“It’s just a broken bead with a bit of spiritual energy, why call it a spiritual bead!” someone suddenly questioned.
Once someone started, others followed suit: “Brother Sun is right, it’s just an ordinary bead, why show it off and embarrass yourself!”
The man shook his head and continued, “This bead looks ordinary, but it’s incredibly hard. Ordinary weapons can’t even scratch it. It definitely has a secret!”
Upon hearing this, everyone shook their heads, not quite believing the man’s explanation.
Seeing this situation, the man wasn’t nervous. Instead, he said to the elder of the Sword Forging Sect, “Elder Tie, may I borrow your longsword?”
The elder of the Sword Forging Sect, although not understanding the man’s intentions, still used his qi to drag a longsword and handed it to him.
The man took the longsword, drew it directly from its sheath, gripped it in his hand, channeled his internal qi into the sword, and actually slashed at the bead.
“Wait!” I cried out in alarm, trying to stop him. If the bead was damaged, I would lose another clue!
But the man didn’t stop. The sword struck the bead with a “clang,” but there was no damage whatsoever.
Instead, the longsword from the Sword Forging Sect was chipped!
Everyone present gasped in surprise. Those who had mocked the man earlier fell silent.
The elder of the Sword Forging Sect stared wide-eyed in disbelief.
The Sword Forging Sect was the only ancient martial arts sect whose primary profession was weapon forging. Their weapons were said to be able to cut through iron like mud, yet even such a sharp sword couldn’t harm this bead in the slightest. Everyone present knew that this bead was extraordinary.
“Elder Tie, I have been presumptuous and have destroyed one of your sect’s precious swords!” the man said, bowing to the elder of the Sword Forging Sect.
The elder of the Sword Forging Sect shook his head, took the longsword from his waist, and handed it to the man again, saying, “Try it with my sword now!”
The man was taken aback for a moment, then a look of surprise appeared on his face, and he said, “Yes!”
He then raised his sword and slashed at the bead again. Just like last time, there was a “clang,” and the bead remained undamaged. The only difference was that the elder’s sword wasn’t chipped.
“This should be an excellent piece of ore. I want this bead! I’ll exchange it for my sword!” the elder of the Sword-Forging Sect said with great joy.
The man was overjoyed and was about to hand the bead to the elder when I stood up and said, “Wait, I also want this bead. I wonder if Elder Tie would be willing to let me have it?”
This bead was exactly the same as the one in the brocade box. It was also made of hard material and had a faint spiritual aura surrounding it. This was the only clue to solving the murder of my parents, and I had to get it.
“The Wang family is getting more and more arrogant, daring to compete with Elder Tie for a treasure!” the sarcastic man spoke again.
This statement was far from simple; it was tantamount to a veiled attempt to sow discord between the Wang family and the Sword Forging Sect. Moreover, his words might very well prevent me from obtaining the bead! Damn it, if it weren’t for the large number of internal level experts in the hall, I would have killed him without hesitation!
“Elder Tie, this bead is truly important to me. I hope you can give it to me; I’m willing to exchange it for something else!” I completely lost my composure, genuinely afraid that Elder Tie wouldn’t give me the bead. If he really wouldn’t, I’d probably have to resort to underhanded tactics!
Elder Tie seemed to know what the sarcastic man was thinking. He glared at the man, then smiled and said to me, “I wonder what this young brother is prepared to exchange for?”
“Various pills, and even hundred-year-old spirit plants! No, thousand-year-old spirit plants!” I said anxiously.
“A thousand-year-old spiritual plant? Are you kidding me? A hundred-year-old is already top-grade, your thousand-year-old must be a celestial grade!” The sarcastic man deliberately contradicted me.
The others nodded in agreement. It seemed that in the eyes of these ancient martial arts cultivators, a hundred-year-old spiritual plant was the most powerful.
The Sword Forging Sect elder remained silent, seemingly sharing the same thoughts as most.
I gritted my teeth, pretending to reach into my pocket, but actually taking out a bottle of pills from my storage ring. I said, “I have a pill here that can directly elevate a Yellow-rank martial artist to the Profound-rank! Whether it’s the early or peak Yellow-rank, it works!”
The pill I took out was a Foundation Establishment Pill. Although it’s a pill for cultivators, after taking it, one should generate Qi within the body, so saying it elevates to the Profound-rank is not an exaggeration.
Upon hearing my words, the entire hall suddenly fell silent.
“Your pill, is it the Ascension Pill?” an old man suddenly spoke up. On his table was a sign that read “Hundred Herbs Valley,” indicating that there were alchemy sects within the ancient martial arts world.
I was taken aback. The Ascension Pill? That name suggested it was an upgrade pill used by ancient martial arts practitioners. Since he said so, I seized the opportunity: “Yes, it is indeed the Ascension Pill, but its effects might be even stronger than the Ascension Pill!”
“Hmph! Just pulling out any pill and calling it the Ascension Pill? I bet it’s fake!” the sarcastic man said again.
His words completely ignited my murderous intent. No matter what sect he belonged to, I would kill him! I wouldn’t take a life without reason, but ‘don’t court death,’ I thought! Since he was courting death, he couldn’t blame me! The elder of the Sword Forging Sect frowned and said to me, “How can you prove that the pill in your hand is a Profound Ascension Pill?”
Hearing this, I breathed a sigh of relief. As long as my pill was genuine, the bead was mine.
“Elder Tie can have your Yellow Rank peak disciple take my pill. If there’s no improvement in his cultivation level, then I don’t need the bead!” I said to the Sword Forging Sect elder with a smile.
But I didn’t expect that man to cause trouble again. He laughed and said, “Hmph! I think you’re trying to harm the Sword Forging Sect disciple. With one less opponent, your Wang family will advance smoothly!”
I glared fiercely at the strange-looking man, instantly activating my spiritual power. A strong killing intent was revealed in my eyes.
After seeing my gaze, the man’s forehead was instantly covered in cold sweat. He quickly turned his head away and said, “B-Everyone, don’t you think so!”
“I believe you, but this Profound Ascension Pill requires three days of seclusion after consumption. There won’t be any immediate effects, right?” the Sword Forging Sect elder asked me. Hearing his words, I knew there was hope.
I smiled and said, “I told you, this Ascension Pill isn’t an ordinary one. It will take effect in half an hour!”
“Alright! I’ll let you try. Ye Heng, come out and take this Ascension Pill!” the Sword Forging Sect elder said to the boy I had just pointed to.
The boy named Ye Heng walked up to me and nodded with a smile.
I handed him the Foundation Establishment Pill, which Ye Heng swallowed without hesitation. He sat cross-legged and began to digest its effects.
Because the Foundation Establishment Pill wouldn’t take effect for half an hour to advance him to the Profound Rank, the exchange continued.
But I wasn’t interested in watching their transaction. I was focused on Ye Heng. If the Foundation Establishment Pill couldn’t advance him to the Profound Rank, I’d be in big trouble!
Brother Ye Heng, you’d better try your best!