Chapter 142: Sold at a High Price

All the Seventh-Rank experts present listened intently, not daring to be distracted for even a moment.

"The description matches what Qin Mo said, but back then the Water Qilin Cave hadn't even opened yet, so why had he..."

"Hmm? Could it be because of that giant catfish? That catfish could enter that passage even before the Water Qilin Cave opened?"

Yang Ling pondered silently to himself.

At that moment, Lu Yunchen suddenly smiled at the Fourth Prince and said:

"Your Highness, Chief Constable Yang has a matter he wishes to request your approval on."

"...?"

The Fourth Prince looked at Yang Ling with curiosity and asked:

"Chief Constable Yang, what matter do you need to request?"

Yang Ling was slightly taken aback. He glanced at Lu Yunchen, then cupped his fists with an odd expression and said:

"Your Highness, Director Lu wishes to purchase the Seven-Inch Sword from me. I dare not make such a decision on my own, so I must seek Your Highness's approval."

Lu Yunchen froze for a moment, then gave Yang Ling a meaningful look.

Yang Ling's expression remained unchanged.

The Fourth Prince asked in surprise: "Could it be that you don't want to cultivate the Seven-Inch Sword either?

This is a martial technique I bestowed upon you. Even Director Lu cannot forcibly buy it."

"Your Highness may not be aware, but I have already cultivated several martial techniques. If I add the Seven-Inch Sword, I fear I won't have enough time to train in all of them."

Yang Ling continued: "If Director Lu wishes to purchase it, and is willing to exchange it with precious pills like Foundation Consolidation Pills, I would be amenable."

All the Seventh-Rank martial artists present understood Yang Ling's meaning.

Most of them had similar troubles.

Martial techniques were valued for quality over quantity. Having too many meant you simply couldn't train them all.

"If that's the case, I grant my permission."

The Fourth Prince nodded with a smile:

"However, the Seven-Inch Sword is no ordinary martial technique. If Director Lu wants to buy it, he must offer something of equivalent value."

"Your Highness, I intend to use one hundred Foundation Consolidation Pills to purchase this Seven-Inch Sword technique."

Lu Yunchen cupped his fists.

"Hiss—"

All the Seventh-Rank experts present sharply inhaled.

Li Huaiyi and the others were inwardly astonished.

Let alone one hundred Foundation Consolidation Pills—they could barely even get a single one to eat on a normal day!

Yang Ling was also slightly surprised. He suddenly understood just how valuable the Seven-Inch Sword really was.

No wonder even people like Jie Hai had looked somewhat shocked back then.

So a Second-Rate martial technique was worth this much.

"Director Lu's internal technique has already reached the Skilled level. To reach the Transcendent level, he needs one million Experience Points."

"One hundred Foundation Consolidation Pills would only grant him fifty thousand Experience Points."

"In a sense, Foundation Consolidation Pills are actually of very little benefit to martial artists like him. No wonder he's managed to stockpile so many of them."

"One hundred Foundation Consolidation Pills, that's about right."

The Fourth Prince nodded gently.

Lu Yunchen smiled and looked at Yang Ling:

"Deal?"

"Director Lu, the Seven-Inch Sword is yours."

Yang Ling nodded respectfully.

"No rush. We'll make the transaction after the Water Qilin Cave is over."

Lu Yunchen said casually.

At that moment, Cao Junxiong, who had been listening all along, suddenly spoke up:

"Chief Constable Yang, our Water Transport Guild also needs a Second-Rate martial technique like the Seven-Inch Sword. We're willing to offer one hundred and fifty Foundation Consolidation Pills to purchase it."

At these words, Li Huaiyi and the others inhaled sharply once again.

One hundred and fifty Foundation Consolidation Pills!?

This...

Yang Ling was somewhat surprised, but he still smiled and cupped his fists:

"I'm sorry, senior, but this item has already been sold to Director Lu."

Seeing that Yang Ling showed not a hint of hesitation, a flash of approval appeared in Lu Yunchen's eyes. He then smiled and said:

"Let the highest bidder win, right? I truly cannot afford a higher price than the Water Transport Guild. Sell your Seven-Inch Sword to them instead.

