Chapter 336: In High Demand
Within the Heaven-Numbered Stone Garden, sword qi soared into the sky. The black miniature sword, less than an inch long, clanged and hummed, radiating boundless killing intent.
Compared to normal weapons, it was far too short and small, almost insignificant, yet its might was soul-shaking.
Dark rays pierced the clouds, cold and stern, instilling fear deep into the bones, causing even the soul to tremble, both body and mind seized with dread.
Several senior figures acted together, suppressing the dark rays and forcing them to contract from the sky, while the black miniature sword leaped and struggled, trying to escape.
"Clang!"
It transformed into a streak of dark light, piercing through a precious stone and striking the light barrier set up by the old Daoist nun.
The old Daoist nun’s palm and fingers were like jade. She pressed down in the void, causing space to warp and all directions to fall silent. A divine might of the Great Dao surged, instantly pressing down.
"Dang"
An old man flicked his fingers repeatedly, sending over a hundred divine rays shooting at the black miniature sword, causing it to tremble and then shoot back as a streak of dark light.
"Chi"
Dark light flashed, its edge dazzling. It actually shot toward the crowd. Such a terrifying weapon was absolutely boundless in power. Some old men changed color and acted together.
"Clang"
Over a dozen old men flicked their fingers simultaneously, all striking the black miniature sword. It shook violently, and its light finally dimmed.
"The Nine-Orifice Stone Man was cut open, and its resentment is indeed great. We need to put in more effort to disperse its lingering thoughts!"
Only then would this black miniature sword return to its normal state. Right now, it was entirely a fierce weapon, very likely to harm people.
If not for the presence of the old Daoist nun and so many senior figures sealing off the stone garden, this place would have become a scene of bloodshed.
The black miniature sword’s power was formidable. It was interwoven with Dao and Principle, and forged from Dragon-Pattern Blackgold. It could be said to be indestructible, almost impossible to confront, and very difficult to stop.
"Clang, clang, clang"
The Dragon-Pattern Blackgold Sword vibrated, dark rays shooting out like cascading ribbons, interweaving into a terrifying web of black lightning, with the momentum to destroy heaven and earth.
Li Heishui was shocked, saying, "So terrifying. Even stone cutting has its dangers. If it had pierced through carelessly, all those rare treasures would have turned to nothing."
Yao Yuekong, the young master of the Heavenly Demon Palace, marveled repeatedly, saying, "The Dragon-Pattern Blackgold Sword—this is a rare treasure, absolutely priceless."
The Great Xia Prince’s eyes burned with desire. "Brothers, if you would sell it to me, I will give you a satisfactory price."
Ye Fan shook his head. "I haven’t decided yet. I might keep it for myself."
It wasn’t that he couldn’t sell it, but not now. Many had already sent him secret messages, and he couldn’t part with it at the moment.
Yao Yuekong’s eyes were also blazing. "This is a weapon forged from a sacred material. Though it uses little material and is far from an Extreme Dao Sacred Weapon, it is still extremely rare. It could fetch a sky-high price at auction."
"Boom!"
The stone garden shook. Once these old men truly acted, even the Dragon-Pattern Blackgold Sword born from the Stone Man could not show off its power and was ultimately sealed.
The reason it was so fierce was mainly because the Dao and Principle naturally interwoven within it were activated by the resentment, acting like a fragmentary law.
These old men did not stop there. Each pointed a finger, shooting divine rays, and bolts of lightning descended, enveloping the black miniature sword.
This was equivalent to a baptism. With a soft "chi" sound, the resentment was dispersed and completely refined. The black miniature sword lost control, and its dark light finally fully subsided.
"Ding"
The Dragon-Pattern Blackgold Sword fell to the ground, piercing through a precious stone. Its material was special, a sacred substance, extremely heavy, and it sank into the earth.
Ye Fan quickly stepped forward. With a flick of his right hand, agile and precise, he drew the black miniature sword up, turning it into a streak of dark light that appeared in his palm.
Though less than an inch long, it was heavy, a thousand times heavier than ordinary refined iron. So short and small, it still weighed over a hundred jin.
When it was hidden in the brow of the Nine-Orifice Stone Man, it hadn’t felt heavy, and no abnormality was sensed. Only after its true emergence did its weight become apparent.
"No wonder it’s a weapon interwoven with Dao and Principle. Such a mysterious transformation."
After subduing the Dragon-Pattern Blackgold Sword, there was a brief silence, and then the stone garden erupted into noise. A group of old men surrounded Ye Fan.
"Young friend, sell this sword to me for one hundred thirty thousand jin of Source!"
"Sell it to me for one hundred fifty thousand jin of Source!"
"I need it, old man. One hundred eighty thousand jin of Source!"
...
These people spoke, casually offering over a hundred thousand jin of Source. Many had fiery eyes. At that moment, outside the stone garden, the crowd boiled over, onlookers both envious and jealous.
Twice, he had cut out peerless rare treasures, both at sky-high prices. Many people’s eyes turned green, staring over like wolves, itching to rush over and snatch them.
This Dragon-Pattern Blackgold Sword, interwoven with Dao and Principle, was the favorite of senior figures, priceless.
Of course, it also had a fatal flaw: it was far too small, measurable only in "inches," like a tiny sesame seed compared to normal weapons.
Many great figures, when refining their magical artifacts, would often melt down an iron peak or several mountains, using materials measured in ten thousand jin.
Its preciousness lay in the fact that it had interwoven its own partial laws and was made of a sacred material. Though tiny, it was still a peerless rare treasure.
"Seniors, let me think it over!" Ye Fan didn’t want to offend any of these old men, all of whom were formidable.
