"Artifact Pavilion! Get your top-tier items now! When you’re out making a na for yourself, what’s most important? Face! Of course, it’s face! A Magical Artifact is a symbol of status, face, and strength! What are you geniuses waiting for? Hey handso, co take a look!"
Magical Artifacts were the crystallization of a Cultivator’s wisdom. Simply put, weapons were a type of Magical Artifact, but Magical Artifacts were more complex, more powerful, and required Spirit Stones to function. Of course, their prices were far beyond what an ordinary person could hope for. Even Zhang Xiaopang couldn’t afford one. So, the two of them coolly ignored the shopkeeper’s enticents and strode past majestically. In their hearts, however, it was a different, more sorrowful story. ’So day, when we’ve made it big, we’ll buy one just to smash one, damn it.’
Those with more ans, however, would naturally go inside to find sothing suitable for themselves. A good Magical Artifact was definitely an impressive sight, the equivalent of a luxury item in the Cultivation Realm.
At least, that’s what Wang ng thought. Although he knew Magical Artifacts were good, he didn’t feel that cultivation necessarily required them.
’A person’s most important asset is themself... especially when they’re broke!’
"Boss, I bought my Bow of Love at this shop! They have all kinds of Treasure Swords inside, absolutely beautiful. Should we go in and have a look?"
The Little Fatty’s excitent was even greater than Wang ng’s.
To be honest, the Little Fatty’s bow was indeed very beautiful. Its lines and the way it felt in the hand were quite good. Weapon shops like this were usually backed by craftsn of a considerable standard. Of course, the quality of a Cultivator’s weapon wasn’t judged by its appearance, but people were always vain, and Cultivators were no exception. The shop owner was also quite enthusiastic, looking at the two of them as if they were a pair of walking moneybags.
Wang ng felt as if he had entered the Grand View Garden, touching this and looking at that. He really found it hard to put things down.
"This was crafted by a weapon master! It’s perfect for young geniuses like you."
When he saw Wang ng fiddling with a Long Sword ant for Entry Level Cultivators from the First to Fifth Layer of the Life Mark, the owner imdiately sidled up and offered so free flattery.
Sure enough, the Little Fatty was already starting to get pumped up. ’That’s right,’ he thought, ’we’re the young geniuses of the Thunderlight Holy Hall!’
Wang ng swung it twice and felt that it handled quite well.
"Young n, it looks like you’re new disciples at the Holy Hall this year. Little brother, what’s your na?"
"Wang ng. The ’ng’ stands for ’fierce’."
"Wang ng, a fine na! I’m Ma Lue, you can call Uncle Ma Lue. Coming to my shop shows you have good taste, and for that, I’ll take responsibility for your future. There’s a truth in this market: trusting Uncle Ma Lue is the first step toward success! Little brother, I can see your potential is extraordinary; you’re destined for greatness. This sword!" Ma Lue took out a thick, wide Great Sword. It was about 1.5 ters long, with exquisite patterns, and looked very impressive.
"Its na is Overlord! Look at this design, this feel, these lines! All the ticulous work of a master. Paired with your na, it’s practically tailor-made for you!"
Ma Lue said with great enthusiasm, solemnly placing the Great Sword in Wang ng’s hands. "Channel your Elental Power into it and give it a try! It will absolutely push your Elental Power to its limits. It’ll turn Third-Layer Strength into Fourth-Layer Strength, and Fourth-Layer Strength into Fifth-Layer Strength! A true treasure. It’s fate that brought you to it today. I wouldn’t recomnd this to just anyone!"
"Brother ng, I think this sword really suits you. What do you say? This one?" The Little Fatty rubbed his hands excitedly, as if he could already see their future of sword and bow combined, dominating the Holy Hall.
Wang ng gripped the sword, channeled his Elental Power into it, and swung it a few tis. How to put it... it did look pretty impressive, but the conduction of Elental Power wasn’t as good as the man claid. He secretly glanced at the price: 1,800. ’Shit,’ he thought, ’why don’t you just rob people? What kind of Treasure Sword is this? Anything for those below the Fifth Layer is the lowest grade of weapon. What master would have the ti to make this kind of junk? Only the Little Fatty is this easy to fool.’
