Chapter 436

Chapter 436: Bargaining

Hearing Mo Qianxun’s words, Fang Lie immediately realized this must be something extraordinary. He quickly contacted old bird through divine sense.

"Bird Bro, what’s this Spirit Awakening Immortal Talisman?" Fang Lie asked.

"It’s a powerful talisman lost to time, with only a few remaining from ancient days," old bird explained. "Its sole purpose is granting intelligence to aged spiritual items, turning them into demon mounts. Like newborns, they’ll regard their first sighted person as parent, becoming utterly loyal. The older and more spiritually charged the item, the stronger the mount – essentially free enforcers!"

"The Sect Leader’s giving you Mo Sect’s last Spirit Awakening Immortal Talisman?" old bird pressed.

"Seems so. I thought he was tricking me with junk, but this actually sounds decent," Fang Lie chuckled. "Maybe the Sect Leader isn’t so bad."

"Decent? It’s perfect for you!" old bird exclaimed. "Remember that treasure you have? Use this talisman on it for an instant powerful ally!"

"Really?" Fang Lie frowned, drawing blanks.

Mo Qianxun snapped impatiently: "Don’t want it? Fine by me!"

"Wait! I want it!" Fang Lie blurted. "Just got excited, that’s all!"

"Count yourself lucky." Mo Qianxun tossed him a golden talisman the length of an arm.

Though resembling a Golden Bowl, the talisman felt silky smooth. Its divine patterns shimmered with profound mystery, shapes shifting endlessly. Despite Fang Lie’s experience, he recognized neither materials nor symbols.

"Guard this well," Mo Qianxun warned. "Refine it with heartblood first, then use on a spiritual item. Its worth matches Eighth-rank Treasures. Waste it on trash and I’ll skin you alive!"

"Relax, I’ve got the perfect candidate."

"Show me," Mo Qianxun demanded. "Fail my standards and you forfeit it. Consider this a test of judgment."

Fang Lie grimaced, mentally pestering old bird: "What’s suitable here?"

"Fool! The Wonderful Bodhi Tree!" old bird hissed.

Lightning struck. Fang Lie smacked his forehead. "Of course!"

This immortal tree from Chongming Ancient Temple’s Secret Vault possessed peerless spiritual roots and millennia of immortal energy accumulation – yet remained mindless due to heavenly restrictions. Common trees became Tree Demons in centuries, but this ancient marvel stayed dormant.

Noticing Fang Lie’s epiphany, Mo Qianxun guessed: "Benevolence Token advised you? What’s it suggesting?"

Fang Lie hesitated. The Wonderful Bodhi Tree was his greatest secret.

"Keeping secrets from me?" Mo Qianxun glowered. "Think I’d steal your treasures?"

"Absolutely," Fang Lie nodded. "You’d crave it desperately."

"Preposterous!" Mo Qianxun laughed. "I’m Sect Leader! Mo Sect’s wealth surpasses nations. What broken toy could you possibly own that I lack?"

"My treasures aren’t yours," Fang Lie retorted. "Let’s preserve our partnership – best you don’t know."

"Bastard!" Mo Qianxun roared. "Do you take me for such a person? Take out the treasures and I swear not to touch them! Let me see what gives you such audacity!"

"Not even a single hair?" Fang Lie pressed.

"Not one!" Mo Qianxun declared, puffing his chest. "I pledge this as Sect Leader!"

"Good," Fang Lie nodded. "You must also vow this remains between us – not even your children or grandchildren may know."

"I swear!" Mo Qianxun snapped. "Enough delays! Show me!"

"Can’t physically bring it," Fang Lie shrugged.

"Are you mocking me?" Mo Qianxun raised his palm threateningly. "Seeking a beating?"

"Wait!" Fang Lie protested. "It’s a tree! Should I uproot it? I’ll project an image instead."

"Quickly then!"

Flicking his wrist, Fang Lie conjured a water screen revealing the Wonderful Bodhi Tree.

Mo Qianxun initially sneered, then froze. His expression shifted from contempt to shock, beard-twisting intensity overtaking his features. "The legendary spiritual root… This is the Wonderful Bodhi Tree?" he breathed, eyes blazing.

"Sect Leader’s knowledge impresses!" Fang Lie grinned.

"Scoundrel!" Mo Qianxun seized Fang Lie’s collar. "Why hide this from Mo Sect? This changes everything!"

"Personal spoils require no surrender," Fang Lie retorted.

"Confiscated by sect decree!"

"You vowed not to touch it!"

"Consider my words wind!" Mo Qianxun growled. "This tree’s value transcends promises! Mo Sect’s future—"

"A Sect Leader’s ‘wind’ carries mountain weight," Fang Lie interrupted. "I’ll awaken it as my guardian using the Spirit Awakening Immortal Talisman."

"Deceived!" Mo Qianxun spat. "The Chongming Ancient Temple’s Secret Vault! No wonder you sold the empty vault to Great Thunder Sound Temple after pilfering its heart!"

"Greed begets consequences," Fang Lie smirked. "They cheated my father – this balances scales."

"Cunning whelp!" Mo Qianxun’s eyes narrowed. "That Eighth-Rank High-Grade sword forged by Benevolence Token… Its unnatural enhancement – you used Wonderful Bodhi Fruits!"

"Ten-thousand-year maturation, yet annual harvests…" Mo Qianxun calculated aloud. "Decades in that vault yielded tens of thousands! Those fruits boosted the sword’s spirit during forging!"

"Demonic cleverness!" Fang Lie exclaimed. "From breadcrumbs you reconstruct feasts!"

"Hand over fifty thousand fruits!"

"Highway robbery!" Fang Lie shouted. "Tens of thousands existed total. Half went to the sword, half to my altar. Scraps remain."

"Fool! One fruit elevates sixth-rank top treasures to Seventh-rank!" Mo Qianxun countered. "Hundreds of Mo Sect treasures await ascension – our combat power could triple!"

"Knew you’d hound me," Fang Lie sighed. "Two thousand fruits – enough for all sixth-rank upgrades. But trade requires equal value… One Eighth-rank Treasure seems fair."