Ji Mo had once seen a dry, blue seed at the foot of a toad mountain within the White Emperor's ruins. That seed had taken root and sprouted into a red Higanbana.
The blue light before him was familiar, very likely a Higanbana seed.
Higanbana, also known as Manjusaka, was legendary for its magical power. It was said that if one made a wish at the moment the flower bloomed, it would be granted!
Of course, one shouldn't blindly believe myths and legends, but Higanbana was indeed incredibly precious. Its leaves were a rare medicinal ingredient, and its blooming flowers were even more miraculous.
Ji Mo had once seen the White Emperor's figure when the Higanbana was in full bloom.
A piece of blackened mud was stuck to the foot of the bronze furnace, from which the blue light emanated. Only Ji Mo noticed the anomaly.
He suspected that the Higanbana seed was hidden within the mud and couldn't resist reaching out to touch it.
"Take your grubby paws off! Do you think a person like you can touch my precious alchemy furnace?"
Tang Heng yelled at Ji Mo, then taunted him unceremoniously, "If you want to touch it, you can. Beg me, and perhaps I'll let you touch it if I'm in a good mood."
Ji Mo glanced at Tang Heng and said calmly, "Watch your mouth. Your印堂 (yīntáng - the area between the eyebrows) is ashen, and your cheeks are sallow. You're definitely going to have a bloody disaster soon. If you continue to speak so carelessly and rudely, you might even lose your life."
"You dare curse me?"
Tang Heng's face immediately turned grim, his eyes darkening ominously.
Ji Mo continued, "I'm very good at reading people. Don't disbelieve me. I see you have a sharp mouth and a small nose; you're going to lose a lot of money today, and a substantial amount at that."
If it weren't for Tang Heng's unlucky appearance, he wouldn't have tolerated this old fellow.
At this moment, Tan Yunao, with Zeng Qiyan, walked out of the VIP box and headed straight for Tang Heng.
"Greetings, Saint Son Yun'ao."
Tang Heng, too preoccupied to argue with Ji Mo, stepped forward to pay his respects with a fawning expression.
Many people on the scene also plastered on smiles and went to greet him, but their warm overtures were met with cold indifference.
Tan Yunao acted incredibly arrogant, not even deigning to look at these people.
During this period, people eager to curry favor with him were like a river of carp. He looked down on people from the Southern Domain with utter disdain.
"Steward Tang, this alchemy furnace is quite nice. I like it very much. I'm willing to pay double the price to purchase it from you."
Tan Yunao didn't hide his intentions, stating them directly.
Everyone present was taken aback. Firstly, they wondered if Tan Yunao was out of his mind. If he had so much money, why didn't he bid directly? Why was he willing to spend extra money to buy it at double the price now?
Some discerning individuals immediately saw through his intention. On the surface, he was willing to pay double the price, but in reality, he was essentially taking it for free.
Did the Tang family dare to ask Tan Yunao for money?
Tang Heng was stunned. He wasn't foolish and immediately understood the crux of the matter.
Tan Yunao clearly intended to take this bronze furnace for free.
"Since Steward Tang has no objections, then it's settled."
Tan Yunao didn't give Tang Heng a chance to react. He immediately collected the bronze furnace from the ground into his spatial ring, claiming it as his own.
Such behavior was no different from outright robbery, yet it managed to silence the masses. By claiming it was bought, he avoided any criticism.
"Saint Son Yun'ao, this is not..."
Tang Heng was about to refuse when he was startled into silence by a sharp glare from Tan Yunao, forcing him to swallow the rest of his words.
Seeing this, Ji Mo felt immense satisfaction. Indeed, there was always someone worse to deal with the wicked. This old fellow Tang Heng finally had to suffer a great loss.
He had seen at a glance that Tan Yunao was clearly resorting to forceful acquisition.
If the bronze furnace fell into the hands of such a person, it would be difficult to obtain the Higanbana seed. Ji Mo sighed inwardly, feeling that this item was destined to be beyond his reach.
He didn't want to linger and was about to leave.
Unexpectedly, Tan Yunao called out to him, "Kid, are you selling that Treasure-Snatching Snake you have? I'll pay a high price for it."
