Long Chen walked to the counter and placed the Black Blade Sword on top of it.
"Is that the Blackwind Sword?" the gray-robed elder behind the counter asked, looking at the Black Blade Sword in astonishment.
"Senior Brother Long, this is Elder Lu from the Hundred Arms Room," Liu Bian introduced.
Long Chen clasped his fists. "Greetings, Elder Lu."
"Why did you choose a sword without any Curse Marks?" Elder Lu asked, giving Long Chen a meaningful look. "Do you know the origin of this sword?"
Long Chen’s eyes flickered. So this sword is called the Blackwind Sword? Judging by Elder Lu’s tone, it has some kind of special origin?
"Its price was relatively cheap, and it suits my current needs. I didn’t know it had a special origin," Long Chen said honestly.
Elder Lu nodded. "Five million Lower Grade Spirit Stones or fifty million Human Martial Beads."
"Elder Lu, you haven’t told us its origin yet!" Liu Bian said, full of curiosity. What kind of origin could a sword without Curse Marks possibly have?
As Long Chen reached for his Storage Bag to pay with Human Martial Beads, he glanced at Elder Lu, equally eager to learn the origin of the Blackwind Sword.
"It’s better left unsaid," Elder Lu said with a wave of his hand. "When you no longer wish to use this sword, remember to bring it back. I’ll buy it from you at the price you paid."
"Elder Lu, how can you just stop halfway through a story?" Liu Bian asked, incredibly frustrated.
Elder Lu slowly closed his eyes, clearly indicating he had nothing more to say.
"Let’s go." Long Chen hung the Blackwind Sword at his waist and turned to leave.
Liu Bian shot Elder Lu an annoyed glance. As frustrated as he was, he had no choice but to give up on asking.
Meanwhile, Zhang Qianyu, who had been observing from nearby, couldn’t help but frown. That useless sword actually has some kind of origin?
"Junior Brother Zhang, what are you dawdling for? Long Chen is gone!" Gu Hanyue snapped, walking over with a displeased look on her face.
Su Miaoyu’s eyes twinkled as she put on an apologetic expression. "If Junior Brother Zhang is unwilling, I certainly won’t force him. It’s my fault, really. How could I ask him to violate the sect’s rules?"
"No, no, you’ve misunderstood, Senior Sisters!" Zhang Qianyu quickly waved his hands to explain. "I just heard Elder Lu say that the sword Long Chen chose seems to have some special origin."
"Oh?" Gu Hanyue narrowed her eyes in surprise.
Su Miaoyu asked, "Could Elder Lu have said that just to drive up the sword’s price?"
"Hmph. Elder Lu from the Hundred Arms Room is notoriously black-hearted," Gu Hanyue said with disdain. "He’s always exploiting disciples and calling it a lesson to encourage them to work harder and earn more Spirit Stones."
Zhang Qianyu shook his head. "Elder Lu didn’t do that this time. He didn’t exploit Long Chen. The price was still five million Lower Grade Spirit Stones—the standard for a Pseudo Heavenly Soldier. He even told Long Chen to bring it back when he’s done with it, offering to buy it back for the same price."
"Really?" Gu Hanyue was taken aback.
Su Miaoyu’s willow-like brows furrowed tightly. She bit her lip, thinking resentfully, Damn that Long Chen! Why is his luck always so good?
Gu Hanyue said indifferently, "If that sword were truly special, why would Elder Lu sell it? Even if it has an origin story, it must be a useless one. Junior Brother Zhang, you should hurry up and break that sword!"
"That’s true. You two Senior Sisters just sit back and watch the show," Zhang Qianyu said with a nod, quickly hurrying after Long Chen.
By this time, Long Chen and Liu Bian had already left the Hundred Arms Room and were heading toward the Spirit Stone Chamber.
"Senior Brother Long, that blockhead Zhang Qianyu is coming after us!" Liu Bian suddenly exclaimed, turning to see Zhang Qianyu running toward them.
"Junior Brother Long, Junior Brother Liu, wait a moment!" Zhang Qianyu called out with a wave.
Long Chen frowned, forced to stop. He’s really coming for me?
"Zhang Qianyu, what do you think you’re doing? This is the Martial Institute!"
Liu Bian’s expression turned cold. Despite knowing he was no match for Zhang Qianyu, he showed no intention of backing down. Instead, he stepped in front of Long Chen, ready to intercept him.
"Of course, I know this is the Martial Institute and that fighting is forbidden. That’s why I’m only here to—" Zhang Qianyu cut himself off. As he spoke, he drew the sword from his waist, dashed to Long Chen’s side, and swung it directly at the Blackwind Sword. "I just saw that your sword looks impressive, Junior Brother Long, so I decided to test its strength!"
Golden Curse Marks flared to life on the blade of Zhang Qianyu’s sword, enveloping it in layers of dazzling light. These were gold-elemental Curse Marks, designed to enhance a blade’s durability.
CRACK!
A moment later, the sound of a shattering sword rang out. But it wasn’t Long Chen’s Blackwind Sword that had broken—it was Zhang Qianyu’s personal sword