Chapter 1598: Chapter 1598: Qingzhu Venerable

The four characters “Royal Grade Spirit Pill” exploded like a clap of thunder in the ears of the many martial artists present, leaving them stunned and speechless.

Numerous fervent gazes fell upon the lean man in the azure robe.

If those powerful figures hadn’t discerned that the lean man’s strength was unfathomable and beyond their reach, someone might have directly tried to seize the Royal Grade Spirit Pill from him.

Royal Grade cultivation resources, being of a higher grade than King Grade cultivation resources, play a greater auxiliary role in martial artists’ cultivation and are naturally more precious.

However, Royal Grade cultivation resources are extremely rare, and even those of inferior Royal Grade are coveted treasures for martial artists’ cultivation.

Among the tens of thousands of martial artists present, probably only Fang Bai could discern that the man in the azure robe was a high-rank Soul Severing expert, also one of the highest cultivation levels among these tens of thousands of martial artists.

The man in the azure robe appeared to be around fifty years old, with sword-like eyebrows, starry eyes, and cascading black hair. His face bore a gentle, warm smile, evoking a sense of elegance and nobility yet being approachable.

In his left hand, he held an emerald green fan, fanning it leisurely. Others thought the fan was ordinary, but Fang Bai’s eyes narrowed, knowing that the seemingly unremarkable fan was indeed a superior King Grade Wind System Spirit Weapon, capable of easily stirring a fierce gale with a gentle wave.

The man in the azure robe stopped before Fang Bai, first assessing the Blood-Drinking Mad Blade in Fang Bai’s hand with admiration, then looked at Fang Bai with a smile, exuding complete self-assurance.

Clearly, he believed that the Royal Grade Spirit Pill he offered was sincere enough to sway Fang Bai.

After all, in his eyes, Fang Bai was merely a Nascent Soul Perfection expert, and a bottle of Royal Grade Spirit Pill might very well help him advance to the Soul Severing realm. How could such a temptation be resisted?

“I refuse!”

No one expected that Fang Bai would shake his head and reject the man in the azure robe’s request to exchange his blood-red long blade for the Royal Grade Spirit Pill publicly.

The man in the azure robe was momentarily stunned, then asked with interest, “Why not trade? Is my cultivation resource not persuasive enough? How about two bottles of Royal Grade Spirit Pills?”

Fang Bai shook his head again and smiled, “It’s not about the cultivation resources; I simply don’t want to trade.”

The man in the azure robe said, “I am indeed fond of your Blood Blade… Name a condition; if I can meet it, I will agree. How about that?”

With these words, the martial artists around couldn’t help but become envious and jealous of Fang Bai.

In their minds, a powerful person daring to produce two bottles of Royal Grade Spirit Pills in broad daylight must be confident of their strength, implying that the man in the azure robe was at least a Soul Severing middle-rank expert.

And for a Nascent Soul Realm expert like Fang Bai, obtaining a promise from a Soul Severing middle-rank expert was a tremendous opportunity.

Some even grew more interested in Fang Bai’s blood-red long blade, wondering if the man with such immense power was willing to exchange two bottles of Royal Grade Spirit Pills for it, that the Blood Blade had to be an extraordinary spiritual artifact.

Yet, no one present, including the man in the azure robe, could determine the grade of Fang Bai’s Blood-Drinking Mad Blade, leading to judgments purely based on speculation.

But regardless of the terms offered by the man in the azure robe, Fang Bai simply shook his head in refusal.

Fortunately, the man in the azure robe, repeatedly rejected, did not become angry, and instead sighed regretfully, standing with his hands behind his back beside Fang Bai and the others.

“Fine, use your Blood Blade as a wager! No backing out if you lose!”

Huang Paoxiao, seeing the man in the azure robe and Fang Bai discussing the Blood Blade for so long, realized that Fang Bai’s Blood Blade wasn’t an ordinary item. Upon this realization, he immediately brightened and addressed Fang Bai excitedly.

Huang Paoxiao currently used a Split-Mountain Fork, which was a medium King Grade spiritual artifact, while Fang Bai’s Blood Blade certainly had a higher grade. If he could win it and claim it as his own, it would be like adding wings to a tiger, greatly enhancing his combat strength.

Before Fang Bai could speak, Hu Wei had already shaken his head, “No way! Brother Fang, how can we use your artifact as a wager?”

Fang Bai smiled, “No worries! I believe your brothers’ trials in the nine-layered Linglong Tower will surpass their opportunities, and your strength will increase faster!”

Hu Zhuang clenched his fist, “Brother, since Brother Fang trusts us so much, what else is there to say? We just need to strive harder during the trial! Last time the Huang brothers had good fortune, it doesn’t mean this time will be the same; last time our luck was poor, it doesn’t mean this time will be too!”

Hu Wei frowned, “But what if…”

Hu Zhuang said, “If we lose, we’ll just compensate Brother Fang with our brothers’ artifacts and some cultivation resources to make up for Brother Fang’s loss! We have the confidence to win, but can afford to lose!”

Hu Wei glanced at Fang Bai, who nodded with a smile, then looked at the arrogant-looking Huang Paoxiao, and gritted his teeth, nodded heavily, and said solemnly to Huang Paoxiao, “I’ll wager with you! If I win, your Split-Mountain Fork is mine; if you win, Brother Fang’s Blood Blade is yours!”

Huang Paoxiao laughed and shook hands with Hu Wei as an oath, pledging not to go back on his word.

“Such extravagance! Such extravagance!”

Seeing that Fang Bai dared to use the Blood Blade as a wager, the man in the azure robe couldn’t help but shake his head and sigh, looking full of regret.

Fang Bai, however, took some interest in the man in the azure robe, initiating a conversation, “May I know your esteemed name, Senior?”

The man in the azure robe casually replied, “You can call me Qingzhu Venerable.”

Many experts around who heard the name of the man in the azure robe couldn’t help but be taken aback, showing signs of respect.

Qingzhu Venerable was a loose cultivator from the Heaven’s Net Realm’s Green Bamboo Mountain, possessing an Innate Wood Spirit Root, a high-rank Soul Severing, one of the top experts in the Heaven’s Net Realm.

Though Qingzhu Venerable was powerful, he never bullied the weak, and his ancient and warm-hearted nature, coupled with chivalry, earned him significant renown and respect among many martial artists.

Fang Bai clasped his hands, “So it’s Qingzhu Venerable, I’ve long admired you!”

Pausing for a moment, his gaze fell on the green fan in Qingzhu Venerable’s hand, and he smiled, “Among the weapons used by martial artists in this world, there are the most blades, swords, spears, and axes; those who use a fan are rare. However, this fan is quite a formidable spiritual artifact; anyone who underestimates it will suffer!”

“Oh? Do you know what grade my fan is?”

Seeing Fang Bai interested in the Green Bamboo Fan in his hand, Qingzhu Venerable couldn’t help but ask.

Fang Bai said, “Superior King Grade. If there were Royal Grade Green Wood Marrow, it could be reforged and upgraded to a Royal Grade spiritual artifact!”

“Indeed!”

Qingzhu Venerable looked at Fang Bai, moved, “It sounds like you are quite knowledgeable about Royal Grade spiritual artifacts!”

Fang Bai smiled, “I know a bit of artifact refining, and I have some insights on refining Royal Grade spiritual artifacts! If Senior were to obtain Royal Grade Green Wood Marrow, feel free to come to me and give it a try.”

“Are you serious about that?”

Qingzhu Venerable immediately became excited.