After selling out all his talismans, Lan Rui packed up his belongings and began wandering through the market.
He first strolled through the stall area, eyeing the wares on display, but found himself unimpressed by the items offered.
Dissatisfied, he decided to head to the shop district where several established stores lined the street, their familiar facades giving off a sense of reliability.
After pacing back and forth a few times, he finally settled on a decent-looking shop and stepped inside. A wooden signboard above the entrance displayed its name in bold, carved characters:
Spirit Hammer Forge
An artifact shop.
As soon as he entered, Lan Rui was greeted by the sight of various magical tools and weapons neatly arranged across wooden shelves and hanging displays.
There was a sword with a pitch-black hilt, a green spirit shield, a dagger with an ominous sheen, and a crimson-bladed saber radiating faint heat. Each item whispered a story of battles fought and power contained.
After browsing for a few moments, he approached the counter where a young woman stood. Her long, silky black hair cascaded down her back, and she wore a simple peach-colored robe that accentuated her gentle features.
"Welcome to Spirit Hammer Forge," she said with a warm smile. "How may I assist you today?"
"Do you buy artifacts?" Lan Rui asked casually.
"That depends on the artifact's condition and grade. We only purchase mid-grade Magic Tools or above," she replied with a professional tone.
Lan Rui considered her words before retrieving a broken saber from his storage pouch. The saber, though damaged, still carried a lingering sharpness. It was a spoil from the lieutenant of his former squad.
"How about this one?" he asked, placing it on the counter.
The woman examined the saber closely, running her fingers over the blade and inspecting the fracture.
"Hmm... This was once a high-grade Magic Tool. Though it's in poor condition, the craftsmanship is evident. It's forged from a common First Rank Ore..."
Lan Rui cut her off, "So, how much would you pay for it?"
She didn't seem offended by the interruption. "A high-grade First Rank Magic Tool typically ranges from 600 to 1500 spirit stones. Given this saber's condition and the materials used... I can offer you 700."
Lan Rui raised an eyebrow. "Hah? You might as well take it for free!"
Feigning shock, the girl widened her eyes. "Really? What a generous customer I've met today..."
"Of course not! Do you take me for a pushover?" he snapped, glaring. "One thousand spirit stones."
"Didn't you just say 'free' a second ago? Now you're raising the price above my offer?" she replied innocently.
Lan Rui sighed. He couldn't tell if she was playing a clever game or if she was genuinely this naïve.
"Call the owner," he finally said, pinching the bridge of his nose in frustration.
"I'm afraid the owner is busy at the moment. You can speak with me, I can help you just fine." Her smile was unwavering.
"So you're choosing to face me yourself... Alright, let's battle then," Lan Rui muttered, steeling himself for a negotiation where underhanded tricks wouldn't work like they did at the Black Market.
Minutes later, after a failed back-and-forth, he frowned. "You're really not going to budge from 700? This isn't bargaining, it's robbery…"
Before she could reply, a deep voice interrupted. "Xi'er, don't be too harsh with our customers."
From the back of the shop emerged a middle-aged man, his hair short and his clothes drenched with sweat. Despite his casual appearance, his presence was overwhelming like a mountain that couldn't be moved.
"Uncle, I gave him a fair price. He's the one being unreasonable," Lei Ruoxi pouted.
The man chuckled and turned to Lan Rui, offering a respectful nod. "Apologies for my niece's behavior, Fellow Daoist."
Lan Rui quickly returned the salute. "It's nothing, Senior. A trivial matter."
He addressed the man as 'Senior' instinctively the aura emanating from him was profound, far deeper and denser than even Sis Wei's when she was angry.
'This man… he might be at the ninth layer of Qi Refining or higher…' Lan Rui thought warily.
"There's no need to be so formal," the man said with a laugh. "I'm Lei Tiewu, and this is my niece, Lei Ruoxi."
Lan Rui nodded and gestured to the blade. "Old Lei, could you appraise this saber?"
Lei Tiewu took the broken saber and inspected it with a practiced gaze. "The price Ruoxi offered is fair. While the materials are decent, it's still a broken blade. However… since this is your first time here, I'll give you 750 spirit stones."
"Deal." Lan Rui nodded without hesitation. While he could haggle hard at the Black Market, he respected this small gesture from the shop owner.
"I'm also looking for a talisman brush. Do you have any in stock?"
"What grade?" Lei Tiewu asked.
Lan Rui's answer caught him by surprise. "First Rank High Grade."
"You're a High Grade First Rank Talisman Master?" Lei Tiewu asked, his eyes lighting up with curiosity. "At your age… impressive."
He disappeared into the back room, and after a short moment, returned with two elegant black boxes.
He opened the first. "This one is crafted from Jade Spirit Bamboo, and the tip is made with Grey Wolf fur."
Lan Rui studied the green-bodied brush, inspecting the smooth finish and the delicate, resilient bristles. "May I test it?"
"Of course."
He carefully channeled a trace of spirit energy through the brush. After sensing its flow, he placed it back gently and turned to the other box.
"This brush is made from the spine of a Black Boar. The bristles are from the same beast."
Lan Rui paused mid-reach, his expression shifting. "This… it's really made from the beast's spine?"
Lei Tiewu chuckled. "Indeed. You're quite young, so perhaps you're not used to such materials. Spirit ore and spirit wood are common, but parts from Demonic Beasts are used quite often in artifact forging."
"You didn't even react when I mentioned the Grey Wolf fur earlier, but now you're shocked by the spine?"
Lan Rui furrowed his brow. He had assumed the fur was obtained humanely, how naïve. How could anyone tame such beasts without killing them?
"What about the demonic energy? Won't it contaminate the material?"
Lei Tiewu shook his head. "All beast materials are properly purified before use. Besides, demonic beasts absorb natural qi like us. Their energy is different from Demonic Path cultivators who rely on blood qi and dark methods such as rituals, sacrifices and vile arts."
"Demonic beasts may be violent, but their cultivation is a part of nature. Their longevity comes from their slower, rougher accumulation and refinement of qi."
Lan Rui nodded slowly, taking in the information, though he quickly caught himself.
'Wait... is this guy like Sis Wei? Another chatterbox?'
He cut in before Lei Tiewu could continue. "Old Lei, thank you for the lesson, but I still feel uncomfortable using that particular brush."
"No problem. If you don't like either, we can custom-make one for you," Lei Tiewu offered with a smile.
"No need, I'll take the Jade Spirit Bamboo one. How much?"
Lei Tiewu held up one finger.
"One hundred spirit stones?" Lan Rui asked hopefully.
Lei Tiewu coughed. "One hundred? Brat, are you trying to rob me? One thousand!"
Lan Rui's face twisted. "Old man, are you mad? That's the price of a defensive magic tool! You think just because I'm young I'm easy to trick?"
They locked eyes, each unwilling to back down.
And so, another battle began.
.....