Chapter 546 : Mysterious Black Stone (3)
The lavishly clothed man sighed once more and said: "Less is better than nothing. Just take it for your needs first."
The bandaged man nevertheless shook his head. "One hundred thousand taels will not be enough! This is ten lives we are talking about! They were brothers in arms who had gone through life and death with me! I could never.... How could I..... If I do not raise the money, I will not be able to hand it over to their families. When I see my brothers in the afterlife, how am I going to face them then!?"
As the man spoke, he got so agitated that he started to tremble visibly. The ever existent pain that wrecked at his body constantly reminded him of everything that had happened that fateful day.
Eleven of them had climbed down the Heaven's End Cliff. Eleven men..... And finally only he, alone, was able to return alive. All of his comrades had not been able to escape from that terrible place, and he had not been able to even retrieve their bodies. If he still wasn't able to ensure that their families lived on without worries, then he would be worse than a beast!
This piece of jet black rock, was filled with the blood of all eleven of them, and it was brought back here with ten lives in exchange.
While eleven men had made their way down Heaven's End Cliff, only one had climbed back up alive, with the black stone rock they had earlier hoisted up the cliff right at the onset.
The bandaged man could no longer remember how he had brought the black rock back here with him, he could only remember his journey back that had been filled with tears and blood that had constantly impaired his sight.
The lavishly clothed man sighed helplessly once more. He had found the badly injured man all covered in blood just outside Chan Lin Town that day and had thought the man would not survive his injuries. The garish wounds he had seen would have taken the life of any a lesser man but his friend had determinedly fought to stay alive.
"We'll wait a little while more then." Helpless, the lavishly clothed man could do nothing but continue to wait with his friend. But as the person placed in charge of the Chan Lin Auction House, it was very clear to him that no matter what secrets the piece of jet black rock held, they would not be able to sell it off.
To the common man, that was just an ordinary piece of rock.
Within the auction hall, silence hung heavily. No one wanted to give their attention to a piece of rock that was so heavily overpriced.
Meanwhile, up on the second level, Qiao Chu was staring at the piece of jet black rock with undisguised mirth.
"This is a rare sight. I did not know that people can actually bring rocks out for auction, and the asking price is an incredulous three hundred thousand taels!? Is the person mad?" Heaven's End Cliff or wherever it came from, he had no idea what kind of a place that was. But putting a price on a piece of rock that costs as much as the fees for the Zephyr Academy, almost made someone like Qiao Chu who was so used to leading a life of poverty, almost drop his jaw to the ground.
"It does not matter whether he is mad, but no one is playing along with his insanity. Can't you see that everyone is not even bothering to look at the piece of rock?" Fei Yan said with a shrug. He was always meticulous and detailed in his observations of people and he had noticed that the crowd was getting a little impatient with the wait and he expects that the outrageous item put up for auction would be removed from the stage in a very short while.
"I found it really incredible that anyone would in reality possess the confidence to even bring a piece of rock to the auction house and put it up for auction!" Qiao Chu exclaimed indignantly. They had lived a life where they did not even know when their next meal was and here people were hoping to get a windfall from a piece of rock!
"Somehow, I do not feel that it is just a common piece of rock." Fan Zhuo, who had not spoken a word all this time, suddenly said.
Everyone else turned to look at him.
"Things from beyond Heaven's End Cliff would not be ordinary. If my guess is correct, the jet black rock is Black Jade Stone. You can extract Black Silver from Black Jade Stone and Black Silver can be used to forge spirit rings whereby its effects would be more outstanding than gold, silver or any precious metals. But the Black Jade Stone is extremely hard and very difficult to cut, but I believe it can be achieved by tempering it by fire."
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Chapter 547 : Mysterious Black Stone (4)
Fan Zhuo spoke with a serious tone, his eyes locked onto the Black Jade Stone as a sudden sparkle shone from deep within his clear eyes.
