Eternal Tale

“Seniors, are you here?"

A sycophantic laugh echoed from outside the formation. “Junior Song Heng humbly seeks an audience. I have an important matter to discuss.”

Xiao Chi glanced at Chen Xun. This chubby Taoist was familiar; over the past month, he had sold quite a significant amount of materials, making him one of the top contributors among the scavengers.

Chen Xun gave a subtle nod.

Seeing the signal, Xiao Chi perked up and roared, “You chubby little Taoist, come in and speak!”

Brother Ox waved his hoof, and a pathway of divine light unfolded, revealing Song Heng’s figure. The Taoist wore a tattered robe, stained with the filth of the garbage heaps. Although his spiritual energy had cleansed most of the grime, his overall appearance still radiated an aura of disarray—not that he seemed to care much.

His small, beady eyes gleamed with a crafty light, perfectly complementing his rotund frame. Bowing repeatedly, he cautiously walked along the divine pathway, heart pounding with apprehension as the formation behind him slowly closed.

“Song Heng, what’s the matter?”

Chen Xun’s gaze swept over him, calm and indifferent. “Visiting so late at night… Surely you’re not just here to sell trash?”

Song Heng’s posture bent even lower as he raised his thumb in exaggerated admiration. “Senior’s wisdom and power must extend far beyond the garbage heaps of this island, reaching horizons that few can imagine.”

“Hmm. Continue,” Chen Xun replied, sipping his tea with a faint smile.

“Senior, if I may speak boldly… Your current operation lacks… efficiency.”

“Audacious! Chubby Taoist, how dare you criticize Brother Xun?!”

Xiao Chi’s roar interrupted Song Heng, the flames around his mane flaring ominously. “Speak cautiously if you value your life!”

“W-wait!” Song Heng stumbled back several steps, his face pale. “Misunderstanding, Senior! It’s just a suggestion!”

“Xiao Chi,” Chen Xun interjected, his voice steady. “Let him finish.”

“Understood, Brother Xun,” Xiao Chi replied, sitting back down with a huff.

“My apologies, Senior,” Song Heng said, wiping the cold sweat from his brow. He looked toward Chen Xun, his voice full of sincerity. “I have a unique artifact, the Treasure-Seeking Compass. If entrusted with a team, I can significantly increase the speed at which scavengers locate materials containing Great Desolate Crow God Crystal fragments.”

“A compass that can locate valuable materials?” Chen Xun’s brows lifted slightly. “Brother Ox, what do you think? Should we take it for ourselves?”

Chen Xun’s calm words carried a chilling undertone. “A mere Nascent Soul cultivator dares flaunt his treasure before me?”

Moo~~

Brother Ox’s Five Elements aura surged forward, enveloping Song Heng like a tidal wave. Unable to move, Song Heng felt his spiritual energy stagnate, leaving him powerless.

Eyes wide with terror, Song Heng shouted, “Wait, Senior! Please wait! I’ll speak honestly!”

“Your name?”

“Song… Song Heng.”

“Gender?”

“Male.”

“Lifespan and soul age?”

“Lifespan 572 years; soul age the same.”

“Race?”

“Grave-Fortune Demonic Shroud Clan.”

“What nonsense is that?”

Chen Xun’s eyes narrowed, faint arcs of lightning flickering within. “What kind of race is that? I knew from the start you weren’t human.”

Moo~ Brother Ox’s eyes gleamed suspiciously. He had sensed something off about Song Heng’s physique the moment they met a month ago. Even Sister Crane had noted the anomaly but had chosen to remain silent.

Song Heng’s heart raced as he cast a wary glance toward the seemingly innocent girl. At that moment, Sister Crane’s aura shifted. Her black-and-white dual pupils glimmered faintly, resembling the celestial sun and moon.

Song Heng’s voice trembled. “Our clan… we are solitary. We can perceive innate fortune and seek out great fated ones. Senior’s fortune may seem thin, but it’s unbroken, a sign of immense destiny…”

“Speak plainly,” Chen Xun cut him off, his tone icy. “Don’t waste my time with nonsense.”

Song Heng coughed awkwardly. “In truth, my Treasure-Seeking Compass guided me here. It’s my clan’s artifact, inherited from generation to generation.”

“A grave robber, then?” Chen Xun asked.

“Senior, no! A treasure seeker! There’s a difference!” Song Heng protested vehemently. “In fact, I’ve already uncovered rare finds in the garbage seas, such as the Violet Divine Essence and Azure Spirit Liquid.”

Chen Xun’s interest piqued. “Those materials found in shattered Spirit Marks? They’re not easily refined… And from what I understand, they’re not measured by weight but sold by container.”

Song Heng’s expression lit up. “Precisely, Senior! A single box of Violet Divine Essence or a vial of Azure Spirit Liquid can fetch over ten thousand top-grade spirit stones. Even for Integration-stage cultivators, these resources are invaluable.”

Chen Xun and Brother Ox exchanged glances. They had previously experimented with refining such fragments but found the process time-consuming and yield negligible. These high-grade materials were not commonly sought in the current region, making them an unviable focus for their operations—at least for now.

“Alright, you’ve made your point,” Chen Xun said, his voice calm but commanding. “You’re proposing to lead a team of scavengers to streamline material collection?”

“Exactly, Senior,” Song Heng affirmed. “With the compass, I can pinpoint fragments containing valuable materials, saving everyone time and effort.”

Chen Xun leaned back, the moonlight illuminating his contemplative expression. After a moment, he nodded. “Fine. Go find Mo Fuyang and recruit those willing to work with you. My only rule is this: no disputes or underhanded tactics. Efficiency and cooperation are key.”

Song Heng’s demeanor turned serious as he bowed deeply. “Understood, Senior. I’ll ensure everything runs smoothly.”

Chen Xun waved him off. “Then go. Actions speak louder than words. Prove your worth.”

Song Heng’s figure disappeared into the night. Xiao Chi’s sharp gaze followed him until he was out of sight. Only then did he relax, sprawling on the ground with an exaggerated yawn.

Chen Xun’s gaze shifted upward. The night sky stretched endlessly, its stars shimmering like scattered jewels. “The world is vast,” he murmured. “And we’re just getting started.”

Brother Ox mooed softly in agreement, his eyes reflecting the silver glow of the moon. Sister Crane nestled closer, her face serene.

Visit and read more novel to help us update chapter quickly. Thank you so much!