Chapter 517 - 517: One-Third of the Broken Sword

As for the reward...

Chu Qingyun had no idea what it was. Besides, he wasn't short on money at the moment, so he didn't really care.

He had only brought up the reward to temporarily escape his current predicament.

At his words, the members of the major sects all understood.

He clearly didn't want to discuss the matter of joining a sect here and now.

After all, representatives from all Fifteen Major Sects were present.

No matter which one he chose to join, he would, to some extent, offend the others.

Yu Liyuan, Zhou Qian, and the others all nodded in understanding.

The champion's reward was quickly brought up.

A round, portly man carrying a long, rectangular tray hurried onto the high platform. The tray was covered with red silk, making it impossible to see what lay beneath.

However, just as the man approached, Chu Qingyun's expression changed slightly.

He sensed that the Earth Seal Sword at his waist had suddenly trembled.

The Earth Seal Sword wasn't yet complete. The previous two parts had reacted when they got close to each other... 'Could the tray also hold a piece of the Earth Seal Sword?'

Chu Qingyun thought to himself, but he quickly masked the astonishment on his face.

"Greetings, honorable Martial Emperors and Alchemists..."

After the portly man squeezed in with the tray, his face immediately broke into a wide smile, and he bowed incessantly to those around him.

The few Martial Emperor Level experts, as well as Yu Liyuan, Zhou Qian, and the others who were originally on the fourth floor of the tower, all gave a faint nod without saying anything.

Their attitude toward this man was completely different from their attitude toward Chu Qingyun.

However, the man didn't seem to mind at all. The smile on his face never wavered as he turned to Chu Qingyun. "Young Master Chu, you truly are a promising young man. This humble one is Zheng Lianyu, president of the Celestial Language Business Alliance in Celestial Martial City. In the future..."

"Alright, enough with the nonsense. Get on with it," Yu Liyuan interjected impatiently from the side.

"Yes, yes..."

Zheng Lianyu didn't dare to disobey. He presented the tray and said with a smile, "Young Master Chu, this is the champion's prize for the Pill Battle Conference, prepared for you by the various merchant houses of Celestial Martial City—a part of the Earth Seal Sword."

Hearing this, a bright glint flashed in Chu Qingyun's eyes.

'It really is the Earth Seal Sword!'

However, he also noticed that the geniuses from the various sects who had participated in the Pill Battle Conference were all staring at the reward with burning intensity.

Among them were Wu Xinghai of the Talisman Puppet Sect and Wan Jianping of the Celestial Sword Sect.

Several thoughts silently flashed through Chu Qingyun's mind.

After offering his thanks, he took the tray, lifted the silk cloth, and tossed it aside. Sure enough, he saw a piece inside that looked very similar to the part of the Strange Sword he had first obtained.

Just by looking at it, Chu Qingyun was almost certain that this was the final missing piece of the Earth Seal Sword at his waist.

If it were anyone else, they probably would have been unable to resist drawing their sword to merge the pieces right then and there.

But Chu Qingyun was very level-headed. Besides, he had noticed something strange earlier, so he wasn't in a hurry to merge the pieces and form the complete Earth Seal Sword.

With a thought, Chu Qingyun placed the part of the Earth Seal Sword, along with the tray, into his Storage Ring.

But just then, Wan Jianping suddenly stepped forward, looked at Chu Qingyun, and said, "Chu Qingyun, I'm willing to offer one hundred thousand drops of Primordial Spirit Liquid to buy that sword fragment you were awarded. What do you say?"

Hearing this, Yu Liyuan, Zhou Qian, and many others in the crowd all smiled knowingly.

However, none of them said anything. Instead, they took a few steps back, wanting to see how Chu Qingyun would handle the situation.

One hundred thousand drops of Primordial Spirit Liquid right off the bat.

For someone from a small dynasty, even for a Spirit Level Alchemist, that was an immense temptation.

After all, back when Chu Qingyun was in Lianshan County, the final, show-stopping item at the Great Xia Dynasty's most prestigious traveling auction sold for just one hundred thousand drops of Primordial Spirit Liquid.

And at that time, even Chu Qingyun didn't have that much Primordial Spirit Liquid.

As for now, he was in an even more pathetic state, with only fifty drops of Primordial Spirit Liquid to his name. Mu Xiaoxiao had even been the one to provide the funds to buy the Spiritual Medicines for the Spiritual Longevity Pill.

However, before Chu Qingyun could say anything, Wu Xinghai also stepped out.

"Chu Qingyun, I'll double it. Two hundred thousand drops of Primordial Spirit Liquid. Sell that sword fragment to me," Wu Xinghai said.

Wu Xinghai was naturally very jealous and resentful that Chu Qingyun had seized the championship of the Celestial Martial City Pill Battle Conference and was now being fought over for recruitment by the major sects.

However, he also desperately wanted that piece of the Earth Seal Sword.

"Hmph. One hundred thousand drops, two hundred thousand drops... Are you two trying to bully him because you think he's ignorant?"

"Chu Qingyun, sell the Earth Seal Sword Fragment to me, and I'll trade a King-Level Secret Manual for it. You can pick any Sword or Saber Technique you want!"

Just then, Zhou Ling also joined in.

A trade for a King-Level Secret Manual!

Instantly, a sharp glint flashed through Chu Qingyun's eyes.

'The previous prices of one hundred thousand and two hundred thousand drops of Primordial Spirit Liquid had seemed quite reasonable. After all, it's only one-third of a sword. It doesn't have any special power—it's just extremely sharp and durable. But now, Zhou Ling is offering a King-Level Secret Manual for a mere sword fragment, and even letting me choose the type!'

'A complete King-Level Secret Manual is nearly as valuable as a complete King-Level Divine Weapon. And she's offering that for a mere third of the Earth Seal Sword! The Earth Seal Sword is definitely no ordinary King-Level Divine Weapon. It has to be more than just a King-Level Divine Weapon. There must be some other special significance to it!'

Chu Qingyun easily deduced all of this.

Meanwhile, Wan Jianping and Wu Xinghai both shot Zhou Ling a resentful glare, blaming her for suddenly raising the price to a King-Level Secret Manual.

Her bid blatantly told Chu Qingyun that this sword fragment was something extraordinary.

But they didn't know that this was precisely Zhou Ling's intention.

Chu Qingyun had helped her immensely at a critical moment when she was refining an elixir before, so now, she was naturally returning the favor.

After the three of them, several more people stepped up with requests to buy the sword fragment.

Unable to restrain themselves, some disciples from the sects around the high platform even leaped up to approach Chu Qingyun, trying to buy the Earth Seal Sword fragment.

The prices they offered were even more varied, including all sorts of Celestial and Earthly Treasures, Secret Manuals and Secret Techniques. Someone even wanted to trade a Tier Five Spiritual Medicine with Chu Qingyun for that one-third fragment of the sword!