Chapter 660: End of Trade Fair

Celestial Metal?!

The treasure was pretty much a mixture of garbage. It was too impure and it could be considered a rank three ingredient if it was slightly better. Otherwise, it would only be classified as a rank two ingredient.

Naturally, Shang Xia couldn’t care less about the metal. Instead, his attention was on those sparkling spots that covered it. It was actually made up of Star Essence!

That was something he required to restore his Abyssal Blade, and it was the only method he knew!

Trying his best to show no emotions, Shang Xia muttered casually, “Looks like there’s something else In the ball of metal. I guess I’ll take it.”

Paying another 100 essence crystals, Shang Xia obtained 2 treasures like that. He was elated to have received some Star Essence from the trade. With renewed vigor, Shang Xia started to look through the rest of the items.

The fisherman seemed extremely patient and he placed the treasures in Shang Xia’s Talisman Fish’s mouth one by one. He continued to make conversation throughout the entire process.

Alas, other than the impure Celestial Metal coated in Star Essence, Shang Xia failed to find anything else that could activate the Crimson Soul Tablet.

Feeling a little bad for having wasted so much time, Shang Xia randomly chose a piece of ancient wood that neither of them knew the name of before paying another 100 essence crystals. He was then released to the Cloud Sea.

The space in the Talisman Fish’s belly was limited and Shang Xia could only return to the Tongyou Platform to retrieve his treasures. After taking them out and placing yet another 1000 essence crystals into the fish’s belly, Shang Xia sent it back out to sea.

A single ‘dong’ ripped through the Three Unity Pagoda as a bell rang once. According to the rules set by the 3 super factions, the Cloud Sea would fade after the bell rang thrice. All trades would cease and everyone would have to take their leave.

Shang Xia’s Talisman Fish quickly arrived at the outskirts of the Cloud Sea and smashed into every jade coin it came across. He started to buy low-level cultivation resources in bulk.

Of course, those cultivation resources were only considered low-level to those present. The treasures he bought were at least of the third rank.

Shang Xia went around buying a batch of cultivation resources for his Shang Clan, and it was especially so for spiritual treasures and herbs the others could use.

Those treasures alone cost Shang Xia 300 to 400 essence crystals. His Talisman Fish shuttled across the Cloud Sea several times as he kept batch after batch of resources.

The second ring of the bell arrived…

By the time he brought back the batches of resources he obtained, he managed to erode the restriction on the strange metal case he obtained from the ‘archeologist’ back then.

Examining the items inside, he noticed a bunch of talisman paper made from unknown beast skin. However, instead of runes, rows upon rows of words were recorded. It seemed to contain a complete rank four martial art.

After looking through them, Shang Xia discovered the name of the technique. It was called the Disruption Twin Blades. It was suitable for cultivators wielding twin short shorts, short blades, spikes, or weapons of the like. One would be able to wield considerable power if they trained in it. What was more, every strike was strange and unpredictable. If used properly against their opponent, they were sure to cause significant damage.

A hundred essence crystals for a complete rank four martial art. There was no way Shang Xia made a loss in that trade. It could be considered a pleasant surprise.

…

As the trade fair reached its final phase, Shang Xia no longer bothered sending his Talisman Fish out to the outer regions to try his luck. He didn’t expect Chu Jia to wave him down violently and yell, “Come over here! Hurry up!”

Taken aback by her sudden cries, Shang Xia looked at Liu Qinglan who was focused on fishing before rushing over to Chu Jia who was already standing beside her.

As soon as he arrived, Chu Jia questioned in a low voice, “How many essence crystals do you have left?”

“2000 or so?” Shang Xia replied instantly.

To be really exact, he had 2500 essence crystals left.

A look of joy flashed past Chu Jia’s face. “Perfect! Lend me 1000 of them!”

Taking out 1000 essence crystals, Shang Xia handed them over before asking, “What’s going on?”

“We are doing something big! Heheh… Instructor Liu said that something fishy is going on. The treasure someone brought out to sell should have been looted from others!” Chu Jia whispered, as though she was afraid someone else would overhear their conversation.

A frown appeared on Shang Xia’s face. “Is the person from our Azure Origin World?”

Rolling her eyes at him, Chu Jia grumbled, “Who the hell would know that? However, from what they seem to be selling, those treasures should originate from the southern continents of our Azure Origin World.”

Shang Xia nodded slowly and said, “Who cares about their origins? All of us came a long way to take part in this trade fair. We won’t have to give a damn whether those treasures were stolen or not.”

Chu Jia also nodded in agreement. “Instructor Liu said that those treasures seemed to have been intentionally split off into different groups to be sold. That would mean that it has changed hands many times, but it might also show that they are intentionally avoiding the disciples of the holy lands.”

As they were concluding their conversation, Liu Qinglan, whose eyes had been closed the whole time, finally opened them. She sighed softly, “We finally came to a deal…”

She turned to look at Shang Xia before she continued, “The other side wants a complete inheritance from the first to fourth rank. Not only does it include advancement formulas, they also require the corresponding martial arts and secret arts.”

