Chapter 76: Su Ying Yu
Wang Jie stepped inside, his gaze sweeping over the vast expanse before him. Contrary to what he expected, there were no physical wares displayed—only shimmering light screens suspended in the air. Each screen flickered with alternating images, showcasing various goods.
“Cataclysm Materials,” he murmured.
The young attendant was unsurprised by his term and gestured politely. “What grade of materials would the esteemed guest like to browse?”
“Ten-Seal.”
“Understood. This way, please.” She guided him to a particular light screen. “Esteemed guest, please take a look.” With a graceful motion, she swiped across the screen, and rows of images appeared. “These are all Ten-Seal Cataclysm Materials. Here, you can see their environments of origin. Additionally, we offer customization services based on the guest’s preference. Whether it be specific materials or particular body parts…”
She continued her introduction.
Wang Jie’s eyes gleamed with interest. He had assumed the materials were merely displayed for direct purchase, but to his astonishment, they could be tailored to individual needs.
Wings, blood, bones, eyes—
It seemed that anything he could imagine, this place could procure.
“What if there’s a material you don’t have?” he inquired.
“As long as the price is right, we can directly purchase a Slaughter Stone and unleash its effects. Whatever creature the guest desires, we can ensure its mutation.” She smiled, devoid of any mockery for his ignorance.
Wang Jie was astounded. Now this was true service.
His perspective had been thoroughly broadened. Even among Ten-Seal Cataclysm Materials, there were stark differences in quality. Those from Blue Star were mundane in comparison. Even if some contained vast amounts of Seal Power, they paled before the relics he saw here. After all, Blue Star’s Cataclysm had been too recent, whereas many materials in this market originated from planets that had undergone a century or even millennia of mutation.
“This material is from Sun Gold Star and holds the equivalent of sixteen units of Ten-Seal Seal Power. We use the standard Ten-Seal human cultivator’s Seal Power as the base unit, so this has sixteen.”
“This one is from An Ping Star—twenty-three units.”
“This one holds nineteen.”
The vast selection overwhelmed Wang Jie. He realized that Seal Power alone was not the sole factor determining price. The quantity, purity, and even the material’s origin all played crucial roles.
One particular item caught his attention—the most expensive Ten-Seal Cataclysm Material in the store. A single arm.
It was thick and savage-looking yet retained a humanoid resemblance. Its skin was a deep, ink-green hue, veins bulging prominently as though something fluid coursed within.
Thirty units of Seal Power.
It belonged to this single arm alone, and its price was beyond exorbitant.
Noticing his interest, the young attendant smiled. “This is the limb of a Berserk Clan warrior from the Ninth Star Chain’s Eight-Prison Realms. Typically, Berserk Clan beings do not possess such high levels of Seal Power, but the owner of this arm had opened a domain, and the domain’s core happened to be located in this very limb. That is why its value is so high.”
Wang Jie frowned. “Berserk Clan?”
Before he could inquire further, a group of individuals entered the store. They had been watching him outside.
The leader, a man with a frosty expression, waved his hand, and his subordinates swiftly surrounded Wang Jie.
“Come with us.”
Wang Jie’s expression remained tranquil. “And who might you be?”
“Save your breath. Just come with us.” One of the younger men reached out to grab him.
With a deft movement, Wang Jie caught the man’s wrist and twisted sharply. A sharp cry of pain echoed.
The surrounding men immediately drew their weapons, aiming them at him.
The leader snarled, “Still daring to resist?”
Wang Jie regarded him coolly. “Do you even know who I am?”
The man sneered. “Your master is dead. Who do you think you are to act so arrogant?”
“I reside at Accompanying Lake Residence.”
“Ha! That was before.”
“Even now.”
The leader hesitated. “What did you say?”
Wang Jie casually tossed an object toward him—the insignia of an Imperial Palace Guard.
The man’s face darkened. He scrutinized Wang Jie once more, suddenly uneasy.
