He found it, a Qi build-up where his meridians crossed his heart. He hadn't noticed it before because it didn't actually block any of his Qi from being channelled through his body, instead it just corrupted it, charging it with minute negative energies, caused by his emotions, that disrupted his technique, since it relied on absolute calm for him to progress, and making him act more extreme than he normally would, as his Qi and soul were now closely intertwined. He had heard of what this was before, since his father had suffered from one as well, a heart demon.
When a cultivator had a lingering obsession, like revenge, they were prone to forming a heart demon if they could not resolve whatever was causing such a thing. This led to the widespread challenging of duels and deathmatches within the Qin Empire, since a cultivator who held a deep resentment of another may not be able to progress or will fall to insanity in their pursuit of vengeance. Of course, one had to put something of sufficient value on the line to be able to issue such a challenge, otherwise the Young Masters and Misses of the Great Clans would be constantly beset by the challenges of the jealous masses and their rival clans.
Wu Jian had expected to form a heart demon ever since he let the Zhao Patriarch live, but the attack of the Gao Clan and the formation of the Zhao Alliance had caused it to appear much sooner than he expected. He was going to have to move up his timeline or dispose of the Zhao Patriarch, giving up on his plans regarding him.
"Update me on our progress towards obtaining the Spirit Jade and Starmetal that I require."
He said to a servant, who scrambled to go and find out. They returned not long after with Wu Bi, the Wu Clan's head of the merchants. She was only at the Peak Qi Gathering Stage, but her talent in business far exceeded her talent in cultivation.
"Lord Patriarch."
She knelt deferentially towards him, placing her forehead on the ground as she did so. All her privileges and responsibilities came from the man in front of her. She may of earned her position through merit, but the Wu Patriarch had the power to strip all her achievements away from her with but a word. The branch family she was a part of would not, could not, protest it because their strongest cultivator was only a Late Qi Condensing Stage cultivator with little say in clan matters.
"You may rise."
Wu Jian spoke and Wu Bi stood, taking out a parchment from her spatial ring and unfurling it in front of her.
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"We have yet to find any Starmetal for sale, nor have we found any hints on where to acquire it."
This was only natural, as the metal's Qi-blocking properties were greatly sought after for the creation of rooms that blocked scrying techniques and defences. And, because its only source was from meteorites, it was both rare and coveted, making it extremely expensive and hard to buy.
"We do, however, have a bead on a possible source of Spirit Jade."
She continued, and Wu Jian leaned forwards in interest.
"We are in negotiations to try and lower the price now, but they will take a while."
At this, the Wu Patriarch's eyebrow raised in interest.
"How much are they asking?"
He questioned.
"8,000 Spirit Stones. But we've managed to negotiate then down to 7,000, and given enough time, we'll be able to get it down to just over 6,000."
Was the answer, and Wu Jian sucked in a breath of air. He knew Spirit Jade was pricey, but none had ever been sold on the outskirts of the Qin Empire in his entire lifetime, the clan that was offering this amount having been trying to sell it for the best past of two decades. It was valuable as it had similar properties to regular Jade. Whilst Jade could store information perfectly for an unlimited amount of time, Spirit Jade, like its name suggests, could store spirits and souls in it without them decaying. Of course, it was incredibly hard to get your hands on a spirit or a Nascent Soul Realm Cultivator who had shed their mortal body willing to be bound to whatever item the Spirit Jade was forged into, so it hardly ever saw any use. Still, 8,000 Spirit Stones was almost the total assets of a new Mid-sized Clan: Spirit Stones, property, and resources included. Wu Jian would have to empty his entire clan's treasury to be able to afford that price.
He wouldn't even be able to tax any off those that lived in his lands, as most of the mystical stones already flowed into his or his clan members' hands where they were either used or stored in the treasury. After all, mortals did not have a use for them and would instead instantly spend them if they were ever so lucky as to come across one, being able to live a life of indulgence for the next few years if they did. Cultivators, however, would be able to absorb the Energy of the Worldstored within the stones, furthering their cultivation, or store them somewhere and let the energy that they gave off increase the density of it in their surroundings. Hence, most clans situated their treasuries near their cultivation rooms, the Wu Clan's being inside the mountain just bellow the regular cultivation chambers.
"Offer them 6,700 if they accept now and deliver it themselves."
Wu Jian said. Wu Bi realised that her Clan Head was desperate for the Spirit Jade and nodded her head, making a note at the bottom of the parchment.
"What's the highest price we can be negotiated to?"
She said, business instincts telling her of the Wu Patriarch's intentions.
"6,900 is the most I can part with for it."
The merchant made another note before bowing.
"Then if it pleases lord Patriarch, I will go and commence negotiations."
She spoke whilst holding the bow.
"It does. You may leave."
He dismissed and Wu Bi shot out of the room as fast as she could whilst maintaining respect, obviously excited to be handling a transaction of this magnitude. Once she was gone, Wu Jian took out the Spatial Ring he had not yet been able to get inside.
"Looks like I will have to brute force it."
He whispered to himself, not looking forwards to the consequences of doing so.