Calamity Messenger

Chapter 183 - 144: Sword and Blade Messenger

"Is the ’Advanced Sword and Saber Mastery Secret Manual’ worth 150,000 Spiritual Jade?"

It is, and it’s actually a bargain.

It’s important to know that an advanced footwork manual from the Qi Kingdom can fetch a price of 200,000 Spiritual Jade, let alone such a rare and precious Sword and Saber Secret Manual. But the problem is, the Qi Kingdom dares to ask for 200,000 Spiritual Jade because it truly is a powerful nation.

Advanced secret manuals are inevitably produced from the Second-Turn Secret Realm, and to control a Second-Turn Secret Realm, at least a Third-Turn Commander, ten Second-Turn Commanders, over a hundred First-Turn Officers, and hundreds of elite Baibao are required, with the collaboration of distinguished clans and aristocrats from various places to maintain this monopoly. It’s precisely because of these people that advanced secret manuals can sell for such high prices, and buyers are forced to accept these prices.

However, here in Changle City on Shu Dao Mountain, any manuals that are sold must have uncertain origins and cannot be sold at a premium backed by a nation’s endorsement. Therefore, when Zhong Ji offered a bid of 130,000 Spiritual Jade, he was confident of victory.

If others, such as a Guardian, participated in the competition, the price might go up to about 170,000, but aside from him, everyone else was of no consequence — who would dare to challenge Zhong Ji, the Blood Steward?

Zhong Ji is not a madman who takes advantage of every opportunity. Although his bid isn’t high, it’s close to the average price, ensuring that both the auction house and the seller can profit. At most, merchants might quietly criticize his domineering presence but would not consider him to be breaking rules or forcibly taking things.

As the blood relative of the Blood Phase, Zhong Ji naturally understands the importance of Changle City to Shu Dao Mountain. Half of the dozen or so corpses outside the city walls are his doing, but he knows even more that he cannot let this group of outlaw merchants become too arrogant, so he occasionally descends the mountain to keep them reminded of the rules.

Perhaps it’s ridiculous for the Demon Dao to speak of rules; in fact, Shu Dao Mountain has no written rules — without rules, no one can exploit them.

Here, everything relies on one’s conscience, and fairness is in the heart. If someone dared to sell a Heart-Protecting Mirror for 500,000 Spiritual Jade, talk as much as they want, they’d still end up hanging on the city wall.

Therefore, when Zhong Ji heard someone bidding, he wasn’t angry at first, thinking it might be someone from the mountain also interested in the manual.

But when he turned his head, he couldn’t see anyone at all.

"Who placed the bid?" Zhong Ji frowned and said, "What a nerve, shouting and then running away, daring to cause trouble in front of me, the Blood Steward?"

"I’m standing right here and haven’t moved. Are you getting farsighted, uncle?"

Zhong Ji stood up and saw a little girl standing beside the venue. She was biting into a sugar-coated hawthorn fruit, carrying a longsword almost as tall as she was. Unlike most people there who were wearing head-concealing hats and cloaks that obscured their appearances, she had no qualms about wearing bright and shiny clothes. Her handguards and boots, though not emanating any glow, were clearly valuable tokens.

If this were in Chang’an or Jiangnan, her noble appearance would surely earn her respect, but this was Changle City, and she was an outsider.

Everyone in the venue turned to look at the little girl, some in fear, some in mocking smiles, and some quietly left the venue, never expecting an outsider to dare offend the Blood Steward.

Though just a little girl, no one dared to underestimate her. Anyone who could come to Changle City could not be ordinary.

Zhong Ji’s henchmen walked over and surrounded her, saying nothing, only coldly staring at this little girl who dared to be disrespectful to Zhong Ji.

Mixing with Zhong Ji, his henchmen were naturally not good people either, each with dozens or hundreds of lives on their hands, looking either fiercely vicious or ominously sly. Even an ordinary person catching a glimpse of these Demonic Messengers would be scared witless.

However, surrounded by such a group, the little girl showed no fear at all. After finishing a stick of sugar-coated hawthorn fruit, she took out another, eating it while clicking her tongue in wonder, as if she were appreciating animals.

"Move aside."

Zhong Ji’s henchmen were suddenly pushed away, and a cloaked, masked figure walked beside the little girl, their inner Qi Blood surging, showing their cultivation to the entire venue without any concealment.

A Third-Turn Messenger!

Zhong Ji’s face darkened. No wonder they dared to be so arrogant; it turned out to be an outsider from the Third-Turn. Was it a creeping vine invited by another Guardian, or an Overseas Dragon wanting a share in Shu Dao Mountain?

But in front of me, whether dragon or tiger, you will keep your head down!

"My apologies, may I ask how to address you?" he said with a sinister smile. "If you’re interested in exploring the mountain, I can introduce you to my big brother, the Blood Phase. In Shu Dao Mountain, even as a Third-Turn Messenger, you won’t get far without the protection of the Three Great Guardians."

Ignoring Zhong Ji’s implied threat, Pharmacist’s Wish placed a hand on Rabbit Heroine’s shoulder and whispered seriously, "With me here, I can ensure your safe departure."

She had already arranged for Wuqiu and Shidong that if a fight broke out, the two maids would follow them discreetly to escape together.

"Big sister, I deliberately came here to place my bid so I wouldn’t trouble you," Rabbit Heroine replied softly, then shouted, "I’m here to make a purchase, not to register my residency! I’ve already bid 150,000, why haven’t they sold it to me?"

"This... the heroine has bid 150,000 Spiritual Jade, is there anyone who will offer a higher price?" The auctioneer finally seemed to come back to his senses and continued the auction for the manual in a flat tone.

