touchnovel Chapter 60 A Nest Within a Nest, A Strange Object Reappears
Chapter 60 A Nest Within a Nest, A Strange Object Reappears
Despite everyone's shock, Chen Yu remained unperturbed.
Four thousand taels of silver notes are equivalent to more than three million yuan in my previous life.
Most people can't understand why someone would spend such a huge sum of money to buy a piece of blood-patterned meteorite iron.
But Chen Yu had to buy it.
Upgrading a weapon slot requires refining.
Only after a weapon has been refined can it be upgraded and modified, at which point more powerful equipment effects can be developed.
Seeing Chen Yu's lavish spending...
Li Xiaobo's face twitched involuntarily.
His budget was insufficient.
Although the Dragon Token can mobilize the fishing gang's money and supplies, the amount is limited.
He was just a branch leader, and mobilizing three thousand taels at a time was already the limit.
Anything more must be reported to the headquarters.
But he couldn't afford to give up on this piece of blood-patterned meteorite iron.
This is not just a matter of face; it concerns the lives and fortunes of his five hundred brothers in the Xunjiang Hall.
What should I do if I want something but don't have enough money?
Robbing them right in front of you? With Night Owl protecting you, daring to do that is suicide!
Should we rob them after they leave? That's possible, but it goes against the code of the martial arts world, and it would damage the reputation of the Fishing Gang if word got out.
For a moment, Li Xiaobo fell into deep thought.
"Esteemed benefactor, would you please stop?"
Huiming asked tentatively.
He couldn't afford to keep bidding at this point.
"By helping my Vajra Temple do a good deed, we've also created a positive karmic connection! The true Buddha will bless you so you can go to the Western Paradise!"
Chen Yu did not back down at all.
He didn't care about real or fake Buddhas; he only believed in the knife in his hand.
"I am determined to obtain this piece of blood-patterned meteorite iron; there's no need for further discussion!"
"Brother."
Li Xiaobo's voice suddenly lowered.
It was so low that only a few people around the table could hear it.
"Please be merciful and stop arguing. My brothers are all waiting for this piece of blood-patterned meteorite iron to save their lives."
"Help?"
Beneath the black robe, Chen Yu's eyes flashed; he didn't know what Li Xiaobo was up to.
Li Xiaobo gritted his teeth and said it.
"A water monster has appeared in the Yunjiang River."
The moment those words were spoken, the people around him were stunned.
"What kind of water monster?"
Chen Yu asked calmly.
A rare hint of anxiety flashed in Li Xiaobo's eyes.
"An ancient dragon, whose lifespan is unknown, is coiled up in the narrowest section of the Yunjiang Estuary."
"Since the beginning of autumn this year, it has capsized seventeen boats belonging to our gang, resulting in the deaths of more than sixty brothers."
"Now that the anchor is closing in step by step, the headquarters is too busy to take care of itself, so we can only find a way to solve it ourselves."
"Some of the brothers tried to use iron to make explosives to kill the old dragon."
"But ordinary ironware is not strong enough; it will shatter when it explodes. The fragments will not kill the dragon; instead, they will provoke it to become even more ferocious."
Li Xiaobo stared at the blood-patterned meteorite iron on the long table.
"I want to use this blood-patterned meteorite iron to forge a dragon-slaying cone."
"A three-foot-long iron cone, with a blood-patterned meteorite iron tip and a body of hundred-refined steel, was tied to the bow of a boat. During high tide, the water ghost would drive the boat up and pierce the dragon's seven-inch spot with the cone."
He took a deep breath.
"Without the Blood-Veined Meteorite Iron, the Dragon-Slaying Cone isn't hard enough. No matter how good your martial arts are, you won't be able to pierce the dragon's hide!"
"If I can't pierce it, my brothers will die. Tell me, should I take this piece of blood-patterned meteorite iron?"
The entire room fell silent.
Only Chen Yu spoke up: "Your brothers in the fishing gang are all unfortunate people who make a living by the water. It is only right that you want to use this piece of blood-patterned meteorite iron to save their lives."
"However, I am not a member of the fishing gang, and I have no connection with you. The life or death of your brothers is none of my business."
