335: Chapter 335 Damaged Earth-Grade Magic Artifact

Everyone brought out their treasured possessions: Earth-Grade Magical Artifacts, rare Spiritual Plants and medicinal Materials, and Cultivation Techniques and Secret Manuals used for cultivation. They negotiated and performed an Exchange, making the scene extremely lively.

Some held idle Magical Artifacts, trading them for a sufficient amount of Spirit Stones;

Some used Spiritual Plants and medicinal Materials to Exchange for the cultivation resources they urgently needed. Everyone got what they required, their faces filled with anticipation and urgency.

Qin Changsheng looked around with a calm expression.

He hadn't intended to bring out any treasures for trade. He had come here, firstly, to continue testing the power of the Disguise trait, and secondly, to see if he could gather more clues regarding the heavenly dao fragments. As for the trade itself, he didn't hold much expectation.

Just as Qin Changsheng was looking around casually, a slightly youthful voice came from not far ahead, catching his attention: "Senior Brothers, I have a batch of Earth-Grade and above Magical Artifacts here. I'm selling them at a low price—only three hundred Spirit Stones to take them all!"

Hearing this, the crowd gathered around. Qin Changsheng also stepped forward slowly and saw that Junior Brother Wang had brought out over ten Magical Artifacts.

These ten or so Magical Artifacts included long sabers, jade pendants, and round beads. Each one exuded the aura of an Earth-Grade Magical Artifact, but most were incomplete or damaged—some had broken blades, some jade pendants were shattered, and some beads were covered in cracks. They had clearly lost their original power.

"I obtained all of these by chance within an ancient ruin. Although they are broken, they are indeed Earth-Grade or higher Magical Artifacts."

Junior Brother Wang looked at the surrounding crowd and hurriedly explained, his tone carrying a hint of urgency, "It's useless for me to keep them. Three hundred Spirit Stones for the whole lot, no price hikes!"

However, after the crowd saw the broken Magical Artifacts inside the cloth bundle, the curiosity on their faces instantly faded. They shook their heads one after another and began to discuss in low voices, their tones full of indifference.

"So they're just some broken Earth-Grade Magical Artifacts. I thought it was something good."

"Even if they're Earth-Grade Magical Artifacts, being broken like this means they've long since lost their power. They can't even perform basic defense or attack; they're simply worthless."

"Three hundred Spirit Stones? Junior Brother Wang, you're being a bit too greedy."

"These broken Magical Artifacts can only be used as Materials at most!"

As these words fell, the crowd agreed. Many laughed and shook their heads as they left. The originally gathered crowd quickly dispersed by more than half, leaving only a few people who continued to watch but had no intention of buying.

Junior Brother Wang watched the departing figures, a trace of disappointment and helplessness appearing on his face.

These broken Earth-Grade Magical Artifacts were obtained by Junior Brother Wang from an ancient ruin.

He also understood that these broken Earth-Grade Magical Artifacts were essentially useless.

He had brought these broken Magical Artifacts out simply because he wanted to Exchange them for a few Spirit Stones.

At this moment, however, a flash of joy that was hard to conceal instantly crossed Qin Changsheng's eyes.

Qin Changsheng had been calculating things regarding the Lin Family Exchange Convention for a while.

He had been thinking about where to find some broken Earth-Grade Magical Artifacts to scam Lin Zhentian.

Now, the ten or so pieces Junior Brother Wang had brought out were all Earth-Grade or above, and the price was extremely low. They were practically tailor-made for him.

Qin Changsheng stepped forward slowly, his gaze landing on the broken Magical Artifacts inside the cloth bundle, and spoke in a flat tone: "I'll buy these broken Magical Artifacts."

Hearing this, a look of surprise immediately appeared on Junior Brother Wang's face. He hurriedly looked up at Qin Changsheng and asked in disbelief, "Senior Brother, are you really willing to spend three hundred Spirit Stones to buy these?"

In his view, it was already good enough if someone was willing to buy these broken Magical Artifacts at all; he never expected someone would actually be willing to pay three hundred Spirit Stones.

Qin Changsheng nodded slightly, took out three hundred Spirit Stones from his Storage Pouch, and handed them to Junior Brother Wang, his tone remaining flat: "Yes, I happen to have a use for them."

He didn't explain further, took the cloth bundle from Junior Brother Wang's hands, and put away the ten or so broken Magical Artifacts.

...

Flowing Fire Sect.

Inside the Liuhuo Hall.

Shen Guhong's face was terrifyingly grim, his eyes filled with raging fire. He stared fixedly downward, the Demonic Qi around him surging wildly like boiling water, nearly swallowing the entire hall.

