The Presented Scholars rubbed their bound areas and walked towards Fang Yun.
“Are you all okay?” Fang Yun asked.
“We’re fine, thanks to you.” Han Shoulu said.
Li Fanming turned his head to look at the spirit bones and said, “Return our Swallowed Lake Pearls and the things on us!”
The spirit bones disdainfully looked at Li Fanming with their blue fire eyes. One of them said, “Those are our spoils of war! If you want them, exchange them with something good.”
Fang Yun said, “The Swallowed Lake Pearl of the Mohist family requires talent to open. You spirit bones can’t open it, it’s useless to keep it. I’ll exchange one Swallowed Lake Pearl for a piece of ancient demon bone.”
The spirit bones immediately discussed, and finally one of them said, “Three pieces for one!”
Fang Yun said, “Two pieces!”
The spirit bones disagreed, and Fang Yun said, “Then send us out of the Dragon Cliff first.”
The spirit bones immediately walked towards the direction of the mountain pass, and Fang Yun and the others followed.
From a distance, the mountain pass seemed ordinary, but up close, one could see that the walls on both sides of the pass were a fiery red, and a terrifying pressure emanated from the red stone walls.
Fang Yun couldn’t help but think of the power contained in the real dragon bone at the beginning, and the feeling that the giant footprint gave people, they were similar.
Before entering the Holy Land, Fang Yun knew that the entrance to the Dragon Cliff not only had a strong pressure, but also a blood and energy shock. If people wanted to enter and exit the Dragon Cliff, they needed to use Treasures of Literature.
These spirit bones used their own power to resist the force of the Dragon Cliff’s entrance, allowing Fang Yun and the others to smoothly pass through the hundred-zhang-long mountain pass.
As soon as Fang Yun and the others left the mountain pass, all the spirit bones collided together and once again formed a giant of a hundred bones.
The giant of a hundred bones drew a circle in the air with its finger, and a blood and energy halo surrounded everyone.
“We can now discuss the matter of the trade.” The dragon head in the giant of a hundred bones said, the other skulls looked at Fang Yun with greedy and eager eyes, the blue flames in their eye sockets rising.
Fang Yun said, “Two pieces of ancient demon bone for one Swallowed Lake Pearl. Those things are not mine anyway, I can take it or leave it. If you don’t want to exchange, I’ll keep the ancient demon pieces. They’re very useful.”
Hua Yuqing whispered, “More than useful! Many ancient prescriptions require ancient demon bone pieces as a medicine guide. The value of these ancient demon bone pieces is even higher than that of the same-level Flood Dragon bones, only slightly less than the value of real dragon bones.”
“Fang Yun, where did you find these ancient demon bone pieces? I’ve never heard of ancient demon bone pieces in Dragon Cliff?” A Presented Scholar asked in confusion.
“As far as I know, only a few powerful ancient lands have ancient demon bone pieces.” Li Fanming said.
Fang Yun knew that the depths of the Dragon Cliff might involve a big secret, and it might not be appropriate to say it out loud, so he said, “Let’s deal with the matter at hand first.”
Everyone stopped asking and stood quietly behind Fang Yun. They put down their writing boards and dipped their brushes in ink, ready for the trade to break down at any time.
The spirit bones turned a blind eye to these people’s actions and started arguing over the exchange conditions.
Fang Yun increasingly felt that heaven was fair, giving the spirit bones a powerful ability to unite, but also giving them weaknesses such as greed, suspicion, and untrustworthiness.
After a lot of arguing, they finally reached an agreement and threw over the Swallowed Lake Pearls of the eighteen Presented Scholars. The dragon head said, “Give us thirty-six ancient demon bone pieces!”
Fang Yun immediately said, “What about Han Shoulu’s Drinking Pearl of the River?”
The dragon head spirit bone grinned and said, “The Drinking Pearl of the River is far superior to the Swallowed Lake Pearl, you need to exchange it with an ancient demon marrow bead!”
“Okay!”
Fang Yun picked out twenty-nine relatively poor ancient demon bone pieces and a marrow bead from the Swallowed Lake Pearls and threw them over. He said, “Plus the seven pieces from before, that’s exactly thirty-six pieces.”
