Sword Transmission Hall

Dustless Sword: Forged primarily from wind-eroded gang iron, inscribed with twelve formation patterns; light and swift. Produced by Glutton City. Three hundred Sword Coins.

Mountain-Crushing Sword: Forged primarily from Earth Mother refined steel, inscribed with fourteen formation patterns; heavy and resilient. Produced by swordsmith Xuan Chengzi. Five hundred Sword Coins.

Profound Yin Sword: Forged primarily from thousand-year cold iron, inscribed with thirty-six formation patterns; chilling and razor-sharp. Producer unknown. Eight hundred Sword Coins.

It was as though an autumn wind had swept up fallen leaves, chilling people to the bone.

Chu Liang stood blankly before the Sword Transmission Hall's sword-selling counter.

He had never visited the Sword Transmission Hall before. It was only after seeing Fang Ting's Thunderclap Sword that he had begun wanting to buy one himself.

He had thought he had made a small fortune, but compared to the prices of these treasured swords, it was utterly insignificant. After seeing those prices, he suddenly felt...

Shushan's standard flying-sword bracelet was quite useful too.

It would last him for years.

Generally speaking, even a Divine Intent Realm disciple who frequently undertook missions would struggle to earn a hundred Sword Coins in a month—and that was before deducting expenses for other magical artifacts, pills, talismans, and divine abilities...

How long would it take to afford a sword?

Just as he turned to leave, the duty disciple at the counter noticed him and warmly came over.

She was a tall female disciple. With a broad smile, she took hold of Chu Liang and said, "Junior Brother, are you looking to buy a flying sword of your own?"

"Yes." Chu Liang nodded.

"Then which one caught your eye?" the duty disciple asked.

"I was just looking around. I can't afford one," Chu Liang said calmly, not finding it embarrassing in the least.

"Not necessarily. Tell me your budget, and Senior Sister can give you some advice." The duty disciple smiled.

"I only have fifty Sword Coins," Chu Liang answered. "But the cheapest one I saw costs three hundred Sword Coins..."

"Mm..." The duty disciple did look troubled for a brief moment, but her expression quickly relaxed. "That's no problem, haha. You came at just the right time—our Sword Transmission Hall has just introduced a new installment payment plan."

"Installments?" Chu Liang blinked.

Good heavens.

Shushan has this stuff now?

"You can make a down payment of fifty Sword Coins, then pay ten Sword Coins each month in installments. You'll finish paying it off in fifty months. How is it? Isn't that especially considerate?" the duty disciple explained.

A fifty-Coin down payment, leaving two hundred and fifty Sword Coins. Ten Sword Coins a month for fifty months meant paying five hundred Sword Coins in total... Chu Liang calculated it at once.

In other words, it was a four-year loan with double the interest...

That was downright extortionate.

"It does sound tempting, but I'd better not." Chu Liang smiled. "I'll come take another look next time."

Forget it. He should go back and kill more demons. Maybe one would drop a flying sword.

"Ah, don't think it's expensive. This is the first flying sword exclusively yours in your life—it carries great significance. What does it matter if it costs a little more?" The duty disciple was still trying to keep him there.

But Chu Liang had already turned away.

His attitude was crystal clear.

Just as he was about to leave, a petite figure came in from straight ahead. He nearly bumped into her.

"Ah." The newcomer was a pretty girl in a pale green gauze dress. The moment she saw Chu Liang, she cried out in surprise, "Senior Brother Chu?"

"Junior Sister Xu?"

Chu Liang was somewhat surprised to see her as well. It was none other than Xu Ziqing, the junior sister from Jade Sword Peak with whom he had just completed a mission.

"I can't believe I ran into you here. What a coincidence." Xu Ziqing smiled until her eyes curved into crescents.

"Yes. Did you come to buy a flying sword too?" Chu Liang asked gently.

"Mhm! My first mission was a success, so my brother said he'd reward me with a flying sword and let me choose one myself." Xu Ziqing smiled.

Upon hearing that, Chu Liang silently thought that while White Tower rewards required him to work his fingers to the bone fighting demons, rewards from someone else's brother came simple and direct.

"That's wonderful," he said sincerely.

"Eh, Senior Brother Chu, what sword did you buy?" Xu Ziqing asked again.

"I haven't bought one yet. The flying swords here are too expensive, and I don't have enough Sword Coins," Chu Liang answered honestly.

"Huh?" The little girl tilted her head, then suddenly said, "Which one do you like? I'll give it to you."

