Starting as pearl divers, they have endless jobs.

Chapter 145 Connecting with the Sword, Nourishing the Body

The contents inside were as unremarkable as the exterior, but Chen Ye's eyes lit up after examining it for a moment.

First of all, the content recorded here is very simple, without any mysterious or esoteric things. It simply tells you how to cultivate a relationship with the knife, establish a connection, and even allow it to develop a trace of spirituality.

Secondly, Chen Ye discovered through the Eye of Asura that there were traces of knife intent between the lines of this book, which should have been left by the author. Although a long time had passed, it still stung Chen Ye's eyebrows and eyelashes.

This is enough to prove that this book is definitely not an ordinary book; it's just that its appearance and the content it describes are too simple, which is why no one has noticed it.

Chen Ye suppressed his excitement and kept a straight face.

The more you act like you care at times like this, the more likely the stall owner will notice and raise the price on the spot.

Chen Ye pretended to be uninterested and put the sword-nurturing technique back down. Then he picked up a dark piece of ore next to him and started looking at it.

"Shopkeeper, how much is this lump of iron?" Chen Ye asked casually, weighing the ore in his hand.

The stall owner was a lean, middle-aged man with a goatee and shrewd, quick-witted eyes.

He glanced at Chen Ye and said lazily, "Young brother, you have a good eye. This is meteorite iron from outer space, an excellent material for refining magical artifacts. If you really want it, I'll give you a hundred taels of silver."

The price of gold and silver in this area is very high. At first, Chen Ye thought it was because there was a lack of gold and silver mines here, but later he found that this was not the case.

There is no shortage of minerals here, but most of the gold and silver produced are monopolized by Tianjian Manor and its various sects. It is said that they refine the gold and silver to extract the sharp and killing energy to forge swords and assist in cultivation.

This also means that gold and silver can be directly linked to cultivation resources, making them genuine hard currency.

After hearing the stall owner's price, Chen Ye sneered inwardly.

As for extraterrestrial meteorite iron, under the Eye of Asura, this thing is just a clump of mixed gray gas, not even as good as a piece of ordinary iron, it's just a broken stone.

"One hundred taels? Why don't you just rob someone?" Chen Ye threw the ore onto the stall and curled his lip. "I bet the stuff on your stall is all junk you picked up from some back alley."

"Hey! How dare you talk like that, young man!" The stall owner immediately became displeased, sitting up straight. "The items on my stall are all treasures I've collected by traveling all over the country, risking my life to find them! If you don't know their value, don't talk nonsense!"

"Alright, alright," Chen Ye waved his hand impatiently, his gaze falling once again on the tattered book on sword nurturing. It seemed there was really nothing else to read, so he reluctantly picked it up again.

"What about this tattered book? You can't exactly call it some kind of ancient secret manual, can you?" he said, flicking the yellowed pages with his finger, looking disgusted.

"You're absolutely right. This really is an ancient and secret manual. If you don't believe me, look at the paper and the words." The stall owner began to spout nonsense with a straight face.

Chen Ye laughed, "Alright, shopkeeper, everyone who comes here isn't stupid. Stop making up stories and just give me a price. If it's reasonable, I'll treat it as buying a trinket."

"Fifty...fifty taels of silver!" The stall owner first held up one finger, then, as if realizing something, directly held up a slap.

Chen Ye didn't even bother to argue; he just sneered, then dropped his things and left.

Su Yuan watched with some curiosity. Just as she was about to say something, Chen Ye grabbed her arm, gestured for her to be quiet, and then walked out without any hesitation.

At this point, the stall owner finally got a little anxious. After all, business was tough these days, and he hadn't made a single sale since morning. So he called out to Chen Ye.

"Hey young man, don't go! Tell me your price."

Chen Ye then stopped and turned back to the stall owner, holding up one finger. "One tael of silver at most."

The stall owner's face turned green, and he almost cursed out loud, but he forcibly held back. "No, that's too little. You're clearly playing a trick on me. This paper can't possibly be bought for one or two taels of silver. It should be at least thirty taels of silver."

"Five taels." Chen Ye gave another new price without changing his expression.

"Twenty-eight taels."

After some haggling, Chen Ye finally purchased the sword-nurturing technique for twelve taels of silver.

