Joe Di looked at Nate Shee with a puzzled expression. "Palace Lord Shee, this is rather strange. Just now, this friend wanted to sell the Void Flower—am I not allowed to bid? Or is it that, because this is Radiant Lake Palace, as long as Palace Lord Shee fancies something, no one else is permitted to make an offer? If that's truly the case, then I’ll take my leave now."
After speaking, Joe Di cupped his fists toward Kirk Jay. "Fellow Daoist Jay, shall we leave and conduct our trade outside? This is Palace Lord Shee's territory, and he does not permit us to transact here."
Most of the cultivators on Radiant Lake understood the meaning behind Nate Shee and Joe Di’s words, and at this moment, many of them felt a bit disdainful. It was true that Joe Di had competed with Nate Shee for treasures twice, but such competition was normal at the Immortal Exchange. If two people fancy the same item at an exchange, it’s not unusual to disparage each other's offers. As long as your bid and words satisfy the seller, that’s all that matters.
In fact, Nate Shee’s earlier words were against the rules. As for Joe Di, while his actions were somewhat unscrupulous, they were still within the boundaries of the exchange.
"Haha..." Nate Shee laughed heartily. "I was a bit too attached, it seems. In that case, let’s put aside my dispute with Emperor Di for now. I’ll compete with Emperor Di for the Void Flower instead. Elder Jay, I offer a supreme-grade immortal vein, a Time Crystal, three top-grade Sovereign Intent Pills, one hundred million immortal crystals, and my Azure Lotus Banner. All of these are for your Void Flower."
Upon hearing this offer, everyone present gasped in shock.
Nate Shee’s bid was simply outrageous. Whether or not the Azure Lotus Banner was genuine, just the Time Crystal alone was enough to rival the Void Flower.
No matter how precious the Void Flower was, it was still just an immortal herb. Even at its highest grade, it was only a ninth-grade celestial herb.
With Nate Shee’s offer, not to mention a single ninth-grade celestial herb—even dozens of them could likely be purchased.
Even Kirk Jay’s hand trembled slightly at Nate Shee’s bid. He knew the Void Flower was rare—a Spirit Eye-class immortal herb. Yet, no matter how rare it was, it was not worth the price Nate Shee was offering.
Although he coveted Joe Di’s Mindweave Pills for repairing the Spiritual Sea, he could not resist Nate Shee’s offer.
Joe Di wouldn’t wait for Kirk Jay to speak—he could clearly sense Kirk Jay’s wavering. Laughing, he said, "Palace Lord Shee, you can spare us that fake Azure Lotus Banner. When it comes to trading, integrity matters most, and all I sense from you are knockoffs..."
Nate Shee did not understand what Joe Di meant by 'knockoffs,' but he still snorted coldly. "Whether it’s fake or not isn’t up to you. Elder Jay’s cultivation far surpasses yours—he’ll know for himself."
"Elder Jay, although I shouldn’t disparage my rival’s offer, I’m a straightforward person—I say what’s on my mind. As for the truth, Palace Lord Shee is right about one thing: Elder Jay will know for himself. Now, here’s my bid: two hundred million top-grade immortal crystals, ten supreme immortal crystals, five top-grade immortal veins, six Nine-Stripe Exalt Will Pills, two Time Crystals, and most importantly, thirty Mindweave Pills and the formula for Mindweave Pills." After speaking, Joe Di decisively raised a ring.
Suppressing his excitement, Kirk Jay replied without hesitation, "Emperor Di, I’ll trade with you."
As he spoke, he walked over to Joe Di and handed the items to him. In a place where people dared to snatch Joe Di’s Azure Cloud Banner, he certainly wouldn’t risk tossing his treasures to Joe Di.
He’d have to be a fool to choose Nate Shee’s offer. The Azure Lotus Banner Nate Shee presented was clearly a fake; if it were real, Nate Shee would never use it for a trade. Just that Azure Lotus Banner alone was worth countless Void Flowers. The only reason he’d been tempted by Nate Shee’s offer before was because it included a Time Crystal.
Now, Joe Di had offered two Time Crystals, and everything else except for a supreme-grade immortal vein was more than Nate Shee’s bid. Not to mention six Nine-Stripe Exalt Will Pills, each one worth a fortune—let alone six. Supreme immortal crystals were something he desperately needed, and Joe Di even included the Mindweave Pill formula. At this point, who else would he trade with but Joe Di?
Seeing Joe Di and Kirk Jay complete their trade, those around them could only sigh in amazement. Since when had a single Void Flower become so valuable?
