Chapter One Hundred and One: Forced Purchase

Qin Jing could tell at a glance that the three of them belonged to the same circle of supernaturals, with some degree of acquaintance and an easy exchange of favors and goods. That was probably the norm in the age of spiritual energy awakening. In an era when ghosts, monsters, and all manner of uncanny things roamed abroad, everyone needed some measure of support.

"I hear that Boss Qin has all kinds of supernatural items here. Might we take a look at a few?"

As Zou Yichen stepped into the shop, his brows knit almost involuntarily. Among the three of them, he was the strongest in cultivation, and so he had always regarded himself as the leader. After hearing Ma Tong's account today, he had not believed a word of it. Even when Ma Tong produced some spirit rice and spirit spring water, he still thought the whole thing looked suspicious.

And for good reason: Zou Yichen knew that things like spirit rice were far too precious. Even the most powerful factions might possess only a little of it. In such circumstances, it could be bought with money? Impossible.

From that, he had concluded that Ma Tong had been beaten by Qin Jing today. As the boss, of course he had to stand up for his subordinate. So his visit today had really been made with the intent to pick a fight.

"Take a look?"

Qin Jing glanced unhappily at Ma Tong. What was going on here?

Ma Tong's heart lurched. He had not expected his boss to undermine him the moment he arrived. He hurriedly smoothed things over. "Brother Qin, the boss doesn't understand the situation here. He's just too shocked. It's hard for him to believe you actually have so many good things."

By the end, Ma Tong gritted his teeth and said, "Brother Qin, how about you take out some spirit rice and let the boss broaden his horizons?"

Zheng Shoucheng also looked toward Qin Jing. He was, in truth, full of anticipation for this visit. He had once been a wastrel, the sort of man who drifted through life in a wealthy family doing little more than eating and waiting to die. But with the advent of spiritual energy awakening, he had suddenly awakened supernatural power and even cultivated all the way to Supernatural Level Two. With his rising status, his ambition had swelled as well. Since his "talent" was so extraordinary, why should he not fight for more resources from the family? He had come today with a buying-spree mentality, provided Qin Jing truly had that many good things.

This was the first hurdle: not only did he have to overawe these people, he also had to set the shop's position correctly from the very beginning.

Qin Jing thought this to himself. He held a very high standard for his shop and intended to turn it into a top-tier establishment where every item was exceptional and every good was hard to obtain. But creating such a shop was hardest at the outset. Just like now: if he yielded to their expectations and produced something good, his posture would be set too low. Yet if he refused, and they questioned him, could business still be done?

"Spirit rice and the like are too ordinary. What I have here are the real treasures. For example, there are snacks that can change a person's aptitude, materials that can be forged into supernatural items, and even the legendary storage pouch. But there are two conditions."

"First, these things are extremely precious, and I accept only money in exchange, so the figures involved will be a little high."

"Second, since Mr. Zou wants to see them, I can certainly bring them out. But if you request a specific item by name, the inspection fee is doubled, and you must buy it. Mr. Zou, do you confirm that?"

Having said that, Qin Jing looked directly at Zou Yichen.

But Qin Jing was only a Level One Supernatural in the end, and his aura was somewhat thin, so Zou Yichen did not take him seriously at all. He was convinced Qin Jing was making a show of mystery, and naturally he was not afraid. He laughed and said, "As long as you can produce it, I'll buy it."

Qin Jing gave him a long, deep look, then waved a hand.

A white man appeared behind him, holding up a tray with three items on it.

Ma Tong swallowed hard. Anything Qin Jing was willing to call a good thing had to be extraordinary. The price, then, had to be astronomical.

Thinking of that, he tugged at Zou Yichen and whispered, "Boss, have you brought enough money?"

The corner of Zou Yichen's mouth twitched, but he did not answer. Money? Did something like that need to be prepared? If it was truly a good thing, you just took it. Ma Tong really was too weak. For a Level One Supernatural, that was all he amounted to.

Qin Jing lifted the red cloth from the tray and pointed to one of the items, a piece no larger than a fingernail.

"This is Miracle Magic Shark Fin. It can greatly improve a person's aptitude. Based on my own calculations, just this tiny amount is enough to equal the physical enhancement effect of advancing from ordinary to supernatural. As everyone knows, how far a supernatural can go is closely tied to his foundation. Miracle Magic Shark Fin is a supernatural item that increases a supernatural being's depth and potential."

Zou Yichen drew in a sharp breath. He stared fixedly at the Miracle Magic Shark Fin, feeling as though his saliva might start to run. This thing actually had such miraculous effects?

"How much?" Zheng Shoucheng asked Qin Jing with visible tension. He could feel the dense spiritual energy radiating from it.

"Five million RMB per gram. This piece is two grams, so only ten million."

"I'll take it!"

Before Zheng Shoucheng could speak, Zou Yichen made the decision on the spot. He then looked at the other item and asked, "Is this the storage pouch?"

Qin Jing introduced it. "Its proper name is the Purple-Gold Ice-Silk Magic Bag. It is not a storage pouch in the traditional sense, because its storage space is not very large, about ten cubic decimeters. But it has another use: it keeps items in a fixed state. For example, if you put a bowl of freshly cooked hot porridge inside, then when you take it out, what you eat will naturally still be hot porridge. Very useful for daily life."

Seeing Qin Jing's solemn expression, Ma Tong was speechless. Then he asked with a grin, "You wouldn't use it to carry food, would you?"

Qin Jing shrugged. "Its storage space is relatively small. It's actually quite good for cooked food. If spirit rice gets cold, the taste isn't as good. Cook it and put it into the bag, and it works perfectly."

The other three were rendered speechless.

For heaven's sake, it was a storage pouch!

For any supernatural being, something with a name like "storage pouch" was always a symbol of status and prestige. Yet here Qin Jing was, planning to use it for food?

Zou Yichen stared at the beautifully crafted bag, even inlaid with many mysterious patterns, and asked, "How much is it? May I try it in my hands?"

He could still accept the earlier snack, but this storage pouch was far too fantastical. Did such a thing really exist in this world?

"Purple-Gold Ice-Silk Magic Bag. Its value is one hundred million RMB."

Qin Jing looked at Zou Yichen expressionlessly. "Since Mr. Zou asked me to bring it out, then naturally it is yours."

Ma Tong and Zheng Shoucheng both changed color. Only then did they remember that Zou Yichen and Qin Jing had been at odds before. Could it be that Qin Jing had deliberately brought out the storage pouch? After all, if it truly was as miraculous as Qin Jing described, then a value of one hundred million did not seem impossible.