Chapter 228: It Seems I Heard Someone Say I'm Good-Looking

A Soul-Entrusting Jade Pendant?

What thing?

Fang Yue's face was a picture of utter bewilderment, but luckily at this moment the host had already begun to introduce it in detail, rattling it off like a prized collection.

"A Soul-Entrusting Jade Pendant — as the name suggests, this object is one that entrusts souls."

"Legend has it that when a living being passes into stillness..."

"The soul returns to Youquan, the魄 enters Jiu Yuan, the consciousness ascends to Tianhai, the thought is gathered into Wanyun."

"The soul is yang, the魄 is yin, the consciousness is attachment, the thought is emptiness."

"And the Soul-Entrusting Jade Pendant is a strange object that entrusts the 【soul】 — a thing that interferes with the Five Elements and the Six Realms. Rumor has it that even immortals of great cultivation, upon seeing it, would turn pale with shock and dare not lightly come into contact with it, fearing entanglement with Causality, and that after death they would not enter the cycle of reincarnation."

"However, as for immortals of great cultivation — our Qing Guo has not seen any for many years now, and among the surrounding nations there has been no news of such beings either. So this matter of not daring to lightly entangle oneself with Causality — everyone need not take it too much to heart. As for Causality and the like, we ourselves in this lifetime can't even sort out the business of living — who's going to worry about what happens after death?"

"Of course, any guest who has such reservations need simply refrain from bidding."

"As for the grade of the Soul-Entrusting Jade Pendant, the unanimous appraisal given by our Black Crow Merchant Group is... Immortal-Grade Strange Object!"

"Although this is only the rating given by our Black Crow Merchant Group's appraisal team, the outside world's rating for this kind of thing is mostly classified as Immortal-Grade Strange Object. After all, the traces of immortals are hard to find, and an Immortal-Grade Strange Object is already a kind of existence beyond what we ordinary folk can fathom. For something whose upper limit cannot be predicted, provisionally designating it an Immortal-Grade Strange Object is not inappropriate."

Mentioning Immortal-Grade, even the host could not help but reveal a look of leisurely longing.

Who doesn't have a dream of becoming an immortal?

Riding a sword through the skies, carefree and at ease, living as long as heaven itself — all of this strikes at the most beautiful longing in the human heart.

Yet reality is cruel.

After failing to advance even an inch on the path of Martial Dao, the host came to terms with the fact that he was a good-for-nothing. Add to that the bonds of family and the daily grind of rice, oil, salt, sauce, vinegar — how many of his fellow travelers on the Martial Dao, without even realizing it, drifted further and further from their dreams.

Only when Immortal-Grade existences were suddenly brought up from time to time did his heart tremble, recalling that once unattainable dream.

Gathering his thoughts, the host took a deep breath.

"I've digressed a bit. In short, the Soul-Entrusting Jade Pendant can entrust a person's yang soul. As for how to operate it, how to use it — that's not my business. To be precise, even our Black Crow Merchant Group doesn't know how to use this thing either; we're simply putting it up for sale."

"The only thing I know about this object is that I've heard a few rumors — rumors that someone once used a Soul-Entrusting Jade Pendant to return from death!"

Return from death!

Everyone present grew heavy in their breathing.

At any time, in any era, these four words make a person's whole body burn and their eyes turn red.

Eternal life, undying existence, the Fountain of Youth, the Elixir of Immortality, immortal masters... isn't everything ultimately for the sake of those two words — undying?

Even though the Soul-Entrusting Jade Pendant is merely a possibility of returning from death, it is enough to make people lose their heads and bankrupt themselves to purchase it!

Whether it's truly as miraculous as the rumors say can be set aside for now — just keep it and study it slowly. As long as the object remains, one day it will be figured out, and then... it will be undying and imperishable!

The special nature of the Soul-Entrusting Jade Pendant simply needed no further introduction from the host.

Apart from a complete novice like Fang Yue who knew nothing about strange objects, everyone knew the value of the Soul-Entrusting Jade Pendant.

So the host didn't waste any more words and directly began the bidding.

"Soul-Entrusting Jade Pendant, starting price: 30 Black Stones! Each bid must be no less than 1 Black Stone!"

30 Black Stones?!

Fang Yue's pupils contracted. This price was almost beyond what most people could afford.

In a small Mo Cun, how many people could afford such a high price?

Fang Yue deeply doubted it.

Sure enough, the scene fell into an eerie silence.

Many people exchanged glances; even more were shamed into anger.

"Hey! Is this price a mistake? It's way too outrageous!"

"Right, 30 Black Stones — who can afford that!"

"Damn it, I specially liquidated the family assets and scraped together 20 Black Stones to take a shot, and it turns out your Black Crow Merchant Group has no intention of actually selling!"

Many who couldn't afford it began to shout loudly, and the scene grew noisy and rowdy.

