It even had a lovely name: Moonwatch.
This was Mu Cheng’s sword.
Rumor held that Mu Cheng had drawn the sword from a mountain within a secret realm. When he pulled it free, the waterfall ceased flowing, the earth split, and mountains crumbled, frightening the other cultivators in the realm into fleeing in panic, convinced it was an earth dragon turning over. In truth, Mu Cheng had obtained a peerless Treasure Sword.
Lian Yunzhi didn’t know how much of the rumor was exaggerated. He only knew the sword was extraordinary—he had personally witnessed Mu Cheng cleave open a Tier 5 Demon Beast’s skull with it in the Water Mirror.
But now, this Treasure Sword sat in a display case like mere merchandise, surrounded by ring after ring of rowdy bidders clamoring to compete.
Lian Yunzhi didn’t understand.
This was a Treasure Sword usable only by Golden Core cultivators—why were so many Foundation Establishment Cultivators and even Qi Refining cultivators crowding in to join the frenzy and bid madly?
Lian Yunzhi wanted it too.
Of course, it wasn’t to flaunt Mu Cheng’s possession in front of him or mock him.
He wasn’t that childish.
He simply recalled the shock in his heart when he saw Mu Cheng slay a Demon Beast with a single stroke. He remembered staring at the snow-white, beautiful Long Sword in Mu Cheng’s hand—one that didn’t even stain with blood—and feeling a sour bubbling in his chest: “If I had that Treasure Sword that cut bone like mud, I’d be much stronger too.”
Lian Yunzhi subconsciously glanced at Mu Cheng.
Mu Cheng stood properly at his side. Sensing the gaze, he turned his head “toward” him, behaving just like a normal person rather than a Blind Man.
In fact, he didn’t even know his own Treasure Sword was up for sale.
Tch, how pitiful.
Lian Yunzhi sighed with pity in his heart before stepping into the Mu Family merchant association.
Mu Cheng hurried to follow.
“I’ll bid 650,000 Spirit Stones!” one voice gritted out.
“660,000!” another followed immediately.
Lian Yunzhi spoke up: “One million.”
Lian Yunzhi thought this would crush the competition, but in truth, adding 340,000 didn’t even pause the bidding for a moment.
A Golden Core Treasure Sword was far more precious than imagined.
Especially one that had once belonged to the renowned Number One of Xiaoze State.
The bids quickly climbed to 1.5 million.
Lian Yunzhi ground his teeth: “1.6 million!”
Mu Cheng finally couldn’t hold back. “Master, what are you bidding on?”
Lian Yunzhi cast him a brief, pitying glance. “Your sword… 1.7 million!”
Mu Cheng froze.
His breathing and heartbeat grew erratic.
He lowered his eyes and exhaled softly, his voice mild, but the grip on Lian Yunzhi’s sleeve had already wrinkled the fabric.
“……Master… There’s no need to spend on my account. I can no longer wield a sword.“
Lian Yunzhi: “1.83 million! What did you just say? Damn… the Spirit Stones might not be enough, but I have to win this sword! I’ve wanted it for so long!”
Mu Cheng: “……“
Mu Cheng released Lian Yunzhi’s sleeve and said dryly, “Nothing.”
Lian Yunzhi shot him a glance, tallied his assets, and dove back into the frenzied bidding.
Cultivators had keen ears—Lian Yunzhi had of course heard what Mu Cheng said.
Though exposing the self-indulgent delusions of the person he once hated most would be quite amusing…
But…
Fine, he’d spare him this once. After all, the guy was already quite pitiful.
.
In the end, Lian Yunzhi won the Moonwatch Treasure Sword for 2.74 million Spirit Stones.
He paid part with Spirit Stones, part with spiritual herbs, and the final portion with tiles from Extreme Pleasure Hall.
……That’s right—the ones paved with Spirit Stones.
Of course, Lian Yunzhi had smashed them beforehand, so the merchant boss noticed nothing amiss, merely finding the irregular sizes odd enough to require weighing.
Just as Lian Yunzhi finished payment and reached to take the Treasure Sword from the boss, a voice suddenly called from outside.
“Wait!”
Lian Yunzhi didn’t wait. With thunderous speed, he snatched his sword from the boss and tossed it into his Storage Bracelet.
Only then did he leisurely turn around.
And saw Mu Qinglin’s face, flushed purple from running too hard.
Yo, how ugly.
Lian Yunzhi had no desire to tangle with him and turned to leave.
But Mu Qinglin refused to let him go, blocking his path squarely. “How many Spirit Stones did the customer pay for that Treasure Sword just now? I can add 100,000 more.”
Lian Yunzhi looked displeased at the boss. “Is this your shop’s way of treating customers?”
The merchant boss smiled apologetically. “This is our Mu Family’s eldest young master, Mu Qinglin.”
Eldest… young master?
Lian Yunzhi tilted his head in confusion, pointing at the now-empty crystal case. “Didn’t your eldest young master die? The sword’s already sold.”
The boss’s expression stiffened. “The dead one was a fake eldest young master. This is the real one.”
Lian Yunzhi: “Wasn’t the real one strangled to death seventeen years ago? Is this a ghost?”
Mu Qinglin’s face flushed green then black. He stepped forward threateningly. “You’d best show some respect. Do you know where you are? Do you know who I—”
The voice cut off abruptly.
Because the man before him suddenly reached up and removed his Mask, revealing a face both roguishly smiling and peerlessly handsome.
“Oh? And what kind of thing are you?”
In the next instant, Foundation Establishment Peak pressure slammed into Mu Qinglin’s face. Unable to withstand it, he broke out in cold sweat and dropped to his knees!
Lian Yunzhi spared him not a second glance, his face icy as he stepped right over him.
Mu Cheng paused, then circled around the black-clad figure.
But just as he prepared to stride ahead and catch up to his Master, a hand suddenly seized his.
“Mu Cheng?!”
Lian Yunzhi whipped his head back to see Mu Qinglin clutching Mu Cheng’s hand tightly, his bloodshot eyes fixed in disbelief on the red mole on Mu Cheng’s wrist.
In that instant, Lian Yunzhi’s killing intent flared.
