C912 Astral Creeper

At the base of a low peak adjacent to the territory of the Terror Claws, more than ten cultivators stood gazing into the distance. From their vantage point, they could make out the bustling crowds weaving through the mountains of the Terror Claws. Among them, legendary Otherkin and cultivators from the Everlands appeared to be negotiating and haggling over something.

They had all listened to President Lyi's recent introduction and his eloquent speech. From it, they learned that President Lyi was the former head of the Skyreach Consortium. He was the visionary who had elevated the Consortium above both the Artifact Sect and the Order of Healing, establishing it as the most dominant force in the southern Land of Quiescence.

"I really want to go check it out. I wonder if they'll let me in," one of them mused.

"We might not be on the guest list, but I noticed that others who tried to approach weren't turned away," another observed.

"My concern is that we'll be marked as soon as we step foot in there," a third voiced apprehensively.

The group of cultivators whispered among themselves, casting wary glances skyward now and then. It was as if invisible eyes were watching them from above.

Zu Ann of Skyreach Peak, with the Mirror of Fates in hand, could discern the minutiae of the three continents through the mystique he had mastered. If Zu Ann so desired, he could undoubtedly observe their movements and overhear their conversations.

Knowing that Zu Ann was capable of this, it stood to reason that the primordial spirit stage cultivators of the upper sects, the Devil Palace, and Shadow's Keep would be aware as well. It was this understanding that left them indecisive.

"Brother Pei, aren't you curious to take a look?" a cultivator at the Spirit Walk stage asked Pei Tianji, who stood silently on a cliff facing the Terror Claws. "The Astral Creeper is a rarity from the Everlands, originally procured from the territories of the extraterrestrial Starborn and transplanted into our world."

"Yet, the Astral Creeper struggles to adapt to the Everlands' climate, making its growth exceedingly difficult. Consequently, a single vine of Astral Creeper commands a price of half a million soulstones."

He sighed before continuing, "I've heard that of the three Astral Creepers brought to the Everlands, the one at Shadow's Keep withered, and the one at Ebon Star was stolen and is now lost. Only the Starmoon Sect still has the last remaining Astral Creeper, from which a vine can be harvested only once every few decades."

The Starmoon Sect regards the Astral Creeper vine as a prized possession and would never consider selling it.

"The vine you saw last time on Celestial Isle is very likely from the Ebon Star's stolen Astral Creeper. The Skyreach Consortium is so underhanded, charging 500,000 soulstones!"

The man was overwhelmed with emotion.

Pei Tianji, who had spent many years immersed in the late stages of the Spirit Walk, had refined numerous magic items and pills for the Solar Spirit. After a century of gathering, he had almost everything he needed.

Except for one Astral Creeper vine.

That vine was essential for his heaven soul to transform into the Solar Spirit, and he absolutely needed it!

He had been searching for years, only to come across one on Celestial Isle, priced at half a million soulstones. At the time, he was too poor to afford it.

And so, he missed his chance.

Later, he learned that the Starmoon Sect had purchased that very vine and taken it back to their sect.

Now, he was still unable to find another Astral Creeper vine, nor did he have the half a million soulstones required to buy one.

He had spent enough time in the late Spirit Walk stage that he felt if he didn't soon make the leap to the Solar Spirit Realm, he would lose both the courage and the opportunity to do so.

"Ah," Pei Tianji sighed deeply, "Even if the Terror Claws had an Astral Creeper vine, I still wouldn't have enough soulstones to purchase it."

"How many do you have?"

"Just one hundred and fifty thousand."

"That's... unfortunately, probably not enough."

Pei Tianji's expression was one of concern as he shifted the conversation, "Brother Liang, what about you? The Black Thorn you've been seeking is incredibly rare in the Everlands. I've heard that the Nightscale Tribe has cultivated it extensively in their extraterrestrial territories. Black Thorn is a key ingredient for your spells; do you have a source?"

Liang Mo shook his head, "It's not that simple."

On the low hill, everyone sighed wistfully, their gazes filled with longing as they looked toward the mountain range where the Terror Claws resided. They were riddled with hesitations and doubts, none daring to take the decisive step forward.

