Chapter 26: Chapter 26: Hundred Waters Magic Disc

The bluestone streets of the Marketplace were damp with morning dew. Lu Zhao walked along, his mind still on the Cold Chilong Needle.

’What a shame!’

A barely perceptible trace of regret flickered through his mind.

Back then, he had been short on funds and could only watch as it lay in its brocade box at the Nine Abyss Pavilion.

Now that he had plenty of Spirit Stones, the weapon—forged specifically for Ice-Water Cultivators—had already been sold to someone else. On his way out, he had casually asked if the Cold Chilong Needle was still available, only to learn that the Magical Artifact had already been sold.

Changing direction, he walked toward the south side of the Marketplace, heading for a shop with a wide entrance: the Hundred Refinement Pavilion.

Compared to the somber, profound atmosphere of the Nine Abyss Pavilion, this place was far more straightforward. The Magical Artifacts gleaming coldly in the display cases were arranged like wares in a common blacksmith’s shop.

"Well now! Mr. Lu! What a rare sight!"

From behind the counter, a portly figure immediately approached, his face breaking into a wide smile.

It was none other than Shopkeeper Liu of the Hundred Refinement Pavilion. He wore an ocher-colored silk shirt, his greasy fingers habitually twirling a few sparse whiskers that resembled a rat’s. A pair of small, shrewdly gleaming eyes were set in his round face, and the tip of his nose had a reddish tint from years spent near a furnace.

The last time Lu Zhao had come to inquire about the price of a few Magical Artifacts he’d acquired, he had stormed out in disgust at the shopkeeper’s low offer.

Seeing him again now, Shopkeeper Liu’s enthusiasm was tinged with a forced familiarity and an imperceptible scrutiny. "Are you here to look at some wares again today, Mr. Lu? Or perhaps..." His small eyes darted to Lu Zhao’s face, probing.

"Shopkeeper Liu."

Lu Zhao’s expression was impassive. He gave a slight nod. "I’d like to speak somewhere private, if you please."

"Of course, of course! This way, please!" Shopkeeper Liu’s eyes lit up. He hurried out from behind the counter and led Lu Zhao through the main hall into a more elegantly appointed Quiet Chamber.

The room was furnished with a sandalwood table and chairs, and a landscape painting with a serene, distant mood hung on the wall, insulating them from the noise outside.

Just as they took their seats, a serving girl in a simple, elegant green robe entered silently and served two cups of Spirit Tea. The brew was a vibrant green, with steam rising in a misty haze, carrying a faint, calming fragrance that cleared the mind.

Shopkeeper Liu picked up his cup, blew the froth from the surface, and looked at Lu Zhao with a grin. "Mr. Lu, for you to grace my humble shop today, you must have some big business for me. Or could it be... you’re looking to sell some useful items?"

He’d been thinking about the Magical Artifacts he failed to acquire from Lu Zhao last time.

Lu Zhao lifted his teacup, feeling the smooth, warm porcelain with his fingertips. The corner of his mouth curved into a faint, almost imperceptible smile. He didn’t answer, simply taking a light sip of tea.

He set down the cup before speaking slowly. "You’ve misunderstood, Shopkeeper. I’m here today because I’m looking for a suitable weapon."

The smile on Shopkeeper Liu’s face didn’t falter, but a flash of understanding and deeper interest crossed his eyes. A buyer, after all, was always more welcome than a seller.

"Oh? And what kind of Magical Artifact are you looking for, Mr. Lu? Offensive or defensive? What about its attribute? And do you have a specific tier in mind?"

"Tier One Middle-Grade, Water or Ice Attribute," Lu Zhao said, his voice steady as he met Shopkeeper Liu’s gaze. "It should be for offense and have a high degree of Sharpness."

"Understood! One moment, Mr. Lu!" Shopkeeper Liu’s spirits lifted, and he immediately rose to leave the room.

Before long, he returned, personally carrying a tray lined with soft brocade. Four Magical Artifacts, all shimmering with Spirit Light, were arranged neatly upon it.

Jade Wave Needle: A foot-long short spike, its entire body resembling Deep Sea Cold Jade—translucent and deep blue. A cold gleam is concentrated at its tip, never dispersing, and the body of the spike has faint, rippling water patterns. It emanates a sinister, sharp aura and specializes in piercing Protective Spiritual Light. Upon penetration, it inflicts a cold poison that slows the victim’s meridians. Price: 105 Spirit Stones.

Profound Ice Cone: Three ice-blue, sharply angled cones, each the size of a pigeon’s egg, floating above a special leather holster. When activated, they strike as fast as lightning, containing explosive Ice Power. Upon impact, they detonate into shards of Ice Blades for area-of-effect damage. Price: 100 Spirit Stones.

