https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-254-Marriage-Alliance-Quotas-Trading-Convention-and-Bargain-Hunting/12920617/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-256-Striving-Through-Adversity-Golden-Core-s-Aspirations/12920619/
Chapter 255: Luo Chen's Bold Move, Swallowing Three Magical Artifacts in One Go
Chapter 255: Luo Chen's Bold Move, Swallowing Three Magical Artifacts in One Go
In the bustling central square of the Immortal City, the Free Trading Fair was in full swing, attracting a lively crowd.
Many loose cultivators who didn't qualify for the auction poured their enthusiasm into this fair, seeking to find treasures of their own.
Even those who were eligible for the auction would occasionally stroll through the fair, hoping to stumble upon something valuable.
You never know what gems you might discover.
On the third day of the trading fair, a figure crouched on the ground, holding a Tide Devouring Sea Flask and swaying it gently.
Despite being contained within a magical artifact, he still felt a heavy and concentrated power emanating from it.
Across from him, another cultivator was enthusiastically promoting his goods.
"Senior, I'm not lying to you. These three drops of liquid are definitely Profound Mystic Water."
"It's just that the quantity is too small, and with the Immortal City charging exorbitant fees, I had to bring it out here to sell."
"If you're sincere, just give me 10,000 spirit stones, and it's yours!"
Luo Chen held the Tide Devouring Sea Flask, his face filled with regret.
"Although it's called a thousand jin of power per drop, your quantity is indeed too small."
"Without at least ten drops, you won't have enough power, and it's not worth it."
As he spoke, he casually set down the magical artifact.
Then, he stood up, pretending to leave.
The Qi Condensation cultivator panicked.
"Senior, that's not how it works!"
"Most people can't gather ten or more drops of Profound Mystic Water all at once. You can buy three drops first and slowly gather the rest later!"
Luo Chen paused, stroking his chin.
"What you said does make some sense."
"How about this, 5,000 spirit stones, and I'll take them all."
The loose cultivator was stunned.
He had seen haggling before, but never like this.
A straight 50% discount! Swallowing his saliva, he muttered, "Senior, this is a Tier Three material. Isn't 5,000 spirit stones a bit disrespectful to its value?"
"Then how much do you want? I'll say it upfront, 10,000 is not worth it."
The loose cultivator thought carefully, "9,000, 3,000 per drop is not expensive at all!"
"You're not sincere!"
Luo Chen turned and walked away.
The loose cultivator was genuinely anxious now. While Profound Mystic Water had a big reputation, without a sufficient quantity, it was indeed not very useful.
Even at the auction, this small amount would likely go unnoticed.
It was rare to encounter an interested customer, and he couldn't let this opportunity slip by.
He quickly jumped out from behind his stall and blocked Luo Chen's path.
"Senior, name your price, but make it a sincere one."
Luo Chen frowned, "Let's meet halfway, 7,500 spirit stones. Take it or leave it!"
Hearing this price, the loose cultivator hesitated.
Seeing Luo Chen's nonchalant attitude, he had no choice but to grit his teeth.
"Alright, deal!"
...
Walking through the spacious yet crowded market, Luo Chen played with the Tide Devouring Sea Flask.
Although it only contained three drops of liquid, it felt like he was holding a small lake in his hand.
Heavy and concentrated!
He was in a good mood.
After wandering for two days without any success, he had finally found something valuable on the first day he ventured out.
Profound Mystic Water was a Tier Three water-attribute material.
In the cultivation world, it was not unknown but had gained quite a reputation!
Each drop was said to possess the power of a thousand jin, and gathering dozens of drops to refine it would make one nearly invincible among peers.
If one could gather 365 drops, it was rumored to be able to divert rivers and reverse waterfalls!
However, 365 drops of Profound Mystic Water were beyond the control of Foundation Establishment cultivators; only Nascent Soul cultivators could wield it at will.
This item held little value for Luo Chen, who cultivated the Sea and Wave Severing Art.
He had put in effort to purchase it mainly as a gift for Duan Feng.
This was one of the two main materials needed for the flying sword artifact embryo.
He didn't need much; just one drop would suffice.
Creating a magical artifact required a qualitative change, not a quantitative one.
The extra two drops wouldn't be wasted; since he hadn't given Duan Feng a proper gift after his Foundation Establishment, he decided to present these two drops of Profound Mystic Water to him!
