After seeing off the four Great Spirit Beasts, Jaekyung returned to the Black Flood Dragon Palace to inspect his harvest. More than half of the items obtained from the Exchange Meeting were things to be traded for spirit stones, and among the rest, there was nothing he could use.
At a glance, it might seem that the only gain from this Exchange Meeting was spirit stones, but that was not the case. The true harvest he reaped was his standing as a Great Spirit Beast. The four Great Spirit Beasts who participated in this Exchange Meeting would have come to acknowledge his abilities to some extent.
After all, Jaekyung had procured and presented several items that they desperately needed but could not find themselves. Perhaps if he held another Exchange Meeting in the future, he wouldn't need to go to the trouble of inviting them like this time.
Just a subtle hint would be enough for them to come running with their storage pouches filled to the brim. 'I should gradually increase the number of participants.
But…'
Jaekyung clicked his tongue inwardly. If his Exchange Meeting were for humans, the participants would have spread the word themselves. Humans enjoy mingling with one another.
But the demon races were different. The mountain sect Great Spirit Beasts were territorial and wary, rarely interacting with each other, so it was difficult to expect them to spread the word voluntarily. 'For now, I'll have to wait and see.
It's not an urgent matter.' The quantity of goods he could obtain from Gwak Jeong-shin would likely remain at this level. Trying to increase the purchase volume further could arouse suspicion, so Jaekyung had no intention of asking for more, even if he could.
Therefore, for the time being, four participants in the Exchange Meeting were sufficient. 'I need to be able to obtain what I need without relying on Gwak Jeong-shin, avoiding his eyes.' In truth, he had been thinking this for the past ten years, but he still hadn't found a suitable method.
Even going through the cultivators of the Garden of Remembrance would ultimately mean going through the Prosperous Treasure Guild, making it impossible to avoid Gwak Jeong-shin's notice. He had to find a way directly within the Azure Abyss Realm. 'Using the humans under my command is still the best option.'
The problem was that he couldn't trust these fellows. This was true in terms of both their skills and their loyalty. The tasks Jaekyung had entrusted to them so far were nothing more than minor errands.
Since the amount of spirit stones given to them at one time was small, the risk of betrayal was low, and any accompanying dangers were not worth worrying about. But what if the tasks became more significant, meaning he had to send them out with more spirit stones in their hands?
The risks they could face would be greater, and the likelihood of those holding many spirit stones entertaining other thoughts would also increase. Jaekyung trusted Han Cheong-yu to a certain extent, but he believed it was best not to test faith if it could be avoided. Besides, only Han Cheong-yu was somewhat reliable; the rest were untrustworthy in many ways.
How could he entrust them with important matters? 'Should I send Han Cheong-yu alone?' The thought crossed his mind for a moment, but he quickly dismissed it.
It was right to avoid uncontrollable risks from the start.
'Control… Right.
It would be good if I had a definite means of control.' The thought of control brought the soul contract to mind. Human cultivators used soul contracts to make spirit beasts their servants.
Couldn't he use that in reverse?
'Probably not.
It might not be impossible, but it would be incredibly difficult.' Jaekyung immediately dismissed the idea of a soul contract, but he did not give up hope on another front. He believed in the cruelty and creativity of the human race.
They must have surely devised means of control over their own kin as well. At first, it was a vague hope, but as he continued to think, his hope gradually turned into conviction. Jaekyung considered asking Gwak Jeong-shin but decided to be a bit more cautious.
Garden of Remembrance.
“Of course, there are.”
At Woo Do-baek's immediate reply, Jaekyung rejoiced inwardly and asked again.
"What kinds of methods are there?"
“There are too many to explain. To speak of what I know roughly… there are contracts, restrictions, and curses.”
Soul contracts aside, restrictions and curses… Jaekyung was impressed. Just hearing the words gave him a sense of their sinister nature.
As expected, the humans did not disappoint him.
“However, these methods are not easy to use. You said you want to control the humans under your command, right? Is the Great Dao Oath not enough?”
“It is not enough.”
Not all cultivators were obsessed with the Immortal Path. At least, the humans under him were not. To control them as he wished, he needed a more powerful means.
