Chapter 58: Eighth-Grade Blade Art, Defeating the Enemy

Chapter 58: Eighth-Rank Saber Art, Po Lu

"Straight-backed ink saber, entered the group warehouse a year ago. Saber shape resembles the Tang Hengdao, blade two and a half chi long, one cun wide, grooves on both sides of the blade, adorned with dragon patterns."

"Judging by the forging craft, this saber should originate from a certain Mohist forging workshop. But because there are no inscriptions on the blade, the maker's identity cannot be accurately determined."

"Although its provenance is unclear, testing shows this ink saber's strength far exceeds any standard-issue weapon on the market. Internal price: 300,000 treasure notes."

Qi Zhu drew a sheathed long saber from the case, biting her silver teeth tight, using nearly all her strength, only then barely drawing the blade two or three inches.

But just these few short inches out of the scabbard already allowed a glimpse of the blinding cold light at the edge and the ferocious blood groove.

Undeniably, this was a fine saber.

Li Jun didn't hesitate, decisively speaking: "I'll take it!"

Qi Zhu smiled charmingly, then took out another set of black martial attire from the case.

"The latest model of the 'Night Patrol' series cotton-armored martial uniform, successfully developed by the Jiangnan Weaving Company just last month, showing significant improvement in defense against gunshots and stabs from sharp weapons."

"To put it simply, as long as the attacker isn't a Sequence Disciple specializing in strength, ordinary sharp weapons shouldn't be able to pierce this uniform. Internal price: 100,000 treasure notes."

Li Jun gritted his teeth: "I'll take this one too!"

"The last item," Qi Zhu spread her palm, in the center of which lay an injector, black liquid churning within the metal chamber.

"Eighth-rank saber art, Po Lu Saber. Prototype is the Xinyou Saber, a battle formation saber art created by the famous general Qi Jiguang of our dynasty, renamed Po Lu Saber after improvements by the Ministry of War during the Wu Emperor's reign."

"Now, due to the decline of martial arts, the stock of this martial art injector in the military is extremely scarce; one could say, one used is one less."

Qi Zhu's red lips moved slightly, uttering a price that made Li Jun's eyelids twitch, "Internal price: 800,000 treasure notes."

"How can it be so expensive?"

Li Jun exclaimed: "My Single Saber Art Selection only cost twenty or thirty thousand! Your Po Lu Saber is nearly forty times that!"

"Scarcity increases value. Moreover, this martial art and the Single Saber Art Selection you injected, Supervisor, can be said to share the same lineage; after injection, there will absolutely be no rejection or conflict."

Even if they didn't share a lineage, this old man wouldn't suffer rejection or conflict!

"Besides, this price is already cheap enough; on the black market, it would probably be more than 800,000."

800,000? Do you really take me for a clueless rookie? If someone would buy this on the black market, how could it be gathering dust in the warehouse department?

Li Jun cursed inwardly without end, but a sudden thought flashed in his mind.

Judging by this price, that Eighth-rank cultivation method, the Azure Emperor Canon, which Kuang Qingyun gave him back then, was likely also instructed by Zhao Ding behind the scenes.

Otherwise, with Kuang Qingyun's net worth, he absolutely couldn't afford an Eighth-rank internal art worth nearly a million.

"Master Ding, oh Master Ding."

Li Jun sighed deeply in his heart, handing over the bank card Gu Yong gave him, "I'll buy them all."

"Total price for three items: 1.2 million. Deducting the 500,000 cash in your card, you still need to overdraft 700,000."

Li Jun nodded in agreement.

Seeing the deal closed, Gu Jia waved at Qi Zhu, "Alright, Secretary Qi, you can go down now."

Upon hearing this, Qi Zhu performed a full courtesy bow to the two, turned, and left the martial hall.

Once only the two of them remained in the martial hall, Gu Jia glanced at Li Jun's expression and asked with a smile: "Does your heart ache a bit?"

Li Jun sighed: "Indeed, a little. This money just got into my hands and hadn't even warmed up before not a single cent remained."

Actually, what Li Jun felt pained about was only that 500,000 in hard cash. As for the overdraft portion needing repayment, he didn't take it to heart at all.

Repay money? Whoever repays is a damn fool!

With the Embroidered Uniform Guard, that hyena, lurking in the dark, probably before you Shu Dao Logistics even remember to come collect this old man's debt, Yu Kou will have already led men to raid the whole group!

"Don't worry, there's a saying: a thousand gold scattered returns again. The group has a big deal up north in Shu next; if it succeeds, our bonuses won't be just these tens of millions."

"Oh?" Li Jun's brows rose, surprised: "What deal is so big that even we can split that much?"

Gu Jia smiled without speaking, raised a hand and snapped his fingers.

The light in the entire martial hall suddenly dimmed, a holographic map of the whole of Shu projected onto the floor.

Gu Jia pointed at the mountains and rivers Li Jun was sitting on, "The Yang Clan of Mianzhou in Northern Shu, their ancestors once produced a Zhuangyuan, a Confucian gentry clan, just a hair's breadth from entering the ranks of the Third-Rank Noble Clans."

"Pity that after that Zhuangyuan passed away, the Yang Clan produced no more Confucian scholars who entered officialdom, only some clerks promoted via the Six Arts chips; the family declined from there."

"Recently, Intelligence received word that there is a priceless treasure within the Yang Clan; the Head Family demands we buy it back at any cost."

Buy? More like rob.

This Shu Dao Logistics should be called Shu Dao Bandits.

Li Jun sneered inwardly, then asked doubtfully: "What thing could make the Head Family value it so highly?"

Gu Jia smiled faintly, "The brain tissue slices of that Zhuangyuan, Yang Zhan!"

................

After Li Jun left, Qi Zhu, clad in a Wo skirt, entered the martial hall again, waist swaying, a charming smile on her face that was never seen when facing Li Jun.

Gu Jia's gaze lingered on her waist for a moment, then asked: "How is it? Has the valuation come out?"

"The Technical Department just finished analyzing the combat footage of you and Li Jun, and gave this price."

Qi Zhu flipped her wrist, extended three fingers, smiling: "3 million treasure notes."

Gu Jia frowned, "How can it be only this little?"

"This is the price after implanting a control chip; if we don't damage his pure flesh and blood, it could fetch at least 6 million."

"No, Young Master Yong specifically warned that not implanting a chip poses too great a hidden danger; if it harms the buyer later, it will affect the group's reputation."

Gu Jia sighed, "3 million it is then. Minus the early investment and that 'Spring Equinox' we gave Zhao Ding, there's still 500,000 profit; not a loss. Even a mosquito is meat."

Suddenly a fragrant breeze came, a soft body entwined around Gu Jia.

Qi Zhu rested her chin on his shoulder, voice alluring: "My younger brother also advanced to Soldier Rank Nine; Director, can you get him a post in the Security Department?"

"Since you ask, naturally I can, but we must wait until after the recommendation."

Gu Jia's voice paused, then he suddenly laughed coldly, "Let him take Li Jun's position."

"Thank you, Director!"

Qi Zhu's face was like peach blossoms, she blew a breath into Gu Jia's ear, "Then the treasure notes from today's transaction?"

"All yours. Anyway, that saber and injector were also seized by the Security Department; you just balance the books."

"Director, you're so good."

Gu Jia waved a hand, the martial hall lights dimmed once more, a coarse heavy voice ringing out from the darkness, "This old man has even better!"