Chapter 198: The Final Work Of Chase
The last instance when some heavenly essence was sold via an auction in the Blessed Auction House, the elders from noble families of Imperial Capital regretted that they were not present there that particular day for a long time. Or else the price of the fifty drops of heavenly essence would have been far higher than the few hundred thousand cubic crystals.
After asking for the price, Zen returned the 'Green Wave' sword to the shopkeeper and then in a following movement pointed towards the third one and asked, “Sir, could I know the name of the third sword?”
The shopkeeper gently placed the sword 'Green Wave' back on the shelf. He then looked at the third sword as he shook his head and said, “As per what I know about the third sword, I strongly advice you not to buy it and choose some other sword.”
“Oh? may I know the reason?” Zen asked in an apparent tone of surprise.
“Well, I simply say so because the third sword is an unfinished one,” the middle-aged shopkeeper responded in a soft hushed voice. “When Chase was forging this sword, he remained relentlessly awake for over two whole days. He began meditating after he took the refining fire back from the sword. And then he never woke up--Chase passed away in an upright sitting posture.”
Zen raised his eyebrows and asked with curiosity, “Does this mean that Chase died from making this particular sword?”
“You could probably say that, but it would not be completely true or even reasonable. Around the same time, Chase's natural lifespan too was coming to an end and he knew it very well. But for him, to make a fairy weapon was far more important and superior over one more year of mortality. It really is a pity that the sword remained unfinished even with the way he exerted himself for excellence one last time. It could have been a fairy weapon if Chase did not die. So now it is less valuable because it is a semi-finished sword!” The middle-aged shopkeeper bobbed his head slowly to express the sense of regret.
“Since it is only an incomplete product, why would you place it here on the shelf with the other swords?” Zen asked. He went on with his second inquiry without a moment's pause, “Is there anyone who would buy a semi-product?”
“Hey hey,” the middle-aged shopkeeper laughed at Zen's naive question and answered. “It is not ordinary either since it has the potential to become a fairy weapon with the right assistance. Being the final work of Chase, it is clearly worth something. I can show you its potential if you don't believe it...”
While the middle-aged shopkeeper was speaking, he grabbed the third sword off the shelf.
The next moment, he began comparing it with the other two swords Zen saw previously. The third one did not seem to share an on-par excellence. Its sheath appeared grey and there was no aura to be sensed at all. The first sword, Nine Edges Sword, was like a mighty warrior, which would immediately give people a sense of its intimidating power upon appearing.
And the second sword, 'Green Wave', was like an agile killer with an ethereal vibe, which would arrive without coming into notice in an extremely swift and efficient manner.
But the third sword appeared ordinary. It was like an airhead with a normal look, but without anything in his mind. The sword had lost its soul.
The middle-aged shopkeeper then pulled the sword out of the sheath. It was almost finished. When Zen's eyes focused on the edge, he raised his eyebrows without even realising it. The sword's edge was extraordinarily sharp. He could just sense the sharpness by looking at it. Except for the edge, all other parts, including the sword body, the handle and the sheath, seemed to be grey with grime.
“This sword is nearly finished. Chase passed away before the last final procedure, which is the most important and crucial to make a weapon. And that is condensation,” the shopkeeper spoke out. As he stroked the sword, he went on, “Condensation is to give the sword power with Heaven's derivative principle the weapon refiner learns so that the sword can have its own soul. And also because of this, weapon refiners can make all kinds of weapons, and the weapons can be thereupon divided into different levels. We put the unfinished sword here on display, just hoping that some fated weapon refiner would buy it and take it to its destiny!”
“Condensing depends on the weapon refiner's understanding of Heaven's derivative. But each weapon refiner has his own understanding of Heaven's derivative and it is different from person to person. If an ordinary weapon refiner bought it, the result of condensing would probably be not good enough for the sword. So the sword may become only a mysterious weapon, isn't it?” Zen enthusiastically questioned again.
The middle-aged shopkeeper agreed as he nodded, “Well, you're right. We only list the price ten thousand cubic crystals. If a weapon refiner has deep understanding of Heaven's derivative, the sword may turn to a fairy weapon. He can then sell it at the price of one million or several million cubic crystals. But over many years, several weapon refiners have seen the sword, but none of them can be sure to succeed!”
“Condensation needs the weapon refiner's understanding of Heaven's derivative and he needs to condense it into the weapon. How about directly filling the sword with heavenly essence?” Zen blurted out yet another question.
“Ha ha ha,” the shopkeeper laughed loudly upon hearing Zen's words and continued, “Heavenly essence is the essence of Heaven's derivative. Of course it will be better than the original method!”
“Why don't they buy the sword and fill it with heavenly essence directly?” Zen was still puzzled.
“That is a good question. First, heavenly essence is very expensive, and people usually can't buy it even they have many cubic crystals. Second, the sword is an unfinished weapon. Who knows how much heavenly essence it would need? It is a hit and missing process depending on skills and knowledge of the subject. Let's assume it is a fairy weapon. It can't become a fairy weapon without dozens or even hundreds of drops of heavenly essence. Moreover, a weapon refiner can strengthen a finished high-level spiritual weapon. It will be a better choice and it also will definitely guarantee a good result.” The middle-aged shopkeeper replied confidently.
