Third Young Master Tu glanced at the pair of striking beauties beside him—one tall, one petite—a look of surprise flashing in his eyes.
"Senior, I... *cough cough*, I've been a bit short on money lately," he replied awkwardly.
His primary reason for coming to the black market to purchase materials was to gather what that elder from Thorn Blood had demanded.
The elder had made an exorbitant demand, bleeding Third Young Master Tu dry.
Even so, he had ultimately resolved to grit his teeth and buy the materials first.
"Looks like wealth and I were just not meant to be," Qi Yuan remarked, somewhat disappointed.
Beside them, a gloating gleam appeared in the petite girl's eyes. "From the sound of it, you spent ten thousand taels to buy this... lightsaber?"
She looked at the lightsaber with undisguised contempt.
When she looked at Third Young Master Tu, she viewed him thirty percent as a fool and seventy percent as a shill.
Third Young Master Tu fell silent for a moment. He glanced at the frosty woman standing serenely at the side, and in the end chose not to argue.
He turned to Qi Yuan and asked cautiously, "Senior, is its special ability truly real?"
Facing that elder from Thorn Blood, he needed some means of self-preservation.
"Naturally it's real. With this lightsaber, you can strut anywhere in the State of Ning without a care in the world. As for the other two, do you want to buy them? They're very cheap. If you don't buy them now, they'll probably be sold out in a few days," Qi Yuan coaxed.
"Even without that lightsaber, your auntie here can strut anywhere in the State of Ning!" an ill-timed voice piped up as the petite girl flashed a radiant grin.
As she spoke, she turned and scuttled sideways like a crab.
Seeing this, Qi Yuan's eyes narrowed slightly.
*There are some real characters in this game!*
What he had just meant by "strutting sideways" was actually a double entendre. The ability of God Summoning was indeed enough to protect Third Young Master Tu so that he could walk unopposed; Qi Yuan hadn't lied.
Third Young Master Tu gave an awkward laugh. "That puts my mind at ease."
As for Qi Yuan's claims, he only believed about thirty percent of them.
After all, if Qi Yuan could truly strut unopposed himself, would he still be selling this lightsaber? He could have just robbed people outright.
He judged the noble man's heart by the measure of a petty mind.
"Alas, looks like another day without making a real opening sale," Qi Yuan sighed in disappointment.
"Hey, my ninety-nine taels didn't count as an opening sale?" the petite girl couldn't help snapping.
"A small opening doesn't count."
"You..." The petite girl choked on her words. "Pack up this, this, and these for your auntie! I'm buying them."
She imperiously pointed at several small items, all unranked dharma artifacts. After all, a ranked artifact like the lightsaber cost ten thousand taels, and she didn't want to get scammed by some overpriced artifact trap.
Qi Yuan beamed instantly, gathering up the small gadgets for the petite girl. "Five hundred and seventy-two taels in total."
He gave an exact, odd-sounding figure down to the single digit, making it look as though he ran a meticulous business.
The petite girl knitted her brows.
Anywhere else, if unranked dharma artifacts were priced so high, she wouldn't have bothered buying them. But thinking back to the ten-thousand-tael lightsaber, she instead felt like she was the one getting fleeced. Most importantly, the creativity behind these substandard artifacts was genuinely intriguing.
"Does it count as an opening sale now?" the petite girl asked again.
"A medium opening doesn't count either," Qi Yuan answered earnestly.
"Insatiable!" the petite girl spat under her breath. Then she added, "You're quite creative. How about joining Tiangong Hall with me?"
Only now did she reveal her true intention.
Her grandfather was a member of Tiangong Hall.
As soon as she said this, the expressions of the surrounding vendors and passersby shifted drastically.
"It's actually Tiangong Hall!"
"Could it be *the* Tiangong Hall, on equal footing with the Implement Master Association?"
In the Qingshan Realm, all implement masters belonged to an organization called the Implement Master Association.
