Chapter 136: Green Ripple Sword

"Fellow Daoist, are you here to sell Magic Artifacts or purchase Spirit Talismans?" He Fangwei greeted him with a smile. To an outsider, it might seem like a standard inquiry, but Han Yi couldn't help but admire his high emotional intelligence.

The moment He Fangwei spoke, it was clear he recognized Han Yi. Whether he had deduced Han Yi's identity from his demeanor and attire or had investigated him beforehand didn't matter.

"I'm here to sell Magic Artifacts and buy them," Han Yi replied gravely.

Neither man explicitly acknowledged their mutual awareness, but the unspoken understanding hung between them.

He Fangwei's face lit up with delight. "Fellow Daoist, please follow me to our private room."

Inside the elegant chamber, they settled into their seats. Han Yi first produced the Magic Artifacts he had been holding in reserve—knives, spears, and similar items—to sell. Most of these were Low-Grade, with only a few Mid-Grade pieces among them.

After He Fangwei's fair appraisal, Han Yi agreed to the prices.

Then, after a moment's thought, Han Yi retrieved the Silver Vanity Mirror.

He Fangwei's eyes widened in surprise. "Just as I suspected!" he exclaimed. "The Silver Vanity Mirror rightfully belongs to the Nine Dragons Merchant Guild. Fellow Daoist, my deepest gratitude!"

"Fellow Daoist, rest assured," He Fangwei said with a smile that crinkled the corners of his eyes, "our previous agreement still stands. We'll only charge you a handling fee for this transaction—no profit for us."

He Fangwei cradled the Silver Vanity Mirror in his hands, examining it from every angle as if it were a priceless treasure, reluctant to let go.

After a moment, he carefully set the mirror down and pondered aloud, "I estimate the Silverlight Pearls at six hundred Mid-Grade Spirit Stones, the Silver Scale Fan at five hundred sixty, and this Silver Vanity Mirror... I'd value it even higher, at seven hundred twenty Mid-Grade Spirit Stones."

"Fellow Daoist," he concluded, "this is the utmost sincerity I can offer, the best I can do."

Han Yi couldn't shake the feeling that he'd heard this exact line before. After a moment of recollection, he remembered He Fangwei saying the same thing when they sold the Halberd and Silver Scale Fan.

He chose not to point it out, though. From his experience, He Fangwei's valuation was indeed generous.

A wave of elation washed over Han Yi. With the addition of seven hundred twenty Mid-Grade Spirit Stones, his total holdings now reached three thousand five hundred. This sum would undoubtedly be enough to purchase a Top-Grade Sword Artifact.

Seeing Han Yi nod, He Fangwei breathed a sigh of relief. He had indeed been trying to maintain their relationship, and this price was truly his maximum offer. Any other shopkeeper would likely have offered no more than six hundred and fifty Mid-Grade Spirit Stones.

Those extra seventy Mid-Grade Spirit Stones shouldn't be underestimated. Converted to Low-Grade Spirit Stones, they equal seven thousand—enough to purchase a very high-quality Mid-Grade Magic Artifact.

With the price settled, He Fangwei's smile deepened, knowing the deal was only halfway done.

"Fellow Daoist, are you still interested in purchasing a High-Grade sword artifact?"

Han Yi shook his head, causing He Fangwei to freeze. "A Top-Grade Magic Artifact?"

When Han Yi nodded, He Fangwei gasped, shock flashing across his face as he slowly rose to his feet.

"Top-Grade Magic Artifacts are incredibly expensive, and I don't keep any on hand. If you select one, you'll need to pay a deposit and return in three days to retrieve it."

"Fellow Daoist, please be patient," He Fangwei said, his expression turning solemnly serious.

He retrieved a jade disc from his Storage Pouch—a memory-recording disc. Placing it on the table, he channeled his Mana into it. After a brief flicker, an image of a Magic Artifact appeared above the disc.

