Chapter 163: Space Ring

Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

“A Qi-gathering core that increases the sense of qi two thousand percent can monopolize the Qi-gathering core market of Ziyun?””A Qi-gathering core that increases the sense of qi two thousand percent can monopolize the Qi-gathering core market of Ziyun?”When he heard Su Mo, Zhou Donghuang did not know how to react. In the formula for the Qi-gathering core that he had completed for the man, he had finished the list of required herbs, even indicating the more valuable herbs. Although there were many cheaper herbs that could substitute for these more valuable ones, he had an ace up his sleeve. Not only could he produce an even better formula for a Qi-gathering core, in his hands the same formula would yield cost savings of over fifty percent. Because of this, the Qi-gathering cores forged by the other party would have a significant production cost and could not possibly monopolize the Qi-gathering core market of Ziyun. “How much does one of the best available Qi-gathering cores that increases the sense of qi by a thousand percent cost on Ziyun?” Zhou Donghuang asked Su Mo. A flash of inspiration had hit Zhou Donghuang, giving him an idea of how to earn many spirit stones in a single day. Half an hour later, Su Mo left with a core formula that Zhou Donghuang had written out for him and went alone to the black market. At the black market, it was usually the party that wanted to initiate a transaction that would pay a fee to the black market. However, there was one circumstance where the initiating party did not have to pay a fee: when the initiating party stated upfront that they would not bear the black market’s fees. Under this circumstance, if the goods on offer were enticing enough, the interested party would agree to bear the black market’s fees. Just half a day later, startling news spread out of the black market that rocked the highest circles of the Shenguang empire.”Isn’t the price of the herbs needed to forge a batch of Qi-gathering cores that increase the sense of qi by a thousand percent more than a liang of gold? Is this true or not?””The news comes from the black market, and that person is in the black market waiting for someone to do business with.””Since he went to the black market, I think he is probably not joking.””From what I know, the herbs needed to forge Qi-gathering cores that increase the sense of qi by a thousand percent cost a liang of gold to buy? A batch of those produces more than five, correct?””I heard a core-forging master mention before that the Qi-gathering core that increases the sense of qi by a thousand percent used in their circle of core-forging masters require herbs costing over three liangs of gold.””In other words: The formula that person is selling openly in the black market … that person, and the power he has, can potentially monopolize the market for Qi-gathering cores on Ziyun?” … The people in the highest levels of power in the Shenguang empire each sent agents to the black market, even though some of them did not have the authority to spend the money required to purchase the core formula. The person selling the formula for the Qi-gathering core was asking a thousand spirit stones while requesting that the buyer bear the black market’s share of the fees. In other words, no matter who the buyer was, he would have to fork out two thousand spirit stones if he wanted to buy the formula from the seller. Besides the Shenguang sect behind the Shenguang empire, the number of factions in the area around the Shenguang empire with the power to produce two thousand spirit stones could be counted on the fingers of one hand. … The black market. Once it was presented, the formula for the Qi-gathering core that had rocked the highest levels of power in the Shenguang empire had shaken even the person in the highest position of authority. The person responsible for the black market was the third elder of the Shenguang sect, a late Primal Core adept, and a sprightly bald old man. There were nine marks on the old man’s head, and he wore a set of silver monk’s robes which identified him as an old monk. The old monk levitated above the bed cross-legged, a dull haze of silver light enveloping him, which was his silver essential core. A sharp-eyed person could see at once that this old monk was a late Primal Core stage adept, a silver core adept. “Third elder, should we?”At that moment, in a spacious room in the black market complex, a middle-aged man was looking at the levitating old monk, making the gesture of drawing his hand like a knife across his throat as he completed the implied question. “Obviously that person is showing such a formula because he is showing his intent to sell it to our Shenguang sect.”An insightful look flashed across the old monk’s eyes, and he said plainly, “If we kill him, even if we gain that core formula, we will have ruined the reputation of the Shenguang sect.”To the extent that the four other great sects will take the opportunity to create trouble. and when that happens, it will not be as simple as just coughing up a thousand spirit stones.”The black market had its rules, and if any one of the five great sects dared to abuse the rules over which they had authority, they would be punished with a fine of four thousand spirit stones. “That’s true.”The middle-aged man gave a start when he heard that and nodded his head. “Go according to procedure. Draw out a thousand spirit stones from the black market’s vault and give it to that person in exchange for his formula. If there are not enough spirit stones in the vault, come and find me. I will pay on behalf of the black market for now.”The old monk continued, “I recall that the core-forging master who recently came over to the black market