All certifications, licenses, and official appraisals of dharma artifacts were issued by the Implement Master Association. It was a colossal entity, powerful enough to influence state regimes.
Everyone knew how formidable the Implement Master Association was, but in truth, there was another equally vast organization not inferior to it: Tiangong Hall.
The Implement Master Association had a massive roster; any implement master could join, and the threshold was very low.
Tiangong Hall was different. It was an elite version of the association, admitting only genius implement masters.
Though Tiangong Hall had few members, its prestige and influence lagged little behind the Implement Master Association.
Many implement masters took immense pride in being admitted to Tiangong Hall.
However, its admission threshold was exceedingly high, leaving many unqualified; only Earth-rank implement masters could join directly.
"Can Tiangong Hall pay me a monthly salary of a hundred thousand taels of silver? Can I use materials for free?" Qi Yuan asked.
He was very weak right now, so he modestly capped his salary demand at a mere hundred thousand taels.
"...You're truly insane!" The petite girl was exasperated.
Remembering what her senior sister had said about him being a madman, it seemed he truly was mad.
Demanding a hundred thousand taels a month just to join Tiangong Hall?
Probably not even Heaven-rank implement masters received treatment like that.
"Looks like they don't. The pay is too low, so I can't be bothered to join," Qi Yuan declined.
Seeing this, the surrounding vendors looked astonished.
The passersby who knew Tiangong Hall's renown found it utterly bizarre.
What implement master wouldn't want to join Tiangong Hall?
"Do you not know what Tiangong Hall represents?" The petite girl looked dumbfounded, having never expected Qi Yuan to refuse.
The dharma artifacts Qi Yuan crafted were full of originality. Tiangong Hall constantly strove for innovation, and what they needed most was talent like Qi Yuan.
"No silver, no free materials, and..." Qi Yuan glanced at the frosty woman, "...they don't even issue a mount. Not going."
"You..." The petite girl gritted her silver teeth, furious, her chest heaving—enough that even an airfield might have bulged a bump.
"This is a token of Tiangong Hall. If you ever want to join, you can present this to enter Tiangong Hall at any time. The token cannot be given away."
The petite girl thrust a medallion into Qi Yuan's hands, gathered her purchased artifacts, and departed.
The surrounding onlookers stared at Qi Yuan with envy in their eyes.
For the remainder of the evening, Qi Yuan continued manning his stall. As night deepened into pitch black, Qi Yuan couldn't help sighing.
"Sure enough, heaven doesn't favor the diligent. I even worked overtime until midnight, putting in so much effort, yet I didn't sell a single artifact afterward."
"Old man, is it because I didn't work hard enough?"
"Young Master worked very hard!" Chen Kangbao hurriedly chimed in.
"Let's go. Time to head home."
Packing up the stall, Qi Yuan took Chen Kangbao back.
Night ran deep, and the moonlight cast a cold, lonely glow.
Upon returning to the Shen Manor, Qi Yuan found the residence looking far cleaner and more festive than usual.
"Brother-in-law, you're finally back!"
Outside the main gate, a head poked out. Sleepy-eyed and bearing heavy dark circles, Shen Lingfeng came running out.
"Brother-in-law, my sister came home today!" Shen Lingfeng said hastily. "Pity she only stayed home for a little over an hour. When you didn't return, she had urgent business, so she headed back to Yeshan Lake."
Shen Lingfeng looked full of regret.
After all, technically speaking, his sister and brother-in-law had never even met yet.
Qi Yuan smiled faintly. "It's fine."
"Sigh, Brother-in-law... my sister isn't an ordinary woman. Even though you're a romantic master with top-tier emotional intelligence, capable of making maidens' hearts flutter with a casual whisper of sweet nothings, my sister is different. She's a true disciple of the Heavenly Sect... Her disposition is frigid. If not for her special constitution, she probably wouldn't have married anyone in her entire life." Shen Lingfeng was firmly on Qi Yuan's side now. "I hope you can win my sister over soon, Brother-in-law! That way, Father and Mother can rest easy."
