Chapter 662: The Legendary Material That Allows One to Comprehend Sword Intent

Jiang Ding's divine sense scanned this piece of top-grade fire spirit copper for a long time.

Analyzing its composition, the nature of fire-attribute sword intent, guessing its forging process, whether it was dan fire or earth fire, whether to melt the material into a liquid state…

For a time, many thoughts and inspirations floated up in his mind, only to be extinguished one by one.

"A bit amateurish…"

Jiang Ding laughed wryly to himself, knowing full well how unreliable this was.

His main cultivation was the Sword Dao and warship command; his professional title was Dari Site Salvage Excavation, which had nothing to do with materials at all.

Many of his current inspirations, in the eyes of Jin Dan doctoral students who had systematically/who'd systematically studied the relevant sciences, were probably the most elementary things imaginable, or perhaps the academic seniors had long since reached their conclusions, with no need to start research from scratch.

The so-called inspiration was nothing more than the wonder of a beginner.

Unknowingly, several days passed in thought.

"Honored guest, what is your pleasure?"

Even though Steward Liu Liu Cailing had long weathered the marketplace, she was getting somewhat impatient and said coolly: "To tell you the truth, I don't know how many swordsmen have tried to decipher the Dari Sect's sword-sacrifice treasure, but none have ever succeeded. Even if by heaven's favor one managed to restore one or two, the consequences… you must surely know."

"If you don't care for this item, perhaps a third-grade low-grade fire sword stone would be more suitable."

She saw through the person's intentions at a glance and said tactfully.

In fact, all swordsmen were like this—it concerned their life and death, their Dao path, their lifespan—of course they would try everything.

"Fellow Daoist, I am very satisfied."

Jiang Ding nodded, took out a bronze-bowl-shaped Zhong Pin Fa Bao, and placed it on the table.

Where it came from, he had forgotten.

"Honored guest, you truly have a discerning eye!"

Liu Liu Cailing was overjoyed beyond words.

Her goods had actually been sitting in stock for a very long time, unable to sell. Every swordsman was tempted, but upon hearing the price nearly all gave up immediately, without the slightest hesitation.

She, who had originally been brimming with confidence, was nearly unable to resist lowering the price.

Carefully examining the bronze-bowl Zhong Pin Fa Bao before her, confirming it was genuine beyond doubt, Liu Liu Cailing's expression grew considerably more respectful.

Someone who could casually produce a Zhong Pin Fa Bao was certainly no simple matter; family background and strength must possess at least one, or perhaps both, surpassing the vast majority of Jin Dan cultivators.

"However, it's not enough—I still need more."

"Two or three portions of each kind, but if you have them, I want them all."

Jiang Ding said softly, making no attempt to hide it.

Such a large transaction could only be channeled through the Nine Harmony Merchant Guild; changing identities and coming multiple times was useless and would only invite secret ridicule—the distinguishing features were too obvious.

"You want every kind?!"

Liu Liu Cailing drew a sharp breath, looked at the person before her, hesitant and wavering.

This was too obvious.

The risks involved made her hesitate and worry.

Although the Dari Qingse Jianzong had not explicitly forbidden it—they themselves were the gathering center for sword cultivators under heaven, not worried about such things, and their own path was that of core disciples.

But with such matters, once something went wrong, it was never a matter of explicit prohibition or not.

Everyone who handled it would have to die.

The Dari Qingse Jianzong was no pushover; no matter how wealthy the Nine Harmony Merchant Guild or how deep its background, anyone who dared to offend would find no one able to save them—unless she suddenly comprehended sword intent, death was certain.

For a long time, she could not make a decision.

"Sir, you are unwilling to sell?"

Jiang Ding was not anxious and said lightly: "No need to force yourself. I can find someone else—are there other Jin Dan cultivators from your guild available now?"

Such a large volume of Zhong Pin Fa Bao-level transactions—the commission alone would be enough to make a Jin Dan Chu Qi cultivator instantly rich, advancing their cultivation a major step and their combat ability a major step.

He made as if to rise.

