Blood Linglong

Chen Lie nodded, understanding the shopkeeper's intent.

"This young brother, this humble one is Yang Shen. May I ask your honorable name?"

Once the shopkeeper regained his composure, his expression shifted instantly, turning from his previous impatience to something rather fawning.

"Chen Lie."

"Young Brother Chen, where might you be from?" Yang Shen asked.

"There is no need for you to inquire about my background. As I said, I only wish to discuss a business deal with you. Tell me, how many blank crystal cards do you have in total?"

Yang Shen replied immediately, "I have twenty blank crystal cards here, which makes ten sets."

Chen Lie nodded and asked, "Are these blank crystal cards difficult to obtain?"

"They are not easy to come by. Lingfeng Group maintains strict control over blank crystal cards. I have been in the crystal card trade for over ten years, and it was only through some special circumstances that I managed to accumulate these twenty." Yang Shen explained.

"Then, if it were a set of Void-Breaking Fist crystal cards, how many Star Dollars could you sell them for?" Chen Lie asked.

Yang Shen pondered for a moment before saying, "Definitely over 50,000 Star Dollars. Because Void-Breaking Fist is a martial art promoted in all the high school martial arts departments across Dongchuan Province, it is a high-demand, best-selling item. Once it hits the market, it is usually snatched up within a few days."

"If that is the case, why don't you stock more Void-Breaking Fist crystal cards?"

Yang Shen gave a bitter laugh. "I can't get my hands on them. I am just a small distributor. The Divine Sense Masters don't really bother crafting Void-Breaking Fist crystal cards; perhaps they look down on such small change. Never mind me—even many of the large distributors in Dongchuan Province likely don't have any Void-Breaking Fist crystal cards."

"Is that so?"

Chen Lie thought back to his three years in the general high school class, where he practiced Void-Breaking Fist more than anything else. It was clear that these crystal cards were indeed a hot commodity.

"Bring me those twenty blank crystal cards. I will use my divine sense to engrave the Void-Breaking Fist for you. We will split the 50,000 Star Dollars per set fifty-fifty. How does that sound?"

"That would be absolutely wonderful!"

Upon hearing this, Yang Shen felt a jolt in his heart. He hurriedly rummaged through his counter and pulled out a box that looked quite old.

When he opened it, he suddenly fell silent.

"This..."

Seeing Yang Shen like this, Chen Lie couldn't help but ask, "What is the matter?"

Yang Shen said with some annoyance, "Void-Breaking Fist is a D-grade martial art, and these blank crystal cards of mine are for Combat Arts—the lowest grade of material for manufacturing crystal cards. They cannot support the engraving of a D-grade martial art."

"Eh? That's not right!"

Yang Shen suddenly thought of something and immediately said, "You just said that you engraved a C-grade martial art onto this crystal card?"

Chen Lie nodded. If Cloud Shadow Steps were to be classified as a C-grade martial art, it would certainly be at the very pinnacle of that grade; if calculated carefully, it was almost enough to qualify as a semi-B-grade martial art.

"How is that possible? I just gave you a blank crystal card for a D-grade martial art. How could you use it to carry a C-grade martial art?"

"Oh, so that's how it is. No wonder the first crystal card I tried to infuse with divine sense suddenly shattered. It was because the material wasn't up to standard."

Hearing this, Chen Lie finally realized what had happened. He picked up a transparent crystal card from the old box, channeled his divine sense, and began to infuse it with his energy, thread by thread.

Because the material was substandard, Chen Lie's manipulation of his divine sense was extremely delicate, for fear that one careless move would cause the crystal card to shatter again.

In just half a minute, the crystal card in Chen Lie's hand turned from transparent to a bright yellow.

"This crystal card is finished."

As he spoke, Chen Lie handed the now-bright yellow crystal card to Yang Shen.

"This... the material isn't up to standard, how did you manage this?"

Yang Shen was incredulous.

"My manipulation technique is simply precise."

Chen Lie picked up another blank crystal card and carefully infused it with his divine sense; the transparent card gradually turned bright yellow.

Although Chen Lie's tone was light, he was certain that this method of delicate divine sense manipulation was something the Divine Sense Masters of Blue Star could never achieve.

After about ten minutes, all twenty blank crystal cards had been infused with the divine sense of the Void-Breaking Fist martial art.

"Ten sets of crystal cards, 50,000 Star Dollars per set. We split it fifty-fifty, so you only need to give me 250,000 Star Dollars. To compensate for the D-grade crystal card I broke earlier, you can just give me 200,000 Star Dollars."

"How could I do that?"

Yang Shen hurriedly said, "Young Brother Chen, you are being too much of a stranger to this old brother. That was just an experiment; I couldn't possibly count the cost against you. Let's not even mention that broken card."

"You are a Divine Sense Master, and the production of martial arts crystal cards relies entirely on you. You should rightfully take the larger share. For this deal, you take 300,000 Star Dollars—not a single cent less."

He knew the difference between being full for one meal and being full for a lifetime. As a small-time vendor of crystal cards, why would he deserve an equal split with a Divine Sense Master?

Only by letting the Divine Sense Master take the larger share could there be a chance for future cooperation. Otherwise, if the man felt even the slightest bit of displeasure, he could kick him to the curb with a single move.

"Fine."

Chen Lie nodded and stared at Yang Shen.

