CHAPTER 488: CHAPTER 235: CHANGING MINDSETS (REQUESTING MONTHLY PASS)

Grandmaster Martial Arts, or a Great Grandmaster explaining the Martial Dao—both were exactly what the Qingyu Sect currently needed. Even though it was once a Supreme Sect, the Qingyu Sect’s resources at the Great Grandmaster level were still extremely scarce. During the last black market auction, the Qingyu Sect hadn’t dared to bid for Grandmaster Martial Arts. There was no other way. The previous Grandmaster, Yun Dingtian, had not been dead for long. Although the Qingyu Sect had a new Grandmaster to succeed him, it lacked a Grandmaster Peak powerhouse to defend it. It was important to understand that a sect possessing the resources and heritage of a Supreme Sect, yet lacking the protection of a top-tier fighter of equivalent status, was tempting prey for certain other sects. With the Heaven Alliance’s affairs preoccupying others, no other sects had paid attention to the Qingyu Sect for the time being.

At this time, if the Qingyu Sect acquired Grandmaster Martial Arts, it would undeniably re-enter the spotlight. For this reason, they hadn’t even sent anyone to participate in the black market auction; the goal was to let the Qingyu Sect fade from everyone’s view and develop securely. Only after another Grandmaster Peak powerhouse emerged could they hope to return to their peak.

Now, with the Qingyu Sect able to connect with the Demon-Subduing Division, the deterrent power was much greater than that of a single Grandmaster Peak expert, so there was no longer any need to be so low-key. If they could also obtain Grandmaster Martial Arts and have a Great Grandmaster explain the Martial Dao, it would be an enormous boon for the Qingyu Sect.

Yun Yi was certain that the Qingyu Sect would undoubtedly seize a significant opportunity because of this decision. Even hundreds of years later, they would continue to enjoy the benefits this boon brought. If someone in the Qingyu Sect was bold enough to take this opportunity and make a breakthrough to the Great Grandmaster realm, then that would be even better.

Suppressing the excitement in his heart, Yun Yi said, "May I ask, Lord Shen, how exactly are these merit points calculated?" This time, his speech was even more respectful. He was certain that the Qingyu Sect’s future would depend on the Demon-Subduing Division or, more accurately, on this Lord Shen. Their outward attitude had to be impeccable.

Shen Changqing said, "A Ghostly Level Fiend is worth one Pulse Condensation Merit Point, a Resentment Level Monster is worth one Innate Merit Point, a Fiend Level Strange Monster is worth one Grandmaster Merit Point, and a low-ranking Demon Evil is worth ten Grandmaster Merit Points.

"In addition, every ten Pulse Condensation Merit Points can be exchanged for one Innate Merit Point, and so on. Finally, ten Grandmaster Merit Points can be traded for one Great Grandmaster Merit Point.

"Each Grandmaster Martial Art must be exchanged using Great Grandmaster Merit Points. A Lower Quality Grandmaster Martial Art requires one Great Grandmaster Merit Point, and a Superior Grade Grandmaster Martial Art needs three Great Grandmaster Merit Points.

"If you want this official to come to the Qingyu Sect to give a lecture on the Dao, it will also cost three Great Grandmaster Merit Points.

"So, what does Elder Yun think of this?"

After pondering for a long while, Yun Yi hesitantly said, "I have heard that the Yuanyang Auction House is now purchasing Demon Evil externally. A Fiend Level Strange Monster starts at one million taels, and if it’s a powerful Fiend Level Strange Monster, the price can reach several million taels. Three Great Grandmaster Merit Points to exchange for a Superior Grade Grandmaster Martial Art—doesn’t that seem a bit too high?"

By this calculation, to exchange for a Superior Grade Grandmaster Martial Art with Shen Changqing, it would cost at least thirty million taels of silver to start. During the black market auction, the peak transaction price was only a little over ten million taels of silver; the price here was more than double. If the Qingyu Sect were to capture more powerful Fiend Level Strange Monsters, the loss would be even greater.

Hearing this, Shen Changqing spoke unhurriedly, "Elder Yun, there’s one thing you seem to misunderstand: the price of Grandmaster Martial Arts at black market auctions doesn’t represent much. There’s a saying, ’available for a price but not on the market,’ something you should be quite aware of."

Available for a price but not on the market!

Yun Yi’s eyes flickered briefly. He pondered the meaning behind the other party’s words, yet he couldn’t be certain of its extent.

At that moment, Shen Changqing continued, "This official can tell you responsibly that in the future, there won’t be many new Grandmaster Martial Arts up for auction. Even if other newly emerged Great Grandmasters appear, they might have one or two Grandmaster Martial Arts to offer, but certainly not many. Given the multitude of sects in the world, you can understand just how scarce one or two Grandmaster Martial Arts would be without me needing to explain. As for Superior Grade Grandmaster Martial Arts, no one except this official will be able to offer them in the next hundred years."

He said this assertively. In the world today, there were only two Great Grandmasters, let alone others. Lower Quality Grandmaster Martial Arts might be manageable; if a Great Grandmaster truly dedicated themself to research, creating one or two wouldn’t be a major issue. However, Superior Grade Grandmaster Martial Arts were not something ordinary Great Grandmasters could create. Moreover, the time invested was beyond what ordinary people could fathom.

