Chapter 166 - 125: The Mortal Realm Marketplace Opens
"..."
Qi Yue looked at the restless, eager Zhou Mo and stated flatly, "Demon Cultivators die fast, and they die young."
"First, I will explain my understanding of the sword. Although you use a saber, all weapons share common ground."
"A sword is a weapon with emotions."
"It is different in each person’s hands."
"If you are cold and indifferent, your sword will be the Heartless Sword."
"If you are clever and adaptable, your sword will be the Exquisite Sword."
"If you are free-spirited and unrestrained, your sword will be the Unfettered Sword."
"If you are paranoid and crazed, your sword will be the Sword of Demonic Frenzy."
"The same holds true for the saber."
"A saber has emotions, too."
"Infuse your weapon with your emotions, then unleash them through your Martial Arts. This will often dramatically increase their power, and help you find..."
Beneath the sun.
Zhou Mo listened in silence, studying patiently and diligently.
...
Time trickled by.
In the blink of an eye, a month had passed.
The rainy season in Jiangnan, Jiangxi, and Jiangdong was about to end. The day after tomorrow was the long-planned opening of the Mortal Realm Marketplace. An auction would also begin around that time. All the major powers would be coming to the Mortal Realm—he had spread the word long ago.
"Are all the auction items ready?"
Chen Fan arrived at the Warehouse and looked toward Wang Kui, who was busy inside. Last time, he had brought back a great number of Ghost Stones from the Jiangbei Chen Family—a full 17,000. That was nearly double the amount from the Hill and Valley Royal Family.
It had to be said, the Jiangbei Chen Family was a bit wealthier.
He had also brought out a few Exotic Treasures, but none were particularly valuable.
"They’re just about ready."
Wang Kui emerged from the Warehouse, wiping the sweat from his brow as he panted, "The items for this auction are divided into three tiers. The first tier is just to warm up the crowd. We’ve prepared the green-grade Exotic Treasures you selected, Domain Lord."
"Some are unidentified, and some have already been opened."
"The second tier is a step up."
"For example—"
"The Yellow Level Pill Furnace we brought from the Pill Sect, along with some other rather valuable items."
"The third tier."
"This is the grand finale."
"We’ve prepared one item for it."
"It’s the right to have the Mortal Realm build a Level 3 City Wall for another faction. We’ll guarantee a uniform pattern, at a price of only 2,000 Ghost Stones per meter."
"Mm."
Chen Fan nodded, moderately satisfied. From what he had learned recently, World Pavilion, a faction composed of Architects, earned a large portion of its revenue by constructing buildings for other powers.
But the Architects of this world had far higher construction costs than he did.
His cost to build one meter of a Level 3 City Wall was only 560 Ghost Stones.
For other Architects, the cost to build one meter of a Level 3 City Wall was 1,500 Ghost Stones, and the pattern was random. He, however, could guarantee a completely uniform pattern.
Once this item was revealed, its competitiveness would be more than enough.
"Good. Get everything ready. The Marketplace is about to open."
"Understood."
Afterward, Chen Fan continued his inspection of the Warehouse. He hadn’t spent many Ghost Stones lately, so there were still over a hundred thousand piled up. The mere sight of them was deeply satisfying.
In addition.
There were also the Copper Pipes accumulated during the rainy season, all stacked in the Warehouse. Over a hundred thousand meters of Copper Pipe were ready to be used.
The auction was just a gimmick.
The opening of the Marketplace was the real way to make money.
...
The rainy season ended.
「Two days later.」
The major factions all dispatched representatives to the Mortal Realm. Qi Feng and the others, who had been scavenging in Ping City while based in Jiangbei City, rendezvoused with the delegation from Medicine King Valley and journeyed to the Mortal Realm together.
Beside Nameless Mountain.
A brand-new city, risen from the flatlands, now stood on the coast. Carved above the gate were the words "Mortal City."
"How magnificent."
Qi Feng, the Young Valley Master of Medicine King Valley, was among the first delegation to arrive. He gazed at the city gate, the two Jade Lions flanking the entrance, the stone-jade paving the ground, and the decorations lining the streets. After a long, dazed moment, he murmured, "It’s just... it all feels a bit familiar..."
Many elements sparked his memory; those Jade Lions, for instance, were from the Pill Sect.
"Valley Master Qi, Young Valley Master."
Chen Fan, who was waiting by the city gate, came forward to greet them. He cupped his fists with a cheerful grin and said, "Please, come in! Today is the grand opening of the Mortal Realm Marketplace. Thank you all for coming to show your support."
"Not at all, not at all."
Valley Master Qi of Medicine King Valley reciprocated, his face wreathed in smiles as he came forward. "I’ve been coveting those treasures from the Pill Sect for a long time. I don’t mind if you laugh, Domain Lord Chen, but I might not be able to patronize the rest of the Marketplace. I must save all my funds to purchase that Yellow Level Alchemy Furnace."
"No worries, no worries. Please, go on in and take a look around."
Chen Fan didn’t seem to mind, just laughing cheerfully, the mirth in his eyes almost irrepressible. ’Not planning on buying anything else?’
’I’ll have to show this world what it means to be...’
HIGH! QUALITY! LOW! PRICE!
Just then—
Another faction arrived with a large caravan of carts.
Valley Master Qi quickly said, "Domain Lord Chen, we won’t disturb you any further. We’ll head inside first."
"Go on, go on."
...
"Remember this."
Valley Master Qi led Qi Feng into Mortal City, his expression turning serious as he said in a low voice, "According to my sources, Hongdan Square from Jiangxi is here as well. Their target is the same as ours: that Pill Furnace."
"Domain Lord Chen will certainly display many fine items in the Marketplace, but we cannot buy a single one. All of our funds must go toward the Pill Furnace."
"Understood."
Qi Feng nodded as well. He knew exactly what a Yellow Level Pill Furnace meant for them. It would be like adding wings to a tiger, allowing them to refine High Grade Elixirs and earn far more Ghost Stones.