Stellar transformations.., p.7
Stellar Transformations - Book 12 - Qin Yu, page 7
It may be true that value of different levels of money such as one top grade is equivalent to a hundred high grades, but that is only known as an intrinsic value. If one want to trade them for a higher grade, the seller would have to take a loss at a lower rate, since the buyer would decide the trade rate.
The same could be said about the voice transfer talisman bead; its market value is about a hundred thousand stones, but refining such item is very difficult. Most are obtained from a rare refiner in a distant city. Over the course of the journey from the seller to the buyer, the price would have increased to about three hundred thousand stones.
Ming Han already knew about that deficit, “Make haste. It is alright to suffer some losses, but the most important thing is……convert them into top grade holy elemental stones.” He gave Yun Fan a firm look.
Since the great clan patriarch has spoken, there was nothing more to be said. Yun Fan intoned, “Yun Fan will not fail great patriarch’s expectations,” he extended his hands and respectfully received the huge amount of wealth within the ring.
Ming Han did not doubt the fellow’s loyalty nor did he worry about Yun Fan taking the money for their own gains. The reason being, any individual in charge of the commerce and finance of the family have to take a blood oath of loyalty before being accepted. A blood oath is not to be underestimated, the oath bearers will face heavy penalties if the oath was violated. Violation was incurring heaven’s wrath.
Days passed like river flow.
The entire eastern section of the Liu Feng city was comprised of a peaceful forest and glade. Atop that glade was a secluded and quiet manor, known as the Bamboo Garden. Inside resided Qin Yu and his disciple – Liu Han Shu, both had moved in once Liu clan had given them this new residence.
At the time of granting this manor, Liu clan also gifted an entourage of maids and guards. Like a complete set. They also decreed that no one is not to offend or shame the master of this bamboo garden. This announcement had become the source of many rumours in Liu Feng city. Many had gossiped about the identity of this master of the bamboo garden manor.
Within the Bamboo Garden…
A female attendant was currently leading a group of guests towards the core of the bamboo garden. The group had the same two elders that came before – Liu Ming Han and the clan leader, in the days gone passed. Through a series of circular archways, the group approached a dense bamboo forest with soft tones of light shafting down from above. In a short moment, they had arrived at a clearing, and in the centre of the clearing was a large pond, whose waters rippled slightly with the bobbing of a fishing bait.
The owner of the bait and fishing rod was sitting and quietly fishing.
It was Qin Yu.
A delightful sound passed through his lips, “Ho ho, I’ve got one,” with a deft movement of his hands, the fishing rod rose and a lively looking carp of about one and a half kilos broke through the surface of the pond.
“Ha ha. Mr. Liu, and Liu clan leader. I’ve been sitting here fishing for quite some time, and yet I haven’t even caught one. But the moment you came, a fish took the bait and I caught one. Makes you wonder how mysterious that is, eh?” Qin Yu casually flip the rod aside and dropped the fish into a nearby basket, then stood up from the stone bench. He looked up a smiled a greeting towards his latest visitors.
Ming Han laughed in return, “Luck has come your way Mr. Qin, and there be no stopping it.”
At one side of the pond, a fair bit away, two figures stood. They were precisely, Shuo Yan and Zang Yuan, who was snickering inwardly.
They both had one thought: “A fish has been hooked? Well, now, aren’t there two big fishes eagerly taking the bait?”
Qin Yu stepped forward and gestured politely, “Please sit,” to a round marble table with three marble stools. The moment, he had gestured, a maid stepped forward and set a matching tea set on the table with fresh tea. The three stools were taken by Qin Yu and his two guests.
Qin Yu was the first to take a sip from his tea cup. While drinking, he glanced at the two elders out of the corner of his eyes, then put down the cup and said lightly, “It has been, what, two months since our last meeting? I presume this time, the two elders have come because the preparations, of top grade holy elemental stones, are complete?”
Ming Han confirmed instantly. “The preparations are done.”
