"If you can’t help the Five-Colored Corundum Pool achieve its Transformation, but you still want the Elf School’s Elf Holy Emblem, you can ask for my help."
"This Five-Colored Corundum Pool’s own Origin is deficient."
"As long as you can help its Origin recover, achieving its Transformation within a hundred years won’t be too difficult."
"A Natural Elf like the Five-Colored Corundum Pool can refine Elemental Energy and produce five types of Pure Elemental Energy. Without the protection of the Elf School, having its Origin forcibly overdrawn is an inevitable fate."
As she spoke, the Moon Empress felt a hint of pity for the Five-Colored Corundum Pool’s plight.
If Zhong Yi were to ask for her help, the Moon Empress truly would help the Five-Colored Corundum Pool achieve its Transformation.
The Moon Empress was not one to meddle in others’ affairs.
But seeing Zhong Yi, the Moon Empress couldn’t help but think of the young man in the Royal Capital Suburbs who would have been killed had she not arrived in the nick of time.
Back then, that young man was about the same age as Zhong Yi.
After just a few years of overcoming every obstacle, he grew into an existence that even she, his master, had to look up to.
So many years had passed, and aside from the one from the Blood Rang Ecosystem, only the young man before her now gave the Moon Empress that same feeling.
Zhong Yi heard that the Five-Colored Corundum Pool could refine and produce five types of Pure Elemental Energy.
’Talk about perfect timing.’
The ability to refine Elemental Energy was precisely what he lacked most.
Zhong Yi recalled Fang Ze telling him that upon entering the Creation Sequence, he could choose one of the esoteric creatures from the Nine Great Ecosystems.
’He had already made up his mind to choose the Xunfeng Card.’
’Without a way to produce Pure Elemental Energy, he wouldn’t be able to properly cultivate the Xunfeng Card even after he acquired it.’
"Lady Moon Empress, thank you."
"If I ever need your help, I won’t hesitate to ask. I just hope I won’t be a bother when the time comes."
With that, Zhong Yi took the initiative to ask to add the Moon Empress as a friend on Soul of Battle.
The Moon Empress happily agreed.
After they became friends, the Moon Empress didn’t linger at the Wanyu Creation Company.
Zhong Yi was attended to by other Creators and received the esoteric creature that was his reward for entering the Creation Sequence.
Zhong Yi planned to wait for his Soul-Controlling Flower to produce a new Soul Taming Seed before forming a Contract with the Xunfeng Card.
Just as Zhong Yi was about to contact Taya and ask about the Ten Thousand Years Forest Core at the Lion Heart Association, he discovered that Shen Jian had transferred 300,000 Divine Origin Value to him, along with a message.
[Shen Jian: This is for the first year. Starting next year, I will transfer the Divine Origin Value to you on time every January 1st.]
Next year’s January 1st was only two months away.
That meant in two months, Zhong Yi would receive another 300,000 Divine Origin Value.
With this influx of Divine Origin Value, Zhong Yi’s financial problems were solved in one fell swoop.
Tao En had given him all the Bloodline Materials acquired for 50,000 Divine Origin Value at the Creation Gathering.
As a Creator, it was impossible to get by without a stash of Divine Origin Value, whether for purchasing materials or attending private exchange meetings hosted by other Creators.
Tao En hadn’t logged into the Virtual Source Network yet, but Zhong Yi had already transferred 30,000 Divine Origin Value to him.
Zhong Yi wasn’t in a hurry to use the remaining 270,000 Divine Origin Value to pay for the two Secret Treasures he owed the Chasing Light Dragon Palace.
He planned to slowly pay off his debt to the Chasing Light Dragon Palace by participating in Secret Realms hosted by the Wanyu Gambling Company.
At the moment, Zhong Yi didn’t know much about the Five-Colored Corundum Pool’s condition.
Even with his powerful Soul Taming Seed, he knew that cultivating the pool and helping it achieve its Transformation would still require purchasing special Creatures and materials.
Zhong Yi planned to set aside this sum of Divine Origin Value for the Five-Colored Corundum Pool after securing the Ten Thousand Years Forest Core from the Lion Heart Association.
Not long after Zhong Yi messaged Taya, she replied.
"Sir, the auction for the Ten Thousand Years Forest Core has already begun."
