"Hahahaha, does Miss Seraphina always have this attitude when asking for help? Do you really think you are still in your Azure Origin Dao sect?" Ethan laughed coldly twice, his voice dripping with disdain before cutting off sharply.

"Get out!"

No sooner had the words left his lips than Seraphina's mental energy was cruelly expelled from his mind like an unwanted guest.

"Aether!" Seraphina's mental energy was severed again, and frustration bubbled fiercely within her.

Yet the essence of the sun and moon in Sun Moon Lake was undeniably magnificent. If she could seize even twenty percent for herself, breaking through the middle stage of the Tribulation Transcendence realm would be effortless.

She refused to surrender.

With a calmer tone, softer and more conciliatory, she tried one more time: "Aether, please answer me!"

"I wasn't serious just now. I was talking to someone else…

I'm willing to make a deal, trading heavenly treasures and earthly treasures with you!"

But these words vanished like a stone cast into a bottomless ocean — no ripple stirred in the depths.

Ethan sat in quiet cultivation, utterly unmoved.

"Hateful!" Seraphina's voice shook with barely restrained anger.

"Aether, damn you!" she hissed through clenched teeth.

Others from the three great families shared Seraphina's yearning—they too wished to bargain with Aether.

The sun and moon essence was rare beyond measure, far rarer than many worldly treasures.

It held unmatched value for the prodigious youth in their clans, far superior to natural and earthly rarities.

One after another, the three family heads sent messages to Ethan, seeking parley.

Half an hour passed in silence.

No reply came.

Onyx intercepted and blocked these transmissions, choosing not to disturb Ethan's deep practice.

Time slipped by, each passing minute heavy and charged with silent expectation.

After half a day, Ethan's eyes slowly opened, shining with renewed vigor.

"Hahaha! What a marvelous power!

"This will let me advance to the middle stage of the Dharma Body Realm!" Ethan said, a rare smile lighting his features.

"But there's something I need to warn you about—the speed you're absorbing essence of sun and moon is too fast. At this rate, in three days, this Sun Moon Lake lake will be drained dry."

Onyx's voice rang gently in his mind.

Ethan nodded solemnly.

"I understand."

"Treasure of heaven and earth… they must be received in moderation. Practice two more days and save the rest for later," Ethan decreed wisely.

"You're so picky. If you want, I can just suck the whole place empty!" Onyx teased, eyes gleaming and fangs bared with sly mirth.

"By the way, the heads of the three great families have also sent messages," Onyx's tone shifted back to normal.

"What do they say?" Ethan asked with interest.

"They want to trade with you."

"Trade?"

"Yes. They're willing to exchange heavenly materials and earthly treasures for some essence of the sun and moon, to nourish their younger generation."

He tapped his chin, intrigued.

To cultivate the Celestial Jade Physique Scripture properly, an abundance of heavenly materials and earthly treasures was essential.

If he acquired these, sharing a portion with their juniors wouldn't be much loss.

The heads of the three families realized Ethan had awakened from a vital stage of cultivation and quickly sent mental messages.

Ethan was absorbing the sun and moon's essence at a rate unheard of; even ten cultivators pushing to the limit over ten days could not claim thirty percent of Sun Moon Lake's energy.

Yet Ethan alone had managed nearly thirty percent in just half a day.

If he continued, the essence they had long protected here would be drained by Ethan alone.

"Little friend Aether, can you share some of the essence of the sun and moon with the younger generation of the Emberveil family?" Ario asked first.

Ethan's smile twisted wickedly when he saw the familiar face—it was the same Ario who had caused him trouble before.

"Sorry, no interest," Ethan replied coolly.

That Ario had meddled in his affairs, yet now dared to beg for trade?

Laughable.

No matter how much treasure he offered, Ethan would not bow.

Money could not buy him, but he found the attempt amusing.

Ario's face immediately darkened, anger beginning to tarnish his features.

Then the Stormjade family head stepped forward.

"Friend Aether, my Luna has clashed with many in the arena. Yet above the arena, feuds among cultivators are common. I hope you don't take things personally."

With lowered posture, the Stormjade family head spoke first.

"Speak plainly if you have any request."

"My family is willing to exchange some treasures of heaven and earth for a portion of the sun and moon essence.

"Not much—only enough to support three juniors."

Ethan nodded thoughtfully.

"Treasures must contain attribute energy, and must be rare and high-grade. Otherwise, negotiation is pointless."

The Stormjade family head considered carefully.

"A ninth-level monster, the crystal core of the Sovereign Earth Dragon, houses rich earth attribute energy. Will that suffice?"

The crystal core was worth a fortune, but unused, it held no value.

Better to trade it for sun and moon essence—to strengthen their young disciples.

No treasure was genuinely precious if it failed the family's future ambitions.

Though torn, the Stormjade family head reasoned this loss was necessary.

Better a minor sacrifice for a greater gain.

"Ninth-level monster, Sovereign Earth Dragon?" Ethan's eyes gleamed.

"Send it here. I want to inspect the goods."

With a wave, a brocade box flew into the water.

Ethan opened it, revealing an earthy-brown crystal core.

True to the Stormjade family's word, it emanated a whole force of dense earth attribute energy.

While not as potent as the Heart of Fertile Soil, it was a solid fifth of its strength.

"Okay, but it's not enough," Ethan remarked with quiet calculation.

He would never miss an opportunity to maximize advantage.

The Stormjade family head's frown deepened.

Parting with such a treasure was painful.

The thought of losing more would only make it harder.

A/N:

Extra chapters

100 power stones - 1 Extra chapters

200 power stones - 2 Extra chapters

Capsule - 1 Extra chapters

Massage Chair - 3 Extra chapters

Luxury Car - 5 Extra Chapters

Magic Castle - 15 Extra Chapters

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