After Zheng Yuan left, Ning Beichen pondered for a while.
Since Huang Yuzhong knew that the Yin Xing Jue was in his possession, then his appearance in the wilderness that night was not a coincidence. He must have followed the starlight from the Yin Xing Jue.
However, judging by Ning Beichen's eyesight, Huang Yuzhong had not practiced the Yin Xing Jue.
Because Ning Beichen himself had practiced the Yin Xing Jue, if Huang Yuzhong had also practiced it, Ning Beichen would have certainly noticed.
But if Huang Yuzhong had not practiced the Yin Xing Jue, how could he see the starlight?
Ning Beichen stroked the stubble on his chin, deep in thought.
However, Ning Beichen did not fully understand the Yin Xing Jue. For someone who had not practiced it, were there other ways to see its starlight?
He was not a hundred percent sure about this.
Ning Beichen had stumbled upon the Yin Xing Jue in an ancient text. It meant nothing to him, otherwise, he would not have taught it to Liu Yilin to practice.
He was not concerned about giving away or even gifting the Yin Xing Jue.
However, if Huang Yuzhong wanted to take something from Ning Beichen, he would have to pay a price.
But Ning Beichen did not need money.
He had to think carefully about what he could exchange for the Yin Xing Jue from Huang Yuzhong.
Ning Beichen tapped his fingers on the table.
He didn't need money, and even less so houses. And anything too valuable, Huang Yuzhong probably couldn't produce...
"I've got it."
Ning Beichen suddenly remembered something.
When Ning Beichen saw Zheng Yuan again, he was not surprised at all. If Zheng Yuan didn't look for him, it would have been strange.
This time, Zheng Yuan came to convey Huang Yuzhong's message, still trying to impress Ning Beichen with money, just like before.
After speaking, Zheng Yuan looked at Ning Beichen nervously, as he had no confidence in whether he could persuade Ning Beichen.
"It's not impossible for Huang Yuzhong to get the Yin Xing Jue from me, but I don't want money. I only want one thing. If he can find it for me, then I'll give him the Yin Xing Jue."
Ning Beichen said expansively.
Zheng Yuan, who had thought there was no hope, became excited upon hearing Ning Beichen's words and immediately asked,
"What does Mr. Ning want?"
"The Jiu Gong Ce."
Ning Beichen said.
"The Jiu Gong Ce!"
Zheng Yuan's eyelids twitched.
He had certainly heard of the Jiu Gong Ce and that it was the key to achieving Tian Ren He Yi (harmony between man and nature).
But after all, it was just a legend. For so many years, he had never heard of anyone truly reaching the state of Tian Ren He Yi through the Jiu Gong Ce.
"Mr. Ning, my master does not possess the Jiu Gong Ce. Could we change the condition?"
Zheng Yuan said.
"No, if you want the Yin Xing Jue, you must exchange it for the Jiu Gong Ce."
Ning Beichen stated resolutely.
"He wants the Jiu Gong Ce?"
Zheng Yuan relayed Ning Beichen's request to Huang Yuzhong.
Huang Yuzhong did not outright refuse but pondered with a frown.
"So Ning Beichen specifically wants this Jiu Gong Ce before he'll give up the Yin Xing Jue?"
Huang Yuzhong asked Zheng Yuan again.
"Yes, his attitude is very firm. Without the Jiu Gong Ce, the Yin Xing Jue is not up for discussion."
Zheng Yuan said helplessly.
In any case, this troublesome matter was for his master to deal with; he couldn't make decisions for Huang Yuzhong.
"I don't have the Jiu Gong Ce in my possession, but... do you remember that collector in Europe named Antonucci?"
"Master, are you referring to that curly-haired foreigner?"
Zheng Yuan thought for a moment, and seemed to recall something.
"Yes, I remember that one of his collectibles was a Jiu Gong Ce."
"Master, you mean..."
"Precisely. That Antonucci is merely a collector. To him, collectibles are money. There is nothing he won't sell, provided the price is right."
Huang Yuzhong said, taking a puff of his cigar.
"Arrange a private jet. I need to go see Antonucci myself."
"Yes, Master."
Zheng Yuan immediately went to make arrangements.
A few days later, Huang Yuzhong, full of spirit, appeared before Ning Beichen with Zheng Yuan. He had paid a considerable price to obtain the Jiu Gong Ce from that foreign collector, Antonucci.
However, if he could truly exchange it for the Yin Xing Jue, Huang Yuzhong felt the price was worth it.
"Mr. Ning, here is what you wanted. May I also take a look at the item?"
Huang Yuzhong said impatiently.
"You may."
Ning Beichen glanced at the Jiu Gong Ce and confirmed it was genuine. He then tossed him a printed booklet with the words "Yin Xing Jue" written on the cover in Songti font.
"Mr. Ning, this..."
Huang Yuzhong saw the printed booklet and felt it was somewhat unreal.
"The Yin Xing Jue was something I saw in an ancient book a long time ago. That ancient book is lost, and this is what I've transcribed and printed."
Ning Beichen said.
"What? Are you worried it's fake?"
Ning Beichen said with a dismissive smile, looking at Huang Yuzhong's expression.
Huang Yuzhong felt a bit embarrassed, as Ning Beichen had seen through his thoughts. The Yin Xing Jue was too important to him. Without the original, who knew if this was a fake, or if Ning Beichen had tampered with it.
"Whether it's real or fake, you'll know after you practice it. If there's starlight, it's real. If not, it's fake."
Ning Beichen said indifferently.
Ning Beichen had no intention of faking the Yin Xing Jue. It wasn't some significant item; he, Ning Beichen, didn't even care for it.
"Alright, if you believe it, then trade. If not, then forget it. I don't have time to waste here."
Ning Beichen said with some dissatisfaction.
"Mr. Ning, please don't be angry. It's not that I don't believe you; it's just that the Yin Xing Jue is too important to me, and I'm a little worried."
Huang Yuzhong did not dare to offend Ning Beichen and quickly explained.
"Enough, you don't need to explain. Do I, a dignified Grandmaster, need to lie to you? Whether you believe it or not, I don't care. If you want it, trade. If not, then forget it."
Ning Beichen, or rather, Grandmaster Ning, used his authority to pressure Huang Yuzhong, leaving him no room for thought.
"Mr. Ning, please calm your anger. I naturally believe that Mr. Ning is not that kind of person."
Huang Yuzhong carefully put away the booklet he had agreed to exchange and said.
"Thank you, Mr. Ning. I'll take my leave now."
Huang Yuzhong was eager to go back and verify and didn't linger. He soon bid farewell to Ning Beichen.
Ning Beichen, however, was too lazy to bother with him. He contentedly looked at the Jiu Gong Ce in his hand. With this one, he now had four copies of the Jiu Gong Ce.
Having achieved the cultivation of a Grandmaster, he was now preparing to collect all nine volumes of the Jiu Gong Ce to see if they truly held the secret to Tian Ren He Yi.