It was precisely because of this change that he dared to come to Star Luo City.
Without lingering, he stepped into the city. After making a few inquiries, he headed straight for the Starlight Auction House.
"I have a major deal to discuss. Take me to see your manager."
After speaking to a red-dressed woman in charge of reception, Yang Hao planned to make a little money first.
Over the past six months, aside from cultivating and getting used to the Soul-Devouring Spider Leg Bone, he had been studying the Soul Tool system. With the Soul Bone Skill Metal Control, he could mass-produce a type of Melee Soul Tool.
He had used all the money he'd gotten from the Storage Soul Tools of Tai Wuji and the others to buy materials, then made a large number of Melee Soul Tools.
Next, he needed to buy a few things here, which would take quite a bit of money.
"Miss, are you looking to sell something? Could I take a look at the items you want to sell first, so I can give them an initial appraisal?"
The woman in red smiled professionally. The Starlight Auction House didn't just sell auction items; it bought them, too.
"This is a spear-type Melee Soul Tool. It's sharp and sturdy, and the shaft is made entirely of Iron Essence, with Black-Veined Iron wrapped around the spearhead and blade. It's only a Level One Soul Tool, but its piercing power and sharpness are enough to go head-to-head with a Level Three Melee Soul Tool. There are ten thousand of them."
He took out a spear three meters and sixty centimeters long and handed it over. This was the result of Yang Hao's work over the past six months.
The template for this Soul Tool came from a Level One Soul Tool short sword he'd found among those people's Storage Soul Tools. Once infused with Soul Power, it could increase the blade's sharpness and strength.
After studying and comprehending the Soul Tool textbooks, he mastered the Soul Guidance Array in this Soul Tool. Then he used the Soul Bone Skill Metal Control to make them in bulk—or, more accurately, to copy and print them.
Fortunately, the Soul Guidance Core of this Soul Tool was made of Black-Veined Iron, which he could control with Metal Control. That was what made mass production possible.
The Soul Skill Metal Control was practically a cheat code for making Soul Tools. At the Soul Fighting Tournament, Xiao Hongchen had used metal powder to rapidly form the bodies of one hundred and twenty-eight Soul Guidance Cannons.
The main reason he'd chosen this spear-type Melee Soul Tool was that its design was simple. It needed neither an outer nor an inner shell; he only had to use his Soul Bone Skill to purify molten iron and cast the shaft, then add the Soul Guidance Core.
Though it was only a Level One Soul Guidance Core, it worked well and consumed little power. Even a Soul Scholar could activate it, making it ideal for equipping a Soul Engineer Legion.
A single weapon was retail. In bulk, it was an arms deal—and arms were a lucrative business in any world.
That was why he'd come to sell them at the Starlight Auction House, which had ties to the Star Luo Imperial Family.
The Star Luo Imperial Family was badly weakened at the moment and needed strength to arm itself more than ever. A Soul Engineer Legion would be a formidable force.
You have a need and money; I have arms and need money. A match made in heaven.
Chapter 8: Plotting for the Gold of Life
"Clang—"
"Fine spear!"
The woman in red took out a short knife and tapped the shaft. A long, resonant hum rang out, and she praised it.
A hum like that proved the shaft was well made, without cracks, impurities, or other flaws. It would also better conduct force and Soul Power.
The shaft bore patterns like Dragon Scales. They provided an effective grip and looked beautiful, making it seem like a work of art. Carving such scale patterns was no easy feat; it was undoubtedly the work of a master.
She then infused it with Soul Power, and a thin energy blade immediately appeared along the spearhead.
After examining it, she swung the short knife at the spear.
Metal clashed against metal. The spearhead was unharmed, but the blade of her short knife had been notched. That short knife was a Level Two Soul Tool.
"Miss, please follow me."
Having confirmed the spear's effects, the woman in red respectfully led the way and took Yang Hao to the manager's office.
The manager first took the spear and examined it, confirming its effects before speaking.
"I'm Li Ming, manager of the Starlight Auction House. Miss, do you have ten thousand spears like this to sell to our auction house?
"Would you like to sell them at a set price, or put them up for auction?"
