Blood Linglong

Chen Lie nodded, understanding what the shop owner meant.

"Sir, I'm Yang Shen. May I ask your name?"

After coming back to his senses, the shop owner, Yang Shen, immediately changed his attitude. His earlier impatience turned into something almost fawning.

"Chen Lie."

"Brother Chen, where are you from?" Yang Shen asked.

"You don't need to pry into my background. Like I said, I just want to discuss a business deal with you.

How many blank crystal cards do you have here?"

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

Chen Lie nodded and asked, "Are blank crystal cards hard to get?"

"Very hard. Spirit Wind Group keeps strict control over blank crystal cards. I've been trading crystal cards for more than ten years, and only under certain special circumstances did I manage to accumulate twenty blank cards," Yang Shen said.

"If it were a set of Skyshattering Fist crystal cards, how much could you sell it for?" Chen Lie asked.

Yang Shen considered it and said, "Definitely over 50,000 star dollars. Skyshattering Fist is a martial art promoted by every high school martial arts program throughout East River Province. It's in short supply and sells extremely well. Whenever it hits the market, it gets snapped up within days."

"Then why don't you stock more Skyshattering Fist crystal cards?"

Yang Shen gave a bitter smile. "I can't get any. I'm only a small distributor. Those Mind Readers hardly make Skyshattering Fist martial arts crystal cards. Maybe they consider the profit too small. Forget me—even many major distributors in East River Province probably don't have any Skyshattering Fist crystal cards."

"Is that so?"

Chen Lie thought about it. During his three years in the regular high school class, the martial art he had practiced most was Skyshattering Fist. That showed just how sought-after its crystal cards truly were.

"Bring me those twenty blank crystal cards. I'll use my mental power to inscribe Skyshattering Fist onto them. At 50,000 star dollars per set, how about we split the profits equally?"

"That would be wonderful!"

Yang Shen's heart jolted when he heard this. He hurriedly rummaged beneath the counter and brought up an old-looking box.

The moment he opened it, he fell silent.

"This..."

Seeing Yang Shen like this, Chen Lie could not help asking, "What is it?"

Yang Shen said irritably, "Skyshattering Fist is a D-rank martial art, but these blank crystal cards of mine are combat technique cards. They're made from the lowest-grade materials used for crystal cards and can't bear the inscription of a D-rank martial art."

"Wait, that's not right!"

Yang Shen suddenly remembered something and immediately asked, "You just said that you inscribed a C-rank martial art onto that crystal card?"

Chen Lie nodded. If Cloud Shadow Step were classified as a C-rank martial art, it would certainly be among the very best of the C-rank. Strictly speaking, it was almost comparable to half a B-rank martial art.

"How is that possible? What I gave you just now was a blank crystal card for D-rank martial arts. How could it carry a C-rank martial art?"

"Oh, so that's why. No wonder the first crystal card I tried pouring mental power into suddenly shattered. The material wasn't up to standard."

Only then did Chen Lie understand. He picked up a transparent crystal card from the old box, circulated his mental power, and once again poured it into the card thread by thread.

Because the material was substandard, Chen Lie's control over his mental power was extremely delicate. He was afraid that the crystal card would shatter again if he made even the slightest mistake.

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

"This crystal card has been inscribed."

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

"This... How did you do it when the material isn't up to standard?"

Yang Shen could hardly believe it.

"The control technique is simply more precise."

Chen Lie picked up another blank crystal card and carefully poured mental power into it. The transparent card gradually turned bright yellow.

Though Chen Lie spoke lightly, he was certain that no Mind Reader on Blue Star could achieve such precise mental power control.

About ten minutes later, all twenty blank crystal cards had been infused with the mental power of Skyshattering Fist.

"Ten sets of crystal cards at 50,000 star dollars each. We split it fifty-fifty, so you only need to give me 250,000 star dollars. Deduct the cost of the set of D-rank martial arts crystal cards I broke earlier, and 200,000 star dollars will do."

"How could that be?"

Yang Shen hurriedly said, "Brother Chen, you're being far too formal with me. What we did earlier was an experiment. How could we count the cost against you? Forget about that shattered crystal card.

You're the Mind Reader. The production of these martial arts crystal cards depends entirely on you, so you should naturally take the larger share. Take 300,000 star dollars. Not one cent less."

He could distinguish between a full meal and a lifetime of full meals. Why should a small-time crystal card vendor like him split profits equally with a Mind Reader?

Only by letting the Mind Reader take the larger share could there be a chance for future cooperation. Otherwise, if the other party felt even the slightest dissatisfaction, he could cast Yang Shen aside without a second thought.

"Fine."

Chen Lie nodded and looked at Yang Shen.

Yang Shen immediately understood. He quickly took out a star dollar card and handed it to Chen Lie.

"Brother Chen, I happen to have a free star dollar card with 300,000 star dollars on it. You can use it directly, and there's no password. My contact number is on the back of the card. Would you like to note it down?"

