Chapter 123: Sold at a Loss

The value of a favor lies entirely in whether the other party is willing to help you.

When they don’t want to help, it’s worth nothing.

If I don’t end up getting the Yang Stone, whether Nantian Wang would even acknowledge that favor is uncertain.

Jiang Changkong’s strength was decent, but he wasn’t arrogant enough to think he could snatch the prize among a crowd of geniuses from major provinces.

“Let’s be clear first—I’ve already agreed to Chu Yunhe’s challenge. It’s a duel that decides both victory and life.

If I win, I get five spots, plus five hundred low-grade fifth-tier Star Stones.

My wager is three spots, but I don’t have any spots left on hand right now.”

Jiang Changkong laid out the situation.

Nantian Wang laughed. “Do I doubt your strength? Chu Yunhe isn’t much stronger than Chu Tianyun.

Tell me, if you win, how many spots can you give me?”

“If I win, I’ll be taking a few people in myself. I’m not sure yet how many I can spare,” Jiang Changkong said.

“Can you definitely spare three?” Nantian Wang pressed.

“Definitely,” Jiang Changkong replied.

With five spots, his Martial Arts Association counted as six people, and Tang Ruoxi had already gone to Anding Province.

That left the two senior sisters, Yang Chengan, and Pang Yun—plus himself, exactly five.

And given the changes in the Starlight Distortion Land, they might not even go.

So, three spots could definitely be spared.

Nantian Wang’s plump face broke into a wide grin. “Good. Three spots, five hundred low-grade fifth-tier stones—I’ll provide the five hundred.”

“Wait.”

Jiang Changkong shook his head. “Besides the five hundred stones, they’re also wagering their own spots. Even if divided, they’d get three.”

Nantian Wang’s smile stiffened. You greedy bastard, trying to raise the price again.

“Then how much do you want?” Nantian Wang scoffed.

“Look, so many geniuses want them. How about we organize an auction? I’ll give you one spot for free?”

Jiang Changkong smiled. “I may not know the geniuses from major provinces, but I’m sure the principal can still contact some people.”

Nantian Wang said discontentedly, “I know you’re trying to drive up the price. Cut the nonsense and just name a number.”

As long as it could be solved with money, it wasn’t a problem for him.

If he could get the Yang Stone, he’d be willing to spend any amount.

“Look, they’re wagering three spots plus five hundred low-grade fifth-tier Star Stones against me.

I won’t ask for much—just one thousand.”

Jiang Changkong held up a finger. “Spots are in high demand right now.”

Yang Chengan opened his mouth, about to say something, when Nantian Wang spoke first.

“Deal.”

Nantian Wang waved his hand and took out piles of Star Stones, all low-grade fifth-tier.

After handing them over, he glanced at Jiang Changkong smugly, his eyes brimming with amusement.

Jiang Changkong: “…”

How rich are you, damn it?

Wait—had he forgotten that Nantian Wang was a partner of the Yaoguang Chamber of Commerce?

A chamber of commerce from a major province, with business spanning multiple provinces—this guy was a super-rich tycoon.

How had he only asked for a thousand stones?

Jiang Changkong immediately put on a righteous expression. “Let’s trade after the duel is over. How can I accept payment before I even have the spots?”

“I trust Brother Changkong’s character. Take them,” Nantian Wang insisted, shoving the Star Stones into his hands.

Trying to delay so you can raise the price later?

Not happening.

Jiang Changkong sighed softly. “You’ve misunderstood me. I just think it’s better to exchange goods for payment directly.”

He genuinely meant it, but Nantian Wang had assumed the worst of him.

“With your strength, you’re sure to win the final battle. I’ll be there to watch.

Besides, when I buy things, I prefer to pay first.”

Nantian Wang said with a smile, “Hurry up and take it.”

“Changkong…”

“Senior Yang, have some tea, have some tea.”

Nantian Wang picked up the tea and placed it in his hand: “It’s settled then, farewell.”

After saying that, he quickly ran out of the private room.

“Is there really such a hurry?” Jiang Changkong muttered.

Yang Chengan said with a dark expression, “You sold it too cheaply, of course he’s in a hurry to run.”

“Too cheap?” Jiang Changkong was stunned.

“Never mind the Star Stones, even if you brought out a single drop of blood, that would at least be worth ten bottles of Fifth Rank Mid-Grade potions.

