Creating a paradise in an ant nest

Chapter 31 The Broken Sword I Picked Up

The magical artifacts displayed in this container can only be described as "tattered and broken".

A broken talisman pen, a nicked spirit sword, a shattered and dented shield... each piece more broken than the last.

Huang Cuiying boasted, "Don't underestimate these damaged spiritual artifacts. Some of them can still be used after some repairs. What's more, they're cheap. You can buy a high-grade spiritual artifact for the price of a low-grade one."

Even if a damaged magical artifact is repaired, there are still hidden dangers; it might break during a battle.

Few people are willing to take such a risk.

"I want materials that can be fused into spiritual artifacts, priced around ten spirit stones."

"These can all be melted down into materials for spiritual artifacts. The most expensive one is this mid-grade spiritual artifact shield, which costs one hundred spirit stones."

The prices of the others vary depending on their size and grade. This superior spirit sword costs twenty spirit stones, but if you really want it, I'll give you a discount and make it seventeen spirit stones.

And this mid-grade Gengjin Hunyuan Ball, valued at thirteen spirit stones…”

Huang Cuiying heard Liu He say that the budget was ten spirit stones, and he focused on introducing budgets of ten to ten spirit stones.

She left room for customers to negotiate the price.

"Senior sister, why is your mid-grade spiritual weapon more expensive than a high-grade spiritual weapon?"

Liu He was puzzled.

He listened to the price and was puzzled by the pricing standard.

Huang Cuiying explained, "These magical artifacts are so damaged that they have no practical value and can only be melted down as materials for magical artifacts."

Therefore, the price is not based on its grade. Some high-grade spiritual artifacts are made of ordinary materials and become high-grade spiritual artifacts because of their artifact patterns.

Some mid-grade spiritual artifacts are made of good materials and have abundant resources, so their prices are naturally higher.

At this point, Huang Cuiying worried that Liu He might not understand the limitations of using damaged spiritual artifacts to forge new ones, so she explained a few more points.

"Buy as many damaged spiritual artifacts as you need in terms of the amount of materials required."

"You can't add new materials when forging a finished magical artifact, and considering the slight losses during the forging process, you should think carefully before you choose."

To forge a new magical artifact, the raw materials must be added in strict accordance with specific material ratios based on the artifact's characteristics.

Only the blacksmith who forged this magical artifact knows the materials and proportions he used.

Therefore, no materials can be added when refining a finished spiritual weapon to ensure its original material ratio.

"Yes, I know."

Hong Jianxiong had told Liu He about it before.

Because of these limitations, few people choose to use damaged magical artifacts to forge new ones.

That said, the advantages are obvious: it's cheap, very cheap!

Twenty spirit stones can buy the materials for a high-grade spirit sword, which is much cheaper than the price of a real high-grade spirit weapon, which can easily cost hundreds of spirit stones.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

"How much is this broken sword worth?"

The defensive magical artifact that Liu He needed required very little material; he saw a broken sword that was only the length of a palm.

The broken sword's blade is only one inch wide; it was originally a small flying sword about the length of a palm.

The tip of the sword broke off, and rust appeared at the broken edge of the blade, covered with fine cracks.

One can imagine how fierce the battle this flying sword went through.

Seeing that Liu He had noticed the broken sword, Huang Cuiying was secretly delighted, but remained outwardly calm: "It is at least a top-grade first-tier flying sword. The patterns on it are intricate and complex, the material composition is unknown, and its origin is very mysterious."

"Is its grade uncertain?"

"Yes, a few years ago an inner disciple sold it to me, saying that he picked it up while on a mission outside."

I had the people from Wanqi Peak examine it, and they said it wasn't a spiritual artifact produced by our sect. Based on the complexity of its patterns and the traces of the break, they speculate that it's at least a top-grade first-tier spiritual artifact.

"It might be a second-tier spiritual weapon."

