Buying a piece of spiritual material for artifact refining with only thirty-five spirit stones was practically impossible.
The Wang Clan's reputation with Wu Jinyan was only enough to keep him smiling and speaking politely to Yulou, but it would never induce him to lose spirit stones on a deal—not even a single one.
"Yulou, you must know that the prices of various spiritual materials and resources have skyrocketed over the past few years. Thirty-five spirit stones definitely won't buy you a base material for artifact refining.
How about this: if you have anything else that can be traded for spirit stones, I can take a look. Transactions in the ghost market aren't taxed by Clear Stream Market, so I can give you the absolute best price."
The economic system of the Wunan Cultivation World was highly peculiar. High-quality cultivation resources were in critically short supply, and spirit stones, acting as the currency of the cultivation world, were equally scarce.
It was a double stagnation of both supply and demand.
However, the great clans, the various sects, and the Immortal Alliance each possessed their own internal, closed economic systems exclusive to their organizations. This kind of closed system, combined with Wunan's unique governance model, created an economic scissor gap where organizations exploited rogue cultivators, and larger organizations squeezed smaller ones.
Applying this logic, when the Red Lantern Illumination Sect established branches of its rit Hall in the subordinate Qi Refining market towns, it essentially introduced a harvest of all subordinates and rogue cultivators within its sphere of influence through its internal closed system.
It could be understood as a harvesting chanism centered around the closed system of the Red Lantern Illumination Sect, which stole too much mass from the greater world.
Vast amounts of existing and future resources were converted into rit points, turning into harvesting profits for the Red Lantern Illumination Sect, which only made the market supply even tighter.
Because the Ten Sects each had their own territories, taking Clear Stream Market as an example, the Town Guardian Cultivator dispatched by the Red Lantern Illumination Sect kept a strict, suffocating watch even over the ghost market.
The cross-regional flow of commodities from other factions was naturally restricted to the extre. Anyone wishing to bring goods from the outside into the Red Lantern Illumination Sect's sphere of influence had to pay hefty transit fees.
Perhaps the great clans and certain Foundation Establishnt cultivators could bypass this by physically transporting goods from the outside to supplent the closed systems within their own factions, thereby mitigating the backlash of the Red Lantern Illumination Sect's reaping sickle.
But the vast majority of people could not achieve this, nor did they dare to try.
Consequently, while the supply of resources was desperately tight, the demand never vanished.
With the supply of resources being so scarce, the original, relatively limited stock of currency experienced a localized, relative surplus.
Given these supply and demand dynamics, a price hike for hard currency beca inevitable.
"Senior Wu, it is just... what spiritual materials do you currently have here, and how are they priced?"
Yulou remained vigilant. Hearing Wu Jinyan talk in circles without giving a quote made him uneasy.
This was not a case of being overly cautious; the cultivation world was filled with deception, and one simply could not survive without absolute prudence.
"Haha! I have two types of rank-nine spiritual tals: Purple Copper and fine gold. The Purple Copper is one hundred and thirty spirit stones a piece, while the fine gold is a bit pricier at one hundred and forty spirit stones a piece.
As for rank-nine stones, I have three kinds: variegated agate, jade-blood stone, and tiger-stripe rock. These are a bit cheaper, but even the least expensive variegated agate costs ninety spirit stones.
These materials are all whole pieces, and it's difficult for to break them up for sale."
Hearing the quotes, Yulou was montarily stunned.
Compared to three years ago, the price of spiritual materials had risen by at least half!
Taking Purple Copper as an example, the price had almost doubled. One had to rember that in the past, a slightly inferior rank-eight material would only sell for around 150 spirit stones.
Hongi had directly gifted the brothers a piece of ink jade and a piece of blood-soaked Purple Copper just as materials for their artificing path examination, allowing them to keep the refined artifacts afterward. It could truly be considered incredibly generous.
"Senior, could you see how many spirit stones this Purple Copper Bead is worth?"
Drawing the Purple Copper Bead from his robes, Yulou handed it to Wu Jinyan.
After holding it up and inspecting it for a mont, Wu Jinyan spoke.
"This Purple Copper Bead is too small, and its six layers of restrictions aren't particularly high. It's neither here nor there. I can give you seventy-five spirit stones for it. What do you think?"
Seventy-five spirit stones was slightly low, but not entirely unfair. Bead-type artifacts were the workhorses among magical tools, so the price was reasonable.
But seventy-five plus thirty-five only amounted to one hundred and ten spirit stones.
They could only trade it for the cheapest variegated agate or another stone material, which was a bit too awkward.
Stone-type spiritual materials were different from tallic ones like Cold Refined Iron or Purple Copper; they could not be easily cut apart to be refined into multiple low-grade artifacts.
With only a single piece, if they accidentally blew up the refinent, it would be a devastating loss.
Yulou was not greedy; getting a piece of spiritual tal would be enough.
