Chapter 501: Only Needs Ten Thousand Taels to Activate Special Ability

Chapter 501: Just Ten Thousand Taels to Activate a Special Ability

Third Young Master Tu gazed at this oddly shaped magical artifact and found it rather ugly.

But recalling that the other might be the ruthless figure from Red Cloud Stockade, he asked, "This... how much silver?"

The noble young master, seeing this, felt a bit puzzled but said nothing, merely looking with contempt at Qi Yuan's display of artifacts.

They looked shabby and worn, hardly anything good.

"This is a Yellow-grade artifact, crafted with the utmost effort of my heart and blood.

More importantly, such an artifact has only existed in imagination; this is the first time it appears in reality.

You've struck it lucky—only a thousand taels."

"What? A thousand taels?" Before Third Young Master Tu could speak, a passerby exclaimed, "Even a master-crafted Yellow-grade artifact doesn't cost this much. You're too unscrupulous!"

"Too steep! Except for some top-tier Yellow-grade artifacts, none are worth this price."

Generally, the value of Yellow-grade artifacts fluctuates in the hundreds of taels, rarely exceeding a thousand.

The noble young master couldn't help sneering, "Why don't you just rob someone?"

Qi Yuan's expression was calm. "If you lay a hand on me, I'll rob you today."

Qi Yuan had always been lawfully good, abiding by the rule: if not provoked, he would not provoke.

Since this noble young master had not truly offended him, he naturally could not rob him.

"You..." The noble young master was about to speak, but Third Young Master Tu hastily stopped him.

He knew full well that Qi Yuan was a ruthless man.

If they truly offended Qi Yuan and he killed them, where would they seek justice?

"A thousand taels of silver... I'll buy it," Third Young Master Tu said through gritted teeth.

The onlookers, seeing this, exclaimed in surprise, "He bought it?"

"He actually bought it!"

"Hiss, this man is truly wealthy!"

The nearby stall owners, seeing this, couldn't help but look at him like a fat sheep.

"Young brother, I also have a Yellow-grade artifact here, not much inferior to his—only eight hundred taels. Will you buy it?"

"I only ask for five hundred taels!"

They all treated Third Young Master Tu like a fat sheep.

Third Young Master Tu ignored them and asked Qi Yuan, "Does this artifact have any unique features?"

"Naturally," Qi Yuan said with a smile in his eyes. "See that button there? When you use it, press it lightly, and a light sword will appear.

This light sword is formed by devouring the primordial energy of heaven and earth, indestructible, like the earth unleashing its killing intent—its power is astonishing."

Light sword, light sword—Qi Yuan certainly had not forged the light of this world into a sword, but rather had forged the primordial energy of heaven and earth into a sword.

The greatest characteristics of this light sword were its sharpness and sturdiness.

"Hmph, sounds utterly ordinary," the noble young master couldn't help commenting.

The others also thought Qi Yuan's description was too plain.

Some Yellow-grade artifacts had engravings that carried special functions.

For instance, attacks might be accompanied by burning, freezing, or other special properties.

Qi Yuan's sword not only lacked these but was also so expensive.

"I'll buy it." Third Young Master Tu, without any hesitation, handed over a thousand-tael banknote.

Qi Yuan took the banknote and said calmly, "Actually, this artifact has another special ability, but to activate it requires ten thousand taels of silver."

"Ten thousand taels of silver?"

"What are you saying?"

The crowd of onlookers gasped.

"That could probably buy the cheapest Earth-grade artifact!"

"You... are too outrageous!"

"No matter how special the function, can it be worth ten thousand taels of silver?"

Everyone was shocked; some looked at Qi Yuan, feeling that this man was too unscrupulous.

He was fleecing a sheep to death.

The noble young master was also shocked. "Ten thousand taels—do you know what that means?"

Even for him, taking out ten thousand taels would be crippling.

As for Third Young Master Tu, he was now hesitant and deeply conflicted; his mind was in a daze.

"May I ask, senior, what kind of special ability is it?" Third Young Master Tu, recalling the power of that person from Red Cloud Stockade, couldn't help asking.

