"Rest assured, over the years, I've gathered quite a few rare items. Unfortunately, they're all treasures only usable by cultivators of the demonic path..."
"In terms of value, they are absolutely no less than the two spiritual items in your hand," Wu Tao patted his chest, responding without hesitation.
...
"Heh heh heh!"
"Since Senior Brother Wu is so generous, this junior sister wouldn't dare to be stingy. Then, please take a look at these two spiritual items first..."
Zhang Wan'er chuckled like a blooming flower, her beautiful eyes shimmering with a captivating gaze. Wu Tao only looked for a moment before his heart felt like it would leap out of his throat, and he couldn't bear to meet her eyes.
After a moment of silence, Wu Tao coughed and said, "Very well, it wouldn't hurt to take a look."
Then, Zhang Wan'er raised her jade-like hand, and two dark green wooden boxes flew out from her protective ghost energy, landing steadily on the ground.
These two dark green wooden boxes were adorned with silver runes and seals that continuously flickered, making them appear quite extraordinary.
...
"Senior Brother Wu can first inspect the authenticity of the two spiritual items in this junior sister's possession."
To gain his trust, Zhang Wan'er said.
Wu Tao smiled slightly upon hearing this. He wasn't being polite now as he reached out and grasped the air towards the two wooden boxes. With a "whoosh," they were directly pulled into his hand.
Immediately after, he waved his hand, and a golden light flashed. The silver seals and runes on the wooden boxes detached themselves, and the lids were easily opened.
Inside the first box was a substance as white as jade, emitting a hundred fragrances, like a nectarous liquid. Waves of spiritual energy wafted from it.
Wu Tao dipped a finger into this liquid, which was as white as jade and resembled heavenly nectar.
After a brief examination, he forcibly suppressed the hint of excitement in his heart and slowly nodded at Zhang Wan'er, pretending to be calm as he said, "Not bad, it is indeed the honey of the Hundred Medicine Spiritual Bees."
Having said that, he sealed the wooden box again and turned his gaze to the other wooden box beside it.
When the box was opened, a pale yellow liquid, akin to amber, filled with the essence of fused and purified life force, appeared before Wu Tao's eyes.
With just one glance, Wu Tao recognized the authenticity of the Yellow Springs Water, as the power of life purification was unique in this world.
Having confirmed the authenticity of these two spiritual items, Wu Tao nodded with satisfaction.
...
"Junior Sister, you've also seen the items Senior Brother Wu has brought out. Some of them are even more precious than these two spiritual items in the eyes of your demonic cultivators..."
Wu Tao flicked his robe, and seven or eight jade boxes made of hundred-year-old warm jade landed on the ground.
Then, Wu Tao extended a finger and pointed at these jade boxes in the air expressionlessly. The lids of the boxes all opened by themselves, revealing the various items within.
"Ghost Blood Root, Thousand-Year Yin Ghost Wood, one hundred thousand refined souls, Yan Luo Sha Blood Pill, low-grade yellow spiritual material Hundred-Year Ghost Cry Grass, Blood River Leaf, Mother-Son Yin-Yang Demonic Horn, Gray Corpse Demon Bead..."
Before Wu Tao could name the contents of the boxes, Zhang Wan'er's sharp eyes recognized them one by one and she recited their names. The smile on her face immediately widened.
These items, like Wu Tao's, were almost all inferior in rarity to the Hundred Medicine Spiritual Bee Honey and the Yellow Springs Water.
Especially the one hundred thousand refined souls, which seemed to have a fatal attraction to those of the demonic path. With such rare treasures, it was no wonder Wu Tao was so confident.
...
As her gaze swept over him, Zhang Wan'er smiled enchantingly, her slender, bamboo-like fingertips lightly brushing over these treasures. Five pink, shell-like fingernails adorned them, exuding an inexplicable allure.
After confirming the quality of these treasures, Zhang Wan'er raised an eyebrow.
With a crisp, tinkling laugh, she said, "Senior Brother, how about this: I'll spend a night with you, serve you well, and you give me these treasures?"
Wu Tao burst into laughter and said word by word, "I have no appetite for a thorny rose like you."
Zhang Wan'er's laughter shook like a flower, and she bent over as if she had heard a great joke.
After catching her breath, she said, "I wonder who it was whose heart was pounding like a drum, and whose breaths were coming in rapid gasps..."
"Oh, and Senior Brother, do you feel a fire burning in your lower abdomen right now? Men are men, if you're lustful, you're lustful. It's no use pretending to be a big-tailed wolf..."
Wu Tao clenched his fists and vehemently shook his head, denying, "Nonsense, what are you talking about? I don't understand at all."
At this moment, Zhang Wan'er leaned her head close to him, her breath fragrant as she gazed at him with a smile and softly said, "Senior Brother, stop pretending. All men are the same..."
"Except for my master who likes men, all normal men crave my body, and you are no exception."
Upon smelling the slightly bewitching, intoxicating fragrance of her body, and feeling the cheek of the young woman pressed against his face, Wu Tao's mind erupted. A sudden impulse arose within him.
