Chapter 1801 — Snow Valley (Part 2)
The Blossom Guardian · Page 1 of 2
But it was only when Gu Mengyao said that he was a cultivator that Elder Zhang gave Wei Zhao a look, walked over, and reached out to test his strength—whereupon Shen Yushu hurriedly cried, "Careful!"
"Oh?" Elder Zhang started slightly. Yet he too could feel the heat radiating from Xiao Shu and Wei Zhao, and his expression turned grave at once as he caught a hint of what was going on. "A fire-element cultivator? Qi deviation?"
"Whether he's a fire-element cultivator we can't say for certain, but he has indeed fallen into qi deviation in his cultivation," Gu Mengyao said. "We came here to buy natural treasures precisely on his account..."
"If I'm not mistaken, you've come for the Ice Spirit Sacred Fruit, haven't you?" Seeing Wei Zhao's condition, Elder Zhang guessed their intent. Over the years, a number of fire-element cultivators who had fallen into qi deviation had come here seeking the Ice Spirit Sacred Fruit, so Elder Zhang already had experience in such matters.
Of course, rare as the Ice Spirit Sacred Fruit was—ranking alongside the Fire Spirit Sacred Fruit of the Ice Palace—it was utterly useless to Snow Valley itself. Everyone at Snow Valley cultivated the supreme-yin water-mist method, and even if one of them fell into qi deviation, they had to take the Fire Spirit Sacred Fruit; to eat the Ice Spirit Sacred Fruit would, in all likelihood, kill them outright.
Thus, to Snow Valley, the Ice Spirit Sacred Fruit was merely a commodity for making money or bartering—though its value was naturally no small thing. The few fruits they had traded away in the past had each brought Snow Valley even rarer natural treasures.
"Elder Zhang's eyes are indeed sharp as torches; it is the Ice Spirit Sacred Fruit we seek." Never had the young mistress imagined that a day would come when she would flatter someone, yet the words came out naturally, as though doing so for Wei Zhao's sake were only proper—which surprised even her.
"And what natural treasures do you intend to trade for it?" Elder Zhang asked. "The Ice Spirit Sacred Fruit is a specialty of Snow Valley, found nowhere else, and its yield is exceedingly low. It is one of our valley's most prized treasures. So unless you can offer natural treasures of equal or greater value in exchange, we will not part with it..."
"We have no natural treasures, but we heard that your valley's treasures may be purchased with money. Might I ask what the Ice Spirit Sacred Fruit is worth?" Gu Mengyao had come prepared to buy—how could she possibly have natural treasures?
"Purchase with money?" Elder Zhang was briefly taken aback. Only those hidden families and minor sects with nothing of value in hand came to Snow Valley to buy natural treasures with money, and even then only ordinary goods. The Ice Spirit Sacred Fruit had never once been sold for coin; the few fruits before had all been traded away.
"Yes," Gu Mengyao nodded.
"Though I am an elder of Snow Valley, I truly cannot decide the price of the Ice Spirit Sacred Fruit myself—and of course, even if you wished to trade, I could not decide that either. It must all be reported to the valley master for her judgment," Elder Zhang said. "Why don't you ladies rest a while in the guest rooms nearby? Once I have asked the valley master about the price, I will bring you her reply."
"We leave it entirely to Elder Zhang's arrangements!" What else could Gu Mengyao say when he put it that way?
And in truth, even this outcome delighted her. Since Elder Zhang had not refused them on the spot, it meant the matter had hope. So Gu Mengyao and the others gladly followed a Snow Valley disciple to a guest room and settled in to rest for the time being.
Elder Zhang was gone the whole night. By the time Gu Mengyao and the others had arrived at Snow Valley, it had already been dusk, verging on evening, so it was only natural that he would reply the next day; none of them were anxious.