Wu Sheng knew the one-eyed man wanted to refuse him, but he believed one thing: there's no deal that can't be made.
He beckoned the one-eyed man and the others, and they huddled together to discuss important matters. Lord Tiger and the giant eagle also joined the circle.
They didn't know what this human was planning. The matter of the dragon vein absolutely couldn't be revealed. If too many people knew, it wouldn't be a secret anymore.
"What are they talking about?"
Those trailing behind were eager to know what they were discussing, but their voices were too low to hear anything.
It definitely wasn't idle chatter.
Wu Sheng pondered for a moment and said, "Everyone, I know you must have discovered something, but you've also seen the situation around us. No matter where you go, people will follow you, unless you can drive them all away, but that's highly unlikely, isn't it?"
Indeed, there were too many people around, and they kept a not-too-close, not-too-far distance. Shaking them off was practically impossible.
"What do you want?" the one-eyed man asked.
Lord Tiger and the giant eagle exchanged glances and remained silent. They began to have second thoughts, deciding to postpone their cooperation with the one-eyed man and his group. As long as they didn't reveal the dragon vein's location, no one would know.
They had a prior agreement with the White Flood Dragon. The White Flood Dragon also knew about the dragon vein, but it resided in Heaven Lake and didn't know the specific location. So they agreed: they would seek the dragon vein, and the White Flood Dragon would claim the treasures beneath Heaven Lake. They wouldn't interfere with each other.
The White Flood Dragon wouldn't break its oath. Dragons face tribulations when transforming from flood dragons. If the White Flood Dragon dared to go back on its word, they would join forces and shatter its dream of transformation.
"Don't be so quick to withdraw, my two beast brothers. Why not hear me out before making a decision?" Wu Sheng saw their intention to retreat and, with a shift in thought, figured out some things. This matter must be related to them; otherwise, the one-eyed man definitely wouldn't cooperate with them.
This could be seen from several clues.
The one-eyed man gave Wu Sheng a deep look.
This guy's mind was quite sharp, seeming to have seen through everything. He had fantasized about how great it would be if the starry sky experts were all fools, but now it seemed they were incredibly cunning.
Wu Sheng said, "You're all traveling together, which means you must have discovered something remarkable in Changbai Mountain. Based on my guess, the two beast brothers must know about this treasure, and you are their helpers, perhaps agreeing to split the spoils afterward, right?"
"Am I correct?"
After speaking, he stared directly at them, observing every change in their expressions.
The one-eyed man laughed, not at the other party's self-deception, but at the fact that he had been seen through.
Lord Tiger widened his eyes and said, "I didn't even say anything, and you already know."
Wu Sheng smiled confidently. "As a newcomer, it wouldn't be proper without some skills. Moreover, the fact that you can travel together shows that humans and beasts can unite. Since that's the case, why not include me? Changbai Mountain has many treasures, even if you think about them every day, you probably won't be able to explore them all. And I can offer a sufficient price, guaranteeing everyone's satisfaction. How about it?"
Lord Tiger pondered. The other party had spoken to this extent, and he didn't know what to say.
His mind was in a daze.
"I can only tell you that this treasure is the most precious one in Changbai Mountain. What price can you offer?" the one-eyed man asked gravely. He had already figured out that even if they didn't tell Wu Sheng, it would be useless. This guy was so cunning that he would definitely find a way to track them. Since that was the case, it was better to maximize their profits. They had Lin Fan with them, so there was no danger. The only trouble was that someone might try to take advantage of the chaos and rob them.
"Wait," the giant eagle thought for a moment and said, "Only we know about this place. Why are you two making the deal? If we don't say anything, no one will get it."
While Lord Tiger was still dazed, the giant eagle was striving to secure its own interests.
Wu Sheng didn't speak. He was waiting. Although he had a good relationship with humans, he was ultimately an expert from the starry sky and would prioritize his own interests.
The one-eyed man sneered, "If you think you can do that, do you think this secret can be revealed? With my strength, I indeed can't keep you, but do you think he can?"
The "he" referred to Lin Fan.
They stood there, and as the one-eyed man mentioned Lin Fan, their gazes shifted to a few figures squatting in the distance. They could faintly hear Old Zhang saying,
"Look at the ants. They're so hardworking."
"Do you know how much weight an ant can carry compared to its own body?"
No one could have imagined that such a fearsome expert would squat there without any dignity, watching ants with others. It was unimaginable. Perhaps these ants were like them, the people currently making a deal.
Lin Fan felt their gazes.
He turned around, opened his mouth, and revealed his pearly white teeth, giving a friendly chuckle.
But to them, it was chilling and terrifying. Oh my god, truly terrifying.
Wu Sheng smiled and smoothed things over, "Everyone, let's calm down, okay? It doesn't matter whose secret it is. The most important thing is that we can come together, which is a kind of fate. Why not listen to my conditions first?"
"The two beast brothers can speak human language, which clearly indicates that you have cultivated to a certain level. But to be honest, I've investigated many situations, and the two beast brothers must be lacking cultivation methods. I happen to have a demonic transformation technique. If you cultivate it successfully, you can shed your beastly bodies and transform into human form, and your cultivation can be greatly enhanced. From then on, you'll have more means of self-preservation in this world."
