The circular grand hall appeared extremely spacious, with seats arranged in a ring around the hall. If ordinary people came here to trade, they wouldn't even be able to see what those across from them looked like, let alone hear what anyone was saying.
However, everyone here was a mighty cultivator, with the lowest cultivation at the Dao Fusion Realm. Naturally, such issues did not exist.
After Joe Di found a seat and sat down, a small square table automatically rose before him. On the table lay two shriveled Genesis Dao Fruits. In the upper left corner of the table was a button, and in the center, a teleportation array was inscribed. Joe Di couldn't help but feel speechless; even a regular trade fair in an ordinary cultivation city of the Dao Realm wouldn't be this shabby.
Joe Di didn't think these people lacked treasures; it was just that all these old fellows kept their good stuff within their own worlds. Who knew how many tens of thousands of years these shriveled Genesis Dao Fruits had been sitting here? The restrictions placed on them were merely to prevent corrosion—clearly, these Dao Fruits were just for show.
Joe Di casually tossed the two shriveled Genesis Dao Fruits in front of him into the Ninth World, thinking to himself that if everyone kept doing this, there would be no more shriveled fruits to put out in the future—they'd have to present fresh ones instead.
People entered one after another, and soon the entire circle of seats in the hall was filled. Late arrivals even had to sit in a newly arranged second ring.
The second ring of seats was placed in front of the first. For ordinary people, the closer to the front, the better. But for some Dao Fusion cultivators, sitting in the back was actually preferable.
Here, divine sense could not be casually released; even if you tried, it would be blocked by isolation restrictions. Those seated in the back could clearly see every cultivator presenting items for trade in front, while those in the front couldn't see anything behind them.
An elder dressed in black robes stepped into the center of the hall's void. After making a respectful salute to everyone, he said, "Most of us here are already well acquainted—even the ones I've met least, I reckon I've seen at least three times. It's rare to have so many people gathered today, mainly because there's a newcomer who wishes to trade two innate treasures. I wonder who this fellow Daoist is—please stand up and let everyone get to know you."
At this, the elder paused, his gaze landing directly on Joe Di.
Joe Di knew better than anyone that his cultivation level was insignificant in the eyes of these people. He had no idea how many Third Step experts were present here, nor did he dare to sweep everyone with his divine sense. Still, he was certain that the elder speaking was a true Third Step powerhouse.
Even if Joe Di didn’t stand up, everyone already knew it was him. Many had emerged from seclusion, likely because of him. In fact, the moment the elder asked him to stand, countless gazes had already landed on Joe Di.
Joe Di possessed plenty of Celestial Relics, but he had no intention of offering any. The four Fivefold Banners were suppressed in the Taiji Realm, the Purity Vessel was filled with Genesis Aura, and the Void Mountain was still handy for him. As for the Heaven-Opening Brush and the World Tome, no one should even think about getting their hands on them.
The only River Mountain Vessel was reserved for Nora Xiu, never for sale. As for the Doom Lotus, the Bridge of Reincarnation, and the Jianmu Tree, these were treasures that surpassed Celestial Relics or were on the verge of doing so. Joe Di would never put them up for trade.
Joe Di slapped the table and, without standing, declared directly, "I said there are two Celestial Relics. If you want to trade, wait until I announce what I’m offering for exchange."
The black-robed elder paid no attention to Joe Di’s attitude. He simply laughed heartily and said, "Very well, we’ll wait for this Daoist friend to broaden our horizons. I now declare the trading event open. Anyone wishing to trade may press the button in front of them."
After speaking, the elder flashed and was already seated at one of the chairs.
Joe Di sneered inwardly. Showing Celestial Relics to these people—wasn’t that treating them as ignorant? Who were these people, after all? Not to mention Celestial Relics, most here had even seen Creation Treasures. As for Celestial Relics, Joe Di was certain many present possessed them.
"In that case, I’ll go first. I have ten Second Step Dao Fruits and wish to trade for earth-attribute law fragments or something that can restore vital essence." A middle-aged man in hemp robes proactively produced a large jade box.
Joe Di didn’t care to compete with others, so he kept silent. What puzzled him was that no one wanted the ten Dao Fruits.
After confirming that no one else wanted it, Joe Di finally spoke, "Are all your Dao Fruits Genesis Dao Fruits, my friend?"
The middle-aged man in hemp robes had thought no one would trade with him this time, as he knew Dao Fruits held little competitiveness in this place.
"If you want a Genesis Dao Fruit, that's possible, but first I need to know what you can offer." The hemp-robed cultivator looked at Joe Di with eager eyes. If Joe Di produced a Celestial Relic, he'd laugh himself awake even in his sleep.
Joe Di took out a jade bottle and said, "I have Origin Dew, and also earth-attribute law fragments."
"You really have them both? Origin Dew? And earth-attribute law fragments? I'll trade, I'll trade..." The hemp-robed cultivator became instantly excited upon hearing Joe Di's words.
Origin Dew was a supreme treasure born in the Chaos Nest. Not only did he want it, but everyone else here was just as eager. The greatest use of Origin Dew was to restore vital energy; its function for cultivating divine abilities was usually ignored. No one here would use Origin Dew to cultivate divine abilities—they all wanted it for healing and recovery.
Joe Di was about to ask whether he was offering a Genesis Dao Fruit or a Dao Origin Dao Fruit, when more than a dozen voices rang out at once: "I need Origin Dew too. I have Genesis Dao Fruits as well. Name your price, fellow Daoist!"
Though only a dozen voices spoke, Joe Di sensed many more eager gazes. He quickly understood that Origin Dew was the true treasure here. By this logic, giving a drop of Cosmic Essence to Du Zi Hen must have helped him greatly—Cosmic Essence was far more valuable than Origin Dew.
"Fellow Daoists, there's a natural order to trading. My transaction isn't finished yet—what do you all mean by this?" The hemp-robed cultivator grew anxious as he saw so many people trying to snatch up the Origin Dew.
"Heh, since it's a trade, it should be mutual consent. You haven't traded with this fellow yet; everyone is still bargaining. Why shouldn't others make offers? Only if you both agree and no one else bids, does it become your transaction." A sarcastic voice left the hemp-robed cultivator speechless.
The hemp-robed cultivator could only say, "Fellow Daoist, I'll offer twenty Genesis Dao Fruits. All I want in exchange is one earth-attribute law fragment and twenty drops of Origin Dew."
Joe Di was overjoyed. He hadn't expected Genesis Dao Fruits to be so worthless here. Twenty drops of Origin Dew and a single earth-attribute law fragment could be exchanged for twenty Genesis Dao Fruits.
"Jia Mai, your offer is hardly fair. Those Genesis Dao Fruits of yours are useless; even if you scattered them on the ground, no one would bother to pick them up. Yet you want to trade twenty drops of Origin Dew for such useless Genesis Dao Fruits..." someone immediately interjected.
Joe Di knew this wasn't said for the hemp-robed cultivator, but for him.
"Do you think your Genesis Dao Fruits are any better? The useful ones were eaten long ago. What you can offer now are just assorted, barely qualifying Genesis Dao Fruits." The hemp-robed cultivator snorted.