Chapter 1059: Chapter 1059: Hollowed Out

“`

Crack! Crack! Crack!

In the backyard, accompanied by a series of explosive sounds, countless metal fragments fell from the sky, clattering onto the bluestone slabs.

Just like the sound of Wang Chen’s heart shattering!

In that very instant, the seven top-notch spirit swords he personally refined were all destroyed.

Although cultivating his own flying swords could save a lot of costs, in order to gather the necessary materials for sword refining, Wang Chen had also spent a considerable amount of spirit stones, all of which were now wasted.

The difficulty of practicing the Qijue Sword Technique far exceeded Wang Chen’s expectations!

To practice swordsmanship, one must surely have a sword in hand. Ordinary sword techniques could be performed with any sword, even the black iron swords that cost a few spirit stones each.

But the Qijue Sword Technique was a flying sword formation that required the simultaneous control of seven flying swords.

For Wang Chen, controlling seven swords with one mind was not difficult; his Skill of Mind Splitting had long since reached the realm of Great Perfection, and with his current cultivation level and the power of the Divine Soul, he could activate nearly a hundred talismans at once.

Not to mention seven swords, he could handle ten just as easily.

The problem lay with the swords themselves.

Wang Chen had initially thought that using seven second order flying swords, each corresponding to heaven, earth, man, wind, thunder, fire, and rain, he would be able to cultivate this powerful sword technique.

He never expected that on the first attempt today, all seven flying swords would be simultaneously damaged.

Their tier evidently could not support the power of the sword technique, even at the level where Wang Chen had only just begun.

And this once again reshaped Wang Chen’s understanding of the Qijue Sword Technique.

Its power was unbelievably strong!

With a sweep of his sleeve, Wang Chen collected all the fragments of the flying swords from the ground.

Even the landlord’s family doesn’t have any surplus grain!

Although the flying swords were destroyed, at least he could recycle the remnants to refine some materials–it’s best to save when possible.

Wang Chen felt frustrated.

Spirit stones are truly never enough to spend.

From the battle of Slaying the Flood Dragon, his gains could be called extremely abundant, but most of the spirit ore stones were fed to the Cangqing Ring, and the materials from the flood dragon were traded for its meat. The only things that really went into his pocket were the materials that Su Ziling was currently processing–the Middle Spirits.

But even if he had all the Middle Spirits, it would not help resolve the predicament Wang Chen faced.

Obviously, to practice the Qijue Sword Technique, one must use third order magical treasure flying swords, preferably of high-quality tier.

However, to refine seven high-quality third order flying swords, each corresponding to seven different attributes, how many precious materials would be needed?

Wang Chen felt overwhelmed just thinking about it.

After all, he couldn’t gather enough resources even if he used all he had!

So, should he take it one step at a time and first use his life-bound flying sword–Dragon Abyss Sword–to separately practice each part of the Qijue Sword Technique?

Wang Chen knew clearly that such an approach was inefficient and a much more difficult and time-consuming path.

Because the Qijue Sword Technique was truly too unique!

Wang Chen let out a long sigh, feeling truly hesitant in his heart.

“Master!”

At this moment, Su Ziling came running into the backyard, lightheartedly hooking his arm with a beaming smile: “I’ve finished my work!”

Wang Chen was surprised: “You’ve processed all those ores?”

“Yep.”

Su Ziling vigorously nodded, presenting a storage bag with a sense of accomplishment: “Everything is in here, see?”

“Well done.”

Wang Chen, troubled by the issue of spirit stones, couldn’t help but praise her: “You’ve worked hard.”

“It’s my duty.”

Su Ziling leaned her head on his shoulder, saying, “Master, let Ziling take care of such work in the future. I will definitely do it well for you.”

A warmth surged in Wang Chen’s heart, and he promptly took the storage bag before picking her up.

“`

Su Ziling was shocked: “Ah!”

Wang Chen kissed her: “Your reward, dual cultivation for three days and nights!”

Instantly, Su Ziling’s pretty eyes widened, a blush flew to her cheeks, and her delicate body softened involuntarily.

Although it was said to be three days and nights, it was actually just a night of intimacy; not because Wang Chen was incapable, but because Su Ziling couldn’t endure it.

However, after a session of dual cultivation, Wang Chen felt refreshed and finally made a decision.

Firstly, he sorted out his collection.

He took out everything stored in the Cangqing Ring, Sumeru Ring, and several Storage Bags, including Magic Artifacts, materials, Pills, Talismans, and so on.

He kept only what he absolutely needed, and sent the rest to the association for sale.

In addition, Wang Chen discussed with the small Ding, and finally confirmed the materials required for refining seven Magical Treasure Flying Swords.

Then he took the list to the Four Seas Commerce Association.

“Three kilograms and six taels of Celestial Star Sand, two hundred and seventy jin of Skyforge Meteoric Iron, one Thousand-Year Water Spirit Pearl…”

After reviewing Wang Chen’s list, Manager Chen of the Four Seas Commerce Association in Luodu Immortal City had a somewhat odd look on his face.

As one of the main people in charge of the branch of the Four Seas Commerce Association, he had handled countless major deals, and Wang Chen’s deal was certainly not the biggest or the most special.

But such a large amount of precious Weapon Refining Materials, including nearly ten different kinds of rare heavenly and earthly treasures…

“True Person, please wait a moment, allow me to make the calculations.”

Manager Chen grabbed a bronze abacus with his hand.

Accompanied by a series of crackling sounds, it took him a full tea time to calculate the total price.

“Some materials are not in stock in our branch and need to be requisitioned from other branches.”

Manager Chen said: “True Person Wang, I can assure you that in three months, I will have gathered all the items you need!”

The Four Seas Commerce Association has many branches, and their storage of items is beyond what outsiders can imagine. Other than a very few legendary items that are not for trade, they can find almost anything that a customer needs.

If there are items that aren’t available in the Haotian Realm, the Four Seas Commerce Association can even requisition them from other worlds.

Of course, the cost is very high.

With Wang Chen’s list, he quoted two numbers.

One was Middle Spirit, the other was Upper Spirit!

Because some of the materials Wang Chen needed could only be purchased by trading with Upper Spirit.

Wang Chen’s eyebrows twitched twice upon hearing this.

So expensive!

Manager Chen’s quoted prices were a good thirty percent higher than what Wang Chen had estimated, especially the number of Upper Spirit, which felt like blood pressure rising upon hearing it.

But Wang Chen was clear that profiting from such trades was the Four Seas Commerce Association’s business; they simply wouldn’t be satisfied with less.

If he were to switch to another place, except for the Myriad Treasures Pavilion, it would be impossible to gather so many materials.

And the Myriad Treasures Pavilion would be even more ruthless than the Four Seas Commerce Association!

Taking a long, deep breath, Wang Chen had no choice but to muster all his lifelong skills to haggle with Manager Chen.

His haggling skill level was actually very low, but in the current situation, he had no choice but to bite the bullet and go on.

Saving any bit was saving a whole lot of gleaming Spirit Stones!

Finally, when Wang Chen walked out the door of the Four Seas Commerce Association, he felt completely drained.

What was also drained was his Sumeru Ring.

There was no other way; ordering materials from the Four Seas Commerce Association required a down payment, and after some tough negotiating, Wang Chen managed to get Manager Chen to agree to pay only thirty percent of the down payment to the Four Seas Commerce Association.

This meant that Wang Chen needed to come up with even more Spirit Stones in three months to pay for this astonishing expense.

——-

Here’s the first update.