Li Xiaobo's heart sank.
Yes, why would anyone consider your fishing gang for no reason?
At the Night Owl Society, the ownership of all goods must be determined according to the rules.
If the price isn't high enough, you won't get the goods.
If I were to insist on making that request, it would indeed seem like I was being unreasonable.
Just as Li Xiaobo was about to give up, Chen Yu suddenly changed the subject.
"Master Li, I have an idea. Would you like to hear it?"
"Brother, please speak!"
Li Xiaobo quickly replied.
"Your goal is simply to kill the old dragon, so you may not necessarily need this piece of blood-patterned meteorite iron."
"What do you mean? Without the Dragon-Slaying Dagger, how could the old dragon be killed?"
Li Xiaobo was puzzled.
"So, with the Dragon-Slaying Cone, we can kill the old dragon?"
Chen Yu countered with a question.
"Of course, this old dragon is nearing the end of its lifespan and has not yet reached the Transformation Realm. As long as there is a sharp enough weapon, even a martial artist in the Flesh Refining Realm could kill it!"
"But if the weapon is not strong enough, even a Bone Refining Realm expert can do nothing against it."
"I specifically researched the Night Owl Society's intelligence network and found that the best weapon to kill the Old Dragon is the Dragon-Slaying Cone. Anything else is a poor choice."
"That's true," Chen Yu shook his head and said, "but as long as the weapon is sharp enough to kill the old dragon, isn't that enough? It doesn't necessarily have to be the Dragon-Slaying Cone, does it?"
"A weapon sharper than the Dragon-Slaying Cone? That would probably have to be one of the top 100 weapons. Weapons of that level are beyond the reach of someone like me."
Li Xiaobo sighed.
"Would you believe me if I said I had a way to get a sufficiently sharp weapon?"
Chen Yu said slowly.
Li Xiaobo stared intently at Chen Yu, trying to find some clue about his identity.
But Chen Yu was dressed in a black robe and had his face covered with a black cloth.
No matter how many times he looked at it, he still couldn't see anything.
"No matter what, this person is no ordinary person to be able to pull out so much money at once."
Li Xiaobo thought to himself.
He didn't have any better options at the moment. Since the other party dared to say that, he might as well believe him this once.
"Sir, if you truly have a way to save my brother's life, once the fishing gang overcomes this crisis, you will definitely be rewarded handsomely!"
Chen Yu nodded slightly: "Very well said. I find Hall Master Li to be a man of great talent and appearance, and his concern for the livelihood of his subordinates is truly touching!"
"Don't worry, I've always been a kind-hearted person and I can't stand seeing others suffer."
"Once I've forged my weapon using this blood-patterned meteorite iron, I will definitely go to help and slay the monster that plagues that waterway!"
Chen Yu spoke with righteous indignation and passionate fervor.
Li Xiaobo was stunned for a moment, then his eyes reddened slightly, and he quickly clasped his hands in thanks, saying, "Thank you very much, sir. The fishing gang will remember this kindness!"
Chen Yu waved his hand and said, "It's our duty to help in times of emergency, so there's no need for you to say more, Master!"
"Let's meet again here in ten days, at the small gathering!"
Li Xiaobo wanted to say something, but he was too excited to utter a single word.
His mind is now filled with thoughts that Xunjiang Hall has finally been saved.
I'm so lucky to have met such a kind-hearted and mysterious master.
Chen Yu turned to Wei the Cripple and said, "Four thousand taels, anyone else bidding?"
Wei the Cripple raised the iron hammer.
"Four thousand taels, for the first time."
The flame of the skull lamp flickered.
Yu Wuhui and Monk Huiming looked at each other in bewilderment.
Chen Yu's words of helping in this emergency directly took over the moral high ground of the martial arts world.
Even Yu Wuhui was speechless, and Huiming, who prided himself on having the heart of a bodhisattva, was even more unable to speak.
They didn't understand casting techniques, nor did they have an equipment inventory.
Therefore, they dared not make a promise like Chen Yu, that they could forge a weapon to kill the old dragon.