After they left, a smug smile appeared on the stall owner's face.

He acquired this sword-raising technique from a down-on-his-luck man for less than a tael of silver. Now he's reselling it for twelve taels, more than ten times the original price—a huge profit indeed.

What he didn't know was that Chen Ye was also very satisfied with this.

After all, being able to buy such a secret manual for just over ten taels of silver is like finding a real bargain.

Su Yuan looked at Chen Ye, who was excited, with some curiosity, wondering why he would spend money to buy a tattered book.

It should be understood that true cultivation manuals could never be written on ordinary paper, let alone be sold at this price. Therefore, it is highly likely that these are notes left by some cultivators when they were bored.

While cultivation notes might be somewhat useful, they are probably not very useful. After all, other people's cultivation experience cannot be completely suitable for you, and may even mislead you. Therefore, she thinks that Chen Ye was probably inexperienced this time and was tricked by someone.

But she was too lazy to remind him; after all, it wasn't her own money being spent, so who cared?

The two continued to stroll around the crowded square.

The trade fair truly lived up to its reputation, with all sorts of strange and wonderful things appearing one after another.

Chen Ye even saw a huge glass jar on a stall, in which a huge heart that was still beating slightly was soaking. The stall owner claimed that it was the heart of a Great Demon of the Sea Condensation Realm, the Mountain Moving Bear, and that eating it could greatly increase one's blood and qi.

Other stalls sell demons and ghosts sealed in rune jars, which can be bought to craft magical artifacts or kept as guard pets.

Su Yuan was quite interested in these things, especially lingering at a stall that specialized in selling all kinds of poisonous insects and herbs. She kept asking the stall owner all sorts of questions, her eyes sparkling, which made the stall owner a little uneasy.

Chen Ye followed behind her, continuing to secretly observe her with his Asura Eye.

Unfortunately, a flaw like the art of sword nurturing is ultimately something that can only be encountered by chance.

He then looked at many more items. Although he found a few that were worth more than he expected, the stall owners were all shrewd and kept their prices tight, giving him no chance to snag a bargain.

Chen Ye touched the meager amount of silver in his pocket and could only sigh in vain.

They strolled around until evening before reluctantly returning to the Yuelai Inn.

"I'm exhausted, I'm going back to sleep!" Su Yuan stretched and yawned as she went back to her room.

Chen Ye also returned to his room, sat cross-legged on the bed, and placed his sword horizontally in front of his knees.

This knife accompanied him all the way from Yuhuo County to here. Although it was made of ordinary iron, it had long since developed a subtle, unspoken understanding with him.

Then Chen Ye took out the book on sword nurturing and examined it carefully.

According to the book, the first step in nurturing a knife is synesthesia.

In other words, you must first establish a basic connection with your own knife.

Chen Ye closed his eyes, cleared his mind of all distractions, and focused all his attention on the long sword in his hand.

He channeled the incredibly pure internal energy within his body, enhanced by the Asura Blade class, and slowly and carefully infused it into the blade, following a unique method recorded in the Blade Nourishing Technique.

This was completely different from how he usually channeled his energy to unleash the blade's power.

To unleash the blade's power, one must allow internal energy to flow through the meridians and the blade itself; the key is speed and explosive power.

This sword-nurturing technique, however, involves allowing internal energy to seep in, emphasizing a slow and gentle approach.

Buzz...

The moment the first wisp of internal energy seeped into the blade, a slight buzzing sound emanated from Chen Ye's mind.

He could almost see the inside of the knife.

It was a cold, lifeless world composed of countless metallic lattices.

His inner energy transformed into a warm stream, flowing gently through this desolate world, nourishing every inch of land.

At the same time, Chen Ye activated the Eye of Asura.

In his blood-red vision, he could clearly see his internal energy seeping into the blade. Instead of dissipating, it was slowly absorbed and assimilated by the metal structure of the blade, just like a sponge absorbing water.

As internal energy is continuously injected, the mixed energy within this ordinary iron longsword is being refined and eliminated little by little.

The entire blade is undergoing a transformation that is imperceptible to the naked eye but is incredibly clear at the energy level.

“It really works!”

Chen Ye was overjoyed.

