Qin Yang rolled his eyes, wishing he could spit this fat bastard to death.
"Priceless? You're telling me to put a price on something priceless?" Qin Yang was utterly speechless.
Jin Wanshan wore an expression that said, "What else can I do?" He explained, "This isn't like ordinary cultivation methods or martial techniques. Let's break it down piece by piece."
"First, the cultivation method. The minimum modification fee is ten thousand, correct?"
"Then there's the Hunting Posture—a powerful offensive technique rarely seen in the world. Even the top assassins of the three great dark forces probably don't possess such a method. How should we price it?"
"Next, your movement technique. Can yours possibly be the same as others'? And it can even be used in conjunction with the Hunting Posture..."
"Finally, the archery technique. It surpasses even the Shocking Feather Arrow Technique... Do you know what the Shocking Feather Arrow Technique signifies?"
Jin Wanshan pursed his lips. "These would be considered clan treasures and foundational legacies in major families. How do you suggest we price them?"
Qin Yang scratched his head, realizing the Mi Tian Art and Heaven-Defying Divination had elevated him too much. He'd inadvertently overdone it, and now he'd really done it...
Jin Wanshan's eyes darted about as he observed Qu Qingge's face, which was on the verge of tears. He spoke up, "You know, friendship is priceless too. If we're friends, doesn't that make the price... just right?"
Lou Mengyu looked at Jin Wanshan in astonishment. "I never expected you to value friends above all else!"
Jin Wanshan replied with a hint of pride, "Of course. Did you think I was some money-obsessed fool? I've got more wealth than I know what to do with. To me, gold is no more valuable than a pile of manure."
His tone turned sardonic as he continued, "Unlike certain people who'd sell their own mother for a coin. I treated him like a priceless friend, but he treats me like a ledger book. Tsk, I despise that kind of person!"
His beady eyes kept darting toward Qin Yang.
Qin Yang finally understood - this was a classic case of "pointing at a mulberry tree while cursing a locust tree"! Had they really gone through this whole charade just to drag him into it?
"Pfft!" Lou Mengyu couldn't suppress her laughter, shaking with mirth.
Qin Yang cleared his throat and turned to Qu Qingge. "If it's priceless, then so be it. But without my permission, you're not allowed to share it with anyone."
Qu Qingge gazed at Jin Wanshan with tearful gratitude.
Qin Yang drew a deep breath, his chest burning with resentment. How had Jin Wanshan ended up winning in the end?
He added pointedly, jabbing a finger at Jin Wanshan while looking at Qu Qingge, "By the way, my previous agreement with you didn't include him!"
Jin Wanshan's face fell, and he immediately began begging for mercy.
The group laughed and chattered, creating an atmosphere of warmth and harmony.
Qu Qingge's wishes had been fulfilled, and he even received Qin Yang's magical treasure—the Dragon Song Bow.
Jin Wanshan threw a tantrum, insisting that Qin Yang immediately create martial techniques for him.
Qin Yang flatly refused. "Lou Mengyu's body refinement isn't complete yet. You'll have to wait."
"Prioritizing women over friends!" Jin Wanshan huffed angrily.
Lou Mengyu's cheeks flushed crimson, her heart swelling with sweetness.
After three days of sleepless work, she could finally rest.
The entire magical flying ship buzzed with fervent cultivation.
On the deck, students occasionally sparred with each other. After gaining new insights, they would immediately withdraw into secluded meditation.
Martial Heaven observed this scene with approval. Recalling his battle with Qin Yang in the secret realm, he felt both irritation and amusement.
In Lou Mengyu's cabin, the two of them chatted casually.
"Besides Gongsun Ming, Lou Qinru, and Yu Shaojie who was imprisoned in the Imprisonment Tower, how many people bought the full package from me?" Qin Yang asked.
Lou Mengyu compared the list with the Celestial Token's Monster Hunter Rankings. "Seventy-six people."
"Only seventy-six?" Qin Yang frowned. "What about the rest?"