Below the hall stood dozens of Yao Race high-level officials and generals, all dressed in black robes. With terrified expressions, they stood with heads bowed and hands at their sides, not even daring to look up or breathe too loudly.

They could clearly feel the violent Pressure and towering rage radiating from Shen Guhong, fearing that even a slight mistake would provoke this Yao Race Sect Head and lead to their utter destruction.

The reason Shen Guhong was like this was because the Yao Race army had mutinied.

Originally, they only needed a few years to break through the Human Race's northern defense line.

But now that the army had mutinied, breaking through that northern line had become extremely difficult.

"How is the situation being handled?" Shen Guhong asked, taking a deep breath.

Shen Hu stepped forward and said, "Reporting to the Sect Head, the mutinying soldiers in the north have all been suppressed, and the core members involved in the mutiny have all been captured."

Hearing this, Shen Guhong's brow relaxed slightly: "That was handled quite efficiently."

Receiving a bit of affirmation from Shen Guhong, Shen Hu felt a slight sense of relief but didn't dare to be negligent. He quickly added, "However, although the mutiny has been suppressed, the resentment among the frontline soldiers is very deep."

"If we cannot distribute the military pay on time to appease the soldiers' hearts, I fear it won't be long before another mutiny occurs. At that time, the situation might become uncontrollable."

Hearing this, Shen Guhong's expression became even more unsightly.

If it weren't for being scammed out of three hundred million Spirit Stones by that mysterious person last year...

How could he possibly be unable to issue the military pay for the frontlines?

"Do any of you have a way to raise Spirit Stones for the military pay?" Shen Guhong looked toward the crowd below.

Many Yao Race experts lowered their heads, not daring to speak.

"Father, I have a plan!" Shen Bing stood out from the side and said.

"What plan?" Shen Guhong looked toward Shen Bing.

Shen Bing cupped her hands and said, "Reporting to Father, I have just heard that the Lin Family is preparing a large-scale Exchange convention. It's a grand event, inviting Cultivators from all sides, and they are purchasing Earth-Grade and above Magical Artifacts and various rare treasures at high prices. It's rumored that the Lin Family is showing great sincerity this time, offering prices far exceeding the norm."

Shen Guhong's eyebrows twitched slightly, a flash of doubt appearing in his eyes, but he said nothing, signaling her to continue.

Seeing this, Shen Bing continued, "Currently, our Yao Race's frontline military pay is in short supply. If we don't distribute Spirit Stones soon, I fear a great chaos will arise. Why doesn't Father take some treasures from the Yao Race secret treasury and let me take them to the Lin Family Exchange Convention to sell? We can Exchange them for enough Spirit Stones to solve our military pay crisis."

As the words fell, Shen Guhong's brow instantly furrowed tightly. His face was very grim, and a flash of displeasure and reluctance appeared in his eyes.

Those treasures were accumulated by the Yao Race over generations, or obtained by sending Cultivators deep into dangerous lands through life-and-death struggles. Every single piece was extremely precious, carrying the Yao Race's heritage. He usually cherished them like jewels; let alone selling them, he wasn't even willing to show them easily. Now that he had to take treasures to Exchange for Spirit Stones, he was extremely reluctant.

"No!" Shen Hu's tone was cold, carrying an unquestionable decisiveness. "Those treasures are the Yao Race's Foundation; how can they be easily given away? If we sell them, our Yao Race's heritage will be damaged."

"Exactly, those were painstakingly collected by our Yao Race warriors!"

Gou Feng also stood up in opposition.

Other Yao Race experts also seemed unwilling to give up the Yao Race's treasures.

Shen Bing had long anticipated this and did not panic. She said, "Father, I understand the value of the treasures and know that they are the Yao Race's Foundation!"

"But now, the resentment of the frontline soldiers is boiling. The mutiny has just been quelled; if there's no military pay to appease them, they will surely mutiny again!"

"At that time, the Yao hearts will scatter. If things go wrong, those frontline warriors might even be killed by the Human Race's counterattack." Shen Bing's words were like a heavy hammer, striking hard at Shen Guhong's heart.

On one side were the precious treasures accumulated by the Yao Race over generations, the Yao Race's heritage.

On the other side was the hidden danger of the frontline military pay, the Yao Race's stability.

How could he not know that Shen Bing was right? If the military pay issue couldn't be resolved and the Yao army mutinied again, the Yao Race would surely fall into great chaos. At that point, no matter how many treasures they had, it would be to no avail.

If not for the Pressure those Yao Race warriors on the frontlines brought to the Human Race...

The Human Race would start dealing with their internal problems.

At that time, many Yao Race spies would be exposed.

Even he would be discovered by people from other Sects.