Chapter 2479 — The Fight for the Blue Crystal (Part Two)
The Blossom Guardian · Page 1 of 2
Yet there were exceptions. If a vast quantity of blue crystal had been added to a divine weapon during its forging, then once the forging succeeded, an Earth Rank expert could likewise channel true qi into it—though how much true qi it could take depended on how much blue crystal had been mixed in.
Small as the fragment in Yang Qiqi's hand was—scarcely enough for anything, truly—it was still priceless, a treasure any Earth Rank expert would give his eyeteeth for. Advancing from Earth Rank to Heaven Rank was, as a rule, a grueling ordeal, and so Earth Rank experts hoarded such things without cease, in the hope that before they broke through they might taste, just once, the majesty of a divine weapon.
Blue crystal? Wei Zhao's heart gave a violent lurch. He had never imagined Yang Qiqi carried such a prize, and the surprise was considerable—enough to change his mind about keeping clear of other people's troubles. Whether Yang Qiqi lost out or not was a matter of little concern to Wei Zhao, but this blue crystal he was determined to have.
"So that means you do not want the Minor Qi-Gathering Pill?" The beanpole flicked his wrist and plucked the pill back, tucking it into his pouch. Only then did the crowd understand that the beanpole had never intended to pay even with the Minor Qi-Gathering Pill—he meant to rob her outright.
Yet even an outright robbery drew no protest. After all, the thing was not theirs; if it was taken, it was taken.
"You... I..." Tears welled in Yang Qiqi's eyes. She was no internal expert; a Minor Qi-Gathering Pill would not raise her to Earth Rank. Trading blue crystal for a Minor Qi-Gathering Pill was a ruinous loss, but refusing it would be a ruinous loss and then some. So Yang Qiqi nodded, sick at heart: "I want it!"
"You want it? Too late!" The beanpole grinned. "You did not want it a moment ago, and now I will not give it!"
"Give it to her!" Wei Zhao could not stomach another moment of it. Bullying was something he knew how to do, but he bullied only those who had wronged him; those who had never done him harm, he never treated so. This beanpole before him was the very embodiment of the four words "pushing a man too far."
"You... who are you?" The beanpole had not expected anyone to meddle. He had done this sort of thing more times than he could count, and never once had anyone stepped forward. But he was not afraid. He let his early Earth Rank strength show, and looked at Wei Zhao with a cold smile: "Are you certain you want to stand up for her?"
To the beanpole's mind, Wei Zhao was a hotheaded fool; once he displayed his strength, the man would surely slink off with his tail between his legs. But to his astonishment, Wei Zhao was utterly unfazed. He simply reached into the beanpole's pouch, drew out the box holding the Minor Qi-Gathering Pill, tossed it to Yang Qiqi, and said, "Take it. Next time, do not trade with the likes of him."
"Oh..." Yang Qiqi was a little put out, thinking to herself: why had Wei Zhao not taken back her blue crystal? Why give her the Minor Qi-Gathering Pill instead? What sort of man was this, helping only halfway and leaving the rest undone? Still, Wei Zhao had helped, and unwilling as she was, she had to accept it: "Thank you..."
Seeing that his aura of intimidation had no effect, the beanpole frowned. After a moment's hesitation, he gave up pressing Yang Qiqi for the Minor Qi-Gathering Pill and turned to Wei Zhao: "All right, you have had your fill of meddling. I am leaving!"
"Since when are you my 'I'?" Wei Zhao frowned and gave a cold snort.
"I... hm, boy, I warn you, keep out of other people's business. I am not alone!" The beanpole had more or less guessed that Wei Zhao was likely an Earth Rank expert too—his aura had left the man wholly untouched. But he was not afraid, for he had two brothers, all three of them Earth Rank experts, and they had deep roots besides; that was what made him so brazen: "Mind you do not get yourself barred from the market!"