"Oh?" Qi Yuan said with mild surprise.
Shen Lingfeng leaned in close to Qi Yuan's ear and whispered, "My sister... her special constitution has made many people covet her."
"That's why even I have never actually seen my sister's face," Shen Lingfeng lamented.
*A furnace physique?* Qi Yuan couldn't help pondering.
He recalled the frosty woman he had encountered earlier that day; an ethereal veil of mist seemed to envelop her, keeping anyone from seeing her clearly.
...
Along a winding trail, a party of three hurried forward.
Leading the way was an elegantly dressed young nobleman of graceful bearing.
The two behind him, dressed like retainers, each bore cargo slung across their shoulders.
A closer look would reveal that both retainers were strapping and formidable, far from ordinary men.
The trio walked in silence until Third Young Master Tu spoke with a low, sober voice: "Fourth Uncle, Elder Zhan Lei, we will reach Kunling Ferry shortly."
Faced with the threat from the elder of Thorn Blood, Third Young Master Tu had naturally not sat idly by.
After thinking it through, he had reported the matter to his family.
Thus, Fourth Uncle and Elder Zhan Lei had disguised themselves as retainers and accompanied him.
Fourth Uncle was an early-stage Earth-rank weapon wielder of extraordinary strength who had once cleaved an Earth-rank guiling in two with a single broadsword stroke.
As for Elder Zhan Lei, she was even more formidable—a middle-stage Earth-rank weapon wielder ranked among the top three fighters in the Tu family.
Had Qi Yuan seen Zhan Lei, he would surely have remarked:
"Big. Very big. Absolutely colossal! True to her name—a busty War Hawk, Thunder Bunny."
"Rest assured. Elder Black Crow of Thorn Blood is merely an early-stage Earth-rank weapon wielder. With Elder Zhan Lei and me here, there is nothing to worry about. Even if he has hidden cards or made a breakthrough, the two of us are more than enough to subdue him!" Fourth Uncle Tu said dismissively.
"Hmph. Coveting our Tu family's resources? We'll see if his stomach can handle it!" A flash of murderous intent surfaced in Zhan Lei's eyes.
Seeing this, Third Young Master Tu felt a weight lift from his chest.
About two quarters of an hour passed before Third Young Master Tu stopped just outside Kunling Ferry.
Fourth Uncle Tu and Zhan Lei lowered the goods from their shoulders to the ground.
Third Young Master Tu looked toward the mist-shrouded Kunling Ferry ahead and bowed respectfully.
"Elder Black Crow, Tu San has brought the resources!"
His voice rolled forward, carrying deep into Kunling Ferry.
Promptly, the flutter of wings sounded, followed by a rasping voice:
"Smart of you. I'll credit the contribution points to your token."
With those words, the cargo on the ground suddenly lifted and flew toward Kunling Ferry.
But at that exact moment, the pile of goods erupted with an almighty roar!
*Boom!*
A thunderous blast tossed up endless mud and gouged out a massive crater of water.
In midair, several feathers broke away from Elder Black Crow's body.
His frame was covered with wounds, through which ghastly white bones were faintly visible.
Hovering in the air, murder shone in his eyes. "You little brat, you really harbored ill intentions! Courting death!"
He swooped down fiercely at Third Young Master Tu, his killing intent terrifying.
"Elder Black Crow, this is Jining Prefecture, not a place for you to run wild!"
Dropping all disguise, Fourth Uncle Tu's body surged in size. A flash of golden light flared, and an immense broadsword appeared in his grip.
Gripping the broadsword, he slashed down with the force of a thousand jun.
Surrounding trees were sheared apart, and boulders tumbled down.
The blade collided with Elder Black Crow's divine body with the screech of clashing metal.
"Hah!" Just then, Elder Zhan Lei bellowed, hurling two massive steel spheres tethered to chains straight at Elder Black Crow.
