Chapter 74: Trading Up

"The top-grade Flying Boat, Thunder Falcon Boat, is refined with the three-fire technique, incorporating Thunder Falcon Feathers, and at its core is a Thunder Falcon Essence.""As for its effect, it’s not complicated, just one word."

"Fast!"

"Among top-grade Flying Boats, nothing is faster than this Thunder Falcon Boat. And once the Thunder Falcon Essence inside is activated... even top-tier Flying Magical Artifacts can compete with it."

Lao Huang introduced the Thunder Falcon Boat with his arms crossed in front of him, appearing boastful.

Xu Fugui looked him up and down and asked, "Refined by Uncle Master Lei?"

Lao Huang laughed heartily, "Who else but my master could refine such an artifact?"

So it seems, the Uncle Master Lei mentioned by Elder Xu must be a master in artifact refining. At least a Tier Two Artifact Refiner, Ji Yuan thought to himself.

The previous breakthrough used up more than 400 Spirit Stones, and now there are less than a hundred left.

But no matter, the Black Wind Boat can offset some Spirit Stones.

So, purchasing just this Thunder Falcon Boat is certainly affordable.

"I’ll take this Thunder Falcon Boat!"

"How many Spirit Stones? I want it!"

Lao Huang gave a thumbs up, "You’ve got a keen eye! But the price... isn’t cheap, it’s this amount."

He didn’t retract his thumb.

"100 low-grade Spirit Stones."

The price is indeed high, almost at the limit for top-grade magical artifacts... any higher and you could buy a top-tier artifact.

"Ji, do you have enough? If not, I can lend you some." Xu Fugui asked.

"I have enough." Ji Yuan smiled and took out his Black Wind Boat, wiping off its markings, "Please have a look at how many Spirit Stones this Dharma Ship is worth, fellow Daoist."

Lao Huang took a brief look and scoffed, "If my master had this material, he could refine a top-grade Flying Boat with his eyes closed, and it ended up as a mid-grade Dharma Ship, such rough craftsmanship."

"The material is good, so I’ll give you 45 Spirit Stones for it, and you add 55 more Spirit Stones."

"Deal."

Ji Yuan had the 55 Spirit Stones. After paying, the Thunder Falcon Boat was in his hands. With a slight refinement, a gleam appeared in his eyes.

But it was just that gleam, and after refining, he put it away.

"What, you can bear not to go out and try it?" Lao Huang was surprised.

"I still need a top-grade Protective Magical Artifact, do you have any recommendations?"

Ji Yuan had considered this along the way and ultimately decided to exchange his various mid-grade protective magical artifacts for a top-grade one.

For Protective Magical Artifacts, quality is more important than quantity.

"I do."

"Would you like a Magic Robe type, Shield type, or Magic Screen type? These are the usual ones."

Magic Robes are useful but lack defensive capability, Magic Screens offer comprehensive protection but consume a lot, and Shields can withstand and block attacks.

Ji Yuan had always used Shield-type Protective Magical Artifacts.

"You’re probably someone who doesn’t mind spending, so I won’t bring out the cheap ones, I’ll give you the best right away."

As Lao Huang spoke, he tossed a completely pitch-black shield that exuded a heavy demonic aura onto the ground with a "boom."

Ji Yuan quickly looked down and saw that the surface of the shield was covered in dense fish scales.

Even just being placed there, a strong fishy smell permeated the air.

"The Hundred Fish Shield, made from the scales of over a hundred Tier One top-grade Spirit Fish, its defensive power needless to say, is among the best of the top-grade Protective Magical Artifacts."

"Moreover, in a life-and-death moment, all these fish scales can be activated as a killing move."

"But after one use, the shield is basically useless, so don’t use it unless necessary."

Ji Yuan nodded repeatedly, acknowledging that this Hundred Fish Shield was much stronger than the ones he currently had.

"How many Spirit Stones?"

"Fixed price, 90," Lao Huang said and crossed his arms, seemingly wanting to see if Ji Yuan could come up with it.

