Upon his first utterance, Yu Ci generously pledged to give Shen Wan a tenth of his earnings. Given Shen Wan's status at the Random Heart Pavilion, she would not be particularly impressed by such a benefit. However, this was a gesture, a sign of Yu Ci's respect for the Random Heart Pavilion. Otherwise, if Shen Wan were selling a Sword Ball, and he were to present an almost identical item, it would inevitably be seen as an attempt to undermine her.
Indeed, upon hearing his words, Shen Wan glanced at him, then smiled and said, "Immortal Yu, where is this coming from? At the Treasure Exchange Banquet, it is only fitting for all parties to showcase their treasures, to compete in their uniqueness and brilliance. This unexpected exchange of treasures is a pleasant surprise. I would not be so ungracious as to spoil this delightful moment."
Her words indicated that Yu Ci's gesture had been effective. Her previously arrogant demeanor had softened, and her lips curved into a smile that revealed her true nature as a businesswoman.
While the two were exchanging pleasantries, someone else could not help but interrupt.
"Does Immortal Yu also have a Sword Ball? Are you really planning to sell it?"
Dong Yan was undoubtedly the quickest to react among the cultivators present. His facial features seemed to stretch in surprise, especially upon hearing that Yu Ci intended to sell his item. His eyes lit up in anticipation.
Yu Ci nodded at him, glanced at Shen Wan, and smiled, "This Sword Ball was an unexpected acquisition. Let's not discuss it further for now. Let's see how much Manager Shen is asking for her Sword Ball?"
At this point, Shen Wan took the Sword Ball back from Bi Chao and held it in her palm, her gaze turning to Gan Shi Zhen:
"Lady Gan has a discerning eye. According to our master appraiser, this Sword Ball contains a strand of the Sword aura from the Frost Extreme Secret Sword. The Frost Extreme Secret Sword was once a unique skill of the Glacier Divine Palace in the northern lands before the calamity. But because the sect offended the Primordial Demon Sect, they were uprooted, and all their secret techniques were lost. Only this Sword Ball, carrying the Frost Extreme Secret Sword, can give us a glimpse of its past glory. This Frost Extreme Sword Ball, a semi-finished product, is priced at 13,000 Ruyi Money."
The cultivators let out a breath. Although the price was astonishing, it was still considered fair.
Crafting a Sword Ball, whether by direct formation or through ritual smelting, requires materials that ordinary iron cannot withstand. Thus, a Sword Ball must be made from materials of at least a mid-grade Magical Instrument, which is already quite valuable. Moreover, the painstaking efforts spent on the ritual smelting should not be ignored. 13,000 Ruyi Money is roughly equivalent to the cost of a 49-layer smelting process, which is slightly higher than the previous item, the Rainbow Short Robe.
This is the price for an unfinished Sword Ball. If it were fully crafted, the price would likely double, which would not be surprising.
The price was fair, and the final outcome was within everyone's expectations.
Dong Yan of the Lifeless Sword Sect exchanged a "Purple Gold Sky-reaching Staff" that had undergone a 48-layer smelting process and 3,000 Ruyi Money for the Sword Ball. Another lone cultivator had wanted to bid, but upon seeing the Purple Gold Sky-reaching Staff, he withdrew in disappointment.
As Sword Ball was presented, Shen Wan, a woman, leaned on a bamboo staff in front of a long table. The staff, enveloped in a purple hue and intertwined with gold threads, could extend up to eight feet. The entire body was inscribed with talisman scripts. Once imbued with True Sha, it could ignite a flame inches high. Utilizing a secret method, it could launch an attack that was as heavy as a mountain and contained latent energy capable of dislocating an enemy's joints. It was indeed a mystical artifact.
Dong Yan, a man, was a master of the Sword Way and rarely relied on external objects. This staff was like a pearl cast into darkness in his hands, exchanged for a Sword Ball, bringing joy to all.
However, even with a Sword Ball, Dong Yan seemed unsatisfied. His eyes sparkled with ambition, constantly glancing at Yu Ci. If Yu Ci hadn't spoken first, he would have already pounced, refusing to give up until he achieved his goal.
The appearance of the Sword Ball stirred the hearts of the seated cultivators, and from then on, things escalated rapidly. Shen Wan subsequently presented five treasures, all magical instruments refined beyond forty-eight layers, which were all exchanged. The flurry of treasures changing hands was a sight to behold.
In the world of cultivation, refining magical instruments with the technique of Heavenly Gangs and Earthly Fiends, every six layers represented a new stage, spanning eighteen heavens in total. Each heaven, each layer, was the result of endless effort. Thus, every advancement in heaven doubled its value.
The seven or eight heavens' magical instruments that Shen Wan presented could be considered mainstream equipment for Golden Elixir cultivators, naturally attracting a lot of attention. Magical instruments of the ninth and tenth heavens were much rarer and not easily acquired by just anyone.
If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.
As for those surpassing sixty layers, even Vacuum Walking Cultivators might not have many in their possession. Regardless of their value, how many people would be willing to exchange them once they had them?
Regardless, this Treasure Exchange Banquet was much smoother than the last one. Yu Ci, stroking his short beard, smiled, but his thoughts drifted to the death of Zhou Youde, causing his brows to furrow.
Just then, a sudden uproar arose from the floor below. Such incidents had occurred before, but this time it was clearly different. The cultivators' clamor echoed wave after wave, causing the floor to tremble.
Bao De, who was nearby, laughed, "Surely, some great treasure has surfaced below."