He knew that the one-eyed man was telling the truth.
Lin Fan's strength was unfathomable. Currently, no expert in Changbai Mountain was his match. Even if other starry sky experts arrived later, it would be hard to say.
Moreover, he knew why there was conflict. It was because of his arrival, which disrupted the already negotiated deal. So what he needed to do now was to harmonize the group, ensuring that adding another person wouldn't cause any conflicts.
The one-eyed man stared at Wu Sheng, his meaning clear: What about ours?
Wu Sheng said, "I have a unique skill, a secret technique of the Wu family. After learning it, its power will be astonishing, making you invincible among your peers. If you seize the opportunity well, even surpassing your level isn't impossible."
He said this without blushing or a racing heart.
Who knew if he was telling the truth or not.
The one-eyed man knew he was lying. The technique might be unique, but it definitely wasn't a secret art. No one would give their family's secret art to others.
Whatever.
Anyone can boast.
He could understand.
The cultivation method he traded with Wu Sheng last time was indeed useful and extremely beneficial. From this, it could be seen that the cultivation methods of the great starry sky clans were truly profound and unfathomable.
Therefore, he was very worried.
Wu Sheng was strong, but not strong enough to make people despair. What kind of cultivation methods did those truly powerful experts practice? It was probably impossible to catch up in a lifetime, unless... they could discover ancient cultivation methods in Changbai Mountain.
But that was easier said than done.
"Alright, we agree."
Lord Tiger and the giant eagle were eager to obtain the transformation technique. They also heard a familiar term.
Demonic clan.
This was a clan from ancient times.
They considered themselves to be part of the demonic clan.
But they couldn't even transform their forms, which was a bit embarrassing.
The one-eyed man didn't refuse. Obtaining a secret technique meant becoming stronger, which was already satisfying. Regardless of the level of the secret technique, it would at least be better than what he currently knew.
Lin Fan was strong, but he was ultimately just one person. How could he handle so many things?
Therefore, one's own strength was true strength.
It also allowed for more choices.
"But even if we bring you along, can they just leave?" the one-eyed man asked.
Wu Sheng said, "Don't worry. Since I'm cooperating with you, I naturally have a backup plan. I have a treasure that can teleport within a thousand miles. We'll leave directly later. Even if they are capable, they won't be able to find us."
The one-eyed man was shocked.
A miraculous object.
He was even more deeply wary of the abilities of the starry sky experts. This was completely beyond imagination.
"Lin Fan, come here," the one-eyed man shouted.
Lin Fan, pulling Old Zhang, who was reluctant to leave the ant-watching activity, came to their side.
"What's up?"
The one-eyed man acted mysteriously, "You'll know later."
After saying that, he nodded to Wu Sheng.
Wu Sheng really wanted to ask what was going on with these ordinary people, but he didn't say anything. The most terrifying person here wasn't the one-eyed man, but Lin Fan.
Judging from the current situation, these people seemed to have come with Lin Fan.
What else could he say?
Big shots have privileges.
"Teleport!"
Wu Sheng whispered.
Suddenly, spatial fluctuations appeared. With a whoosh, they vanished from their original spot in the blink of an eye. A few swirling leaves on the ground were the only evidence that someone had been there.
But the people were gone in an instant.
Whoosh!
Sure enough, those hidden around appeared.
"Holy crap! Where are they?"
"They disappeared without a trace in the blink of an eye. Are they performing magic?"
They were all experts from various countries, and they couldn't quite comprehend such miraculous things.
"Young Master, Wu Sheng actually used such a life-saving treasure. It seems they've discovered some real treasure and teleported away because they knew we were following them," Zhuang Ming said.
Zhuang Xiao's expression turned serious. "Can we track them?"
Zhuang Ming shook his head. "Impossible to track. I didn't expect the Wu family to prepare such things for Wu Sheng. It's quite a generous move. However, this thing has limitations. It can only teleport within a thousand miles, so if we search around, we might still have a chance."
They all wanted to quietly follow behind the other party.
But they didn't expect... this kind of problem to arise.
Far away, somewhere else.
"That's amazing," Lin Fan exclaimed in astonishment.
Xiao Bao felt like he was dreaming. Just now, with a whoosh, they disappeared, and then with another whoosh, they appeared. And he saw it, as if they had traveled through some kind of tunnel, with light curtains all around, like something out of a science fiction world.
The one-eyed man was stunned.
This treasure was truly miraculous.
A life-saving artifact.
Wu Sheng sighed, "Alas, this treasure is powerful, but it can only be used once. I hope we don't encounter any danger later."
The one-eyed man glanced at him.
Who knew if he was telling the truth or not.
But it didn't matter.
For such a life-saving item, he definitely wouldn't say, "I have more."
The point was to catch people off guard.
Wu Sheng said, "Two beast brothers, do you see if this location is far from where you want to go?"
"Not far," Lord Tiger replied.
They were still a bit dazed. It had happened too suddenly and too miraculously, leaving them disoriented.
Old Zhang asked, "Can we do it again?"
Wu Sheng gave him a sidelong glance, his eyes conveying, "Are you kidding me?"
Lin Fan said, "He said it's gone."
Old Zhang said regretfully, "That's a pity..."