Chapter 153: Chapter 152: I’ll Ask Again
"Junior Brother Zhen, I’ve heard about what happened to your elder brother... but this has nothing to do with Senior Brother Gan. When the Sect puts resources out for exchange, there’s no such thing as first-come, first-served."
Tian Kang stepped in front of Zhen Er. The boy was clearly agitated and emotionally unstable.
"If you want to sell this Forbidden Spiritual Artifact, you’re welcome to... but if you disrupt the order of this trading meet, I won’t let you off lightly!"
Gan Guangde was a guest he had specially invited. Aside from coveting his position as a Steward in the Talisman Department, which allowed him to easily decide on the procurement of tens of thousands of sheets of Talisman Paper, the Nine Talisman Gan Family behind him was also a key factor.
Gan Guangde came from a side branch of the Nine Talisman Gan Family, and his branch of the family had been in decline for decades.
But from the moment he became an Inner Sect Disciple, Gan Guangde’s branch was promoted back into the Direct Lineage, and their various benefits were restored to the same standard as the main branch.
Just like with the exchange for the Pure Yang Gang Sha, the resources the Nine Talisman Gan Family paid were worth over three thousand Spirit Stones.
This was the advantage of having a Cultivation Family at your back, a head start right from the beginning.
"Fine. Then I’ll ask you senior brothers to take a look and appraise it. Let’s see how many Spirit Stones the item my big brother risked his life for is worth."
Zhen Er was only thirteen or fourteen years old. He had grown up under the care of Brother Zhen and saw his older brother as a father figure.
Brother Zhen had lost his chance at Foundation Establishment and was now bedridden and wasting away.
Zhen Er blamed Gan Guangde for this, which was why he had taken the bronze mirror from his home and come to the trading meet to confront him.
Though still young, he knew the crux of the problem was the Foundation Establishment Spiritual Object.
If he could exchange the bronze mirror for enough Spirit Stones to purchase a Pure Yang Gang Sha or another Foundation Establishment Spiritual Object, Brother Zhen’s obsession would be resolved, and his illness wouldn’t be a major issue.
The bronze mirror was the size of a palm. Its surface was mottled, and it reflected only hazy, indistinct images.
The four edges were engraved with simple, ancient fire patterns. One look was enough to tell it was a treasure from a bygone era.
According to the current trends in the Cultivation Realm, artifact refiners couldn’t wait to carve every blank space on a Spiritual Artifact with dragons and phoenixes, complementing them with complex Chain Runes.
It was as if not doing so was a failure to show off the Artifact Refiner’s skill.
The bronze mirror had to have been a Spiritual Artifact refined at least a thousand years ago to have retained such a minimalist refining style.
Tian Kang waved his hand and sent a stream of Magical Power into the bronze mirror. It circled once, and the fire patterns on the edges flickered for a moment before dimming.
"This mirror of yours isn’t just Forbidden; it has also lost its Spiritual Qi because it was refined too long ago... When I tried to activate it with my Magical Power, the flow was sluggish and difficult. It’s almost like a common piece of bronze. How could you possibly talk of trading it for a Foundation Establishment Spiritual Object!"
If a Spiritual Artifact from several thousand years ago had been abandoned in the wilderness without proper care, it was indeed possible for it to degrade in quality.
Tian Kang sensed that not only was the mirror’s interior Forbidden, but many of the restrictive seals on its surface were also missing. It might not even be as practical as a Top-Grade Magical Artifact.
"Considering its original quality as a Spiritual Artifact, I can offer a price of six hundred Spirit Stones... If any junior brother in the audience is interested, you can use this figure to negotiate with Junior Brother Zhen."
"How could it only be worth six hundred Spirit Stones!"
Zhen Er’s face flushed red. The Artifact Refiner he had consulted had said something similar.
Even if a Great Foundation Establishment Cultivator went through the painstaking effort of infusing it with Liquid Magical Power to unseal the bronze mirror...
...the resulting Spiritual Artifact would likely be unable to maintain its original Tier.
It would need to be refined again to restore its function.
Zhen Er hadn’t listened at all back then, always believing a miracle would happen.
He had kept the bronze mirror with him, not seeking out a Sect Elder or selling it through the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion, because subconsciously, he was still worried about this.