At this point, someone hurried upstairs, presumably Shen Wan's subordinate, and whispered something in her ear. Shen Wan's eyebrows raised, and she halted the ongoing trade. She looked around at the seated cultivators and laughed, "This Treasure Exchange Banquet has indeed been full of pleasant surprises. Someone has presented a high-grade treasure, but no one below can afford it. According to the rules, it should be brought upstairs for you all to decide. However, this time, our pavilion is also willing to bid."
Everyone laughed. Aside from Bao De and Yu Ci, the rest of the people in the room were at least at the Golden Elixir Stage, and they could not be fooled by a mere floorboard separating them.
Yu Ci had just been lost in thought and had not noticed the change downstairs. Now, he was somewhat confused. Looking around, he saw that the cultivators present seemed to be itching for a fight. He then glanced at the top seat, where He Qing, who had been silent, had now opened her eyes. Her eyes were as brilliant as a golden snake, but they dimmed as quickly as they had sparkled.
Was she also interested?
Just as he was wondering, footsteps sounded from the stairs. Two people were coming up. Yu Ci turned to look, and was surprised to recognize both of them. But what he really wanted to know was:
"How did these two end up together?"
At this point, not just Yu Ci, but all the cultivators present turned their attention to the two newcomers. The gazes of more than ten Golden Elixir cultivators were not easy to endure. By the time the two reached the open space in the room, the man in the lead was trembling like a sieve, about to kneel on the ground.
Seeing the man in such a state, everyone lost interest and withdrew their aura. Only then did the man catch his breath and speak tremblingly, "I am Elder Fan, I pay my respects to all the Immortal Elders."
The man was no more than forty years old, but he looked prematurely aged, like a little old man. It was Elder Fan from the hunting team, with whom Yu Ci had dealt before. Elder Fan had wanted to trade for the large bird that Yu Ci had tamed, but was politely declined. Unexpectedly, he had caused such a stir at the Treasure Exchange Banquet.
In contrast to Elder Fan's timidity, the man who came up with him was much more composed. Facing the prominent figures in and out of the Cliff City, he just said, "Pure Water Sect's Zheng Yan pays his respects."
Yu Ci hummed in recognition. He was even more familiar with Monk Zheng Yan. They had had several encounters in the Sky Rift Valley. In fact, when Monk Zheng Yan had fainted in the valley, it was Yu Ci who had carried him out, saving his life. At that time, Yu Ci had hoped to uncover the secret dealings behind the Pure Water Sect, but after that day, Monk Zheng Yan disappeared without a trace, until today when they met again.
After exchanging glances with Zheng Yan, both of them nodded and smiled. Compared to before, Monk Zheng Yan hadn't changed much, except for his skin which was now a pale golden color. It looked full of texture, as if he had practiced some secret method. With every breath he took, the primordial qi flowed in and out, and his cultivation level was much higher than before.
Had he secluded himself for practice during this time?
As Yu Ci was pondering this, Monk Zheng Yan had already begun to explain the reason for Elder Fan's appearance.
The fact was quite simple. Elder Fan, with the help of the hunting team, had ascended to the third floor in hopes of finding a good patron to exchange a treasure he had in mind. As for what he had to offer, it was naturally the storage ring with a large space inside.
If that were all, the success or failure of the transaction would be of no consequence. However, someone noticed the extraordinary origins of the ring in Elder Fan's possession and sought to buy it at a low price. When the unsuspecting Elder Fan was about to make the swap, Monk Zheng Yan, with his snake-like tongue, intervened, agitating the would-be swindler to the point of fury. The ring's history could no longer be concealed.
"Xuan Cang Ring?"
Everyone at the table pondered the origins of the Xuan Cang Ring. Yu Ci, having never heard of such a name, could only ask Bao De again. But Bao De was not omniscient, and had to pass the question on.
"Xuan Cang Ring, it should be a unique treasure of exceptional quality, no?"
Gan Shi Zhen, who had heard of the ring's history, softly answered for the two, "The Xuan Cang Ring is a type of Storage Ring, but it has a peculiar feature. Its internal Mustard Seed Space is extremely stable and not easily damaged. Moreover, it involves the subtle characteristics of the void, allowing cultivators proficient in the art of mind control to use it as a base to explore various Bound-limited Worlds.
"If one can find something of significant value within, they could mark it and establish guiding coordinates through the space within the ring. If luck is on their side, they might even find the Secret Mansion and Cave Heaven left by predecessors in the many Bound-limited Worlds."
Yu Ci found this explanation somewhat clear yet somewhat vague. However, he understood the part about the Secret Mansion and Cave Heaven, which made him gasp.
He wasn't sure about the exact value of the Secret Mansion and Cave Heaven, but just thinking about how an Underworld Secret Mansion had caused Lake Sea Wanderer, Fu Long, Yan Chu, and others to search relentlessly, and had seemingly stirred up a great storm in the distance, gave him an idea of its worth.
"So, if there is some sort of marker in this ring, we could follow the vine to the melon and find the Secret Mansion and Cave Heaven?"
Gan Shi Zhen nodded slightly, adding, "Even without a marker, if you have this ring and someone proficient in Buddhist Practice or the Great Heavenly Void Divine Thought Technique or other Mind Power Techniques, the chances of finding the Secret Mansion and Cave Heaven greatly increase. Therefore, although this item has no offensive or defensive capabilities and cannot be refined, it can still be considered a unique treasure, its value not inferior to those refined magical instruments of forty or fifty layers."
************