Chapter 229: Selling Magical Artifacts, Buying Materials

The next day, Zhao Zuo took several Upper Grade Magical Artifacts to the Spirit Treasure Pavilion to sell. Meanwhile, Shen Yunjiao was responsible for selling the Middle Grade and Lower Grade Magical Artifacts at various other shops. The two had agreed that after all the artifacts were sold, they would meet in a private room at a teahouse to divvy up the final profits.

With his Honored Guest Elder Token, Zhao Zuo proceeded unimpeded to the Third Layer of the Spirit Treasure Pavilion, where he found Zhou Qingning attending to her work. It was the same room as last time, but the sandalwood incense in the air was slightly different, now carrying the proud, solitary fragrance of plum blossoms in the snow.

Zhao Zuo couldn’t help but think, ‘This fragrance really suits Zhou Qingning’s personality and temperament.’

“If you wish to trade Magical Artifacts, you can go to the first floor and sell them yourself,” Zhou Qingning said coolly, slightly raising her eyes. Her tone was even—she had seen through the face hidden beneath Zhao Zuo’s Hundred-Change Mask.

“I came here to sell some Upper Grade Magical Artifacts,” Zhao Zuo said.

“Understood. Take them out and let me see.” Zhou Qingning showed no surprise.

“These…” Zhao Zuo handed over the Storage Bag containing the Upper Grade Magical Artifacts. Zhou Qingning accepted it with considerable composure, taking a mere two seconds to complete its Refinement. A sweep of her Divine Thought revealed the Magical Artifacts inside. A flicker of surprise crossed her perpetually serene face, but it vanished in an instant.

“These Magical Artifacts are rather interesting,” Zhou Qingning remarked.

She was clearly aware of the “encounter” Chen Xiaorong had on her way back. The moment she saw those Magical Artifacts, she had guessed their origin, as well as the extent of Zhao Zuo’s involvement in the matter.

Aside from that one flicker of surprise, Zhou Qingning’s expression remained otherwise unchanged—serene and composed.

“Just a small harvest,” Zhao Zuo replied with a faint smile, showing no sign of smugness.

Zhou Qingning withdrew her gaze from Zhao Zuo and began to inspect the Magical Artifacts. She took them out one by one, examining each carefully with her Divine Thought. In about a minute, she had finished her evaluation.

“For all these Magical Artifacts together, I can give you ninety-eight thousand Spirit Stones,” Zhou Qingning said.

“Can’t you make it a bit more?” Zhao Zuo asked tentatively. In truth, the number was already close to his expectations, but a little back-and-forth was just part of doing business.

“No. I’m not good at haggling. This is the highest price,” Zhou Qingning said coolly.

“Very well.” Zhao Zuo nodded and didn’t object further. Even if other places might offer a slightly higher price for these Magical Artifacts, the Spirit Treasure Pavilion was the safest and most reputable place in the entire Moyun Market. Selling the artifacts here carried no risk.

“Here are ninety-eight thousand Spirit Stones.”

Zhou Qingning placed the Magical Artifacts into her own Storage Bag, then took a large quantity of Spirit Stones from it and transferred them into the empty bag before handing it back to Zhao Zuo.

“Alright.” Zhao Zuo didn’t leave immediately. Instead, he used his Mana to open the Storage Bag and did a quick count of the Spirit Stones inside to confirm the amount was roughly correct before he finally relaxed.

It wasn’t that he didn’t trust the Spirit Treasure Pavilion’s reputation; it was mainly that this was a huge sum of Spirit Stones—the largest amount he had ever handled since he transmigrated.

Zhao Zuo turned and left the small room, the joy on his face no longer possible to conceal. His mouth stretched into a wide, uncontrollable grin, as if he’d just won the lottery.

‘HAHAHAHAHA!’ he roared with laughter in his heart. He left the Spirit Treasure Pavilion with a steady pace, his stride powerful and confident, projecting an air of magnificence… and the smug face of the nouveau riche.

On the first floor, with a grand wave of his hand, Zhao Zuo bought another Hundred-Change Mask, as well as the materials needed to upgrade it to an Upper Grade Magical Artifact. This was the gift he had promised Shen Yunjiao.

‘Of course, I’ll be collecting a small, insignificant processing fee.’

In the private room of the teahouse, Zhao Zuo was patiently drinking tea and waiting for Shen Yunjiao. She had more items to deal with, and the process was more complicated, requiring her to visit different shops to sell them, so naturally, it would take her a bit longer.

After about the time it takes to drink three pots of tea, Shen Yunjiao opened the door to the private room and sat down opposite Zhao Zuo. She first gulped down several cups of tea before finally speaking.

“I got thirty-four thousand Spirit Stones for my batch. How about you?”

“Ninety-eight thousand Spirit Stones,” Zhao Zuo said nonchalantly.

“This is amazing!” Shen Yunjiao’s face instantly broke into a smile, the kind that was impossible to control. Her grin was huge, and even though she quickly covered her mouth with her hand, a “haha” sound still escaped.

“Is this small amount of Spirit Stones really worth getting so excited about?” Zhao Zuo said, maintaining his nonchalant act.

“Oh, cut it out. You think I don’t know you? You must have laughed your fill on the way here, right?”

Shen Yunjiao said, looking at Zhao Zuo who was forcefully holding back his laughter, casually calling out his pretense.

“Haha, you saw right through me.” Zhao Zuo no longer tried to hide it and burst out laughing.

“According to the distribution ratio we agreed on, I need to give you another eighteen thousand eight hundred Spirit Stones.” Zhao Zuo poured a large pile of Spirit Stones from his own Storage Bag, confirmed the amount with a quick glance, and handed them to Shen Yunjiao.

“Alright. Here’s seven thousand for the custom mask,” Shen Yunjiao said as she accepted the Spirit Stones, then took out a portion and handed them to Zhao Zuo.

“No problem. I’ll get you the Hundred-Change Mask within three months.”

Zhao Zuo nodded. He had already bought the materials needed for the upgrade. All that was left was the step-by-step process of increasing its experience points through use to advance it. Coupled with it running twenty-four hours a day, three months would be more than enough time for it to advance into an Upper Grade Magical Artifact.

“Okay, it’s a deal,” Shen Yunjiao nodded in agreement. She picked up her teacup again and took a small sip. The joy in her eyes quickly faded as she fell silent for a few seconds before continuing to speak.