"Black Silver?" Rong Ruo's eyes suddenly narrowed when she heard the term used. She looked at Fan Zhuo, her eyes seemingly seeking for something.
Qiao Chu and the others had a queer look in their eyes as well, but their curious look in their stares suddenly disappeared as quickly as they had appeared.
"It is a kind of metal extremely suitable for the forging of spirit rings. It is very rare, that big piece of Black Jade Rock there would only yield an amount of Black Silver roughly the size of a pigeon's egg." Fan Zhuo was absorbed in his explanation and he suddenly hesitated a moment before he turned to Jun Xie.
"Little Xie, that item is really suitable for the forging of everyone's spirits rings, why don't I try to place a bid for it?"
They already had the spirit stones, but they still have not decided on the metal to be used for the forging.
"No need." Jun Wu Xie replied. "I'll buy it."
Fan Zhuo was surprised.
Jun Wu Xie turned to look at Fan Zhuo and said: "You can't afford it."
Fan Zhuo immediately blushed a slight pink.
He had really forgotten all about that! He had rarely come out and was completely unfamiliar with the pricing of things outside. Before he had left, Fan Jin had shoved several thousand taels into his hands and after thinking a little further, he realised that his few thousand taels was hopelessly inadequate when it came to buying a three hundred thousand taels item.....
No way he could afford it!
Fan Zhuo's red face grew into a brighter shade.
Qiao Chu was as insensitive as ever as he roared in laughter, placing a big hand on Fan Zhuo's shoulder.
"Little Zhuo, do not worry! We are all "kept" by Miss Moneybags! Little Xie is fabulously rich!" After saying that, Qiao Chu even shamelessly threw Jun Wu Xie a wink.
Jun Wu Xie did not say a word, and just rolled her eyes.
"Dumb Qiao is really getting more and more shameless." Fei Yan sneered.
Qiao Chu did not bite the bait and said: "Not shameless, you buy it then."
"....." Fei Yan was at a loss for words.
Hua Yao shook his head in helplessness. Being "kept" by Jun Wu Xie, Dumb Qiao's integrity had really crumbled to total oblivion.
After the decision was made, Jun Wu Xie rang the bronze bell on the second level.
The bell rang loud and clear, and the muted whispers among the crowd died suddenly. Everyone raised their head to peer up into the second level.
The ringing of the bronze bell was an indication that a guest on the second level had made a bid.
Backstage, the bandaged man who had fallen into dejection and despair suddenly looked up, peering in the direction where the bell had sounded. He looked into a private room high up on the second level and saw a tiny and petite figure. He had delicate features and was a young youth. He stood by the rail, his hand holding the bronze bell.
The youth was speaking to a servant who had hurried over to him and the Chan Lin Auction House servant hollered: "Guest in private room one makes a bid for three hundred thousand taels!"
That shout ignited the hushed crowd in the Chan Lin Auction House into a sudden fervour!
[Someone was actually willing to spend three hundred thousand taels on that broken and useless piece of rock!? Has that person gone mad?]
Everyone clamoured to see, trying to peer into the private room on the second level.
When they all saw that it was a rather young youth, everyone thought the same thing, "the fool and his money soon parts". They felt the young and ignorant whelp must have been so impressed at hearing the words "Heaven's End Cliff" and naively thought that the item held immeasurable value, if not, no one would ever spend such a big amount of money so carelessly.
Besides the many who were shocked, many more were snickering quietly, sneering at Jun Wu Xie's naivety for having been duped by the Chan Lin Auction House.
After the unimaginable ordeal he went through waiting for someone to make a bid, the auctioneer almost cried tears of relief. He did not hesitate in the slightest as he raised his little hammer and struck it down three times in quick succession, mortally afraid that Jun Wu Xie would pull back the offer and he hurried to seal the deal as quickly as he could.
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Chapter 548 : Mysterious Black Stone (5)
Men from the Chan Lin Auction House carried the black piece of rock off the stage smiling. Jun Wu Xie paid up the money and would collect the item only after the auction.
