Chapter 42: Ten Thousand Points

“This time, naturally, I heard that Dongling has produced another outstanding young talent…”

Ding Feng smiled and exchanged pleasantries, but saw the young man across from him gripping his sword hilt, eyes half-closed, as if already asleep—immediately realizing the boy disliked such talk.

He quickly changed the subject.

“I heard the Young Master made a deal with the Four Seas Trading Company—what was the price?”

Ding Feng probed: “Don’t take this as boasting, but whether in goods, pricing, or delivery speed, my Jinlong Trading Company outperforms others by far—I won’t let the Young Master suffer a loss.”

“The Young Master can ask around—old Ding never charges friends more than anyone else.”

Jiang Ding smiled: “What rumors has Master Ding heard?”

Yet inside, he felt a shadow of unease.

The breakthrough elixir was indeed drawing the attention of local powers.

“It seems to be the breakthrough elixir?”

Ding Feng probed: “I know Long San—he’s an old friend. For years he’s been stuck at Inner Qi Minor Completion, with no path forward. How is it that after visiting the Young Master, he suddenly broke through? There must be a tremendous opportunity.”

“And with the Four Seas Trading Company acting so boldly, giving away so much—it’s hard not to suspect a connection.”

“Young Master Jiang.”

He said solemnly: “No matter what price the Four Seas Trading Company offers, or what they offer—I’m willing to pay double!”

Jiang Ding said nothing.

He was currently very satisfied with the Four Seas Trading Company’s work—every day they delivered over ten thousand pairs of Blue Fluorescent Butterflies; relying on the Great Kaishan, the rate of specimen collection had increased dramatically, and so far, the cooperation had been pleasant.

As for double the price—it was laughable.

The Four Seas Trading Company was a major merchant guild across the entire Yue State, merely at a disadvantage in Dongling Prefecture; aside from a little silver and gold, what authority did Jinlong Trading Company have to claim it would pay double for anything?

Even if you had more silver and gold, what use was it beyond exchanging for untraceable common currency?

“My elders taught me that integrity must never be lost.”

Jiang Ding lifted his teacup: “Besides, the breakthrough elixirs my elders gave me have already been promised to the Four Seas Trading Company. Master Ding, please take your leave.”

In truth, giving him one or two pills to appease him wouldn’t hurt—the Blue Fluorescent Butterflies were never too many.

But he had already revealed too much; one buyer was acceptable, but if two knew, wouldn’t they suspect he held a large stock of breakthrough elixirs?

Even the slightest possibility was enough to drive people mad and summon endless wolves.

Ding Feng’s face darkened.

Yet he did not doubt the authenticity of the boy’s mention of elders—breakthrough elixirs for Inner Qi were incredibly precious, their refinement extraordinarily difficult, and only a handful of forces like the Three Sects or the Imperial Family could produce them.

A sixteen- or seventeen-year-old boy? Impossible.

“If the Young Master changes his mind, send someone to inform old Ding.”

Ding Feng barely bowed and took his leave.

Jiang Ding set down the teacup.

“Master Huang!”

“Proprietor…”

Huang Deyou hurried over, his face uneasy.

He knew Jiang Ding valued specimens highly, but how could he dare stop the head of the famed Jinlong Trading Company?

“Clean this up and reopen as soon as possible,” Jiang Ding said coolly. “Apologize sincerely to our regular customers—today’s purchase prices are doubled.”

He paused, pointing at the Eight Immortals table, brocade cloth, and other items.

“Sell these—donate the money to the widows, orphans, and lonely in the city.”

“Yes, Proprietor!”

…

Not long after, Long San arrived in haste, escorting two carts of Blue Fluorescent Butterflies.

“Young Master Jiang, that Ding Feng from Jinlong Trading Company…” Long San hesitated.

“Master Long, our cooperation won’t change,” Jiang Ding waved his hand. “But I need Blue Fluorescent Butterflies—in sufficient quantity, on time. This cannot fail. Do you understand?”

