Buying a Sword

Buying a Sword

Actually.

There were more official pill shops in the Inner and Outer Peak Markets, such as Mystic Immortal Pill Shop, which specialized in Foundation Establishment cultivators, and Mystic Fire Pill Shop, which specialized in business with Qi Refining cultivators.

But these two types of pill shops had deeper ties to the sect, so they naturally lay outside Han Yi's consideration.

Nine Dragon Shop, however, not only dealt in pills, but also in Magic Artifacts, formations, talismans, and more. With such a powerful backer, Han Yi's little stock was nowhere near enough to draw deliberate attention from Nine Dragon Shop.

As Han Yi's thoughts wandered, Manager He finished the calculations, and he hurriedly reined in his thoughts.

"Fellow Daoist is already a regular customer, so let us round it off. The total will be nineteen hundred spirit stones. How does that sound?"

Han Yi nodded. "No problem. We'll do as Manager He says."

At those words, Manager He's expression softened, and his smile grew warmer.

Yet Han Yi did not immediately pay and leave. Instead, he stated the second purpose of this trip. "Manager He, does your establishment have any swords?"

Manager He's eyes lit up.

"Of course. Our shop even has magic treasures—it only depends on whether Fellow Daoist can afford them."

"What grade of sword does Fellow Daoist wish to buy?"

Without a moment's hesitation, Han Yi stated the requirement he had long decided on. "I need a mid-grade sword."

The smile in Manager He's eyes deepened.

This was no small deal.

Generally speaking, cultivators in the early and middle stages of Qi Refining used Low-grade Magic Artifacts. Only those in the Qi Refining Late Stage would use Mid-grade Magic Artifacts, while only cultivators at Qi Refining Layer 9 could wield high-grade Magic Artifacts. As for Top-grade Magic Artifacts, under normal circumstances, they were something only Foundation Establishment cultivators could control.

"As it happens, I have goods at the mid-grade Magic Artifact level on hand. If you wanted high-grade Magic Artifacts, I could not guarantee that I would have any in stock."

"Fellow Daoist, take a look."

With a light wave of Manager He's hand, three long jade cases appeared on the table between them.

Han Yi suddenly held his breath.

Before him, the jade cases varied in length. The longest was a full two meters long, while even the shortest measured around 1.2 meters.

"Fellow Daoist, there are three swords here, all Mid-grade Magic Artifacts."

"The longest one is called Everlasting Longing. It was originally a high-grade Magic Artifact, but after sustaining damage, it was reassessed as a Mid-grade Magic Artifact. In terms of power, this artifact has already reached the very peak of Mid-grade Magic Artifacts. If an artifact refiner were to reforge it, it might be restored to a high-grade Magic Artifact."

"This one is 1.5 meters long. Among swords, it is of moderate length, with a broad and thick blade, belonging to the broad-sword category. It is called Thunder Sword and possesses the lightning attribute. If its wielder has a lightning spiritual root, controlling it will yield twice the result with half the effort. Without a lightning spiritual root, however, it will be considerably more difficult."

"The last one is the shortest, only 1.2 meters long. Its blade is slender and narrow, making it relatively short among swords. It is called Shadowless. When wielded, it grants a boost in speed."

After Manager He finished speaking, he paused and looked at Han Yi.

At that moment, delight shone in Han Yi's eyes as they fixed upon the first sword.

A high-grade Magic Artifact—this was something only a handful of peak Qi Refining Layer 9 cultivators, those half a step into Foundation Establishment, possessed.

Though damaged, its power still far surpassed that of an ordinary Mid-grade Magic Artifact.

Han Yi coveted it.

Then he shook his head.

Helplessly.

He had looked into the prices of Mid-grade Magic Artifacts beforehand. A sword that had once been a high-grade Magic Artifact and had now fallen to the mid-grade was absolutely beyond his means.

His gaze shifted to the second sword, his eyes filled with regret.