“Oh, I see,” Zen understood the entire concept.
'Heavenly essence is so precious that even people with lots of cubic crystals can't buy it as there have been only a few sellers of it for a long time.
And if a weapon refiner obtains heavenly essence, he would rather strengthen a spiritual weapon. High-level spiritual weapons are available for some people and they have been very familiar with their spiritual weapon. So it is reasonable to strengthen their spiritual weapon into fairy weapon directly rather than invest in this unfinished sword which may require an unsure amount of essence.
But this sword fits me well!
I have an abundance of heavenly essence. Even though I haven't learned all the weapon refining skills, the procedure of condensation is not difficult for me. I can surely give it a try!'
Zen was deep in thought for a long moment before he suddenly smiled and said to the shopkeeper, “I will buy this sword.”
“What?” The shopkeeper didn't believe his ears, “Did you say you wanted the third sword?”
Zen nodded and replied in a serious tone, “Yes, I choose this sword.”
“But,” the shopkeeper hesitated realising what Zen requested. In fact the shopkeeper didn't tell Zen the entire story. The sword actually should not be sold as Chase had pinned his dying hope on the sword. The middle-aged shopkeeper still remembered what Weapon Pavilion's boss told him: if there was really the person who could successfully turn the sword into a fairy weapon, the sword would be rewarded to him for free!
Sensing the shopkeeper's hesitation, Zen felt strange and he asked, “Is there any problem? Isn't the sword's price ten thousand cubic crystals? Do you request a higher price?”
“No, that's not the case!” the shopkeeper shook his head immediately upon hearing Zen's question. “It's not that. Let me tell you the truth. The Weapon Pavilion did not put the sword here for sale. What we really hope is to find a weapon refiner who could finish it. If someone really can do it, we will let him have the sword without any charge. But... But...”
The shopkeeper looked at Zen from top to bottom with a shocked look. Zen did not look like a weapon refiner even in his wildest dream!
“Oh, I see. What if I insist on buying this particular sword?” Zen asked curiously.
“Well, you can actually buy it...” Such a crucial deal could not be turned down or even be handled by the shopkeeper. So being undecided about this sword and lost in thoughts, the shopkeeper said, “I have to ask my boss about it! Could you please wait here for a minute?”
After Zen nodded and agreed to wait patiently, the middle-aged shopkeeper hurriedly rushed to a corner on the second floor.
Zen sat there waiting quietly and patiently just curious about the outcome. He began wondering who the boss of Weapon Pavilion was.
Within a few minutes, the shopkeeper returned in a hurry and said, “Mr. Luo, our boss wants to meet you. Could you please follow me there right away?”
Zen got up instantly. The middle-aged man then grabbed the third sword and led Zen forward.
Soon they walked to the corridor's end and winded up at another staircase. They went up and finally reached a giant red door.
The shopkeeper knocked on the red door ever-so-lightly prompting a woman's voice coming from the other side, “Come in, please.”
'Is the boss of Weapon Pavilion a woman?' Zen wondered with awe.
Without hesitating for a moment, he followed the shopkeeper in.
Upon entering the room, Zen spotted a chair covered with a white tiger's skin. A woman sat on the chair in an entitled and regal manner. At the end of the wall was a fireplace, flashing sparks and blazing flame.
The woman was extremely beautiful and elegant. Her hair was pulled back into a bun at the back of her head. Her skin was a little tan, which accentuated her beauty in a different way. The woman leaned against the tiger skin's head, with one hand supporting her cheek graciously. She was looking in the door's direction. Although it was winter now, she didn't wear many clothes, nor did she wear shoes. Most of her skin was exposed making her appear tough.
The shopkeeper lowered his head in respect and fear the moment he entered the room without even looking at the woman once.
Zen raised his eyes and looked right at the woman. Suddenly, just as he looked at her, he felt stimulated and his heartbeat quickened. It seemed that he was controlled by the woman spiritually and physically. All of a sudden, he felt a thirst grow in his body and a sprawling heat.
'It must be a kind of flirtation skill!' Zen soon realised it
as he understood that all his reactions were abnormal.
There were some women in the world, who could master the skill of flirtation perfectly., while some other women could cultivate themselves to use flirtation soon after they were born. Some high-level flirtation even could be used in fighting as a means to distract people. And what was more, someone could even control her opponent with just a look, making him to surrender without putting up a fight willingly!
Whether the woman's flirtation was gifted or practised was not important. In fact, Zen didn't mind it at all. But he knew for sure that he had been influenced by her. No wonder the middle-aged man dropped his head at once upon entering. He probably knew that his boss had a high-level flirtation skill.
After all, flirtation, just like some illusion, was to control people's mind by misleading them and reading them.
If one had a strong soul, he would not be naturally controlled by flirtation.
Zen blinked his eyes and soon his mind turned blank. With his ability of forgetting himself, the woman's flirtation had no influence on him at all. So he recovered within a second.