"Fellow Daoist, let's talk this out, let's talk this out nicely."
Seeing Wu De so agitated, Tong Yun quickly rose to his feet with an apologetic smile. "Fellow Daoist, business is negotiated. Since Fellow Daoist feels the price is too low, why don't Fellow Daoist suggest a price instead?"
To be honest, this price was set by the Myriad Treasure Pavilion a long time ago. Because there had been no Great Marsh specialty trades for too long, it hadn't been revised. The current price was definitely far more than this number. He was doing this to test Wu De, but he didn't expect the other party to react so strongly.
Wu De wasn't actually planning to leave. Hearing this, he pretended to be displeased as he sat down, saying somewhat unhappily, "One fixed price: snake gall sixty True Essence Pills per piece, Great Marsh Centipede seventy."
He didn't raise an outrageous price, only increasing it by ten True Essence Pills.
Lu Li didn't speak, just quietly watched the two negotiate. Don't underestimate this ten-pill increase; with over five hundred snake galls in one batch, that could earn over five thousand more True Essence Pills.
Hearing this, Tong Yun secretly breathed a sigh of relief, but still put on a troubled expression. "Fellow Daoist raising it this much at once, I'm afraid it's hard for me to decide. Allow me to go ask the manager for instructions, is that alright?"
"No problem," Wu De said indifferently.
"Good, please wait a moment, two Fellow Daoists. I'll be right back." Tong Yun slightly cupped his hands, then quickly walked out.
After Tong Yun left, Wu De revealed a strange smile as he looked at Lu Li. "Kid, learn from this. If nothing unexpected happens, this guy most likely went outside to drink tea and get some air. As long as we pretend to be impatient and leave, he'll definitely come running back eagerly saying he's already gotten the instructions."
Lu Li was momentarily stunned. "Is that possible?"
"Heh, not possible?" Wu De gave Lu Li a meaningful look and stood up. "If you don't believe it, let's try."
Saying this, he pulled Lu Li along, putting on a dark expression as they walked toward the door.
Lu Li, curious, also pretended to look unhappy as he walked out of the room with Wu De.
Outside in the main hall by the window, Tong Yun had just picked up a cup of tea before starting to drink when he saw the two walk out looking displeased. Startled, he quickly put down the teacup and hurried toward them:
"Two Fellow Daoists, what is this about?"
Wu De glanced at Tong Yun indifferently. "Wasn't Fellow Daoist going to ask your manager for instructions? How do you still have the mind to drink tea here? Since Fellow Daoist has no intention of doing business, then we'll find another place."
"Uh." Tong Yun immediately felt somewhat awkward. His mind turning quickly, he hurriedly said, "Fellow Daoist, what are you saying? The manager isn't here. I've already sent someone to look for him. I was just taking this chance to get some air."
Speaking to this point, he seemed to make some major decision. "Alright then, since you two Fellow Daoists are in a hurry, I'll privately decide and buy according to the price Fellow Daoist mentioned. If the manager blames me later, I'll bear it myself."
"Heh, won't this trouble Fellow Daoist too much?" Wu De said with a half-smile.
"No problem, no problem. It's just a few thousand True Essence Pills. At most I'll pay out of my own pocket to make up the difference."
"Alright then." Seeing it was about enough, Wu De stopped teasing Tong Yun and turned back again.
Ginger really is spicier when old. He could even guess this.
Seeing this scene, Lu Li thought to himself that he was still too young. Life experience is something you only gain through actual experiences.
After entering the room, the three got straight to the point. In a short while, the transaction was completed.
According to the price Wu De gave, Lu Li obtained a total of over eighteen thousand seven hundred True Essence Pills. The harvest was quite good. Of course, only Lu Li and Wu De knew the dangers involved.
After the transaction was completed, both Wu De and Tong Yun wore satisfied smiles. After some polite exchanges, they prepared to leave, but at this moment, Lu Li gently tugged at Wu De's sleeve. "Old man, help me sell that big guy."
Wu De was slightly startled, then remembered this kid still had a mutated giant centipede. His eyes shifting, he whispered, "You'll treat this old man to wine later?"
"Deal!" Lu Li decisively agreed.
Wu De then turned back with satisfaction, looking at Tong Yun and saying, "Fellow Daoist, my brother here has another big guy. I wonder if you dare to decide and buy it?"
"Big guy?" Tong Yun shuddered, quickly running over. "Fellow Daoist doesn't need to consider this at all. Hurry and take it out for me to have a look."
Lu Li looked at the empty space in the room, estimating it could fit his big guy.
So he had the two step back a bit, then extended his hand with a wave. With a snap, a giant curled-up black-armored centipede corpse, like a small mountain, instantly appeared in the empty space of the room, directly blocking the path.
"This... is this a high-grade Great Marsh Centipede?" Tong Yun's expression turned excited as he stepped forward to gently touch the hard armor.
"Fellow Daoist, look carefully. Do high-grade Great Marsh Centipedes look like this?" Wu De chuckled, then continued, "Why doesn't Fellow Daoist try this armor with a profound weapon?"
Hearing this, Tong Yun also showed a suspicious expression, thinking that the high-grade Great Marsh Centipede mentioned in the illustrated manual had grayish-black skin armor, but this one was pitch black and shiny. Curious, he took out a short sword, using all his strength as he clanged it down.
Instantly, sparks flew in all directions.
"This!"
Tong Yun was immediately shocked. This short sword was a genuine profound weapon. Its sharpness was far beyond what ordinary weapons could compare to. He didn't expect it couldn't penetrate this black shell.
"Heh, now you understand. This Great Marsh Centipede mutated." Wu De stroked his beard with a smile. "Back then, this thing chased our brothers for a full day and night. If not for our great luck, we'd already be dead in the Great Marsh by now."
"Mutated!" Tong Yun became even more shocked. He had never seen a mutated Great Marsh Centipede before, but this skin armor was indeed impressive. If used to make armor, it could definitely withstand profound weapon attacks.
He stood up, suppressing his excited mood as he inquired, "How much does Fellow Daoist plan to sell it for?"
Wu De didn't speak, just extended one finger.
Tong Yun's eyes lit up, tentatively saying, "One thousand?"
Wu De's face immediately darkened. "Fellow Daoist, this joke isn't funny. Ten thousand, non-negotiable!"
Lu Li was startled hearing this. This old man originally said this thing was only worth four or five thousand, but now he's asking for ten thousand? But that's fine; who doesn't hope to earn more?
Hearing this, Tong Yun immediately showed a troubled expression. This wasn't pretend. A normal high-grade Great Marsh Centipede would be worth two thousand at most. Although this one mutated, ten thousand might be a bit high.
Staring at the shiny corpse again and again, Tong Yun gritted his teeth and said, "Fellow Daoist, this... I can at most offer eight thousand. If Fellow Daoist feels it's not enough... why not wait for our manager to return and appraise it before discussing further?"
"What do you think?" Wu De looked at Lu Li.
Lu Li didn't want to waste time waiting for that so-called manager. After thinking briefly, he said, "Then eight thousand it is."
"Fellow Daoist is straightforward!"
Hearing this, Tong Yun didn't waste words either. He immediately had someone bring eight thousand True Essence Pills and handed them to Lu Li.
And so, Lu Li finally exchanged all his gains from the Great Marsh journey for True Essence Pills, over twenty-six thousand in total, making it truly not a waste of this journey. More importantly, he obtained the Soul-Calming Flower he wanted.
He planned to purchase Buddha-Heart Fruit and then find a place to settle down, starting to refine Meridian-Nourishing Pills.