Qin Xiao also knew that some words were inconvenient to speak publicly, so he didn't dwell on it further and continued watching the auction.
Qin Xiao didn't make any more bids in the subsequent auctions. Some items were useless to him, and the useful ones were already possessed by Yun Man and Lin Shimeng, so he simply didn't bid.
However, the final auction item was quite good, a powerful sword technique manual, which Qin Xiao ultimately secured for four hundred fifty million.
Only the three major Sects competed for it, but after reaching four hundred million, they also felt it wasn't worth it. After all, their own Sects already had similar techniques, they just wanted more variety, and four hundred million was already the limit.
After the auction dispersed, the other forces didn't linger, heading instead to the City Lord Manor, as there was still the City Lord Manor's banquet-this was also a traditional event.
The two Luo sisters and Cang Chen also left; they too had to attend the banquet with their elders. At banquets, wouldn't they have to flatter each other a bit, praising each other's disciples? Yet every time they fought the next day, no one showed mercy, beating each other to death.
The entire fourth-floor private room now only had Qin Xiao, Yun Man, and Ling Ruoxue remaining. Qin Xiao had Lin Shimeng go find Lin Tiancheng first, saying they might arrive late.
"Now that everyone here is one of us, can you tell us?"
Qin Xiao was also curious-what exactly was this Black Tortoise Armor?
"Don't rush. You haven't settled the payment yet-twenty billion total. Will you pay in Spirit Stones or exchange with items?"
Ling Ruoxue shook her head-he hadn't even paid the money yet and wanted to inquire about information?
"Wait a moment, let me calculate first."
Qin Xiao currently didn't even have twenty million Spirit Stones on him, let alone twenty billion, so his first thought was to exchange with Spirit Liquid. One drop of Spirit Liquid was valued at thirty thousand, meaning he'd need sixty-six thousand six hundred sixty-seven drops-that was way too much.
"Young Miss, I wonder if I can exchange with other items? Although Spirit Liquid isn't scarce, it's troublesome, and too much Spirit Liquid appearing at once wouldn't be easy to sell, right?"
Qin Xiao thought about it-releasing so much Spirit Liquid at once might also affect market conditions.
"Don't worry about that. It's not too much, not too much at all. No need to sell it-our Merchant Association can absorb it all ourselves."
Ling Ruoxue had come specifically for Qin Xiao's Spirit Liquid-how could she consider it too much? She wouldn't even want Spirit Stones instead.
"What if there's something better than Spirit Liquid?"
After saying this, Qin Xiao took out two Saint Origin Spirit Fruits.
"What? How do you have these things? If others knew about these, unless you hide in the Tianyuan Sect forever, you'd be captured as soon as you stepped out. You actually have two of them?"
Looking at the two Saint Origin Spirit Fruits in Qin Xiao's hands, Ling Ruoxue was directly frightened, saying with an incredulous expression.
"This, how should I put it, these were also left behind by my master. They might have been obtained accidentally, or perhaps leftovers-I don't know either. I wonder if these two can settle the payment?"
Qin Xiao randomly fabricated an explanation-anyway, there was no witness to disprove it.
This was also a decision Qin Xiao had made after thinking for a long time. His trust in Ling Ruoxue was quite high-firstly, because of her background, as she probably wouldn't rob him for two fruits; secondly, because he was her brother's lifesaver; and thirdly, because of Yun Man's relationship with Ling Ruoxue. That's why Qin Xiao decided to test things with these two fruits.
There were definitely risks, but not significant ones. Moreover, there would be more Saint Origin Spirit Fruits to dispose of in the future. If he could establish a connection with Ling Ruoxue, then Manager Wu Li could serve as a backup line.
"Are you sure you want to pay with these?"
Naturally, Ling Ruoxue didn't believe Qin Xiao's fabricated reason, but she didn't care either. As long as Qin Xiao was willing to give them, she dared to take them.
"Of course I'm sure. This item auctions for over ten billion each. Two covering twenty billion isn't taking advantage of you. If they were actually auctioned, they'd only go higher."
Qin Xiao directly handed the two fruits to Ling Ruoxue.
"Fine. Considering your sincerity, I'll kindly tell you."
Ling Ruoxue directly placed the Saint Origin Spirit Fruits into her Storage Bag, afraid that if she moved slowly they'd disappear. Only after confirming they were safely stored did she intend to tell Qin Xiao about the Black Tortoise Armor.
"This Black Tortoise Armor is one of the Four Sacred Set."
Subsequently, Ling Ruoxue didn't waste words and directly told Qin Xiao.
