Chapter 19: Must Martial Arts Become Sword Slavery?

Bian Prefecture, Ghost Gate Mountain!

Because this mountain is shrouded in miasma and thick fog all year round, ordinary people who come here never return. However, to those in the cults who practice demonic and evil arts, this mountain is a treasure trove. The main altar of the Xuanming Cult is located within a secluded valley inside this mountain.

The Ghost Emperor, Zhu Yougui, had only recently gone into seclusion, leaving his martial arts-obsessed brother, the Ghost King Zhu Youwen, to act as the interim leader, with Granny Meng and the Judges of Water and Fire assisting him.

Zhu Youwen has a dark complexion and a ferocious face. With his shock of red hair, messy, tangled beard, and towering physique, his appearance is highly distinctive, giving off an impression of raw power and unbridled wildness. Though Zhu Youwen is merely an adopted son of Zhu Wen, he is deeply favored by him; Zhu Wen bestowed upon him the complete "Nine Nether Mysterious Heaven Divine Technique," which allowed Zhu Youwen to reach the Innate Realm at a young age.

"The five Yan Kings are trash! The Black and White Impermanence are even bigger trash! To think they managed to get themselves completely wiped out!"

"Calm your anger, Ghost King. According to the reports from the front, the person who killed the Yan Kings is an Innate master; they can hardly be blamed for that!"

An elderly woman sitting below the Ghost King spoke slowly, her tone unhurried. In reality, it is this Granny Meng who manages the overall affairs of the Xuanming Cult. Her face is aged with deep wrinkles, her hair white and thinning, yet her eyes are profound and sharp, giving her an insidious and cunning air. Her black and white Xuanming Cult attire adds a layer of gloom that makes others tremble in her presence.

"Lord Ghost King, Granny Meng, the Five Yan Kings are important figures in our cult after all. Now that they have suddenly died, should we inform the Ghost Emperor?" The Fire Judge, draped in a red robe but with no visible head, drifted about like a headless corpse.

"We must inform the Ghost Emperor, but we still have to handle the matter ourselves," Granny Meng nodded and said.

"Hmph, since the enemy is an Innate master, it seems only I can take the field!" Zhu Youwen cracked his knuckles, ready for a grand battle at any moment. "It’s perfect—I can go see if I can retrieve the corpses of my two disciples, Black and White Impermanence. They also possessed portions of the 'Nine Nether Mysterious Heaven Divine Technique.' Even as corpses, they might still allow me to increase my cultivation by several years! Hahaha..."

Back in Kaifeng City, in the VIP room of the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion.

"I estimate one thousand taels for each piece, totaling five thousand taels! This is the highest price I can offer. Is Young Master Gao satisfied?"

The market price for the Yan Kings' weapons should be around two thousand taels. Deducting thirty percent for being second-hand, another ten percent due to the Xuanming Cult's notoriety, and another ten percent for the standard weapon recycling fee, the remaining fifty percent is a fairly reasonable price.

"Deal!"

"Then what kind of weapon would you like, Young Master?"

After selling the weapons for five thousand taels, adding the ten thousand taels scavenged from the five men, and the one thousand taels found on the two paupers, Black and White Impermanence, he was quite flush.

"Show me some swords worth around ten thousand taels."

"Very well, Young Master Gao, please follow me."

Manager Tong led Gao Wu into a separate weapon vault. On the shelves on both sides of the room, all kinds of armaments were on display.

"Young Master Gao, this is the high-end weapon vault of our Kaifeng Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion. Ordinary people are not qualified to enter here."

"Indeed. Seeing them makes one want to steal them home. Most people would develop inner demons just looking at them."

"Haha, Young Master Gao is truly a joker!"

"This Cold Pool Sword was forged from a meteorite that fell onto the peak of a snowy mountain and was discovered in a freezing pool. The blade is crystalline and clear, with strange snowflake patterns engraved on the hilt. One can channel the power of ice through this sword."

