readytorunbook Chapter 211 Materials Are Hard to Find
Chapter 211 Materials Are Hard to Find
"Yao'er, we must find the materials to refine the Tribulation-Transcending Magic Treasure as soon as possible." Zhuang Yu withdrew his gaze from the sky, his tone firm, his eyes flashing with determination.
The oppressive force of the heavenly tribulation made him feel an unprecedented sense of urgency. He looked towards the distant materials market, which was his only hope.
The materials market was bustling with people, with shouts of vendors and the sounds of bargaining rising and falling, and the air filled with the aroma of various medicinal herbs and minerals.
Zhuang Yu led Wang Yao straight to a shop that sells rare materials.
The shop's signboard was engraved with three large, glittering golden characters: "Treasure Pavilion." A faint spiritual aura emanated from the shop, attracting the cultivators who came and went.
"Boss, I need materials to refine defensive magic treasures: one portion each of ten-thousand-year-old black iron, celestial star stone, and nine-necked ice." Zhuang Yu got straight to the point, his tone tinged with urgency.
The shop owner was a short, stout, middle-aged man with an oily face. He looked Zhuang Yu up and down, his eyes darting around as if he were plotting something.
"Ten-thousand-year-old black iron, celestial star stone, and nine-necked ice? Young friend, you have quite the appetite. These are all top-grade refining materials, and their value is considerable." The shopkeeper rubbed his hands together, his face plastered with a fake smile.
"The price is negotiable. As long as the items are genuine, I will not be stingy." Zhuang Yu knew the value of these materials, but he was even more aware of the horror of the Heavenly Tribulation. In order to survive, he had to obtain these materials.
"Of course, of course." The shopkeeper smiled and took out three pieces of material from his storage bag, placing them in front of Zhuang Yu.
"Ten-thousand-year-old black iron, indestructible; celestial star stone, containing the power of stars; nine-necked ice, unmelting for ten thousand years. Young friend, look, these are genuine treasures."
Zhuang Yu picked up the ten-thousand-year-old black iron and examined it carefully. He found that the black iron was dull in color and had little spiritual energy. It was clearly a substandard product mixed with impurities.
He picked up the Celestial Stone again, but could not sense any star power; it was clearly a fake.
As for the Nine Nether Ice, it emitted a pungent, strange odor, completely different from the crisp, refreshing scent of genuine Nine Nether Ice.
"Boss, are you taking me for a fool?" Zhuang Yu threw the materials back on the table, his face darkening.
The shopkeeper's expression changed, and he said with a forced smile, "Young friend, you can't just say things like that. This is a genuine treasure, and I won't cheat you, young or old."
"Is that so?" Zhuang Yu's lips curled into a cold smile. "I'll give you one more chance. Produce the real materials, or else..."
"Otherwise what?" Seeing that Zhuang Yu seemed to have no idea what he was talking about, the shopkeeper grew bolder. "I'm telling you right now, buy it or don't, if you don't want to, get out!"
"Interesting." Zhuang Yu didn't react immediately, but pretended not to understand, smiling as he negotiated with the materials merchant, "Boss, don't be in such a hurry, even if a deal falls through, we can still be on good terms..."
Zhuang Yu remained all smiles. "Boss, the color of your ten-thousand-year-old black iron seems a bit dull. Could it be that it has been stored for a long time?" He picked up the black iron and examined it carefully in the sunlight, as if he were a complete novice earnestly seeking advice.
Ghost Three and Ghost Four, hiding in the shadows, exchanged a glance, both looking puzzled.
Gui San scratched his head and said in a muffled voice, "Fourth Brother, what's this kid up to? He clearly knows it's a fake, so why is he still arguing with that fat guy?" Gui Si narrowed his eyes, staring at Zhuang Yu's back, tapping his fingers lightly on the wall, and pondered, "Let's see first. This kid doesn't look like a good guy."
"Boss, why can't I sense any star power in this Celestial Star Stone?" Zhuang Yu picked up the Celestial Star Stone again, gently rubbing it in his palm, his brows furrowed slightly, as if he was genuinely puzzled.
The materials merchant's eyes darted around, secretly pleased: This kid is indeed a novice!
He coughed lightly and said in a pretentious tone, "Young friend, the stellar power of this Heavenly Star Stone is contained within, and it requires a special method to perceive it. Your cultivation is still shallow, so naturally you cannot detect it."
"I see." Zhuang Yu nodded as if he suddenly understood, then picked up the Nine Nether Ice again. "Why does this Nine Nether Ice smell strange? Could it be..." He deliberately hesitated, showing a look of disgust on his face.
The materials merchant was even more smug; this kid really was a fool!
He was about to explain when he saw Zhuang Yu take something out of his storage bag.
It was a pill, crystal clear and radiating a soft light. A refreshing medicinal fragrance filled the air, invigorating anyone who smelled it.
The materials merchant's previously disdainful gaze instantly turned fiery as he stared greedily at the pill, his breathing becoming rapid.
"Boss, you are very knowledgeable, do you recognize this?" Zhuang Yu played with the pill in his hand, looking at the materials merchant with a half-smile.
The materials merchant swallowed hard, his Adam's apple bobbing. "This...this is...the Nine-Turn Golden Elixir?!" His voice trembled, his eyes filled with longing.
The Nine-Turn Golden Elixir is a legendary divine pill that can help cultivators in the Nascent Soul stage break through bottlenecks and improve their cultivation!
"Boss, you certainly have a good eye." Zhuang Yu nodded approvingly, then changed the subject, "I wonder if this Nine-Turn Golden Pill can be exchanged for genuine Ten-Thousand-Year-Old Profound Iron, Celestial Star Stone, and Nine Netherworld Ice?"
