Chapter 201 - 200: Integrity

Chapter 201: Chapter 200: Integrity

"And what if I don’t?"

Chen Qingyang asked calmly.

Shopkeeper Wang’s expression was tentative. "How about we follow... the same arrangement as last time? Four million Spirit Stones, principal and interest included, after twenty years. As for the quality of these Four Element Essences, Senior Brother Chen, you needn’t worry. I’ll arrange for the very best, guaranteed to your satisfaction."

’The Conscious Fish could delve into the Five Elements Cave Mansion, but it couldn’t bring anything out. It wasn’t easy for me to make a trip outside, so if I can take my Lifebound Magical Artifact’s power to the next level, it’ll be immensely useful when the time comes.’

Feigning composure, he thought for a long moment before asking, "Aren’t you worried I won’t be able to pay you back in the future?"

Shopkeeper Wang immediately shook his head. "Senior Brother Chen, you can already earn a million Spirit Stones a year now, to say nothing of the future. Besides, with your reputation skyrocketing on Cyan Bamboo Peak, you’ll only earn more Spirit Stones. It’s impossible that you wouldn’t be able to pay it back."

Chen Qingyang nodded slightly. ’It’s good that he thinks so.’ "The two million in interest isn’t out of the question," he said, "but..."

Seeing that Chen Qingyang was starting to relent, Shopkeeper Wang smiled like a sly fox. "But what? We’re businessmen. If it can be done, we’ll do it. If not, we’ll tell you straight. We absolutely won’t make things difficult for you, Senior Brother Chen."

Hearing this, Chen Qingyang felt even more at ease. "I need three of each of the Metal, Water, Fire, and Earth Element Essences, and two of the Wood Element Essence. At five hundred thousand Spirit Stones apiece, that comes to seven million. After twenty years, the total repayment will be fourteen million Spirit Stones. I won’t haggle with you over the other details... and you know how it is in business: the bigger the investment, the bigger the return!"

He had never imagined this was Chen Qingyang’s plan. Shopkeeper Wang stood frozen to the spot, his eyes darting back and forth. "This... Senior Brother Chen, surely you’re joking with me?"

Chen Qingyang shook his head. "Of course not. We can sign a contract."

’He had already calculated it. With these Five Elements Essences, he could elevate his Five Elements Sword to a whole new level, a world-shaking transformation from its embryonic state to its bone structure. Combined with his current Cultivation, he would be able to unleash the full, ultimate power of his Sword Formulas.’

’Once he actually got to the Nine True Temple, there was no way he’d come back without taking some Immortal Seedlings from the Demon Sect.’

Seeing that he wasn’t joking, Shopkeeper Wang asked tentatively, "Hasn’t it occurred to you, Senior Brother Chen, that if you can’t pay it back in the future, then your Separation Huo Dragon Pearl would be...?"

Chen Qingyang shot back, "Shopkeeper Wang, you yourself said it quite clearly just a moment ago. My reputation is on the rise, so it’s impossible that I’ll be short on Spirit Stones. At a rate of one million a year, that’s twenty million in twenty years. Isn’t that enough to cover this nineteen million? What’s more... have you all been underestimating the true value of the Separation Huo Dragon Pearl?"

’His reasoning was sound, but the risk was simply too great.’ Shopkeeper Wang said, a little awkwardly, "Senior Brother Chen, let’s be frank, this is business. Please don’t hold it against me. Twenty years is a very long time. If you were to have some... unforeseen accident, the risk would be immense. After all, we’re not talking about five million anymore, but a total of nineteen million..."

’He didn’t refuse outright, which means he’s tempted.’ Chen Qingyang pressed on, "It seems you don’t dare to take the gamble, Shopkeeper Wang. A profit this large... it must be the biggest Gentle Breeze has seen in decades, wouldn’t you say? If you can’t make the decision, you can discuss it with someone who can!"

Hearing this, Shopkeeper Wang gritted his teeth, as if rising to the challenge. "I *can* make the decision... I just wonder, besides the Separation Huo Dragon Pearl, does Senior Brother Chen have any other treasures to offer as collateral?"

Every businessman wants to make a steady profit, but where in the world is there a business with huge returns and zero risk?

Chen Qingyang shook his head. "Only this. Are you saying it isn’t worth twenty million?"

