CHAPTER 397: CHAPTER 42: COMPETING TO PRESENT GIFTS

About Buzhou Soil, it has always been just a legend on the Canglong Continent. According to the elders of the continent, among several planes, there is a Dimension Mountain that connects these planes, preventing them from tipping over. The name of the mountain is Buzhou.

Therefore, Buzhou Mountain is also synonymous with Tongtian Mountain.

Buzhou Mountain towers into the heavens and reaches down into earth. Consequently, the soil of the mountain is also known as Divine Soil.

Legend has it that forging Buzhou Soil into a weapon creates the most resilient defensive weapon. Moreover, a Spiritual Artifact forged with a pinch of Buzhou Soil will possess earthy attributes.

Seeing Sha Xi’s aggressive approach, it was clear she came well-prepared.

Sha Xi’s trip to Five Saints Mountain this time was originally for the ancient Jiao Clan’s Spiritual Patterns. Little did she know, after arriving at Kalan Peak, she only found a collapsed cave.

Just clearing the cave took quite some time, and what frustrated her most was that, upon excavating it, there was nothing inside.

Not having gotten what she wanted, Sha Xi was unwilling to return to the Divine Court. Her mother, Sha Yan, had said that under the pressure of the elder council, Divine Son Zong Shaqing had already descended from Divine Judgment Mountain to pick her up, so she simply decided to wait in town.

Life in Five Saints Town was very boring. Later, hearing that there was a Mountain Market in town, she came over for a stroll. Somehow, she managed to learn about the brawny man outside the weapon shop possessing Buzhou Soil.

The moment Yue Jinghua saw him, she knew the visitor meant trouble. She quickly took two steps in one and approached the brawny man. Without waiting for him to speak, she said, "Big brother, I’ll buy all your Buzhou Soil."

Originally, she wanted to check if the Buzhou Soil was genuine. After all, the existence of Buzhou Mountain was just a legend. But now, with Sha Xi cutting in, Yue Jinghua had to make the first move to strengthen her position.

Upon hearing this, red flashes darted through Sha Xi’s silver-white pupils. She glared at Yue Jinghua and, seeing him, felt he looked somewhat familiar. She suddenly remembered he was the mercenary youth she encountered on Kalan Peak that day.

Him again! Truly a disaster star, Sha Xi promptly said, "How audacious, you dare to rob my Buzhou Soil. Just say the word; no matter how many Dark Pills you want, I will fulfill your desire."

"Goddess?" Behind Guo Ziyu, Ximing shivered and involuntarily lowered his head, looking quite uncomfortable.

The brawny man, however, did not show the panic others might upon hearing someone from the Divine Court was present. His eyes darted between Yue Jinghua and Sha Xi, understanding that both came for the Buzhou Soil.

Sha Xi was also determined to get the Buzhou Soil; she wanted the Artifact Refining Elder from the Divine Court to forge a special Spiritual Artifact possessing dual attributes of earth and time.

"You two both want the Buzhou Soil?" The man dressed like a hunter spoke calmly, pulling out a bowl from his bosom. The bowl was roughly the same size as those used by monks for alms. It was brick red, the glaze coating on it already peeling off, making it look very worn.

Inside the bowl, there was a small handful of gray-brown soil that didn’t seem to differ from ordinary dirt at a glance.

Upon seeing the quantity of the soil, Yue Jinghua and Sha Xi simultaneously showed a look of disappointment; the man’s Buzhou Soil was much less than they had imagined.

Such a tiny amount of soil could not be forged into a weapon; at most, it could only enhance a certain weapon’s attributes.

Nevertheless, something is better than nothing. The Gold Eater Worm had already assured Yue Jinghua that this unremarkable soil was indeed Buzhou Soil.

As for Sha Xi, someone immediately whispered in her ear, confirming that it was Buzhou Soil.

"I’ll take this soil!" Yue Jinghua and Sha Xi spoke in unison.

"Whatever amount of Dark Pills she offers, I’ll bid double that amount," with the Divine Court behind her, Sha Xi boasted financial power. She knew that legal transactions were a must at the Mountain Market, and any form of forceful buying or selling would result in banishment from the Xuan Beast Ridge. Even as a Goddess of the Divine Court, she would be permanently blacklisted by the Mainland Mercenary Union.

"On top of her double bid, I’ll add one more Dark Pill," Yue Jinghua sneered, infuriating Sha Xi whose beautiful eyes glared with rage, itching to slap Yue Jinghua right then and there.

"There’s no point in arguing. I don’t want Dark Pills," the man put an end to their argument impatiently.

If not Dark Pills, then it would be barter trade. Guo Ziyu had also mentioned, some people don’t fancy Dark Pills; they prefer exchanging for items they found useful at the Mountain Market.

Yue Jinghua had plenty of items, but it was unclear exactly what this man was looking for.

"On this trip, I’ve promised to bring back a gift for my wife. She’s very picky; common items simply won’t catch her eye. I’ve been around the town, visited countless shops, yet nothing seems the right fit for her. What I need is a gift that can satisfy my wife, a surprise," the man’s rough voice laid out his conditions.

A gift? A surprise!

Seeing such a burly man display such tenderness was hard for Yue Jinghua to fathom, and she couldn’t help but shudder at the thought of what his wife might be like.

But soon, she grasped the essence of the man’s words. Having scoured the entire town without finding a suitable gift, it was evident that this gift had to be truly special.

Sha Xi furrowed her brows, clearly annoyed by the man’s absurd request. A gift, surprising an older woman?

"What does your wife like? Dark Armor or perhaps Dark Elixirs, Spirit Woods, Dark Beasts? I have a Sixth-level Dark Beast cub here, very adorable," Sha Xi commanded her Maid to bring out a cub that looked like a pet cat, with a pair of bright blue eyes.

"My wife is allergic to cat hair," the burly man dismissed it without even a glance, indicating he thought very little of Sha Xi’s offering.

Then, Sha Xi presented various Spirit Woods and even High-level Spiritual Artifacts, but without exception, the man rejected each one resolutely.

Yue Jinghua watched with both envy and resignation; it had to be said that with the Divine Court as her backing, Sha Xi’s resources far outweighed Yue Jinghua’s own.

Yet, this also made Yue Jinghua realize that even if she gave her all, the man wouldn’t be moved by it.

In her heart, Yue Jinghua pondered how such an apparently rough man could remain indifferent to such precious items.

A gift? Something special, a surprise.

If it were her, what sort of gift would she hope for from a man returning home after a long absence?

Definitely not some bloody Dark Pill beast skins or cold, lifeless Spiritual Artifacts.

A gift for a woman, one who frequently waits alone for her husband to return home.

She had it! Yue Jinghua brightened up with a toothy smile, swiftly took out an item from her Desire Gourd unnoticed by the others, and extended it to the man, declaring loudly: "I wonder if your sister-in-law would like this gift?"