Chapter 62: The Transaction at the Empty Seat Banquet
The spellcasters had arrived with great fanfare, after all, they had blockaded the dead star, vowing to eliminate Su Xiao today. The result was that they did indeed find Su Xiao, but they could only slink away, and had to retreat within five seconds.
In Seraphilia's view, the Beast King, White Bull, was a top-tier desperado in the void. There was nothing he wouldn't dare to do. He had offended major races like the Feather Race, Demon Race, and Star Clan, yet to this day, he was still alive. White Bull was the leader of various dark forces in the void.
"Seraphilia, are we really withdrawing like this?"
A middle-aged spellcaster spoke, his face full of anger. When had Arcane Eternal Star ever suffered such humiliation?
"Why withdraw?"
"Though we don't fear him, that desperado White Bull..."
"The Empty Seat Banquet will end soon. We just need to continue blockading the dead star."
Hearing Seraphilia's words, the spellcaster behind her suddenly understood. He had been so angry that he had forgotten this point.
"Blockade the surrounding area. Ignore where the Saintess Seat, Blade Demon, White Bull, and that mysterious person go. Just block Kukulin Bai Ye."
"Understood."
The spellcasters scattered, surrounding a large area around them. Moreover, more spellcasters were arriving at the dead star.
...
On the steps before the mist wall, Su Xiao was checking the items in his storage space. For this transaction at the Empty Seat Banquet, he had few bargaining chips, as the other members of the Starry Sky Seat were far stronger than him.
This time, Su Xiao had brought 10,000 grams of Black Maple Tree branches, which was 20 jin. Besides the branches, he also had 570 Black Maple leaves.
During the growth of the Black Maple Tree, its branches would shed layer by layer, and the leaves fell at a considerable rate. This shedding process was called the Black Maple Tree yield, rather than actively cutting off branches or pulling off leaves.
Su Xiao didn't know how much other Black Maple Trees yielded, but his tree produced a lot. Moreover, he had noticed that his tree was somewhat different from the one in the Black Abyss.
Many people had seen the Black Maple Tree at the bottom of the Black Abyss, so many photos and images had circulated. The Blade Demon didn't always stay in the Sea of Living Flowers, but no one could approach the Black Maple Tree at the center of the flower sea.
Su Xiao compared the Black Maple Tree in the abyss with his own. He found that the bark of the abyss tree was more of a dark brown, while his tree's bark was pure black. Under the bark, the trunk was as white and smooth as jade, making one want to tear off a piece and chew it.
Su Xiao felt this was likely due to the growing environment. He didn't know what treatment other Black Maple Trees received when they first sprouted, but his tree had been served with Soul Crystals from the moment it broke ground.
Afterward, using his Hunter authority, Su Xiao had Reincarnation Paradise simulate a harsh environment suitable for the Black Maple Tree's growth, allowing it to thrive while experiencing storms, rather than becoming a mass-produced product in a greenhouse.
Moreover, the origin of this Black Maple Tree was quite special. The old Law Destroyer had been at the Origin and End Land, which wasn't a place in the void. A black tree that could grow there was certainly not ordinary.
Su Xiao didn't know if Black Maple leaves would produce seeds, but there were only three Black Maple Trees in the void, which said a lot.
The Black Maple Tree growing in the Origin and End Land—Su Xiao had only torn off a piece of its bark and successfully cultivated a new Black Maple Tree. Of course, this was also closely related to the environment within Reincarnation Paradise.
"Blade user, how much Black Maple Tree yield did you bring this time?"
The Saintess Seat spoke. Hearing her words, Su Xiao's eyes showed a momentary confusion, but then he understood—she was asking the Blade Demon.
"Stolen."
The Blade Demon spoke in a low voice. The other Starry Sky Seat members weren't too surprised. When the Blade Demon was relatively lucid, he could communicate, but this state wouldn't last long.