Chen Lie accepted the card and slipped it into his pocket. Then he asked Yang Shen for paper and a pen and wrote down his contact number.

"This is my contact number. If you get hold of any blank crystal cards, contact me anytime."

"Alright, alright!"

Yang Shen nodded repeatedly.

With the star dollar card in hand, Chen Lie immediately prepared to leave. Yang Shen was quick on the uptake and escorted Chen Lie outside.

After leaving the spirit energy crystal card shop, Chen Lie thought that since he was already at the martial artist marketplace and now had the huge sum of 300,000 star dollars on him, he might as well take a look around.

When he reached the busiest central area of the marketplace, Chen Lie saw an enormous building with a huge sign reading Martial Arts Student Department Store.

Chen Lie entered the building.

As soon as he walked in, a beautiful female attendant came forward to receive him.

"Welcome. May I ask what you need, sir?"

Chen Lie said, "Do you have anything that can greatly increase vitality?"

"May I ask what stage your vitality is currently at, sir? And what price range can you accept?"

"My vitality is in the triple digits. No more than 300,000 star dollars."

Chen Lie stated his vitality higher than it really was, since the increase in his vitality did not follow Blue Star's standards.

The moment the female attendant heard that Chen Lie's vitality had already reached three digits, her expression became far more respectful.

"Please come with me, sir."

The attendant led Chen Lie to a display counter and began her introduction.

"Sir, this is high-grade blood vitality essence. It is suitable for people whose vitality has just surpassed the triple-digit mark. After taking it and training for a few days, it can raise vitality by around four to five points. The price is 280,000 star dollars."

After the attendant finished, Chen Lie shook his head. The value for money was far too poor for him.

Seeing this, the attendant led Chen Lie to another counter and began introducing its products.

"Sir, this counter contains Vitality Nourishing Spirit Liquid. It is usually used by martial artists, though those with vitality over a hundred can also use it. It just isn't as easily absorbed as high-grade blood vitality essence. It can increase vitality by five to seven points and costs 298,000 star dollars."

Chen Lie still shook his head.

"This..."

For a moment, the attendant did not know what to do.

"How about this? Just recommend things that can increase vitality to the greatest extent possible. You don't need to consider whether they're easy to absorb," Chen Lie said.

"Alright."

The attendant nodded and led Chen Lie to another display counter.

"This is a fifty-year-old spirit herb called Blood Linglong. Its medicinal potency is too strong and too violent, so it cannot be consumed on its own. Usually, it is used as the main ingredient in spirit herb beast meat meals and consumed after being diluted. So, it is difficult for me to determine exactly how much vitality Blood Linglong can increase.

But as far as I know, one whole Blood Linglong can be used to make three spirit herb beast meat meals. After consuming an entire Blood Linglong, many martial arts students whose vitality has long surpassed one hundred can usually increase their vitality by at least ten or more points.

This Blood Linglong costs exactly 300,000 star dollars."

"Good. I'll take it. Charge the card!"

The moment Chen Lie saw the Blood Linglong, his eyes lit up. He made his decision on the spot.

He handed his star dollar card to the attendant.

The attendant took the card, went to the front desk to deduct the 300,000 star dollars, then hurried back and returned the card to Chen Lie. She placed the Blood Linglong inside a gift box, put it into an exquisite carry bag, and handed it to him.

"Sir, here is your Blood Linglong."

"Mm."

Chen Lie nodded, accepted the Blood Linglong, and turned to leave the department store.

"Take care, sir. We look forward to your next visit."

The attendant bowed toward Chen Lie's retreating figure.

After leaving the Martial Arts Student Department Store, Chen Lie saw that it was still early and wandered around the marketplace some more, wanting to see whether there was anything else he might need in the future.

However, after making a full circuit, he found nothing, so he could only leave the marketplace with the Blood Linglong.

Chen Lie was extremely knowledgeable about spirit herbs. The energy contained within a fifty-year-old Blood Linglong would definitely multiply his vitality several times over.

For spirit herbs that had not been aged for too long, eating them raw produced the best effect. If cooked, their medicinal properties would certainly be weakened. After further dilution in the broth of a spirit herb beast meat meal, perhaps not even half their potency would remain. Of course, the effects would also become much gentler.

But Chen Lie did not need gentle medicinal effects. He wanted the Blood Linglong's medicinal energy to be as powerful as possible, so he decided to eat it raw.

After leaving the martial artist marketplace, Chen Lie took a flying bus directly to East River Martial Arts Hall.

A little over half an hour later, Chen Lie got off the flying bus and arrived outside the gates of East River Martial Arts Hall.

As he entered the training grounds on the second floor of East River Martial Arts Hall, Chen Lie ran into Lu Qingchan once more.

At the moment, Lu Qingchan was still accompanied by the same pretty girl he had encountered last time.

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