This sword-nurturing technique is simply an unparalleled method that turns the rotten into the miraculous!

Then Chen Ye calmed his mind and began to refine the long sword with his internal energy again and again, following the method in the book.

This process is tedious and boring, and it consumes a great deal of mental energy and internal strength.

But Chen Ye found joy in it and enjoyed it immensely.

He could clearly feel that his connection with the knife was becoming increasingly strong.

From the initial cold, lifeless object, he later seemed to sense a faint emotion emanating from the blade, a kind of intimacy and longing akin to that of a newborn infant.

As night deepened, the noise outside the window had long since subsided.

Inside the room, Chen Ye remained seated cross-legged, like a statue.

The long sword on his lap seemed to possess an indescribable radiance in the candlelight.

The blade itself exudes a chilling aura.

The next morning, Chen Ye slowly opened his eyes and exhaled a breath of stale air. He glanced out the window and realized that it was already dawn.

After a night of cultivation, Chen Ye also felt a bit tired.

Although a significant amount of internal energy had been depleted, it had been largely restored under the operation of the Golden Toad Swallowing Qi Technique, and it even seemed to have become more refined.

Of course, the biggest gain was the long sword on my lap.

Chen Ye extended his finger and lightly flicked the blade.

clang!
A clear, melodious sound rang out, seemingly carrying a hint of joy.

He could clearly feel that a faint but real spiritual connection had been established between himself and the knife.

Now, there's no need to even look at it; one can sense every detail of the knife simply through mental perception.

And this is only in one night. If this continues, what will happen?
Chen Ye was filled with emotion; it seemed he had truly struck gold.

He had a premonition that as long as he continued to cultivate, this longsword made of ordinary iron might one day transform into a true divine weapon.

Just then, Su Yuan's urging voice came from outside the door.

"Still not up?"

"coming."

Chen Ye responded, sheathed his long sword, and got up to open the door.

Su Yuan was standing at the door with her hands on her hips. When she saw Chen Ye, she immediately said with a grin, "Come on, come on! I heard that the inner area of ​​the event is going to open today. It's full of real treasures. Let's hurry up and grab a good spot!"

The so-called inner area is actually the core area of ​​the trading event.

The stalls in the square outside are mostly run by independent practitioners and small vendors, selling a mixed bag of goods. You need to have a discerning eye to find the best deals.

The inner venue, on the other hand, was jointly organized by several major chambers of commerce and sects in Qingzhou Prefecture, and was located in a three-story giant pavilion in the center of the square.

Those who were allowed to set up stalls inside were all prominent figures, and the items they sold were all genuine products that had been authenticated and clearly priced.

Of course, the entry barrier is also high.

The entrance ticket alone costs one or two taels of silver per person.

When Chen Ye and Su Yuan arrived at the pavilion, a long queue had already formed.

Looking around, the cultivators in the queue all had a deep and composed aura and were dressed in fine clothes. The weakest among them were experts in the Unobstructed Realm, and there were even a few powerful cultivators in the Condensed Sea Realm with a deep and profound aura.

Chen Ye and Su Yuan, who looked quite young, seemed out of place among the group, attracting a lot of attention.

However, no one was foolish enough to come looking for trouble.

Those who dare to venture into the inner circle at such a young age in a place like Qingzhou Prefecture are either fools who are fearless and reckless, or disciples of sects with powerful backers.

No one will easily offend someone before they have a clear understanding of their situation.

The two men obediently queued up, paid two taels of silver for the entrance fee, and received two wooden number plates before they were allowed to enter the pavilion.

Upon entering, a luxurious atmosphere, a blend of medicinal fragrance, spiritual energy, and a faint sandalwood scent, immediately greets you.

The attic has a very large interior space, with carved beams and painted rafters, making it magnificent and luxurious.

The first floor is a hall, where display cases made of the finest nanmu wood are placed. The display cases are covered with a faint spiritual light barrier, and various treasures are displayed inside.

There were dazzling magical artifacts, crystal-clear elixirs, jade slips containing extraordinary cultivation techniques, and various rare minerals and spiritual herbs.

Next to each item, there are labels indicating its name, function, and price.

Chen Ye only glanced at it briefly, but his eyelids started twitching.