A hundred low-grade Star Stones could easily buy two bottles of Fifth Rank Mid-Grade potions, but for three quotas, you only brought out two drops of blood?”

Yang Chengan covered his forehead and said, “If he’s lucky, even if he doesn’t get the so-called Yang Stone, just other treasures would make him a huge profit.

And now, because of the Yang Stone matter, these quotas are extremely popular. They can easily be sold at inflated prices.

Your price averages three hundred and three Star Stones each, and you didn’t even ask for a favor.”

Jiang Changkong: “…”

I had no idea about the market price. Usually, I just convert everything based on Essence, Qi, and Spirit.

That damn fatty, no wonder he insisted on stuffing the Star Stones into my hands.

“Are Fifth Rank Mid-Grade potions really that expensive?” Jiang Changkong rested his chin on his hand, surprised. “Fifty low-grade stones for just one bottle?”

“The higher the rank, the more expensive things get. But what use are Star Stones anyway? Pure Star Power can be found anywhere.

Of course, that’s not to say Star Stones are useless. I only know that for those major powers, high-grade Star Stones are the real treasure.”

Yang Chengan rolled his eyes and said, “Your thousand Star Stones are roughly equivalent to one or two bottles of Fifth Rank High-Grade potions.”

Jiang Changkong: “…”

So, the Martial Arts Association’s points are extremely valuable?

“Senior, you really know the market well,” Jiang Changkong said, resting his chin on his hand.

“Not bad. I learned from getting burned too many times,” Yang Chengan replied.

Jiang Changkong looked at the Star Stones. It was clearly impossible to go find Nantian Pang now.

He never expected the gap to be this huge.

Fifty low-grade Star Stones equaled fifty thousand Essence, Qi, and Spirit, yet they only exchanged for a potion worth two thousand Essence, Qi, and Spirit?

That’s twenty-five times the value!

Yang Chengan picked up a Star Stone and continued, “Of course, it also depends on the person. In Jiangshui City, it’s hard to sell at a high price.

But that fatty just now is from a Major Province. Just these three quotas, even at inflated prices, would easily add at least five hundred more.

For a Starlight Distortion Land quota from a Major Province, you can’t even buy it with Star Stones.”

As he spoke, Yang Chengan opened his phone, which displayed a website with various shops.

They sold weapons, potions, and the like.

“Look at this, Fourth Rank Top-Grade bottleneck potion, used for breaking through the Star Gate. The price is five hundred Fourth Rank Top-Grade Star Stones.”

Jiang Changkong was stunned. A Fourth Rank potion to break through barriers and advance to the Star Vault was indeed good.

But five hundred stones? Isn’t that too exaggerated?

His mind was in a mess. He really was a poor bastard, a clueless poor bastard.

But then again, it made sense. With Star Stones, they could only absorb Star Power.

But these potions were different. Some could refine Star Power, some could break through major realm bottlenecks.

Some could rapidly increase cultivation speed, while others strengthened the body, and so on.

Star Stones, in contrast, had become the most ordinary thing.

No, I must build the city quickly and sell it for a high price.

“Are we still drinking this tea?” Yang Chengan asked.

“Pack it up, let’s take it back and try it all,” Jiang Changkong said. “Let’s not think about it anymore. If it’s a loss, then it’s a loss.”

Yang Chengan nodded. “Actually, it’s not too much of a loss. It depends on the person and the location. The place is too small, which also limits the price of items.”

Jiang Changkong nodded. This thousand Fifth Rank Low-Grade Star Stones also amounted to a million Essence.

Enough for him to reach the peak of the Star Gate.

The two packed up the tea and went to find their two senior sisters.

Nantian Wang watched their departing figures, laughing so hard his body shook.

“Young master, what are you laughing at?” a middle-aged man asked, looking at him strangely.

“A thousand Fifth Rank Low-Grade Star Stones bought three spots,” Nantian Wang said, holding back his laughter.

Then, the middle-aged man shook with laughter alongside him. “In Anding Province, it seems someone offered a thousand Fifth Rank High-Grade Star Stones for one spot.”

“That guy only recognizes Star Stones. I even prepared an extra thousand Fifth Rank High-Grade ones, but in the end, a thousand low-grade ones were enough, and he didn’t even want the favor.”

Nantian Wang laughed even harder, until he finally burst into loud laughter.