Chapter 1002: Huangfu Family

A brand new flying dagger magic tool costs about three hundred spirit stones. However, for eighty spirit stones, you can acquire a flying dagger without a handle. While lacking a handle makes it unsightly, it is still perfectly usable.

Demonic beasts have thick hides and flesh and are numerous. Consequently, the magic tools of low-level cultivators fighting on the front lines suffer significant damage. Due to the ongoing war, the price of magic tools remains prohibitively high. Furthermore, exchanging for them with the Seven Great Immortal Sects requires contribution points, which low-level cultivators are typically saving to acquire Core Formation spiritual items or Foundation Establishment Pills.

Huang Fugui exploits this situation, acquiring damaged but usable magic tools at bottom prices and reselling them to these low-level cultivators.

He is not an unscrupulous merchant; his wares are clearly marked as damaged, and his prices are reasonable. Moreover, he never engages in coercive buying or selling.

Huang Fugui continued to display a variety of cultivation resources for sale, from fragments of magic treasures to healing elixirs. His goods were of good quality and affordably priced, leading them to sell out quickly.

The low-level cultivators, having purchased desirable items at low prices, grew to appreciate Huang Fugui even more.

Spotting Wang Qingshan and Liu Mei'er, Huang Fugui approached them, flashing a grin that revealed his yellowed teeth. He said to Liu Mei'er, "Fairy, I've managed to get my hands on a bottle of third-tier Five-Colored Spiritual Honey. It has beauty-enhancing properties and is a rare specialty from the Northern Frontier."

He then took out a white porcelain bottle and offered it to Liu Mei'er.

Liu Mei'er, her face full of anticipation, looked toward Wang Qingshan, who, feigning ignorance, calmly continued to sip his tea.

"If Brother Qingshan won't buy it for me, then I don't want it," she said.

Huang Fugui scrutinized Wang Qingshan from head to toe, then chuckled. "Qingshan? Aren't you Fellow Daoist Wang Qingshan, the registered disciple of Sword Venerable Xiaoyao? Oh my! This old man and your ninth uncle have been friends for many years. I heard he successfully formed his Nascent Soul. Congratulations!"

"You know Ninth Uncle? Why has he never mentioned you to me?"

Wang Qingshan paused, then quickly realized Huang Fugui was being deceitful. Given that Huang Fugui had previously falsely claimed a mere magic treasure fragment was once wielded by a Nascent Soul Perfected Cultivator, his current deception was hardly surprising.

"This old man hasn't seen Fellow Daoist Wang for many years; perhaps he's forgotten me! Let's not dwell on that. I've acquired something excellent that I believe you'll appreciate."

Huang Fugui chuckled, then produced a tattered yellow scroll. The painting on it showed dozens of blue flying swords haphazardly stuck into the ground of a bamboo forest. The top-left corner of the scroll was missing, as if gnawed by something, and the large characters "Hundred Sword Diagram" were inscribed on it.

"This Hundred Sword Diagram was found in the cave abode where a Nascent Soul Perfected Cultivator underwent nirvana. Though slightly damaged, it presents no issue for comprehending sword formations. Fellow Daoist Wang, you should be able to glean some valuable insights from it."

Wang Qingshan's gaze was fixed intently on the Hundred Sword Diagram. "How many spirit stones?" he asked. "Name your price."

As he was not a formal disciple of the Taiyi Immortal Sect, the sword formations he had learned were primarily suited for group melees, and indeed, few half-demons could withstand them. However, with his companions now dispersed and guarding different locations, Wang Qingshan mostly relied on self-exploration for setting up his sword formations. Sword Venerable Xiaoyao had not provided him with extensive explanations, given that he was not a formal disciple.

"I've been friends with your ninth uncle for many years, so I'll simply give you this Hundred Sword Diagram. Please, don't be polite with me."

Huang Fugui spoke with great enthusiasm. He had learned through Huang Youxin that Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan had both simultaneously formed their Nascent Souls, triggering auspicious phenomena. Naturally, Huang Fugui wanted to curry favor with Wang Qingshan, especially since the diagram was merely a useless, incomplete piece anyway.

Wang Qingshan paused, then asked, "Fellow Daoist Huang, do you truly know my ninth uncle?"

