Chapter 67: Transaction
Chapter 67: Transaction
"Alright, go on."
Fang Xing sighed and watched as the elderly man picked up the pair of gauntlets.
"A first-rate low-grade artifact, crafted from 'Fiery Sun Spirit Iron'. Unfortunately, its usage is quite limited, only suitable for body cultivators... There's a slight defect on the gauntlet, with one line of the 'Mountainous' array broken. I can offer seven hundred and fifty low-grade spirit stones for it."
The elderly man picked up the gauntlets, pondered for a moment, and gave his offer. Then, he carefully picked up the Green Chasm Sword:
"A first-rate superior flying sword, with an intact blade and well-maintained. Inscribed with the 'Sharp Gold' and 'Wind Control' grand arrays... Worth nine hundred spirit stones!"
The more he looked, the more he muttered to himself. These two superior artifacts seemed to belong to those two infamous bandit cultivators. Had his previous offer been too low?
...
Fang Xing nodded slightly.
Although he recalled that at the auction, the superior artifact, the Iron Feather Sword set, had eventually sold for several thousand spirit stones, the situation was obviously different.
Not only was the Iron Feather Sword a complete set, but it was also a masterpiece among masterpieces, capable of forming a sword array that rivaled top-tier artifacts.
Additionally, it was common for prices to soar at auctions due to competitive bidding.
Usually, the price of a superior artifact would range from five hundred to a thousand spirit stones.
This first-rate superior 'Green Chasm Sword' was not only well-maintained but also a flying sword, a type highly favored by cultivators. If sold in the market, it would easily fetch over a thousand spirit stones.
Given the current special circumstances, Fang Xing could only accept whatever offer was made.
However, Fang Xing was certain that the other party would still make a profit! They might even make a substantial profit! But alas, as he had said before, artifacts were of no use to him unless they were blood-forged!
He had tested this Green Chasm Sword, and if he didn't infuse it with spiritual energy, relying solely on the sword's sharpness, it was only slightly better than the Ink Pattern Sword—still garbage!
Hearing the appraisal, he finally understood.
'So flying swords rely not only on their own sharpness but also on the power of the arrays inscribed on their blades... I always feel like this world is targeting me specifically...'
At this moment, the old man finally finished his slow appraisal: "Honored customer, we only accept 'Fire Blaze Flowers' and 'Ancient Blue Vines' as spirit herbs. Together, the old man can offer two thousand one hundred and seventy-two low-grade spirit stones..."
"Agreed."
Fang Xing nodded, his gaze sweeping over the old man's stall, and he spotted a tiger-headed long dao: "A fine dao..."
This dao was extremely heavy, probably weighing thirty or forty pounds, but in Fang Xing's hand, it felt as light as a feather, easily brandished: "What's the name of this dao?"
"Good eye, honored customer. This dao is called 'Tiger Strike'. It's made from the spine of a demon tiger and a hundred killing irons. It's a blood-forged artifact and will only cost you a hundred low-grade spirit stones." The old man's eyes glinted as he introduced the weapon.
"Sold!"
Fang Xing now had plenty of spirit stones to spend, and he didn't hesitate to use them.
To him, such a blood-forged artifact was far more useful than any superior artifact.
"Very well..."
The old man smiled and took out twenty strange five-colored crystals, handing them over to Fang Xing with seventy-two low-grade spirit stones: "Please take care of these, honored customer..."
'These are actually medium-grade spirit stones...'
Fang Xing had only heard of the name of this type of spirit stone before. It was said that one medium-grade spirit stone could be exchanged for a hundred low-grade ones.
Now that he held them, he indeed felt the intense and rich spiritual energy within, and his heart stirred: 'Cultivators can use spirit stones to cultivate... Too bad warriors can't do the same, but just because they can't on the Blue Planet doesn't mean they can't here... Next time, I'll throw a few low-grade spirit stones into the black market and see what happens...'
