Six hundred Low-grade Spirit Stones!
How many days would it have taken Wei Suo to earn that much in the past? Even now, at his rate of refining thirty Fireball Talismans a day, without even counting the cost of Fire Scorpion Blood, he could only make fifteen Low-grade Spirit Stones a day.
For most ordinary Rogue Cultivators, three or four hundred Low-grade Spirit Stones would probably be enough to make them kill and set fires. They might even be willing to play male prostitutes in Liuxia Alley once.
But this piece of cold jade was not entirely his. He could only get a quarter of it. If only he had been thick-skinned enough to take it all back then.
Thinking that, Wei Suo began feeling a little sorry for Lin Daoyi again.
A Fifth Level of Sea of Consciousness Realm cultivator like Lin Daoyi had tried to rob them simply for the three Ice Silk Spiders and the belongings on the four of them. If everything they carried, along with this piece of cold jade, had fallen into Lin Daoyi's hands, he would truly have struck it rich. With at least a thousand Low-grade Spirit Stones in hand, perhaps he might even have become a formidable figure on Tianxuan Continent someday. But by some cruel twist of fate, Lin Daoyi had run into Wei Suo, who was carrying a pile of Fireball Talismans and worrying about how to use them. It was hard to say whether that had been fortune or misfortune.
"What do you think?" Snapping back to his senses, Wei Suo turned to ask Nangong Xueqing, Ye Xiaozheng, and Ye Guowei. Having just made a windfall and still able to think of ways to refine talismans, Wei Suo was in no immediate need of Spirit Stones. Naturally, he could wait for the auction; the higher the price, the better.
"I don't mind. I've always stayed in Lingyue City anyway, so waiting a few more days makes no difference." Nangong Yuqing shrugged and glanced at Ye Xiaozheng and Ye Guowei. "What do you think, Brother Ye and Sister Ye?"
"Let Brother Wei Suo decide. We'll listen to him," Ye Xiaozheng said without even thinking.
This big fellow really is honest and loyal. Wei Suo's favorable impression of Ye Xiaozheng immediately rose again. After nodding, he said to Shopkeeper Tian, "In that case, we'll leave this piece of cold jade to your Golden Jade Pavilion for auction."
"Then please wait a moment." Shopkeeper Tian called over a young man in brocade robes who had been waiting at his side and gave him several quiet instructions. He seemed quite pleased with this outcome. After all, Golden Jade Pavilion specialized in all kinds of materials for refining artifacts. If such a large piece of cold jade were sold through Golden Jade Pavilion, it would invisibly enhance the pavilion's reputation. For a merchant like Golden Jade Pavilion, that was far more important than earning a few extra Spirit Stones.
After the brocade-robed youth hurried out, he returned only moments later, carrying a red sandalwood tray.
The moment Wei Suo, who was holding a cup of tea, saw the tray in his hands, he nearly swallowed the teacup whole.
Spirit Stones!
Sixty smooth, lustrous Spirit Stones were neatly arranged on the red sandalwood tray carried by the Golden Jade Pavilion youth. Every one of those sixty Spirit Stones was a Mid-grade Spirit Stone, still a rare sight in Wei Suo's eyes, glimmering with a pale yellow radiance.
"What is this?" Ye Xiaozheng was also stunned and looked at Shopkeeper Tian in confusion.
"The reason Golden Jade Pavilion stands head and shoulders above the rest in Lingyue City is our reputation," Shopkeeper Tian explained with some pride. "By Golden Jade Pavilion's rules, since the reserve price is six hundred Low-grade Spirit Stones, even if this piece of cold jade ultimately fails to sell, Golden Jade Pavilion will purchase it for six hundred Low-grade Spirit Stones. We will advance this portion first. If it sells at auction, the remaining Spirit Stones will be paid immediately after the auction ends."
Golden Jade Pavilion really knows how to do business. This means that even by attending an auction, one can get money quickly. Of course people would prefer doing business with such merchants. No wonder Golden Jade Pavilion has grown so large. As Wei Suo thought this, he noticed that aside from the sixty tempting Mid-grade Spirit Stones that made his eyes shine, there was also a red jade plaque marked with the character "Four" on the red sandalwood tray. The entire plaque was carved with exquisite, dazzling patterns of evergreen flowers. "What's this?" Since he was already pretending to be a country bumpkin anyway, Wei Suo simply thickened his skin and asked directly.