Promises must be kept. After all, they are prominent figures. If they make empty promises and fail to deliver, who will take their words seriously in the future?
If you act this way, you won't be able to show off your power in the martial arts world.
Moreover, Chen Yu offered the highest price, and according to the rules, the Blood-Patterned Meteorite should rightfully belong to him.
He helped Li Xiaobo out of a sense of obligation, not out of personal kindness.
If we continue arguing, it will only make me appear heartless and ungrateful.
With this in mind, Yu Wuhui and Huiming unanimously decided to withdraw from the bidding.
"Four thousand taels, the second time."
Wei the Cripple continued to ask.
Someone in the crowd swallowed.
King Liehu was also itching to make a move.
Although he had no money, he wanted to keep bidding and watch the excitement.
"Four thousand taels, for the third time."
Looking around, the atmosphere was quite serious.
No one stepped in to raise the price.
In the end, the Fierce Tiger King suppressed his desire to cause trouble and obediently stepped aside.
"Thump."
The hammer fell onto the long table.
A hammer is fixed.
The sound wasn't loud, but it made everyone's heart tremble.
"The bidding has ended. The Blood-Patterned Meteorite belongs to this distinguished guest!"
Wei the Cripple put away the silver notes, wrapped up the Blood-Patterned Meteorite Iron, and handed it to Chen Yu.
Chen Yu took the package and quickly turned to leave.
The crowd stared at his departing figure, unable to recover for a long time.
"Chief Yu, you are knowledgeable enough to discern his origins?"
The monk Huiming asked.
Yu Wu Hui pondered for a long time before speaking, "Judging from his aura, this person's martial arts level isn't particularly high, but he exudes a murderous aura from within, suggesting he's likely a formidable figure who once died at his hands!"
Huiming nodded, his expression serious.
He himself could see what Yu Wu Hui was saying.
"They're probably from some assassin organization, like Blood Blade Tower? Impermanence Pavilion? Forgetful River Mansion? Or even... the Burial of Flowers?"
Huiming said as he thought about it.
In his mind, only members of these assassin organizations generally possessed combat abilities that went beyond what was written on paper.
But these people are all cold-blooded and ruthless; how could they possibly lend a hand to the fishermen's gang?
"No matter what, he's someone you shouldn't mess with. It's best not to have any ulterior motives towards him."
Yu Wuhui was also unsure about the situation, so he could only offer a word of advice.
After acquiring the Blood-Patterned Meteorite Iron, Chen Yu had gathered all the fine forging materials for the Blood-Drinking Deer-Slaying Blade.
Just as they were about to leave the venue, the man in black who had been leading the way suddenly spoke.
"Guests, would you like to take a look inside? There are even better things there! The inner area is only open every three months. If you miss this opportunity, you'll have to wait until the end of the year to go again!"
Chen Yu stopped and looked at the man in black.
This guy's eyes still held that clear-eyed stupidity.
"Then tell me, what good stuff is inside?"
The man in black spoke eloquently and incessantly: "Generally speaking, there are six main categories of goods in the inner area."
"The first category is divine weapons and the like, such as the Dragon Scale Armor, the Three-Star Sword Embryo, and the Water-Splitting Sky-Piercing Blade, etc."
"The second category is some secret manuals, some related to martial arts and others. Examples include the Meteor Sword Technique, the Heavenly Book of Escape Techniques, the Secret Essentials of Ingenuity, the Five Poisons Scripture, and the Acacia Flower Manual."
"The third category consists of various elixirs and miraculous medicines, such as life-extending pills, tortoise-breathing powder, forget-worry soup, and powerful Vajra pills, etc."
"The fourth category consists of rare and precious materials and magical items, including ambergris, soul-summoning bells, and jade beds, among others."
"The fifth category is intelligence-related, and the sixth category is live people and goods."
After listening, Chen Yu couldn't help but feel a sense of longing.
He didn't care about anything else; what attracted him most were the martial arts manuals and various weapons.
It's a shame not to go in and take a look since we've come all this way.
Thinking of this, he patted the man in black on the shoulder: "Lead the way!"
Seeing that Chen Yu agreed, the man in black was quite pleased.
