Chapter 1285: Immortal Contracts

"Buying in bulk?"

The newcomer gave a noncommittal smile. "May I ask what you intend to do with all these immortal souls?"

Fang Chen couldn't help but laugh. "What's it to you? If you've got goods, name your price. If you're here to pry for information, you're knocking on the wrong door."

The man grinned playfully. "Don't be upset now. I do have something to offer. It's just that I've heard several others have approached you recently, all with immortal souls in hand. I'm just wondering—will you still have the capacity to buy mine after dealing with theirs?"

Fang Chen replied indifferently, "That's not your concern. If you've got the goods, state the quantity and I'll name the price. Payment in immortal crystals or Yin Lifespan Coins, either works."

The man said happily, "You accept Yin Lifespan Coins too? That's perfect. To be honest, if I hadn't traded with you before, using immortal crystals would be more troublesome. Using Yin Lifespan Coins is much easier for me. I can exchange them into crystals afterward without hassle."

He paused, then said, "Rates have dropped a bit lately. How about fifteen years of Lifespan Coins for one immortal crystal?"

"Are you testing me now?" Fang Chen's voice was calm, but his tone sharpened slightly. "Think I don't know market rates? Yin Lifespan Coins aren't exactly rare in the Underworld, and every Path of Yin walkers knows their value. Ten years worth of Lifespan Coin equals one immortal crystal."

The man shook his head. "Can't do ten. Let's say thirteen. Otherwise, we'll go back to immortal crystals, which'll be more trouble for both of us."

Fang Chen smiled and nodded. "Fine by me. So, how many immortal souls do you have?"

They quickly agreed on a price and on a time and place to meet after the Immortal Exchange ended. The man then took his leave.

In the past month, quite a few cultivators had come to sell immortal souls, at least seven or eight. Among them, some definitely had real goods. But Fang Chen was also sure that at least a few were planning something shady.

Fang Chen's thoughts churned, his expression calm but contemplative.

There are quite a few rogue cultivators hunting immortal souls in the Floating Pagoda Realm... this might've already become an entire underground industry. Fortunately, Senior Brother Pitu is still relatively safe for now. As long as they haven't pried the True Immortal Path from his mouth, they won't go for the kill.

To ensure safety, Fang Chen had already made plans. The old flood dragon, Huang Wuji, and Yuting Zhai would all walk the Path of Yin, enter the Underworld during the operation.

Three fourth-transformation cultivators, plus the Mountain Lord of Dangyin Mountain, Li Wuwang and the others. With a lineup like that, there was a ninety percent chance of successfully suppressing Lin Bao, leaving him no room to escape.

The only real threat would be if both Lin Bao and Wang Chongsong entered the Underworld together. If the two acted in unison, the success rate would drop to around forty or fifty percent. Three fourth-transformation cultivators trying to contain two of the same tier was no easy task. They would need to come up with a reason to separate the two at the right moment.

Just then, the same man who had tried to trick Fang Chen appeared out of nowhere, his tone a bit more cautious now. He said, "Daoist, I didn't expect your business to be this large. You're even buying immortal souls. Do you have contacts in the Floating Pagoda Realm too?"

Fang Chen replied dryly, "I'm not interested in whatever you're peddling, unless you put those peak-grade spirit stones right in front of me. Telling me to go into some immortal's ruins and dig them up myself? You take me for a fool. If you keep pushing, we'll be enemies before long."

Without another word, the man calmly took out three peak-grade spirit stones and placed them on the table, smirking slightly as he looked at Fang Chen.

Fang Chen immediately reached for them, examining them one by one.

The first stone contained a type of energy similar to Azure Lightning, but noticeably darker and more oppressive.

There was a type of power that matched this description in the Great Heavenly Sovereign Chapter.

Great Yin Divine Lightning.

The second stone was filled with murky, chaotic energy. The moment Fang Chen used his divine sense to probe it, he felt a brief wave of dizziness.

Fang Chen's eyes flickered. "Murky. Unstable. Just a few seconds of divine sense contact causes disorientation.... This is Primordial Origin Qi?" murmured Fang Chen, his expression shifting.

The scorn he had previously shown toward the man vanished, replaced by a more serious and measured look.

The man was clearly surprised and couldn't help but praise him, "If I wasn't sure before, I am now. You really are a collector of peak-grade spirit stones. Do you know how many years I spent studying that stone? How many experts I have consulted before I found a clue in some obscure ancient text and guessed it might be an ancient force like Primordial Origin Qi...."

He shook his head in admiration. "But you... just one glance, and you identified it instantly. I am convinced. That whole cabinet of spirit stones truly deserves to be in your hands."

Fang Chen waved it off lightly. "Just a bit of study, nothing impressive."

Then, he moved on to inspect the third peak-grade spirit stone.

After a brief glance at the peak-grade spirit stone, he set it aside. "There's Yang Corrosion Flame inside. I already have that."

After a pause, he continued, "I'll take these two peak-grade spirit stones. At the standard rate, that's ten immortal crystals."

The man shook his head. "I don't intend to sell these two peak-grade spirit stones to you."

"Then please leave. Although I'm interested in this item, I won't lose my sense of purpose over it." Fang Chen smiled slightly. "It's good if I gain something from this Immortal Exchange, but if I don't, I'll just go with the flow."

The man smiled. "You misunderstand. I am not selling them—I am giving them to you. I just want to sell you a piece of information."

Fang Chen raised a brow. "Same old story? You're talking about that immortal ruin you can't reach because you offended someone. But if you're selling the information, why come to me? Immortal Worshipping Palace would offer a high price, and besides them, even the sixth-transformation immortals from the Nanqing Constellation could pay you well."

He gave a faint smile. "Your approach raises some doubts in me. You'd better take these two spirit stones back. I don't accept unearned rewards."

The man hadn't expected Fang Chen to be so stubborn. He'd even offered two top-grade stones as leverage, yet Fang Chen wouldn't budge.

After a few moments of silence, the man calmly said, "They can't offer the price I want. Worse, dealing with them is like partnering with a tiger. It could cost me my life. Two hundred immortal crystals. Just two hundred immortal crystals, and all the peak-grade spirit stones within that immortal's ruin will be yours."

Fang Chen looked at him seriously, "First, your words may not be trustworthy. Second, even if you're telling the truth, there's no guarantee the peak-grade spirit stones are still in the ruins. Third, two hundred immortal crystals is no small amount and I don't think this deal is stable. Fourth, if you truly want to make this deal, keep those two spirit stones. After the Immortal Exchange, come find me again. We'll head to the ruin together."

"I already told you, I've offended people—"

"Then there's no helping it unless you're willing to give me the location first. Once I retrieve the peak-grade spirit stones, I'll calculate the value and pay you in immortal crystals."

Fang Chen thought the man would get up and leave, but to his surprise, he seemed to seriously think the matter over. In the end, he actually nodded, agreeing.

However, the man produced an immortal contract.

Fang Chen had seen one before. Last time, after Lady Suya and Grand Desolate Immortal finalized their cooperation, they signed an immortal contract to protect both their rights.

"This is an immortal contract from the Ten Thousand Star Palace of the Upper Three Realms," explained the man. "This ensures a secure transaction for both of us."

Fang Chen remained silent, deep in thought.

This guy... Could he be Ji Tiandu?