"Qingfeng Sword, a low-grade Xuan-rank magic weapon, priced at three thousand taels of silver."

"Spirit Nourishing Pill, which can enhance the power of the soul, price: five hundred taels of silver per pill."

"Thunderbolt Fist, a superior fist technique, priced at 1,500 taels of silver."

……

The unit for prices here has changed directly from two taels to one thousand taels.

Chen Ye touched the loose silver in his pocket and the dozens of taels of gold he had gotten from Cong Bo, feeling like a beggar who had stumbled into the palace.

Wow, so many great things!

Su Yuan, on the other hand, was carefree and her eyes lit up as she dragged Chen Ye around to the various display cases, commenting on the treasures inside.

"This fire jade is of good quality. If I use it to feed my fire scorpion gu, it will definitely help it evolve."

"Hey, isn't this the Soul-Severing Wood? It's a good stuff, perfect for making bewitching poisons."

"This Hundred Poisons Manual sounds interesting, but it's child's play compared to the heritage of our Gu Saint Sect."

As she looked around, she muttered to herself, seemingly not taking these priceless treasures too seriously.

Chen Ye activated his Asura Eye and carefully observed the treasures in the display cases.

The items inside were indeed as good as their reputation suggested. In his field of vision, almost every item was surrounded by a bright and pure energy aura, clearly indicating that they were all genuine treasures.

He also saw some things that he could use.

For example, a material called Soul Nourishing Stone emits a warm energy that has a remarkable effect on nourishing the soul. Using it to assist in the soul nourishing stage of cultivating the Blade Nourishing Technique will definitely make the effort twice as effective.

Unfortunately, the price was equally exorbitant, with a small piece costing eight hundred taels of silver.

There is also a sword technique manual called the Surging Waves Sword Technique. Judging from its energy flow trajectory, it is expansive and powerful, seemingly similar to his Needle Point Sword Technique. If he could learn from it, perhaps he could improve his sword technique to a higher level.

Price: 3,000 taels.

"Ugh……"

Chen Ye sighed inwardly.

Treasures are everywhere, but alas, my pockets are empty.

Looks like I need to find a way to make money.

If they only take on those scattered missions from the Demon Slayer Division, it will take forever to afford these things.

"Let's go and have a look on the second floor."

Just as Chen Ye was secretly worrying, Su Yuan pulled him toward the stairs.

The second floor of the attic is the free trading area.

There are no display cases here, but rather individual cubicles.

Those who wish to sell or exchange items can rent a cubicle and write the information on a wooden board at the door, waiting for someone with the right affinity to come and discuss the matter.

This method is more flexible than the fixed prices downstairs, and it's also easier to find rare items or things that are inconvenient to measure directly in monetary terms.

The two walked around the second floor and found that the items traded there were even more diverse.

Some sought to purchase materials from specific demonic beasts, others sold their self-created pill formulas in exchange for cultivation techniques, and still others accepted assassination missions, exchanging human heads for resources.

This place is like a condensed world of cultivators, filled with naked exchanges of interests.

Chen Ye stopped in front of a cubicle.

The wooden board had a line of text written on it: "Seeking to purchase all ancient books, insights, and secrets related to knife techniques. Price negotiable."

The signature reads: Mad Swordsman.

Chen Ye's heart stirred.

What he lacks most now is further training techniques and a deeper understanding of the way of the sword.

This mad swordsman seems to be a cultivator who specializes in the way of the sword; perhaps we can get some useful information from him.

He glanced at the door to the cubicle; it was closed.

After thinking it over, Chen Ye decided not to disturb them rashly.

He was just a nobody who had just arrived, and he didn't have anything worth exchanging with anyone. If he went there now, he would probably just be asking for trouble.

Let's wait until we're stronger and have enough resources before making any moves.

Just as he was about to leave, a commotion suddenly broke out in the attic hall, followed by a loud voice that echoed throughout the entire attic.

"Fellow Daoists, tomorrow at noon, Tianjian Manor will be holding a public auction for a Breakthrough Pill. This item can help cultivators in the Sea Condensation Realm break through to the Inner Realm. It is an opportunity not to be missed, and we hope you will grace us with your presence."

(End of this chapter)