It was hard to say if it was truly worth twenty million, but judging by Chen Qingyang’s expression, it was probably close.

Shopkeeper Wang asked, "And you’ll still be with the Tai Xu Sect for the next twenty years, Senior Brother Chen?"

’What in the world does that have to do with anything?’ Chen Qingyang thought. ’Is this crooked merchant suspecting I’ll take the Five Elements Essences and flee, betraying the Sect?’

"Hmph!" Chen Qingyang sneered. "How can you even ask such a ridiculous question? Do you think I’d defect to the Demon Sect? If you don’t have the guts to make this deal, then let’s just forget it."

Every sentence Chen Qingyang had spoken so far had tempted Shopkeeper Wang; this last one was the final push. It was just like when the shopkeeper had enticed him with the Inner Nourishing Five Elements Sword. No one can truly resist their inner desires—not even an Immortal.

’According to my plan, asking for an interest reduction later is just the first step. If that doesn’t work, I can always just forfeit the Separation Huo Dragon Pearl to Gentle Breeze.’

’The most important aspect of the Dragon Pearl is the Li Yang Earth Fire it contains. If it loses that Qi Mechanism, it becomes little more than an ordinary treasure. My Conscious Fish can refine the Five Elements Fire, so it should also be able to absorb this Li Yang Earth Fire into my body.’

’Twenty years is more than enough time for me to absorb it completely.’

"Hold on! For a deal this big, I’ll take that gamble with you, Senior Brother Chen." In the end, the crooked merchant couldn’t escape the lure of profit.

Chen Qingyang shook his head with utter certainty. "This isn’t a gamble. You’re the one who’s going to make a fortune. Your goods sit in a warehouse, and in twenty years, they’ll still be the same goods. But I am getting stronger every single moment. Am I wrong?"

That final sentence seemed to make everything click for Shopkeeper Wang. He immediately threw his head back and laughed. "You’re right! That’s absolutely right!"

Chen Qingyang knew he had pushed just enough. He cupped his fist toward the shopkeeper. "How many days will you need to get everything ready?"

Shopkeeper Wang nodded firmly. "Three days. Come back in three days, Senior Brother Chen. I have one more request... I wonder if you would let me have a look at the Separation Huo Dragon Pearl?"

Chen Qingyang understood. If this deal went south, the Dragon Pearl was the shopkeeper’s only recourse.

He opened his palm, and the Dragon Pearl levitated above it, its flickering flames casting a magnificent, beautiful glow throughout the bamboo lodge.

Shopkeeper Wang’s eyes burned with desire as he watched, and he couldn’t help but murmur, "Magnificent... Truly magnificent..."

...

「Three days later, Chen Qingyang returned.」

Whether because he had consulted with others or had simply psyched himself up, Shopkeeper Wang had regained his typical shrewd, merchant-like demeanor.

Chen Qingyang signed the contract, collected all the prepared Five Elements Essences, and once again, voluntarily showed the shopkeeper the Separation Huo Dragon Pearl.

Shopkeeper Wang made a show of refusing. "Senior Brother Chen, you are a man of your word, and I strive to be a merchant of integrity. Now that the contract is signed, we should trust each other. Why must you always show me the Dragon Pearl? It hurts the friendly rapport between us..."

His words were noble and high-sounding, but such an attitude was necessary to be a successful businessman. The grubby dealings happen behind the scenes; on the surface, everyone wants to appear friendly and harmonious.

The sky was moonless, dotted only by a smattering of stars.

A lone peak stood proudly between heaven and earth, jutting into the sky like a stone pillar. Though many taller, more majestic peaks surrounded it, none possessed its imposing aura.

This place did not belong to Cyan Bamboo Peak; it was a spot Chen Qingyang had stumbled upon by chance. With the Five Elements Essences now in his possession, he planned to enter seclusion here and achieve a breakthrough with his Inner Nourishing Five Elements Sword in one go.

If he had stayed in his small courtyard, the Array’s enhancement would have allowed him to absorb Spiritual Qi faster, but Master Jing Yuan’s Talisman was there, and he was afraid of causing a commotion and alerting the Master.

’Besides, the Master never said I had to wear it every day for protection.’ Thus, he simply treated the Talisman as an offering, burning incense before it in reverence.

