Tian Wen coughed awkwardly twice. "Tony, be serious. He's my student."
Master Tony stood up and rubbed his bald head. "Old Tian's student? Then I need to explain this shop's service principle. We treat children and elders alike, so there's no student discount."
Han Wu cursed inwardly.
Was that how "treat children and elders alike" was supposed to be used?
There absolutely should be a student discount!
Students had it hard enough making money. After fighting tooth and nail through a match, they only earned 1 billion divine power.
Tian Wen hurriedly explained to Han Wu, "Student Han Wu, Tony has a sharp tongue but a soft heart. He speaks unpleasantly, but the equipment he forges is genuinely excellent."
"Old Tian, after all these years, I've finally heard a decent sentence come out of your mouth." Master Tony sighed.
In that instant, Tian Wen wanted to leave too. To hell with more than ten years of friendship. He could do without it.
It took Tian Wen quite a while to calm down before he reluctantly swallowed his anger.
If he could have beaten Master Tony, he would have struck him long ago!
"I'll show you his works." As Tian Wen spoke, he made his way into Master Tony's exhibition hall with practiced ease.
More than a hundred divine artifacts were displayed in the exhibition hall. Every single one bore Master Tony's mark, proving that he had forged it personally.
After Tian Wen filtered the prices, thirty divine artifacts of various types remained for Han Wu to choose from.
Then, Tian Wen skillfully introduced the strengths and weaknesses of each divine artifact to Han Wu.
His professional attitude and detailed explanations made Han Wu briefly suspect that Tian Wen's teaching job at school might only be a side hustle for social insurance. His true profession was probably working as a salesman in Master Tony's shop.
After introducing all thirty divine artifacts, Tian Wen finally asked Han Wu, "Student Han Wu, which one do you prefer?"
Han Wu listened carefully to Tian Wen's introductions and selected three divine artifacts that suited his current situation relatively well.
Gourd Pot, Two-Star Divine Artifact. Effect 1: Gu Refinement. It contained a space capable of holding up to one hundred thousand insectoids for a Gu refinement ritual. The insectoids placed inside would slaughter one another, and the sole final survivor had a certain chance of increasing its level. At most, it could refine an insectoid Heroic Lifeform. Effect 2: Included divine art: Insect Summoning. It could draw nearby insectoids closer. The range of the divine art depended on the amount of divine power invested.
Ten Thousand Races Token, Three-Star Divine Artifact. Effect 1: Intimidation. It carried an inherent pressure that could instill fear in lifeforms below the Heroic Lifeform level. Effect 2: Majesty. It stored the faith of ten thousand races. The more races whose faith it recorded, the more powerful the divine artifact became. Effect 3: Included divine art: Domination. It could forcibly control a lifeform's actions. The strength of the divine art depended on the intensity of its majesty and the amount of divine power invested.
Undead Banner, Two-Star Divine Artifact. Effect 1: Included divine art: Undead Enhancement. The strength of the divine art depended on the amount of divine power invested. Effect 2: Included divine art: Undead Command. The strength of the divine art depended on the amount of divine power invested.
No matter which of the three divine artifacts Han Wu chose, his strength would increase tremendously.
But considering that he might soon have to face an assessment issued by Kyoto Academy, Han Wu focused his gaze on the Two-Star Divine Artifact: Gourd Pot.
This Gourd Pot was worth 4 divinity, which converted to less than 600 million divine power.
From the perspective of long-term development, it was absolutely a deal that would bring steady profit without loss.
Han Wu gritted his teeth. "I want the Two-Star Divine Artifact: Gourd Pot."
Tian Wen smiled in satisfaction.
The Two-Star Divine Artifact, Gourd Pot, did not possess overwhelming power, but it was the divine artifact most suitable for Han Wu.
After learning that Han Wu had chosen a divine artifact, Master Tony was also delighted and displayed his payment code. "4 divinity or 580 million divine power. How would you like to pay?"
Tian Wen pulled Master Tony aside for a lengthy discussion. As they got more animated, they seemed on the verge of arguing.
In the end, Master Tony gave Han Wu a round-number discount for Tian Wen's sake and charged him 600 million divine power. He also threw in a Zero-Star Divine Artifact: Eye of Detection.
The Zero-Star Divine Artifact, Eye of Detection, had only one effect: detecting biological information. It could detect basically all lifeforms without divinity and was a highly popular divine artifact, with an official price of 50 million divine power.
All things considered, Master Tony's bundled deal saved Han Wu 30 million divine power.
That showed Tian Wen's face still carried some value.
After putting away the two divine artifacts, Han Wu was about to leave.
But Master Tony stopped him. "Esteemed guest, please wait."
Han Wu was speechless. Before he spent money, Tony had barely acknowledged him. After he spent money, Tony had changed his tune and called him an esteemed guest.
This Master Tony changed faces rather quickly.
"Esteemed guest, based on fragments from a Lost Civilization, I have recently forged a special divine artifact. I think it suits your temperament very well." As Master Tony spoke, he took out the divine artifact he was recommending.