But the host, unlike his earlier nervousness, calmly and slowly closed his eyes, looking utterly composed, the picture of confidence.

He... seemed certain that someone in Mo Cun could afford such a high price!

Although, if the Soul-Entrusting Jade Pendant were genuine and truly as powerful as the host claimed, then 30 Black Stones would be a price low beyond low.

By analogy, it was as if one were putting something as outrageously terrifying as sheepskin parchment up for auction at 30 Black Stones — practically giving it away. The value-for-money was off the charts; buying it was a profit, missing it was a blood-losing loss, a loss that meant missing the chance to turn things around in this lifetime.

But one also had to look at the market, didn't one.

Although Mo Cun was the wealthiest village in their area, 30 Black Stones wasn't something that could just be produced on demand.

While opinions flew thick and fast among the crowd, someone made the first bid.

"50 Black Stones!"

What?!

Someone actually bid — and opened with 50 Black Stones?

The crowd that had just been arguing all turned in surprise to look at the bidder, and it was unmistakably... Hei Da, who had remained silent from the moment he entered!

From the start of the auction until now, apart from bidding on the Blazing Heart Method earlier, Hei Da and Hei Er had no other bidding records.

Until now...

In other words, their purpose from the very beginning was to come for the Soul-Entrusting Jade Pendant!

"Young Master Hei Da in the back row bids 50 Black Stones! Any higher bids?"

Hearing that someone had bid, the host opened his eyes and began his work.

Still enthusiastic, still emotionally charged, making one want to immediately follow the price and buy it.

And those who had questioned the price now wore ugly expressions, glaring furiously at Hei Da before sitting down in angry sulks, while some, with dark faces, simply got up and left.

But none of this affected the auction price as it climbed steadily higher.

"51 Black Stones!"

"52 Black Stones!"

"53 Black Stones!"

Someone set the rhythm, and the auction price began to skyrocket.

Those who had previously haggled over 1g or 2g of Black Ember now bid with astonishing generosity, leaving Fang Yue dumbfounded.

This kind of wealth was simply beyond his ability to compete with.

Fang Yue couldn't help but feel relieved—thankfully, everyone wanted to save their money for the final Soul-Hosting Jade Pendant; otherwise, if they had truly gone all out to fight him for the Flame Heart Method, he would have had to pull out the Silver Stone as his last resort to win it.

But after carefully observing, Fang Yue realized that although the bidding was fierce, only a few fixed individuals were actually bidding—everyone else had long become mere spectators, their pockets empty and utterly powerless in this extravagant bidding war.

"One Blood Stone."

At that moment, the person beside Fang Yue suddenly spoke.

Fang Yue turned in surprise to look at Captain Fire.

Holy shit, I'm speechless!

100g of Black Ember equals one Black Stone.

100 Black Stones equal one Blood Stone!

If Black Stones correspond to Black Grade anomalies,

then Blood Stones correspond to… Blood Grade anomalies!

Black Grade anomalies are equivalent to human Postnatal Realm experts.

Blood Grade anomalies are comparable to… Xiantian Realm experts!

To obtain one Blood Stone, you must kill many, many Black Grade High Stage anomalies—or… kill a single Blood Grade anomaly!

This is the normal acquisition method, as Lin Ling and others had explained: when Natives kill anomalies, they don't always drop Black Stones or similar items; more often, they simply gain attribute increases.

According to forum research, players killing anomalies have nearly a 100% chance of dropping Black Ember or Black Stones.

Of course, this assumes solo kills; cooperation with Natives makes the drop rate far less stable.

The underlying principle is unknown. Forum users treat it as a natural phenomenon—a system perk, simply a "monster-killing-loot-money" mechanic.

But Fang Yue knew this game was far more than just a game; every baffling detail must have a rational explanation—only he wasn't capable of understanding it yet.

Regardless, the bid of one Blood Stone sent shockwaves through the crowd.

Everyone had been proudly laying out their Black Stones one by one like Kong Yiji, when suddenly someone shattered the rules.

One Blood Stone—who the hell could afford that?!

The crowd turned and glared angrily, but when they saw it was Captain Fire, they slightly calmed—though still clearly annoyed.

Captain Fire, however, didn't care. He lowered his voice and explained to Fang Yue: "This Blood Stone was pooled by all three Captains—not mine alone. Chief Captain Lang Wu contributed 50, and my partner Captain Wu and I each contributed 25. If we win the Soul-Hosting Jade Pendant, we'll share its use and research."

Oh…

Fang Yue was stunned—he'd thought the Captain was obscenely rich, ready to defy heaven.

But… this? This? They're pooling money?

Are you three from Mo Cun the ultimate group-buy champions? Driving the village's shared economy?

As if sensing Fang Yue's expression, Captain Fire pursed his lips.

