Ten Thousand Library Points

"First of all, I naturally heard that our Eastspirit has produced another outstanding talent..."

Ding Feng exchanged pleasantries with a smile, only to see the youth across from him resting a hand on his sword hilt, his eyes half-closed as though he had already drifted into sleep. He immediately realized that the other party disliked such talk.

He hurriedly changed the subject.

"I heard that you made a deal with the Four Seas Chamber of Commerce, Young Master. May I ask what price they offered?"

Ding Feng tested the waters. "It is not that I, Old Ding, am bragging, but whether in goods, prices, or delivery speed, our Brocade Dragon Chamber of Commerce is far superior. We certainly will not let you suffer a loss."

"You may go out and ask around, Young Master. The prices Old Ding gives his friends are never a bit lower than anyone else's."

Jiang Ding smiled. "What rumors did Manager Ding hear?"

Yet a shadow had fallen over his heart.

A treasure like a breakthrough pill had indeed attracted the covetous eyes of the native powers.

"Something about breakthrough pills?"

Ding Feng probed, "I know Long San. He is also an old friend. For all these years, he had remained at the minor Inner Qi stage, unable to advance any further. How could he suddenly break through after visiting you, Young Master? He must have encountered a tremendous opportunity."

"Coupled with the Four Seas Chamber of Commerce making such large moves and giving up so many benefits, it is difficult not to make the connection."

"Young Master Jiang."

He said solemnly, "No matter how much the Four Seas Chamber of Commerce offers, or what they offer, our Brocade Dragon Chamber of Commerce is willing to pay double!"

Jiang Ding said nothing.

He was currently very satisfied with the Four Seas Chamber of Commerce's work. They delivered over ten thousand pairs of Blueglow Butterflies every day, and with Great Opening Mountain as their base, the rate at which specimens were collected had greatly increased. So far, the two sides had worked together quite pleasantly.

As for twice the price, that was even more laughable.

The Four Seas Chamber of Commerce was a major merchant association spanning the entire Yue Kingdom. It was merely at a disadvantage within Eastspirit Prefecture. Other than some gold and silver, what qualifications did the Brocade Dragon Chamber of Commerce have to claim it could pay double any price?

No matter how much gold and silver he had, what use was it besides exchanging it for some mortal currency whose origins could not be explained?

"My elders taught me that one must not abandon integrity."

Jiang Ding lifted his teacup. "Besides, the Void-Breaking Pills given to me by my elders have already been promised to the Four Seas Chamber of Commerce. Manager Ding, please leave."

In truth, giving the other side one or two pills to placate them would not have been a problem. One could never have too many Blueglow Butterflies.

But he had already revealed enough. One merchant association was fine, but if there were two, would people begin to suspect that he possessed a large supply of breakthrough pills?

Even the slightest possibility would be enough to drive people mad and draw endless wolves and jackals.

Ding Feng's expression darkened.

However, he did not doubt the truth of the elders Jiang Ding had mentioned. How precious were Inner Qi breakthrough pills, and how difficult were they to refine? Only a very few powers, such as the Three Sects and the imperial family, had always been capable of refining them.

A youth of sixteen or seventeen could not possibly do it.

"If you change your mind, Young Master, you may send someone to inform Old Ding."

Ding Feng reluctantly clasped his hands in farewell and departed.

Jiang Ding set down his teacup.

"Steward Huang!"

"Boss..."

Huang Deyou hurried over, his face filled with unease.

He knew how much Jiang Ding valued the specimens, but with the renowned head of the Brocade Dragon Chamber of Commerce arriving in person, how could he have dared to stop him?

"Clean this place up and reopen as soon as possible," Jiang Ding said calmly. "Apologize properly to our regular customers. Today's purchase price will be doubled."

He paused, pointing at the Eight Immortals table, brocade tablecloth, and other items.

"Sell all of these. Donate the money to the widowed, orphaned, and destitute in the city."

"Yes, Boss!"

Not long afterward, Long San hurried over while escorting two cartloads of Blueglow Butterflies.

"Young Master Jiang, that Ding Feng from the Brocade Dragon Chamber of Commerce..." Long San hesitated.