It was only a Level One Soul Tool, so he wouldn't have given a single one a second glance. But ten thousand was a different matter.
They meant little to ordinary Soul Masters, but to a Spirit Master Legion, they were genuine divine weapons.
Most of the Soul Masters in the empire's legions were of average aptitude. Most were One-Ring Soul Masters or Two-Ring Soul Grandmasters. Equipping them with these Soul Tool spears would surely raise their strength considerably.
And it wasn't just the value of the weapons. Their production capacity meant the force behind this deal had to be substantial, and skilled in making Soul Tools. That was worth taking seriously.
"I know the Starlight Auction House has the backing of the imperial family. That's why I chose to come here. I'll sell them at a set price."
"They're all in here. Though they're only Level One Soul Tools, that's an advantage: they're easy to use and consume little power, making them perfect for equipping a Spirit Master Legion.
"Three thousand Gold Soul Coins apiece. If you accept that price, have them inspected."
Yang Hao nodded, making it clear he knew about the connection between the Starlight Auction House and the Star Luo Imperial Family. Then he took ten large chests out of his Storage Soul Tool.
Though he'd spent the past six months learning about Soul Tools at a rapid pace, with his comprehension boosted as if he'd activated a cheat, this was the only Soul Guidance Core he'd actually made with his Soul Bone Skill Metal Control. After more than ten thousand tries, he'd long since become proficient. That was how he'd managed to make ten thousand spears.
"If they're all this well made, we can accept the price of three thousand Gold Soul Coins."
Li Ming looked at the ten large chests, considered the offer, and finally agreed.
Though they were only Level One Soul Tools, and Melee Soul Tools cost less than ranged Soul Tools, the value of a Soul Tool wasn't determined solely by its level. This was especially true for Melee Soul Tools, where the materials mattered a great deal. They had to withstand the impact of close combat, so they needed greater durability.
And this spear was made with plenty of material.
The entire thing was forged from Iron Essence. On the local market, Iron Essence currently cost twenty Gold Soul Coins per kilogram. This spear weighed twenty kilograms, making the Iron Essence alone worth four hundred Gold Soul Coins.
And that wasn't all. The Iron Essence in this spear was highly pure, giving it better conductivity for Soul Power and greater strength. It could be used to fight Soul Elders and even Soul Ancestors.
Iron Essence of such purity would cost at least twice as much—eight hundred Gold Soul Coins.
On top of that, the spearhead and blade were wrapped with Black-Veined Iron, which cost even more. The work was flawless, too. All told, the materials alone cost more than a thousand Gold Soul Coins.
The Soul Guidance Core also converted Soul Power very efficiently. It was undoubtedly the work of a master.
Add in the material for the Soul Guidance Core and the forging and processing costs of the shaft, and three thousand Gold Soul Coins wasn't too expensive.
Most important was the quantity: a full ten thousand spears, enough to outfit an entire ten-thousand-strong Spirit Master Legion.
And he'd made it clear that he knew the Starlight Auction House was connected to the imperial family. It was obvious these special spears had been made specifically for the imperial family. That in itself was a show of goodwill.
The Starlight Auction House and the imperial family treated capable friends who came with good intentions with courtesy.
Seeing that the manager had agreed to buy them, the woman in red silently stepped forward, put the ten large chests into her Storage Soul Tool, and left the office to arrange for them to be inspected one by one.
"Miss, is there anything you'd like to buy? Our Starlight Auction House is the largest in the empire and has many treasures. We're holding an auction in a month. You're welcome to come take a look; perhaps there'll be something you like."
As he spoke, Li Ming took out a gold-embossed invitation and a VIP card, then held them out with both hands. Someone like this was no ordinary person. He had to befriend her.
"I do need a few things. Here's the list."
Yang Hao accepted the invitation and VIP card, then took out a list he'd written earlier and handed it over.
He hadn't made this batch of spears solely to sell them for money. His main goal was to buy a few things.
For example, Mystic Water Pills, Whale Rubber, Soul Bones, Soul Tools, and the Spirit-Devouring Engraving Knife.