Luo Chen had read about the Sea and Wave Severing Art.
It mentioned a method to refine powerful moves using unique and wondrous waters from the world.
For example, the Gui Water True Essence from the Duan family's Ze Country Gui Diagram, or the Profound Mystic Water.
The former was only a Tier Two material, relying on quantity, but in terms of potential and power, it paled in comparison to Profound Mystic Water.
However, to enhance the killing moves, Duan Feng would still need to collect more Profound Mystic Water on his own.
As Luo Chen put away the Tide Devouring Sea Flask, his footsteps suddenly halted.
He took two steps back and approached a stall in the corner.
Magical artifacts, magical artifacts, and more magical artifacts!
Each artifact was tainted with various impurities.
Some bore bloodstains, others evil qi, and some had peculiar scars.
It was evident that these artifacts had dubious origins.
Each artifact had a price tag.
One sign, in particular, caught everyone's attention.
"No Haggling!"
Despite being in a corner, this stall was not deserted.
People crowded around it.
"Can I really buy a superior magical artifact for just 1,500 spirit stones?"
The speaker was a low-level cultivator at the seventh level of Qi Condensation.
His eyes were fixed on a rusty flying sword, glowing with heat.
The Scarface Vendor gave him a cold glance, "No haggling. If you want it, just pay the spirit stones."
The low-level cultivator eagerly took out a large sum of spirit stones, paid, and quickly left with the superior flying sword in hand.
Seeing him treat the rusty sword like a treasure, some onlookers couldn't help but scoff.
The Scarface Vendor collected the spirit stones and said indifferently, "The artifacts here vary in quality. Prices are fixed, no haggling, and all sales are final."
In other words, he didn't guarantee quality, and buyers had to rely on their own judgment.
The others heard this but didn't argue.
There were many stalls like this one.
Some cultivators, with their stoic personalities, disliked haggling and preferred straightforward transactions.
However, this scarred vendor at the Qi Condensation Grand Completion stage had put out quite a collection of magical artifacts.
Some items were clearly ancient antiques, showing their age.
Luo Chen concealed his aura and blended into the crowd.
His gaze fell upon three items at the innermost part of the scarred vendor's stall: a bronze mirror, a banner, and a compass.
Each item had a paper sign indicating its price.
Three hundred thousand, two hundred thousand, and one hundred and fifty thousand.
These exorbitant prices seemed to declare the identity of these three objects.
Magical Artifacts!
In fact, this was the reason why so many onlookers had gathered.
No one had ever seen a Qi Condensation Stage Cultivator possess three magical artifacts at once! Even if they appeared to be incomplete artifacts.
Finally, someone couldn't help but ask, "Fellow Daoist, did you empty the cave mansion left behind by a Golden Core Cultivator?"
Given the rusty artifacts on display, it was no wonder someone would think this way.
In response to the question, the scarred vendor coldly replied, "If you want to buy, just buy. Why so much chatter? It's none of your business where these things came from."
Although he didn't get angry, his words were blunt.
With his Qi Condensation Grand Completion stage cultivation and the sinister aura he exuded, he managed to intimidate the crowd.
It was at this moment that Luo Chen stepped forward.
"Are all three of these artifacts incomplete?"
At that moment, he revealed a hint of the pure spiritual energy characteristic of the Foundation Establishment stage.
The onlookers were all startled.
How did a Foundation Establishment Cultivator end up in such a remote corner?
Facing Luo Chen, the previously fierce scarred vendor's attitude softened immediately.
He spoke with a hint of respect, "Indeed, they are incomplete, which is why they couldn't be submitted to the auction. That's why I'm selling them here."
"If they're incomplete, how can you guarantee they'll still work?" Luo Chen asked.
The scarred vendor replied honestly, "I can't guarantee their functionality either, so it's up to the senior's discernment."
He was only at the Qi Condensation stage.
Facing the common items of Golden Core Cultivators, it was natural that he couldn't make a judgment.
Luo Chen didn't make things difficult for him and instead asked curiously, "Then, what are these three artifacts for? Do you know?"
The scarred vendor hesitated.
Then he said, "I don't have enough knowledge, but I know this compass is an array disk, the banner is called the Soul Summoning Banner, and as for the bronze mirror, I have no idea what it's used for."
Luo Chen gave him a deep look.
That moment of hesitation revealed that the vendor was holding something back.
