As if on cue.
Wang Xiu asked helplessly, "How many more Spirit Stones would we need if we want to refine a set of high-quality Magic Artifact-level array flags?"
Xiao Qingyu replied, "A single high-quality Magic Artifact costs between 1,000 and 3,000 Spirit Stones. You want to refine a set of four array flags, which is a set of four high-quality Magic Artifacts."
"The price will start at a minimum of 5,000 Spirit Stones. This Core Formation Stage Tiger Demon corpse is in good condition, so it can cover about 2,000 Spirit Stones."
"That means you'll still need to cover at least another 3,000 Spirit Stones."
Wang Xiu drew in a sharp breath. So expensive!
He sighed, though he knew Xiao Qingyu's asking price was very fair. Compared to ordinary Magic Artifacts of the same level, array flags were indeed far more expensive, especially a complete set like this, which commanded an even higher price.
The 5,000 Spirit Stones was already a discounted price from the Artifact Sect, given out of respect for Xiao Qingyu. If Wang Xiu went to the Artifact Sect himself, given his status as the 'Foremost Disciple of the Divination Sect,' they would probably quote him a price well over 10,000.
"Senior Sister." Wang Xiu took out a wooden box from his Storage Bag and slowly handed it to Xiao Qingyu. "Would this be enough to add to the offer?"
Xiao Qingyu took the wooden box and opened it. Inside lay a white lotus flower, its fragrance pure and lingering. Just smelling it made her Divine Soul feel blissful and serene, as if it were floating in ecstasy.
A Nourishing Soul Lotus!
Even with her experience, Xiao Qingyu couldn't help but swallow. "I never expected you to find such a rare treasure, Junior Brother Wang Xiu!" she exclaimed. "This Nourishing Soul Lotus is of extraordinarily fine quality, and it seems to have been picked recently, so its medicinal effects are still at their absolute peak."
"I estimate its value to be between 3,500 and 4,000 Spirit Stones."
Wang Xiu smiled. "If I were to sell it as a disciple of the Divination Sect, I'd be lucky to get 2,000 Spirit Stones for it. I'll have to trouble you to handle this for me as well, Senior Sister. If there's any surplus, please consider it a token of my gratitude for all your trouble."
Tsk, tsk. This junior brother isn't only handsome and a sweet-talker, he's also incredibly considerate. Truly endearing.
Xiao Qingyu pondered for a moment, and an idea seemed to strike her. Her eyes gleamed as she asked, "Junior Brother, by any chance, do you have a second Nourishing Soul Lotus?"
Wang Xiu was taken aback. "What do you mean, Senior Sister?"
Xiao Qingyu said earnestly, "As far as I know, Elder Ou Ye of the Artifact Sect was severely wounded twenty years ago by a Demon Cultivator's Soul-Destroying Blade. His Nascent Soul was grievously damaged, and he has been in tremendous pain ever since. His cultivation level even fell from the peak of the Nascent Soul Stage to the early Nascent Soul Stage, and he has spent all these years searching for medicine to heal his soul."
"If you have another Nourishing Soul Lotus, I could ask Elder Hua of the Alchemy Sect for help. Perhaps we could refine a few Taiqing Soul-Restoring Pills to help Elder Ou Ye repair some of the damage to his soul. If so, we might be able to trade with Elder Ou Ye for a set of finest-quality Magic Artifact array flags."
"Of course," she added, "I can't guarantee it will work, but it's worth a try."
Wang Xiu took another sharp breath. Run a few more NPC quests, and the rewards could double?
He knew that the prices of Magic Artifacts of different qualities varied enormously. Low-quality Magic Artifacts generally ranged from 100 to 300 Spirit Stones, medium-quality from 300 to 1,000, high-quality from 1,000 to 3,000, while finest-quality Magic Artifacts ranged from 3,000 to 10,000 Spirit Stones.
