Joe Di felt a growing sense of appreciation for Jason Ren; at the very least, this fellow truly cared about his son.
Joe Di found a chair and sat down, with Charlotte Ling immediately taking a seat beside him. Jason Ren stared at Joe Di with impatience; if not for fear of angering him, he would have already asked again about the Duality Blossom.
Because everyone else also wanted news of the Duality Blossom, the great hall was unusually quiet at this moment. The Duality Blossom was not something only Henry Ren needed—anyone would covet such a treasure.
"Hall Master Ren, although I do have news of the Duality Blossom, the price is not low," Joe Di said calmly after sitting down, looking at Jason Ren.
He wanted to know whether Jason Ren truly possessed the Radiant Heart; if not, everything else was just empty talk. He would not part with his Duality Blossom so easily.
Jason Ren was so excited that he couldn't even sit down. "Friend, as long as you have news of the Duality Blossom, any condition will do."
Joe Di nodded inwardly. Cultivators rarely made such statements, especially someone like Jason Ren, a half-step Dao Fusion powerhouse. The fact that Jason Ren said this showed just how much he cared for his son.
"Very well. I need the Radiant Heart," Joe Di replied without hesitation.
Not only was Jason Ren stunned, but everyone else was also dumbfounded. To ask for the Radiant Heart in exchange for news of the Duality Blossom? Was the Radiant Heart as common as cabbage, growing everywhere?
Joe Di's asking price was outrageous. Was he not afraid of choking on his own words?
To everyone's surprise, Jason Ren did not erupt in anger; instead, he composed himself and spoke in a measured tone, "Friend, if you truly have the Duality Blossom, exchanging it for my Radiant Heart is not an issue. But you only have news of it... Since it's just news, that means it's uncertain..."
Even Jason Ren himself felt his tone was a bit dry; his greatest fear was that Joe Di would become angry. If Joe Di lost his temper, he truly had no solution.
After all, Joe Di could simply remain in Winterhold Palace, and with Elder Yale present, what could Jason Ren possibly do?
Joe Di laughed heartily. "Just tell me whether you have the Radiant Heart. If you do, then the Duality Blossom is not a trick. If you don't, then my words just now were in vain."
Jason Ren gritted his teeth and produced a jade box, holding it in his palm. "The Radiant Heart is right here, but with only uncertain news, I can't make a deal with you."
Luna Fairchild frowned as she saw Jason Ren take out the Radiant Heart. In her mind, the Radiant Heart belonged to her, and seeing Jason Ren bring it out so easily left her displeased.
Joe Di's divine sense had already swept over the jade box, and a surge of scorching energy flooded his perception—he was ecstatic. He knew this had to be the Radiant Heart.
The next moment, Joe Di unhesitatingly took out a jade box and placed it before him, opening it at once.
Inside the jade box appeared a pair of breathtakingly beautiful flowers—one black, one white, both crystal clear and radiant.
"The Duality Blossom?" At that moment, nearly everyone cried out in excitement, and Jason Ren could barely control his breathing.
The Duality Blossom he had searched for so desperately was now right before his eyes.
Suddenly, a divine essence handprint reached for the Duality Blossom in front of Joe Di. Joe Di sneered inwardly—trying to snatch something from him, Elder Yale was truly shameless.
Bang! Elder Yale's divine essence hand was blocked by an invisible barrier, but as a Dao Fusion powerhouse, he shattered it in an instant. Yet by then, the Duality Blossom within the barrier had already vanished.
Joe Di spoke coldly, "Who are you? What is the meaning of this? Are you planning to rob me by force?"
"I am Elder Yale, Grand Elder of Winterhold Valley. What, am I not allowed to inspect this item to see if it's genuine?" Elder Yale's tone turned cold. He felt it necessary to put Joe Di in his place, lest this young master alchemist grow too arrogant.