from the sect is Alchemist Xu, am I right?””Correct,” the middle-aged man nodded. “Alchemist Xu’s achievements in the art of forging cores are considered outstanding on the entire planet of Ziyun. if he goes along with you, he will be able to tell at once if the core formula is genuine.”The old monk finished and waved his hand, dismissing the middle-aged man. “Go on.””Your disciple will take his leave.”The middle-aged man retreated respectfully. … In a wooden hut at one corner of the black market complex, swaddled from head to toe in black garments, Su Mo had already been waiting for several hours, but his emotions were far from calm. “Master: what kind of person is he? How could he possess such a formula?”Su Mo felt that he was further and further from understanding his master. Although his master was not very old, the depth of experience that occasionally showed in his eyes and the maturity he showed in his conduct, not to mention his ability in medicine and cores, far exceeded any of the medicine masters and core masters on Ziyun. Sometimes, he even suspected that his master was some old creature that had retained its memories when it transferred itself into a new body and was reborn.There was no other way to explain his master’s incomprehensible ways. In the entire Shenguang empire, such a core formula could only be purchased by the Shenguang sect. Even if some other faction bought it, they would have to hand it over to the Shenguang sect eventually. Su Mo was certain about this. Therefore, when an elder from the black market appeared with an elderly core-forging master, Su Mo was not the least surprised. “This is a thousand spirit stones.”The elder from the black market was the middle-aged man who previously gone to find the overseer of the black market, the third elder of the Shenguang sect. He placed a wooden box filled with spirit stones before Su Mo. “I want a space ring.”Su Mo said casually, “If not, I will take the box and leave the black market, and anyone will be able to have access to the core formula that I’m selling.”A space ring was an ordinary-looking ring, but it was a miraculous ring that could store non-living things and could be forged by using a space stone through special methods. As long as a Primal Core adept knew the techniques of forging a space ring, and possessed a space stone, he could always forge a space ring. The higher the quality of the space stone, the larger the capacity of the space ring to store objects would be. On the planet of Ziyun, the value of a space stone that was just enough to forge a space ring far exceeded that of spirit stones, because space stones were even rarer than spirit stones. “On the planet of Ziyun, even a space ring of the poorest quality is worth over a thousand spirit stones.”A cold look flashed across the middle-aged man’s eyes, and he growled, “You! Don’t push your luck!””Since the Shenguang sect is buying this core formula themselves, you don’t need to pay another thousand spirit stones in fees. I don’t think that asking for a space ring is too much, is it?”Although Su Mo’s tone remained calm and even, his heart was hanging by a thread. This was because he knew that the elder of the black market before him was at least an early Primal Core adept, or even a middle Primal Core adept!If he wanted to kill him, it would be as simple as squeezing an ant dead. “Harrumph!”The middle-aged man gave a cold snort as he turned his palm over to reveal a stone ring that looked simple and plain and placed it on the table. There was an almost identical ring prominently displayed on the middle finger of his right hand. Evidently, he also possessed a space ring. “Many thanks to you, elder.”Seeing this, Su Mo smiled in thanks. “Don’t be so happy too soon. If there is something wrong with the core formula, you will not be leaving here with this space ring and a thousand spirit stones,” the middle-aged man said in a low voice. “That’s understood.”As Su Mo replied, he took the formula from his pocket and placed it on the table. “Alchemist Xu.”At the same time, the middle-aged man stepped aside, respectfully showing the skinny old man in a grey robe who was behind him to the table. “Alchemist Xu?”Su Mo asked in a voice choked with emotion, “Are you the Xu Fu, Alchemist Xu of the sect?”Xu Fu, an acclaimed alchemist in the Shenguang sect, was also a middle Primal Core stage adept. Su Mo had lost his composure because Xu Fu was known as the “prime alchemist on the planet of Ziyun.” It was said that Xu Fu was not born and raised on Ziyun, but had come to Ziyun from a planet that had adepts at the Primordial Soul level of practice to hide and evade the vengeance of his enemies. The Primordial Soul stage was the stage of practice above the Dharma Laws stage. Even the planet Tianxuan that Luo Qinghan was from had not seen a Primordial Soul adept appear in over a thousand years!”That’s me.”As the old man replied, he lifted the core formula to take a look. His expression started out normal, but as he continued reading, his face reddened and he became visibly excited. “Alchemist Xu, is there anything wrong with this core formula?” the middle-aged man asked. “There’s nothing wrong!”As the old man shook his head, he could barely hide the excitement in his voice. “Even in my hometown, those formulas for Qi-gathering cores that monopolize the whole planet which the elite sects with Primordial Soul stage adepts possess are far inferior to this core formula!””A batch of Qi-gathering cores that similarly increases the sense of qi by a thousand percent cost more than double to produce than this formula!””A thousand inferior-quality spirit stones and an inferior-quality space ring in exchange for this formula is worth it. Really worth it!”

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