Water-Splitting Needle (Pair): A pair of smoothly curved short blades, as thin as a cicada’s wing, with flowing water patterns on their surface. Light and swift, they can draw in water to form a cutting Force Field when swung, making them ideal for close-quarters combat. Price: 110 Spirit Stones.

Cold Flood Dragon Scissors: A pair of massive, menacing shears, their entire surface covered in fine ice scales. The light that flashes from them as they open and close is blinding. They are heavy and powerful, specializing in severing Magical Artifacts and tearing through Armor. They also have a powerful freezing and immobilizing effect. Price: 120 Spirit Stones.

Shopkeeper Liu introduced them one by one, his tone filled with pride. "Please take a look, Mr. Lu. These are all top-shelf items from our collection! The Jade Wave Needle is sinister and cunning, the Profound Ice Cone has astounding explosive power, the Water-Splitting Needle is agile and swift, and the Cold Flood Dragon Scissors are simply tyrannical! I’m certain one of them will be to your liking!"

Lu Zhao’s gaze swept over the four Magical Artifacts like a bolt of lightning. ’The Jade Wave Needle is too insidious. The Profound Ice Cone consumes too much power and is difficult to control. The Cold Flood Dragon Scissors are too cumbersome and don’t suit my combat style.’

In the end, his eyes settled on the pair of Water-Splitting Needles, which were as thin as autumn water and held their Spirit Light within. ’Light, swift, and in harmony with the flow of water.’ They were exactly what he wanted, and the price was reasonable.

"I’ll take the Water-Splitting Needles," Lu Zhao said, pointing to the pair of curved short blades.

"An excellent choice, Mr. Lu!"

Shopkeeper Liu clapped his hands in praise. A shrewd glint flashed in his eyes, and he lowered his voice. "However... since you specialize in the Water Element, I happen to have another, rather ’special’ Magical Artifact here. It might be of even greater help to you than a simple Attacking Spiritual Artifact."

"Oh?"

Lu Zhao raised an eyebrow, his interest piqued. "And what might that be?"

Shopkeeper Liu gave a mysterious smile, turned, and from an inconspicuous ebony box in the corner of the Quiet Chamber, carefully retrieved an object.

It was a circular disc about the size of his palm. The material was neither gold nor jade, but seemed to be a type of deep, cyan-colored jade that felt smooth and slightly cool to the touch.

The surface of the disc wasn’t smooth. Instead, it was covered in countless fine, intricate, spiraling water patterns, layered one upon the other, as if a miniature maelstrom had been sealed inside.

In the center of the disc was an embedded Crystal Stone, the size of a grain of rice, that pulsed with a soft blue light like the eye of the storm. The entire Magical Artifact emanated a strange rhythm, seeming to resonate faintly with the ambient moisture in the air.

"This item is called the Hundred Waters Magic Disc."

Shopkeeper Liu’s voice took on a serious tone. "It is a rare auxiliary Magical Artifact for spellcasting, also at Tier One Middle-Grade."

Seeing Lu Zhao studying it intently, he continued to explain, "This disc doesn’t attack enemies directly. Instead, it enhances the power of Water or Ice Attribute Magic cast by a Cultivator."

"When Casting with this disc, your Magical Power flows more smoothly and your Magic condenses faster. According to its creator, it can increase the power of your spells by up to thirty percent!"

"Thirty percent?"

Lu Zhao was inwardly shaken. ’A thirty percent increase in a spell’s power... in a battle between Cultivators of the same tier, that’s enough to be a decisive advantage.’

"Precisely!"

Shopkeeper Liu nodded. "And the most brilliant thing about this disc is that, like the infamous Hundred Souls Banner of the Demon Dao, it has the potential to grow."

He deliberately mentioned the Hundred Souls Banner to emphasize the disc’s potential.

"You just need to continuously find and refine various kinds of ’Spirit Water’ that contain Water Element Essence—things like Cold Pool True Water, water from an Earth Vein Yin Spring, or even the Essence Blood of powerful Water Attribute Demon Beasts. By integrating them into the disc, you can gradually raise its tier and enhance its effects."

"In theory, if you can find enough rare Spirit Water, it’s not impossible to nurture it to Tier Two, or perhaps even higher!"

His tone shifted, taking on a hint of regret. "Unfortunately, an artifact that specializes in spell Enhancement and requires specific resources to nurture is a hard sell. Here in Changfeng County, where Magical Artifacts and Talismans are the mainstream, very few people can recognize its true value."

"Combined with the difficulty of finding Spirit Water, its reputation isn’t great, so the price... well, it’s quite a ’bargain.’" He held up two fingers. "Only ninety-five Spirit Stones."

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