They have deep pockets and are never short on Foundation Consolidation Pills, but they're desperately lacking in martial techniques."

"This..."

"Since Director Lu himself has said so, what are you hesitating for?"

The Fourth Prince chuckled: "One hundred and fifty Foundation Consolidation Pills is also the Water Transport Guild's way of showing respect to me.

You can make the transaction after the Water Qilin Cave ends."

Hearing this, Yang Ling cupped his fists and bowed:

"Yes."

...

The next day, Yang Ling stood on the deck, gazing at the vast, boundless Tianyuan River. A sigh of emotion escaped him.

This Tianyuan River was far, far larger than he had imagined.

At this moment, the dozen or so massive ships had been sailing at full speed for a full day and night.

During this time, he occasionally spotted some fishermen on the Tianyuan River, or other ships from the Water Transport Guild—some hauling cargo, some carrying passengers.

But today, it seemed they were approaching the Water Qilin Cave's designated location. For as far as the eye could see, there was nothing—not a single other vessel in sight.

The speed of the massive ships suddenly began to slow.

Many martial artists came to the deck to gaze into the distance.

"There are no landmarks here at all. How are they so certain this is the entrance to the Water Qilin Cave?"

Yang Ling was curious.

At that moment, the dozen or so massive ships converged on the Tianyuan River.

Chains of iron linked every ship together.

The bows faced outward, the sterns faced inward.

Yang Ling spotted Lin Caiyi and the others. On every face, a hint of excitement was visible.

Before long, the Fourth Prince appeared.

All the Sixth-Rank experts from the various sects gathered on the Fourth Prince's ship.

The Seventh-Rank talents under their command who had obtained quotas also followed along.

"The Pharmacy Guild, the Mining Guild, the Water Transport Guild—these are the quasi-Second-Rate factions, and they have their quotas too.

Then there are the other Second-Rate sects: the Great Yan Sword Sect, the Valley of the Dead, the Bitter Awareness Temple... they've all sent disciples as well."

Standing behind Yun Ruo, Yang Ling's gaze swept across the martial artists present, opening their Status Panels to inspect them.

He also saw some Sect Masters or elder-level figures from Third-Rate sects.

Their strength was roughly on par with Liang Yue—about lower Seventh-Rank.

These older Seventh-Rank experts currently appeared somewhat nervous.

"With their advanced age, their cultivation can't even compare to Dongfang Haojie and the others. Today, there are Sixth-Rank experts, even Fifth-Rank Xu Wuji, and a great figure like the Fourth Prince present..."

Yang Ling thought that if he were in their shoes, he would also feel nervous, with a trace of shame and embarrassment.

"But compared to ordinary Seventh-Rank martial artists, at least they've earned the attention of their superiors and obtained the qualification to enter the Water Qilin Cave."

"On the other hand, Sect Master Liang has no such fortune..."

At that moment, Yang Ling suddenly felt some people sizing him up.

He glanced sideways with his peripheral vision. It was the bald monks from Bitter Awareness Temple.

The leading bald monk was no weakling either—he was at the Sixth-Rank level.

This time, the disciples from Bitter Awareness Temple had obtained ten quotas, the same as the Water Transport Guild and the others.

"Once inside the Water Qilin Cave, I need to be careful of these bald monks. Not just the ones from Bitter Awareness Temple, but also those from Arhat Temple."

Yang Ling silently warned himself.

Just then, the water's surface suddenly began to ripple faintly.

Along with the ripples, tiny glowing specks like fireflies appeared underwater.

"These are Light Bugs. Their appearance means the passage has fully opened."

"The timing is just as we estimated."

The Fourth Prince stared at the water's surface for a moment, then took out a Water-Avoiding Pill and swallowed it.

Seeing this, the martial artists all swallowed their Water-Avoiding Pills as well.

"Brother Yang, this place is different from where I fell into the water last time. Anyway, be careful."

Qin Mo walked up to Yang Ling and warned him.