Across the stone table, Ye Cang observed the mysterious expert’s string of odd behaviors but couldn’t make heads or tails of them. However, the seasoned and prudent Ye Cang didn’t ask further and merely waited quietly for the other party to respond.
Zhang Xiaoman was now fairly certain that the stone before him was indeed the Olharast Rock he had been searching for.
He suppressed the urge to immediately claim it as his own and began to furrow his brows in thought about the trade that Mr. Ye had just proposed.
Obtaining it would be simple for him, he just needed to open his mouth and speak, and he could even fabricate a story to easily obtain the stone from the other party.
But still, as the saying goes, deceiving such an elder was something Zhang Xiaoman was reluctant to do, and now he had a new idea—the Dragon Sleep Stone veins.
Since there was such a vein on Dragon Sleep Mountain, it meant that these stones could be produced in large quantities. If he could control such a vein, he wouldn’t have to worry about these stones for a long time.
You see, based on the Enlightenment Array Technique in his mind, this Olharast Rock was an essential material. If he wanted to recruit and perform Awakenings on many people in the future, he would definitely need this stuff.
"No wonder I always felt there was something familiar about his Five-taste Activation Method before—it turns out it has some similarities with a step in the Enlightenment Array Technique I knew."
At that moment, Zhang Xiaoman finally understood what that peculiar sense of familiarity was.
However, a new problem arose. Although the Ye Family had been passing down their legacy on this mountain for ages, the actual ownership of Dragon Sleep Mountain was still in the hands of the government, including the veins. Thus, the Ye Family couldn’t make decisions directly; they also needed the government’s approval.
Various problems flooded into Zhang Xiaoman’s mind, making him sit in contemplation for a long while, almost forgetting Mr Ye across the table.
"Cough cough... As for this exchange, have you come to a decision, sir?" Ye Cang coughed lightly and said.
Zhang Xiaoman’s thoughts were brought back from afar, and looking at the stone in front of him, he immediately made a decision. The current priority was to perfect the Enlightenment Array, and as for the problems that lay ahead, there was no need to think too much about them for now, especially since the quantity he needed wasn’t large.
"Mr. Ye, I can agree to this exchange, but I have one more request... I hope you could take me to see the vein where the Dragon Sleep Stone is produced."
Upon hearing this, Ye Cang’s heart leapt with joy. As for Zhang Xiaoman’s latter request, he had no reason to refuse and immediately nodded in agreement.
"So now, this piece of Dragon Sleep Stone is yours, sir."
As he said this, Ye Cang pushed the stone on the table forward, passing it to Zhang Xiaoman.
Zhang Xiaoman carefully took the stone, which had the deep blue of the ocean, and examined it closely, feeling exceedingly uplifted.
With it, not only could he immediately start preparing the Enlightenment Array, but he could also save a substantial amount of Star Dust. He could use these savings to buy several other items in the Gang Store that he had long coveted.
"Hmm... Sir, there’s something I’m curious about. When I saw the Dragon Sleep Stone earlier, I noticed your reaction—it seemed you had seen it before. I wonder..."
Ultimately, Ye Cang couldn’t curb his strong curiosity and voiced the question that had been lingering in his mind.
Zhang Xiaoman bowed his head in thought for a moment. He was still considering how to tell Mr. Ye about the Star Alliance in a way that both kept the secrets of the Star Alliance and fulfilled his agreement with him as much as possible.
As for inviting the old man to join the organization, he wasn’t too keen on the idea. Firstly, the old man was advanced in age and couldn’t withstand combat. Secondly, the Ye Family was too large in scale and not as easy to control as others.
Moreover, even though the Ye Family had a strong foundation, it was all in business connections, which weren’t very useful to Zhang Xiaoman. After all, he wasn’t going into business; what the Star Alliance lacked was its own strength.
However, he could still address the old man’s question without needing to hide too much—just telling him the truth would suffice.
"Mr. Ye, to be frank, I am familiar with this stone, but in our place, it is known by a different name than it is on Dragon Sleep Mountain."
"Oh? I wonder how it is referred to in the Cultivation World?" Ye Cang asked.
Zhang Xiaoman was somewhat speechless at that remark—still the Cultivation World, he wondered how much the old man had imagined on his own.
"This stone is called Olharast Rock where we are from. It is used to forge fine weapons and is also essential for setting up certain Array Techniques."
Upon hearing this, Mr. Ye’s eyes brightened.
That’s right! It must be so!
The world he had speculated about really did exist! And the stone he held must also be an item of considerable value!
After all, if it was as Half-immortal Pei described, not only could it forge Divine Weapons, but it was also essential for certain magical casting processes, then its value must be substantial. Just the other day, at a Cultivation exchange conference, the Divine Weapon used by the mysterious Half-immortal Pei might have been forged from it!
Mr. Ye was picturing a scene in his mind where cultivators gathered to exchange cultivation technique books and discuss them, some even holding a piece of Dragon Sleep Stone, discussing its detailed value with fellow practitioners.
Seeing Ye Cang looking so distracted, Zhang Xiaoman couldn’t help feeling speechless.
But it was no wonder Mr. Ye felt this way. Although he was old, he had pursued the Dao all his life and had seen extraordinary items like the Olharast Rock, inevitably leading to various fantasies about his pursuit.
Now, with the corroboration of him, the "Mysterious Expert", Mr. Ye’s mind was bound to wander.
However, seeing the old man’s hopeful expression, Zhang Xiaoman felt somewhat reluctant to shatter his fantasies. Perhaps he should just follow the routine from cultivation novels and make up a story for him? It might please him.
Zhang Xiaoman was beginning to worry about how he should continue speaking.
PS: A boost for this new book would be appreciated.