However, this trading fair emphasized free buying and selling, and it was up to the buyer and seller to agree on a deal.
Luo Chen couldn't force the issue.
"Let me take a look!"
If anyone else wanted to try, he definitely wouldn't agree.
But Luo Chen was a Foundation Establishment Cultivator.
The scarred vendor couldn't refuse.
He respectfully handed over the three artifacts to Luo Chen.
Starting with the cheapest compass, Luo Chen infused it with spiritual energy, but there was no reaction.
After thinking for a moment, he used the spirit sense restriction technique learned from Duan Qiankun and Huo Hu's treasure pouches and struck out a restriction composed of spiritual energy.
Buzz...
As a buzzing sound rang out, a faint array spread out.
Luo Chen's figure became faint and indistinct.
Raising his eyebrows, Luo Chen removed the restriction, and his body became clearer.
This artifact was still usable, and with full activation, it could at least have the effect of a top-grade magical tool.
Next was the Soul Summoning Banner, which Luo Chen released after a brief touch.
As for the bronze mirror, he couldn't see through it for the moment.
But since the vendor had the audacity to price it as a normal lower-grade magical artifact, it must have had its value.
As Luo Chen pondered, the surrounding area fell silent.
The scarred vendor carefully observed Luo Chen's reaction.
When the compass had shown signs of activation, he had felt it was a pity.
But as the latter two artifacts showed no reaction in the hands of this Foundation Establishment senior, he became anxious.
Finally, he couldn't help but ask, "Senior, which one did you choose?"
Luo Chen glanced at him and put all three artifacts into his treasure pouch.
"I'll take them all!"
As he spoke, he prepared to take out spirit stones from his treasure pouch.
"Sixty-five thousand, right?"
Hearing this number, the surrounding Qi Condensation Stage loose cultivators were shocked.
The scarred vendor was also stunned.
He hadn't expected Luo Chen to buy all of them.
Clearly, he had only intended to try his luck by putting them up for sale.
Sensing the greedy gazes around him, the scarred vendor's body tensed up.
He had gone too far!
"Senior, sixty thousand is enough, sixty thousand!"
Luo Chen smiled at him, recognizing his understanding of the situation and his discretion.
He probably realized that Luo Chen was wealthy and not easy to provoke, so he wanted to sell at a lower price.
Luo Chen wouldn't refuse a discount of five thousand.
After taking out the full amount of spirit stones from his treasure pouch, Luo Chen floated away.
Once he was out of sight, the crowd around the stall erupted into a commotion.
"Are Foundation Establishment Cultivators this rich?"
"Wow! He took out sixty thousand without batting an eye!"
"Not at all. As far as I know, ordinary Foundation Establishment Cultivators are also quite poor, just a little richer than us. To take out sixty thousand without a second thought, it must be a direct disciple from a clan descendant!"
"That senior clearly concealed his aura, he might be a true disciple of a Great Golden Core Sect!"
"I'm so envious!"
"But vendor, where did you go?"
Amidst the crowd's discussions, the scarred vendor had already disappeared, taking with him all the magical artifacts on the stall.
With such a large sum, it would easily attract attention, so it's better to leave early.
...
At the central plaza.
Lu Chen, who had purchased three incomplete magical artifacts in one go, was still wandering around.
At this massive-scale free trading assembly, the treasures on display were truly countless.
Even with varying qualities and conditions, if one carefully sifted through, there would surely be usable items.
Lu Chen wasn't the only Foundation Establishment Cultivator with this thought.
Along the way, he had encountered several others like him.
After browsing for half a day, Lu Chen discovered a few more incomplete magical artifacts.
However, he didn't make a purchase this time.
The reason was simple; the seller was a Foundation Establishment Cultivator!
The incomplete artifacts offered by such an existence for sale would undoubtedly have very low value and, at least for a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, would have little use.
Lu Chen had tested two of them and found that their effects were only equivalent to a full-power strike from a top-grade magical tool.
In terms of effects, they were similar to the artifact fragments of the broken sword that Xu Renke had in Dahedao Market.
Xu Renke was a well-known wandering loose cultivator in Dahedao Market, having traveled through many market towns.
Perhaps he had obtained his broken sword in a similar manner!
However, the three incomplete magical artifacts that Lu Chen acquired were different.
They were sold by a Qi Condensation Stage Cultivator, and whether they were still usable or not depended solely on the seller's judgment.