And Joe Di actually had two Time Crystals. Wasn’t it said that Joe Di once paid a fortune for a single Time Crystal in Great Cauldron City?
Seeing Joe Di and Kirk Jay complete their trade, Nate Shee grew calm instead.
He was determined to take down Joe Di before he left this place. The Void Flower was far too important—his Eye of Illusion required it. This confirmed his earlier suspicions: Joe Di also possessed a similar supernatural ability, or else he couldn’t have survived in chaotic space, nor would he have paid such a high price for the Void Flower.
What Nate Shee didn’t know was that, even before acquiring the Eye of the Way, Joe Di could already survive in chaotic space.
At this moment, everyone else was busy trading. Although none of the Immortal Emperors made such grand bids as Joe Di, every item they offered was a top-tier treasure.
Joe Di had stopped inscribing various law banners. What he’d already prepared was enough to set up a ninth-grade trap-and-kill array in this place. Now, he was waiting for the others to finish trading before turning on Nate Shee. With all the law banners he’d inscribed, he could instantly deploy a ninth-grade trap-and-kill immortal array with a single toss of his control banner.
"Emperor Di, do you have any Starlight Tea? I’d like to trade for some." This time, it was a fifth-stage Immortal Emperor whom Joe Di didn’t recognize.
Joe Di cupped his fists apologetically. "I don’t have much Starlight Tea left—unless someone has Millennium Divinewood Essence, or knows where to find it."
At Joe Di’s words, the crowd fell silent. Millennium Divinewood Essence was a treasure that could only be chanced upon, not sought. In terms of value, it was far more precious than the Void Flower Joe Di had just traded.
Joe Di didn’t expect an immediate result from his words. Everyone here was a powerhouse—if anyone wanted to trade with him afterward, they’d seek him out.
(Irrelevant passage skipped)
Seeing that Nate Shee was no longer trading, everyone understood he was simply waiting for the transactions to finish before making his move against Joe Di.
Nate Shee was, after all, the top cultivator in this region of the starry sky. Sensing the tense atmosphere, several cultivators who had planned to trade now voluntarily stopped their actions.
As everyone ceased trading, Nate Shee stood up and cupped his fists once more. "Friends, with my strength, dealing with Emperor Di should be easy. However, I, Nate Shee, walk a righteous path—reason must prevail. Today, I invited you all to enjoy immortal spirit fruit, not only to create a venue for the Immortal Exchange and foster communication, but also to ask you all to judge fairly for me."
As soon as Nate Shee finished speaking, Fang Qi—the pale-faced man beside He Weiwei—stood up, full of emotion. "There were times when I relied on my strength and ignored reason. Hearing Palace Lord Shee’s words today, I feel deeply ashamed. I, Fang Qi, am but a first-stage Immortal Emperor, yet I’ve acted so arrogantly. Palace Lord Shee is the foremost cultivator of the Four Immortal Continents, and still speaks with reason and evidence. I am truly humbled..."
Joe Di let out a long sigh that everyone could hear, and looked at Fang Qi. "Fang Qi, you and I have a grudge, but you shouldn’t know that, should you? Why are you trying to harm me like this?"
Fang Qi frowned, his face cold. "When have I ever harmed you? Every word I said was sincere. Some people shouldn’t take things so personally. Besides, you’re only an Immortal King—if you had Palace Lord Shee’s power, no one else in the universe would ever get a word in edgewise."
Joe Di chuckled. "I’m not taking it personally—it’s just that your awkward words make me want to throw up the meal I ate a million years ago. If you’re not harming me, who is? A million years ago, I strove to do good, lived frugally, and finally got to eat a decent meal. Now, thanks to you, I feel like I’m going to lose it all... Forget it, talking about this just makes everyone’s teeth ache."
"Pfft!" Ivy Snow, the youngest and weakest in cultivation, couldn’t help but laugh. Rona Snow, Yaohua Snow Mountain Sect Master and Immortal Emperor Mo Louxue, glared at Ivy Snow. Despite the friendly atmosphere here, blood would surely be shed soon. As Yaohua Snow Mountain’s sect master, Rona Snow was a major figure on Magic Garment Immortal Continent—but here, that didn’t mean much.
What’s more, Joe Di was a ruthless man. The likes of Marlon Jace and Leon Yue—his equals—weren’t present today. As for Eugene Xiling, the grass on his grave was already tall. No, wait—he didn’t even have a grave.