Even the cheapest set of finest-quality array flags, with four matching flags, would cost at least 15,000 Spirit Stones. A single extra Nourishing Soul Lotus could upgrade a high-quality set to a finest-quality one? This was an absolute steal.
Of course, the process involved wouldn't be simple, as it touched upon the complex relationships between the Sect Leader's lineage, the Alchemy Sect, the Formation Sect, and the Divination Sect. If Wang Xiu tried to handle it himself, it would be utterly impossible.
It was only possible because Xiao Qingyu, as the Sect Leader's direct disciple, held an extraordinary status within the Sect. Furthermore, the bargaining skills passed down through her lineage were truly second to none. Only she could save Wang Xiu so much money.
Whoever marries Senior Sister Qingyu in the future must have smoke rising from their ancestral graves, Wang Xiu couldn't help but think.
He then took out three more wooden boxes from his Storage Bag and handed them to Xiao Qingyu. "I have three more Nourishing Soul Lotuses here. Please, Senior Sister, feel free to negotiate as you see fit. Whether it succeeds or not, I will be eternally grateful!"
Xiao Qingyu drew a sharp breath, staring at Wang Xiu in stunned silence. Such a grand gesture.
Four Nourishing Soul Lotuses. The value of the herbs alone was nearly 15,000 Spirit Stones, and that didn't include the Tiger Demon corpse, which was worth another 2,000. It was more than enough to trade for a set of lower-end finest-quality Magic Artifact array flags.
Xiao Qingyu chuckled wryly. Is this kid just trying to avoid owing me a favor, or did he hear about Elder Ou Ye of the Artifact Sect being injured by the Demon Race and decide to add a few more lotuses on his own initiative? The Divination Sect... Wang Xiu... What an interesting and endearing young man!
She carefully put away all four Nourishing Soul Lotuses and smiled. "Rest assured, Elder Ou Ye is highly respected in the Artifact Sect and is known for his generosity. With my reputation and these four Nourishing Soul Lotuses, the refined Four Symbols Formation array flags will definitely not disappoint you."
Wang Xiu nodded, a sense of anticipation rising in his heart.
This recent battle against the Tiger Demon might have seemed like it was under my control, but it was actually fraught with peril. Several times, the Power of the Four Symbols Divine Beasts was nearly torn apart, and the array flags were almost shattered by the tiger. After I finally killed it, all four of my attribute-less array flags were cracked. These low-quality, basic array flags are effective against weaker demons of the same stage, but they are simply too fragile against a powerful Devil General.
If he could truly obtain four finest-quality Magic Artifact-level array flags, Wang Xiu was confident he could have completely dominated and thrashed that Tiger Demon from start to finish. He wouldn't have sustained such heavy injuries—in fact, he likely wouldn't have been injured at all!
...
After leaving Dragon Head Peak, Wang Xiu and Jiang Ling'er returned to Spirit Turtle Peak.
"Hmph."
Jiang Ling'er violently shook the Jade Bell in her hand, which pulsed with a thick aura of resentment. A moment later, a tall, dignified woman's figure emerged from it. Jiang Yourong stared at Wang Xiu with a look of utter grievance, like a cloistered wife who had been seduced and then abandoned.
"You heartless man!" she began, her voice trembling as if on the verge of tears. "For other girls, it's all sweet talk and a constant stream of flowers.
"But what about your own sister? You've completely thrown me to the back of your mind, not sparing me a single thought.
"I only wanted one Nourishing Soul Lotus, but you eagerly gave all four away, leaving nothing for your own family!
"Do you even know how important it is to me? You sold them all to another woman without even asking me! Sob... Do you have any idea how badly I wanted to rush out and snatch them back in the Task Hall?
"Ling'er! Your brother simply doesn't care about us, a poor widow and orphan!
"Oh, my life! Why is it so bitter?"
Jiang Yourong was still wailing dramatically, but Wang Xiu's eyes lit up at the sight of the Spirit Stones raining down on the floor.
Good heavens, he thought. She's secretly a rich lady!