Translator: CinderTL
Entering the main hall of the Treasure Pavilion, Xu Sanyan saw two young men arguing fiercely, their faces flushed with anger, as if they were ready to draw their swords and kill each other.
Manager Yue hurried forward to assess the situation, with Xu Sanyan and Qin Manyang following behind.
Qin Manyang muttered under her breath, "Fight, fight, fight..."
Xu Sanyan scoffed. "What does it matter to you whether they fight or not?"
"I want to watch the excitement," Qin Manyang replied matter-of-factly.
This was the fundamental difference between them. Xu Sanyan acted with clear goals, every action and decision aligned with his objectives. Qin Manyang, on the other hand, acted on impulse, shifting from one thought to another in an instant.
"Let's go. We still have a long journey ahead," Xu Sanyan said, tugging at her sleeve.
"Wait a moment~~"
Qin Manyang didn't want to leave, her large eyes fluttering innocently, making her look utterly adorable.
Xu Sanyan asked curiously, "How old are you this year?"
"Twenty!" Qin Manyang replied without hesitation.
Xu Sanyan glanced sideways at her chest, noting that only that part of her body seemed to match her age, still underdeveloped.
But Qin Manyang said nothing more, turning her attention to the treasure the two men were fighting over. It was a fist-sized piece of material resembling iron, entirely iron-green with a hint of dark red.
"What's that?" Xu Sanyan, lacking experience, had to ask Qin Manyang.
"Hmph, don't know, do you? That's a Corpse Bloodstone, an excellent material for crafting magic artifacts," Qin Manyang said proudly.
"Corpse Bloodstone... What a strange name," Xu Sanyan muttered under his breath.
Qin Manyang continued, "This material is rare. Corpse Bloodstone Mines are usually located in areas with extremely heavy malevolent qi, making extraction incredibly difficult. That's why it's expensive, but its uses are vast, so it's often in short supply."
"Even with our cultivation levels, we can't stay in such places for long. Otherwise, the malevolent qi will cling to us, severely harming our cultivation path."
Xu Sanyan nodded, having learned something new.
Qin Manyang's eyes flickered, and she tilted her head slightly, asking, "Speaking of which, I don't think I've ever seen the magic artifact you're cultivating?"
Xu Sanyan shook his head. "I don't have one."
Qin Manyang wasn't surprised. He had long suspected that Xu Sanyan's inheritance might be incomplete, and that he might not have even been exposed to the concept of cultivating magic artifacts.
"You could actually prepare this now," Qin Manyang said with a smile, feigning persuasion. "That way, when you obtain your inheritance later, you won't have to go through the trouble of gathering materials. Most magic artifacts can use Corpse Bloodstones."
Xu Sanyan's heart stirred at her words, and a thought took root in his mind.
He possessed a few magic artifacts, but they were all stolen and unusable. He had long coveted such treasures, like Lan Yue's Dust-Whisk, which could conjure countless white threads for both offense and defense, or the Red Sea Twin Immortals' swords, renowned for their incredible defense.
In contrast, Xu Sanyan could only rely on his physical strength. This hadn't been a problem when his opponents were weaker, but as they grew stronger, his lack of magic artifacts had become a glaring weakness.
He narrowed his eyes, gazing at the Corpse Bloodstone.
Qin Manyang's gaze flickered, a silent smile playing on her lips.
Turning back to the scene, a White Robed Young Man glared at Manager Yue, his voice filled with indignation. "I saw this first! I was in the middle of negotiating the price with your clerk when he barged in. Does Treasure Pavilion have no rules?"
Naturally, Manager Yue couldn't take his word for it. He turned to the Blue Robed Young Master, who was dressed in blue robes. "What do you say?"
The Blue Robed Young Man's expression remained calm, showing no sign of agitation. He even scanned the crowd, his gaze lingering briefly on Qin Manyang. A self-satisfied smile touched his lips as he nodded slightly.
"In business, the highest bidder always wins. I'm offering a 30% premium to purchase this item. What's wrong with that?"
The White Robed Young Man snorted coldly. "But the seller had already agreed to sell it to me! Your actions are clearly intended to cause trouble!"
"Heh..." The Blue Robed Young Master casually produced a folding fan and began to fan himself slowly, clearly showing no regard for the other young man.
"You!" The White Robed Young Man's anger flared at this display of arrogance. His aura began to surge, as if he were ready to strike at any moment.
Manager Yue cautioned, "Fellow Daoist, you should consider your actions carefully. This is Yue Clan City."
Yue Clan City strictly prohibits cultivators from fighting within its walls. Any violation would result in immediate suppression by the Yue Clan. The Yue Clan Patriarch, with his Soul Refinement cultivation level, was a renowned figure for miles around.
The White Robed Young Man's face flushed crimson with suppressed anger, yet he dared not truly violate the prohibition. He could only snarl, "What did the Shopkeeper say? If you sell the Corpse Bloodstone to him, I'll be sure to give the Treasure Pavilion some 'good publicity.'"
Enraged, the White Robed Young Man spoke recklessly, his tone subtly laced with a hint of coercion.
Manager Yue smiled. "Fellow Daoist should know that the Treasure Pavilion is a Yue Clan establishment. I hope you won't make a mistake."
The Blue Robed Young Master sneered. "Threatening the Yue Clan in Yue Clan City? Hahaha... I can't believe you'd say that."
"You!" The White Robed Young Man was speechless, turning his anger back on Manager Yue. "What did the Shopkeeper say? If you sell the Corpse Bloodstone to him, I won't bother you any further and will leave immediately."
Xu Sanyan was curious about the Corpse Bloodstone's value, as it wasn't priced.
Manager Yue shook his head. "Since ancient times, business has always gone to the highest bidder. I hope the fellow Daoist will understand."
"Hahaha, excellent, excellent. That's the way it should be," the Blue Robed Young Master said, clearly pleased.
"Hmph," the White Robed Young Man huffed and stormed out.
Xu Sanyan spoke up. "May I ask, Shopkeeper, how much is this item?"
Manager Yue turned and smiled. "What? Is this Daoist friend interested as well?"
"Just curious."
The Blue Robed Young Master chuckled softly. "If this young lady needs it, I'll gladly present the Corpse Bloodstone to her as a gift."
Qin Manyang's face lit up with surprise. "Is that truly your word, Young Master?"
"Of course," the Blue Robed Young Master replied, sensing an opportunity. He pressed his advantage. "All I ask is for the young lady to spend a day with me. Naturally, I'll cover all expenses."
Qin Manyang hesitated, glancing furtively at Xu Sanyan as if torn.
Xu Sanyan rolled his eyes. As if I'm her husband or something.
"Whatever," he said, waving his hand dismissively.
"Hahaha, Daoist friend, you're so generous! I've decided to make you my friend. Hurry and wrap up the Corpse Bloodstone for the young lady," the Blue Robed Young Master exclaimed, delighted. He quickly instructed a shop assistant to act, fearing Qin Manyang might change her mind.
Qin Manyang's lips moved silently, but no sound emerged. Xu Sanyan gave a barely perceptible nod.
Qin Manyang accepted the Corpse Bloodstone and immediately handed it to Xu Sanyan. She pleaded, "Husband, wait for me at the inn. I'll be back tomorrow."
Hearing her address him as "husband," the Blue Robed Young Master's eyes gleamed with even greater excitement. He had always been fond of married women.
(End of the Chapter)
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