"A lot of people have their eyes on this core, so three thousand Divine Origin Value probably won’t be enough."
"From the looks of it, even five thousand Divine Origin Value might not be enough to win it."
"Would you like to place a higher bid on this Ten Thousand Years Forest Core?"
Zhong Yi had already transferred three thousand Divine Origin Value to Taya.
There were still a few days left in the auction, and the price had already been driven up to 2,840 Divine Origin Value.
Furthermore, the current highest bid wasn’t Taya’s.
Taya had observed at least six other competitors.
Four of them were bona fide C Level Talents.
When selecting resources for Zhong Yi, Taya always carefully weighed the pros and cons, helping him determine whether acquiring an item was truly cost-effective.
It was now clear that bidding any higher on this Ten Thousand Years Forest Core wouldn’t be worth it.
Instead of replying to Taya immediately, Zhong Yi turned to the Creator who had been assisting him.
"Master Yun Lei, do you know if the Wanyu Creation Company has any Ten Thousand Years Forest Cores for sale?"
Upon hearing this, the old man known as Master Yun Lei reached back to touch the blue-purple, scaly tail growing from his back, then slapped his forehead with his other hand.
"Oh, what’s wrong with me?"
"I forgot to give you the Wanyu Creation Company’s Creation Compass."
With that, Master Yun Lei immediately took Zhong Yi—a true newcomer, despite his place in the Creation Sequence—to procure a Creation Compass, which was available to all Creators.
Master Yun Lei explained to Zhong Yi.
"Lord Zhong Yi, this Creation Compass contains a direct channel to the Wanyu Creation Company’s Treasure Vault."
"Since you are in the Creation Sequence, your authority to trade for resources is higher than mine, a newly promoted Second Level Creator."
"I’m sure you can directly acquire a Ten Thousand Years Forest Core from within the Wanyu Creation Company."
"Many resources that were unavailable during the Creation Martial Arts Demonstration can now be acquired with your current level of authority."
Zhong Yi had addressed the Second Level Creator as "Master Yun Lei" out of politeness.
In return, Master Yun Lei called him "Lord," a special honor bestowed by the Wanyu Creation Company upon all Creators in the Creation Sequence.
All Creators below the Third Level were required to address those in the Creation Sequence as "Lord."
Zhong Yi used the Creation Compass to access the Wanyu Creation Company’s Treasure Vault.
The Wanyu Creation Company’s Treasure Vault was different from the one at the Chasing Light Dragon Palace.
Back in the Chasing Light Dragon Palace’s Treasure Vault, Liu Shu had given him a full tour.
But here, in the Wanyu Creation Company’s Treasure Vault, Zhong Yi didn’t have the authority to wander freely, even with his position in the Creation Sequence.
He could only tell the staff at the entrance what he needed.
The staff would then search for the requested items and provide him with individual quotes based on their quality.
Zhong Yi did indeed have the authority to acquire a Ten Thousand Years Forest Core.
One of them, a core over 12,400 years old, was priced at 4,600 Divine Origin Value for him.
Zhong Yi considered this a reasonable price.
Even the youngest Ten Thousand Years Forest Core in the Wanyu Creation Company’s Treasure Vault was over 2,000 years older than the one being auctioned by the Lion Heart Association.
Once a hard-to-get resource like this appeared in a faction that was on the verge of reaching B Level, it was bound to be fought over frantically.
Zhong Yi decided that from now on, he wouldn’t bother searching the open market for resources.
He would just acquire them from the Wanyu Creation Company’s and the Chasing Light Dragon Palace’s Treasure Vaults.
The Wanyu Creation Company’s Treasure Vault also contained priceless treasures capable of enhancing Rule Authority and bestowing a Rule upon Creatures.
The prices for these treasures were generally over 100,000 Divine Origin Value.
This just went to show how favorable Liu Shu’s prices had been.
He acquired a Ten Thousand Years Forest Core over 12,000 years old, as well as one that was 30,000 years old.
Zhong Yi spent a total of 16,000 Divine Origin Value.
With these two Ten Thousand Years Forest Cores, the Florist Worm should have enough to transform its Bloodline and become a Summer Worm.
Before the Florist Worm finished devouring the two Ten Thousand Years Forest Cores, Zhong Yi could also use them to nurture the shattered Dragon Rose Seed.