"If you hear it, you must buy it—no backing out. Are you sure you want to hear it?" Qi Yuan said indifferently.

The other party was wealthy; he had to fleece him well.

Open for one day, eat for a year.

With ten thousand taels, he could buy many materials.

Seeing an opportunity, he had to seize it.

The noble young master grabbed Third Young Master Tu. "Brother Tu, why let yourself be deceived by this man? This is ten thousand taels!"

Their birth was indeed noble, but ten thousand taels would still cripple them.

Third Young Master Tu was now extremely hesitant. On one hand, he knew Qi Yuan was very strong; on the other, he feared this was a scam.

"Fortune favors the brave. If you leave, its special ability will never be activated in this lifetime." Qi Yuan's voice was calm, yet full of seductive power.

Third Young Master Tu was deeply hesitant. He looked at Qi Yuan's face and recalled the news from Red Cloud Stockade.

That day, many had seen that mysterious person take action.

Later, many Imperial Arms Envoys went to Red Cloud Stockade to investigate the mysterious person's identity, asking the villagers to describe his appearance so it could be drawn.

But for some reason, each villager described him differently, their accounts bizarre and varied.

The portraits drawn by the artists were also all different.

It was as if a mysterious force prevented them from uncovering the mysterious person's identity.

However, the pair of an old man and a young man—one slovenly, one handsome—was a fact.

Third Young Master Tu recalled the blood-colored armor on that mysterious man, and he felt a sudden insight.

That blood-colored armor looked like a bizarre artifact.

Could it be that this artifact's special ability was also related to that?

At this thought, his heart began to race.

"I... I bought it! Please, senior, tell me!" Finally, Third Young Master Tu gritted his teeth, then turned to the noble youth beside him. "I don't have enough money with me. Could you lend me four thousand taels?"

"Brother Tu... he's clearly a swindler!" the noble youth said anxiously. "Look at these magical artifacts on their stall—no certification, all bizarre and strange. I reckon they're worth at most a few dozen taels, yet you're offering ten thousand? Could it be that they're even better than Earth-grade artifacts?"

The noble youth rattled off a string of words like a machine gun.

"Brother Huang, lend it to me. If I'm cheated, it's my loss, not yours!" Third Young Master Tu was clearly swept up in the moment.

Qi Yuan watched this scene and even felt that if he were to swindle Third Young Master Tu, he would surely succeed.

But he was lawful good and never did anything illegal.

"Fine." The noble youth's face shifted between uncertainty and resolve, and in the end, he lent four thousand taels to Third Young Master Tu.

The onlookers stared at the noble youth and Third Young Master Tu, their breathing quickening, and many eyes glinted with greed.

Third Young Master Tu held a ten-thousand-tael banknote and said respectfully, "Please, senior, enlighten me."

"Its special ability is called Summon Deity.

Within the light sword slumbers a god named Divine Arrival.

You need only have a shallow faith in Him.

When danger strikes, you can silently recite the word 'Summon Deity' in your heart, and an avatar of the god will descend to help you through your troubles.

However, this summoning has a limit—only three times."

Qi Yuan used telepathy this time.

Upon hearing this, Third Young Master Tu was stunned and somewhat perplexed.

Summon an avatar of a god?

How could that sound so unreliable?

After all, anything that dared to claim the name of a god was surely a divine artifact or a Divine-level Imperial Arms Master.

This tiny Yellow-grade artifact could summon a god's avatar—it all sounded too fantastical.

"You've hit the jackpot, kid. I only have three such artifacts that can activate special abilities, and this time you got a bargain," Qi Yuan said calmly.

Yet his words couldn't help but betray a hint of smugness.

Qi Yuan thought himself a genius.

Killing two birds with one stone.

Selling the artifact earned him silver, and he could also gain followers.

Besides, when he used 'As I Divine Arrival' to help believers, he actually received no tangible reward—at most, it boosted his role-playing score.

Now, he had sold that opportunity through the artifact.

This was truly the height of cleverness.

He could be called the smartest man in Dàníng!

"Only three?" Third Young Master Tu swallowed hard, looking at Qi Yuan with some suspicion.

