"This is only natural, Master Jin. Please feel free to ask for any price, and I will follow through."
Long Xuan had already prepared himself for a high price, and this time, even if the cost exceeded the usual rate, he was ready to acquire it without hesitation.
"No rush, let's drink first, drink."
Master Jin maintained his usual smiling demeanor, sincerely trying to pique Long Xuan's interest. He even took back the Millennium ice Essence that was almost turning into ten-thousand-year-old ice Essence.
After a long conversation, Master Jin's disciples finally began to serve the dishes.
Various aromatic and delicious meat dishes were brought out one after another by his disciples, along with fine wines. However, compared to Long Xuan's wine, they were nothing but garbage.
Despite the lavish spread, Long Xuan had already eaten at Qian's Restaurant and was still full, leaving him with no appetite.
He wished he could acquire the Millennium ice Essence and leave immediately, having no interest in food or drink.
However, he couldn't show his eagerness, or Master Jin would seize the opportunity to raise the price.
"Haha, try this dish. This is the meat of a fourth-grade spiritual beast, a prey that only the Gu King could hunt. It's ridiculously expensive. If it weren't for our immediate connection, I wouldn't have had the heart to eat it."
Master Jin pointed to the most prized meat dish in the middle of the table, then took a piece and ate it in front of Long Xuan.
Seeing him eat, Long Xuan picked up his chopsticks, ready to give Master Jin some face by trying the dish despite his full stomach.
However, just as he extended his chopsticks, his arm froze.
He had long been cautious of the various ways Gu could be used in this world, developing a habit of using his Eye of Heavenly secret to inspect anything before eating.
So what if Master Jin has already tasted it himself? Even at the reputable Qian's Restaurant, he would use the Eye of Heavenly secret to confirm that it was all right before he started eating.
He had just used his Eye of Heavenly secret out of reflex, a habit so ingrained that his muscles acted on their own.
To his surprise, he found a problem. There were tiny insects crawling on the dish, so small that they were almost invisible without enhanced vision.
Cold sweat broke out on Long Xuan's back, and he felt a chill on his scalp, his heart filled with fear.
What exactly was Master Jin trying to do? How could there be insects in the food?
Was it intentional or accidental? Could this be a trap?
Good old Master Jin, with his thick eyebrows and big eyes, always smiling and laughing before speaking. Who would have thought he was a tiger with a smiling face, and today's dishes were probably all problematic?
Long Xuan felt fortunate to have his Eye of Heaven's secret; otherwise, he might have fallen into this trap. Master Jin's benevolent face had even deceived him.
Despite his inner turmoil and fear, Long Xuan maintained his composure, changing the direction of his chopsticks towards a vegetable dish.
He was about to say he preferred vegetables, but before he could lower his chopsticks, his arm froze again.
The vegetable dish also had insects, and even more of them.
Long Xuan scanned all the dishes and drinks with his Eye, finding insects in every one of them.
Master Jin, with his thick eyebrows and big eyes, had set up an insect feast. Had he put all his insects into the dishes?
Long Xuan awkwardly held his chopsticks in mid-air, not daring to touch any dish.
Master Jin had left him no way out. What could he do but awkwardly put down his chopsticks and laugh dryly, "I'm terribly sorry, but I urgently need to use the restroom. I'll be right back, and then we can have a deep conversation over drinks."
Saying this, Long Xuan stood up and walked towards the exit, planning to escape.
However, things didn't end that easily. Before Long Xuan could take a few steps, a formation activated under his feet, and a transparent circular barrier rose, enclosing the hall. He almost bumped into it.
Long Xuan's expression changed slightly as he turned to Master Jin, pretending not to understand, "Master Jin, what is the meaning of this?"
Master Jin still wore his smiling face but stepped out of the barrier with the formation controller, leaving Long Xuan inside.
Master Jin no longer pretended and said with a laugh, "Though I don't know how you detected the Gu in the food and drink, it's wishful thinking to leave so easily."
"This is my domain, filled with formations under my control. Even if you didn't fall for the Gu, you can't escape death today."
Long Xuan had long discovered that his Eye of Heaven's secret could break formations, so he wasn't worried about being trapped. He calmly asked, "When did I ever offend Master Jin? Please enlighten me."
Master Jin, still smiling, said, "Haha! In the Gu world, who needs to offend to kill? Few people have nothing better to do than offend others. Being weak yet possessing wealth is a crime."
"Millennium ice Essence is priceless, worth billions in spirit stones. Collecting such things is like announcing you have a fortune. Do you think I, a refiner, can't recognize materials and need you to identify them?"
"So that's why! No wonder," Long Xuan nodded. It was an unsolvable reason. He couldn't stop collecting Millennium ice Essence to avoid trouble, as he needed it to refine the Divine ice Flame.
He had done nothing wrong, but some things were unavoidable.
"Master! Now that he's trapped, let's release the poison gas to kill him. Last time, we took down a rogue cultivator named Feng with poison gas, effortlessly," said the young man who had greeted Long Xuan at the door, no longer respectful.
It was clear that Master Jin was a habitual offender, having tricked and killed many rogue cultivators in his cave.
No wonder he often distributed communication talismans to wealthy cultivators at treasure exchange meetings, under the pretext of facilitating private trades. Now it made sense to Long Xuan.
"No need. He has the Little Strong Gu, which is incredibly resilient. Most methods can't kill him. Poison gas won't work."
"I'll release Gu insects to devour him. I refuse to believe that the Little Strong Gu will keep him alive when he's reduced to pieces."
Master Jin sneered, opened his insect pouch, and released three ferocious-looking Gu insects into the formation.