This was part of Fang Xing's plan to test the waters.
Coincidentally, he also allowed Gu Yun to discover that strange talismans possibly related to evil gods were being sold in the black market.
Due to her father's influence, Gu Yun strongly opposed anything related to evil gods. Upon receiving this intelligence, she immediately began investigating the black market and even obtained a low-grade golden light talisman, which she sent to the Faith Theory Department for inspection.
Fang Xing intended to casually inquire about the inspection results after the winter vacation.
As the informant and a close associate, White Ziling, the manager of the Faith Theory Department, would definitely share the news with Gu Yun.
That would be as good as telling him!
'It does feel a bit like taking advantage of a friend, but I'm sure these cultivation items aren't dangerous... I'll make it up to her somehow later.'
At this moment, he calmly put away the spirit stones, sensing some malicious gazes around him, but he merely sneered inwardly: 'Looks like they're here to give away more spirit stones.'
Fang Xing stood up but did not leave immediately. Instead, he began to stroll through the market, browsing the stalls.
After all, the stall owners here weren't permanent; they came and went. Even in the short time he had been dealing with the old man, several new stalls had already set up in the cave.
Fang Xing approached one of the new stalls and saw what appeared to be lifelike puppets, resembling toys: "What about this... How much is it?"
Some of these puppets resembled birds and beasts, while others were humanoid, all of them palm-sized and shimmering with a spiritual light that made them quite appealing.
"Since you know these are puppets, you should be aware that without a cultivator's spiritual sense, they are difficult to control..."
The puppet seller, who wore a wide-brimmed hat that covered half his face, replied irritably.
Warriors were a discriminated group in the cultivation world, even those with innate talents.
Among the hundred arts of cultivation, warriors primarily used talismans, but even with innate true qi, they could only activate first-rate mid-grade talismans at most. When it came to first-rate superior talismans, they were essentially incompatible.
As for higher-tier second-rate talismans, it was even more difficult. Even cultivators in the early to middle stages of the Qi Refining realm might not be able to activate them smoothly. Those in the late stages could do so but at the cost of consuming a large portion of their spiritual energy, and even then, they might not be able to control the talisman, risking injury. As for warriors?
In terms of pills, the situation was much the same. If a warrior forcibly consumed a high-level spirit pill, it would only result in their intestines rupturing and their stomach bursting, leading to death. They were equally incompatible with second-rate pills.
Artifacts were even worse; aside from blood-forged artifacts, they might as well not exist for warriors!
Array formations were subtly considered the pinnacle of the hundred arts of cultivation. Whether it was the creation of array flags and plates or the art of setting up formations, they had nothing to do with warriors. The only use of a natural-born warrior was to infuse low-level array flags with true qi, which could save a spirit pill or two.
Puppets were even more so; without a cultivator's spiritual power to activate them and spiritual sense to control them, they would only be toys.
"I'm not a cultivator, but I have disciples and close friends..."
Fang Xing picked up a mechanized bird puppet and asked, "How much for this puppet?"
"It's a first-rate low-grade puppet. If you're interested, I'll give you a special price... Just one hundred and fifty spirit stones!"
The stall owner gave Fang Xing a once-over and said seriously.
"Sold!"
Fang Xing grandly took out a pile of low-grade spirit stones and held the toy bird in the palm of his hand.
The mechanized bird was made of wood and adorned with colorful feathers, with intricate array patterns on its surface.
As he walked, he tried to input his innate true qi into it, but it was like spitting into the sea, and he might even end up damaging the puppet...
'As expected, it doesn't work...'
Fang Xing thought to himself, but he had other plans for buying this puppet.
'The Jade Purity Realm is equivalent to a natural-born warrior, already the pinnacle of this world... But I still have a long way to go!'
'If I can break through to the Bravery Realm, open the Mud Pill Palace, and possess spiritual power... Maybe I can try to control it. Who knows, I might succeed?'