That impulse was to use all his strength to strip this alluring and graceful woman before him, turn her into a naked lamb, and finally crush and devour her!
This was a normal reaction of a man experiencing surging desire upon seeing a beautiful woman.
However, at this moment, another voice in his mind was constantly reminding him that those controlled by desire often perished beneath the thorny, alluring flowers.
As this thought arose, he felt goosebumps erupt all over his body. A cold, sharp killing intent quietly approached. In his shock, he had no time to think and pushed her away.
Zhang Wan'er, who had already intended to strike and kill, saw Wu Tao suddenly regain his senses. The top-grade magical dagger with poison, hidden in her sleeve, was silently retracted.
Zhang Wan'er stuck out her tongue, still maintaining her innocent and vulnerable appearance, as if ready to be plucked at any moment.
Taking a deep breath, the calm Wu Tao began to negotiate with Zhang Wan'er.
...
After a period of bickering, Wu Tao exchanged the Ghost Blood Root and one hundred thousand refined souls for the Hundred Medicine Spiritual Bee Honey and the Yellow Springs Water.
Both Wu Tao and Zhang Wan'er were quite satisfied with the exchange, each getting what they needed.
Zhang Wan'er obtained the one hundred thousand refined souls, which would definitely allow her to reach new heights in controlling ghosts and cultivating demonic arts, further solidifying her foundation and promising a boundless future.
Furthermore, the Ghost Blood Root contained pure demonic and blood Qi, which was one of the key auxiliary spiritual items for Zhang Wan'er's breakthrough from the Foundation Establishment stage to the Core Formation stage.
On the other hand.
For Wu Tao, the Hundred Medicine Spiritual Bee Honey was a widely useful item for all cultivators.
When consumed with spiritual spring water containing pure spiritual energy, it could increase a cultivator's cultivation and spiritual energy recovery speed, and it could also heal injuries. Of course, this was the most wasteful way to consume it.
The greatest value of the Hundred Medicine Spiritual Bee Honey lay in refining pills.
Wu Tao knew that the efficacy of the Hundred Medicine Spiritual Bee Honey was comparable to immortal-grade spiritual medicines of several thousand years, and it was a necessary ingredient for refining various Foundation Establishment pills.
It could enhance the efficacy of pills and increase the success rate of pill formation, making it a universally useful item for alchemists.
Although Wu Tao himself couldn't refine pills, he had friends who could. He could ask them for help.
Even if he had to pay for the refining materials himself, and the pills were divided fifty-fifty after completion, it would still be much cheaper than buying spiritual pills and elixirs from auction houses with spirit stones.
...
As for the Yellow Springs Water, it contained pure fusion and purification power that could help Wu Tao purify and refine the spiritual energy within his body, making his innate sword Qi more powerful and pure.
This was also very important for Wu Tao's future breakthrough from the Foundation Establishment stage to the Core Formation stage.
...
After the transaction was completed, Zhang Wan'er did not leave immediately.
Her eyes were alluring, and as her red lips parted, a string of silver bell-like laughter suddenly rang out. Her pearly teeth parted slightly, and she gently bit her lower lip.
Her eyes blinked softly, as if they were about to drip with moisture.
After not seeing each other for several years, Zhang Wan'er had become even more beautiful.
Her skin was as white as snow, and she wore a long black dress that accentuated her slender waist, which was impossible to grasp. A pair of ruby buttons adorned her chest, hinting at her full bosom. Her legs, as long and slender as jade, stood straight. Her lips were like flowers, and her teeth were as white as snow.
Upon closer inspection, compared to when he first saw her, her charm and seductive allure had increased by another notch.
She was beautiful and elegant, captivating and graceful, as if the smile of a celestial demon could overturn the entire world.
This beauty, however, was a mature temperament that radiated from within. Every glance, every smile, was imbued with the charm of an unparalleled beauty.
It often made one forget her identity, all her flaws, and fall deeply into her charm, unable to extricate themselves.
After the transaction, Wu Tao, who had let down his guard, suddenly saw this sight and his heart began to pound. A momentary lapse appeared in his posture.
Seeing this, how could Zhang Wan'er let such an opportunity slip by? If there were no opportunity, then so be it...
But if there was an opportunity, she would certainly not let it go.
Having grown up in the demonic path, how could Zhang Wan'er miss the chance to kill and steal, to engage in a risk-free business?
A deep green light erupted, and ghost energy swirled. Countless malevolent spirits and ghosts were unleashed.
Wu Tao's brow furrowed as he saw the countless vengeful spirits and ghosts charging at him from all directions, and he knew immediately that something was wrong.
He had carelessly almost fallen victim to this seductive demoness, but fortunately, he was no longer the man he used to be.
Wu Tao channeled the spiritual energy within his body and drew his sword. The moment his hand met the hilt, a sharp sword qi flashed across the blade.
Instantly, man and sword became one. A golden light erupted, sharp and unparalleled, transforming into a hundred-zhang-long rainbow.