This time, the Black Scale Clan has brought a substantial quantity of Black Thornwood. In their Realm, this wood isn't particularly rare."

At that, Liang Mo's frame quivered, and his eyes lit up with ecstatic delight.

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