The dragon head spirit bone took them and threw Han Shoulu’s Drinking Pearl of the River to Fang Yun.
The Presented Scholars each took their Swallowed Lake Pearls and thanked Fang Yun.
Han Shoulu took the Drinking Pearl of the River and said with emotion, “The Drinking Pearl of the River can be exchanged for a Great Scholar’s Treasure of Literature. I not only owe Brother Fang a life, but now also a Great Scholar’s Treasure of Literature.”
Fang Yun smiled and said, “When you were willing to give me the ‘Secret Record of the Holy Land’, we were even. Besides, I also ate your demon handsome Flood Dragon bead. Actually, you don’t need to be polite. Since we are exploring the Holy Land together, helping you is helping me.”
“A truly righteous man.” Han Shoulu whispered in admiration.
Niu Shan laughed so hard that he couldn’t close his mouth. Even he, a barbarian, knew that Fang Yun had exchanged the marrow bead and bone pieces for the gratitude of these nineteen Presented Scholars. These people would further recognize Fang Yun, and in the near future, they might even gain their loyalty. It was a very profitable deal.
The dragon head coughed lightly, the blue fire in its eye sockets flickered slightly, and said, “Alright, now let’s talk about the trade. Your friend said before, use the Holy Fruits to exchange for us to send you away. You’ve left the Dragon Cliff, now give us the Holy Fruits first.”
Fang Yun said, “Of course, the Holy Fruits will be given to you, but we have other trades. After the trades are completed, we will give them to you together, how about that?”
As a result, these spirit bones discussed for a while before they made a decision. The one-zhang-long dragon head stared at Fang Yun and said, “We spirit bones are based on honesty, so we agree to your proposal. What do you want?”
Fang Yun said, “I want to exchange marrow beads or ancient demon bone pieces for the Swallowed Lake Pearls and Drinking Pearls of the River that you obtained before.”
All the Presented Scholars immediately looked at Fang Yun, thinking that Fang Zhenguo not only had talent, but also great wisdom. Those who had entered the Holy Land in the past were extraordinary, most of them were the children of All the Saints’ Prominent Families. The Swallowed Lake Pearls and even the Drinking Pearls of the River they left behind after their death must contain extraordinary treasures.
Fang Yun quietly waited for the spirit bones to discuss.
Before long, the giant of the spirit bones placed nine Swallowed Lake Pearls at its feet and said, “The old rule, two bone pieces for one Swallowed Lake Pearl.”Fang Yun immediately placed the eighteen bone fragments at his feet and said, “These are bone fragments, which I will trade with you along with the holy fruit at the end.”
“Agreed,” the Dragon Head replied.
Fang Yun then asked, “Don’t you have the Drinking Pearl of the River?”
“We have the Blood and Qi Drinking Pearl of the River, but not the Talent Drinking Pearl of the River,” the Dragon Head replied.
“What a pity, I only want the Talent Drinking Pearl of the River,” Fang Yun said.
The Dragon Head replied, “But your human race can transform the normal Blood and Qi Drinking Pearl of the River into the Talent Drinking Pearl of the River.”
“We have many ways to obtain the Drinking Pearl of the River outside. I only want the special products of the Holy Land now, such as the Thundering Stone. Of course, if your Blood and Qi Drinking Pearl of the River is cheap, I can exchange for it,” Fang Yun said.
“The Drinking Pearl of the River is the Drinking Pearl of the River, the price is the same,” the Dragon Head replied.
Fang Yun retorted, “You spirit bones have been in the Dragon Cliff for a long time, what do you need the Drinking Pearl of the River for? You want to exchange my good things for your useless things? I won’t do it! Even if I don’t trade the marrow pearls and bone fragments with you, we humans can still use them, or even trade them with spirit bones from other places!”
“Hmph!” The Dragon Head and many spirit bones were very dissatisfied, but they had to admit that they needed the marrow pearls and bone fragments of the ancient demon more.
Ma Xiong reminded, “You’d better keep some marrow pearls. Some mechanical beasts need marrow pearls to exert their power. Your marrow pearls are from the ancient demon, which are more valuable.”
