All eyes turned in their direction, and for a moment, the floor of the tavern fell silent. At this moment, daring to report to the Immortal Palace in front of everyone took considerable courage.
After all, the name of the “Wild Child” was infamous.
“Is what you say true?” asked the golden-haired man, his eyes flickering. Clad in resplendent golden armor, he radiated an aura of divine might, his body wreathed in golden feathers of light.
“Of course!” Shi Hao nodded earnestly. He wasn’t in his true appearance, shamelessly eyeing the “bounty” on offer.
“Good. Since you have leads and know where the Wild Child is, we can reward you with treasures of astonishing value,” the golden-haired man replied, smiling in pleasant surprise at this unexpected gain.
“I only want sacred herbs and divine medicines. Treasures are useless for my current cultivation,” Shi Hao stated bluntly.
“You dare ask for sacred and divine herbs as if they were mere weeds?!” someone else sneered, their crimson hair cascading wildly.
“What exactly is your so-called bounty?” Shi Hao feigned surprise. “Surely you’re not just offering a few bone weapons as a grand reward?”
The crimson-haired man’s expression darkened briefly before calming. His red locks swayed as he said, “Naturally, the reward is substantial. But demanding divine herbs outright is absurd. Friend, tell us where the Wild Child is, and the Immortal Palace will remember your kindness.”
He invoked the name of the Immortal Palace—both as a reminder and a veiled threat. Aligning with such an ancient power might be the greatest reward of all.
Of course, different people would interpret his words differently, but none could find fault with them.
“I’ve always admired the Immortal Palace and wished to see what kind of place it is,” Shi Hao said with a smile—though in truth, he wanted to fight his way in. “But let’s be clear. If divine herbs are too much, then sacred herbs and semi-divine medicines will suffice. I’m direct—no beating around the bush.”
In the private booth, Qing Yi chuckled softly. This guy was truly unbelievable—was he really planning to claim the enemy’s bounty? If the Immortal Palace found out, they’d probably spit blood in fury.
The crimson-haired man’s face darkened further. This man had no sense of propriety, daring to demand treasures from the Immortal Palace—and with such audacity. A flash of killing intent flickered in his eyes.
“Good. I like direct people too,” the golden-haired man interjected, cutting off the crimson-haired man. As the leader of the group, he asked, “How many sacred herbs do you want?”
He was allied with the Immortal Palace, serving as its Second War General.
“A hundred sacred herbs and ten semi-divine medicines,” Shi Hao declared.
The room erupted in shock. Everyone turned sharp gazes toward him—this man truly had the gall to ask for such an outrageous sum.
“You’re certain you didn’t misspeak?” the crimson-haired man asked coldly.
“We can negotiate, but not by much. After all, you all know how ruthless the Wild Child is. Betraying him might cost me my life,” Shi Hao replied.
“Friend, greed is unwise. Extorting the Immortal Palace isn’t something you should do,” the crimson-haired man warned, his voice laced with hidden menace.
“Your tone lacks sincerity. The Immortal Palace may be mighty, but is this a bounty or a threat?” Shi Hao countered.
“You’re overthinking it. It’s just that your demands are excessive,” the golden-haired man said, his smile fading.
“Forty sacred herbs and eight semi-divine medicines. If that’s still too much, then forget I said anything,” Shi Hao stated his bottom line.
“Still too much,” the crimson-haired man said icily.
“Then there’s nothing more to discuss,” Shi Hao shrugged.
“If the information is true, we can consider it,” the golden-haired man said, his gaze deep. As the Second War General, he had the authority to decide.
The crimson-haired man transmitted a message: “Why reward him? We should just capture him outright.”
“Exactly! Kill him—why waste precious herbs?” others agreed.
“We can give them to him first, but he won’t live to keep them,” the golden-haired man replied coldly.
“You’re not planning to agree verbally and then kill me, are you?” Shi Hao suddenly asked.
“Friend, you jest. The Immortal Palace would never act so dishonorably,” the golden-haired man replied with a radiant smile.
Shi Hao hesitated theatrically. “Good. I’m already regretting stepping forward. But thankfully, there are powerful prodigies and young elites here who can bear witness.”
The grand Eight Treasures Tavern remained silent. Everyone thought he had brought this on himself—now he was afraid, but who would dare oppose the Immortal Palace for him?
“Rest assured, brother,” the golden-haired man said with a smile.
“Then I want to see the herbs first,” Shi Hao insisted firmly.
The Immortal Palace group frowned. This was no small amount—it was a staggering quantity of sacred and semi-divine herbs. Gathering them on short notice would be difficult.
“Wait a moment. We’ll do our best to retrieve them,” the golden-haired man said, dispatching men to several minor realms to check the Immortal Palace’s secret stashes.
“It still won’t be enough,” the crimson-haired man muttered. The young master of the Immortal Palace was currently in seclusion, consuming vast quantities of precious herbs.
Even with prodigies scouring the lands for resources, the demand outstripped supply. Figures like the golden-haired man also needed these herbs—why else would they join the Immortal Palace?
“This is troublesome,” the golden-haired man frowned.