This was an attempt to repeat his tactic and set his sights on Ji Mo.
"Not selling."
Ji Mo refused outright without even thinking.
"As long as you give me the Treasure-Snatching Snake, you can immediately gain the friendship of my Floating Sky Mountain. It's even possible for you to join my Floating Sky Mountain."
Tan Yunao revealed his origin, confident that this person wouldn't dare to offend Floating Sky Mountain.
Moreover, countless people in the Southern Domain desperately wanted to enter Floating Sky Mountain. He didn't believe Ji Mo wouldn't be tempted and resist such an allure.
Of course, once he obtained the Treasure-Snatching Snake, how he would deal with Ji Mo later was another matter.
Everyone around looked on with envy. This was a tremendous opportunity. Once one entered Floating Sky Mountain, it was like a sparrow soaring to a branch and becoming a phoenix.
Floating Sky Mountain?
Ji Mo showed no expression.
This top-tier force from the Western Domain, which the cultivation world of the Southern Domain feared, was completely unknown to Ji Mo, so he naturally wasn't afraid.
"What Floating Sky Mountain? I'm not interested. You think you can trick me out of my snake with this? Save it!"
Ji Mo refused again.
This guy was trying to get his Treasure-Snatching Snake for nothing, a pipe dream.
Ji Mo detested people like this the most and showed no goodwill towards Tan Yunao.
Upon hearing this, the entire venue fell silent.
Everyone looked at Ji Mo as if he were an idiot.
To give up such a great opportunity, wasn't he foolish?
Furthermore, even if he disliked Tan Yunao, he shouldn't have offended him so directly, openly stating he wasn't interested in Floating Sky Mountain. This was clearly courting death.
Tang Heng sneered. Ji Mo showing such disrespect to Tan Yunao meant he wouldn't fare well.
Tan Yunao's face turned ashen. He had never imagined that someone would dare to speak to him like this, and seemingly without any reverence or fear towards Floating Sky Mountain.
After all, in the past, just mentioning the name of Floating Sky Mountain would make these people in the Southern Domain tremble.
"Kid, I advise you to be sensible and obediently offer the Treasure-Snatching Snake to Saint Son Yun'ao."
"That's right. You are too shallow in fortune to handle such a rare exotic beast. Giving it to the Saint Son is the wise choice."
...
Beside them, some people seized the opportunity to curry favor with Tan Yunao. They all spoke up, shamelessly urging Ji Mo to offer his Treasure-Snatching Snake.
Seeing the expressions on these people's faces, Ji Mo couldn't stand it and immediately cursed, "Are you guys sick? I think your fortunes are also shallow. Why don't you offer your family assets and wives to this Saint Son as well?"
This remark instantly rendered those people speechless, their faces turning a shade of liver-red, filled with indignation.
Where did this reckless youth come from? Didn't he know their status? With a mere stomp of their feet, the entire Southern Domain would tremble.
This kid dared to offend them; he must not want to live.
Tang Heng saw Ji Mo offending even more people and his smile widened. It seemed he wouldn't have to lift a finger; this fellow Ji Mo was doomed.
"Hand over the Treasure-Snatching Snake obediently, or don't blame me for being impolite?"
Tan Yunao's eyes flashed with ferocity, his killing intent fully revealed.
To lose face to a mere boy of humble status, he had to regain it, or how could he continue to mingle?
"What, why are you so shameless? Are you planning to rob me? Bring it on. I can take down a decadent fop like you, drained by wine and lust, with just one hand."
Ji Mo was completely unfazed.
He saw that Tan Yunao had heavy eye bags and his eyes lacked spirit, clearly indicating excessive indulgence and a weakened body.
He was confident he could beat such a weakling into the ground with one hand.
Tan Yunao gritted his teeth, his expression extremely ugly.
Ji Mo's words hit a sore spot, completely trampling his dignity into the dirt.
"You're courting death!"
Tan Yunao's hair stood on end, his eyes turning red. The terrifying aura of a peak Spirit Emperor realm expert erupted without any concealment.