Chapter 40
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Chapter 40: Purchasing Treasures
"Um~" The Young Girl seemed to realize her mistake. She lowered her head and mumbled, "Everyone says you’re a cursed star! Wherever you go, people die!"
"That’s impossible! Who’s spreading such nonsense?" Fang Lie retorted angrily.
"Nonsense?" The girl suddenly lifted her chin defiantly. "You went to the Ancestral Hall yesterday and got over a thousand people killed! Today at Gentle Breeze Tower, another hundred died!"
"Huh?" Fang Lie blinked, then chuckled dryly. "They were executed under sect rules. How’s that my fault?"
"Of course it’s your fault!" The girl huffed. "If you hadn’t tattled, they’d still be alive! That’s why everyone panics when you show up – we think you’re here to bring more trouble!"
"You—" Fang Lie choked on his words, face flushing.
The Shopkeeper finally intervened, rapping the girl’s head lightly. "Foolish child! At Baibao Zhai, every guest deserves respect. Is this how I taught you?"
"Sorry, Master!" The girl stuck out her tongue before scampering off to fetch tea.
Turning to Fang Lie, the Shopkeeper clasped his hands apologetically. "Young friend, please pardon my apprentice’s rudeness."
Fang Lie waved dismissively. "No harm done. Just a misunderstanding."
After ushering Fang Lie into a private chamber – a privilege usually reserved for family disciples or Golden Pool adepts – the Shopkeeper inquired, "What brings you here today?"
"I’ve come to sell this." Fang Lie produced the Shadow Heart-Questioning Dagger. "Can’t afford to keep such finery."
The Shopkeeper’s eyes lit up. "Zhou the Skinflint’s prized possession! He spent five hundred thousand spirit stones acquiring this!"
"Five hundred thousand?" Fang Lie nearly dropped the dagger. "Second-tier top-grade treasures rarely exceed three hundred thousand!"
"Ah, but rarity dictates value." The Shopkeeper leaned forward conspiratorially. "Crafted by the Shadow Demon Sect using rare shadow sand, this leaves no trace – no sound, no glow. Even among the top ten demonic sects, few possess such artifacts. In righteous territories like Mo Sect? Priceless."
"Still selling?" The Shopkeeper arched an eyebrow.
"Yes." Fang Lie’s jaw tightened, ignoring his inner lament about hungry mouths waiting at home.
"Standard offer’s eighty percent value – four hundred thousand. But for you?" The Shopkeeper spread his hands generously. "Four hundred fifty thousand."
"Done." Fang Lie nodded. "Four basic Sumeru Bags, eight first-tier top-grade treasures – half offensive, half defensive. Spend the rest on cultivation pills. Keep fifty thousand spirit stones for me."
When the Shopkeeper returned, he presented four golden-stitched pouches. "Four Sumeru Bags, ten thousand spirit stones each."
Fang Lie accepted them reverently, the leather smooth against his calloused palms.
These Sumeru Bags contained three-zhang cubic spaces, perfect for storing numerous items and essential for cultivators.
Poor cultivators could only dream of owning such treasures. In the past, Fang Lie had sighed longingly at their price, but now he purchased four at once – one each for his ice, fire, poison, and dragon-aligned siblings.
The Shopkeeper then presented four palm-sized green wooden shields. "Thousand-Year Green Pine Shields," he announced. "Top-tier first-rank defensive treasures forged from ancient pines. Beyond formidable protection, they contain rich Yi Wood Spiritual Energy to repair themselves, heal wounds, and neutralize poisons. Even Golden Pool cultivators covet these! Fifty thousand spirit stones each. Satisfied?"
"More than satisfied!" Fang Lie replied eagerly, accepting the shields.
He recognized these legendary artifacts. Considered the finest Qi Sea realm defensive treasures, their scarcity due to the rare thousand-year pines justified the steep price. While typical first-rank treasures cost 20-30 thousand stones, these four shields alone consumed 200,000 spirit stones.
Next came four weapons: Cold Iron Knife, Blazing Flame Spear, Spirit Snake Sword, and Soaring Dragon Halberd. Fang Lie immediately noticed how each matched his siblings’ elemental affinities. Though less expensive than the shields at 140,000 total, they brought the expenditure to 480,000 stones.
A dozen Qi Sea-grade spirit pills followed, costing 20,000. Finally, five mist-covered Ocean Stones completed the transaction – each water-aligned top-grade stone equivalent to 10,000 low-grade spirit stones.
After exchanging the Shadow Heart-Questioning Dagger, Fang Lie departed.
The Young Girl emerged from the shadows. "Master! Why gift our rare shields to some dead man walking? And paying ninety percent value breaks protocol!"
"Foolish child," the Shopkeeper chuckled. "Potential clients warrant extraordinary efforts, even at minor losses."
"But he’s Qi Sea level with countless enemies! He’ll die within days!"
"Not anymore," countered the Shopkeeper. "Surviving the Great Heaven Fierce Fire Formation proves his resilience. As Benevolence Token Lord candidate, our investment might yield astronomical returns."
Scratching her head, the girl muttered, "More likely wasted coins…"
"That’s why I’m the master," he retorted. "Mark my words – this phoenix won’t fall easily."
Meanwhile, Fang Lie stormed through market stalls, purchasing clothes and provisions for his siblings. Sumeru Bags easily swallowed the haul – two full bags costing mere hundreds.
After verifying safety with the old bird, he soared home via Divine Phoenix Wings.
His cave dwelling erupted in joy as mountains of food and clothes appeared. Distributing the bags and eight treasures to his cultivator siblings, Fang Lie grinned at their stunned faces.
Ice Second Brother blurted, "Big Bro! Did you rob Gentle Breeze Tower?"