Unfortunately, it seemed Woo Do-baek had only heard of these methods, not learned them.
“I know of a Blood Contract Restriction Art. Are you interested?”
Just as Jaekyung was about to swallow his disappointment, a remark from Choi Ju-tang caught his attention.
"What is a Blood Contract Restriction?"
“It is as the name suggests. A means of placing a restriction through a blood contract. It is a simple restriction, but its binding force is not very strong. No, should I say the conditions are strict?”
“Conditions? What conditions?”
“The realm of the one placing the restriction must be higher than the one receiving it. A difference of one minor realm is a bit precarious, but with a difference of one great realm, there’s no need to worry.”
Having said that, Choi Ju-tang paused slightly.
“I hear the humans under you are mostly at the Qi Refining Stage, is that correct?”
“Yes. That is correct.”
“Then you have nothing to worry about.”
Jaekyung could feel strong conviction in Choi Ju-tang's words. Choi Ju-tang must have used this Blood Contract Restriction himself. 'It seems this person's background is not ordinary.'
Jaekyung had already grasped the backgrounds of the Twilight Gathering cultivators to some extent. Woo Do-baek, at the mid-Foundation Establishment stage, was an elderly cultivator, possibly a central figure in a cultivation family, or even an old ancestor. Yeo Jang-gyeong, at the early-Foundation Establishment stage, was clearly a sect cultivator.
And finally, Choi Ju-tang, also at the early-Foundation Establishment stage, whom he had known as a mountain sect cultivator as Choi himself had revealed… but now it seemed he wasn't so simple. At the very least, he didn't seem like an ordinary mountain sect cultivator, busy just looking out for himself.
'Restrictions like this are a tool needed by people like me.' In other words, Choi Ju-tang, who knew of such a method and seemed to have used it, was likely not just a lone mountain sect cultivator but a leader with his own group. A mountain sect cultivator with underlings?
A certain thought naturally came to Jaekyung's mind. Of course, what Choi Ju-tang had said before could have been a lie. He might belong to a sect or a cultivation family, not a mountain sect.
But Jaekyung thought that was unlikely. Why would he tell such a meaningless lie to the Dao Friends of the Garden of Remembrance, whom he would never meet in person? 'Well, that doesn't matter.'
Jaekyung cut off the train of thought that had been branching out. What was important now was not Choi Ju-tang's identity, but the Blood Contract Restriction Art he had offered.
"What do you want?"
The fact that Choi Ju-tang had brought up the Blood Contract Restriction Art first meant he was willing to make a deal. Jaekyung was willing to purchase the Blood Contract Restriction Art, even if it meant paying a premium, as long as the demand wasn't too unreasonable.
"A water-attribute spiritual object for cultivation that a Foundation Establishment cultivator can use. If not, spirit stones will do."
“I do not have such a spiritual object. Let us do it with spirit stones.”
He almost let out a laugh upon hearing that. A spiritual object for cultivation that a Foundation Establishment cultivator could use. He wasn't sure whether to call it bold or shameless.
But on second thought, Choi Ju-tang's position might be different. Ultimately, the key was the value of the Blood Contract Restriction Art. 'If this restriction art is more outstanding than I thought…'
After the gathering ended, Jaekyung stayed behind with Choi Ju-tang to discuss the deal in earnest. Mainly, Choi Ju-tang gave a rough explanation of the Blood Contract Restriction Art, and Jaekyung asked questions.
A short while later, after hearing all of Choi Ju-tang's explanation, Jaekyung had no choice but to admit that the price Choi Ju-tang had set, which he had thought shameless just moments before, was not entirely unacceptable. If Choi Ju-tang had not mixed lies into his explanation, his Blood Contract Restriction Art was indeed an excellent tool.
Of course, it might have shortcomings compared to other restriction arts, but Jaekyung didn't feel the need to make such comparisons. If it was useful, it was useful. Why bother finding faults through unnecessary comparisons?
According to Choi Ju-tang, besides the requirement of a realm difference between the caster and the subject and the fact that it couldn't control many people at once, this Blood Contract Restriction Art had no other drawbacks.