After all, the matter of a god's avatar sounded utterly mystical. "Once they're used up, that's it. You'd better use them sparingly, and try to delay using them as long as possible," Qi Yuan said.

Beside him, the noble youth's eyes turned hostile. "Brother Tu, what's the activated ability?"

He still thought Qi Yuan was a fraud.

"This..." Third Young Master Tu hesitated, unsure how to explain. "Brother Huang, this is no place to linger. Let's talk elsewhere."

He hurriedly left with the noble youth.

"I still have two more artifacts here. Anyone else want to buy? Only a thousand taels, but if you pay ten thousand, you can activate a special ability," Qi Yuan seized the moment to call out.

The onlookers looked at Qi Yuan and then at Third Young Master Tu, suspecting the latter was a shill.

After all, ten thousand taels—given away just like that.

They grew more interested in the artifacts on Qi Yuan's stall.

But a thousand taels, or even ten thousand, truly stunned many.

No one's money came from the wind. In the end, only a few bought some artifacts worth a few dozen taels.

As for the expensive ones, not a single one sold.

...

Two hours later, Qi Yuan stretched lazily.

"Money flows like water. Over ten thousand taels, and now less than half remains."

After Third Young Master Tu left, Qi Yuan quickly packed up his stall and then went to the ghost market to buy some forging materials.

The ghost market had a wide variety of forging materials, and Qi Yuan needed quite a few.

Among them, an artifact with a function similar to a storage pouch was something Qi Yuan urgently needed, costing him a full three thousand taels.

And its internal space was very small, less than ten cubic meters.

He bought various other materials and stuffed them all into the storage artifact, piling up quite a bit.

"With all these materials, I can forge plenty of powerful drones or mechanical angels!"

Qi Yuan was ambitious.

He thought about forming an electronic army, using it to disguise himself as a god.

After all, the inspiration for these artifacts came from Blue Star and some TV shows and movies.

These "ancient people" had never seen modern weapons; they would surely regard him as a god.

"Young master, with all that money, you could also buy some steamed buns!" Chen Kangbao said from the side.

He was most attentive when it came to food.

"Oh, you, always thinking about eating," Qi Yuan sighed.

At that moment, he and Chen Kangbao had already reached the outskirts of the ghost market, and Qi Yuan deliberately slowed his pace.

"In the cultivation world, I never encountered murder for treasure, but here in the game world, I have. Interesting, very interesting," he muttered to himself, then turned to the shadowy forest behind him and said, "Since you're here, come out. Why hide and skulk?"

As Qi Yuan's words fell, five figures emerged from the forest.

All five were clad in black robes, concealing their forms.

Each one exuded a terrifying aura.

"Young friend, leave your storage artifact and silver, and we'll let you leave alive!" the leader spoke, his voice hoarse.

When Third Young Master Tu spent ten thousand taels to buy an artifact from Qi Yuan's stall, many eyes had fallen on Qi Yuan.

That was ten thousand taels—enough to drive a Profound-grade Imperial Arms Master to take risks.

Among these five figures, there were two Profound-grade Imperial Arms Masters and three high-level Yellow-grade Imperial Arms Masters.

"You're quite bold. Aren't you afraid I've hidden my true strength?" Qi Yuan said calmly.

"Heh, young friend, why try to bluff here?

You entered the ghost market and passed through the gate's inspection. Do you think we don't know your true measure?"

A mere Yellow-rank Armsmaster dares to cheat and swindle like this?

You tarnish the Ghost Market’s name—the silver you swindled now belongs to us!

A Mystic-rank Armsmaster spoke, his voice cold and stern.

All who enter the Ghost Market must pass through the entrance.

At the entrance, there was an Earth-rank artifact.

That Earth-rank artifact was a detection-type artifact, able to judge the fluctuations of those entering.

These five had already asked the Ghost Market people; Qi Yuan’s strength fluctuation was merely Yellow-rank, nothing to fear.

They also guessed that Qi Yuan had used some trick to deceive that Young Master Tu San.

Soon enough, Young Master Tu San would surely realize it, and the Tu family would definitely make a move against Qi Yuan.