Thereafter, the excited atmosphere came back to the auction house. Precious items big and small were brought up onto the stage one after another and wave after wave of intense bidding wars were carried out.
None of the items that were brought out after the rock interested the six companions. The exciting atmosphere brought about by Jun Wu Xie's swift and decisive splurge had died down. People who were waiting to see "the fool and his money part" once more were left disappointed.
Another hour went by and the auction came to a fulfilling close. Every single item was auctioned off and none remained.
Many people departed satisfied, leaving with their trophies they had won in their arms.
As Jun Wu Xie had won a "big" item, she had to wait till she was the last one before the men from the auction house carried the Black Jade Stone out.
Accompanying the men, another middle aged man dressed in a brocade robe came towards them.
"Good evening everyone, I am the owner of the Chan Lin Auction House, and my name is He Chang Le. I do not find any of our esteemed customers' faces familiar, is this your first time here at the Chan Lin Auction House?" He Chang Le welcomed the companions with laughter and his eyes smiling as he surveyed the group of extremely good looking youths, with an exceptional air surrounding them.
Jun Wu Xie nodded, seemingly not entirely interested in chatting with He Chang Le.
Undaunted, He Chang Le persisted by saying: "Since you are our new customers, and your first bid was so generous, as the owner of the Chan Lin Auction House, I would like to gift to you an emblem we reserve only for our most distinguished guests." As he spoke, He Chang Le pulled out a palm sized, gold gilded emblem. Two characters, "Chan Lin" were carved on the emblem.
"With this emblem, all of you, as our esteemed customers, would be able to gain direct entry to our private rooms when you come back to the Chan Lin Auction House, with no extra charges."
Jun Wu Xie took one glance at He Chang Le and motioned to Qiao Chu with a wave of her hand. Qiao Chu immediately went forward to accept the emblem.
Having spent three hundred thousand at the auction, Qiao Chu's heart was still wincing in pain. At least, with this emblem, they would not have to pay for a private room anymore next time and he was glad to accept it.
Seeing that Jun Wu Xie was willing to accept his gesture of goodwill, He Chang Le smiled as he said: "To be honest, for bidding on the piece of black rock today, our Young Master has greatly helped a friend of mine. If our Young Master does not mind it, that friend of mine would like to meet you, and thank you personally."
Jun Wu Xie raised an eyebrow and before she opened her mouth to reply, Hua Yao took the lead to say: "If it's sincere, let him come."
He Chang Le nodded, and turned to fetch his friend.
Hua Yao took a step back and whispered beside Jun Wu Xie's ear: "Black Silver is not something you can find in the Lower Realm but only in the Middle Realm. That piece of Black Jade Stone should not even be here. If that piece of Black Jade Stone is really from the bottom of the Heaven's End Cliff, that place must be holding some secrets."
How did something that could only be found in the Middle Realm come to appear in the Lower Realm?
Jun Wu Xie was able to immediately make a good guess.
Hua Yao and the others must be suspecting that the Black Jade Stone was somehow linked to the Dark Emperor's tomb.
Having thought that, Jun Wu Xie need not say anything more, but.....
Hua Yao said Black Silver did not exist in the Lower Realm, so how did Fan Zhuo know about it?
Jun Wu Xie clearly remembered that Fan Zhuo was the first one to recognise that piece of rock to be Black Jade Stone, and he was also the one who said that Black Silver could be extracted from Black Jade Stone. How was it that Fan Zhuo would be so familiar with Black Jade Stone that existed only in the Middle Realm?
Jun Wu Xie frowned as she pondered on it. She sneaked a glance at Fan Zhuo and saw that he was staring at the Black Jade Stone with great interest, seemingly not to have heard the conversation between Hua Yao and her.
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Chapter 549 : Mysterious Black Stone (6)
After a short while, He Chang Le came back. The other man who was with him made Qiao Chu and the others stare, their eyes widened.