Huang Cuiying has been promoting this broken sword for several years by using the gimmick that it "might be a second-tier spiritual weapon".

Unfortunately, it didn't sell.

On the one hand, the risk of buying it is too great, as the material composition and properties are unknown, like opening a blind box.

On the other hand, it is too small in size and has too few materials, so it can only be melted and made into very small spiritual artifacts.

Custom-made magical artifacts are usually made by senior inner disciples and Foundation Establishment cultivators, who have no need to take risks on the unknown.

"Senior sister, name your price."

Liu He became interested in this magical artifact of unknown origin.

"Eighteen Spirit Stones".

Huang Cuiying blurted it out.

She initially asked for thirty, but has now lowered the price.

"How many?"

Liu He feigned surprise: "This price isn't honest. I really want to buy it, so give me a fair price."

"Fifteen spirit stones. After all, the minimum grade is first-tier top-grade, and given the grade, it can't be any less."

This is Huang Cuiying's bottom line price.

"Ten spirit stones. I'll pay you right now if you want to sell."

Liu He's original budget was ten spirit stones.

If he buys this broken sword, he won't need spirit iron anymore.

Given that it is a top-grade first-tier flying sword, it is certain that its material is sturdy enough and can be engraved with weapon patterns.

It meets Liu He's needs.

"...Junior brother, you're too good at bargaining! Thirteen spirit stones, that's the lowest I can go."

"Ten spirit stones."

"Twelve spirit stones, let me lose a little less."

"Senior sister, I only brought ten spirit stones. I'm just a menial disciple, I can't afford to give more."

"..."

After hesitating for a moment, Huang Cuiying finally decided to sell it.

This is a treasured item; if we don't sell it soon, it might become a liability.

Selling results in a small loss, but not selling results in an even greater loss.

"Alright, ten spirit stones it is, I'll recoup some of my costs. To be honest, I spent fifteen spirit stones to acquire it."

There was a hint of helplessness in Huang Cuiying's tone.

"Senior sister, it's good that we can sell them. It's better than having them stuck in our hands."

"That's exactly what I thought. I've been trying to sell them for years without success. I've finally cleared out my inventory, haha."

Huang Cuiying's business of selling secondhand magical artifacts occasionally involves misjudging the market and selling at a loss, which is normal.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

Liu He gave ten spirit stones in exchange for the broken sword with rust marks.

It is lightweight and easy to handle, weighing less than half a pound.

Having obtained the materials to forge and create spiritual artifacts, he went to Wanqi Peak to find Hong Jianxiong.

"Senior Brother Hong, I bought a damaged spiritual artifact and will use it to forge a new one."

"Let me see."

Hong Jianxiong took the broken sword from Liu He and examined it carefully.

As a seasoned blacksmith, his eye for detail was sharp: "These materials and the patterns indicate a high-grade or top-grade first-tier spiritual weapon. How many spirit stones did you spend on it?"

"Ten Spirit Stones"

"The price isn't high. With this, you won't need spirit iron anymore, so you can return it to me."

The spiritual weapon you need is simple in design; a menial servant at the third level of Qi Refining would need about seven or eight spirit stones. How about I charge you ten spirit stones?

Hong Jianxiong is at the sixth level of Qi Refining, and his skills are much better than those at the third level, so his price is naturally higher.

"Okay, thank you, Senior Brother Hong."

Liu He calculated in his mind that he had just spent all twenty spirit stones he had prepared, and there wasn't a single spirit stone left.

"Draw a drawing for me, clearly indicating the dimensions, where the openings are, their size and shape, and any other requirements. I'll make it for you when I have time; it should take about five days."

Hong Jianxiong has his own job duties and can only earn extra money in his spare time.

"OK."

Liu He felt a sense of anticipation; this would be the underground cave he had designed himself.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

[Sorry everyone, I'm not feeling well, only one update today.]

[Sorry everyone, I'm not feeling well, only one update today.]