A lightning spiritual root was a variant spiritual root, no inferior to a heavenly spiritual root. With his mixed spiritual root, forcibly wielding it would bring him no benefit at all.

Especially if he encountered an enemy and made even one mistake when bringing out this sword, he could face the danger of perishing.

A sword was an artifact of slaughter.

One had to be cautious and cautious again in choosing one.

Han Yi would not make a joke of his own life.

No matter how strong the Thunder Sword was, no matter how great its power, if it did not suit him, he would not force the issue. He could only give it up.

Han Yi moved his gaze to the final sword and examined it carefully.

Through the jade case, the 1.2-meter sword lay silently within. Its blade was slender and narrow, entirely black, and it deeply drew Han Yi's gaze.

Manager He, standing beside him, smiled faintly. He already knew Han Yi's choice.

What remained was the matter of price.

Half an hour later.

Han Yi left Nine Dragon Shop, his heart aching terribly.

The Shadowless Sword alone had cost him a full thirty-five hundred spirit stones.

In other words, judging solely by the spirit stones in his pocket, he had actually taken a loss on this outing.

No wonder ordinary inner sect disciples lived so tightly. A single Mid-grade Magic Artifact consumed eighty percent of their wealth, and they still had to support their daily cultivation. It truly was not easy.

Meanwhile, inside Nine Dragon Shop.

Manager He took out that Gold-Silver Pill again and examined it closely.

"The quality is quite good."

"This man actually bought a Mid-grade Magic Artifact, and from the look in his eyes, he did not possess one before. That is a little strange. It seems he is not much like an Inner Peak disciple."

"But can an Outer Peak disciple's alchemy be this skilled?"

"What an interesting person."

A puzzled look appeared on the elderly Manager He's face, but he made no unnecessary moves.

To him, even if Han Yi had secrets, they were merely secrets of the Qi Refining stage. Such secrets were not worth his effort to uncover.

Of course.

If Han Yi suddenly brought out a Foundation Establishment Pill, then that would be a different matter.

Every Foundation Establishment Pill was incomparably important. Its ingredients were expensive and scarce, making it a strategic pill of the sect.

Even within the sect, those capable of refining Foundation Establishment Pills were few and far between. They were generally veteran Foundation Establishment alchemists, or even Golden Core Stage alchemists.

After leaving Red Sun Market, Han Yi made another trip to Little Sea View Peak.

He had always kept this connection with Little Sea View Peak and had never cut it off.

The one who received him was not the familiar Yan Ru.

Instead, it was a new female cultivator.

More than a year ago, Yan Ru had seized the opportunity to enter the Inner Peak. She moved from Little Sea View Peak to Azure Dragon Peak and took a Foundation Establishment elder as her master. Half a year ago, he had happened to see her once in the market from afar, but he had not deliberately gone forward to greet her.

The new female cultivator was named Chen Yujin. Though she was four years younger than Han Yi, her spiritual root talent was outstanding, and she had already reached Qi Refining Layer 5.

"Senior Brother Han, the junior sisters have been waiting for you for a long time."

"Quickly, come in."

Han Yi's mouth twitched wildly at those words.

Why did Chen Yujin's words make it sound as though he were going to a pleasure house to listen to music?

And the one-against-many kind, at that.

Han Yi shook his head, banishing the wild thoughts from his mind, then followed the impatient Chen Yujin into the room.

Inside the room.

Numerous female cultivators were already waiting. There were roughly thirty of them, all at Qi Refining Layer 4 or Qi Refining Layer 5. Not a single female cultivator at Qi Refining Layer 6 was in sight.

"Oh, right, Senior Brother Han. This time, you have to bring out more pills and give the junior sisters a larger share."

Chen Yujin was equally beautiful, and her voice was soft and sweet, making people unconsciously sink into it.

Beyond her appearance, her figure was also exceptional. As she walked ahead of Han Yi, her graceful waist swayed from side to side, deeply alluring.

Han Yi had been about to nod when he suddenly stiffened.

(End of chapter)