Qin Yu nodded and abruptly sighed with helplessness, “I must say, the two elders were quite slow in the up taking. During these passing days, my martial uncle has been busy collecting top grade stones, and as far as I know, he is not far from finished. The gap between have and need is much smaller. I do not know exactly how much my martial uncle has been able to collect, but I must say, if he is finished collecting, then even if you have the top grade stones, it would not sway my martial uncle.” He shrugged as if to articulate this helpless situation.
As he finished, the two elders rosy expression froze and fell.
They can understand that reasoning too. Their honoured guest’s martial uncle was in need of top grade stones to refine a hidden treasure, naturally, the man would seek them as well. Given the prowess of the other’s martial uncle, their collection speed should be quite fast.
“You should know that mere money would not sway my martial uncle, but it was only because I knew my martial uncle needed top grade stones to refine his hidden treasure. And, that was why I informed you two elders of such, but now…” Qin Yu sighed a second time.
Ming Han looked somewhat perplex, and hastily inquired, “And now it can’t be done?”
“Don’t worry, let me ask my martial uncle about it.” Qin Yu immediately took out the voice transfer talisman bead and pretended to use it. He did not actually use it, but it was important to portray that he was to complete the act.
Silence instilled.
All one could heard was the muffled ‘plopping’ of fish splashing in the pond.
And midst the soft ‘rustling’ of brushing bamboo leaves, swaying in the light afternoon breeze.
It was serenity.
However no one at the stone table was enjoying such natural splendour.
The two elders shifted nervously in their seats, but not from stone being uncomfortable but from anxiety. The two breathed in and out in shallow gulps of air, and waited with abated breaths. They stared with nervous anticipation at Qin Yu’s face, trying to decipher any signs of new information between Qin Yu and the martial uncle’s telecommunication.
Time slurred, and it felt like a year had passed, but in reality…
Only a short while had passed…
The first to shatter that silence was Ming Han. “Well, Mr. Qin, what is it? What did your martial uncle say?”
Qin Yu breathed out and said cheerfully, “It’s fortunate. My martial uncle wasted a lot of time collecting ‘Aquamarine Ores’ and did not have the time to collect much top grade holy elemental stones. It seems, there is hope.” He paused to a moment, and asked, “Oh that’s right, how many top grade stones did you bring?”
Ming Han gritted his teeth and exclaimed, “Forty pieces!” These forty pieces was exchanged with the sweat and blood of his family.
Qin Yu did a little whoop of joy inwardly, but on the surface, his face did not even twitch in the slightest. “Oh, just forty pieces? It seems there is only a moderate percentage to sway my martial uncle. On the contrary, my martial uncle cares for me deeply, so with my word, I’m confident my martial uncle would agree.”
While Qin Yu was pumping his fists in joy, Ming Han and the clan leader felt like a thousand needles stabbed into their hearts.
This was forty top grade holy elemental stones!
It was close to half of his entire family’s assets. The forty was scraped together by hastily instructing Yun Fan to exchange many lower grades and the meagre top grades that was originally in the warehouse. Only by summing up all these, did they come to forty pieces!
Qin Yu wore an innocent smile, and advised, “Elders please rest here for a few hours. Right now, it is around noon on the planet my martial uncle is on. And I know for a fact that my martial uncle’s mood is the most pleasant in the evening. Likely, the success rate is much higher than any other time. So elder please wait for a while.”
“As it should be, ha ha, it should be.” When the two elder had heard that the ‘highest success rate is when the martial uncle is most relax, which is in the evening,’ how could they not accept?
Presently, the two elders felt conflicted, “What to do about these forty top grade holy elemental stones?” They had sat on that question for a while now. If they gave these top grade stones to Qin Yu, they were worried the receiver would deceive them and flee. However, they were also worried they would insult Qin Yu, if they didn’t give the forty to Qin Yu.
A casual smile touched Qin Yu’s lips, he already knew why the two was looking so hesitant. “Elders please rest inside. Ha……as for the top grade stones, please hold on to them for the time being. When my martial uncle comes, you can personally hand it to him, this way you wouldn’t feel that I would cheat you of them.” He chuckled at the two elders’ demeanour.