Having followed him all the way, she had already discovered that Chen Yu was a wealthy patron, which is why she took the initiative to ask him if he wanted to go to the inner area.
If Chen Yu were to be so generous in the inner arena, then my contribution would be immense, and I could speak with my head held high in front of the arena owner from now on.
The two walked one after the other into the inner area very quickly.
The master of the entire venue is called the "Nest Mother," while the inner area is called the "Nest within a Nest."
The interior is not just one room, nor even just one street.
It is a nest-like underground palace.
It is said that the inner area was originally the underground palace of the Prince Xiang of the previous Song Dynasty, and it was quite large in scale.
But before it was completed, the Song Dynasty collapsed, and the King of Xiang was boiled alive by the rebel army.
The first generation of Nest Mother discovered this place and moved the Night Owl Society's most core assets in Wangjiang City into it.
After five generations of expansion, modification, and densification by the Nest Mothers, the current structure was finally formed.
Upon entering the venue, Chen Yu felt a sense of openness and expansiveness.
"It is at least 320 paces long from north to south, and about 180 paces wide from east to west."
"The total area is nearly 50,000 square meters, which is equivalent to one-fifth of the eastern district of Wangjiang City!"
"That's not all!"
Hearing Chen Yu's exclamation, the man in black said smugly.
"The inner area isn't a single-story building; it's divided into two levels."
"The upper level is the 'front nest,' which is the area for bidding, trading, and receiving buyers."
"The lower level is the 'Host,' a secret and forbidden area where goods are stored, deacons live, 'unspeakable people' are imprisoned, and the Ark of the Living Covenant is located."
"Look, this is the 'Heavenly Ladder' connecting the upper and lower levels, and that over there is the 'Earthly Staircase'."
Chen Yu walked in the direction the finger pointed.
Only upon closer inspection did I discover the intricacies of it.
The so-called "ladder to heaven" was actually a deep, vertical well.
The well is equipped with a winch and a basket, specifically for transporting goods.
The other "ground staircase" is a series of stone steps extending downwards, with approximately 350 steps in total, which should be a path for people to travel on.
In the very center of the inner area is the auction hall.
The best goods in the entire market are all gathered here.
At this moment, there were only about thirty people participating in the auction, and they were all seated in the front seats of the hall.
"You are a distinguished guest, you should sit in the front."
The man in black laughed and led Chen Yu through the main entrance of the hall, heading towards the front row of seats.
A strikingly beautiful woman in a fiery red dress stood on the platform, loudly introducing the auction items.
Two maids stood beside her, both dressed in bright red floral dresses.
Two maids were carrying a jade plate containing a somewhat damaged statue of a deity.
"This originated from the Western Continent, and it bears Sassanid script, making it highly likely to be Zoroastrian. It might even have been created by a high priest!"
"This statue is quite valuable to collectors. Are there any Zoroastrians or Sassanid enthusiasts here? Starting bid: one hundred taels!"
No one answered; there was only silence.
Those present were all from the Eastern Continent and were not very interested in the religions of the Western Continent.
"What's the use of this thing? It's selling for a hundred taels! I doubt anyone would buy it for ten taels!"
"Exactly! Look at that stone statue. It looks like a savage from the Western Lands. How can this be called a deity? Is it some kind of savage god?"
"Hahaha, the Western Continent is nothing but a bunch of barbarians, ignorant of etiquette and civilization. Even if they are so-called gods, what difference is there between them and savages!"
"Brother Kong, that's going too far. You should respect other people's beliefs and not be arrogant!"
The laughter from the crowd grew louder and louder, and the woman in the red dress on the field was helpless.
It's just a broken stone statue; asking her to sell it for a hundred taels is really asking too much.
Amidst the noise, Chen Yu's gaze lingered on the stone statue.
Overall, the stone statue is a human-shaped man with eagle wings.
The eagle's wing is damaged; only the right wing remains.
The figure is adorned with flame carvings and sits atop a lotus pedestal, making it appear quite exquisite.
Just as he saw the face of the statue clearly, lines of information suddenly appeared in the list of oddities.