Chapter 453: Section 240: Big Purchasing
The first round of trading at the Undead Gathering had concluded.
Cang Xu had realized that the trades were unequal. Simply put, the ship ghost was leading everyone else in a game.
The ship ghost possessed unique resources. Whether it was Soul Crystals or Memory Crystals, they were coveted necessities for Undead Mages.
He practically monopolized these resources, so he naturally occupied a dominant position.
Given the power and resources he controlled, he could have easily pushed down prices and acquired other people’s ordinary resources cheaply.
However, the ship ghost did not do so. His trades were at market price, and some were even slightly cheaper.
“No wonder these people respect the ship ghost so much,” Cang Xu realized.
Such respect was justified. Every undead had benefited from the ship ghost’s care. He was at the Golden Level, the strongest, and monopolized resources.
Ku Feng announced, “The second round of trading will start, following the order from earlier.”
This time, Cang Xu immediately requested to trade for Soul Crystals.
Both he and Zi Di were in dire need of this resource.
The ship ghost was willing to provide them at the same price as before.
Cang Xu obtained over two hundred Soul Crystals.
The ship ghost laughed, “Oh ho ho, I didn’t expect to have such a big customer. This is all the stock I brought this time. There is no more left.”
It wasn’t that Cang Xu didn’t want to buy more, but that was all the ship ghost had.
The others looked sideways.
“New guy, I’m starting to see you in a new light, you are so rich!” the Little Prince said bluntly. He had struggled for an entire year to save up to buy several dozen Soul Crystals.
The Fin Spirit remained silent with a deep gaze.
Qing Xin seemed thoughtful.
Ku Feng clicked his tongue and speculated, “It seems that during the chaos on Twin Eyes Island, you must have dredged up quite a few treasures from the seabed?”
Cang Xu nodded slightly and admitted candidly, “Indeed.”
A flash of brilliance crossed Qing Xin’s eyes, shocked by Cang Xu’s haul as it was the wealth of the whole island, though he didn’t know exactly how much Cang Xu had salvaged.
Cang Xu’s confession was still intentional.
Considering Hun Tong’s reaction, he was likely to investigate and pursue. Therefore, by preemptively admitting, Cang Xu left some clues.
After the Undead Gathering ended, Crying Pine Island was to witness a sea battle. The Dragon Lion Mercenary Corps would be victorious, and the Iron Lump would join their fleet. Undead Mage Cang Xu would be “killed in battle,” only to return to everyone under the identity of “Old Zhong.”
This way, the survivors could launder their treasures according to what they salvaged.
The Dragon Lion Mercenary Corps gained unimaginable spoils of war and, according to the rules, Hun Tong could not forcibly intervene.
The survivors could even sell antiquities and other items to Hun Tong if his price was right.
The second round of trading continued.
The Little Prince shouted, “Ship Ghost, have you made the orders I placed last time?”
The ship ghost nodded, “You are in luck. Over a month ago, I killed a Water Mage who was asking for it, and managed to produce a Memory Crystal of Water Element Spells.”
The Little Prince was ecstatic, almost jumping with joy, “That’s awesome! With this, my ‘Great General’ will gain a lot of strength.”
He wanted the Memory Crystal for his ride, an undead three-headed sea snake.
After turning into an undead, the sea snake’s memory had almost completely vanished, unable to use its innate Water Magic-like Spells. During battle, it could only serve as a meat shield and a mount.
The ship ghost advised, “Take a good look at the contents of the Memory Crystal. If there’s anything you’re not satisfied with, I can make some minor adjustments for you right here. But I can’t do much, only slight changes.”
Listening to this conversation, Cang Xu’s interest was piqued, “It seems that the ship ghost possesses a Memory Crystal Manufacturing Device and also has some means to alter memories.”
The survivors also had a Memory Crystal Manufacturing Device in their inventory.
“If we could trade for these items, that would be wonderful,” Cang Xu thought, but he had no plans to take actual action.
The demands of a trade couldn’t be made lightly as many things could be exposed.
If Cang Xu made such a request, everyone would wonder if he also possessed a Memory Crystal Manufacturing Device.
The second round of trading concluded quickly.
Cang Xu obtained many Soul Crystals.
The Little Prince got his Memory Crystal.
Fin Spirit and Ku Feng traded, obtaining special timber from Crying Pine Island, excellent material for building ships.
Ku Feng wanted to purchase weapons, but the ship ghost had none to offer.
The Little Prince giggled, proudly announcing, “I have some this time!”
Cang Xu easily guessed that Ku Feng might have made a similar request at the previous gathering.
Therefore, the Little Prince had specifically created a Bone Scimitar, which reached the Silver Level.
This impressed Cang Xu privately, “The Sorrowful Song Tombstone was crafted by him, and now he has another Silver Level item. Could it be that he is also an Alchemist?”
Being an Undead Mage didn’t hinder one from practicing alchemy.
Finally, it was the ship ghost’s turn. Since his previous transactions weren’t successful, he simply gave up.
The third round of trading began.