"Manager Long, our cooperation will not change." Jiang Ding waved a hand. "However, I need Blueglow Butterflies in sufficient quantities and delivered on schedule. There cannot be any problems with that. Do you understand?"

"I understand."

Long San said solemnly, "Rest assured, Young Master. My clan's granduncle, Long Zhengwu, has reached perfected Inner Qi and is currently stationed at Eastspirit Mountain. From now on, he will gather several Blueglow Butterfly transport teams together and personally lead the chamber's elites in escorting them."

"Furthermore, our chamber is on good terms with the major powers in the city. If necessary, we can use money to open the way, and they can lend us some assistance as well."

"The Brocade Dragon Chamber of Commerce cannot turn the skies upside down!"

Jiang Ding nodded. "It is good as long as you are confident."

After speaking, he finished counting the goods and took out a jade-green bottle, handing it to Long San. This was the second one, meaning that three hundred thousand pairs of Blueglow Butterflies had already been purchased.

"Young Master, you are truly generous."

Delight appeared on Long San's face. He hurriedly took his leave, intending to make arrangements at once and avoid any oversights.

Jiang Ding cultivated for a while, then packed the Blueglow Butterflies into specimen mesh bags. After that, he hoisted piles of already replaced specimen boxes onto his shoulders, and his figure vanished.

After waiting in the room for a while.

Chirp, chirp!

A kingfisher dispelled its invisibility and flew in through the window, followed by a second, slightly smaller one.

Without wasting words, they expertly picked up the Blueglow Butterflies and specimens from the mesh bags, cast spells to shrink them, turned invisible, and flapped away.

Jiang Ding sat cross-legged on the bed and cultivated. More than an hour later, his phone began vibrating from time to time.

[Library Points: 9542]

[Library Points: 9580]

His points rose rapidly. Before long, they crossed the threshold and reached 10012.

"Ten thousand points."

Jiang Ding was excited, then gradually calmed down and continued cultivating, nourishing and tempering the tiny branch meridians of his twelve primary meridians. He did not fall into a deep sleep until two in the morning.

The next day, when the dismissal bell rang, Jiang Ding dashed out of school and took the bus to the library.

Breathing in the scent of books, Jiang Ding went alone to a private reading room, logged into his Immortal Gate Library account, and checked his Library Points.

"Array Spirit, I want to derive the Great Sun Sword Scripture—Seed-Sword Tempering Art. Derivation direction: adapted for my personal cultivation," Jiang Ding said in a deep voice.

"Will you consume ten thousand Library Points to derive the Great Sun Sword Scripture—Seed-Sword Tempering Art?"

The Array Spirit's distinctive mechanical voice sounded.

"Confirm."

A blue beam projected from the computer in the reading room and carefully scanned Jiang Ding from head to toe, obtaining data on his meridians, muscles, bones, and more. It also accessed the database and retrieved all his experiences since beginning cultivation at school, his academic performance, areas of expertise, interests, and hobbies.

"Derivation in progress. Estimated time required: 3:34:23."

What was being used now was merely the Banyan City Array-Spirit Computer, so it could not complete the derivation instantly.

Jiang Ding was not in a hurry. He sat cross-legged and cultivated, quietly waiting for the moment the derivation was complete.

More than three hours later.

Ding!

Jiang Ding opened his eyes and found that the derivation progress on the computer screen had finished. Displayed there was an image of a dark-blue thread-bound book, its title—

<Great Sun Sword Scripture—Seed-Sword Tempering Art (Jiang Ding Edition)>.

"Ding! You have contributed a new book to the Immortal Gate Library. You have been awarded 124 Library Points."

This was an unalterable program. No matter what knowledge it was, it belonged collectively to the Immortal Gate.

Jiang Ding's face stiffened in embarrassment. "Change the name. Use Edition 21."

He had taken a shortcut; he did not dare use such a name.

"Name already in use. Cannot be used."

Jiang Ding froze, then immediately understood. Ten thousand Library Points were a great many, but many descendants of major clans did not lack them. Someone had even conducted adaptive derivations for a niche technique like sword-tempering arts.

"Randomize it. Do not use my name."

"Yes. The new knowledge you have contributed to the Immortal Gate Library is <Great Sun Sword Scripture—Seed-Sword Tempering Art (Edition 41)>."