Chapter 77: The Fat Grub and the Price Beyond Reach
Chapter 77 – The Fat Grub and the Price Beyond Reach
Seeing that Chen Changsheng had no intent to reveal the provenance of the treasure, Jiang Feng wisely refrained from further inquiry.
He turned his attention back to the metallic mass on the ground, confirming its properties with a sharp, discerning gaze.
“Dark Nether Iron Essence,” Jiang Feng murmured. “A supreme auxiliary material used by Peerless masters to forge their divine armaments.”
“Though its physical hardness is not absolute, it possesses a transcendent advantage: the ability to harmonize and fuse disparate celestial metals into a singular whole.”
“Such a material is priceless; it is a rarity that may not appear once in a millennium. It is difficult to even assign it a proper value.”
Chen Changsheng, his eyes still fixed upon the Rolling Pearl, spoke with a detached air.
“Elder Jiang may offer what he deems appropriate. The Kunlun Holy Land is a vast and ancient power; surely you would not stoop to suppressing the price of a junior’s wares.”
Jiang Feng scrutinized the youth once more. After a moment of heavy hesitation, he spoke.
“Since you have placed your trust in me, I shall venture a price.”
“For this head-sized mass of Dark Nether Iron Essence, the Kunlun Stone Workshop offers four million God Source!”
The words fell like a thunderclap. The breathing of the surrounding geniuses turned ragged and heavy.
Four million God Source—an astronomical sum that these “Young Talents” had never even dared to dream of touching.
Only a behemoth like the Kunlun Holy Land could produce such a staggering amount of wealth on a whim.
Chen Changsheng offered a slow, measured nod. “A bit low, perhaps, but fair enough for a mere auxiliary material.”
“Including this iron essence, my total collateral within your workshop should stand at four million eight hundred thousand God Source.”
“To be precise,” Chen added with cold, calculated accuracy, “it is four million eight hundred and twenty-two thousand five hundred.”
“Deducting the two million for the Rolling Pearl, I am left with a surplus of two million eight hundred and twenty-two thousand five hundred God Source.”
“Hold the remainder for me. I intend to unseal another stone on the morrow. For today, let us see what lies within this one.”
With a flick of his wrist, he tossed the Rolling Pearl toward Jiang Feng.
Jiang Feng caught it, marveling at the youth’s nonchalance. “Such lavishness… I fear even the Lords of certain Holy Lands cannot compare to your extravagance!”
“To be the one to unseal a stone for you, young friend, is truly a stroke of fortune.”
With those words, Jiang Feng gripped the stone. Simultaneously, the Peerless Grand Array of the Stone Workshop began to hum, its light barriers slowly ascending.
Mysterious and ancient things often slept within God Source; the protection of a grand array was necessary to prevent unforeseen calamities.
Furthermore, wealth invites the covetous. If a peerless treasure truly emerged in the inner courtyard, the array would serve as a shroud against prying eyes.
“Huu…”
Jiang Feng exhaled a cloud of turbid air, and his presence underwent a violent transformation.
His aura expanded like a tidal wave, revealing a cultivation at the Sixth Realm. Even Chen Changsheng’s brow twitched in slight acknowledgement.
The ancient Golden Core system had long been strangled by the changing Laws of Heaven and Earth, forcing the geniuses of the world to carve out new, unorthodox paths.
Six centuries ago, when the suppression of the Dao became unbearable, A-Li had relied on the Eight-Nine Mysterious Art to remain unburdened.
That Art was the reason A-Li had been able to suppress the entire younger generation of the Middle Heavens.
Since Jiang Feng had once fought A-Li to a standstill, it stood to reason that he, too, had forged a path beyond the reach of the mundane world.
Shua!
Sword-light erupted from Jiang Feng’s fingertips, thin as a cicada’s wing. Each stroke grazed the Rolling Pearl with terrifying precision.
With every flash of the blade, a fine mist of stone powder drifted to the ground.
The stone skin of the Rolling Pearl was perilously thin; only this meticulous method could ensure the contents remained unharmed.
As the outer shell was shaved away, a brilliant, golden radiance began to seep through the cracks.
The crowd gasped. Judging by the hue of the light, this was Golden God Source—the absolute pinnacle of its kind.
A single pound of Golden God Source was worth a thousand pounds of the ordinary variety; in any hand, it represented a monumental fortune.
Yet, none of the onlookers focused on the gold itself.
The Rolling Pearl was far too small. Even if it were solid Golden God Source, it would not be enough to reclaim the two million God Source spent to acquire it.
Their only hope for a miracle lay in what might be entombed within the gold.
Shua!
One final stroke of sword-light flickered. The last of the stone skin fell away, leaving the Golden God Source exposed and pristine.
“There is something inside!” someone cried out from the throng.
The crowd snapped out of their trance, their eyes locking onto the center of the translucent gold.
The Golden God Source was hollow. Within that amber-like void, a white, plump, and remarkably tender silkworm was sluggishly crawling.
Jiang Feng stared at the “grub,” his brow furrowing into deep ridges of confusion.
Even with his vast experience, he had never laid eyes on such a creature.
As the Elder stood there lost in study, Chen Changsheng’s voice cut through the silence.
“Elder Jiang, the stone is open. Might I have my property?”
Jiang Feng blinked, returning to reality. “Of course. It belongs to you, young friend.”
Chen Changsheng took the sphere of God Source, giving it a playful shake as he watched the fat worm tumble inside.
“I didn’t expect to find you here,” he murmured with a faint smile. “Fate works in mysterious ways.”
The Saintess of the Purple Mansion, who had remained a silent observer until now, finally stepped forward.
“You recognize this creature?” she asked, her curiosity piqued.
“Naturally. Though I doubt anyone else in this world does.”
“Put it this way: even if you combined that Dark Nether Iron Essence and the Purple Gold Copper Mother, they wouldn’t be worth a single one of this creature’s legs.”
“The hour grows late. I shall return to my rest. Tomorrow, we shall see what the next stone holds.”
Without another word, Chen Changsheng stowed the God Source and began to saunter toward the exit.
“Young friend, stay your steps!” Jiang Feng called out hastily.
Chen Changsheng paused, looking back. “Is there something else, Elder?”
“Might I ask… would you be willing to part with the creature you just unsealed? We can negotiate a price.”
“I could,” Chen said, his voice flat. “But it is a price you cannot afford, Elder Jiang.”
“Oh?” Jiang Feng’s tone took on a sharper edge of pride. “The Kunlun Holy Land may not claim to be the undisputed sovereign of the Middle Heavens, but our foundations and heritage are beyond question.”
“I find myself curious. What price could possibly be so high that the Kunlun Holy Land cannot pay it?”
Chen Changsheng smiled, though the expression did not reach his eyes.
“Elder Jiang misinterprets my meaning. I did not say the Kunlun Holy Land cannot afford it. I said you cannot afford it.”
“If you truly desire the thing in my hand, you must trade one-third of the Kunlun Holy Land’s entire territory and assets for it.”
The air turned frigid. Jiang Feng’s face darkened instantly.
“Young friend, surely you are jesting.”
“I never jest about business. You are shocked only because you are ignorant of its true value.”
“If you understood what this creature truly represented, you would realize that one-third of your Holy Land is a bargain beyond belief.”
“However, you lack the authority to make such a decision. Hence, my statement stands: you cannot afford it.”
Jiang Feng stood frozen, his mouth agape.
Even if the Holy Master himself were present, he wouldn’t be able to pay such a price. A Holy Land was not the personal fiefdom of one man. To trade a third of their ancestral lands for a single worm? One would have to be utterly possessed by inner demons to agree to such madness.