This Sword Cultivator is Somewhat Dependable

"Greetings Lu Daoist, Zang Daoist," the youth known as Master Mo greeted both parties as he entered.

Lu Qingshan and Zang Xiaojian stood up and returned the gesture, "Greetings, Master Mo."

Master Mo waved his hand, speaking amiably, "You flatter me too much. Just call me Mo Yan."

Lu Qingshan nodded without saying much.

Mo Yan then continued, "I've heard from Xinyue that you seek our help in locating someone?"

Zang Xiaojian nodded, "Indeed, as long as you're willing to help, the reward is negotiable."

Mo Yan spread his hands with a light chuckle, "Our Dragon Slaying Saber faction isn't currently in need of spirit stones."

A trace of surprise flickered through Lu Qingshan's mind.

What Mo Yan had said was at odds with his expectations.

In his mind, given the pressure from the Sea God Sect, all actions taken by the Dragon Slaying Saber faction had to remain clandestine, making it impossible for them to own overt assets like spirit ore mines or spirit medicine gardens.

Moreover, considering they were plotting to overthrow the mighty Sea God Sect, an endeavor that would surely drain resources, they should be in great need of spirit stones.

Unless the Master Mo before him was lying, it meant that the Dragon Slaying Saber faction had a very special means of generating wealth.

Lu Qingshan couldn't be certain which case it was just yet, but either possibility suggested the situation was less than ideal.

"If there's anything you need, Master Mo, please don't hesitate to ask. If it's within our capabilities, we will try our utmost to assist," Lu Qingshan replied politely, showing no signs of discouragement.

For he understood that if the Dragon Slaying Saber had no intention of helping, they would have outright refused his request rather than dragging their feet. And Master Mo certainly wouldn't have come to meet them in person.

This could only mean that Master Mo must have an ulterior motive.

Mo Yan said with a smile, "Actually, there is a small favor I'd like to ask of you two for assistance."

Lu Qingshan gave the impression of being all ears.

Mo Yan carefully articulated his words, "The Sea God Sect has opened a market in Jiaolong City, catering to cultivators, which naturally includes their own shops.

Within one of these shops, they sell an item that I happen to need.

However, as you know, given our adversarial relationship with the Sea God Sect, having someone from our side attempt to purchase from them would be exceedingly risky.

I was hesitating over what to do when you arrived. Since you are cultivators from afar..."

"So, you want us to step in and buy this item for you?"

"Exactly, and don't worry about the reward. I will not only have the organization assist you in your search, but I will also offer you a substantial payment."

Great, originally you planned to give them spirit stones, but now they don't want them and instead want to give some to you.

Lu Qingshan found the situation somewhat amusing.

"What do you think?" Lu Qingshan looked toward Zang Xiaojian, for they were travel companions, and it would be best if both agreed on any decision.

Zang Xiaojian replied unconcernedly, "I'll follow your lead."

"Then we agree to this task," Lu Qingshan said without further hesitation, accepting Mo Yan's proposal.

The smile on Mo Yan's face became warmer, "Let me explain the details to you…"

What Mo Yan wished to acquire was a fire seed named Cold Spirit Fire, a Netherfire seed that originated from the depths of the sea. Its power was arcane and if refined, one could wield the Cold Spirit Fire itself, a true treasure for those who practice fire attribute Dharma Cultivation.

"An item like a Netherfire seed is rare, and conventionally, no sect would offer it for sale, typically keeping it for internal use.

But as you know, due to regional constraints, the local cultivators on the islands are mostly practitioners of the water element essence, and the Sea God Sect is no different."

In the Five Elements, the many overcome the few, thus the Water Element trumps the Fire Element. On the island, most cultivators practice Water Attribute Techniques, so even if there are cultivators who practice other attributes, none would be foolish enough to choose the Fire Element.

As such, this Cold Spirit Fire Seed became something tasteless to eat, yet too wasteful to discard, a true chicken rib. The Sea God Sect simply put it away in the attic and decided to sell it in their own shop."

"So, why would you take an interest in this Fire Seed?" Zang Xiaojian asked bluntly, seemingly without any ulterior motives.

Mo Yan wasn't in a hurry and replied slowly, "It just so happens that I am one of those who would be foolish enough to choose to cultivate a Fire Element Technique."

...