The materials merchant's face flushed red and then paled, his mind in turmoil.
These materials are precious, but compared to the Nine-Turn Golden Elixir, they are simply insignificant!
He took a deep breath, suppressing his greed, and forced a smile. "Young friend, you flatter me. How could I possibly try to fool you with counterfeit goods? Please wait a moment, I'll go get the real materials right away." He turned and walked hurriedly towards the inner room, afraid that Zhuang Yu might change his mind.
A moment later, the materials merchant came out carrying three exquisite boxes, his face full of fawning smiles. "Young friend, take a look. These are the real ten-thousand-year-old black iron, celestial star stone, and nine-ninth ice."
Zhuang Yu took the box, examined it carefully, and nodded in satisfaction. "Not bad, this is the real deal." He tossed the Nine-Turn Golden Pill to the materials merchant and turned to leave.
"Wait!"
A loud shout came from the doorway, and two men in black flashed in, blocking Zhuang Yu's path.
It was Ghost Three and Ghost Four.
Ghost Three was burly with a face full of scars, wielding a giant axe and exuding a fierce aura; Ghost Four, on the other hand, was thin with sinister eyes, holding a short sword that gleamed coldly.
"Boy, hand over the stuff!" Ghost Three roared in a gruff voice, pointing his giant axe at Zhuang Yu, causing the ground to tremble slightly.
Zhuang Yu looked at the two with a half-smile and put the three boxes in his hand into his mysterious space.
The moment the box disappeared, Ghost Three and Ghost Four's expressions changed drastically; they hadn't expected Zhuang Yu to have such methods.
The air froze instantly, and a tense atmosphere filled the air, like the calm before a storm.
"Who are you people?" Zhuang Yu asked coldly, his eyes sharp as blades as he swept over the two men.
"Under the command of the Black Fiend Ancestor, Ghost Three and Ghost Four!" Ghost Three grinned maliciously, brandishing his giant axe and slashing towards Zhuang Yu.
"Kid, if you know what's good for you, hand over the stuff obediently and you'll avoid physical punishment!"
The giant axe, accompanied by a whistling sound, fell down on Zhuang Yu's head, seemingly tearing the air apart.
Zhuang Yu dodged the attack with a swift movement.
The giant axe slammed heavily onto the ground with a loud bang, and a deep crack appeared in the ground.
"Is that all you've got?" Zhuang Yu sneered, his figure appearing behind Gui San like a ghost, and struck him on the back with a palm.
Caught off guard, Gui San was struck by the palm, staggered, and fell forward.
He scrambled to his feet, his eyes filled with terror. He hadn't expected Zhuang Yu to be so powerful.
Gui Si, standing to the side, frowned, realizing that he had underestimated Zhuang Yu.
He flicked his short sword, a flash of cold light, and thrust it toward Zhuang Yu.
"A mere trick!" Zhuang Yu sneered, raised his hand, and a golden light flashed, blocking Gui Si's attack.
"You can all come at me together, so as not to waste my time."
Ghost Three and Ghost Four exchanged a glance, both seeing seriousness in each other's eyes.
They knew they'd met their match today.
"Kid, don't be so arrogant!" Ghost Three roared, swinging his giant axe again as he charged toward Zhuang Yu.
Gui Si followed closely behind, his short sword transforming into streaks of cold light as he attacked Zhuang Yu.
Zhuang Yu stood still, a cold smile playing on his lips.
"Overestimating yourself!" He slowly raised his right hand, a golden light shimmering in his palm...
The golden light suddenly exploded, transforming into a huge golden net that enveloped Ghost Three and Ghost Four.
Mysterious runes flickered on the net of light, radiating a powerful binding force.
Ghost Three and Ghost Four struggled desperately, but it was as if they were stuck in a quagmire, unable to move.
"What the hell is this?!" Ghost Three roared in terror, feeling his spiritual power suppressed by the light net, unable to circulate at all.
Gui Si's face darkened; he knew he had kicked a hornet's nest.
Zhuang Yu looked at the two of them coldly and smiled disdainfully.
"A mere trick, yet you dare to show off your meager skills before an expert." He turned to the materials merchant, his tone icy, "I don't want this to happen again."
The materials merchant trembled with fear, nodding repeatedly, "I won't dare, I won't dare..."
Zhuang Yu ignored him, turned and left, his figure disappearing into the crowd.
Only Ghost Three and Ghost Four remained, struggling and roaring within the net of light, along with the terrified eyes of the materials merchant.
Back at his residence, Wang Yao greeted him and asked with concern, "Young Master, did everything go smoothly?"
Zhuang Yu smiled slightly and nodded.
“Everything is under control.” He took out the Ten-Thousand-Year Black Iron, Heavenly Star Stone, and Nine Nether Ice he had obtained from the materials merchant, examined them carefully, and his eyes gleamed with excitement.
With these materials, he could begin refining the tribulation-crossing magic weapon.
As night fell, Zhuang Yu sat cross-legged in his room, preparing to begin refining a magical artifact.
Suddenly, he felt a chill run down his spine as he sensed a powerful aura rapidly approaching.
He suddenly opened his eyes, got up and walked to the window, pushed it open, and looked into the distance.
A dark shadow hovered in mid-air, emanating a suffocating pressure.
The shadowy figure's face was hidden in the darkness and could not be clearly seen, but its scarlet eyes were like two will-o'-the-wisps, radiating a chilling killing intent.
“Black Fiend Ancestor…” Zhuang Yu’s heart tightened, and a chill ran from the soles of his feet to the top of his head.