Monarch Of Time

Chapter 1064 Scarlet Vein Fruit

Even before reaching the glass case, Shun Long could faintly make out the hushed discussions of the cultivators in front of him.

They were either talking about the fruit’s exorbitant price or the pavilion’s endless connections that allowed them to even sell rank 7 herbs like this. The only ones who were completely silent were the two early-stage Dao Emperors, who simply stared at the fist-sized herb behind the case with complicated expressions.

Shun Long could see it, too. That jet-black ball that was barely larger than a person’s fist, pulsing with scarlet veins across its surface that looked like veins of blood and fire. Every so often, the vines would twitch, and a faint hum of vitality would ripple out, causing even the air around the herb to tremble.

Above the case, a simple plaque read:

Scarlet Vein Fruit – Rank 7, middle-grade medicinal herb. 60.000 high-grade spirit stones.

”It really is the Scarlet Vein Fruit...”

Shun Long’s ears caught the hushed voices of the cultivators gathered around the counter.

”Still, is the pavilion serious? Sixty thousand high-grade spirit stones? Who in their right mind would pay that much for a single middle rank 7 herb? That’s just insane!”

”Hmph. What do you know? A single Scarlet Vein Fruit is enough to propel an early-stage Dao Emperor past their bottleneck and straight to the middle stages! Even if the price is steep, someone is going to buy it sooner or later. Just wait and see.”

The moment those words were said out loud, the two early-stage Dao Emperors around the fruit instantly turned their gazes towards the person who had just spoken, causing him to tremble and involuntarily take a step back.

The man seemed to have just realized the implications behind his words, but in the end, he just shrugged and gave the two men a defiant glare while staying silent, as if to say,

’So what? I’m right, you know!’

And indeed, the conversations continued shortly afterwards, with more people coming and going.

Shun Long’s gaze lingered on the herb, too.

The Scarlet Vein Fruit pulsed faintly, as if it were alive. Even through the glass and protective formations, Shun Long could tell that this thing was fully matured, too. The veins around its surface were proof enough that it was a perfectly ripe herb ready for picking.

And finally... after a moment, he took a single step forward.

The murmurs around the counter faltered, while several cultivators glanced at him in surprise.

But his golden eyes were locked onto the herb, ignoring them all.

Then, in a calm, deep voice, he looked at one of the attendants and said

”You there. Can you give me a hand?”

The young man in white robes immediately hurried over, bowing respectfully. His cultivation base was at the peak of the Nascent Soul stage, but his expression was calm and collected, as if he wasn’t surrounded by a group of Dao Kings and Dao Emperors.

”Can I help you, senior?”

Shun Long pointed at the glass case and said calmly

”I’ll be taking this Scarlet Vein Fruit.”

The attendant froze for half a breath, then his eyes widened.

”Of course, senior! Please wait just a moment!”

Without another word, the man then disappeared into the staircase behind him, heading straight for the second floor.

At the same time, Shun Long could hear the people behind him erupt in loud discussions

”Did he just say he’s... taking it?”

”He’s really buying the ’Scarlet Vein Fruit’?”

”Who the hell is this old ma- ah, senior? Sixty thousand high-grade spirit stones for a single rank 7 herb is insane!”

But Shun Long wasn’t fazed by the voices behind him, nor the gazes of the two early-stage Dao Emperors who looked like they could tear a hole through his back if they could.

His focus remained on the fist-sized herb, its faint pulse of life already reflected in his golden eyes.

Sure, 60.000 high-grade spirit stones wasn’t a paltry amount, but to Shun Long, it was basically nothing at this point. He was confident that the sheer volume of spirit stones he had inside the ’Stone of Time’ would probably make him one of the richest people in the entire central continent. Only a handful of people could probably contend with him, if any.

Besides, just the head of the Ma family patriarch inside the man’s own spatial ring was enough to be exchanged for two of these Scarlet Vein fruits!

A few minutes later, the young attendant returned, but this time he wasn’t alone. Another young man was walking in front of him, this one in deep purple robes embroidered with silver threads, far more ornate than the simple uniforms of the doorkeepers at the entrance.

The crowd stirred.

The purple-robed man carried himself with confidence, his every step deliberate. His eyes swept calmly over the gathering of cultivators before landing on Shun Long. As he drew near, both he and the young attendant bowed respectfully.

”Senior,” the purple-robed man said smoothly, his voice carrying the weight of someone used to being obeyed, ”I heard you wish to purchase our Scarlet Vein Fruit?”

Shun Long’s golden eyes flickered, scanning over the man in front of him.

A cultivation at the peak of rank 2 in the Dao Emperor realm!

Still, he gave the man a faint nod and tossed him a spatial ring, one filled with exactly 60.000 high-grade spirit stones.

The purple-robed man caught the ring and closed his eyes briefly, his spiritual sense sweeping through it. A moment later, his eyes opened again, and his calm expression deepened into something resembling approval.

”Thank you for your patronage, senior. Please wait a moment.”

Then, he turned to the attendant at his side, his tone turning brisk.

”Prepare the herb.”

”Yes, sir!” the attendant bowed, his hands already moving in practiced motions. The white-robed man approached the glass and took out a medallion, deactivating the protective formations around it.

One by one, the protective formations that encased the Scarlet Vein Fruit began to unravel, their faint glow fading like dying stars.

A hush fell over the crowd.

Dozens of cultivators leaned forward, unable to stop themselves. Even the two early-stage Dao Emperors nearby narrowed their eyes, their gazes burning as the barrier protecting the Scarlet Vein Fruit finally dissolved.

Then... the herb’s true aura spilled into the hall. The faint hum of vitality turned into a steady, rhythmic sound, pulsing like a second heartbeat within the room. The red veins across its surface seemed to writhe more vividly now, like streams of molten fire flowing across black stone.

For a moment, even the strongest cultivators in the room felt their mouths go dry.

The only ones who seemed completely unfazed were Shun Long and the purple-robed man who had come from the second floor.

The man swept his gaze over the surrounding cultivators, as if daring them to step forward.

Almost simultaneously, the white-robed attendant carefully presented the Scarlet Vein Fruit to Shun Long within a jade box carved with sealing inscriptions.

Without ceremony, Shun Long accepted it and just stored it inside the ’Stone of Time’. Then, he turned towards the purple-robed man and said calmly

”Does your pavilion have more rank 7 herbs for sale? If so, just lead the way.”