"Qingshan, that Mo Yan has especially strong Divine Soul Power, far surpassing ordinary people." After leaving the other courtyard, the Western Rat King immediately slinked out of the Spirit Beast Bag and leaped onto Zang Xiaojian's shoulder, looking at Qingshan with amazement.

"Is that so?" Qingshan pondered thoughtfully, piecing together all the information, and seemed to find an answer to a particular doubt in his mind.

"What do you think of what Master Mo said? How much truth is in it?" Zang Xiaojian asked.

After thinking for a moment, Qingshan answered frankly, "Nine parts true, one part false, I suppose. Their reluctance to purchase this Fire Seed themselves must not be as simple as he described.

If I'm not mistaken, it's very likely a trap deliberately set by the Sea God Sect, designed to lure in Master Mo, and he understands this, which is why he doesn't dare to act hastily."

"A trap?"

"Master Mo must be a top-notch Artifact Refiner, and which Artifact Refiner could resist the temptation of a Netherfire Seed?"

"Why do you say that?" Zang Xiaojian widened her eyes upon hearing this.

She was very curious, as to how Qingshan derived information she didn't know from the same conversation.

"Firstly, as he said himself, on the island where most cultivators practice Water Attribute Techniques, only those who have lost their minds would choose to cultivate a Fire Attribute Technique which is countered by Water." Qingshan looked at Zang Xiaojian, who was listening to his analysis intently, and counter-questioned, "Do you think that Master Mo is one of those who have lost his mind?"

Zang Xiaojian shook her head, "No, he seems very shrewd to me."

"If he's not one who has lost his mind, then he must have some compelling reasons to cultivate a Fire Attribute Technique." Qingshan paused for a moment before voicing his own thoughts, "And Artifact Refiners are precisely the type of cultivators who must practice Fire Attribute Techniques."

"Moreover, you must have noticed how the Foundation Establishment cultivators Fa Shui, Five Dwarfs, and New Moon's reverence toward Mo Yan was genuine, with no sign of pretense, indicating that Mo Yan's status within the Dragon Slaying Saber is probably quite high.

However, his cultivation is only at Foundation Establishment, and with that alone, he shouldn't have such a high status, which leaves one possibility: in other areas, this Mo Yan must possess an exceptional talent."

"Also, the three of them address him as 'Master Mo,' a title generally reserved for cultivators who have certain achievements in Formations, Alchemy, or Artifact Refining."

"Furthermore, as the Western Rat King said, Mo Yan's Divine Soul Power is extraordinarily strong, which is also a characteristic of a top-notch Artifact Refiner."

"Most importantly, Mo Yan has displayed the demeanor of someone from the Dragon Slaying Saber who is not short of Spirit Stones, suggesting they must have some means of acquiring a large influx of Spirit Stones to sustain their organization's operations.

With strategic resources like Spirit Stone mines and Spirit Ores monopolized by the Sea God Sect, Artifact Refining, which values skill, is undoubtedly the most likely way for them to generate wealth."

Zang Xiaojian's face lit up with sudden understanding, "Going by what you said, this Mo Yan seems to be up to no good, wanting us to bite the bait laid by the Sea God Sect to hook him."

"You can't say he's completely ill-intentioned. His goal is to obtain the Fire Seed, not to entrap us.

In fact, it's quite unlikely that the Sea God Sect would target the two of us foreigners for purchasing the Fire Seed." Qingshan said calmly, "That's also why I agreed to help him."

Zang Xiaojian clenched her little fist and bared her teeth grimly, "That's good then, otherwise, I, Zang Xiaojian, would have made sure he regretted it!"

After listening to Qingshan's analysis, the Western Rat King struck a thoughtful pose, looked at Qingshan with a serious expression, and said, "I think that Master Mo and you are quite alike."

"How so?" Zang Xiaojian couldn't help but interrupt and ask.

The Western Rat King nodded solemnly, "He's like Qingshan, always giving me the impression of being scheming, with a calm and collected facade, but in reality, he's full of cunning plans."

Qingshan smacked the Western Rat King's head with annoyance, "Watch your words."

The Western Rat King, holding his little head and feeling indignant, sought support from Zang Xiaojian, tugging at the strands of her hair that fell over her shoulders, and asked defiantly, "What do you think?"

"Not at all," Zang Xiaojian decisively shook her head, her bright and spirited eyes carefully observing Qingshan's face for several moments, her lips pursed with a faint smile, eyes curved, "He's not nearly as good-looking as Qingshan."