"Stolen?! Your Black Maple Tree yield was stolen?! Who was it? That's too despicable. I urgently need Black Maple Tree! No, go back and cut a piece now. Go right now. Woo~ Please."
The Saintess Seat's mentality shattered. The Blade Demon didn't even look at her, just sat there with his head slightly lowered, as if pondering something.
"I've waited so long, hoping you'd bring Black Maple Tree yield when you were still lucid."
The White Bull Seat's tone couldn't hide his disappointment. But besides the Black Maple Tree yield, transactions with others were equally important. He had brought quite a few resources this time.
Su Xiao remained silent. He vaguely guessed who had taken the Blade Demon's Black Maple Tree yield.
A mass of black mist emerged. After a few seconds, the mist gathered more and more, eventually forming a humanoid figure.
"Everyone, sorry to keep you waiting."
The black mist figure arrived. His voice was very old. Initially, Su Xiao thought he was using the black mist to conceal his appearance, physique, etc. But now it seemed otherwise—his true form was the black mist.
The black mist figure floated to the mist wall and pressed his arm, formed of black mist, against it.
Click-clack~
A harsh sound of a door opening came. Behind the mist wall, a giant door seemed to be opening.
"Finally starting. The last Empty Seat Banquet was five years ago, right?"
The Saintess Seat walked into the mist wall, her aura completely disappearing.
"Indeed. I hope it can be sooner next time. Preferably once a month."
The White Bull spoke as he also walked into the mist wall. The Tuanzhang and the Blade Demon had already entered.
Bubu Wang ran forward, poked his dog paw forward, and felt no danger. He also entered the mist wall. At that moment, the Starry Ring on Su Xiao's index finger glowed faintly.
Su Xiao arrived before the mist wall, stepping up the stairs. Mist filled his vision. After walking a few meters, two open giant metal doors appeared ahead.
Continuing up the steps, after entering the towering doorway, at least dozens of meters high, a hall shrouded in mist appeared before him.
A round stone table, several meters wide, was at the center of the hall. Seven seats surrounded it, with the void numbers 0 to 6 on the backrests.
The black mist figure had already taken the seat representing 0. Seeing this, Su Xiao walked to the seat representing 5 and sat down.
With a loud bang, the hall's giant doors closed. Mist surged on the surrounding walls, sealing the place.
"Let's begin. At the end of the last Empty Seat Banquet, the Saintess Seat requested the 'Star Seal Imprint,' the White Bull needed 'Life Source,' the Tuanzhang of the Traveling Group needed 'World Core,' and the Blade Demon needed... cough, the Blade Demon didn't attend last time."
The black mist figure tapped the stone table with his finger, and the phantom images of three items appeared. These were the items needed by the Saintess Seat, the White Bull, and the Tuanzhang at the end of the last Empty Seat Banquet. If any member had obtained them, they could now trade.
"Tuanzhang, I got the World Core. This is the core of a world outside the void. It cost me over a hundred thousand of my people to get this thing. If you have 'Life Source,' I can trade with you. As you all know, to me, 'Life Source' is more important than anything else."
The White Bull took out a semi-transparent crystal, a walnut-sized World Core.
"Coincidentally, I found 'Life Source.'"
The Tuanzhang snapped his fingers, and his and the White Bull's seats were shrouded in mist. After a moment, the mist dissipated.
"Excellent. Eating this will at least suppress my injuries for a few years. Sooner or later, I'll kill that Abyssal Dragon."
The White Bull was very satisfied and nodded to the Tuanzhang. The Tuanzhang smiled and said nothing.
"What about mine? Has anyone found the 'Star Seal Imprint'?"
Everyone was silent. Just as the Saintess Seat sighed, a voice came.
"I have. Star, Seal, Imprint."
The Blade Demon suddenly spoke. The next instant, the Starry Sky Seat fell silent. Everyone's gaze turned to the Blade Demon. The Saintess Seat looked as if she had seen a ghost.