"I bid 160,000 Spiritual Jade," Zhong Ji called out, then turned to them and said, "Ladies, this manual is a birthday gift for my nephew. His birthday is in a few days, and my elder brother only has this one son. He’s been indulged to do whatever he pleases because of my elder brother’s favor, to the point where even I don’t dare to offend him. If you’re willing to let me have this manual, I will definitely convey your goodwill to my elder brother."

As he spoke, he broke into a smile, exposing his gums: "It’s just an advanced manual; why ruin the harmony and waste money for others to profit?"

Pharmacist’s Wish’s heart tightened as Zhong Ji actually brought up the Blood Phase.

His meaning was clear—"You’ve already made me pay an extra thirty thousand Spiritual Jade. You can back off now and leave as if nothing happened, but if you keep causing trouble, don’t blame us Blood Phase Sect for being impolite."

Not to mention the Blood Phase himself, Zhong Ji alone is a Third Turn Demon Messenger who, with a single command, can gather a dozen or so skilled demonic fighters. Even if Pharmacist’s Wish has high regard for herself, she doesn’t think she can win against this group of demonic thugs through conventional means.

If Pharmacist’s Wish found herself in this situation, even if the Duke Jin’s Mansion hadn’t fallen, she would still swallow her pride.

The son of a wealthy family doesn’t sit under the eaves; there’s no need to quarrel with a pack of mad dogs. Her life shouldn’t be wasted in this mire; there will be a way to deal with her enemies when she returns in strength.

But... Pharmacist’s Wish glanced down at the Rabbit Heroine, who also looked up at her. As usual, the Rabbit Heroine’s expression was neither joyful nor sorrowful, like a little girl tasting a bitter gourd.

For some reason, Pharmacist’s Wish could see the concerns in her heart and smiled, "Don’t worry about us."

The Rabbit Heroine nodded, lazily saying, "I bid seventeen hundred thousand Spiritual Jade."

Zhong Ji’s expression darkened, "Eighteen..."

"Two hundred thousand Spiritual Jade!" Rabbit Heroine said casually.

The auction house fell into silence. Although it was called an auction, most of the items were illicit goods, and two hundred thousand Spiritual Jade was an enormous transaction. Yet at this moment, most people weren’t focused on the transaction itself; their eyes moved between the little girl, Pharmacist’s Wish, and Zhong Ji. In their view, this was less about bidding for a secret manual and more about an outsider’s challenge to the Blood Phase Sect.

Normally, people know not to offend the three Great Guardians of Shu Dao Mountain. Conversely, anyone daring to offend them undoubtedly has ill intentions... It seems even Shu Dao Mountain is in turmoil.

Zhong Ji suddenly stood up, shocking everyone. Many instinctively moved to the edges of the room.

Could there be a fight now? Here?

"Do you really have two hundred thousand Spiritual Jade?" Zhong Ji laughed out of anger, "Little girl, leave the bidding to the adults next to you, and roll aside—"

Bang!

The Rabbit Heroine conjured a large treasure chest from thin air, opened its lid, and revealed rows of dark green hundred jade. The greenish glow made everyone hold their breath, and many swallowed, instinctively taking a step closer to the chest.

"A thousand per string, ten strings per ten thousand. Here are two hundred strings, exactly two hundred thousand!" The Rabbit Heroine patted the chest and said, "I’ve proven I have the money. What about you, uncle? Or are you just a penniless scammer?"

Zhong Ji looked at the hundred jade inside the chest and suddenly turned expressionless. He glanced deeply at Pharmacist’s Wish and the Rabbit Heroine, then turned to leave the venue.

His subordinates followed closely, but not without making a throat-slitting gesture toward the Rabbit Heroine and Pharmacist’s Wish, their eyes looking at them like two pieces of prey as they left with mocking smiles.

Since Zhong Ji voluntarily gave up, the Sword and Saber Secret Manual naturally belonged to the Rabbit Heroine. It took a little time to count the Spiritual Jade. When the Rabbit Heroine and her group left the auction house, many people were waiting for them outside. These people didn’t approach, only following them from a distance like annoying and disgusting tails.

As expected... Pharmacist’s Wish had anticipated this.

The impact of taking out two hundred thousand Spiritual Jade at once was immense. Even she never carried more than twenty or thirty thousand, and she guessed that Zhong Ji probably didn’t have that much money on him either, needing to keep an account first and have it delivered from Shu Dao Mountain days later.

The fact that the Rabbit Heroine could produce two hundred thousand at once would undoubtedly lead others to believe she had even more money. Even though she had not yet revealed the brilliance of any token, everyone would assume she was wearing one of great value—and indeed she was.

After such an event, coupled with the night setting in, no one was in the mood for a leisurely stroll, and the Rabbit Heroine went with the flow. Unable to contain herself, Wuqiu asked, "Heroine, why did you spend so much money on an advanced secret manual? You’re already a Second-Turn, shouldn’t you not need it anymore?"

"It’s for my brother."

"Your brother?" Everyone was taken aback.

Meanwhile, inside the Thief’s House, Yan Qing looked at the Advanced Sword Mastery Secret Manual in his hands and chose to use it without hesitation.

His Qi Blood instantly surged, skyrocketing and intensifying!

The increase in Qi Blood and Divine Soul agility from the Second-Turn was twice that of the First-Turn, bringing with it twice the stimulation, making Yan Qing involuntarily moan.

With a shudder through his body, Yan Qing found himself drenched in sweat and lying on the bed, feeling every part of him filled with power, yet simultaneously incredibly relaxed, his ears keen, his eyes bright, his mind clear and invigorated, and even the world seemed to present new colors he had never noticed before.

Second transition, accomplished!

Moreover, his transition was to the most powerful Second-Turn profession of Sword and Blade Messenger!