Turns out the Four Sacred Set has four pieces total. Legend says that when all four are activated together, they're comparable to an Immortal Artifact. Whether that's true or false is unclear; after all, the last time the Four Sacred Set was simultaneously activated was nobody knows how many years ago.
Besides the Black Tortoise Armor, the Four Sacred Set also includes the Azure Dragon Crown, White Tiger Sword, and Vermilion Bird Boots. The other three pieces have also disappeared into the long river of history.
On the same level as the Four Sacred Set is the Qilin Robe, rumored to be stored in the Supreme Heavenly Dynasty's treasury, always kept there, never bestowed.
As for the Four Sacred Set, each piece alone is at the Top Grade Dharma Treasure level, with auction prices starting at hundreds of billions. Yet Qin Xiao managed to get a bargain.
However, these two damaged pieces wanting to combine into a complete Black Tortoise Armor requires inviting a top-tier Master. The Master's labor fee is also measured in billions. After all, being part of the Four Sacred Set, repairs are exceptionally complicated-ordinary people truly can't fix it well.
As for why the Black Tortoise Armor became damaged, that's unknown. Judging from the damaged areas, it seems to have been shattered by someone. Having such capability, in the present day, probably only the Celestial Emperor and Celestial Empress.
Otherwise, ordinary cultivation levels couldn't damage this Top Grade Dharma Treasure. If it were a complete Four Sacred Set, one could even exchange blows with the Celestial Emperor, since it can reach Immortal grade.
"Really? You're making me dizzy with this talk. If this thing is so powerful, how did it end up in your hands?"
After listening, Qin Xiao only felt that this thing didn't seem that amazing. It could exchange blows with that Celestial Emperor, so how did it shatter?
"Believe it or not, anyway that's what the records say. I'm just telling you."
Ling Ruoxue also didn't know the specifics, but what she saw recorded was like that-believe it or not.
"Then where do I find such a Master? Although two damaged pieces can make do, they're ultimately just a Middle Grade Dharma Treasure and a Low Grade Dharma Treasure. If they can't be repaired, I don't feel like I got a bargain."
Qin Xiao said helplessly.
He thought buying them would allow immediate combination-turns out they need someone to repair them. That's nonsense. With his current strength, taking such a high-level item for repair, could he even get it back?
"What? You want repairs? After repairs, are you sure you can retrieve it?"
Ling Ruoxue naturally also thought of this point, thus teasing him.
"This is like saying nothing at all. Seems there's no way currently-we'll talk about it later."
Qin Xiao also knew that with his current strength, having this thing in hand isn't a treasure-it's a coveted hot potato everyone wants. Better hurry to find the Sect Leader, otherwise he won't feel secure.
"However, it's not impossible. If our Immortal Dao Merchant Association sends it for repair, naturally it can be retrieved. But this service fee is a bit expensive."
Ling Ruoxue said this intending to squeeze more from Qin Xiao.
"What do you mean? You can help me repair it? How much money?"
Qin Xiao also understood Ling Ruoxue's meaning-she wanted money.
"Not much-ten billion, or one Saint Origin Spirit Fruit."
Ling Ruoxue directly quoted the price.
"Why don't you just rob me? Buying it cost only a few Spirit Stones, yet the intermediary fee is this expensive? Are you a shady middleman?"
Qin Xiao couldn't accept this price-the intermediary fee was nearly two-thirds of the item's value, not to mention the repair fee-more than double.
"Robbery isn't as fast as asking you. Just say if you'll repair it or not. If not, you better hide it well. Many people know you won this item. Once the news spreads, even the Tianyuan Sect might not protect you."
Although Ling Ruoxue wanted to squeeze him, she was also speaking truthfully-this news would eventually leak.
"Damn, I thought I got a bargain, turns out it's a hot potato."
Qin Xiao was also helpless-what kind of situation is this?
"So, give the items to us for repair. I'll publicly announce that this item is indeed the Black Tortoise Armor and has been entrusted to our Merchant Association for repair. Once it's not on your person, there's no danger. Later, when repaired, with this thing protecting you, you won't fear ordinary people. The Black Tortoise Armor's defensive power can even block Great Ascension stage attacks."
Ling Ruoxue continued persuading Qin Xiao. After all, having this thing now brings no benefit. Although a Middle Grade Body-Protecting Dharma Treasure is good, it can't withstand Soul Formation stage or even Body Integration stage attacks.
"Deal!"
Ultimately, Qin Xiao could only grit his teeth and agree, giving Ling Ruoxue another Saint Origin Spirit Fruit, along with the two Black Tortoise Armor damaged pieces, because he had no choice.