Cang Xu mainly looked towards Ku Feng, expressing his interest in purchasing the Corpse Vein Undead Inheritance.
“Although I have obtained the advanced inheritance of the Soul Vein, I have my own research and transformation results, and I don’t plan to give up.”
Cang Xu briefly explained his situation to everyone.
Ku Feng said, “I am not an Undead Mage, but a fighter. Although I was awakened by the esteemed Doctor of the broken corpses, I do not inherit his Corpse Vein Undead Inheritance.”
“However, I can research it for you. But the fee you pay must satisfy me, and the research must not interfere with my pursuit of the way of the scimitar.”
Ku Feng spoke words that surprised Cang Xu.
But no one else showed any surprise.
Seeing the puzzled look on Cang Xu’s face, Ku Feng shrugged and said, “Don’t be surprised, I have already conducted research for Lord Ship Ghost.”
Ship Ghost then laughed, “Hohoho, the thirst for knowledge is one of the excellent qualities of a Mage. I have the basic heritage of the Corpse Vein, which I can sell to you.”
Although Cang Xu was very interested in Ku Feng’s body, he knew he didn’t have such an opportunity.
Ku Feng could not be taken back to the Dragon Lion Mercenary Corps, and research would require a lot of time, which he did not have to spare.
So, Cang Xu faced Ship Ghost and, after a moment of silence, boldly said, “Lord Ship Ghost, I am willing to buy any Undead Mage inheritances you are willing to sell, please name your price.”
Thus, Cang Xu acquired the basic inheritance of the Corpse Vein and Bone Vein.
Cang Xu keenly noticed: Ship Ghost did not sell any research findings about Ku Feng’s body.
Even so, his gain was substantial.
With just a brief overview, he acquired significant help from the Corpse Vein’s Undead Inheritance that enabled him to further modify his own body.
The third round of trading ended, and the fourth round began.
Cang Xu took a deep breath and boldly made a trading request to Ship Ghost, “Lord Ship Ghost, please forgive my impudence, but I wonder if you would be willing to sell the method of manufacturing Soul Crystals?”
Ship Ghost was taken aback.
The Little Prince started shouting, “What? New guy, what are you thinking?”
Cang Xu bowed deeply, “Monetary matters can be negotiated.”
Qing Xin looked at Cang Xu with concealed worry.
The adage goes, wealth should not be flaunted.
Did Cang Xu not fear being attacked and plundered by several Undead Mages by showing off his wealth like this?
Such a trading gathering was not as formal as the auction at Twin Eyes Island; it was very easy for a double-crossing incident to occur.
Cang Xu admitted his boldness.
However, he was not recklessly taking risks.
Firstly, he had his own judgment. Although it was his first encounter with Ship Ghost and others, based on his life experience and social skills, he could judge these people’s characters.
Moreover, Cang Xu believed that being “bold” was advantageous for him, an act of bluffing.
Sure enough, aside from the Little Prince’s reprimand, everyone else remained silent.
The Fin Spirit looked at Cang Xu with a deep gaze.
Anyone with basic intelligence could guess, “This newcomer is so bold; he must have strong backing to be wary of!”
Originally, Cang Xu’s level of existence was Silver Level.
A Silver Level, even if not able to defeat a Golden Level like Ship Ghost, could still escape.
Cang Xu also had Qing Xin, a Mage of the same level, by his side.
They did not know: Cang Xu’s real reliance was not himself or Qing Xin, but the distant Dragon Lion Mercenary Corps.
In the end, Cang Xu believed that such a risk was worth it.
If Ship Ghost agreed to the trade, wouldn’t it be a windfall?
Even if it meant paying a high price, it would still be worth it.
An egg and an egg-laying hen, the latter is naturally more valuable and sustainable.
“Hohoho.” Ship Ghost laughed and shook his head, “I’m sorry, the method to make Soul Crystals cannot be directly sold.”
“Even though I am also in need of money.”
“You can understand that, right? Mages are always in need of money!”
Ship Ghost made a little joke, then his tone became serious, “The method of making Soul Crystals is a gem in the heritage of the Soul Vein, the most valuable part.”
“It is not something that can be casually taught to outsiders.”
Cang Xu’s expression changed, “You mean?”
“Quite simple, become one of us,” Ship Ghost spoke gravely. “You need to pass an evaluation and complete some tasks to qualify for the related inheritance.”
“This is also a rule established by the Ancestor You Can!”
Cang Xu bowed again to express his apology, then continued to ask about the evaluation and what kind of tasks needed to be completed.
“I became an Undead Mage to gain greater power.”
“Since I am already wanted and not tolerated by the world, I have only one path, don’t I?”
“Hohoho, you are quite aware.” Ship Ghost praised, then shifted his tone, “But unfortunately, you cannot pass the evaluation.”
“I can see that your potential is limited, and your talent has a low ceiling.”
“The first step in the evaluation is to inspect this.”
“I’m sorry.”
Cang Xu stood there stunned.
For a moment, he felt bewildered.
It was as if he had returned to the past, to the time when authorities sentenced his cultivation qualifications to a ‘death sentence’.