Transaction

"Sir, the total comes to eight hundred and ten thousand low-grade spirit stones."

Half a shichen later, Zhang Yu swallowed and spoke, his mouth somewhat dry.

Over that half shichen, Zhang Yu had finally finished appraising all the talismans and arrived at an exact figure.

These talismans were third tier at the lowest. When Ling Yun first began making talismans, the first one he successfully made was a third-tier talisman.

That was hardly worth mentioning to him, and the remaining fourth-tier talismans were all products of his practice as he advanced his mastery of talisman-making techniques. They were numerous and of high quality.

By a rough count, the talismans Ling Yun had brought out for trade this time reached the frightening number of a thousand.

Of course, Ling Yun had kept some talismans for himself, all of them peak-quality fourth-tier talismans with top-notch offensive power.

Such a frightening number of high-tier talismans seemed like nothing to Ling Yun, but to Zhang Yu, it was somewhat alarming.

Peak-quality fourth-tier talismans can only be made by the very best fourth-tier talisman masters, and there are so many of them!

Zhang Yu roared inwardly. This was what shocked him most.

His heart was far from calm, and he could not calm it.

Since when did Myriad Phenomena City have someone like this? So many high-tier talismans must have taken five years to draw. What an oddball.

Though all sorts of thoughts ran through his head, he still did his utmost to remain calm on the surface.

"All right."

Without dragging things out, Ling Yun agreed at once.

Eight hundred and ten thousand low-grade spirit stones was a sum he would never have dared imagine before. Though it still fell far short of the more than ten million low-grade spirit stones needed to refine the Cold Essence Pill, it was enough to satisfy him.

After all, this was wealth he had created himself. The spirit stones from selling so many third- and fourth-tier talismans were enough to buy a fifth-tier treasure.

Of course, that only meant an ordinary fifth-tier precious medicine. High-grade fifth-tier precious medicines like Ice Essence Grass and Cold Marrow Liquid cost several times more.

"Sir, would you like the entire amount in physical spirit stones, or would you prefer to deposit it on a crystal card exclusive to our Heavenly Treasure Tower?"

"A crystal card?"

Ling Yun repeated the words aloud without thinking.

He knew what a bank card was.

"The crystal card is a symbol of status at our Heavenly Treasure Tower, a privilege card issued to only a select few. Cardholders can conduct transactions with virtual spirit stones, making them convenient and fast."

"Moreover, cardholders enjoy a permanent ten percent discount at our Heavenly Treasure Tower, valid at all major Heavenly Treasure Tower branches in the Eastern Desolation."

Thinking Ling Yun did not understand, Zhang Yu explained with great enthusiasm.

"Our Heavenly Treasure Tower in Myriad Phenomena City has the right to issue a crystal card only once a year. Sir, would you be willing to accept one?"

His tone carried a respect that had not been there before.

This was only natural. Before, Zhang Yu had regarded Ling Yun as an equal, but after the transaction, he had seen that Ling Yun was no ordinary man, so he extended an olive branch.

Naturally, Ling Yun had no reason to refuse.

"Then I would be discourteous to decline."

A hint of pleasure entered Ling Yun's voice.

A smile immediately blossomed on Zhang Yu's face.

"In that case, sir, is there anything else you need?"

He asked.

Ling Yun feigned hesitation and thought for a moment before saying, "Exchange all the spirit stones for the various spirit medicines your Heavenly Treasure Pavilion has to offer. Only third tier and above."

"Finally, help me find a good pill furnace. The higher its grade, the better."

The waves that had just subsided in Zhang Yu's heart surged up again, but he said nothing more about it.

In business, all that mattered was that the money was there. As for customers' secrets, they did not interfere and could not be curious-or at least, they could not show it.

"Those things can naturally be arranged."

Zhang Yu nodded.

"However, as for the pill furnace, I suggest you wait a little, sir. Tomorrow, at the hour of Xu, the Heavenly Treasure Tower will hold a high-level auction. One of the featured lots is certain to satisfy you."

Zhang Yu smiled mysteriously. "Not many people know about this lot, but you, sir, are qualified to know."

Ling Yun once again praised the Heavenly Treasure Pavilion's business sense in his heart.

It was true that not many people knew, but those who had learned about the lot were undoubtedly all target customers of the Heavenly Treasure Tower, every one of them determined to obtain it.

Zhang Yu concealed nothing further and said at once, "This lot was transferred from another Heavenly Treasure Tower and came from the hands of a fifth-tier artifact refiner."

"However, because something went wrong during the refining process, this pill furnace fell just short and failed to truly reach the fifth tier."

"But even so, its quality far surpasses that of a peak-quality fourth-tier pill furnace. For a fourth-tier alchemist, a pill furnace of this caliber is hard to find even for a thousand gold."

Zhang Yu did not conceal the furnace's flaws. After all, the Heavenly Treasure Tower disdained to conduct such unscrupulous business.

Ling Yun nodded inwardly. A fifth-tier pill furnace was indeed not easy for him to find. And when refining a peak-quality fifth-tier Cold Essence Pill, the better the furnace, the greater the chance of successfully forming the pill.

Under the circumstances, a quasi-fifth-tier pill furnace was clearly the best choice.

"How much is it valued at?"

Ling Yun asked.

Zhang Yu answered without withholding anything. "The starting bid is fifty thousand low-grade spirit stones, and the estimated final price is close to one hundred and fifty thousand."

Ling Yun nodded to show he understood.

That was indeed the upper limit for a quasi-fifth-tier treasure, and with the money he had now, he had more than enough.

But to be safe, he still said, "Then set aside two hundred thousand spirit stones for now, and use the rest to exchange for spirit medicines."

Zhang Yu quickly nodded and said, "Please wait a moment, sir."

With that, he hurried away to make the preparations.

Ling Yun, meanwhile, sat to one side and drank the spirit tea that had been prepared.

Time is short. When I return, I'll tell Madam Wang what precious medicines are needed to refine the Cold Essence Pill and have her gather them as quickly as possible.

He thought to himself.

Then, taking advantage of the wait, Ling Yun began cramming all sorts of basic alchemy knowledge.

Fortunately, his comprehension defied the heavens and his brain was useful. Ling Yun immersed himself in it, and no matter how much knowledge there was, he could master it in a short time.

Just like that, two quarters of a shichen later, Ling Yun came out of that state.

Zhang Yu also returned.

"Sir, this ring contains various third- and fourth-tier spirit medicines. We've prepared some of every kind the Heavenly Treasure Tower has."

Zhang Yu handed over a storage ring, and Ling Yun took it. There was no divine sense mark on it, and he easily sensed the spirit medicines stacked inside by category. Counting them up, there were several thousand kinds!

However, spirit medicines were expensive, after all. Ling Yun had requested so many kinds that in the end, the quantity of each was not particularly large.

"It's enough."

Ling Yun was very satisfied with the transaction.

Zhang Yu could not see Ling Yun's expression beneath his mask, but he could still sense that he was in a good mood.

So he continued, "This is our Heavenly Treasure Tower's privilege crystal card. Please keep it safe."

Ling Yun took it curiously and found that the card was made of an unusual material. Though small, it bore an incomparably intricate miniature restriction.

This is an application of the Dao of Formations.

Ling Yun thought.

In any case, he currently knew nothing at all about the Dao of Formations and could not discern the principles behind it.

"In that case, I'll take my leave."

With the transaction complete, Ling Yun did not linger. He said farewell to Zhang Yu, declined his enthusiastic offer to see him out, and went downstairs and left on his own.

(P.S. I'm planning a mass release today!)