But no matter what, an valuation of six hundred Spirit Stones was far too different from what Zhen Er had expected.
Brother Zhen had once told him that this bronze mirror was discovered in the mud at the bottom of Feiyue Lake while cleaning up the battlefield after the great battle there. It was only found because the sunlight happened to catch it, reflecting a glint of bronze.
If not for the fierce battle, where a disciple from the Talisman Hall activated a Tier Two Chain Talisman, the Fire God Sky-Reaching Talisman, and incinerated the lake’s water...
...it’s likely no one would have discovered this bronze mirror even in another thousand years.
According to Brother Zhen’s speculation, the bronze mirror might have come from the era when the Qingfeng Sect’s Ancestor first arrived at Black Mountain to establish the Mountain Gate.
It might even be from a far more ancient time.
"This is a component of a Top-Grade Spiritual Artifact! My big brother had a Tier Two Refiner from the Artifact Refining Hall verify it. There’s no way it’s only worth six hundred Spirit Stones!"
Zhen Er’s voice grew sharp. Tian Kang was already an Inner Sect Disciple, so his words were authoritative for Outer Sect Disciples.
Since he had stated that price, no one else would offer more Spirit Stones, even if they were interested in the bronze mirror.
Zhen Er had originally targeted several potential buyers. He knew that the few people sitting at the main table, despite their unremarkable Cultivation, all had astonishing backgrounds.
There were members of the Direct Lineage from the main branches of Cultivation Families, and direct descendants of Foundation Establishment Elders.
All of them were wealthy and could afford enough Spirit Stones.
"Since Senior Brother Tian says it’s worth six hundred Spirit Stones, this junior brother naturally trusts his judgment... I’ll take it at that price!"
The handsome young man sitting to Gan Guangde’s left spoke with a smile, a folding fan in his hand.
Tian Kang clapped his hands and laughed heartily. "Junior Brother Lan is truly generous, willing to pull out six hundred Spirit Stones just like that... But don’t worry, you definitely won’t lose out. When you get back, have an elder from your Lan Family slowly remove the seal. With a bit of polishing, it will be a fine Spiritual Artifact."
Tian Kang himself was also a Tier One Top-Grade Refiner, so he had some skill in appraising Spiritual Artifacts.
This Junior Brother Lan’s clan was not well-known outside the Sect, far less illustrious than those few Cultivation Families.
But within the Sect, especially among disciples like them, they were an absolute behemoth that one could not afford to provoke.
Ever since a disciple with the surname Lan successfully achieved Foundation Establishment several hundred years ago, the Lan Family’s descendants had remembered their ancestor’s teachings: all their descendants were to take pride in becoming disciples of the Qingfeng Sect.
They downplayed their clan, relying on the Sect for their survival.
There were many such clans existing within the Sect, but very few could, like the Lan Family, produce a Foundation Establishment cultivator in every generation without fail.
The Lan Family currently had two Foundation Establishment Elders, three Stewards, and countless clan members at the Steward-level.
Although Lan Lun’s aptitude was mediocre, as a member of the Lan Family, even an Inner Sect Disciple like Tian Kang didn’t dare to offend him easily.
"I’m not selling!"
Zhen Er snatched the bronze mirror back and turned to leave the trading meet.
"You think it’s that easy? First you slander Senior Brother Gan’s name, then you go back on your word and refuse to sell the item. What do you take this trading meet for!"
Tian Kang had just become an Inner Sect Disciple and was at the height of his pride. Having his first-ever hosted trading meet disrupted like this ignited a nameless rage within him.
His body flickered. He used Shrinking Inches and grabbed Zhen Er’s shoulder.
His knuckles were thick, as if forged from brass. A hard squeeze made Zhen Er’s face turn deathly pale, and he bent over like a shrimp.
"Are you trying to force a sale?"
Zhen Er felt his bones creaking as if they were about to break, and he spoke through gritted teeth.
"My big brother may have stepped down from his position in the Law Enforcement Hall, but he still has a few old colleagues he was on good terms with. Once I report your vile actions to the Law Enforcement Hall, Tian Kang, you won’t even be able to keep your status as an Inner Sect Disciple!"