This time, Xu Fugui remained silent.

Ji Yuan thought for a moment, "Please assess how many Spirit Stones these are worth, fellow Daoist."

He brought out the Golden Iron Shield and Vine Shield he acquired from the Liu Brothers.

Both were mid-grade Protective Magical Artifacts.

After a brief inspection, Lao Huang commented, "Not quite enough."

Ji Yuan then presented his long-serving Dragon Armor Shield.

This old companion had many signs of wear and tear.

Lao Huang didn’t inspect it, just glanced at it and said, "Still not enough."

Ji Yuan had a Mystic Light Shield as well, another mid-grade artifact.

But he planned to keep it for himself, so when Lao Huang said it wasn’t enough, he asked, "How much more is needed?"

Those two shields weren’t bad, with minimal wear, and should be worth about 70 Spirit Stones.

The Dragon Armor Shield, despite being a low-grade artifact, was worn but still a low-grade artifact.

"Add 7 more Spirit Stones."

"Alright."

Ji Yuan had the 7 Spirit Stones.

After paying, the Hundred Fish Shield was his.

Before he could speak, Lao Huang asked proactively, "Still need a top-grade Attack Magical Artifact?"

"Well..."

Ji Yuan smiled sheepishly, "You’re overestimating me, I don’t have that many Spirit Stones."

Both Lao Huang and Xu Fugui breathed a sigh of relief.

After breaking through to the late stage of Qi Cultivation, upgrading to a top-grade Flying Boat is common, and Ji Yuan’s mid-grade Dharma Ship wasn’t bad, so buying the Thunder Falcon Boat didn’t cost many Spirit Stones.

For the remaining Hundred Fish Shield, Ji Yuan exhausted his resources, even taking out his last low-grade artifact for exchange.

This aligns with him having reached a dead end financially.

Had he then, in front of them, bought a top-grade Flying Sword... it would’ve been blatantly showing off wealth.

Ji Yuan wasn’t that foolish.

Lao Huang laughed, "Among the late-stage cultivators I’ve seen, few have been able to upgrade to two top-grade artifacts right after a breakthrough."

"Just lucky, it’s all thanks to Grandmaster Xu," Ji Yuan casually complimented Xu Fugui, making the old man grin.

"If that’s the case, go back and cultivate well. If you have questions, come ask me."

"Okay."

With two new top-grade artifacts, Ji Yuan then took his leave.

After he stepped out, Lao Huang looked at Xu Fugui, leaning against the counter, "Grandmaster, you’re fortunate to meet such a talented lad."

"With his age and skills... the artifacts he brought out aren’t bad, he’s surely adept in Magical Combat."

Lao Huang looked up and sighed, "He might have the potential to achieve Foundation Establishment with a Pseudo Spirit Root."

Pseudo Spirit Root Foundation Establishment...

In the Water Dragon Sect, there were such individuals, but without exception, cultivators who achieved Foundation Establishment with a Pseudo Spirit Root were exceptionally strong in their realm.

"Perhaps. If possible, it would be best," Xu Fugui sighed deeply.

Meanwhile, after leaving Zengtou City, Ji Yuan went to a deserted riverside spot and summoned the Thunder Falcon Boat.

The boat hovered in the air, and Ji Yuan leaped in, landing inside the Thunder Falcon Boat. Then, with a thought, the boat transformed into a stream of light and ascended into the sky.

Experiencing this extreme speed, Ji Yuan was momentarily so excited he couldn’t speak.

Flight.

Immortality.

The two great dreams of a cultivator, now finally he had realized one.

At the end, feeling unsatisfied, he activated the Thunder Falcon Essence within the boat.

"Whoosh——"

A faint whistling sound pierced the sky as a purple streak crossed the horizon, like a heavenly thunder.

Ji Yuan didn’t fly aimlessly; since Zengtou City wasn’t suitable for selling, he planned to go to another market to first buy some Cold Iron Sand and then exchange for a top-grade Flying Sword.