In truth it was not really a pretense; if she was unwilling, he had originally intended to switch to someone else. They were neither kin nor friends—how could he possibly be fixated on this woman alone?

"Sir, wait a moment!"

Liu Liu Cailing grew greatly alarmed, hurriedly rising to block him, and gritted her teeth: "It can be done, but the price must increase—two Zhong Pin Fa Bao for one kind of sword-forging material."

"You must understand, I am taking a great risk."

"Oh?"

Jiang Ding stared at the woman.

Top-grade sword-forging material, in terms of market price, was only between Zhong Pin Fa Bao and low-grade Dao Shang Pin Fa; due to its rarity and the fact that the Dari Qingse Jianzong rarely let any leak out internally, the price would rise, but rising to the level of Zhong Pin Fa Bao was already far too exaggerated.

Yet this woman remained unsatisfied, putting on airs.

A merchant's greed was endless.

This was truly a troublesome thing, not very friendly to a cultivator like him who was unaccustomed to socializing.

It wasn't like the clear, fixed pricing of an immortal-gate website—simple and straightforward.

"My price will not change."

"Fellow Daoist Liu."

Jiang Ding smiled: "Same as before—are you willing to do it? If not, I'll find someone else. Inner-circle elders of the Dari Qingse Jianzong, family members of core disciples and the like—surely the price of Zhong Pin Fa Bao is enough to move them."

"The Dari Qingse Jianzong has not explicitly forbidden the sale of this item."

"Let's not speak of risk anymore. If it were truly so, then going out, walking, cultivating, refining treasures—which of these carries no risk?"

Liu Liu Cailing said nothing, falling into silence.

Jiang Ding was not anxious either, waiting quietly.

"Puchi!"

After a moment, Liu Liu Cailing's face bloomed like a flower: "Fellow Daoist, please don't take offense. The matter was of great importance, and I was momentarily flustered. Please forgive me—I will bring what you require right away."

She did not call for a maid, but personally brought three jade boxes and opened them one by one.

"Taiyi Taiyi Qingmu Red Iron, Ice-Cold Jade, Sword-Melting Stone."

Liu Liu Cailing introduced them one by one: "These are all the third-grade top-quality sword-forging materials available in our shop for the Great Sun Qingse Jianzong. The rest will need to go through channels within the sect, and we expect deliveries to arrive over the next twenty years. You can come pick them up from above at that time. A deposit of at least ten percent is required—what do you think…"

"Naturally, no objection."

Jiang Ding waved his hand, and several top-grade magic treasures appeared on the table; he casually stowed away the three sword-forging materials.

"Is there an underground auction in this city? Get me an invitation."

After paying, Jiang Ding did not stand on ceremony and gave the order.

Underground auctions were a common feature of the Cultivation World, peddling goods of a half-legitimate, half-shadowy nature; within the territories of the Devil Dao sects, they traded things that violated the Devil Dao's order and were of unknown origin.

They had always been characterized by low prices, uneven quality, and a wide variety of goods sources.

On his way to Great Sun Sword City, Jiang Ding had consciously acted as a chivalrous hero a dozen or more times, obtaining the divine souls of several Jin Dan cultivators, which contained much information that piqued his interest.

Among them was word that an underground auction to be held a few years hence would feature a legendary sword-forging material called Blazing Sun Copper.

In the divine soul of that bandit-cultivator Jin Dan, Blazing Sun Iron was described as follows.

"The supreme treasure of the Sword Dao, capable of aiding one in comprehending Sword Intent."

Indeed, there was even a Jin Dan cultivator he knew who, thanks to this very item, comprehended Sword Intent and vaulted in a single leap to become a core disciple of the Great Sun Qingse Jianzong, the Great Dao within sight, his status exalted, his clan rising along with him.

This item was auctioned once every ten years, and a hundred years had already passed since the last one.

Legend had it that at least two sword cultivators had become core disciples of the Great Sun Qingse Jianzong through this item.

At this moment, the majority of sword cultivators who had come to Great Sun Sword City were all anticipating this item.

(End of Chapter)