novelraw Chapter 281 - 249: Refusal, Bidding, Tracking
Chapter 281 - 249: Refusal, Bidding, Tracking
"He actually helped Zhang Feng achieve a breakthrough and become a true Refiner in just two and a half years. It seems this master of his is genuinely skilled."
Anya mused.
"What else?"
Anya asked.
"This master that Cloud Ascendant Zhenren follows... his origins are a bit mysterious. We can’t find anything on him, as if he just suddenly appeared in Cangzhou Prefecture."
The woman in the tight, black clothes continued, "He opened a weapon shop on Lin Yun Street in the Ninth Ring of Cangzhou Prefecture’s first layer. The shop’s name is ’A Weapon Shop’."
"He only sells a single weapon each day, but its quality is never lower than a Top-Grade Nine-Layered Spirit Pattern Artifact."
"A Weapon Shop."
Anya fell into thought. ’If that’s the case, then Cloud Ascendant Zhenren’s Spirit-Slaying Spear was most likely given to him by his master to be auctioned off.’
"Also, a Peak Refiner capable of crafting a Top-Grade Nine-Layered Law Artifact... there are only a handful of those in all of Cangzhou Prefecture. Every single one of them is a truly important figure."
"My lady, should we continue the investigation?"
the woman in black asked.
"There’s no need."
Anya waved her hand.
Evidently, Anya planned to meet this mysterious shop owner in person.
「As evening fell.」
SWOOSH!
Cloud Ascendant Zhenren tore through the air, arriving swiftly inside the weapon shop.
"Master."
Cloud Ascendant Zhenren bowed in salute.
"Mm."
Xu Qing looked up and asked, "Is it done?"
"Yes."
Cloud Ascendant Zhenren nodded. He took out a Storage Ring and handed it respectfully to Xu Qing, saying, "Master, these are all the materials you required. They are all inside this Storage Ring."
"Good."
Xu Qing accepted it.
Sure enough, inside the Storage Ring was a large quantity of materials—every single item from Xu Qing’s list was there, not one was missing.
"You’ve done well."
Xu Qing nodded. "What about the Spirit-Slaying Spear your master entrusted to you?"
"Master," Cloud Ascendant Zhenren said, "I handed the Spirit-Slaying Spear you gave me to the Yuntian Auction House to be auctioned. These materials were also purchased through the Yuntian Auction House."
"This is an Invitation Letter from the Yuntian Auction House, given to me. Please take a look, Master."
Cloud Ascendant Zhenren took out the Invitation Letter.
"No need."
Xu Qing waved his hand. "You can go to the auction house."
"Yes."
Cloud Ascendant Zhenren nodded respectfully.
"You may go."
Xu Qing said.
"Yes, I will take my leave."
Head bowed, Cloud Ascendant Zhenren slowly turned and left.
「Late at night.」
HUM!
「In the courtyard.」
The bright moon hung high in the sky, its brilliant light coating the dark courtyard in a layer of silver. Inside his bedroom, Xu Qing opened his eyes.
SWISH!
The next moment, Xu Qing’s figure vanished. He had left his bedroom, and before one could even register it, he was already standing on the roof.
Beneath the moonlight, on the rooftop, stood a gracefully poised woman besides Xu Qing. The moonlight spilled down, bathing her in its glow, making her look like a celestial being descended to the mortal realm.
"Who are you?"
Xu Qing’s tone was calm.
"This humble one is Anya."
The graceful woman in white gauze responded to Xu Qing and continued, "I am the director of the 7th Layer of the Yuntian Auction House in Cangzhou Prefecture. I have come uninvited; I hope Senior will not take offense."
"Yuntian Auction House."
Xu Qing sized her up for a moment before speaking calmly, "What business do you have with me?"
"Senior."
Anya took a deep breath and asked cautiously, "May I ask, was the Spirit-Slaying Spear personally forged by you, Senior?"
"That is correct."
Xu Qing nodded.
"Senior."
A glimmer of delight appeared in Anya’s eyes. "I have a matter I’d like to ask for your help with. Of course, please rest assured, Senior, I will make sure it is well worth your while."
"I’m not interested."
Xu Qing waved his hand dismissively. "You can leave now."
"Senior, I..."
Anya wanted to say more.
HUM!
The next instant, she felt the world spin around her, as if space and time had been inverted. By the time Anya came to her senses, she was already outside the perimeter of A Weapon Shop.
"This..."
Anya’s beautiful eyes widened in shock.
One must understand, Anya was not weak. The very fact that she could be the director of the 7th Layer of the Yuntian Auction House was proof of her formidable strength. Moreover, she had reached the peak of the Third Realm: Law Realm, having fully comprehended and mastered a Law.
However, despite her cultivation and power, just now, she had been utterly powerless to resist. She had been ejected from the shop’s premises in the blink of an eye, finding herself standing outside.
’Terrifying.’
’Simply terrifying.’
Anya took a deep breath. She bowed deeply toward A Weapon Shop and said respectfully, "Senior, this junior will impose upon you again next time."
SWOOSH!
The moment she finished speaking, Anya’s figure vanished, transforming into a streak of light that shot into the distance. She was clearly returning to the 7th Layer.
「Three days later.」
「Cangzhou Prefecture, 7th Layer.」
「Yuntian Auction House.」
The auction was held as scheduled.
Naturally, Xu Qing did not attend this auction; Cloud Ascendant Zhenren went in his place. The event proceeded without any major disturbances.