“Is that so.”
At the news that there was no spiritual object, Choi Ju-tang did not hide his disappointment. But that was only for a moment, and soon the haggling began.
“Thirty-five medium-grade spirit stones.”
“Let's make it thirty.”
“Restriction arts are not common, and one of this level is even rarer.”
“I understand. Thirty-two.”
“Thirty-three.”
“Huu… very well. Thirty-three.”
Honestly, for Jaekyung, haggling like this was something he could take or leave. It was just that it would be nice to get even a small discount, so he had tried his luck. After settling on a price of thirty-three, he observed Choi Ju-tang's expression, and he seemed quite satisfied.
Indeed, with thirty-three medium-grade spirit stones, he would be happy, as he might be able to acquire a decent spiritual object for cultivation if luck was on his side. Besides, knowledge like cultivation techniques and secret arts wasn't lost by selling it, so in a way, he had earned spirit stones just by sitting there.
'Indeed, knowledge and legacies are the most powerful strength and the most valuable assets.' Jaekyung thought of all the various cultivation techniques, secret arts, and other knowledge he had scraped together over ten years. He had been diligent in his collection, but its variety and quality were still far from escaping a crude level.
'Let's take it slow. There is plenty of time.' Cultivation is a battle against time and a battle against impatience.
Whenever impatience reared its head, Jaekyung would repeat this to himself several times to regain his composure. * Jaekyung asked Choi Ju-tang if there was a way to send the item through a route other than the Prosperous Treasure Guild, but unfortunately, he did not get the answer he wanted.
According to Choi Ju-tang, there were countless large and small guilds in the human territories, and many ways to deliver news or goods, but because the human territories were so vast, it was extremely rare for any of them to reach into every nook and cranny. 'Nooks and crannies, he says.'
Jaekyung, who was playing the part of a local lord in a tiny water territory of Western Twin Lake, did not want to admit it, but his refusal wouldn't change the facts. What could he say when even deliveries didn't come to the remote countryside where he lived?
He had no choice but to use the Prosperous Treasure Guild again this time. This would let Gwak Jeong-shin know that he had separately purchased an item from the Garden of Remembrance, but it wouldn't be a major issue. This was because Jaekyung had requested Choi Ju-tang to place a seal on the jade slip.
As long as the seal was not broken, Gwak Jeong-shin would not know what was contained in the jade slip, and he would not ruin their relationship over a little curiosity. 'Now I just have to wait a few days.' As he thought this and was about to leisurely continue his cultivation, an unexpected piece of news shattered Jaekyung's peace.
“What? Is that true?!”
With Hyeon-gu prostrated before him, Jaekyung unknowingly released a harsh aura. His emotions were in that much turmoil.
“I-It is undoubtedly true!”
As Hyeon-gu said so, his whole body trembling, Jaekyung had no choice but to believe him. But this news was truly absurd. A problem had arisen for the Great Spirit Beasts who had returned to their territories after the Exchange Meeting.
Dae-yeong had attacked Ha Son-seo, and the two had suffered heavy losses, retreating with serious injuries. And less than a day later, Jang-yeong raided Dae-yeong's nest and killed Dae-yeong, who was treating his injuries.
"Ha!"
It was a hard-to-believe story, but if one accepted it all as true, it was not difficult to guess the cause and outline of the incident. 'That foolish fish let his greed get the better of him.' The instigator was likely Dae-yeong.
He must have launched a surprise attack to obtain the Foundation Establishment cultivators that had fallen into Ha Son-seo's hands, but only shed blood without any gain before retreating, dragging the cunning Jang-yeong into it. 'But his reaction was too fast. Could it be that Jang-yeong had already anticipated that this would happen?'
It was something he could not know unless he asked the party involved directly, but Jaekyung guessed that Jang-yeong had anticipated Dae-yeong's move. After all, the reaction of that half-human demon was too swift, and he was the only one who had gained from this incident.
'Tsk.
A pack of wolves, the lot of them.' Jaekyung clicked his tongue as he calmed his agitated emotions.