Chapter 297: Xia Ji?!

After about a quarter of an hour, Shopkeeper Lin hurried back and they completed the transaction. Most of the treasures had around twenty Soul Imprints. Only one had thirty Soul Imprints.

According to Shopkeeper Lin, this was their shop’s most treasured item, and it made up for nearly one-fifth of the entire bill.

Having spent over eleven thousand low-grade spirit stones in one go, Fang Chen glanced at his storage ring. His low-grade spirit stones had dwindled from over sixteen thousand to around five thousand. While it seemed like a hefty expenditure, in reality, he had nearly emptied the treasury of this Heavenly Treasure Pavilion. For him, spirit stones were only valuable when they were being used for cultivation, they were worthless otherwise.

"Shopkeeper Lin, I also need spiritual materials for talismans. Do you happen to have any?" inquired Fang Chen casually.

"Spiritual materials for talismans? Yes, we do. May I ask what grade you're looking for? Would yellow rank mid-grade suffice?" asked Shopkeeper Lin quite eagerly.

"Those will do.” Fang Chen nodded with a smile. His previous set of materials was at best considered normal among yellow rank low-grade, not even reaching the mid-grade. Even so, he could easily make peak-grade Purple Lightning Talismans. He’d buy the yellow rank, mid-grade materials just in case he stumbled upon an inheritance of some yellow rank, mid grade talismans. However, most of these were closely guarded secrets, and whether he could obtain them depended on luck.

Soon, a complete set of materials was presented before Fang Chen.

One talisman brush, two hundred talisman papers, and one catty of cinnabar. Those three types of spiritual materials emitted a strong aura, subtly exuding the power of fire.

"To be honest, this set of materials has already been reserved. However, considering the substantial business we’ve made today, I'll take the liberty of selling this set to you," said Shopkeeper Lin with a smile. "This set of materials is filled with the power of fire. If they are used to make fire-type talismans, their stability will be exceptionally high, and their power will also be enhanced."

Fang Chen pondered for a moment, then handed over a total of two thousand low-grade spirit stones. The talisman brush was worth three hundred, the cinnabar was worth three hundred, leaving one thousand six hundred for the purchase of the talisman papers. Each talisman paper was priced at an astonishing eight low-grade spirit stones. It's worth noting that these were just talisman papers, not talismans, yet their value was already comparable to mid-grade Purple Lightning Talismans.

Seeing Fang Chen's direct attitude, Shopkeeper Lin became even more convinced of his extraordinary background. He was even convinced that the Fang Chan had a mid-grade talisman inheritance. After all, who would be willing to spend such a large sum of money to buy talisman materials if they didn’t have one, right?

Next, Fang Chen and his two companions were invited by Shopkeeper Lin to an elegant room where he talked to them in detail about the upcoming trade conference that’ll be held in the Grand Qian Empire’s capital, in a few months.

"I heard that the organizers are from the fourth-tier empire, Azure Cloud. It is said to be jointly organized by the three major sects within the Azure Cloud Empire." Shopkeeper Lin sighed. "They've sent out many invitations, and there will be cultivators from over thirty fifth-tier empires and hundreds of sixth-tier empires attending. It’ll be the most grand event that has happened in the Grand Qian Empire in nearly two hundred years."

Jiang Zhong's expression changed slightly; the more lively the Grand Qian Empire was, the more unfavorable it was for them.

Fang Chen fell into thought. If the trade conference was indeed as grand as Shopkeeper Lin had described, then it might be possible for him to obtain yellow rank high-grade treasures there. He needed to set aside some spirit stones before the conference opened to avoid embarrassment later on.

Suddenly, the door flew open and Qin Wei scrambled in."Shopkeeper Lin, someone has taken hostages outside our shop," he said. He kept his eyes fixed on the ground, not daring to look at Fang Chen and his companions.

"Who dares to cause trouble at our Heavenly Treasure Pavilion?" Shopkeeper Lin's face immediately darkened and the aura of a Foundation Building Realm emanated from him, putting pressure on Jiang Zhong, Jiang Tianai and Qin Wei.

"I think it’s someone from the Grand Qian Empire,” said Qin Wei in a low voice, “but his cultivation is not high and is only at the fourth level of the Qi Refining Realm. And the one confronting him... seems to be from the Qinghu imperial family.”

From the Grand Qian Empire? Shopkeeper Lin was surprised. That was a fifth-tier empire. A cultivator pursued by the Qinghu imperial family was only at the fourth stage of the Qi Refining Realm?

He suddenly felt ill at ease. He really didn’t want to get the pavilion involved in any kind of conflict.

Shopkeeper Lin immediately expressed his apologies to Fang Chen and hastily left to have a look.

"We should leave too," Fang Chen said to Jiang Zhong and Jiang Tianai with a slight smile.

Jiang Zhong immediately felt relieved. The sooner they arrived in Grand Qian, the better.

The entrance of the shop was blocked by a crowd. A young man in white had a woman tightly held with a sword to her snowy neck. The blade had already pierced her fair skin, causing blood to ooze out.

In front of them were women dressed in green. They all bore a striking resemblance to humans, with the only difference being the fox tails protruding from their backs. Many demons were now glaring angrily at the young man in white, some even beginning to curse loudly:

"What audacity! How dare you hold a member of our imperial family hostage! Release her immediately!"

"I'll skin him alive and feast on his flesh! How dare a mere human cause trouble on our territory!"

"Even if you're from Grand Qian, you won't leave here alive!"

"Xia Ji, are you listening?” said the woman held hostage. “Release me now! I can plead with my mother to spare your life."

There were two fox tails swaying behind here. It was clear that the woman was of noble status.

The anger among the demons intensified at the mention of her mother. The one taken hostage was none other than the princess of their empire!

"Release the princess!" scolded one of the fox women dressed in green indignantly.

"Don't take me for a fool.” Xia Ji smirked. “If I release her, you will kill me on the spot."

"Prepare an immortal boat for me immediately. I know your family can get it done quickly. Send me away from the Qinghu Empire, and I'll release your princess. Otherwise, don't blame me for being impolite. I'll cut off her head with a slash. She's only at the third stage of Qi Refining Realm, while I'm at the fourth. Trust me, I can definitely do it."

Shopkeeper Lin and Qin Wei hurried out of the shop door. Upon hearing Xia Ji's words, Shopkeeper Lin angrily shouted, "Who do you think you are? Release the princess immediately! Harm her in the slightest and your whole family will be exterminated!"

"You’re the Heavenly Treasure Pavilion’s shopkeeper? Prepare an immortal boat for me, or I'll kill the princess right here.” Xia Ji chuckled. “If you don’t, you can forget about your having a business in this empire from this day on.”

The crowd was startled, curiosity flashing in their eyes. It seemed that the hostage-taker had already set his eyes on the Heavenly Treasure Pavilion. While other places might not sell immortal boats, there was a high probability that the Heavenly Treasure Pavilion did.

"Xia Ji, you can't escape. The one who actually wants to capture you is Big Brother Jue." The princess suddenly spoke up. "Release me, and I can guarantee that I won’t pursue you anymore. After all, you won't be able to escape from his grasp."

"Don't waste my time, little girl.” Xia Ji glanced coldly at the princess, his tone resolute. “I thought I could get away safely with the help of your connections, but who knew you'd be in cahoots with that guy. The only way you can live today is by doing as I say."

Fang Chen was stepping out from the store when he suddenly saw what was happening.

Xia Ji? Xia Ji is actually here?

Despite Fang Chen's excellent control over his emotions, his heart couldn't help but skip a beat.