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

With a whoosh, under the cover of night, an elder from the Starborn, dressed in a robe that shimmered like the Milky Way, glided in from the direction of the Terror Claws and came to a halt before Pei Tianji. Everyone gathered at the base of the modest mountain was taken aback by Beru's arrival and gazed at him with astonishment.

"I am Beru of the Starborn, a Starfallen Oracle," he said to Pei Tianji in fluent human tongue, a smile gracing his lips. "I happened to catch your conversation about the Astral Creeper. Is that correct?"

"Starborn!" Pei Tianji was visibly shaken. "You?"

With a slight smile and a flourish akin to a magician's trick, Beru revealed a miniature Astral Creeper in his palm. The creeper's vines were crystal clear, each one sparkling with starlight. At a glance, it looked as though each vine was brimming with countless tiny stars, creating a sight of stunning beauty and mystery.

"Astral Creeper!" Pei Tianji could no longer contain his inner turmoil, his breath growing heavy with excitement.

In the vast expanse of the Everlands, there were originally three Astral Creepers. One had perished, another was lost, and now only the Starmoon Sect, having invested a fortune, was meticulously caring for the last one. Rumor had it that at least three elders from the Starmoon Sect were constantly seated beside the Astral Creeper, vigilantly guarding it.

Pei Tianji, in his entire life, had only seen a single vine of the Astral Creeper on Celestial Isle, never a complete one.

"This is the Astral Creeper! It truly is as wondrous as they say!"

"We have but one left in the Everlands!"

"The Astral Creeper is indeed as legendary as its reputation suggests."

The visitors, who had been eager yet cautious about venturing into the Terror Claws' mountains, crowded around, marveling and expressing their awe.

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

"Just 150,000," Pei Tianji admitted, his cheeks flushing with embarrassment. He hurriedly added, "I also have a few magic items worth 50,000 soulstones, but I haven't had the chance to sell them yet! Elder, if you're willing, I could try to arrange to borrow some more from a few friends."

After finishing his statement, he quickly turned to Liang Mo and asked, "Brother Liang?"

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

"Elder, could you spare me one vine?" Pei Tianji pleaded earnestly.

Beru's expression turned somewhat peculiar.

Pei Tianji, not wanting to upset or annoy him, remained silent, not daring to interrupt as Beru seemed deep in thought.

After a moment, the Starborn's Starfallen Oracle, seemingly indifferent and even a bit brusque, snapped off a vine from the Astral Creeper right in front of Pei Tianji.

"Be careful!" Pei Tianji yelped in alarm.

"The Astral Creeper isn't so delicate, and there's no special trick to preserving its vines," Beru explained as he handed the shimmering vine to Pei Tianji. "Fifty thousand soulstones will suffice."

"What? What did you say?" Pei Tianji was stunned.

The others were equally flabbergasted.

On Celestial Isle, the price was firmly set, not a soulstone less, for a vine of the Astral Creeper valued at five hundred thousand. Yet this elder from the Starborn was asking for merely fifty thousand!

The price was a tenth of what it should be!

Moreover, it was a long vine that he had broken off right in front of them!

"Just fifty thousand," Beru reiterated.

"Oh, oh, thank you, thank you so much. I'll pay you right away, really..." Pei Tianji babbled as he fumbled to extract a stream of soulstones that cascaded like a river from his Bracelet of Holding.

With a flick of his sleeve, Beru graciously accepted the soulstones.

"That's enough, only fifty thousand!"

As Pei Tianji continued to spill out more soulstones, Beru interjected to stop him, giving him an appreciative glance. "Next time you make a purchase, I might consider lowering the price even further."

Leaving that thought with Pei Tianji, Beru smiled contentedly and flew back to the Terror Claws.

Just as he departed, something occurred to Beru, and he turned back to Liang Mo, remarking offhandedly, "This time, the Nightscale Tribe has brought a significant quantity of Black Thorn. This wood isn't actually rare in the Nightscale Tribe's Domain."

Liang Mo's frame shook as a look of wild joy flashed in his eyes.

…