The Dragon-Pattern Blackgold Sword was only a little over half an inch long, entirely pitch-black with a hint of sparkle. It lay motionless in his palm, covered in dragon-shaped patterns, profound and natural—the heavenly dragon patterns of the Great Dao, from which its name derived.
The more Ye Fan looked at it, the more he liked it. He felt that if he could control it with powerful divine sense, it would be absolutely indestructible, greatly enhancing his combat power.
However, cutting out such a rare treasure in public and wanting to keep it for himself would likely bring great trouble. This was a headache.
Thinking it over, he already had quite a few treasures. What mattered most now was gathering Source to raise his cultivation level.
"Let me see it." The little nun from the Great Xia Imperial Dynasty showed a look of hope.
Ye Fan handed it to her. The White-Robed Little Nun held it in her palm, her big eyes blinking, unable to look away.
"Young brother, sell it to us." The Great Xia Prince spoke again, wanting to buy the sword. "My sister likes it so much. As her elder brother, I want to give it to her as a gift."
"I, old man, also like it. No one gives me gifts, so I have to buy it myself." An old man beside him joked.
"Yes, as old fellows, we can only buy things for ourselves. Young friend, do you think one hundred eighty thousand jin of Source is acceptable?"
The White-Robed Little Nun returned the black miniature sword to Ye Fan, reluctant to part with it, her big eyes still fixed on it.
Yao Yuekong, in his purple robe, smiled and said, "Young brother, don’t trouble yourself over who to sell it to. Why not put it up for auction at our Heavenly Demon Treasure Pavilion?"
Ye Fan was surrounded by the crowd and couldn’t easily extricate himself. Just then, the refined Jiang Yifei entered the garden. After paying respects to the old Daoist nun, he also came forward to bid for the sword.
At the same time, An Miaoyi walked over lightly, her fragrance like orchid and musk drifting. Her eyes were like water, her smile charming. Though she didn’t say much, her intent was also on this sword.
Li Heishui finally squeezed in, saying, "Everyone, you all know the origin of this sword. It is the killing weapon of a future Sacred Spirit, born from the Nine-Orifice Stone Man. This is a sacred sword created by heaven and earth!"
Everyone had to marvel at the wonder of creation. A piece of Dragon-Pattern Blackgold, a sacred material, naturally formed in the brow of the Nine-Orifice Stone Man, transforming into a sacred sword.
All of this was too incredible, shocking and unbelievable.
Ye Fan smiled and said, "Seniors, let me think it over carefully. I won’t be leaving Divine City anytime soon, and I’ll give you a satisfactory answer then."
Throughout it all, the most composed was the young Daoist nun from the Dao Yi Holy Land, who embodied the spiritual essence of heaven and earth. She stood in the distance, her eyes calm and indifferent.
Ye Fan gathered up the large pile of Source on the ground. Light flashed, crystal clear. His harvest was immense, gaining another fifty thousand jin of Source.
Those who had gambled against him had faces ashen, devoid of color. Wu Ziming and his group especially felt like killing, believing they had been thoroughly tricked. This was a trap, and they had walked right into it.
"You black-hearted kid, you’re ruthless!"
"Call me black again, and I’ll get angry." Li Heishui taunted. "Just now, you were mocking and ridiculing us. How do you feel now? Borrowing your own words of mockery, you’ve fallen from the nine heavens to the ground, haven’t you? Let me add another line for you—face-first."
"You..."
Wu Ziming and the others trembled with rage but couldn’t vent it. Now that Ye Fan’s Source Art was astonishing and he was surrounded at the center like the moon surrounded by stars—including figures like An Miaoyi and Yao Yuekong, not to mention those old men with great backgrounds—they didn’t want to court trouble.
First, Ye Fan had cut out a divine medicine, then a sacred sword from the Nine-Orifice Stone Man. Naturally, he had become a hot commodity, with many seeking to win him over.
"Brothers, I’ve already reserved a feast at the Drunken Immortal Pavilion. Today at noon, we drink until we’re drunk." The Great Xia Prince sent a secret message.
This had been agreed upon earlier, and Ye Fan didn’t refuse, accepting.
"Today calls for celebration." Yao Yuekong laughed. He also had the same idea and had mentioned it before.
"Before that, I need to settle a debt." Ye Fan walked forward, coming before the Source Master and the old Daoist nun, and piled ninety thousand jin of Source on the ground.
The Nine-Orifice Stone Man had been a sky-high price. If not for cutting out the Dragon-Pattern Blackgold Sacred Sword, it would have been a huge loss.
Not far away, Li Yishui, the Supreme Elder of the Illusory Extinction Palace, was so angry he wanted to vomit blood. He was essentially paying the bill. Being tricked so humiliatingly, practically rushing to deliver Source, how could he bear it?
"Today, we must have a good talk about Source Art." The Great Xia Prince said, his sister also following beside him.
"Miaoyi plans to prepare a fine feast at noon, offering wine in respect. Does the young brother have time?" An Miaoyi suddenly smiled and sent a secret message.
This most beautiful woman in the Eastern Wasteland, every smile and frown captivating, was someone many dreamed of being invited by. She waited quietly for Ye Fan’s response. If word got out, it would surely make many men in Divine City envious and jealous.
Jiang Yifei, in his spotless white robes, stood like a jade tree in the wind, his smile infectious. He didn’t approach directly but spoke to Li Heishui, wanting to invite the two.
Nearby, many old men were also direct, extending olive branches to Ye Fan. They valued not only the Dragon-Pattern Blackgold Sacred Sword but also his Source Art.
Such thoughts were naturally held by many. If they could befriend a Source Art genius, great benefits would surely follow in the future.