Chapter 1045

Chapter 1045: Heavenly Fire

Luodu Immortal City, Four Seas Trading Association.

As a renowned large trading association in the world of cultivation, the name Four Seas echoes across countless realms. In the Haotian Realm, most major immortal cities boast branches, and Luodu is no exception.

The Four Seas Trading Association occupies five storefronts on the busiest main street of this immortal city.

Its presence is undeniably impressive.

Of course, compared to the Wanbao Pavilion, which lies half a street away, the Four Seas Trading Association still falls short. The twelve-story tall pavilion stands as a landmark in this Di-level immortal city.

However, Wang Chen prefers the more down-to-earth Four Seas Trading Association to the ruthless Wanbao Pavilion.

He is a regular customer at the Four Seas Trading Association and holds a “VIP card” from this immortal merchant.

“Master Wang, how may I assist you today?”

Upon seeing Wang Chen enter the main hall, a middle-aged cultivator promptly greeted him with a warm smile and invited him to a private room for a discussion.

In the past year, Wang Chen’s transaction volume at the Luodu branch of the Four Seas Trading Association has exceeded one hundred thousand Intermediate Spirits, marking him as a significant customer.

His treatment naturally differs from that of ordinary customers.

“Manager Chen…”

Once seated in the private room, Wang Chen got straight to the point and asked, “Do you have any third-grade Fire Attribute heavenly fire in stock?”

When purchasing cultivation resources, his first choice is always the Four Seas Trading Association.

Next comes the Wanbao Pavilion.

Lastly, he considers local merchants.

The reason is simple: both the Four Seas Trading Association and the Wanbao Pavilion boast top-tier reputations, so Wang Chen doesn’t have to worry about his information being leaked.

Local merchants are a different story, as each one might be backed by a powerful organization that Wang Chen cannot afford to antagonize.

“Third-grade Fire Attribute heavenly fire?”

Manager Chen furrowed his brow slightly and asked, “Is it urgent?”

He explained, “There isn’t any in stock, but I can transfer some from other branches or request it from the main office. It will take about three to five days.”

“Three to five days is fine.”

Wang Chen let out a sigh of relief. “What about the price?”

Manager Chen’s smile broadened, “Master Wang, I’m not trying to inflate the price, but heavenly fire is rare. Third-grade Fire Attribute heavenly fire is a precious heavenly material and treasure, and it can only be traded with Upper Spirits.”

Wang Chen nodded silently.

Many valuable heavenly materials and treasures have specific trading requirements, such as requiring Upper Spirits or being traded for other items.

Although Upper Spirits and Intermediate Spirits can circulate in the market, cultivators holding Upper Spirits will rarely trade them for Intermediate Spirits unless absolutely necessary.

Those wanting to exchange Intermediate Spirits for Upper Spirits usually have to pay a high premium.

Moreover, the higher the demand, the higher the premium!

The Four Seas Trading Association surely has plenty of spirit stones, so if they say Upper Spirits, they definitely won’t accept Intermediate Spirits.

Wang Chen could only concede: “Name your price.”

Manager Chen raised a single finger, “One thousand, no bargaining.”

Wang Chen exhaled deeply, “Deal.”

One thousand Upper Spirits! To say he wasn’t feeling the pinch would be a lie.

If it weren’t for the fact that Wang Chen had previously slain four masters and acquired a substantial amount of middle and high-grade spirit stones, he wouldn’t have been able to gather so many Upper Spirits. So, while the expense stung, it wasn’t unbearable.

From a cost perspective, however, purchasing one thousand Upper Spirits to help Master Shen refine a flying sword was a significant loss—a loss so great it could make one’s ancestors weep!

But as Little Cauldron had mentioned, if he could gather the third-grade five elemental fires, he could condense the fourth-level Formless fire, which would allow him to refine not just magical treasures but even higher-level spiritual treasures.

When viewed this way, it seemed worth the investment!

Wang Chen cautiously inquired about the prices of the other four types of heavenly fire.

The response left him utterly stunned.

Manager Chen explained that among the third-grade heavenly fires, Fire Attribute heavenly fire was the most readily available, making it the least expensive.

The other four types were far more costly, with the Water Element heavenly fire being a staggering five times the price of the Fire Attribute!

Five thousand Upper Spirits!

What’s more, this type of heavenly fire was rarely in stock and typically required pre-ordering, with a wait time of up to a year and a half.

Wang Chen did a quick calculation and realized that gathering all five elemental fires would cost him around thirteen thousand Upper Spirits.

No wonder great weapon refiners were all aligned with powerful organizations—lone cultivators could hardly afford such heavenly fires!

After paying a thirty percent deposit, Wang Chen left the Four Seas Trading Association.

He didn’t have to wait long. Just four days later, Manager Chen sent him a message.

The goods had arrived.

Coincidentally, shortly after Wang Chen received the third-grade Fire Attribute heavenly fire, Master Shen delivered the materials needed to refine the flying sword.

The two of them promptly signed a magical contract on the spot.

Since this was Wang Chen’s first private commission, he didn’t set a high price. He even agreed that if the flying sword failed to be refined, he would cover all material costs!

This meant Wang Chen bore all the risk.

But it was a necessary sacrifice, and he was grateful to Master Shen for giving him a chance to build his reputation.

“Return in half a month to collect the sword!”

Master Shen was taken aback, “Is half a month enough?”

For most great weapon refiners, crafting a magical treasure typically took one to two months. For something as intricate as a flying sword, the process often took even longer. Wang Chen’s promise of half a month was beyond Master Shen’s expectations.

Wang Chen smiled, “Then let’s make it a month.”

“Half a month is perfect!”

Master Shen quickly amended, “Thank you, fellow traveler!”

Though Wang Chen was young, he didn’t come across as reckless or boastful. Since he was confident enough to promise half a month, Master Shen saw no reason to argue.

As long as the quality was assured, the exact timeline didn’t matter!

With this, Master Shen’s expectations for the Chixiao Sword Wang Chen was crafting grew even higher.

After Master Shen left, Wang Chen summoned Su Ziling and informed her that he would be entering closed-door cultivation for half a month.

He then proceeded to the weapon refining room, where he activated the formations to seal the entrance.

“Time to get to work!”

Wang Chen patted the Life Creation Cauldron placed at the center of the hidden chamber, summoning the Cauldron Spirit Little Cauldron.

Little Cauldron cheered, “Master, did you acquire the fire seed?”

“Indeed.”

Wang Chen retrieved the spirit box containing the third-grade Fire Attribute heavenly fire. Upon opening the lid, a brilliant, blazing flame leaped into view.

Waves of heat radiated in all directions, causing the room’s temperature to soar.

If not for the formation within the spirit box suppressing the heavenly fire, its destructive power alone would have melted the surrounding rock walls into molten lava!

“Excellent, excellent!”

Little Cauldron clapped excitedly, “Master, quickly transfer the heavenly fire inside!”

With a flick of his finger, Wang Chen sent the heavenly fire from the box into the precious cauldron, which immediately glowed with a radiant crimson hue.

Integrating the heavenly fire into the cauldron required a refining process. With Little Cauldron’s assistance, Wang Chen spent an entire day and night fully taming the third-grade Fire Attribute heavenly fire.

Then, he began refining the Chixiao Sword.

This refining process lasted another seven days and nights.