Suddenly, he looked up. Across the room, a pale-faced youth from the Netherworld Clan nodded at him.
“We’ve come under orders from our Divine Son. Hearing of the Immortal Palace’s bounty on the Wild Child, we wish to join,” the Netherworld youth said.
“Greetings, brothers,” the golden-haired man said, pleased by their directness.
“The Wild Child has slain our Netherworld experts. Though our Divine Son cannot leave seclusion, he has ordered us to ally with the Immortal Palace—we cannot let that man live,” the youth explained.
The tavern buzzed with recognition—this was the Netherworld’s Second War General.
“Hah…” the golden-haired man laughed. “I am the Immortal Palace’s Second War General. Our ranks align perfectly.”
The atmosphere grew tense. Though the Dark Divine Son couldn’t leave seclusion, he wanted the Wild Child dead. The alliance of these two great powers was shocking.
“If this man’s information is true, we’ll contribute half the bounty,” the Netherworld’s Second War General said. As an ancient divine corpse reanimated, he was impervious to blades and flames.
“The information is guaranteed true,” Shi Hao swore, pounding his chest.
“Good. Everyone here has recorded your spiritual fluctuations. If you lie, even if you escape today, you won’t survive in the Immortal Ancient World!” the golden-haired man warned sternly.
“Is that a threat? Or are you planning to withhold the bounty?” Shi Hao asked skeptically.
“You’ll get your sacred herbs,” the crimson-haired man sneered.
In the end, the Immortal Palace and the Netherworld jointly produced forty sacred herbs and eight semi-divine medicines, leaving the entire tavern in stunned silence.
The sheer quantity of sacred herbs, glowing with radiant light and exuding rich medicinal fragrance, illuminated the entire tavern in a dazzling display.
The transparent jade boxes, though sealed, still emitted faint rays of sacred light and wisps of fragrance, making everyone’s eyes burn with greed.
“Brother, if your information is false, you won’t live to keep these herbs,” the golden-haired man warned.
“I’m… truly moved!” Shi Hao caressed the jade boxes, his expression sincere and his joy unmistakably genuine.
Qing Yi sighed inwardly. This guy was utterly shameless—if the others learned the truth, they’d vomit blood in fury.
“The Immortal Palace and the Netherworld are truly generous. I… thank you from the bottom of my heart. Words fail me,” Shi Hao beamed like a blooming flower.
His delight was palpable, radiating pure, unadulterated happiness.
Yet his expression only deepened the disgust of the Immortal Palace and Netherworld members. Who would willingly part with such treasures?
“Fool. Do you think you’ll live to enjoy them?” the crimson-haired man sneered inwardly.
“Daring to take from the Immortal Palace? If you’d volunteered the information, fine—but now, you’re digging your own grave,” the golden-haired man thought coldly, his smile devoid of warmth.
“Thank you, thank you so much!” Shi Hao walked over, effusively expressing his gratitude. He even grabbed the hand of a female prodigy from the Immortal Palace, babbling endless thanks.
As for the Netherworld group, he ignored them—their deathly aura was too unpleasant.
The Immortal Palace members’ expressions soured. Was this guy really so overjoyed he was losing his mind?
The female prodigy concealed her disgust, subtly withdrawing her hand. If not for the need to extract information, she’d have slapped him already.
“You’ll pay with your life later,” she thought coldly, her smile laced with mockery and disdain.
“Brother, you’re getting carried away,” the golden-haired man reminded him, pressing for the Wild Child’s whereabouts.
The crimson-haired man snorted, his killing intent barely concealed. In his eyes, Shi Hao was already a dead man.
The Netherworld members also smiled—coldly, cruelly. Their herbs wouldn’t be so easily taken.
“Forgive my excitement. Such a bounty of sacred herbs is simply too thrilling,” Shi Hao said, still eager to share his joy and ramble on.
Finally, everyone had had enough of his chatter.
The patrons of the Eight Treasures Tavern shook their heads. This fool had no idea what awaited him—if he even lived to enjoy his spoils.
Yet Shi Hao began collecting the herbs one by one, handling them with exaggerated care.
“Brother, what’s the meaning of this?” the golden-haired man demanded, his face darkening. The man hadn’t mentioned the Wild Child at all.
“I’m right here—it’s not like I’ll run. Besides, my information is for the young master of the Immortal Palace alone. I trust he won’t silence me or reclaim the herbs. You lot? Not so much,” Shi Hao declared “righteously.”
“You—” The group’s expressions darkened.
“I’m not going anywhere. What are you worried about?” Shi Hao stashed all the herbs away and sat down, insisting the information was for the Immortal Palace’s heir alone.
Suppressing their murderous intent, the golden-haired man sent a prodigy to secretly relay the message.
Shi Hao returned to his window seat, idly dangling a hand outside. Unnoticed, the Divine Striking Stone slipped into the peach blossom forest below.
A faint smile played on his lips, but his heart burned with killing intent. The Immortal Palace’s heir had dared to place a bounty on him, even seeking to enslave him. Now, he would strike first.
If the Divine Striking Stone succeeded, he’d track down the heir’s seclusion site—and slaughter him there.
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