"And this Demon Snake Sword. The hilt is like a tailbone, curved and resilient. The guard is like a snake's head, with two rubies acting as snake eyes, emitting a bloodthirsty glow. This sword carries a potent toxin; once it breaks the skin, the poison rapidly infiltrates the body, corroding the meridians."

"Hehe, this crimson longsword is called the Red Fire Ice Sword. It is rumored that this sword was born in a miracle site where ice and fire converged. On one side was a sea of raging magma, scorching and unbearable; on the other was a bone-chilling glacial wasteland where the ice never melted. In the core area where the ice and fire clashed most violently, a mysterious ore absorbed both extreme forces over endless years. Finally, one day, the ore shattered, and a sword was born. Half of the blade is as red as fire, flowing with magma-like patterns, while the other half is as blue as ice, shimmering with frosty crystals. This is the Red Fire Ice Sword. The hilt is crafted from a special metal tempered by both ice and fire, feeling warm yet carrying a trace of coolness to the touch. The wielder can manipulate the ice and fire forces within the sword at will, either releasing flames to incinerate enemies or unleashing ice to freeze everything. Its power is astonishing."

Gao Wu curled his lip in disdain. These ancient people were truly good at making up stories; to sell this sword for a high price, they even invented a story about natural creation!

"How much for this sword?"

"Uh, Young Master, wouldn't you like to look at others? This sword is the most expensive one here!"

As expected, Gao Wu thought, "Whichever one I want to buy, that one is the most expensive, right?"

As if seeing that Gao Wu didn't believe him, Manager Tong continued, "Young Master Gao might want to look at these two fine swords: the Ruthless Suppression Sword and the Heaven-Shattering Sun-Piercing Sword!"

The Ruthless Suppression Sword's blade was as silver-white as snow, long and straight, and engraved with mysterious runes that flickered with golden light. The final sword shimmered with a brilliant golden radiance, as if it had gathered the light of the sun. The blade had patterns like falling stars, and the hilt looked as if it were condensed from cosmic stardust, exuding a mysterious aura. This was the Heaven-Shattering Sun-Piercing Sword.

Gao Wu's gaze swept over the last two swords and returned to the Red Fire Ice Sword. "This is the one! How much?"

Manager Tong looked slightly troubled and fidgeted. "Fifty thousand taels!"

"What the hell!"

"Oh dear, I already told you that this sword was the most expensive one, but you didn't listen!"

"But I wanted to look at swords worth around ten thousand taels. What do you mean by showing me one that costs fifty thousand?" Gao Wu gritted his teeth. "You did this on purpose, didn't you?"

After saying this, Gao Wu sighed leisurely, "Too bad your schemes have failed. I don't have that much money, so I can't afford your Red-Fire-Ice-Sword!"

"Hehe, Young Master Gao, you aren't aware that our Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion has launched an installment plan service for outstanding talents like yourself! You only need to pay fourteen thousand taels upfront, and the remaining thirty-six thousand taels can be paid in thirty-six installments of twelve hundred taels each! In just three years, this Red Fire Ice Sword will belong entirely to you!"

"Twelve hundred taels per installment for thirty-six installments—that's forty-three thousand two hundred taels, not the thirty-six thousand you mentioned! Is your Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion so dishonest?"

The mathematics of the ancients were poor, and they couldn't calculate figures well. Most martial artists were barely literate, and this Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion was actually exploiting this to make a fortune through arithmetic! Unfortunately for them, they had run into Gao Wu, who had completed nine years of compulsory education!

When his accounting trick was pointed out, Manager Tong was not ashamed or annoyed; instead, he looked at Gao Wu with excitement.

"I didn't expect Young Master Gao to be so proficient in the art of calculation! The numbers you calculated are correct! However, our Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion is not wrong either!"

"Young Master Gao, have you forgotten about the interest?"

Gao Wu was instantly stunned, his face turning black. Damn it, even after time-traveling, he still couldn't escape the clutches of a loan!