Yang Shen reacted immediately and hurriedly took out a Star Dollar card, handing it to Chen Lie.

"Young Brother Chen, I happen to have a 300,000 Star Dollar open-access card here. You can take it and spend it directly; there is no password. My contact number is on the back of the card. Would you like to take note of it, Young Brother Chen?"

Chen Lie took the Star Dollar card and put it in his pocket. He asked Yang Shen for paper and a pen and wrote down his contact number.

"This is my contact number. If you get a blank crystal card, contact me anytime."

"Okay, okay!"

Yang Shen nodded repeatedly.

With the Star Dollar card in hand, Chen Lie immediately prepared to leave. Yang Shen, with his keen eyesight, saw Chen Lie off outside the store.

After leaving the Psionic Crystal Card sales point, Chen Lie thought that since he was already in the Martial Artist Market and now possessed a huge sum of 300,000 Star Dollars, he might as well take a look around.

He arrived at the most prosperous central area of the market and saw a very large building. Above the building was a huge sign that read "Martial Student Department Store."

Chen Lie walked into the building.

As soon as he entered, several beautiful female receptionists came to greet him.

"Welcome, sir. What can I help you with?"

Chen Lie asked, "Is there anything that can significantly increase my blood and qi?"

"May I ask, sir, what stage is your blood and qi at, and what is your acceptable price range?"

"Three digits for blood and qi, not exceeding 300,000 Star Dollars."

Chen Lie said. His blood and qi increase didn't conform to Blue Star's standards, so he naturally reported a higher number.

When the receptionist heard that Chen Lie's blood and qi were already in the three digits, her expression immediately became much more respectful.

"Sir, please follow me."

The receptionist led Chen Lie to a counter and began to explain.

"Sir, this is High-Grade Blood Essence Fluid. It's suitable for those whose blood and qi have just broken into the three digits. After taking it and training for a few days, your blood and qi can increase by about 4-5 cards. The price is 280,000 Star Dollars."

After the receptionist finished her explanation, Chen Lie shook his head. This item was too low in cost-effectiveness for him.

Seeing this, the receptionist led Chen Lie to another counter and began to introduce it.

"Sir, the items in this counter are Essence Nourishing Spirit Liquid. It's usually used by martial artists, but those whose blood and qi have broken a hundred can also use it. It's just not as easily absorbed as High-Grade Blood Essence Fluid. It can increase blood and qi by 5-7 cards and costs 298,000 Star Dollars."

Chen Lie still shook his head at this.

"This..."

The receptionist was at a loss for what to do.

"How about this, just recommend me things that can maximize the increase in blood and qi. You don't need to consider ease of absorption," Chen Lie said.

"Alright."

The receptionist nodded and led Chen Lie to another counter.

"This is a fifty-year-old spirit herb called Blood Linglong. Because its medicinal power is too strong and overbearing, it cannot be taken alone. Under normal circumstances, it's used as the main ingredient for Spirit Herb Beast Meat Meal and diluted before use. Therefore, it's difficult for me to determine how much blood and qi Blood Linglong can increase.

However, as far as I know, one whole Blood Linglong can be used to make three Spirit Herb Beast Meat Meals. Many martial students whose blood and qi have long broken a hundred can increase their blood and qi by at least a dozen cards after consuming a whole Blood Linglong.

This Blood Linglong is priced at exactly 300,000 Star Dollars."

"Good, I'll take it. Swipe my card!"

Chen Lie's eyes lit up when he saw Blood Linglong and he immediately made up his mind.

He handed the Star Dollar card to the receptionist.

The receptionist took the Star Dollar card, went to the front desk, swiped it for 300,000 Star Dollars, then ran back and gave the card to Chen Lie. She placed the Blood Linglong in a gift box, along with a delicate handbag, and handed it to Chen Lie.

"Sir, here is the Blood Linglong you requested."

"Mm."

Chen Lie nodded, took the Blood Linglong, and then turned to leave the mall.

"Please come again, sir. We welcome your next visit."

The receptionist bowed towards Chen Lie's retreating back.

After leaving the "Martial Student Department Store," Chen Lie saw that it was still early and decided to wander around the market again, wanting to see if there was anything else he might need in the future.

However, after a round, he found nothing, so he could only leave the market with the Blood Linglong.

Chen Lie understood spirit herbs extremely well. The energy contained within a fifty-year-old Blood Linglong could definitely increase his blood and qi severalfold.

Spirit herbs of this age were best consumed raw. If cooked, their medicinal properties would certainly be discounted. After being diluted in the broth of a Spirit Herb Beast Meat Meal, perhaps less than half of the medicinal properties would be utilized, and the medicinal effect would become very mild.

However, Chen Lie didn't need a mild medicinal effect; he needed the medicinal energy of Blood Linglong to be as potent as possible, so he decided to eat it raw.

After leaving the Martial Artist Market, Chen Lie took a flying bus directly to Dongchuan Martial Arts Hall.

About half an hour later, Chen Lie got off the flying bus and arrived outside the gates of Dongchuan Martial Arts Hall.

He walked into the training ground on the second floor of Dongchuan Martial Arts Hall and once again encountered Lu Qingchan.

At this moment, Lu Qingchan was still accompanied by the same beautiful girl he had met last time.

Lu Qingchan had clearly seen Chen Lie as well, but this time, she didn't greet him proactively. Instead, she pretended not to see him and shifted her gaze elsewhere.