“Still don’t believe me?” Wang Jie smirked. He had already deduced that these men were after the ones he had slain earlier. However, those individuals were long dead, and their bounties had been revoked. He had no idea why these men were still acting as if they were on a hunt.
With a flick of his fingers, he accessed his Personal Terminal and, using his Accompanying Lake Residence authority, directly issued a command to the Imperial Capital’s Guards—a command to capture these very individuals.
Staring at the order originating from their own quarry, the leader’s face drained of color. He felt as if the sky had collapsed.
Hurriedly, he bowed and apologized.
Wang Jie merely waved them off, not bothering to pursue the matter. It was common for subordinates to seek merits—there was no need to make a fuss.
However, their interference led to an unexpected benefit.
The trade house decided to give him a discount.
A substantial one.
“Fifty percent off?” Wang Jie was taken aback.
Before him now stood a mature woman, elegant in demeanor. Silken strands of hair cascaded over her shoulders, her figure graceful and alluring. Though her smile carried a trace of flattery, it was sincere, reminding him of Lian Qin. A subtle fragrance wafted from her presence, stirring something within him—an inexplicable heat.
“Yes, esteemed guest. No matter what you purchase, it will all be at half price.”
Diverting his gaze from her, Wang Jie turned back to the light screens. This unexpected windfall was too good to pass up.
With a sweeping motion, he pooled together all his funds—those from his Star Fusion Center withdrawals and the sum he had received from Jun Hua. “Take all my money, including the discount savings, and get me the best Cataclysm Materials.”
“Understood.”
Stepping out of the trade house, he felt utterly refreshed.
With a wealth of high-grade Cataclysm Materials in his possession, he immediately returned to Accompanying Lake Residence to cultivate.
Though Wang Jie had purchased a great deal of Cataclysm Materials, the deeper he progressed, the more Seal Power was required to darken his Imprint. He couldn’t be sure how long his current stockpile would last.
Meanwhile, his maneuvering within the Imperial Capital’s Guard Corps had stirred some ripples in the Trading Hall, though none of that commotion reached him. Jun Hua certainly paid it no mind either.
And so, two months passed.
The Cataclysm Materials were gone.
Wang Jie frowned, troubled by the rapid depletion. The consumption rate was exponential. Without a sudden windfall and the generous fifty-percent discount from the Trading Hall, it would take at least a year—perhaps even longer—of relentless hunting on Slaughter Stone Planet just to replenish his resources. That was unacceptable. He couldn’t afford to waste time on such a mundane grind.
Over these two months, he had successfully deepened four Imprints to a Light Black Hue. The transformation from Silver to Light Black had taken mere days. This was largely due to the effectiveness of Beginner’s Calisthenics. Without it, even with an ample supply of Cataclysm Materials, achieving such results would have taken over half a year.
Time spent cultivating, time spent hunting for Cataclysm Materials—combined, these accounted for two full years of effort. And that was merely for four Imprints. If he were to refine all ten, wouldn’t that take nearly five years? Without access to Slaughter Stone Planet, the time frame would stretch even further.
Yet ten Imprints were merely the beginning of the Path of Cultivation. Who would willingly squander so much time on just the foundation?
No wonder so few bothered to deepen their Imprints. Even with the proper Cultivation Methods, one’s innate talent dictated the time required—time that most simply could not afford. Jun Hua and Yu Dong had both broken through with Light Gray Imprints for a reason. Without external assistance, the effort simply wasn’t worth the reward.
So the real question was—what now? He possessed the Cultivation Method, but lacked Cataclysm Materials. He needed to find a way to obtain more.
With this in mind, he summoned Cheng Qian to inquire about the finances of Accompanying Lake Residence. The response was straightforward—there were funds, but not an excess. Just enough to sustain the residence’s operations.
With so many individuals under its care, maintenance alone was a considerable expenditure. Not to mention the vast number of Sword Tassels he had purchased before—many of which had been custom-made.