As he spoke, his gaze swept over Charlotte Ling. Since entering, Charlotte Ling hadn't looked at him once—perhaps she knew something.
If he hadn't emerged from seclusion before, he would have been powerless. But now, even if Charlotte Ling knew something, so what?
"Old man, living this long without kicking the bucket isn't so impressive. Have you no shame? Why should my ancestor's treasure be subject to your inspection? Did you bring out the Radiant Heart? If anyone should inspect it, it's Hall Master Ren. Did Winterhold Valley invite us all here just to trap us?" Joe Di had no intention of giving Elder Yale any face.
Since he was bound to clash with this shameless old man sooner or later, there was no need to be polite.
Although everyone knew Winterhold Valley hadn't invited them here to set a trap, but for the Taiji River Secret Realm, Elder Yale's actions were indeed excessive. The cultivators present grew wary, and those considering trading rare items abandoned the idea.
Elder Yale was furious; he had changed his mind. Originally, he intended for Joe Di to become a sect elder and peacefully refine pills in Winterhold Valley. Now, he wanted to forcibly imprison Joe Di there—no pill refining, not even the right to die.
The killing intent of a Dao Fusion powerhouse instantly filled the hall, chilling the very air. Every cultivator present felt as if they were trapped within a massive block of ice; even breathing became difficult.
All the cultivators were shocked—so this was the terror of a Dao Fusion powerhouse.
Joe Di, however, felt relieved. Elder Yale was indeed stronger than most half-step Dao Fusion cultivators, but that was all. Joe Di couldn't defeat him, but with Charlotte Ling present, the old man would be courting death if he tried anything rash.
Overwhelmed by joy, Jason Ren finally snapped back to reality. At the same time, his own half-step Dao Fusion domain expanded wildly.
Boom! The raging domains collided, and Elder Yale was shocked to find that although his domain crushed Jason Ren's, Jason Ren managed to blast open a fissure in it. The tension in the hall eased slightly.
It seemed that after years of recovery, his combat power hadn't improved much. Thinking this, Elder Yale glanced at Charlotte Ling; no matter what, he had to get what she possessed.
Su Qianqian hurriedly sent a voice transmission to Elder Yale, "Elder Yale, even a Prime Dao Pill Saint or Genesis Pill Saint is unheard of in the entire Taiji Realm."
Elder Yale calmed down, understanding Su Qianqian's point. Although he was a Dao Fusion powerhouse, there were still a few others like him in the Taiji Realm. But now, there wasn't a single Prime Dao Pill Saint or Genesis Pill Saint in the entire realm.
Su Qianqian had indirectly reminded him—if Joe Di truly became a Prime Dao Pill Saint or Genesis Pill Saint, his status would be no lower than Elder Yale's. How could someone of such rank tolerate having their treasure snatched for inspection? Besides, Su Qianqian knew Elder Yale wasn't checking Joe Di's Duality Blossom, but confiscating it.
Jason Ren, however, was even more shaken than Elder Yale. He forced down a mouthful of blood. The clash just now was only a collision of domains, and he had attacked Elder Yale's domain aggressively. In truth, he was no match at all; though he tore open a fissure, if it came to a real fight, he wouldn't last long.
At this moment, Elder Yale stopped his aggressive actions; he certainly wasn't foolish enough to provoke further. He simply stepped forward and handed the Radiant Heart to Joe Di.
"A-Jiu, could you return your Duality Blossom to me?" Luna Fairchild's sweet voice rang out, though beneath its softness was a hint of anxiety.
Jason Ren forcibly suppressed his anger and spoke gently, "Yue Shu, I understand your feelings for Henry, but I've already exchanged for the item—it amounts to the same thing."
Luna Fairchild didn't answer Jason Ren, only looked anxiously at Joe Di. How could it be the same? She wanted the Duality Blossom not for Henry Ren, but for the Palace Master of Serene Carp Palace. If she had known Joe Di possessed the Duality Blossom, she would never have waited until today.