"The Blazing Fire Sword—a Top-Grade Magic Artifact and the weapon of the Blazing Fire Elder of Zhurong Peak. Years ago, he was ambushed during his travels, and the sword was lost. Later, a Supreme Elder from the Sect ventured out and recovered it. This Top-Grade sword artifact inherently enhances the Fire Attribute, amplifying Fire Attribute spells by up to forty percent."

Han Yi focused intently on the projection. The sword was entirely fiery red, nearly one and a half meters long, with a thick blade adorned with mysterious patterns. Its hilt glowed with the fiery brilliance of flames.

Even through the projection, its extraordinary quality was evident, though its status as a Top-Grade Magic Artifact wasn't immediately apparent.

Han Yi remained silent.

He Fangwei channeled his mana, and the image projected from the jade disk shifted, revealing a second sword artifact.

"The Eight Desolations Sword—a Top-Grade sword artifact crafted by the Wild Artifact Sect. Its primary material is Azure Heaven Ore, known for its unparalleled sharpness and feather-light weight. It moves like the wind itself, amplifying Fire Attribute sword techniques by up to thirty percent."

This sword artifact featured a cyan blade and a black hilt. Its slender blade radiated a chillingly sharp light, its lethal edge palpable even through the projection.

Han Yi nodded in approval. This sword artifact seemed quite promising.

The image shifted again.

"The Green Ripple Sword—a Top-Grade Magic Artifact and a relic of a fallen Supreme Elder of the Sect. Its material is unknown, but its defining trait is its indestructible nature."

The sword artifact featured a jet-black blade and hilt, with a cyan lotus flower intricately coiled around its body. From this angle, the blade appeared unsharpened.

All three swords were Top-Grade Magic Artifacts, but Han Yi was particularly drawn to the third. Its name resonated deeply within him, like a thunderclap.

"The Green Ripple Sword?"

Noticing Han Yi's confusion, He Fangwei explained, "That's right, the Green Ripple Sword. Its name is inscribed on a jade plaque attached to its sheath."

Han Yi nodded without further comment and asked, "Shopkeeper He, what are the prices for these three sword artifacts?"

He Fangwei retrieved the jade tray and stored it in his Storage Pouch.

"Under normal circumstances, only cultivators in the Foundation Establishment Stage can fully unleash the true power of Top-Grade Magic Artifacts."

"Among Qi Refining Stage disciples, only those with Legendary Qi Refining aptitude, or the rare few with physical constitutions exceptionally compatible with such artifacts, can wield eighty to ninety percent of their potential at Peak Qi Refining."

"Fellow Daoist, consider this carefully. Once a Top-Grade Magic Artifact is sold, returns are strictly prohibited. This rule wasn't set by me, but by the Lord of the Nine Dragons Merchant Guild. My hands are tied."

"Alright, let's get back to the prices."

Having explained the risks of the purchase, Shopkeeper He was ready to proceed with the transaction.

"The Blazing Fire Sword: 5,300 Mid-Grade Spirit Stones."

"The Eight Desolations Sword: 3,700 Mid-Grade Spirit Stones."

"The Green Ripple Sword: 2,800 Mid-Grade Spirit Stones."

"If you pay with High-Grade Spirit Stones, you'll receive a 10% discount. For example, the Blazing Fire Sword would cost 48 High-Grade Spirit Stones instead of 53."

"The same discount applies to the other two swords."

"If you decide to purchase one, a 30% deposit is required. You can collect the Magic Artifact in three days."

Han Yi didn't immediately decide. After a moment of contemplation, he asked, "Shopkeeper He, do you happen to have any matching dagger sets?"

"Ah, the Wind Demon Daggers..." He Fangwei trailed off, then nodded in sudden realization.

Since Han Yi was purchasing a Top-Grade Magic Artifact, He Fangwei surmised that he must possess the strength to wield such a powerful item. This implied that even High-Grade sword artifacts would no longer meet his needs, let alone the Mid-Grade Wind Demon Daggers.

Although crafted from extraordinary materials by a renowned master artificer from the Wild Artifact Sect, these daggers were still only Mid-Grade. No matter how potent their power, they could never rival the might of a Top-Grade Magic Artifact.

