Mortal: Starting by looting Han Laomo's entire herb garden

Lu Yan smiled slightly and patted his spirit beast pouch. A beam of white light flew out of the pouch and landed on the reef between the two of them.

It was a spider, its entire body as white as jade, with faint blood-red patterns on its back, eight long, slender legs, and emanating a faint spiritual pressure.

Peak Level 4, Blood Jade Spider.

"Brother Man, what do you think of my spirit beast?"

The bearded man's eyes widened suddenly, and he blurted out, "Blood Jade Spider!"

He stared intently at the spider: "This is the best spirit beast for the La Ding cauldron, where did you find it?"

Lu Yan stood with his hands behind his back and said calmly, "The Great Jin is a sacred place for cultivation in the human realm, with quite a few Nascent Soul cultivators, let alone a mere Blood Jade Spider?"

The bearded man's gaze darted back and forth between Spider and Lu Yan, his mind in turmoil.

Blood Jade Spider, how many years has it been since it appeared in the Chaotic Star Sea?

This thing has few other uses, but it has a unique talent: its spider silk is immune to dry blue ice flames.

The Void Heaven Cauldron, the number one secret treasure of the Chaotic Star Sea, is enveloped in Azure Ice Flame, making it impossible for ordinary cultivators to approach, let alone take it away.

However, if the Blood Jade Spider is used to pull the cauldron, there is a chance to drag the Void Heaven Cauldron out.

What's inside the Void Heaven Cauldron? The Heaven-Mending Pill. A legendary ancient elixir said to prolong life and break through bottlenecks.

Manhuzi had been stuck in the mid-Nascent Soul stage for over a hundred years, unable to break through to the late stage. His lifespan was drawing ever closer, and the Heaven-Mending Pill was something he had been dreaming of.

He was unaware that the so-called Heaven-Mending Pill's ability to prolong life was merely a rumor spread by the Star Palace, intended to incite the righteous and demonic paths to fight each other.

All he knew was that with the Blood Jade Spider, he would have a chance to obtain the Void Heaven Cauldron and the Heaven-Mending Pill.

"How is it?" Lu Yan's voice was calm and unhurried.

The bearded man took a deep breath, suppressing his excitement.

He glanced at the Blood Jade Spider, then at Lu Yan, pondered for a moment, and slowly said, "This spider is not bad, but it can't compare to the treasures in my treasury."

He paused, his tone softening slightly: "However, I'm not an unreasonable person. Give me the spider, and I'll let bygones be bygones."

If he hadn't failed to gain the upper hand in their earlier exchange, he would have already snatched it. Why would he be here haggling with Lu Yan?

Lu Yan shook his head: "No, this spider is a separate transaction."

The bearded man's face instantly darkened. He glared at Lu Yan, his tone unfriendly: "You've already robbed me of everything, what other deal do you want? Do you think I'm easy to bully?"

Lu Yan smiled slightly: "We haven't taken everything yet. Isn't there still the Heaven-Supporting Demonic Art?"

Upon hearing this, the bearded man's expression changed drastically, and he flatly refused: "Impossible! The Heaven-Supporting Demonic Art is passed down through a single lineage; how could I possibly pass it on to an outsider so easily? Don't even think about it!"

Lu Yan stood with his hands behind his back and spoke unhurriedly, "Brother Man, are you aware of the origins of this Heaven-Supporting Demonic Art?"

The bearded man frowned: "What do you mean?"

"The Heaven-Supporting Demonic Art is a technique practiced by the progenitor of the demon realm, Nirvana, and is one-third of the Nirvana Demonic Art."

Lu Yan said calmly, "In ancient times, the demon realm invaded the human realm, and the Nirvana Demon Art was lost to the human realm, splitting into three parts. These three incomplete parts were modified and supplemented by various powerful cultivators. One part was changed into a Buddhist technique, and another part was changed into a demon technique, which has been passed down to this day. The current Nirvana Demon Art is completely unrecognizable. I'm afraid even the Nirvana Ancestor himself wouldn't recognize it."

The bearded man's brows furrowed deeper and deeper, his eyes flickering uncertainly.

He had cultivated the Heaven-Supporting Demonic Art for hundreds of years, yet he had never known that this art had such an origin. The progenitor of the Demon Realm? The Nirvana Demonic Art? One-third? These were things he had never heard of.

"How do you know all this?" the bearded man asked in a deep voice.