"What a joke! The trading meet among Outer Sect Disciples has a long history, and everyone has long since formed unwritten rules. You put it on the display stand, and Junior Brother Lan made an offer to buy it... I’ve never heard of the Law Enforcement Hall getting involved in something like this!"
The words "Law Enforcement Hall" still held some deterrent power. Tian Kang’s eyes flickered, and he released his grip.
"Do you think you’re the only one who knows people in the Law Enforcement Hall? My family also has people serving there. Let’s see who they believe!"
Lan Lun snapped his fan shut and reached for the bronze mirror.
"You brought it out to trade, and I made the highest offer, so this thing is mine! You want to trade it for a Foundation Establishment Spiritual Object? You might as well say you want to trade it for a Foundation Establishment Pill!"
"You want to trade this for a Foundation Establishment Spiritual Object... Are you the one who can make that deal?"
Just as Lan Lun grasped the bronze mirror, he felt a sharp pain in his hand, and the mirror flew into the hands of a young man standing not far away.
This young man wore the most common green Daoist robe and had his hair in a topknot. There wasn’t a single expensive ornament on him; he was dressed like the most ordinary Outer Sect Disciple.
Lan Lun flew into a rage. He pointed his finger, about to curse, but was stopped by Tian Kang.
"May I ask for this junior brother’s esteemed name...? This bronze mirror has already been purchased by Junior Brother Lan. For you to interfere like this is not the act of a gentleman."
Tian Kang looked at the young man who had suddenly appeared. He had the cultivation of the Qi Refining Sixth Layer, but his temperament was elegant and transcendent. He stood proudly, filled with confidence.
He gave off the feeling that there was nothing in the world that could trouble him.
"Besides, this damaged and Forbidden Spiritual Artifact is only worth six hundred Spirit Stones. Making a wild offer like that will disrupt the normal course of trade."
Tian Kang was unsure of the young man’s background and was afraid he might be the favored descendant of some Elder.
"Was I not clear enough? I’ll ask again: a Foundation Establishment Spiritual Object for this mirror. Can you make the decision?"
The young man’s features could only be described as above average, but his temperament was otherworldly, free and natural.
Lan Lun could be called handsome, but in comparison to this young man, he was completely outshone, appearing utterly vulgar.
Ignoring everyone else, he walked straight over to Zhen Er. The nearby Outer Sect Disciples all scattered to make way.
"Th-This... can you really produce a Foundation Establishment Spiritual Object?"
Zhen Er stammered, overwhelmed by the young man’s aura, and asked in disbelief.
The price had suddenly shot up from six hundred Spirit Stones back to a Foundation Establishment Spiritual Object, making him feel as if he were in a dream.
"Where did this ignorant brat come from? A Foundation Establishment Spiritual Object? Don’t you know the Pure Yang Gang Sha in the Transmission Hall was exchanged for long ago! We’ll have to wait another six years before a new one condenses!"
Lan Lun had been completely ignored, as if he were thin air. He instantly exploded with anger, pointing a finger at the young man’s face as he shouted.
"Junior Martial Uncle Bai!"
"Elder Bai?"
Two surprised shouts, one male and one female, from behind him made Lan Lun freeze.
"Gan Guangde, Steward of the Talisman Hall, pays his respects to Elder Bai."
Gan Guangde scrambled up from the wine table, knocking over several cups, and bowed deeply.
He was now infinitely glad that after being berated by Zhen Er, he had been feeling so frustrated that he’d downed several cups of fruit wine and paid no attention to what was happening.
Otherwise, he would have truly courted a monstrous disaster.
Back when Gan Guangde was in the Inner Sect, he had met this genius Elder once.
But now, the difference in their status was too vast for him to foolishly bring up the past.
"Greetings, Junior Martial Uncle Bai."
Jiangg Shu, who was walking behind, called out sweetly and stood obediently to the side.
Lan Lun’s mouth suddenly went dry. He had already realized who this person in front of him was.
Who would have thought that he would run into such a powerhouse just by attending a trading meet for Outer Sect Disciples?
The thought that he had just pointed a finger and angrily berated an Elder—and not just any Elder, but Elder Bai, a peerless genius with limitless prospects who was said to have the potential for Core Formation—made Lan Lun’s body tremble uncontrollably, shaking like a leaf.
With a THUD, Tian Kang’s legs gave out, and he knelt on the ground.