"This is an admission token for the auction. The marking indicates that up to four people may enter. You can attend and see how much the item you entrusted for auction—this piece of cold jade—actually sells for, without paying any additional entry fee." Shopkeeper Tian patiently explained, "Of course, after entering, you may also bid on other items. However, these admission jade tokens are not easy to make, so you must keep it safe. It must be returned after the auction ends, otherwise it is worth ten Low-grade Spirit Stones. As for when the auction begins, it will be announced in many places throughout Lingyue City. As long as you pay a little attention, you will certainly find out."
"Golden Jade Pavilion truly is beyond comparison with ordinary merchants." Wei Suo knew that attending an auction normally required a fee of at least two Low-grade Spirit Stones. Hearing that he could attend one for free put him in an even better mood, and he promptly began flattering Shopkeeper Tian.
"Not at all, not at all. We only hope that if you come across such fine goods in the future, you will bring them to Golden Jade Pavilion to sell. Golden Jade Pavilion will certainly not let you suffer a loss." Shopkeeper Tian was greatly pleased by the praise, stroking his beard with a smile. Both sides could be said to have gone home happy. After exchanging a few more meaningless pleasantries, Wei Suo, Nangong Yuqing, Ye Xiaozheng, and Ye Guowei left Golden Jade Pavilion.
Fifteen tempting Mid-grade Spirit Stones went into Wei Suo's pocket.
Since Ye Xiaozheng and Ye Guowei were in a hurry to return to Luoyue City, Wei Suo and Nangong Yuqing bid a reluctant farewell to the honest big fellow and the beautiful Ye Guowei at Tianyi Sect's Teleportation Array in the south of the city.
"Brother Wei Suo, there aren't many people like you these days. I'm definitely making you my friend... If you have time in the future, remember to come to Luoyue City and find me..."
"Brother Ye, come visit Lingyue City more often. Once you leave, I'll definitely miss you..."
The farewell scene was as moving as could be, and as sickeningly mushy as could be.
If the Green Robe Old Man, who knew Wei Suo somewhat, had been there to see it, he would surely have scratched his head bald in bafflement. Given Wei Suo's personality, the moment he was done speaking, he ought to have rushed straight home to count the Spirit Stones he had earned. How could he possibly cherish one another and part so reluctantly with Ye Xiaozheng, whom he had known for only a day, as though they were ironclad brothers who had known each other for more than a decade?
But if the Green Robe Old Man had seen what happened next, his vision would surely have gone black, and he would have understood why Wei Suo was being so enthusiastic.
Ye Xiaozheng held Wei Suo's hand, and after the two grew ever more emotionally attached through their conversation, Wei Suo and Ye Xiaozheng embraced with utter abandon. Then, with tears brimming in his eyes, Wei Suo very naturally hugged Ye Guowei too... They had all lived and died together, brothers and sisters tested through hardship. Surely he could not favor one over another...
"Enjoying yourself, taking advantage of that young girl?" As Ye Xiaozheng and Ye Guowei vanished into the spiritual light of the Teleportation Array, Nangong Yuqing suddenly smiled at Wei Suo outside the hall where Tianyi Sect had placed the Teleportation Array.
"Huh? Taking advantage of what?" Nangong Yuqing's expression made Wei Suo's face heat up, but he immediately put on an expression of complete innocence.
"Join our Tie Ce." Nangong Yuqing smiled and suddenly said this to Wei Suo.
"Join Tie Ce?" Wei Suo froze.
"With my recommendation, there definitely won't be a problem." Nangong Yuqing looked at Wei Suo. "Our Tie Ce is merely an organization of Rogue Cultivators, not a sect with all sorts of restrictions. But once you join Tie Ce, you can receive Tie Ce's protection, and there are still many benefits."
In Nangong Yuqing's eyes, Wei Suo should not have refused her offer. After all, most Rogue Cultivators in Lingyue City wanted to join an organization like Tie Ce. Yet to Nangong Yuqing's surprise, Wei Suo almost immediately shook his head. "Forget it. Thank you for your kind intentions, but I still feel freer like this."
What kind of person is this fellow, exactly?
Watching Wei Suo's retreating back, Nangong Yuqing recalled how he had peeked through the gap in her soft armor, thinking she had not noticed. She could not help blushing slightly even as she smiled bitterly.
A moment later, Nangong Yuqing looked at the red jade plaque marked with a "Four" in her hand, and a faint, enchanting smile appeared at the corner of her lips again. "Wei Suo, I'll definitely find out what kind of fellow you really are."
(Another update. Starting tomorrow, I'll try to update at fixed times.)
Before you continue