"Of course. I also know Fellow Daoist Wang Mingren. Technically, I'm your elder, so giving you a small gift is nothing. If you refuse, your ninth uncle will look down on me."

"Uh... alright! In that case, many thanks, Fellow Daoist Huang."

Wang Qingshan thanked him, his tone becoming noticeably warmer, as the saying goes, "one speaks softly after accepting favors."

"This bottle of Five-Colored Spiritual Honey not only enhances beauty but also has invigorating properties, Fellow Daoist Wang. This is my only bottle, and I'll sell it to you cheaply!"

Having just accepted a fragmented sword diagram from Huang Fugui, Wang Qingshan found it awkward to refuse again, so he bought the honey with spirit stones. Noticing Liu Mei'er looking at him expectantly, Wang Qingshan frowned slightly, then tossed the porcelain bottle to her, saying, "It's yours; I have no use for it."

Liu Mei'er's face lit up with joy. "Thank you, Brother Qingshan," she said. "You're so kind."

A buzzing vibration emanated from Huang Fugui's robes. He pulled out a communication plate, made a few gestures, and his eyes lit up.

"Fellow Daoists," he said, "I have other matters to attend to, so I must take my leave."

After Huang Fugui departed, Wang Qingshan and Liu Mei'er followed suit.

A short while later, Wang Qingshan returned to his abode. He sat cross-legged on a meditation cushion, took out the fragmented Hundred Sword Diagram, and began to meditate on it.

Upon first glance at the Hundred Sword Diagram, the dozens of flying swords appeared haphazardly scattered, devoid of any discernible pattern. However, a closer look revealed a hidden profundity within.

Wang Qingshan's expression grew solemn as he continued to gaze intently at the Hundred Sword Diagram.

South Sea, Fire Dolphin Sea Region, a remote small island.

Suddenly, a mound of earth swelled up from the ground, and a yellow earthworm with dragon horns tied with a head rope emerged from beneath. Wang Qingling was sprawled on its back.

"I should be safe now!" she murmured to herself. "I wonder how Qiu Ming and Meng Bin are doing."

Wang Qingling mumbled to herself. She had used the Earth Dragon Earthworm to escape from beneath the seabed, traveling continuously. Seven days later, she surfaced, found a small island for refuge, and recuperated underground.

After recuperating for over half a year, her injuries had mostly healed, and she was preparing to return to the front lines.

Wang Qingling put away the Earth Dragon Earthworm and summoned her Ice Wind Flood Dragon, whose body was largely wrapped in bandages, indicating it had suffered severe injuries this time.

She gently stroked the Ice Wind Flood Dragon's wounds, then leaped onto its back.

The Ice Wind Flood Dragon shook its head and tail, then ascended into the sky.

Just then, a streak of blue light suddenly appeared in the distant sky, rapidly approaching Wang Qingling.

Wang Qingling extended her spiritual sense and detected that the blue light belonged to a Core Formation cultivator whose aura was weak, indicating severe injuries.

"Fellow Daoist ahead," a weak male voice suddenly called out, "I am Huangfu Rong of the Huangfu Family. The Sea Race is pursuing me; I implore you to assist me. I will surely offer a generous reward afterward."

"The Huangfu Family!"

Wang Qingling was somewhat surprised; she had not expected to encounter someone from the Huangfu Family.

The Huangfu Family is one of the Ten Great Families of the South Sea, boasting a legacy of tens of thousands of years. With five Nascent Soul cultivators and over a hundred Core Formation cultivators, their strength is formidable.

She recalled that the Huangfu Family had dispatched Nascent Soul cultivators, so it seemed illogical for their juniors to be running around unsupervised.

Before she could ponder further, the sea surface near the island began to churn violently. A gigantic red octopus and an enormous golden shark surfaced, each bearing a Core Formation Sea Race member with cold, indifferent expressions.

Both Sea Race members possessed fifth-level Core Formation cultivation. One had a single horn on its head, while the other's face was covered in red scales.

"Oh, look, another human cultivator, and a white flood dragon! It's her! She escaped from my second brother's grasp over half a year ago. Perfect, we'll deal with her too," the middle-aged man with red scales on his face said menacingly, his gaze fixed on Wang Qingling with chilling intent.