For a fleeting moment, Wang Jie entertained the notion of dismissing a large portion of the household staff. But even if he did, the savings would barely cover the cost of more Cataclysm Materials.
Then, an idea struck him.
He turned to Cheng Qian. “I own two Slaughter Stone Planets, correct?”
Cheng Qian nodded. “Yes, my lord.”
“Can I sell them?”
Cheng Qian blinked, momentarily stunned. “Sell…sell them?”
Wang Jie looked at him expectantly.
Cheng Qian was at a loss. He had never considered such a thing before. The Accompanying Lake Residence was traditionally reserved for high-ranking figures—individuals who were, at worst, the second or third most powerful figures in the Silver Radiance Empire. These people never lacked wealth. They had no reason to sell Slaughter Stone Planets. In fact, the previous master of the residence, Jun Tang, had owned more than just two.
These two planets were tied directly to the Accompanying Lake Residence.
Since when had the master of the residence ever been short on money?
Since when had Cheng Qian himself ever been short on money?
“Can it be done?” Wang Jie pressed.
“My lord… you’re… in dire need of funds?”
“Very.”
Cheng Qian hesitated. “I… do not know. Perhaps you should ask the Emperor directly?”
Wang Jie waved a hand dismissively. “That won’t be necessary. Find a buyer outside. I want to sell the Slaughter Stone Planets.”
Cheng Qian was speechless. “This… this may not be appropriate.” He wanted to argue that the planets did not technically belong to Wang Jie, but rather to the Accompanying Lake Residence. If Wang Jie ever left, how would the next master account for the loss?
But Wang Jie had already made up his mind, leaving Cheng Qian no choice but to comply.
Wang Jie didn’t have time for slow, methodical hunting. If others had the time, he would sell to them. He needed fast money.
As for Jun Hua’s potential reaction? He wasn’t concerned. An Emperor wouldn’t care about two of the worst, already-exhausted Slaughter Stone Planets.
Cheng Qian did consider reporting this to Jun Hua but ultimately refrained. As the steward of Accompanying Lake Residence, his duty was first and foremost to obey its master. If word got out, he would be seen as someone who betrayed his lord. How would he continue to serve in such a position?
No matter what Wang Jie decided, he could not leak the information. It was the rule.
Before long, he actually found a buyer—the Trading Hall itself.
When Wang Jie saw who had arrived, he was momentarily speechless.
The woman greeted him with a bright smile. “A pleasure to meet you, my lord.”
It was none other than the same woman who had granted him the fifty-percent discount.
“You want to buy the Accompanying Lake Residence’s Slaughter Stone Planets?”
“Not buy. Rent,” she corrected. “Ownership of these planets is inseparable from the Accompanying Lake Residence. What we can do is lease them for a period of time.”
By adjusting a single word, she avoided offending both the Accompanying Lake Residence’s future master and Wang Jie himself.
Wang Jie was intrigued. “Why rent? You don’t lack Cataclysm Materials, do you?”
She smiled knowingly. “And why are you selling?”
Wang Jie understood immediately. They were simply catering to his needs.
“I may not be able to offer you much in return.”
“My lord jests. This is a fair transaction. However, before we finalize the deal, there is a small favor we would ask of you.”
“Speak,” Wang Jie said. He was always willing to return respect with respect.
The woman explained, “There may be formidable Ten-Seal Creatures still residing on the Slaughter Stone Planets. Unfortunately, our elite hunting squads are currently deployed elsewhere. If ordinary hunting teams were to venture in, they might suffer casualties. If you are willing, my lord, you could clear them out beforehand. Any spoils you obtain will be yours to keep.”
Wang Jie studied her intently. “What’s your name?”
“Su Ying Yu.”
Wang Jie nodded. “I’ll remember you. Thank you.”
This novel is translated and hosted on Bcatranslation