The two elders hurriedly added, “We do not doubt Mr. Qin a bit.”
The elders then retreated to rest indoors. They had been conned into resting in the manor.
And what of Qin Yu himself?
He resumed to fish.
Only this time, he had a rosy and broad smile on his face, while his subordinates – Shuo Yan and Zang Yuan proceeded to howl with laughter and talk amongst themselves using voice transfer.
At around the appointed time, Qin Yu pretended to call his martial uncle with his voice transfer bead. In reality, he was instructing the manor’s maid, “Tell the two elders: it is time. Then tell them to come back here.”
“Yes, sire.” The maid curtsied respectfully.
In a short moment, Ming Han and the clan leader appeared in the clearing.
“How did it go?” Ming Han asked immediately.
Instantly a big grin broke apart on his face. “It is done!”
Ming Han and the clan leader looked at each other and also broke into a hysterical laugh. “Ka ha ha ha…” The two beamed at each other, and exclaimed, “From this day onwards, my family – Liu family, will be the top family in all of Amber Moon!” There wasn’t a trace of pain for using up forty top grade stones from earlier. There was only smiles and looks of joy, brimming full of excitement, but Ming Han did not forget to ask Qin Yu. “Mister Qin Yu, when will your martial uncle arrive?”
Qin Yu was also pleased, but for different reason, “My martial uncle is in the Silver Stream galaxy, and through the voice transfer talisman bead, he had already deciphered the location of Amber Moon. Using ‘greater teleportation’, he will come here immediately. I presume in an hour he will make his appearance.”
“An hour?” The rosy smiles on the elders face broadened to infinity.
If they could kill Yan Gao, then the Yan clan is finished!
“Two elders, I’ve said before, I will personally add another two more top grade holy elemental stones to your tribute. Here, this is the two top grade stones. When my martial uncle arrives, give these two with your forty to him. But, of course, do now say the extra two was from me.” Qin Yu handed two top grade stones to Ming Han.
When the two saw Qin Yu give two top grade stones and say not to tell his martial uncle, they could not help but feel moved. They had never have thought this ‘Mister Qin’ would be such an honourable and valiant person.
“No, this, how can we take this?” Ming Han abruptly refused. While Qin Yu wore a carefully displayed a well-designed angry expression and replied, “If you do not take it, then I would feel that you have not given me any face.”
At this, the two elders had no choice but to take it, but nevertheless felt even more grateful in their hearts for Qin Yu’s honourable personage.
In about an hour’s time…
Qin Yu secretly estimated that the time was nigh, and with a thought ––––––
A figure appeared in the air space above the clearing. The newcomer wore a flowing robe, had a ram-rod back and a stern posture, emanating a brilliant aura. On the newcomer’s back was the pommel and hilt of a magnificent golden long sword. Everyone in clearing could feel the unfathomable power of the newcomer’s gaze like a king looking down on his subjects.
Qin Yu instantly bowed and greeted his martial uncle, “Greetings to martial uncle.”
The two elders looked upwards as they got up from their seats, at Sword Immortal Lan Feng and curtly chanted, “Juniors, Liu Ming Han and Liu Yun Lu greets senior.”
The golden figure of sword immortal Lan Feng swept his cold gaze below to Qin Yu. “Martial nephew, did you say, to kill a level 6 golden sword immortal for forty-two top grade holy elemental stones?” Qin Yu hurriedly glanced at Ming Han and said, “That’s is correct. Mister Liu, please give the said amount of top grade stones to martial uncle.”
Ming Han could already feel the dominating aura from the golden sword immortal in the air space above. He, himself drew in a sharp breath and the prowess of this newcomer, and was certain a individual more powerful than Yan Gao. With poise, he wave his hand in a flourish, and in the air in front, forty-two pieces of top grade holy elemental stones appeared. “This is forty-two top grade stones, senior, please accept this humble gift.”