They had to hurry, before the Tu family acted, to seize those ten thousand taels for themselves.

“Alas, how treacherous people’s hearts are. Why must they bully me? I’m nothing but a mere live-in son-in-law,” Qi Yuan murmured.

As his words fell, his disguise vanished, revealing a face even more strikingly handsome.

“Remember, the person you’re bullying is the Shen family’s live-in son-in-law… Qi Yuan.”

Once bullied, the live-in son-in-law Qi Yuan immediately came online.

Only this way could he boost his role-playing score.

“Shen… the Shen family’s live-in son-in-law?” The five black-robed men were stunned, clearly not having caught on.

“You’re actually the Shen family’s live-in son-in-law?” one Mystic-rank Armsmaster said warily, “Shen Lingxuan’s husband?”

Shen Lingxuan’s name thundered in their ears.

Though Shen Lingxuan was also a Mystic-rank Armsmaster like him,

she was a Mystic-rank Armsmaster on the Prodigy List, not to be compared with them.

“It’s him—this is troublesome,” another Mystic-rank Armsmaster said, regretting getting involved.

The Shen family’s thunderous wrath was something they dared not offend.

“Isn’t he a waste?” someone asked, looking baffled.

Everyone knew the Shen family’s live-in son-in-law was a useless cripple who couldn’t cultivate.

Yet he had hidden so deeply—was he a Yellow-rank Armsmaster?

The leader’s face shifted several times before he finally said, “Master Qi, let’s drop this matter. We’ll pretend we never came.”

Thinking his identity hadn’t been discovered, he felt the urge to retreat.

After all, if they killed Shen Lingxuan’s husband, the Ghost Market couldn’t protect them.

Seeing this, the others also wanted to leave.

“Hey, I’ve already revealed my identity. If you don’t keep bullying me, I’ll lose face.”

“And Wang Kanshan, Fang Tai, Lin Hu… did you really think I wouldn’t recognize you just because you’re wearing clothes?” Qi Yuan directly named the five.

The five black-clad men’s expressions changed sharply.

How had they been exposed?

How did Qi Yuan know their identities?

If Qi Yuan returned alive to the Shen family and reported their names, they would surely die!

No, they couldn’t let him go back alive!

Murderous intent surged!

Wang Kanshan felt a strong threat, killing intent in his eyes. He looked at the others and finally gritted his teeth: “Kill him, then leave Jining Prefecture!”

No matter what, this seemed the only path left.

The other four, seeing this, charged at Qi Yuan with ferocious eyes: “Die!”

The five held artifacts, holding nothing back, striking Qi Yuan with a thunderous blow.

Though Qi Yuan’s appearance was strange, his strength was real—merely Yellow-rank; they could kill him in an instant.

“Time to show off my moves again.”

“Alas, I’ve grown used to overwhelming with brute force—I forgot I’m actually a master of technique!”

With Qi Yuan’s words, his figure flashed abruptly.

That flash’s distance—a hair more would be wrong, a hair less would be disastrous—perfectly evaded the five’s encirclement.

Then, a short sword thrust out, smooth as flowing water, stabbing straight at Wang Kanshan’s throat.

The strike was swift, clever, and natural.

In an instant, Mystic-rank Armsmaster Wang Kanshan clutched his throat, his body collapsing limply to the ground.

Even in death, he couldn’t understand how that sword had reached his throat.

The other four stared at Qi Yuan as if he were a demon.

Qi Yuan’s skill was simply… beyond belief.

Or rather, too perfect.

Though he only had the strength and speed of a Yellow-rank Armsmaster, and their power far exceeded his,

they were toyed with in his palm, utterly unable to resist, not even able to touch the hem of Qi Yuan’s robe.

“Keep bullying me—I’m just a soft, powerless little live-in son-in-law.” A smile appeared in Qi Yuan’s eyes.

But to these four, it seemed like a demon’s grin.

Sword light flashed, and another dozen breaths passed.

In the forest, several corpses fell.

Qi Yuan sheathed his sword with flair, then sneered in disdain: “So poor, and you still try to rob and kill like others?”

He had searched less than three hundred taels in total—how pathetic!

(End of this chapter)