Although he was a Sword Cultivator, in the beginning, the focus was definitely on fundantals and cultivating his Life Mark. A weapon was just for peace of mind. Wang ng wasn’t in a hurry, nor did he want to waste money for no reason.
"We’ll look around so more, boss," Wang ng said, putting the sword down.
Ma Lue was slightly taken aback. "Young man, if you miss this shop, you won’t find another like it. You should know, I’ve had a steady stream of custors lately. It’s possible soone will buy it the mont you walk out the door."
Wang ng just smiled. "Uncle Ma Lue, my greatest virtue is yielding to others. I wish you great fortune."
With that, he grabbed the Little Fatty and bolted. To be honest, he had been a little tempted by the sales pitch, but it clearly wasn’t worth the price. ’If it were my own money, fine, but if I’m spending the Little Fatty’s money, it has to be a good value.’
The two continued to wander. There were weapon shops, Magical Artifact shops, and all kinds of ssengers for sale—they had everything. However, after visiting a few stores, Wang ng found they were all more or less the sa. It wasn’t that there weren’t good items, but he didn’t even need to go inside. Just seeing the string of zeros on the price tags was enough to make him retreat in defeat.
What was the first key to cultivation? Talent?
Correct, that was a personal requirent. But for the process of cultivation, there were three essential elents.
First, you need money. Second, you need money. And third, you still need money!
Cultivation was the most expensive business in the world. When it ca to luxury, the sky was the limit. He’d heard that disciples from great families could sleep hugging Spirit Stones and drink Spiritual Milk ant for cleansing ridians and purifying marrow as if it were water.
After wandering for quite a while, they discovered an inconspicuous shop at the end of the road. The storefront was in poor condition, and more importantly, it was tucked away in a corner. The na on the sign was even stranger: "Sword Tomb."
There were nas like "Sword God," "Sword Sect," and what-have-you, all as exaggerated as they could be. But this na...
"Brother ng, let’s go. A little storefront like this won’t have anything good."
"Not necessarily. In stories, the real hidden masters are always tucked away in places like this. Co on, let’s try our luck."
Zhang Xiaopang shrugged. ’Sigh, Brother ng can be really naive sotis.’ But today, the Little Fatty was prepared to follow his friend to the ends of the earth. They had been wandering for half the day and hadn’t bought a thing.
As soon as they stepped inside, they saw an old man smoking by the entrance, basking in the sun. Compared to the hustle and bustle outside, this place was utterly deserted. The old man didn’t even bother to bat an eye at their arrival.
What’s the most important thing when doing business these days?
Service!
The Little Fatty whispered in Wang ng’s ear, "He’s really got the ’hidden master’ act down. You don’t think this guy’s a scamr, do you? Specializing in luring curious young geniuses like us?"
"Let’s look around first," Wang ng replied. He figured this place had at least one advantage: it was cheap.
"Alright, you’re the boss!"
The two of them went inside. All sorts of swords were scattered ssily around the shop—quite a lot of them, actually. There were big ones, small ones, and so with very strange designs, but they all looked very plain, a far cry from anything ornate.
The Little Fatty also picked one up and swung it a few tis. He didn’t feel anything special. He channeled so Elental Power into it, but there was no reaction. He imdiately pursed his lips in disappointnt.
Wang ng picked up a Great Sword. He really did like Great Swords; they were so commanding. He swung it a few tis. It handled well. Although the design was a bit poor and the appearance wasn’t great, its inner qualities were passable.
But when he channeled a bit of Elental Power into it, he discovered a great deal of resistance. ’That’s a critical flaw.’ However, he glanced at the Little Fatty and knew the kid wouldn’t be satisfied until he bought a sword.
"Boss, how much for this sword?" ’It should be between one and two hundred,’ Wang ng estimated. ’If it’s under a hundred, my parents should be able to afford it.’
Without turning his head, the old man held up one finger.
"Here, this is one hundred and ten. Keep the change. I say, old tir, this is no way to do business. At your age, you should be retired."
The Little Fatty magnanimously showed off the true nature of a benevolent nouveau riche.
(The spring flowers are blooming, it’s the day of the annual eting, bromance is in the air, Skeleton is working hard at writing, moving heaven and earth. Asking for votes, for everyone to add to their collections, and for lots of recomndations ^_^)
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