Lou Mengyu replied curtly, "Do you want to become the world's master? Those confident in their abilities wouldn't seek your help."
At this point, Lou Mengyu seemed to recall something. "Oh, right," she said. "There are a few people on this list who left before the assessment ended, like Wu Xiaoya. They had important matters to attend to and possessed considerable strength. Once their rankings stabilized, they returned to Central Province early."
"Why are you so desperate for money?" Lou Mengyu asked, puzzled.
Cultivation techniques and martial arts grow more expensive as their level increases. Powerful methods are typically guarded jealously. Why would anyone, like Qin Yang, treat them as cheap street goods?
Qin Yang shrugged. "Can't help it. The magical artifacts we found in the secret realm were of high quality. Repairing them will cost a fortune. Plus, now that we've grown stronger, we need money for better artifacts, pills, and such."
As their conversation continued, they reminisced about their first meeting. Recalling their death pact, they sighed and exchanged wry smiles.
"If I asked you to die for me now, would you still agree?" Lou Mengyu asked.
"Absolutely," Qin Yang replied without hesitation.
"Why?" Lou Mengyu pressed, though she already knew the answer.
"Maybe it's just... love?" Qin Yang laughed heartily.
"Pah! How improper!" Lou Mengyu chided, her cheeks flushing.
"There's an old saying..."
"Hm?" Lou Mengyu's curiosity was piqued.
Qin Yang chuckled mischievously. "Better to die beneath peonies than live without them!"
With a howl, Qin Yang lunged at Lou Mengyu, knocking her to the ground amidst her screams.
Time passed slowly. On the magical flying ship, those who had received Qin Yang's guidance experienced remarkable progress in their cultivation realms.
Qin Yang's body tempering regimen for Lou Mengyu continued. Once he obtained spirit medicine to refine the Frost Body Tempering Pill, combined with the Nine-feathered Ice Phoenix, her progress would accelerate. Until then, he refrained from creating cultivation methods or martial techniques for her.
"Shouldn't we be approaching Central Province soon?" Qin Yang asked from the deck.
Martial Heaven chuckled, while Lou Mengyu whispered, "We're still far from it. To reach Central Province from the Northern Plains, we must first cross the vast Stellar Sea."
"We haven't even left the Northern Plains yet!" Jin Wanshan added.
"The Stellar Sea?" Qin Yang's eyes lit up. He leaped onto the ship's mast, standing at the highest point of the magical vessel.
Below, classmates engaged in sparring and cultivation, casting curious glances at Qin Yang.
As clouds raced across his vision and distant mountain ranges shrank into specks, Qin Yang felt his chest expand. Drawing a deep breath, he roared:
"My goal is the Stellar Sea!"
His bold declaration stirred the hearts of all present. The Stellar Sea represented both the boundless ocean and the limitless expanse of stars above.
Martial Heaven shook his head gently and smiled. "True, you have ambition. The celestial sea in the heavens might be easily reached, but the Stellar Sea we're about to approach..."
"What's so special about this Stellar Sea?" Qin Yang asked.
Everyone fell silent. This was common knowledge on the continent!
Martial Heaven spoke, "This Stellar Sea is no less dangerous than a God Emperor-level secret realm. The sea teems with monstrous beasts of extraordinary power, their bloodlines ancient and formidable. Various primordial terrors emerge ceaselessly. Rumors speak of hidden secret realms and ancient relics at the sea's depths... yet no one has ever reached them."
"Huh? How do we cross such a perilous place?" Qin Yang blinked in surprise.
Martial Heaven continued, "The Northern Plains and Central Province are connected by a celestial array forming the Stellar Heavenly Path. We'll remain in the heavens, as if entering a secret realm. On the Stellar Heavenly Path, our speed will increase a hundredfold, and we won't be affected by the Stellar Sea's dangers."
"The Stellar Heavenly Path?" Qin Yang's eyes widened. Is this like a highway? A hundredfold speed increase... my goodness!
"We're not far from the Stellar Heavenly Path now. We'll rest a few days in Starlit City at the path's entrance before continuing..."