Who knew, he might have stumbled upon a great bargain.
Not to mention, that compass alone was worth over ten thousand spirit stones.
He had only tested it briefly, and the concealment array it emitted was quite profound.
Among the other two artifacts, Lu Chen felt a glimmer of hope for that Soul Summoning Banner.
As for the bronze mirror, he wasn't so sure.
But the fact that it was priced so high meant that it must hold significant value in the scarred cultivator's eyes.
This was purely a gamble!
"With money, one can be carefree!"
After a day of browsing, Lu Chen decided not to continue.
He had realized that, apart from the abundance of magical tools and incomplete artifacts, this ultra-large-scale free trading fair had much more to offer.
The reason for this situation was self-evident.
It was undoubtedly related to the conflict between the two Nascent Soul High Lords.
"It's said that the Sword Sect and the Falling Cloud Sect have also sent their direct disciples to the Heavenly Wave Immortal City."
"Do you think they'll fight?"
Lu Chen chuckled. If a fight did break out, he intended to join in the fun.
Returning to his cave mansion.
Lu Chen took out all his gains from the day.
He planned to have the Profound Mystic Water delivered to Duan Feng the next day.
Now, he wanted to thoroughly research the three incomplete magical artifacts.
"This compass is quite peculiar. It doesn't require special refinement; as long as one understands the Sealed Array, it can be activated."
"With my Array Dao proficiency, it's difficult to fully unleash its power."
"Perhaps I can ask Min Longyu to study it and find a specific method. After that, I'll use it."
Setting down the compass, Lu Chen's attention turned to the banner.
Soul Summoning Banner? The name was somewhat similar to the Soul Refining Banner.
However, one was for gathering, and the other was for refining, so their purposes must be different.
He tried to activate it but to no avail.
"It seems this artifact requires a lot of effort and thorough refinement before it can be used."
"But what I lack is time!"
"However, I can let Xiao Ling try it."
With a thought, a Ghost Mill fell into the cave mansion.
A graceful figure flew out, looking dazed.
"Master, is there something you need?"
"Here, take this."
"What is this?" Bai Mei Ling took the banner in confusion, and the moment she touched it, her entire body felt pulled down to the ground. "So heavy!"
Seeing this.
Lu Chen couldn't help but smile.
"This is the Soul Summoning Banner. Study it carefully, and it might be beneficial to your Soul Dao cultivation."
As he spoke, Lu Chen picked up the banner and placed it in a corner of the cave mansion.
The figure on the ground struggled to crawl out.
She surrounded the banner, her eyes filled with curiosity.
Lu Chen paid no more attention to her and instead focused his spiritual sense on the bronze mirror on the table.
The bronze mirror had an ancient, yellowish hue.
Its edges were engraved with intricate patterns of flowers, birds, insects, and fish.
Only the mirror surface was cracked, as if it had shattered in battle.
"This mirror gives me a familiar feeling!"
Gamble? Lu Chen would never gamble!
He was there to find bargains.
Even if he couldn't find any bargains, the items he bought would still be worth their price.
The reason he spent the equivalent of a normal inferior magical artifact on this bronze mirror was the familiar feeling he had when he first acquired it.
"Where does this familiarity come from?"
Lu Chen frowned, deep in thought.
As he pondered, he occasionally infused spirit energy, but the bronze mirror showed no reaction.
Exploring it with his spirit sense also yielded no results.
Suddenly, Lu Chen's heart stirred.
A black chess piece appeared between his fingers.
Infusing spirit energy into it, strands of black light slowly emerged.
As if in response, a faint yellow light on the bronze mirror brightened.
The two lights merged seamlessly upon contact.
Lu Chen watched this scene in astonishment.
"Worn Chess Piece!"
"Could this bronze mirror also be from Ghost Valley?"
Just as he was surprised, the two merging lights transformed into a colorful, iridescent glow, instantly enveloping his entire body.
This strange and mysterious scene startled Bai Mei Ling, who was flying nearby.
She hovered in the air, her face filled with doubt.
Then, she slowly approached Lu Chen.
"Master?"
There was no response.
She waved her hand in front of him, but Lu Chen's eyes remained tightly shut, unmoving.
Suddenly, her head turned 180 degrees, and a pair of ghostly eyes fixed on the cracked bronze mirror emitting colorful light.
In the mirror's reflection, a familiar figure slowly opened their eyes.
(End of Chapter)
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