At that time, this puppet would be an excellent experimental subject.
"Hmm?"
After strolling around for a few laps, Fang Xing was about to leave when he spotted a petite and adorable female cultivator setting up a stall, and his eyes lit up.
He then noticed the small banner she had put up, which bore the mark of the Green Dan Pavilion, and he felt even more confident. He quickly walked over and said, "Miss Ru..."
"Who are you?"
Little Ru looked up, clearly not recognizing Fang Xing in his disguise.
"Hehe, I bought a few pills from Miss Ru back then. It's normal that you don't remember me... Are these items on your stall genuine products of the Green Dan Pavilion?"
Fang Xing looked at the bottles and cans on display.
"Of course. The jade bottle seals and spirit-sealing talismans are all intact. Feel free to inspect them, fellow daoist..."
Little Ru made a welcoming gesture.
"Where, where, I trust you, fellow daoist..."
Fang Xing's eyes flickered, and he had already memorized all the pills, asking seriously, "I don't know if Miss Ru here accepts spirit herbs?"
"Of course. Sigh... Ever since the beast tide, our original team of herb gatherers at the Green Dan Pavilion has dispersed, and it's not easy to reopen the furnace now..."
Little Ru sighed, and Fang Xing's expression changed slightly.
It seemed that the Green Dan Pavilion had been a bit unlucky this time, even losing their precious alchemist.
He calmed himself and looked for the pills he needed: "Tiger Marrow Pill... And 'Qi Supplement Pill' suitable for natural-born warriors... Give me ten bottles of each!"
Little Ru's eyes lit up when she heard this.
This was a big customer.
Not only were there a lot of spirit stones, but there were also so many spirit herbs. This person was obviously an extremely skilled herb gatherer, and he might even have a team of herb gatherers backing him.
'Could it be the Medicine King Gang?'
Little Ru wondered, picking up one of the spirit herbs that Fang Xing had brought and giving an estimate: "Elixir-Corroding Grass, originally three spirit stones per herb. Now that it's difficult to procure, I can offer five more spirit stones..."
By the end of the transaction, Fang Xing had given most of his package of spirit herbs to Little Ru and still had to make up a considerable number of spirit stones, which made him secretly marvel at the alchemists' profits.
'After walking around here, I feel like the greed in the air is about to condense into substance...'
Fang Xing found a corner in the market and sat down cross-legged, with the 'Tiger Killing Blade' he had just bought on his knees, a cold smile on his face.
At this moment, he placed his hand on the blade and slowly infused it with his innate true qi.
As he infused it with his innate true qi, he gradually refined this blood-forged artifact and learned how to use it.
'Tiger Killing Blade, after being filled with innate true qi, can fly through the air, but the owner cannot be more than a hundred steps away, and its power is comparable to that of an ordinary low-grade artifact...'
'In addition, there is a 'Wind Blade Technique' array engraved on the blade. When filled with innate true qi, it can unleash a 'Wind Blade' with a power comparable to the Wind Blade Technique...'
'Is that it?'
After truly refining a blood-forged artifact, Fang Xing suddenly felt that his previous decision not to refine the Ink Pattern Sword with his blood had been a wise one.
'A natural-born master using a blood-forged artifact is actually similar to a Qi Refining cultivator wielding a low-grade artifact... I can take on ten of them with this blade!'
If Fang Xing were to wield the Tiger Killing Blade and employ the Ghost God Blade Art now, his speed and strength would far surpass that of someone wielding a blood-forged artifact.
Warriors were warriors, and trying to emulate cultivators' methods was just a case of the blind leading the blind.
Unless... the power of a blood-forged artifact could rival that of a first-rate high-grade artifact, or it had some special function, then he might take a second look.
'As expected, am I just meant to rush forward and hack and slash?'
Fang Xing suddenly felt a bit dejected.
Then, he saw a group of people walking towards him, and their target was obviously him!
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