And there was another crucial point: a common ailment among all martial artists was hoarding one’s treasures. The martial arts one created were almost never shared with others but were passed down within one’s own lineage. To tell the truth, if he had created the Grandmaster Martial Arts himself, Shen Changqing wouldn’t easily auction them off either. To put it another way, even if it was through panel fusion, if he only possessed one or two Grandmaster Martial Arts, he still wouldn’t offer them up.

To put it bluntly, he auctioned Grandmaster Martial Arts entirely because he felt they weren’t of great importance to himself; rather than letting them go to waste, it was better to auction them. But now, Shen Changqing had a change of thought. He realized that rather than auctioning Grandmaster Martial Arts and having the Yuanyang Auction House help purchase Demon Evil, it would be better to connect directly with those sects.

In this way, not only would he continuously obtain Demon Evil, but he could also use this opportunity to take control of those sects, making them part of his power. In the long run, as the Defender Envoy of South Nether Prefecture, he would truly live up to the name.

Shen Changqing hadn’t thought of this approach initially, but the idea had sprung forth immediately after Yun Yi’s visit. Indeed, this course of action would undoubtedly maximize benefits, with advantages far surpassing those from a direct auction.

Yun Yi fell silent. He knew that what Shen Changqing had said was indisputably accurate. Grandmaster Martial Arts had a price only because the other party was willing to offer them. That is to say, if Shen Changqing chose not to release any more Grandmaster Martial Arts, then even with silver in hand, acquiring such martial arts would become virtually impossible.

At the same time, Yun Yi discerned another implication in Shen Changqing’s words: the Grandmaster Martial Arts in the other’s possession far exceeded what had been offered during the auction. A profound shock suddenly seized his heart. If one or two Grandmaster Martial Arts could perhaps have been created by this individual himself, then more than a dozen were certainly beyond the scope of a single person’s creation. Behind this individual lay secrets beyond his wildest imagination.

Shaking his head inwardly, Yun Yi dared not contemplate further. Such matters were not for a Grand Elder of the Qingyu Sect like him to consider. Upsetting this person could reduce the Qingyu Sect to ashes in an instant. After musing for a moment, Yun Yi nodded and said, "Lord Shen, since you’ve put it this way, the Qingyu Sect would appear unappreciative if I still refused. Given the circumstances, let us proceed according to your wishes!"

In the end, he chose to agree. There was no choice; the temptation offered was simply too great. Yun Yi was unwilling to miss any opportunity that might strengthen the Qingyu Sect.

Upon hearing this, Shen Changqing also smiled. "Elder Yun, rest assured. This official always stands by his word. As long as merit points are available, this official can provide any martial arts resources you need. Even martial arts surpassing the Great Grandmaster level are not out of the question." He then threw out an even greater temptation.

Martial arts surpassing the Great Grandmaster level! Yun Yi’s pupils visibly contracted. He wasn’t at all clear about what martial arts beyond the Great Grandmaster level entailed. However, Yun Yi could guess one thing: whoever possessed martial arts beyond the Great Grandmaster level—did it indicate that the person had already surpassed Great Grandmaster strength? Or perhaps, the person bore such a legacy that, in the future, there was a great possibility of breaking through barriers and advancing to an even more powerful realm.

If that were true, then Shimohe of the Heaven Alliance would be nothing but a joke. At this thought, Yun Yi immediately felt fortunate about his decision.

Looking at the person opposite him, he cautiously inquired, "May I ask, Lord Shen, what exactly is the level of martial arts that surpasses the Great Grandmaster realm?"

"You will know when the time is right. As long as the Qingyu Sect truly serves this official, this official will not treat you unfairly," Shen Changqing stated indifferently.

He did not reveal the existence of Divine Skills because there was no need to. Sometimes, keeping a sense of mystery was necessary. Revealing a little now was merely to make the other party understand that the benefits of allying with him were not as simple as one might imagine. As long as Yun Yi was not foolish, he would grasp the underlying message.

「After a long while」

The two conversed further, and eventually, Yun Yi stood up to take his leave. His main purpose for this visit was to express the Qingyu Sect’s stance. Now that he had achieved his desired outcome, there was no reason to linger.

Before departing, Yun Yi asked, "Lord Shen, once my sect captures Demon Evils, how should we deliver them to you?" Unless Lord Shen stayed in the Demon-Subduing Division all the time, meeting him wouldn’t be easy.

"Hand them over to the Demon-Subduing Division. This official will make the necessary arrangements. Concerning the merit points for the Qingyu Sect, this official will also record them precisely, without missing a single one," Shen Changqing replied with a light smile.

Seeing this, Yun Yi was reassured. "Very well, then this old man shall take his leave. Once back, the Qingyu Sect will certainly do everything possible to capture Demon Evils."

"Then this official shall await good news from the Qingyu Sect."

With that, Xing Yi, who had been waiting by the door, escorted Yun Yi out.

Returning to the courtyard, Shen Changqing glanced at Tiankui and sat back in his original seat, contemplating other matters. The Qingyu Sect will be one of my sources for Demon Evils in the future. Now, it might be time to reach out to the other sects of South Nether Prefecture that have not yet allied with the Heaven Alliance.