It was a golden sphere. Its entire body was golden, as though cast from gold.
Tian Wen also leaned over curiously and used a demigod's ability to examine the divine artifact's effects.
The result was that he discovered this spherical divine artifact had no effects whatsoever.
He flew into a rage on the spot.
"Tony, you bastard! I treat you as a friend, and you treat me like a sucker? Do you really think I wouldn't dare lay a hand on you?" Tian Wen said angrily.
He felt that Master Tony was showing him a lack of respect. He was actually trying to scam his student right in front of him. Who could tolerate that?
Master Tony shook his head. "Listen patiently while I explain."
"Fine." Tian Wen immediately quieted down.
Han Wu, standing beside them, was stunned. Teacher Tian Wen was a little too obedient, wasn't he?
"This divine artifact is called Greedy Wolf. It came from a civilization that was lost long ago, and it grows by devouring divine artifacts."
Those words piqued Han Wu's interest. "Master Tony, please explain in detail."
Seeing that Han Wu recognized its value, Master Tony patiently began explaining the information regarding the divine artifact Greedy Wolf.
Greedy Wolf came from a Lost Civilization. That civilization practiced plunder, and they often robbed divine artifacts.
As everyone knew, divine artifacts recognized their owners. Before a god died, that god's divine artifact could not be used by other gods.
Faced with priceless divine artifacts that could only be treated as scrap metal, the ruler of that civilization felt particularly distressed. He summoned the skilled craftsmen of the entire civilization, and after several epochs of research, they finally forged the divine artifact: Greedy Wolf.
The divine artifact Greedy Wolf could grow by devouring divine artifacts and inherit the abilities of the divine artifacts it consumed.
And because the divine artifact Greedy Wolf was too powerful, it provoked the fury of dozens of civilizations.
In the end, that civilization vanished forever into the long river of history beneath the joint assault of dozens of civilizations...
Master Tony spoke with such absorption that he suddenly added, "Esteemed guest, the shop is having a grand sale right now. This divine artifact from a Lost Civilization only costs 1 billion divine power. What are you still hesitating for?"
"1 billion divine power?" Tian Wen was startled by the price.
Not because it was too expensive, but because it was too cheap.
How could a divine artifact that had caused the destruction of a powerful civilization be worth only 1 billion divine power?
What kind of joke was that!
Under the gazes of Han Wu and Tian Wen, Master Tony finally revealed the reason. "Because what I obtained was a fragment, this divine artifact Greedy Wolf has a tiny little flaw."
"It can still devour divine artifacts to grow, but its growth efficiency is ten times slower. After devouring a divine artifact, it can only inherit some passive effects and cannot inherit the included divine arts."
"Isn't that just junk?" Tian Wen said bluntly.
Compared with the genuine divine artifact Greedy Wolf, this incomplete version was simply good for nothing.
Forget 1 billion divine power. Even if it were given to Tian Wen for free, he would not want it.
No clear-minded god would choose such a divine artifact with huge investment and meager returns.
Master Tony was somewhat angry. "Old Tian, you can insult my character, but you cannot insult my work."
"You made it so badly, and you won't even let people talk about it?" Tian Wen argued on solid grounds.
Seeing that the two were about to start arguing again, Han Wu immediately said, "I'll buy this divine artifact. I'll offer 400 million divine power."
Tian Wen hurriedly grabbed Han Wu and stopped him. "Student Han Wu, don't buy this piece of junk just because of your teacher."
Han Wu wanted to say that he had been drawn to Greedy Wolf's ability to devour divine artifacts.
The original Greedy Wolf could grow by devouring divine artifacts and inherit their abilities. Its advantages were indeed heaven-defying.
But who could say that the overlooked ability to devour divine artifacts was ordinary?
Imagine seizing a powerful divine artifact from an enemy but being unable to destroy it easily. At that point, handing it to Greedy Wolf to devour would still weaken the enemy's strength, wouldn't it?
Most importantly, Han Wu felt that Greedy Wolf's ability was somewhat similar to his Decomposition Machine.
Buying it and keeping it for future research would be worthwhile as well.
Having made up his mind, Han Wu immediately replied, "Teacher Tian, you misunderstand me. I sincerely admire the divine artifacts Master Tony forges. He managed to recreate the divine artifact Greedy Wolf from fragments alone. On that basis alone, this student is willing to take out all his divine power to support his forging. Unfortunately, this student is too poor and only has 400 million divine power left. I wonder whether Master Tony would be willing to part with it?"
Master Tony rubbed his bald head, somewhat moved yet somewhat doubtful. "You really admire this divine artifact?"
"Really." Han Wu answered firmly.
Master Tony saw sincerity in Han Wu's eyes.
He rubbed his bald head. "Fine, 400 million divine power it is. A fortune cannot buy a true confidant. The divine artifact Greedy Wolf is yours!"
Han Wu handed over a card containing 400 million divine power and accepted the golden sphere that was the divine artifact Greedy Wolf.
Then, under Tian Wen's escort, he teleported back home.
He had to complete the divine artifact's ownership-recognition ritual before he could feel at ease.
Before you continue