Mystic Water Pills had mild medicinal properties and were easy to absorb. They could greatly increase Soul Power, cleanse the meridians and marrow, and improve one's aptitude.
They should help repair the damage to his meridians, at least allowing them to recover somewhat.
There was no need to explain the Spirit-Devouring Engraving Knife. Its true nature was Gold of Life, an absolute treasure.
It wouldn't appear at auction for several years, but he remembered that in the original story it had failed to sell many times. The curse on it meant that no one who used it met a good end, and even keeping it in storage was dangerous, so it never sold.
Its starting price had also fallen from three hundred thousand Gold Soul Coins to a hundred thousand. If Electrolux hadn't recognized that the item was actually Gold of Life, it would have failed to sell again and sunk back into obscurity.
"Ranked Carving Knives!"
Li Ming took the list and read it carefully. The first item was a Ranked Carving Knife.
"What a coincidence. Our auction house just acquired one."
His smile grew broader. He loved customers with deep pockets.
"As for Mystic Water Pills, no problem. Their market price starts at ten thousand Gold Soul Coins, but I can authorize selling you three at the starting price.
"As for Whale Rubber, I'll sell you some century-old pieces at the starting price. The thousand-year and ten-thousand-year varieties will have to wait for the auction a month from now. The rest of the items will also have to be auctioned."
After talking with Li Ming for a while, the woman in red returned with a Gold Soul Card and the Mystic Water Pills and Whale Rubber Yang Hao had requested.
"I also have some shields and battle swords. I hope they'll do well at the auction a month from now."
Yang Hao took out a square shield and a battle sword and set them on the desk. Before the other man could speak, he turned and left.
Li Ming froze for a moment, then hurriedly picked up the square shield to inspect it.
It was a standard large shield, one and a half meters tall, with two broad spikes at the bottom. They could be driven into the ground to help secure it, or used to charge and stab.
It also came with a support brace to keep the shield steady. Braced in place, it could withstand even a cavalry charge.
There were clasps on both sides, clearly designed to connect it to other shields and form a shield wall.
It was substantial, too, weighing a full hundred kilograms. Inside was a Soul Guidance Core that reinforced it in the same way. Infusing it with Soul Power could strengthen the shield and sharpen the spikes at the bottom.
The battle sword was no worse, made from the same quality materials as the spear.
This was clearly made for legion warfare. Combined with the spears from earlier, it could form complete combat units and then be arranged into large battle formations.
Meanwhile, after leaving the Starlight Auction House, Yang Hao made sure no one was following him, put on a long robe sprayed with perfume, and pulled the hood low over his head. After taking a few turns, he went to the materials market and bought a large amount of Iron Essence ore and Black-Veined Iron ore, filling all the large Storage Soul Tools he'd bought specifically for the purpose.
Soul Bones were expensive, especially at auction. He had to save up more money.
He changed into men's clothes, left the city, and entered a stretch of barren hills. Beside a small stream, he built a simple treehouse.
After making sure everything was safe nearby, Yang Hao swallowed a Mystic Water Pill. Its mild medicinal power entered his bloodstream and flowed through his body, cleansing his meridians and marrow.
The medicine's blue power turned into mist that flowed through his pores, drawing out impurities. His Soul Power also began to increase.
His Soul Power had long since reached level ten through meditation. Though he was stuck at that level, the amount continued to grow.
It was like God King Tang, who'd been stuck at level ten for a long time. After absorbing his First Soul Ring and breaking through the bottleneck, his Soul Power shot straight to level thirteen. Part of that came from all the cultivation he'd accumulated.
Tai Wushuang had been the same. He had Innate Full Soul Power, and although three years of painstakingly cultivating the Mysterious Heaven Skill hadn't let him break through, his Soul Power reserves were still considerable—comparable to those of a level-twenty Soul Master. That was one of the main reasons he could withstand the impact of a Thousand-Year Soul Ring.
Four hours passed before the Mystic Water Pill's medicinal power was finally exhausted, and Yang Hao stopped cultivating his Soul Power.
"It really does work."
Feeling his meridians recover, Yang Hao was quite satisfied.
Though only a little had healed, it was far more effective than simply circulating Soul Power to nourish them.
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