"The Soul-Hosting Jade Pendant is, after all, only a legend. No one knows what the real thing is truly like. Spending one Blood Stone on something whose functionality is uncertain is pure gambling."

"Then why buy it?"

Captain Fire fell silent, then asked back:

"... What if the legend is true?"

Now it was Fang Yue's turn to be speechless.

Yes—what if it's true? This is a Divine-grade anomaly artifact! It can bring the dead back to life!

Who doesn't have someone they wish to resurrect? Who wouldn't try to obtain such an artifact if given the chance?

Captain Fire added:

"Moreover, from my observation, the Soul-Hosting Jade Pendant offered by the Black Crow Merchant Group has an exceptionally intact structure, with no signs of damage—far more reliable than any previously unearthed Soul-Hosting Jade Pendant."

As Captain Fire spoke, two others spoke up in succession.

"One point zero one Blood Stones!"

"One point zero two Blood Stones!"

Old capitalists—they'll bid 0.01 rather than round up.

Fang Yue glanced at the two; they were drenched in sweat, faces pale, frequently glancing back at Captain Fire as if under immense pressure.

"They're from the Li and Ming families of Mo Cun—the two dominant clans. Aside from our Captains, they control the most resources in the village, with countless merchant alliances and deeply entrenched power networks. They're the only force capable of slightly challenging our three Captains."

Captain Fire explained, then prepared to bid—when a voice came from behind.

"... Fifty Blood Stones."

Fifty… Blood… Stones?!

Captain Fire's breath halted.

The entire hall fell silent.

They turned in shock, staring at the two figures in black robes in the back row—faces filled with disbelief and awe.

Even Fang Yue was no exception.

He spun around, staring blankly at Hei Da.

So… so rich! So unbelievably rich!

Fang Yue nearly collapsed—what kind of people were Hei Da and Hei Er? How could they be this absurdly wealthy?!

Fifty Blood Stones—that was an amount he couldn't even imagine.

The host's breathing grew rapid, his speech becoming fragmented.

"Black, Black Young Master's bid—Black Young Master's bid—is fifty Blood Stones! Is there any higher bid? Is there any higher bid?"

The venue remained silent.

Not for any other reason—simply because this price was too high.

It seemed Hei Da was certain to secure the Soul-Hosting Jade Pendant; even Captain Huo had stopped bidding.

Because one Blood Stone was already the maximum their three Captains had pooled together; beyond that price, their original plan was to withdraw—let alone now the bid had surged so far beyond it. Captain Huo naturally wouldn't bid again.

The host, excited, continued describing the many legends of the Soul-Hosting Jade Pendant—resurrection from death was the most frequently mentioned tale.

Though everyone was desperately envious, their pockets were too empty to afford such a price.

To be honest.

Fang Yue was deeply tempted by the Soul-Hosting Jade Pendant, and he still had one Silver Stone left from Lord Han's original gift.

He didn't know the value of Silver Stones, but he was certain they were worth more than Blood Stones; if he bid, he should be able to win it.

Yet after a moment of calm reflection, he realized something was off.

I'm a player—I can't die no matter what.

Put bluntly, my soul might not even be under the jurisdiction of some Youquan in this game—it could be under the real-world Underworld's control.

In that case, this Soul-Hosting Jade Pendant wasn't very useful to him.

But… if this thing could be taken out into the real world…

Fang Yue's breathing quickened.

A device capable of resurrecting the dead, used in the real world, would be an explosive divine artifact.

But the real world and the game were two entirely different realms—could this thing even work?

And besides, whether it could truly resurrect the dead was still uncertain.

Yang soul, yang soul—it sounded like a ghost trapped inside a jade pendant, alive yet still a ghost. Did it require soul possession, taking over a corpse to revive?

The more Fang Yue thought, the more his head ached—but somehow, his palm was already clutching a large Silver Stone.

Yet he did not bid; his heart remained in hesitation.

"Damn it, at the critical moment, the Parchment went to sleep—otherwise I could've asked for its opinion."

Compared to Fang Yue's shallow game knowledge, the Parchment clearly knew far more—even if it didn't know, its ability could still serve as a valuable reference.

As if responding to Fang Yue's thought, a line of text suddenly appeared in his mind.

【I seem to hear someone saying I'm good-looking!】

Fang Yue:??!

Fang Yue was greatly startled.

Holy shit! The Parchment woke up?

When did that happen?

Can't this guy stop appearing and disappearing like a ghost?

If you're awake, say something sooner! You made me think you were still asleep!

Fang Yue glared at the empty air, silently thinking in his mind.

"Quick, Parchment—tell me, is the Soul-Hosting Jade Pendant real? This kind of treasure, miss this chance and you'll never find it again."

【Call me the Extraordinarily Great and Extraordinarily Noble Time Parchment Lord!】

(End of Chapter)