"How could I accept that?" Chu Liang immediately waved his hands in refusal. "A flying sword is far too valuable. How could I take one from you?"

Good heavens.

This little girl was truly generous.

A sage surnamed Lu from Shushan had once said: Women would only affect the speed at which I drew my sword... but a rich woman could buy me a better sword.

The ancients truly did not deceive me.

"What does it matter? We're good friends." The little rich girl took his hand as she spoke.

"No. One must not accept rewards without merit." Chu Liang firmly shook his head.

He could accept small things like Qi-Gathering Pills without much thought. But a flying sword this expensive? There was no way he could accept it for free.

"Fine..." Xu Ziqing pouted, looking as though she were somewhat unhappy.

"Then, Junior Sister Xu, take your time choosing. I'll head back first," Chu Liang said goodbye.

"You're still calling me Junior Sister Xu. You said we're friends, so call me Ziqing, like everyone else does," the little girl said again.

"Alright, Junior Sister Xu," Chu Liang readily agreed.

While the two were talking, another person came down from upstairs. The instant he saw Xu Ziqing, he called out, "Junior Sister Ziqing!"

Turning to look, Chu Liang saw a lean young disciple with high cheekbones and narrow eyes. He wore a scholar's robe, yet did not possess the slightest scholarly air.

Two fellow disciples in identical attire followed behind him, looking much like attendants.

The moment Xu Ziqing saw him, her delicate brows furrowed. Still, she helplessly responded, "Senior Brother Shang."

Though she was cold, she could not withstand the other party's enthusiasm.

Senior Brother Shang hurried over to Xu Ziqing in a few quick steps and smiled. "I can't believe I ran into you here. What a coincidence."

"Yes. Did you come to buy a flying sword too?" Xu Ziqing answered while looking elsewhere.

"Heh!" Senior Brother Shang puffed out his chest. "The other day, I led a team to eliminate the water monster in the Huali River. My father said he'd reward me with a new flying sword and let me choose one myself."

"Not bad..." Xu Ziqing nodded expressionlessly, then seemed ready to leave.

Senior Brother Shang quickly blocked her and asked with a smile, "Junior Sister Ziqing, what sword did you buy?"

"I haven't bought one. I'm just looking," Xu Ziqing answered.

"Huh?" Senior Brother Shang clapped his hands. "Then which one do you like? I'll give it to you."

"How could I accept that?" Xu Ziqing frowned deeply and repeatedly shook her head. "Flying swords are so valuable. There's no need to trouble Senior Brother Shang into spending so much."

"What does it matter? Aren't we... good friends?" Senior Brother Shang gave two sly chuckles.

"No! One must not accept rewards without merit." Xu Ziqing wore an expression that said there was absolutely no need for that.

"Fine..." Senior Brother Shang could only give up.

"Then if you have nothing else to do, Senior Brother Shang, we'll be leaving first!" Xu Ziqing did not even buy a sword. She grabbed Chu Liang and turned to leave.

Senior Brother Shang followed behind them, still saying, "You're still calling me Senior Brother Shang. How distant. We're good friends, so call me Brother Ziliang."

"Got it, Senior Brother Shang!" Xu Ziqing tossed back those words as she and Chu Liang walked away...

"Sigh..." Shang Ziliang let out a heavy sigh. "Tell me, I'm such a handsome and dashing young talent, as graceful as jade in the wind—yet Sister Ziqing always acts as though she can take me or leave me. Is that reasonable?"

"Not reasonable!" "Absolutely not reasonable!"

The two attendants behind him hurriedly answered.

"Then why exactly is that?" Shang Ziliang raised his head toward the sky.

"Boss, do you think there's a possibility... that Junior Sister Ziqing already has someone she likes? That would explain why she's so cold to you," Attendant One said.

"Hm?" Shang Ziliang frowned. "Is that so?"

"I think the person beside her is highly suspicious," Attendant Two said. "The way she looked at that kid just now was clearly unusual."

"It wasn't just her gaze. Why do I smell some strange scent on the two of them..." Attendant One stammered, not daring to elaborate.

"Hmph..." Shang Ziliang pondered for a moment, then said, "Go investigate him for me. What's that kid's name, and which peak is he from? I want to see just who dares compete with me for Sister Ziqing..."

I've recently been trying to write three chapters a day, and it feels pretty good. If I can adapt to this rhythm, then after it goes premium, I can update three chapters a day. We'll see about setting an update target then—haha, that'll be the pinnacle of life.