At the end of the auction, the final, featured item was brought out.
It was Xu Qing’s ordinary Level 30 long spear. Of course, in the words of Anya and the others, it was the Top-Grade Nine-Layered Law Artifact known as the ’Spirit-Slaying Spear’.
"This is no ordinary Top-Grade Nine-Layered Law Artifact. It is the magnum opus of a master refiner. The craftsmanship contained within borders on Law itself—it has reached the pinnacle, beyond description," Anya announced. "I imagine any Refiner with a discerning eye can see the true value of this Law Artifact. It isn’t merely a Top-Grade Nine-Layered Law Artifact."
"Its true worth lies in the exquisite Artifact Refining techniques it embodies."
"Therefore, for our final, featured item, the starting bid is 10,000 Top-grade Law Stones. Each increment must be no less than 100 Top-grade Law Stones."
"And now..."
"Let the bidding begin!!!"
The moment Anya’s voice fell.
...
"Eleven thousand!"
...
"Twelve thousand!"
...
As expected, the competition was fierce.
In truth, a Top-Grade Nine-Layered Law Artifact was extremely valuable, but usually only worth around 10,000 Top-grade Law Stones. However, the exquisite Artifact Refining techniques embodied in this weapon had doubled its value.
Especially in the hands of a Refiner, its value would be even greater.
"Twenty thousand!!!"
With a loud shout, VIP Room Three placed a bid, raising the price to a full 20,000. The entire hall fell silent; no one else continued to bid.
In the end, Xu Qing’s ordinary Level 30 long spear—the Top-Grade Nine-Layered Law Artifact ’Spirit-Slaying Spear’—was sold for 20,000 to the distinguished guest in VIP Room Three.
"Twenty thousand, going once!"
"Twenty thousand, going twice!!"
"Twenty thousand, going three times!!!"
"Sold!"
BANG!
The hammer fell, sealing the deal.
"Congratulations to the guest in VIP Room Three for winning the Top-Grade Nine-Layered Law Artifact ’Spirit-Slaying Spear’ for 20,000 Top-grade Law Stones!"
Anya announced.
The hall immediately erupted in an uproar.
And with that, the auction came to a close.
「That afternoon.」
Cloud Ascendant Zhenren took the 19,900 Top-grade Law Stones and headed for Lin Yun Street on the first layer of Cangzhou Prefecture as fast as he could.
「Yuntian Auction House.」
"Have you found out?"
"We have."
"Several years ago, Cloud Ascendant Zhenren successfully became an apprentice. Afterward, it took him only two and a half years to break through and become a true Refiner."
"The master Cloud Ascendant Zhenren follows is the owner of ’A Weapon Shop’, which is located on Lin Yun Street in the Ninth Ring of Cangzhou Prefecture’s first layer."
"Interesting."
"So which powerhouse is this, tempering themselves in the mortal world? Or are they seeking enlightenment amidst the dust of the mortal realm, hoping to sublimate and break through to the next Realm?"
"..."
Clearly, the Spirit-Slaying Spear had caused quite a stir. Many factions had taken notice, especially the Refiners, who were paying extremely close attention.
After this auction, the name and reputation of ’A Weapon Shop’ began to spread among the major factions of Cangzhou Prefecture’s upper three layers. This was inevitable.
「Evening.」
「Cangzhou Prefecture, First Layer.」
「Lin Yun Street.」
「Inside A Weapon Shop.」
"Master."
Cloud Ascendant Zhenren rushed in, looking quite flustered. He was carrying the enormous sum of nineteen thousand nine hundred Top-grade Law Stones.
It could be said that he could have been robbed and killed at any point along the way.
Thankfully, he made it through, shaken but unscathed, arriving safely before Xu Qing.
"Mm."
Xu Qing glanced up. "What was the final price at the auction?"
"Reporting to Master, your Spirit-Slaying Spear sold at the Yun Tian Auction for a grand total of twenty thousand Top-grade Law Stones," Cloud Ascendant Zhenren said, his voice trembling with excitement. "This is what’s left, nineteen thousand nine hundred Top-grade Law Stones. Please inspect them, Master."
"Good."
Xu Qing took it. With a sweep of his consciousness, he confirmed the nineteen thousand nine hundred Top-grade Law Stones inside the Storage Ring. "You’ve handled this matter well."
"You praise me too much, Master."
Cloud Ascendant Zhenren lowered his head. "It’s mainly because the Spirit-Slaying Spear you refined was so Perfect that it stunned the Yuntian Auction House. That’s why everything went so smoothly, and why it fetched the sky-high price of twenty thousand Top-grade Law Stones."
"Mm."
Xu Qing nodded, his expression calm.
HUM!
Just then, a figure materialized high above, hovering over A Weapon Shop. The person looked down upon Xu Qing’s courtyard with an arrogant gaze.
"Senior."
BOOM!
This was a young man, his hands clasped behind his back and his expression haughty. An extremely powerful Power of Law swirled around him, coalescing into invisible Sword Qi.
’He’s strong.’
’Very strong, indeed.’
"You were followed."
Xu Qing said.
"Th-this..."
Cloud Ascendant Zhenren’s face was a mask of panic. "M-Master... I... I had no idea!!!"
"His cultivation has reached the peak of the Third Realm: Law Realm. It’s normal that you were unable to detect him," Xu Qing stated.