"Holding a temporary position? Is it because of the heavenly fire incident?" Yuan Ming saw that his mana had reached the peak of returning to void and immediately understood.

"Fellow Daoist Wan has sharp insight. The heavenly fire affair has been causing a stir, happening right in the critical area of White Emperor City. The store managers are really not at ease, so they sent me first to check the situation." Hou Luyuan explained.

"I see, but I came today mainly to purchase some items, and since you have other pressing tasks, I dare not trouble you." Yuan Ming said politely.

"No matter, the heavenly fire has yet to appear, and I am free for the moment. Besides, I am responsible for this area and must be diligent. Just tell me what you need, and I will have someone find it." Hou Luyuan replied.

Hearing this, Yuan Ming did not hold back, listing out several required items. Besides the high-level spirit wood he's been seeking, he mentioned Nine Nether Iron and the remaining spiritual materials needed to refine the Moon God Ring.

"The spiritual materials you requested are quite precious, and the store has limited stock, so it will take some time to gather them." Hou Luyuan said with some apology.

"That's fine, just collect them all and pass them to me when ready." Yuan Ming, having collected these in several cities, knew it would take time.

"Thank you for your understanding. Speaking of high-level spirit wood, I do have a piece of unknown origin on hand. Would Fellow Daoist Wan be interested?" Hou Luyuan said with a bit of delight and then a hint of embarrassment.

"Oh, may I have a look first?" Yuan Ming nodded.

Hou Luyuan waved his right hand, and a jade box about a foot high and three feet long appeared on the table.

As he gently opened the lid of the jade box, a faint ancient aura wafted out, and Yuan Ming focused his gaze.

Inside the wooden box lay a trunk, as thick as a bowl and two feet long, with an aged, rough appearance, its color between green and gray.

In an instant, Yuan Ming felt the bark of the World Tree in his dantian world stir, spurring the undying tree roots and vines to desperately break through the void, to entwine this tree branch and devour it completely.

"This is the World Tree!" Although his face showed no change, his heart was in turmoil.

The last time he only obtained a piece of the World Tree's bark, cultivating it brought countless benefits, and here lay a piece this thick!

Yuan Ming suppressed his excitement, maintaining a calm face, examining the branch as if seeing it for the first time before slowly speaking:

"I can't discern much, but this trunk seems quite ancient and might be useful. I'll buy it; how much does Fellow Daoist want for it?"

"Since you favor it, the price is negotiable. I heard you previously sold a batch of high-grade soul refining pills here, and should still have some in reserve. I'll ask for no more, just twenty pieces, and this branch is yours." Hou Luyuan closed the jade box with the appearance of offering a bargain.

Yuan Ming glanced at Hou Luyuan, noting how the aura of the World Tree fragment was restrained, bearing no distinct characteristic other than appearing ancient. Hou Luyuan indeed grasped the opportunity, daring to set such a high price.

Of course, if Hou Luyuan knew this branch was a fragment of the World Tree, even two hundred pieces might not suffice.

"Twenty high-grade soul refining pills? You're really opening the lion's mouth, do you perhaps know its origin?" Yuan Ming laughed mockingly.

"This, I'm also unaware of its origin, but I've tested it with true fire, thunder strikes, and water submersion, yet nothing can shake it, so its origin must be extraordinary." A hint of embarrassment flashed across Hou Luyuan's face.

"So even Fellow Daoist Hou doesn't know, you're really fleecing me here; no matter what, I am the Guest Elder of the Ten Thousand Goods Immortal Trip." Yuan Ming said flatly.

"If Fellow Daoist feels it's too high, we can agree on fifteen high-grade soul refining pills." Hou Luyuan conceded, admitting his initial asking price was steep.

"Fifteen soul refining pills are worth 15 million spirit stones, enough to buy several prime spiritual treasures. You might as well keep this item." Yuan Ming waved him off.

"Then ten high-grade soul refining pills." Hou Luyuan pondered momentarily before saying.

"I've run out of high-grade soul refining pills, let's settle it with spirit stones, three million spirit stones." Yuan Ming proposed.

"No high-grade soul refining pills? Then twelve million spirit stones, no less." Hou Luyuan said firmly, after a brief pause.

He noticed that although Yuan Ming said no, he continued negotiating, clearly intending to buy.

"The business I did with your Ten Thousand Goods Immortal Trip recently was quite profitable for you. If Fellow Daoist Hou truly wants to seal this deal, offer a sincere price." Yuan Ming, seeing his intent recognized, did not pretend anymore.

"Ten million spirit stones." Hou Luyuan considered for a moment and said.

"Four million spirit stones."

"Nine million..."

After some back-and-forth negotiations, Yuan Ming reluctantly agreed to a price of eight million spirit stones.

"For Fellow Daoist Hou, eight million it is, but I don't have that much on hand. How about this, I pay five million spirit stones now, and the remaining three million upon my next collection of materials; what does Fellow Daoist Hou think?" Yuan Ming suggested after some thought.

"Agreed." Hou Luyuan nodded without hesitation, pushing the jade box towards Yuan Ming.

"Are you not worried I won't pay the rest?" Yuan Ming was a bit taken aback.

"I trust Fellow Daoist Wan, as well as the token in your hand." Hou Luyuan chuckled.

Understanding dawned on Yuan Ming, and without further ado, he took out five pieces of high-grade soul refining pills before putting away the jade box.

"Does Fellow Daoist Wan have accommodations in the city, or would you like me to arrange a cave mansion in the Yuanjian District?" Hou Luyuan, rising to see him off, inquired courteously along the way.

Yuan Ming politely declined, and soon left the Ten Thousand Goods Immortal Trip, returning to Wulu's cave mansion.

After informing Wulu, he entered the secret chamber within the cave mansion, setting up several prohibitions before eagerly taking out the branch of the World Tree to inspect.

The undying tree in his dantian was now frantically writhing its roots and vines, seemingly eager to manifest and devour the branch.

Yuan Ming didn't keep it waiting long, staring at the branch for a moment before willing himself into the undying tree form. Innumerable roots and vines spread out, completely enveloping the World Tree branch in his hand.

In an instant, an ancient aura from times immemorial poured out, and Yuan Ming's vision once again revealed the hazy scene of the World Tree's birth.

Meanwhile, the World Tree in his grasp melted into a misty light of chaos, swiftly merging into the World Tree bark.

The Ten Thousand Wood Origin within the World Tree's bark expanded visibly, and the bark itself rapidly grew.

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