Chapter 38: Nether-Iron Flying Sword

Qi Mingyue’s words clearly left room for negotiation. Wan Yi raised an eyebrow and chuckled, "I wonder what these 'other things' you speak of might be, Lady Qi?"

Qi Mingyue did not beat around the bush and went straight to the point: "Nether-Iron Flying Swords!"

"Nether-Iron Flying Swords?" Wan Yi frowned slightly; it was the first time he had heard of such an item.

Seeing his confusion, Qi Mingyue hurriedly explained, "Nether-Iron Flying Swords are the standard weapons used by ghost cultivators in the Underworld. They are forged entirely from Nether-Iron. Although the material is singular, their quality and power are not a whit inferior to the spirit-forged flying swords of your world of the living. What makes them even more precious is that this Nether-Iron is only produced in our Underworld and is extremely rare in the living world. Even if a piece or two were to appear, it would be hidden away by collectors. Do you know why?"

Seeing her trying to whet his appetite, Wan Yi shook his head helplessly. "Lady Qi, how would I know? If you have something to say, just say it; don't play games with me."

Qi Mingyue let out a delicate huff and chided, "How boring! You little man, you have no sense of romance at all!" She rolled her eyes at him before explaining, "Because this Nether-Iron can penetrate the protective aura of cultivators like you! Imagine a duel between cultivators of the same rank; the protective aura might not play a decisive role. But what if a low-level cultivator suddenly fired a flying sword capable of piercing the opponent's protective aura during a fight with a high-level cultivator?"

At these words, Wan Yi gasped in shock. If what Qi Mingyue said was true, a low-level cultivator could indeed take advantage of the unique properties of a Nether-Iron Flying Sword to catch a high-level cultivator off guard and kill them!

Meanwhile, Qi Mingyue produced a pitch-black flying sword and waved it in front of Wan Yi. "Well? Do you want to get a feel for it?"

Without a word, Wan Yi reached out and snatched the sword. After a thorough inspection and handling, he was convinced. Suppressing the thrill in his heart, he returned the sword to her. "Tell me, what is the price for this kind of sword?"

Seeing his interest, Qi Mingyue knew the deal was likely sealed. After a brief calculation, she said, "Although Nether-Iron comes from the Underworld, the conditions for mining it are extremely harsh. Therefore, not every ghost cultivator can afford it. Its price is naturally not low, but compared to other spirit weapons, it isn't exorbitant either. How about this: one hundred thousand! One hundred thousand Soul-Nurturing Pills per sword. What do you think?"

Wan Yi did the math in his head. If he converted the Soul-Nurturing Pills into spirit stones based on the Underworld exchange rate, the price Qi Mingyue quoted was not high and fell well within his budget. He nodded in agreement, "Fine, one hundred thousand it is. Give me ten to start with."

Qi Mingyue laughed, "Little brother, what you gave me just now was only a deposit. Besides, you want to get something for nothing from me with just a small deposit? There's no such good fortune in this world."

Wan Yi blushed, embarrassed by her remark. "Then how about this: help me prepare one hundred Nether-Iron Flying Swords, and I will pay in full next time I come. As for the rest of the swords, we can trade in installments. The specific amount will depend on how many Soul-Nurturing Pills I can get my hands on, and I will notify you in advance."

Qi Mingyue nodded, "Very well, then it's settled."

Wan Yi had his own reasons for this decision. Cultivating the "Vast Sword Sea" was not an overnight endeavor; it was a phased process. Cultivation of the "Vast Sword Sea" was tied to his own cultivation level: at the Foundation Establishment stage, he could control at most one hundred swords; at the Golden Core stage, one thousand; at the Nascent Soul stage, ten thousand; and above the Nascent Soul stage, one hundred thousand. He was in no rush; he only needed enough for his current stage, and the rest could come later.

With the business concluded, Wan Yi left the Forget-River Pavilion under Qi Mingyue’s lingering gaze. The moment he stepped out the door, he sighed toward the heavens, "I can't take it! She’s not a female ghost; she’s a seductress!"

Rounding the street corner, Wan Yi arrived at the Soul-Snatching Bureau. His identity was already known to all the ghost cultivators in the office, though while they knew he was a chief constable, they were unaware of his specific duties. The path was clear, and under the guidance of a bailiff, Wan Yi reached the back hall.

Upon hearing the report, Yan Wuji hurried out to greet him. "Brother, you’ve returned less than half a day after leaving. Has something happened?"

Wan Yi spoke sternly, "Brother Yan, there is something I would like to discuss with you."

"What is it?"

"I intend to provide a token of my allegiance: I am going to eliminate the Emperor-level cultivator of the Cauldron Sect first!"

Yan Wuji was startled and said repeatedly, "Brother, there is no hurry. The men I am preparing for you haven't been selected yet; the matter of hunting an Emperor-level cultivator can wait."

Wan Yi shook his head. "Brother, one who eats the ruler’s grain must share the ruler’s burdens. If I take the money, I must solve the problem. I have received many benefits from you, and I know that because of this, your superiors must have put a lot of pressure on you. Even though I don't know who is behind you, I must show some sincerity. So, Brother, you don't need to persuade me further."

Yan Wuji frowned, then looked serious. "Are you confident?"

Wan Yi nodded. "I have a preliminary plan."

"Let's hear it."

"It's like this, I plan to..."

After hearing Wan Yi’s plan, Yan Wuji clicked his tongue. "Brother, this matter is not as easy as you think. A single Tribulation-transcending stage puppet alone will likely not be enough to help you escape."

As he spoke, Yan Wuji had someone fetch the "Book of Life and Death and Merit." Flipping to the entry for the Cauldron Sect, he said to Wan Yi, "Take a look. The Cauldron Sect has 127,106 members, all registered. Among them, there are 137 cultivators at the Tribulation-transcending stage, over 6,000 at the Deity-transformation stage, and tens of thousands at the Nascent Soul stage. Not counting the other disciples, this alone is enough to be the death of you. Moreover, according to my investigations over the years, there are two cultivators who have stepped into the Emperor-level within the Cauldron Sect! According to your plan, I fear..."

Wan Yi laughed, "Brother, I am not going there to lay siege to the mountain. I only need to secretly eliminate those two old fellows. As for the Tribulation-transcending puppet, it is merely to provide cover for my withdrawal. I call this operation a decapitation strike!"

Yan Wuji said in a deep voice, "Are you certain?"

Wan Yi nodded. "Certain!"

Yan Wuji pondered for a long time, eventually seeming to make a decision. He stood up and said, "Fine. Since that is the case, I will cooperate with you fully. However, that one puppet of yours is likely not enough! Wait a moment, I will go borrow some more for you!"