“If those treasures Chu Jia were talking about came from them exterminating some random faction, wouldn’t they have obtained whatever they were asking for?” Shang Xia wondered.

“If that’s what they did, it wouldn’t come as a surprise that they failed to retrieve the cultivation methods and inheritances. After all, every single faction would destroy their inheritances before they were annihilated. That would prevent their enemies from learning anything, and inheritances are a lot easier to get rid of than treasures!” Liu Qinglan cleared off some of his doubts.

Chu Jia was also surprised by her explanation. “Wait! If we give them an entire inheritance, would that mean that they wish to change their appearance altogether and establish another faction in the world?”

Liu Qinglan nodded to indicate she was right. “I already agreed. After all, we can change up the Zhu Family’s inheritance we obtained from the Coral Forest back then and hand it over to them. They won’t be able to discover that it came from us anyway. Originally, they wanted to trade those treasures for 2 more sets of rank four advancement medicine. I rejected them immediately and changed the condition to 2000 essence crystals instead.”

A complete rank four advancement medicine alone was worth slightly more than 1000 essence crystals. For Liu Qinglan to change the condition from 2 rank four advancement medicine to 2000 essence crystals would ensure they suffer no loss.

What shocked Shang Xia and Chu Jia was that Liu Qinglan actually agreed to trade away a complete set of rank one to four inheritance.

One had to know the recipe for the rank four advancement medicine alone would definitely be worth more than the medicine alone. A rank four inheritance would contain the advancement formula which would contain the recipe for an advancement medicine and the way it could be used! With the corresponding martial arts and secret arts, the value would definitely be no lower than 3000 to 4000 essence crystals!

Adding the 2000 essence crystals, would mean that Liu Qinglan’s trade would be valued at 6000 essence crystals or so!

The amount was enough to shock Shang Xia.

Chu Jia added, “I managed to borrow 1000 essence crystals from him! Do we have enough?”

Liu Qinglan looked at Shang Xia again before responding, “I nearly exhausted my essence crystals… I’m afraid 1000 won’t be enough. Please lend me another 500 essence crystals.”

Obviously, Shang Xia wouldn’t be stingy at this point in time. Taking out another 500 essence crystals, he handed it over to Liu Qinglan while giving her a quick reminder, “The bell is going to ring for the third time. Instructor Liu, you need to hurry up.”

She nodded before retrieving the essence crystals. Taking out another 500 from her Embroidered Cloud Case, she seemed to whisper something before dragging a Talisman Fish up onto the platform.

𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

The Talisman Fish spat out 3 sealed spiritual cases and after Liu Qinglan looked through them, she placed 500 essence crystals into the belly of the fish before releasing it.

She casually handed the cases to Chu Jia before focusing on her fishing pole again. More accurately, her divine perception entered her jade coin.

Chu Jia couldn’t wait and opened those cases immediately. She brought out a semi broken stone slab that was 3 feet tall and seemed a little mottled away.

“Wow! It’s a formation core! From the damage it suffered, it looks like it was destroyed not too long ago…” As a Rank Four Formation Grandmaster, Chu Jia could obviously tell the state the item was in since it was a formation core.

Not too long later, Liu Qinglan’s fishing pole jerked violently and she dragged another massive Talisman Fish up onto the platform. It spat out another 3 sealed spiritual cases before swallowing 500 essence crystals.

By the time the third Talisman Fish left, Liu Qinglan had several spirit cases. However, she picked one out and tossed it over to Shang Xia.

Opening it with slight confusion, he discovered that there were 3 stacks of talisman papers of various ranks. There were 50 rank two talisman papers, 20 rank three talisman papers, and 6 rank four talisman papers.

That wasn’t all. There were even 3 rank three talisman inheritances contained within and a rank four talisman inheritance.

Examining the rank four talisman inheritance, Shang Xia discovered that it was called the Earth Evasion Concealment Talisman.

With his perception as a rank four Talisman Grandmaster, he could tell that it was a great treasure when it came to fleeing from dangerous situations!

Liu Qinglan chuckled happily, “Those people weren’t willing to hand over the talisman papers initially. They wanted to look for a Talisman Grandmaster themselves to make talisman commissions, but I promised to help provide an avenue where they could request talismans of the fourth rank and under from us in the future. That was how I obtained this case. I also told them about your secret code phrase, the ‘Four Constellation Sage, Talisman Grandmaster’. They will come to retrieve the talismans in the future.”

Shang Xia scratched his head before muttering, “Alright… Looks like our Talisman Hall will be getting busy soon!”

Obviously, Liu Qinglan didn’t obtain the case of talisman papers for Shang Xia alone. It was also meant to be shared with the Talisman Hall.

…

When the fourth fish was retrieved, all 2000 essence crystals had been brought away. The fifth Talisman Fish would come to retrieve the Zhu Family’s inheritance. It would start with the rank one inheritance and continue going up the ranks as each Talisman Fish came with their promised treasure.

However, the bell rang the third time after the final Talisman Fish came to spit out the 3 remaining sealed spirit cases. Liu Qinglan placed the rank four inheritance into its belly solemnly as she completed the trades as the trade fair drew to a close.