He did not recall his Conscious Fish. Instead, he used his own Mingtang True Fire, supplemented by the Li Yang Earth Fire from the Separation Huo Dragon Pearl, to begin the Sacrificial Refinement of the Five Elements Essences.

This method was slower, but it spared the Conscious Fish from traveling back and forth, thereby avoiding certain uncontrollable risks. The Conscious Fish was currently in the Five Elements Cave Mansion, desperately absorbing Fire Qi and Fire Element Essence. It was striving to match his own Cultivation level so they could break through to the Essence Condensation Third Realm together.

His True Fire surged without end. First, he would transform a Five Elements Essence into Qi, which then entered his body to become part of the Five Elements Sword. Then he would take another piece and repeat the process.

The process consumed a great deal of True Power. Every four to five hours, Chen Qingyang had to take a short break to restore his True Essence.

He watched the sun rise and set fifteen times. At last, he had refined all the Five Elements Qi into his body, concentrating it within the Five Elements Sword and increasing its power by a huge margin.

[Inner Nourishing Five Elements Sword: (79996/80000)]

[Available Immortal Seedlings: 299]

He ran into the same problem as last time. Although he was just a sliver away from completion, it would take a long period of Sacrificial Refinement to make up that tiny difference.

Chen Qingyang simply used four Immortal Seedlings to finish it. Instantly, the Five Elements within him fused. A powerful aura and a halo of light radiated from his body, shaking the surrounding trees.

When he manifested the sword again, it was now three feet long and looked completely solid. He gripped the hilt and channeled his power through it using the Danxia Nourishing Truth Sword Manual. A rosy glow extended ten feet from the blade as biting Sword Qi erupted outward, shredding the surrounding grass, trees, and rocks to dust.

Of the Seven Arts, Sword Cultivators were the most powerful, truly the sharpest in the world.

A superior Sword Formula combined with a superior Magical Artifact could manifest unparalleled power.

[Inner Nourishing Five Elements Sword (Bone): (1/240000)]

’Two hundred and forty thousand?’

’Something feels wrong. It needs this much progress just to reach the third rank? Based on the quality of the Five Elements Essences from Gentle Breeze, I’d need a total of sixty pieces. That’s completely unreasonable.’

’Five Elements Essences are born from heaven and earth, condensations of Five Elements Qi that contain immense energy. The power released from fusing a total of sixty such pieces would be far beyond my imagination.’

’What’s more, the leap from the Embryonic to the Bone stage is enormous. It really makes one suspect this Inner Nourishing Five Elements Sword is no ordinary treasure, and that its future potential is limitless. But at this rate, I’ll be completely bled dry.’

’If I’d known it would be like this, I should have gritted my teeth and convinced Shopkeeper Wang to take a bigger gamble with me. A much, much bigger one.’

’Then again... he probably wouldn’t have agreed!’

He had been away in seclusion for half a month. It was time to go back. Withdrawing his technique, Chen Qingyang appeared outside his small courtyard in a flash.

It was high noon, and the three youths were busy with their respective tasks—one with Alchemy, another tending to the fields, each occupied.

Xu Baoling came over and asked considerately, "Senior Brother, were you successful?"

"Yes, I was. Next, I’ll be waiting for news from Senior Brother Liu. If an opportunity arises, I’ll have to leave for some time. You will be in charge of matters in the courtyard. I’ll also pay a visit to Eldest Senior Brother before I leave and ask him to help keep an eye on things."

Chen Qingyang had already discussed these matters with her, so Xu Baoling understood completely. "Yes. I’ve also been cultivating the methods of the Mountain and River Daoist Lord recently, so I can better teach Zhang Ping. If you have time, Senior Brother, perhaps you could help me find some suitable Dharma Gates... If my cultivation progresses well, I could also help you with planting Spirit Medicine in the future..."

Chen Qingyang looked at Xu Baoling very seriously. "You don’t seem to have much natural talent for the Alchemy Dao. Perhaps you can forge a new path for yourself here and fulfill your own Great Dao."

Xu Baoling nodded lightly. Her every movement was now remarkably graceful, no longer like that of an ordinary mortal. "Yes," she said. "That’s what I was thinking, too."