“I understand.”

Long San said solemnly: “My uncle, Long Zhengwu, has reached Inner Qi Perfection and currently guards Dongling Mountain. From now on, he will gather multiple Blue Fluorescent Butterfly carts under his command, leading elite guards personally.”

“Besides, our guild maintains good relations with major forces in the city—when necessary, we can bribe them for assistance.”

“Jinlong Trading Company won’t turn the tide!”

Jiang Ding nodded: “Good. Have confidence.”

After verifying the goods, he handed Long San a green jade vial—this was the second one, meaning he had now acquired 300,000 pairs of Blue Fluorescent Butterflies.

“Young Master, you are generous.”

Long San’s face lit up with joy, and he hurriedly took his leave—he needed to arrange things quickly to avoid any oversight.

Jiang Ding cultivated for a while, then packed the Blue Fluorescent Butterflies into the specimen silk net, shouldered the stacked, newly swapped specimen boxes, and vanished.

He waited in the room for a while.

Jiji!

A green bird dematerialized from invisibility and flew in through the window, followed by a second, slightly smaller one.

Without wasting words, they expertly snatched the Blue Fluorescent Butterflies and specimens from the net, used magic to shrink them, rendered them invisible, and flew off with a beat of their wings.

Jiang Ding sat cross-legged on the bed cultivating; over an hour later, his phone vibrated intermittently.

【Library Points: 9542】

【Library Points: 9580】

…

Points surged rapidly, soon crossing the threshold, reaching…

“Ten thousand points.”

Jiang Ding’s heart stirred with excitement, then gradually calmed; he continued cultivating, nurturing and refining the fine branches of the Twelve Regular Meridians, until he fell into deep sleep at two a.m.

The next day, when the school bell rang, Jiang Ding dashed out of school and took a bus to the library.

Breathing in the scent of books, Jiang Ding entered the private reading room alone, logged into his Immortal Gate Library account, and checked his library points.

“Array Spirit, I want to simulate the ‘Great Sun Sword Scripture—Seed Sword and Refine Sword Method.’ Simulation direction: adapt to my own cultivation.” Jiang Ding said firmly.

“Consume ten thousand library points to simulate the ‘Great Sun Sword Scripture—Seed Sword and Refine Sword Method’?”

The Array Spirit’s mechanical voice echoed.

“Confirm.”

The computer in the reading room projected a blue light that scanned Jiang Ding’s entire body, acquiring data on his meridians, muscles, and bones, then accessed the database to retrieve all his experiences since enrollment—grades, strengths, interests, and preferences.

“Simulating. Estimated time required: 3:34:23.”

The Rongcheng Array Spirit computer was currently being used—it couldn’t simulate instantly.

Jiang Ding wasn’t in a hurry; he sat cross-legged cultivating, quietly waiting for the simulation to complete.

Over three hours later.

Ding!

Jiang Ding opened his eyes and saw the simulation progress on the computer screen had finished—displaying an image of a deep blue, line-drawn book, titled—

“Great Sun Sword Scripture—Seed Sword and Refine Sword Method (Jiang Ding Edition).”

“Ding! You have contributed a new book to the Immortal Gate Library. Reward: 124 library points.”

This was an unchangeable protocol—any knowledge belonged to the Immortal Gate collective.

Jiang Ding’s face flushed: “Rename it—use Version 21.”

He was being clever—he dared not use such a name.

“Name duplicate. Not allowed.”

Jiang Ding froze, then understood: ten thousand library points were many, but many noble family youths had no shortage—they’d even done adaptive simulations for obscure techniques like Refine Sword Method.

“Randomize. Do not use my name.”

“Confirmed. Your contributed knowledge to the Immortal Gate Library is now titled: ‘Great Sun Sword Scripture—Seed Sword and Refine Sword Method (Version 41).’”