He Fangwei's mind raced with possibilities, but he kept his doubts to himself. As the shopkeeper, his sole duty was to propose transaction options; anything beyond that would be overstepping his boundaries. He refrained from using spells like the Qi Observation Technique to probe Han Yi's aura upon his entry into the Nine Dragons Merchant Guild, considering such behavior impolite.

Moreover, most cultivators possessed Aura Concealment Techniques to mask their true cultivation. Even though Han Yi wasn't wearing a mask during this visit to the Red Sun Market, He Fangwei dared not hastily speculate about his actual cultivation realm.

"I do have one set," He Fangwei replied, "but among the Magic Artifact resources currently at my disposal, there aren't any complete dagger sets above High-Grade. I only have a Mid-Grade set."

"That set is far inferior to the Wind Demon Daggers," He Fangwei added, "and likely wouldn't meet your standards, Fellow Daoist."

The light that had briefly sparked in Han Yi's eyes faded back to calm.

After a moment's thought, he decided to ask anyway. If the price was right, he might purchase them as well.

He Fangwei was naturally pleased to make another transaction.

He retrieved a bronze box from his storage pouch, opened it, and revealed nine daggers lying silently inside.

These daggers were also black, but shorter and narrower than the Wind Demon Dagger.

"This set is called the Nine Li Daggers, named after an ancient Human Race tribe. However, neither I nor any other Artifact Appraisal Master has been able to determine them to be anything more than ordinary Mid-Grade daggers," He Fangwei explained.

"The Wind Demon Dagger, as you know, was sold to you for 30,000 Low-Grade Spirit Stones, equivalent to 300 Mid-Grade Spirit Stones. Though this set contains nine daggers, it's priced much lower, at only 180 Mid-Grade Spirit Stones."

"Fellow Daoist, what do you think?"

Han Yi gazed at the daggers, his decision already made. He was determined to purchase the set.

From the Heavenfall City's dual-dagger assassination techniques, combining hidden strikes with overt attacks, to the Myriad Demon Mountain Range's dagger swarming methods, and even the True Dawn Grand Void Heaven's self-detonating dagger tactics, Han Yi felt his mastery of dagger techniques growing more refined with each method.

With nine daggers in this set, he would have more than enough for his needs.

"Very well, I'll take them."

He Fangwei wasn't surprised. He closed the black box and pushed it toward Han Yi.

He didn't rush Han Yi to decide about the Top-Grade Sword Artifact, instead patiently awaiting his decision.

Han Yi quietly considered for the time it took to drink a cup of tea, weighing numerous factors before finally nodding.

His concerns weren't about whether he had enough Spirit Stones or whether the sword was effective. Rather, he was contemplating whether purchasing this Top-Grade Sword Artifact would expose his true strength to the sect's upper echelons.

However, he had already reached a point where exposure was inevitable. He had long been under Sect Leader Yuan Shun's observation, and Fu Canghai, the mastermind behind the Nine Dragons Merchant Guild, likely knew of him as well, especially since Han Yi had previously sold him a Cosmic Pouch.

Moreover, Han Yi assessed his own capabilities. Even without a Top-Grade Magic Artifact, his Peak Perfection skills allowed him to kill Peak Qi Refining cultivators while wielding ordinary Mid-Grade Magic Artifacts.

In the True Dawn Grand Void Heaven, he had used a Low-Grade Magic Artifact and a Mid-Grade Magic Artifact to slay a four-meter-tall Black Demon Race warrior whose strength rivaled that of a Peak Qi Refining cultivator.

However, against a Legendary Qi Refining cultivator, even a High-Grade Magic Artifact would be useless.

His strength was more than sufficient against Peak Qi Refining cultivators, but he currently stood no chance against a Legendary Qi Refining expert.

In his precarious situation, possessing a High-Grade Magic Artifact would make little difference. Only a Top-Grade Magic Artifact could grant him the power to challenge and withstand a Legendary Qi Refining cultivator.