Fang Yun nodded and continued, “I have the marrow pearls and bone fragments of the ancient demon. You can bring out what you are willing to exchange. The things in my hands are limited. First come, first served. If you exchange late, you may get nothing.” Fang Yun wanted to incite internal strife among the spirit bones, so that he could buy more good things at a lower price.
All the spirit bones were moved, and the Giant of Hundred Bones immediately showed signs of disintegration. However, they did not disperse in the end. The Dragon Head firmly said, “No! We will bring out all our things. You can take whatever you want in exchange for the marrow pearls or bone fragments. We will not separate to trade with you.”
“We will not separate!” Many spirit bones echoed.
Fang Yun didn’t expect these greedy spirit bones to have a smart side and hold their bottom line. So he said, “Well, put out all your things, and I will exchange them with marrow pearls and bone fragments.”
The spirit bones discussed in low voices for a moment, and the Giant of Hundred Bones dispersed. The spirit bones gradually put the things they didn’t need on the ground. At least thirty spirit bones took things out of the Drinking Pearl of the River, and the rest of the spirit bones had several Swallowed Lake Pearls, which were much more generous than the humans.
These spirit bones were indeed notoriously greedy. The things they put out included everything from ragged clothes and animal skins to unknown stones, and even their own bones!
The things of more than ninety spirit bones were piled up on the ground. Fang Yun’s eyes lit up, there must be precious things in them.
The Presented Scholars were also extremely envious. Unfortunately, they neither had marrow pearls nor bone fragments. There were things in their Swallowed Lake Pearls and Drinking Pearls of the River, but the spirit bones didn’t need them.
Fang Yun didn’t immediately start selecting, but said to the other Presented Scholars, “There are many items here. I would appreciate your help in selecting. After leaving the Holy Land, I will definitely reward you.”
Everyone immediately understood. Fang Yun’s power was limited after all, and he might miss good things. If they could help Fang Yun pick high-value items, Fang Yun would definitely give them useful things as a thank you in the future.
For Fang Yun, they had no doubt at all. Whether it was Fang Yun’s literary reputation, his previous rescue, or his willingness to exchange their Swallowed Lake Pearls and Drinking Pearls of the River with the bone fragments of the ancient demon, they were all worth their full assistance.
“Okay!” Everyone went to pick.
The spirit bones immediately started discussing. They said that whatever the others picked must be good things, and they could ask for a higher price to exchange for more bone fragments and marrow pearls.
Fang Yun couldn’t hear their words, but he quickly figured out the key and said, “When you see something good, you don’t need to pick it out yourself. Just tell me secretly.”
“Okay!” The Presented Scholars agreed.
The spirit bones sighed one after another, helpless against Fang Yun.
Fang Yun smiled slightly, walked straight to two fist-sized Thundering Stones, and asked, “How to exchange for the Thundering Stones?”
The Dragon Head immediately said, “The Thundering Stone is a special product of our Holy Land, and it’s hard for us to get it too. One Thundering Stone for two marrow pearls.”
“Too expensive!” Fang Yun said and left without a second glance.
The spirit bones were confused. They were all prepared to make a big profit with the Thundering Stones, but they didn’t expect Fang Yun to leave as soon as he said. They felt like they had put all their strength into a punch but hit the air, almost spitting blood.
“Sneaky human race!” A spirit bone muttered.
Fang Yun sneered. The Thundering Stone was indeed important, but he was just a Presented Scholar now. This thing should at least be used on the Treasures of Literature of the Great Scholar so as not to waste it. Instead of buying it at a high price now, it’s better to buy other treasures at a low price. After leaving the Holy Land and reselling them, he might be able to buy more Thundering Stones.
If the spirit bones also asked for sky-high prices for other things, then they would part ways. He would only exchange a little and then leave. After all, the spirit bones didn’t know how many marrow pearls and bone fragments he had.
The spirit bones were shocked by Fang Yun’s move. They simply gave up the idea of taking advantage and decided to trade normally.
Fang Yun pretended to look around for a while, then casually said, “I’ll buy a piece of information with a bone fragment. Have the Demon Clan’s Wolf Savage and Bear Cang met the Mist Butterfly near the Dragon Cliff?” (To be continued.)