That man was tall and muscular, and his entire body was fully covered with bandages. Although his clothes covered up much of the bandages, it was nevertheless clear that he was fully wrapped up in them. Before he had even gotten close to the companions, the stench of blood could already be smelt in the air. Only his eyes, nose, ears and mouth were exposed while the rest of his head was fully bandaged up and those originally white bandages were tinged with blood and had taken on a slightly red shade.
He walked slowly as he approached, his huge frame bringing a slightly oppressive air. When he came to stand before Jun Wu Xie, he suddenly clasped a hand over his fist and formally bent over in a deep bow.
"My name is Mu Qian Fan! I would like to humbly thank this Young Master's generous offer of help." Mu Qian Fan's deep timbered voice almost made them forget about all the injuries that covered his entire body.
Towards everything that had happened today, Mu Qian Fan was unable to put what he felt into words. If he had not been able to gather the three hundred thousand taels, he would not be able to face his brothers in arms who had passed into the afterlife and the auction today had driven him into utter despair many times over.
But Jun Wu Xie had, at his lowest point, dragged him up from the pits of despair.
The three hundred thousand taels to him were just too important!
"No need." Jun Wu Xie said simply. The stench of blood emanating from the man made her frown slightly. She was silent a moment before she asked: "You've been to the Heaven's End Cliff?"
Mu Qian Fan thought that Jun Wu Xie was doubting that the black rock had really been retrieved from beyond the Heaven's End Cliff and he hurriedly replied: "Yes. I've been there. This black rock was discovered at the bottom of the cliff by my brothers and me."
"Tell me about the Heaven's End Cliff and I'll accept it as your thanks." Jun Wu Xie replied.
Mu Qian Fan was slightly surprised. When he saw that Jun Wu Xie's group was a party of young youths, he had thought that their youthful frivolity had piqued their curiosity on the dark rumours that surrounded the Heaven's End Cliff and he readily agreed.
He Chang Le enquired on the location of the inn they were staying at and instructed his men to send the item over first. He then furnished Jun Wu Xie and the others with one of the private rooms for them to chat in comfort. The auction house's servants were also thoughtfully instructed to bring them some snacks and tea.
When they were all seated in the room, Mu Qian Fan appeared a little ill at ease. He was a man past thirty and he had been used to drinking and dining with his brothers in arms who were all around his age. Suddenly thrust into a situation where he was sitting with a group of youths half his age for a chat, made him feel rather out of place.
Although Jun Wu Xie and her companions were dressed in plain clothes, the material used was of a high grade. All of them were blessed with kingly features and they carried themselves with an impressive air, looking to be from extraordinary backgrounds, which only fueled his uneasiness further.
"Big Brother Mu? Please help yourself to a little of the tea and snacks first before you can share with us a little more in detail." Fei Yan could see Mu Qian Fan's uneasiness and offered a cup of tea to Mu Qian Fan with a winsome smile.
Mu Qian Fan looked up and saw a charming and pleasant "little lady" smiling sweetly at him, and the hands that were holding the teacup were even trembling ever so slightly.
He hurried to accept the offered tea and gulped it down quickly. The tea helped to calm him a little and he looked at Jun Wu Xie and the others to say: "It was about half a month ago that I went to the Heaven's End Cliff. A band of my brothers were with me. To be honest, my group of brothers and I earn our daily keep by hunting down Spirit Beasts under the commission of people. The arduous Heaven's End Cliff is a place very well hidden. Although there are many rumours being spread about the Heaven's End Cliff, the exact location of the place is known to only a rare few. All along, we had never thought much about the Heaven's End Cliff but we were offered a commission to make a trip there and that's why we went to the Heaven's End Cliff."
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Chapter 550 : Mysterious Black Stone (7)
As his memory took him back to the period just before they had set off, every single scene that appeared in his mind cut deeply into Mu Qian Fan's heart. The brothers who had been so close, had all left him, for good.