The golden sword immortal – Lan Feng, accepted and stored that allotted stones, and spoke. “I’ve accepted the forty-two top grade holy elemental stones. As such, I will kill this person you desired to die. Now, tell me about this individual.” The immortal’s cold voice boomed in the ears of all in the clearing.
The two elders was completely focused on the levitating immortal and did not notice the trace of mirth that danced playfully in Qin Yu’s eyes, nor the upward slant of his lips.
The entire forty-two top grade stones were already in his hands, and not one less. With that, he can freely use his immortal sword puppet for the time being……
Not to mention, he was about to go to the Yan clan to kill Yan Gao, whose clan will surly have no less amount of top grade holy elemental stones.
That very thought had brought illusionary fire-wisps to dance in his eyes.
Chapter 8: The Thirty-Six Rulers
“Senior, the target – Yan Gao, is a level 6 golden sword immortal and also is the Amber Moon’s Yan Clan’s great patriarch. Other than him, other people of the Yan clan aren’t worth mentioning. But, beware of one thing, senior. This Yan Gao is part of the Jade Sword School!” A middle-aged looking Liu Ming Han spoke.
“Jade Sword School?” The golden sword immortal Lan Feng frowned and narrowed his eyes, “What is this ‘jade sword sect’?” While the lofty immortal spoke, Qin Yu instantly felt annoyed at the elders, because previously they did not mention such thing.
“Yes, senior.” Ming Han continued, “The Jade Sword School is just a small faction within the immortal realm, but the master of the school is not an ordinary existence. He is a level 1 Mystic sword immortal.”
“A level 1 Mystic Immortal?” the Sword Immortal’s face fell and Qin Yu cursed in his heart.
One must know that his own immortal sword puppet was just a simple level 9 golden sword immortal, while the other was a level 1 mystic sword immortal. Though the level gap between only differs by one, that one step of power, from level 9 golden immortal to level 1 mystic immortal, is huge. Most people would know that there is a bottleneck every level of a normal, golden or mystic stage, but the bottleneck between stages is so much higher than levels within a stage.
Ming Han hurriedly added, “But, rest assured, senior would not suffer any repercussions from killing Yan Gao, whom the master of the Jade Sword School is not too concerned about. Additionally, no one would know, this I can guarantee and swear in heaven’s name.” Even he could tell the senior, who was a top class golden immortal, would be hesitant to act against a level 1 mystic immortal.
“Oh, it that so?” Lan Feng swept his cold gaze upon Ming Han, and in an equally cold voice, his said, “Is there any more to be said? I advise you to make sure every matter is explained to me crystal clear, or else if calamity comes, I will not still my hand. At that time, you better be careful that I won’t directly wipe your family off, from the face of existence.”
Ming Han trembled involuntarily as the cold gaze swept over his body. He felt, he could simply suffocate from that menacing aura. After all, the senior could casually kill a level 6 golden sword immortal, so eradicating the Liu family was as easy as flipping his hand.
The clan leader who was silent all this time, suddenly spoke, “I just remembered another thing. I remember hearing about Sovereign Yu of the Immortal Realm commanded eighteen emperors and thirty-six rulers, and of the thirty-six rulers, the master of the Jade Sword School was supposedly one of them.”
Qin Yu was shocked to hear such a phrase, “Sovereign Yu”, so soon. After residing in the Immortal plane for such a long time, he had finally learnt of some of the pillars of the powers under Sovereign Yu.
His thoughts was interrupted by an angry shout, “Martial nephew! What is going on here?? How did all this lead to Sovereign Yu, now!?” Lan Feng’s former smiles had gone, only a dark scowl remained.
Qin Yu snapped out of his panicky state, and hastily bowed. “Martial uncle please allow me to inquire this.” His gaze turned cold and locked onto the two elders – Ming Han and the Liu clan’s clan leader, “Elders, now is not the time to twaddle on truth. You’d best not hide any more information about this matter anymore.” Though he didn’t shout, but each word was punctuated by the serious expression on his face.