"I'll take the Green Ripple Sword," Han Yi declared.

He Fangwei wasn't surprised. He had already sensed Han Yi's interest based on his expression and gaze during the introduction.

"Fellow Daoist, will you be paying with Mid-Grade or High-Grade Spirit Stones?"

"Mid-Grade Spirit Stones."

"Very well. The Green Ripple Sword costs 2,800 Mid-Grade Spirit Stones. A 30% deposit comes to 840 stones. Adding the Nine Li Dagger brings the total to 1,020 Mid-Grade Spirit Stones. After deducting the Spirit Stones you received from selling your Magic Artifact and rounding down, you owe 280 Mid-Grade Spirit Stones today. You can collect the Green Ripple Sword in three days and pay the remaining 1,960 Low-Grade Spirit Stones then."

"Fellow Daoist, do you have any objections to this accounting?"

Han Yi quickly calculated that the total cost would be roughly 2,300 Mid-Grade Spirit Stones. With 2,800 stones in his possession, he had ample funds, leaving over 500 for cultivation.

Moments later, Han Yi emerged from the Nine Dragons Merchant Guild, his Storage Pouch lighter by some Spirit Stones but heavier with the Nine Li Dagger.

Han Yi had intended to return directly to his courtyard, but as he approached the center of Combat Peak, he heard a growing commotion.

He had no particular interest in joining the crowd, but such a commotion usually indicated a significant event. He decided to investigate, in case it involved him.

Following the noise toward the Combat Arena, Han Yi noticed that the faces of the passing cultivators were etched with suppressed fury.

Stopping a Junior Brother from Azure Dragon Peak—a Qi Refining Seventh Layer cultivator he'd met briefly before—Han Yi inquired about the situation. After hearing the explanation, he was stunned into silence.

"Elder You is really dead?"

The Junior Brother's eyes burned with anger, though a faint flicker of fear lurked beneath. He clasped his hands in farewell and hurried away, his footsteps heavy with grief.

Han Yi stood motionless, momentarily lost in thought. But the tense atmosphere of Combat Peak convinced him that the Junior Brother's words were likely true.

You Wu was dead.

This was the same You Wu who had once entered the True Dawn Grand Void Heaven and fortuitously acquired a mysterious Fire Attribute physical constitution. You Wu, who had dominated the Combat Arena, consecutively defeating numerous Peak Qi Refining Stage cultivators in just two days. You Wu, who had ascended to Foundation Establishment years ago, instantly becoming a Foundation Establishment Stage Elder. Now, three days ago, You Wu was dead.

You Wu, a Foundation Establishment Stage cultivator from the Blood God Sect, had died challenging Mo Wen, a Blade Cultivator.

Three days prior, at the Dragon-Slaying Temple in Taibai County, You Wu had pointed his sword at Mo Wen, only to be slain within three strokes—his body shattered, his soul scattered, and his sword broken.

The Broken Sword Fire Reversal technique had already been retrieved by Supreme Elder Zhuge Wuyou and returned to the Sect. The official announcement of You Wu's death had just been made.

His name was removed from the Heavenly Ranking.

The news sparked shock and outrage among the disciples.

Han Yi glanced at the center of Combat Peak but didn't approach. Instead, he turned abruptly and descended the peak, hurrying back to Azure Dragon Peak. Only upon entering his courtyard did his turbulent emotions gradually subside.

Seated cross-legged in his meditation chamber, he purged all distracting thoughts. After a long silence, Han Yi finally exhaled a foul breath, his eyes regaining their composure.

"The Immortal Path is merciless. One must never grow complacent or arrogant."

"You Wu's death serves as a stark warning to me."

Though Han Yi had never met You Wu, the man's name had echoed like thunder through the years, becoming as familiar as the back of his hand.

Early fame, a stunning debut, and ascension to the Heavenly Ranking upon reaching Foundation Establishment—each milestone had been a source of envy and admiration.

Yet, as the saying went, when the body falls, the path vanishes. All his glory had crumbled into nothingness with his death.