C21 White

Each of these was significantly superior to what one might find in an ordinary weapon shop. For a disciple of the Swiftbreaker Sect, spending money on such mundane items was considered utterly absurd.

With this in mind, he stowed his Outer Sect identity card and disguised himself as a passerby, heading straight for the largest weapon shop in town. The reception was lukewarm; the clerk mentioned that the owner was in the back, forging weapons.

Activating his Goldfinger, he scanned the weapons. Each emanated a faint spiritual aura, yet none were close to the level required to condense a spirit. He shook his head in disappointment.

"Don't you have anything of higher quality in this largest weapon shop of yours?"

Fu Chengyang believed he had spoken courteously. The clerk yawned, opened his eyes with a languid look, and replied, "Everything of higher quality is over by the Heavenly Cabinet. Please, take a look at whatever you wish."

He glanced over at the Heavenly Cabinet, which displayed an array of shorter weapons like daggers and hidden blades, all neatly arranged in a clear display case. However, they lacked the spiritual essence he had seen in other weapons, leaving him greatly disheartened.

After a thorough search yielded nothing of interest, he was about to leave when something caught his eye—a lightweight dagger tucked away in the corner of the Heavenly Cabinet.

To his surprise, unlike the other items, this one bore no trace of spiritual aura and yet sat quietly in the cabinet, a piece deemed worthy of the prestigious Heavenly Cabinet.

"Could you please take out this weapon for me to examine?" Fu Chengyang asked, intrigued.

He was adept at discerning the quality of blades, but a weapon devoid of spiritual energy yet rated highly by the Goldfinger piqued his curiosity.

"The gentleman is interested in that one?" The clerk's face took on an odd expression.

Fu Chengyang nodded, scrutinizing the clerk's reaction, and declared with certainty, "That's the one I want."

The clerk hesitated briefly before responding, "I'm not authorized to make that decision. I'll inform the boss right away. Please wait here, sir."

Fu Chengyang noted the clerk's dramatic shift in demeanor upon his request for the dagger. Sensing there was more to the story, he simply smiled and followed the clerk to meet the owner.

It wasn't long before the owner emerged, giving Fu Chengyang a thorough once-over. Skepticism flickered in his gaze. Fu Chengyang stood tall, a relaxed smile playing across his face, hardly the image of one who would put a newly purchased blade to good use.

"You're the one interested in this dagger?" The owner's voice was gruff, grating on the ears.

Unperturbed, Fu Chengyang simply smiled back at the shopkeeper, seemingly oblivious to the undertone of distrust. He nodded with ease.

"Do you know the history of this dagger?" the owner pressed.

Despite his rugged exterior, the man was attentive. He gestured for Fu Chengyang to take a seat at the table and summoned a server to bring over two cups of tea.

Fu Chengyang remained silent, merely lifting the cup to his lips for a sip. The tea was crisp and clearly well-brewed, piquing his curiosity about the owner's background.

"Regardless, you're more acquainted with it than I am," Fu Chengyang finally spoke, after a moment's consideration.

"You're quite the smooth talker," the owner chuckled in response. "This dagger is nothing special. It was a gift from a close friend. It wouldn't really be proper to sell it."

"But then he made his fortune and wandered the world. Before he left, he told me to do as I pleased with this item. Times being what they are, I decided to put it up for sale."

"He used to rave about it, claiming it was an ancient relic. I was blind to its value until one night, it shone with a silvery light right there in its box."

The owner let out a sigh, his tone turning forlorn, "Rather than it gathering dust here, it's better off with someone who appreciates its worth. But since that strange night, the dagger hasn't glowed again."

"Plus, with its unremarkable appearance, it's mostly been overlooked by the common practitioners who frequent my shop. It's been here a long time without any interest."

"Since it's caught your eye, feel free to make an offer," he said generously, "After all, selling is all about serendipity."

"So, I can just name my price? Even if it means giving it away for free?"

After some thought, Fu Chengyang arrived at this astonishing conclusion.

The shopkeeper eyed him warily, wondering if he had misheard.

Here was a young and handsome man, yet his words were so brazen. Could he be a freeloader, looking to swindle his way to a freebie?

But Fu Chengyang was earnest. He was genuinely contemplating the idea of acquiring the weapon without parting with a single penny.

Money was tight, after all, and every penny saved was a penny earned.

"Is that not possible?" Fu Chengyang narrowed his eyes.

"Well, technically you're not wrong..." The shopkeeper was at a loss for words, utterly stunned. He reached out to grab his teacup for a soothing sip but his hands trembled, failing to secure a grip.

Fu Chengyang, devoid of any guilt associated with strong-arming, managed to walk away with the dagger after some haggling, without spending a dime.

A cause for celebration, indeed.

He examined the dagger in his hand as he strolled through the streets. The blade was cool to the touch and appeared unremarkable at first glance.

"Could I have been mistaken?" he pondered. An ordinary item amidst a collection of treasures had to have its unique qualities.

Besides, his Goldfinger couldn't possibly be wrong. He channeled a sliver of spiritual energy into the dagger, but it was like casting a stone into the sea—no response, as if it were indeed just a piece of scrap metal.

Had he misjudged?

With the Heavensfall Blade, once his strength reached a certain threshold, he would undoubtedly be able to wield it.

But with great power comes great risk. Before that, he needed to find a suitable weapon and quickly get his finances rolling.

His Shadow Steps technique excelled in surprise attacks, making swords and spears irrelevant to his current needs. Short-range weapons were now his optimal choice.

Yet this dagger remained unresponsive, presenting him with a dilemma—whether to sell it or to find a way to utilize it, either option was a headache.

After all, there's no point in passing up something that's free.

He slid the dagger into his storage bag with great satisfaction, completely oblivious to the dark red glow that emanated from the hilt the moment it was stowed away.