Lu Yan did not answer, but took out a jade slip from his storage bracelet and played with it in his hand: "Brother Man, you've been stuck in the mid-Nascent Soul stage for over a hundred years, haven't you?"

My Vajra Technique is a part of the Nirvana Demonic Art, a body-refining technique that was adapted after falling into the Buddhist sect. It shares the same origin as the Heaven-Supporting Demonic Art you possess. Perhaps the mutual reinforcement of these two techniques could aid in a breakthrough?

"Give me the Heaven-Supporting Demonic Art, and I'll offer you the Vajra Manual and the Blood Jade Spider with both hands, how about it?"

The bearded man fell silent. He stared at the jade slip in Lu Yan's hand, then looked at the snow-white blood jade spider on the reef, a struggle flashing in his eyes.

Seeing the bearded man's eyes soften, Lu Yan knew he was already interested and pressed his advantage:

"Brother Man should know that the effects of so-called longevity elixirs will decrease if you only take one type."

"Given Brother Man's status, you must have tried all sorts of longevity elixirs in the Chaotic Star Sea, except for the Heaven-Mending Pill."

The bearded man didn't speak, but the corner of his mouth twitched slightly.

Lu Yan continued, "But my Great Jin is different. Great Jin is a sacred place for cultivation in the human realm, with countless natural treasures, making it the best in the world."

Putting everything else aside, the legendary Rejuvenating Water alone can extend one's lifespan by a quarter. Brother Man, if you have the chance to go to the Great Jin, what are you worried about reaching the end of your life?"

The bearded man's eyes lit up. Rejuvenating water? Extending lifespan by a quarter?

If such a thing truly exists, he could live for at least several hundred more years.

"Can you take me to the Great Jin Dynasty?"

Lu Yan shook his head: "Take you there? I don't have the time for that. But I can tell you how."

The bearded man's face darkened: "How can I trust you? You're an outsider who stole my treasure trove, and now you want to exchange a few empty words for my Heaven-Supporting Demonic Skill?"

Lu Yan shrugged, his tone casual: "If you don't believe me, then I'm out of ideas. I can only say that I'm simply not destined for this Heaven-Supporting Demonic Art. Brother Man, you'd better find a way to get the Heaven-Mending Pill yourself."

He made a gesture as if to put away the Blood Jade Spider.

The bearded man grew impatient: "Wait!"

Lu Yan stopped what he was doing, then sighed and said regretfully:

"What a pity. With the resources of the Great Jin Dynasty, you might have had a chance to break through to the Nascent Soul stage. There are several Nascent Soul stage experts over there, and I heard they've been researching how to smuggle themselves into the Spirit Realm. If Brother Man had the opportunity, he might have had a chance to participate. What a shame."

The bearded man was torn between two conflicting thoughts. A Nascent Soul cultivator? Smuggling himself into the Spirit Realm? These were things he'd never even dared to imagine before. But the man before him spoke with such conviction, it didn't seem like he was just making things up.

Moreover, the Blood Jade Spider is right in front of us, and the hope for the Void Heaven Cauldron is right before our eyes.

He gritted his teeth: "Okay. But you must first tell me how to get to Da Jin."

Lu Yan shook his head: "That won't do. I can only guarantee that the method I'm about to use might reach the Great Jin Dynasty, or it might lead to other cultivation worlds. If you believe it, then go ahead; if not, then forget it."

The bearded man glared at him, his chest heaving violently, clearly suppressing his anger.

"Okay!" After a long while, he squeezed out a single word through gritted teeth.

He took out a jade slip from his storage bag, pressed it to his forehead for a moment, then held the jade slip in his hand. Instead of handing it over, he stared intently at Lu Yan: "This contains the Heaven-Supporting Demon Art."

Lu Yan nodded, took out a jade slip and the forbidden god token that controlled the blood jade spider from his storage bracelet, and held them in his hand as well.

They both reached out their hands at the same time and exchanged them.

"Let's go."

Having obtained the jade slip, Lu Yan scanned it with his divine sense and confirmed that it was indeed the complete version of the Heaven-Supporting Demon Art.

The bearded man glanced quickly at the Vajra Technique, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes. He then looked at the snow-white blood jade spider, and finally a satisfied expression appeared on his face.

"Now you can tell me, right?" The barbarian put away the jade slip and the blood jade spider, and asked impatiently, "How do we get to the Great Jin?"

Lu Yan asked calmly, "Do you know about the Ghost Mist?"