When the ti ca, they could cut it into multiple low-grade pieces. Even if a few attempts failed, they would still successfully craft two or three items, which could be sold to recoup their spirit stones.
In this way, his and Yu'an's study of the artificing path could reach a financial equilibrium, allowing them to sustain it over the long term.
They could not rely on clan subsidies forever. Even the Patriarch of the Wu Family had resorted to setting up a street stall to sell talismans, and the Wang Family's situation was not much better. The Red Lantern Illumination Sect was harvesting them far too ruthlessly.
He then pulled out the golden cup given to him by the Patriarch and asked, "How much is this golden cup worth?"
"Three layers of restrictions, and it can't even be used for magical combat. Its only redeeming quality is that it's refined from fine gold. Let's call it forty-five spirit stones."
That brought the total to one hundred and fifty-five spirit stones.
Yu'an thought for a mont and pulled out his own Purple Copper Bead as well.
"Senior Wu, count this Purple Copper Bead toward the total too."
His thought was that they needed to get at least two pieces of tallic spiritual material; buying just one would be far too pathetic.
"Five layers of restrictions, the market price is around sixty spirit stones. That brings your total to two hundred and fifteen spirit stones.
This isn't a small sum of money. Which spiritual materials do you want?"
Hearing Wu Jinyan ntion that Yu'an's Purple Copper Bead only had five layers of restrictions, Yulou looked at Yu'an in surprise, while Yu'an proudly puffed out his chest.
'What are you looking at? I'm your blood brother, it's just a small matter!'
Suppressing his surprise, Yulou asked, "Senior Wu, could you give us two pieces of Purple Copper? We can owe you the remaining forty-five spirit stones and repay you later. We can return fifty spirit stones when the ti cos."
"Buying on credit... In principle, I cannot agree to this, Yulou."
Hearing Wu Jinyan's response, Yu'an grew anxious and pulled out his turtle shell, thinking he could use it as collateral.
While the silly younger brother still failed to grasp the situation, Yulou already understood completely.
"If Senior can agree, Yulou will rember this kindness in his heart and will continue to purchase spiritual materials from you in the future."
In principle no ant yes.
In principle yes ant no.
Wu Jinyan actually wanted to agree to Yulou's request. Now that Yulou had given him ample face and respect, he naturally took the opportunity to accept gracefully.
"Haha! You are a child of the Wang Clan after all, and the favorite disciple of Fellow Daoist Hongi. I naturally trust you. Here, take these two pieces of Purple Copper."
On the way back, Yu'an was already excitedly running the numbers.
"Brother, I feel like we can cut these two pieces of Purple Copper into ten portions.
We can refine them into the simplest Purple Copper Beads, the kind with just three layers of restrictions.
Master rarely refines this type of specific low-grade artifact nowadays. If we make them, we can create a price difference with the other artifacts in Forge Peak Residence.
Many rogue cultivators visit Forge Peak Residence every day, but a lot of them are incredibly short on funds. They will be our perfect custors!"
Yulou shook his head and analyzed the situation.
"The material of Purple Copper itself is quite awkward, and bead-type artifacts are the hardest to sell at a good price.
Refining Purple Copper into beads won't co anywhere near the price of the Cold Refined Iron flying daggers Master makes.
To fully utilize the properties of Purple Copper, we should take the route of law-breaking Purple Copper artifacts; those sell much better.
Cutting it into six portions will be enough. We just need to refine an extra layer of law-breaking restriction into them, turning them into four-restriction law-breaking Purple Copper artifacts.
If we successfully refine two pieces, we break even. If we manage three, we can completely pay back the spirit stones we owe Senior Wu. If we hit four, we make a massive profit!"
Fiddling with the Purple Copper in his hands, Yu'an said worriedly, "What if we ruin five of them?"
Yulou replied with a smile, "Then we will just borrow a sum of spirit stones from your father first... If one wants to progress in the artificing path, they cannot avoid continuous practice.
Besides, we can already refine mid-grade artifact blanks now. Under these circumstances, refining low-grade ones shouldn't be difficult.
Furthermore, we can be extra careful when refining the fourth layer of restrictions. If it fails to take, we can abandon the attempt in ti to preserve the original three layers. A three-restriction Purple Copper artifact will still prevent us from losing money even if it only sells for forty spirit stones.
Even if our luck is abysmal and we blow up five pieces, we can gather the scrap Purple Copper and, combined with the one successful piece, still buy another block of Purple Copper.
Therefore, you have absolutely nothing to worry about."
When Yu'an thought about it carefully, his older brother was entirely right.
Even if five out of six pieces failed, they could still buy another block and continue tinkering.
What was there to fear?
Just refine it!
Yu'an could barely contain his excitent. "Brother, let's head to Forge Peak Residence right now and start refining."
Yulou replied, "Haha, don't be impatient. Tomorrow, Master is taking us out of Clear Stream Market. Rember to bring your Hundred-Mile Freedom Talisman."
"With Master around, there shouldn't be any danger, right?"
"Hard to say."
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