The steel spheres were vastly larger than her ample bust, each as big as a threshing ground's stone roller.
Surging with terrifying momentum, the spheres whistled through the air; if iron balls like these slammed into someone, they would crush flesh and bone into a mangled pulp.
*Bang!*
The strike snapped one of Elder Black Crow's wings on the spot.
In a single clash, Elder Black Crow had suffered severe injuries.
"Little San, see that? With me around, nothing goes wrong!" Fourth Uncle Tu thumped his chest, victory seemingly assured.
Third Young Master Tu remained somewhat anxious.
Although they had gravely wounded Elder Black Crow, with the elder's prowess, while he couldn't win, retreating into Kunling Ferry was still within his reach.
Still, considering that the family's primary objectives were to protect their resources and ensure his safety, they had already succeeded.
Yet who could have anticipated that at this very moment, a chilling, sinister voice would abruptly echo in everyone's ears?
"Black Crow, you really are utterly useless. You can't even handle a trivial matter like this."
Her nerves taut, Zhan Lei snapped her head toward the sky, only to spot an elongated dark silhouette in the air.
It was... a serpent—a winged serpent!
"Elder Winged Serpent, please help me kill these people!" Elder Black Crow pleaded hurriedly.
In an instant, a pair of slitted serpentine eyes fell upon the trio. A bone-deep chill washed over all three of them, accompanied by boundless dread.
"You are Winged Serpent from the State of Moshan... What are you doing in Jining Prefecture?" Elder Zhan Lei's scalp tingled with dread.
The Elder Black Crow they had planned to deal with was merely an outer elder of Thorn Blood; even if they killed him, there would be no repercussions.
But Winged Serpent... was entirely different.
He was an elder of Thorn Blood from the State of Moshan.
The border of Moshan was three thousand li away, yet he had snuck this far into the interior.
There had to be a massive conspiracy behind this!
They had originally assumed Elder Black Crow was simply preparing to flee the State of Ning and took the opportunity to extort Third Young Master Tu.
Now, it was clear things were not so simple; the waters here ran extraordinarily deep.
Elder Winged Serpent was a peak Earth-rank weapon wielder!
Over a decade ago, when the State of Ning and the State of Moshan fought a war, this very Elder Winged Serpent had slain an advanced Earth-rank weapon wielder of Ning—who had been an imperial prince!
Elder Winged Serpent's ferocious notoriety was legendary.
Elder Winged Serpent cast an indifferent glance over the trio before his gaze settled on Black Crow. "Did you get the item? The Emissary is growing impatient."
"It is in my hands!" Elder Black Crow answered at once.
Hearing this, Elder Zhan Lei's mind shook violently.
In their eyes, Elder Winged Serpent was already a true titan.
Yet from his tone, that Emissary was an entity of even higher status.
Had the Emissary dispatched him to Jining Prefecture solely to retrieve an item from Elder Black Crow?
All three present instantly felt swept into a colossal conspiracy, struck by an unwarranted catastrophe.
A wooden box landed upon Elder Winged Serpent's back before vanishing into his storage artifact.
After confirming the item was correct, he was thoroughly satisfied.
Recalling something, he asked, "And the person?"
"Still alive. Even with Lord Emissary obscuring heavenly secrets, I didn't dare go too far; I only took the item," Elder Black Crow said, a flicker of dread passing through his eyes.
Elder Winged Serpent nodded slightly. "Having the item in hand is enough. As for that person... important or not, it hardly matters."
With that, his gaze shifted toward the three below. "Now that I have come all the way to the State of Ning, it would be terribly impolite not to partake of some appetizers."
He flicked his forked tongue, foul-smelling and chilling.
Third Young Master Tu's face tightened.
Elder Zhan Lei and Fourth Uncle Tu had long lost their earlier calm.
This was a figure at the peak of the Earth rank for weapon wielders—a terrifying being whom even the Dao Head of the Heavenly Sect would find difficult to subdue!
Chapter 502