Zhang Ergou and the other two cautiously glanced at the purple-robed elder.
"Senior, what is it?"
"Haha, you three young friends need not be alarmed, this old man means no harm."
The purple-robed elder said with a kind smile.
"This old man stopped you three simply because I want to make a deal with you, or rather, with this young friend here."
The purple-robed elder pointed at Zhang Ergou.
"With me? Make a deal!" Zhang Ergou pointed a finger at himself, looking at the purple-robed elder with confusion.
"This place is crowded and not suitable for conversation. Please, three young friends, follow me."
The purple-robed elder nodded with a smile. From his outward appearance, one would never guess he was a Nascent Soul stage cultivator.
As he spoke, the purple-robed elder walked ahead, and cultivators around him were pushed aside by an invisible force.
Zhang Ergou, Zilin, and the little fatty Xiong Bao followed closely behind.
Following the purple-robed elder, the three no longer felt the crowdedness they had experienced upon entering.
Soon, they followed the purple-robed elder to the outside of the Black Xuan Pavilion auction house.
"Senior, where are you taking us?"
After leaving the auction house, Zhang Ergou asked. He didn't know whether to trust this purple-robed elder of unknown origin.
However, the other party's strength was far superior to theirs. It seemed there was no other choice but to follow him.
"Young friend, do not be hasty. This black market is chaotic. Now that the auction has ended and the restrictions are lifted, the Black Xuan Pavilion will no longer interfere in conflicts between cultivators," the purple-robed elder said.
"For safety's sake, I will take the three of you away from here first."
As expected, Zhang Ergou felt his cultivation had returned to the Foundation Establishment stage. The oppressive feeling he had sensed upon entering the black market was gone.
Zhang Ergou, Zilin, and the little fatty Xiong Bao exchanged glances.
He nodded, "Alright, Senior. We will follow you."
"Haha, good!" The purple-robed elder laughed heartily, then scooped up the three and flew towards the outside of the black market.
At the Nascent Soul stage, one could fly without a sword.
Zhang Ergou felt the scenery rapidly changing before his eyes. In an instant, they had left the geographical area of the black market.
Whoosh!
A flash of purple light, and Zhang Ergou and the others found themselves on a mountaintop.
After setting the three down, the purple-robed elder waved his hand, and Zhang Ergou, Zilin, and Xiong Bao's original appearances were restored.
"Haha, I detected that you three were very young, but I didn't expect you young friends to be this young."
Looking at the true appearances of Zhang Ergou and the other two, the purple-robed elder burst into laughter.
Zhang Ergou looked at the purple-robed elder with shock.
Zilin and Xiong Bao also looked at him warily. They never expected that the purple-robed elder could restore their disguised appearances with just a wave of his hand.
It was simply terrifying.
"Three young friends, do not be nervous. This old man means no harm." Seeing their wary expressions, the purple-robed elder explained again.
"As this old man said before, I am here to make a deal with this young friend."
"Senior, what kind of deal do you wish to make with me? I only have Foundation Establishment stage cultivation. I fear that anything I possess would not catch Senior's eye."
Zhang Ergou looked at the purple-robed elder in confusion. He couldn't think of anything he possessed that would attract a Nascent Soul stage cultivator.
"No, you do." The purple-robed elder nodded affirmatively.
"May I know your names, three young friends?"
"I am Zilin. You can just call me Zilin, Grandpa." Seeing that the purple-robed elder seemed to mean no harm, Zilin relaxed her guard.
"I'm Xiong Bao. Everyone calls me Little Fatty affectionately. You can call me that too, old man."
Little Fatty Xiong Bao said nonchalantly. Since their leader wasn't afraid, Xiong Bao naturally returned to his true nature.
The purple-robed elder nodded and then turned to Zhang Ergou.
"My name is Zhang Ergou. Senior, you can just call me Ergou." Zhang Ergou said helplessly.
"Haha, Zhang Ergou, Zhang Ergou, good name, truly a good name."
The purple-robed elder laughed heartily. "You can call this old man Elder Qin. As those cultivators said, this old man indeed comes from a reclusive family, the Qin family."
"Elder Qin!" Zhang Ergou and the other two cupped their fists and bowed to the purple-robed elder.
"Elder Qin, you said I have something you desire. What might that be?" Zhang Ergou asked Elder Qin, confused.
"Young friend Ergou, if this old man sees correctly, do you have a fire hidden within your body?"
Elder Qin became serious, looking at Zhang Ergou nervously, fearing he would receive a negative answer.
"Fire? What fire? Elder Qin, what are you saying? This小子 doesn't understand." Zhang Ergou feigned ignorance.
Whoosh!
Elder Qin acted with lightning speed and grabbed Zhang Ergou's arm.
Zhang Ergou felt a gentle force flow through his arm into his body, but he was powerless to resist.
"Immortal Fire, haha, Immortal Fire! This old man has finally found it."
Elder Qin trembled with excitement, clearly overjoyed by this discovery.
Before, he had only probed with his divine sense from afar, knowing only that Zhang Ergou's body contained a fire that did not belong to him.
He had not expected it to be the Immortal Fire he had been searching for.
How could he not be excited?
Zhang Ergou's expression turned extremely grim. He hadn't expected his lie to be seen through by Elder Qin so quickly.
The backlash came too fast.
If this old man had a worse temper, and decided to rob him and kill him for the spiritual fire, where would he go to seek justice!
Zhang Ergou looked at Zilin and Little Fatty Xiong Bao with melancholy.
He winked, trying to get them to think of a solution, but they merely shrugged, looking as if he was on his own.
"I've made unreliable friends," Zhang Ergou thought to himself.
"Elder Qin, you're not thinking of taking the spiritual fire from my body, are you?" Zhang Ergou asked timidly, gathering his courage.
"Haha, Ergou, you jest. Even if this old man wanted to lay claim to the Immortal Fire, the Immortal Fire would have to follow me first," Elder Qin shook his head.
"Immortal Fire? Elder Qin, isn't it a spiritual fire in my body?" Zhang Ergou asked.
"This old man would not be mistaken. It currently appears as a spiritual fire because your cultivation is too low," Elder Qin explained, gradually regaining his composure.
"Its true form is Immortal Fire. Immortal Fires have always been claimed by those with destiny, as they choose their own masters."
"If one does not gain the recognition of the Immortal Fire, even if they forcibly seize it, they will be burned to death by it, regardless of their cultivation level."
Hiss!
Zhang Ergou gasped, a wave of fear washing over him.
Fortunately, he had gained the recognition of the spiritual fire, otherwise, he would have turned to ashes by now.
"Then, what is the deal Elder Qin mentioned he wanted to make with me?"
Hearing that Elder Qin did not want his spiritual fire, Zhang Ergou was relieved.
Elder Qin did not answer immediately, but instead took out a scroll and handed it to Zhang Ergou.
"Earth-tier low-grade wood-elemental cultivation method, Divine Wood Song!" Zhang Ergou's eyes widened.
He looked at Elder Qin with disbelief.