Mu Qian Fan and his brothers in arms had always depended on accepting commissions entrusted to them by people for a living and they would often go hunt Spirit Beasts to gather spirit stones. The band of brothers would also accept assignments as armed escorts for merchant convoys and that was how Mu Qian Fan got acquainted with He Chang Le, when he had escorted the Chan Lin Auction House's merchandise.
Till one day, a man came to them, requesting that they go to the Heaven's End Cliff to survey the grounds at the bottom of the cliff. He had promised then, that if they were able to fully traverse the entire area below the Heaven's End Cliff and produce a complete map, the men would be handsomely rewarded.
The promised reward would be more than enough for all of their families to live their lives free of worries.
Although the Heaven's End Cliff was famed to be an extremely dangerous place since a long time ago, but very few people had actually been there. Many people did not even know where the Heaven's End Cliff was, but everyone had heard many versions of the grave dangers the mysterious place held. But in order to grasp at the opportunity to earn that large sum of money, and to provide their families with a carefree life, Mu Qian Fan and his brothers finally decided to accept the commission entrusted to them.
That man had been rather generous. He had given them two hundred thousand taels as a deposit from the beginning. After accepting the money, Mu Qian Fan and his team were highly motivated and they readied themselves to set off towards the Heaven's End Cliff. That man then gave them a map, that showed in detail the exact location of the Heaven's End Cliff.
Based on the directions shown on the map, the team was on the roads for half a month before they reached the Heaven's End Cliff.
The Heaven's End Cliff was located within a wide circular range of mountainous peaks and the cliff began from high up upon one of the peaks. In order to even reach the cliff, they had to pass through layers upon layers of dense forests. Within those forests, many Spirit Beasts roamed, and Mu Qian Fan and his brothers used their experience to pass through the danger filled forests. And when they finally arrived upon the cliff, they began to understand why the cliff was named the Heaven's End Cliff.
The Heaven's End Cliff's face looked as if it had been cleanly cut by an immense sharp blade. Beyond the cliff was an endless sea of foggy white mist and masses of cloudy fog that stretched further than the eye could see. When looking at it from the high vantage point upon the cliff, the wondrous sight made one feel as if that was where Heaven ended, stopping right at the cliff they stood upon.
When they first laid their eyes on the unbelievable view, Mu Qian Fan and his brothers in arms were all suddenly awestruck but they quickly recovered when they remembered the mission they had been entrusted with to complete. They had prepared hundreds of meter metal cables and carried upon their backs were chains that would extend the length of the cables, showing how meticulous their preparations for the mission had been.
Climbing down the sheer cliff face alone had taken them a few days' time and they rested and ate hanging from the strong cables.
When they reached the bottom of the cliff, every single one of them were already completely exhausted and they all collapsed upon the ground for a long period, unable to move a muscle.
"What was the bottom of the Heaven's End Cliff really like?" Qiao Chu was getting more and more excited as the story unfolded and he unknowingly asked the question in a fearful whisper.
Mu Qian Fan's eyes lowered, as he stared at his own two hands placed on the table before him. Bright red blood was spreading bit by bit across the bandages, and watching the white bandages gradually turning a bright red made for an extremely disconcerting sight.
"I don't know....."
"What?" Qiao Chu sat up, greatly surprised.
Mu Qian Fan's voice was filled with despair and fear: "The ground at the bottom of the cliff was completely covered in a thick misty fog and we could not see anything beyond two meters away from us as they would all be enveloped by the thick fog. Under those circumstances, we were completely unable to map out anything about the area. And as we proceeded to walk in a forwardly direction, we discovered that the ground below our feet was marshland that was peppered with bottomless bog....."
Bog holes shrouded in the thick impenetrable fog within an expanse of soft marshland which were easy to miss and overlook. More often than now, people only realise the danger after they had stepped a foot into it.