On the way to the Firmant Chamber of Comrce's palace, they passed down a street lined on both sides with vendor stalls.
During the Stone Gambling Convention, both stall owners and bargain hunters were noticeably more nurous than usual.
Fang Chen's eyes lit up like a starving man spotting a feast. He instinctively slowed down, activating his Aura Sight, scanning each stall one by one.
Fang Luo and Fang Qiufeng, knowing him well, smiled knowingly and also slowed their pace, intrigued by the impromptu hunt.
On occasion, the two of them also got lucky—picking up hidden treasures for a low price on a whim.
There were far too many stalls here. Since Fang Chen ca often, he already knew which items were permanent fixtures. With his Aura Sight, he simply scanned for anything new.
Strolling casually, they passed more than a hundred stalls. Fang Chen had inspected countless items before finally spotting sothing.
He approached a modest stall where a stone slab served as a table. The stall owner was a plump man with a round face and a perpetual smile, his eyes squinting into near-invisibility as he bead.
"You three brothers, take a look—see if anything catches your eye. Prices are negotiable!"
Fang Chen nodded calmly.
With years of experience in treasure-hunting, he had reached a state of "returning to simplicity"—his expression and posture giving nothing away.
Few stall owners could glean any clues from his behavior. He always seed inscrutable.
No one understood the art of treasure-picking better than Fang Chen. His mastery wasn't sothing the average person could hope to attain.
The stall owner instantly realized—this was no ordinary custor.
Fang Chen picked up a gray formation diagram roughly the size of a washbasin and got straight to the point.
"How much?"
All the usual bargaining tricks—feigning disinterest, picking sothing else first, making a small purchase to mask the true target—Fang Chen had done them all. Many, many tis.
Frankly, he was tired of them.
Better to keep things simple and direct.
The round-faced vendor began, "This is an ancient formation diagram obtained from a primordial ruin. According to ancient texts, this formation can—"
"Just tell the price," Fang Chen interrupted impatiently, giving the seller no room to pitch or embellish.
After all, he had heard lines like that countless tis before. He was long past caring for the sales talk.
The vendor gave an awkward laugh, raised three fingers, and said, "Three hundred top-grade spirit stones."
Pfft…
Though their faces remained calm, Fang Luo and Fang Qiufeng nearly burst out laughing.
They had seen all kinds of stall owners across the continents—but never one this shaless.
To quote such a ridiculous price without even the slightest embarrassnt, with such practiced naturalness, as if it truly reflected the value of the formation—was a feat in itself.
Three hundred top-grade spirit stones was a significant sum, even in Seven Kings City.
Such a price might be fair for gear used by a Saint-level cultivator—but for an unknown, likely-useless old formation? No sane person would go for it.
Fang Chen's expression was as calm as still water.
He replied softly, "I'll take it—for one superior-grade spirit stone."
"No, no, no, that's too low!" the round-faced vendor shook his head like a rattle-drum.
"You have to understand, this was recovered from a Primordial Era ruin. Many powerful cultivators perished just to retrieve this diagram. Its value—"
Just as he was about to start another dramatic monologue, Fang Chen cut him off again.
"Earlier you said it ca from an Archaic Ruin. Now you're saying it's from a Primordial Ruin. There's quite a difference between the two."
"Is that so?" The vendor's round face flashed with a hint of embarrassnt—but it vanished in an instant.
Just as Fang Chen was about to buy it outright—
A voice nearby rang out, bland and unconcerned: "One hundred top-grade spirit stones. I'll take that formation."
The four of them turned toward the source.
The vendor was all smiles, visibly delighted. Fang Chen, however, frowned slightly.
The speaker was a tall, handso man clad in a flowing golden robe, exuding nobility and power. Golden dragons swam in his eyes, and his aura was like a vast abyss—like a dormant primordial beast, poised to awaken.
Behind him stood three attendants—one woman, likely a maidservant, and two n who appeared to be guards.
The vendor clearly recognized this was no ordinary figure and imdiately flattered him.
"Very good, young master! Thank you for your generous patronage!"
The regal man didn't spare a glance at the vendor or Fang Chen. He simply turned and walked off.
His maid produced a pouch of spirit stones and handed it to the vendor, who bowed deeply and respectfully presented the formation diagram.
Everything unfolded smoothly and naturally.
If not for the fact that Fang Chen had been there first, there would have been nothing unusual about it.
Fang Chen observed the entire scene silently, without a word or change in expression.
Monts earlier, Fang Luo had sent him a voice transmission:
"That man is the Fourth Prince of the Tianhui Imperial Court—one of the main contenders for the position of crown prince. Try not to stir up unnecessary trouble."
In a past life, when Fang Luo had left Cangzhou and begun traveling the realm, it had already been late. By then, this very prince had succeeded in the power struggle and beco the crown prince of Tianhui.
To erge victorious in an imperial succession battle ant possessing an exceptional combination of background, talent, fortune, and strategy. Such a person was not to be taken lightly.
And with their current situation in Seven Kings City—where even survival was difficult—they could not afford to provoke trouble over sothing so minor.
Fang Chen replied via transmission, "It's fine. That formation wasn't all that important. He can have it."
From his years of treasure-hunting, Fang Chen could tell there was sothing special about the diagram—possibly an inner realm hidden within.
But overall, it wasn't particularly valuable. It had caught his interest, but compared to the other treasures in his collection, it was nothing.
Letting it go made little difference.
The round-faced vendor tried to smooth things over. "Sorry, little brother. I just wanted to make a bit more profit. Take a look—maybe sothing else here interests you. I'll give you a discount."
Fang Chen simply shook his head. The three of them turned and walked away.
In Fang Chen's long experience of treasure-picking, he had seen all sorts of situations.
This wasn't anything worth rembering.
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