Chapter 222: Reckless Decision


    After finalizing the details of the transaction with Shangguan Wen and paying a deposit, Meng Zhang bid farewell and left. He strolled through the Firewell Market without buying anything. His next stop was Great Wind City, where he was exposed to various goods, broadening his horizons. As a result, he became less interested in ordinary items.


    The Earthfire Sect, one of the top refining sects in the Endless Sea of Sand, was highly skilled in the art of crafting magic tools. The only limitation was their inability to produce Third Rank or higher magic tools due to theck of a Gold Core Daoist Master. They were renowned for their exceptional First Rank magic tools and even some outstanding Second Rank ones. Unfortunately, the Endless Sea of Sand was impoverished and couldn''t provide enough refining materials.


    The Earthfire Sect only sold a limited number of their refined magic tools, keeping most of them for themselves or providing them to powerful factions and friendly sects. They also had to give a portion to the Flying Swan Sect as offerings. The few high-quality magic tools that did leave the sect were usually auctioned to earn substantial spirit stones.


    As for the magic tools sold in shops, they were mostly of average quality, and their prices were exorbitant. Fine flying swords, being the mostmon magic tool in the Cultivation World, were in high demand among cultivators. The Earthfire Sect had no trouble selling their top-notch flying swords.


    If it weren''t for Shangguan Wen''s intention to befriend Meng Zhang, he might not have agreed to a private transaction. After his stroll, Meng Zhang returned home.


    Back at the Taiyi Sect, knowing he was about to obtain a new Second Rank flying sword, he decided to deal with the deteriorating Crimson ze Sword. He had advanced the Blood Refining Martyr Art he practiced during the Foundation Building stage, now bing a Second Rank spell. To perform the blood refinement with this Second Rank spell, he needed a Second Rank magic tool in good condition, unlike the First Rank stage, where any tool would do.Throughout the entire Endless Sea of Sand in the Cultivation World, Second Rank magic tools are far from abundant. Many Foundation Building stage cultivators with limited financial resources don''t have suitable Second Rank magic tools and have to make do with ordinary ones.


    Even though Meng Zhang currently has enough wealth, he isn''t willing to spend a fortune on a Second Rank magic tool that will be consumed as a one-time use item. Now that the Crimson ze Sword is useless, he decides to utilize the Blood Refining Martyr Art to refine it.


    It takes Meng Zhang more than half a month toplete the blood refinement process. He estimates that after the Crimson ze Sword is sacrificed and detonated, it would be equivalent to a full-force attack of an average mid-level Foundation Building cultivator.


    Meng Zhang waits in his sect for nearly two months until the agreed-upon time arrives, and then he takes the Crimson Feather Eagle and rushes to the Firewell Market.


    Shangguan Wen, as the elder responsible for external affairs in the Earthfire Sect, spends most of his time at the Earthfire Sect''s outpost in the Firewell Market. When Meng Zhang meets him, Shangguan Wen''s face looks embarrassed, almost avoiding direct eye contact with Meng Zhang.


    Seeing this, Meng Zhang already knows that there''s a problem with the agreed-upon transaction. He understands that this matter cannot be easily dismissed, so Shangguan Wen has no choice but to be honest about it.


    "Sect Master Meng, I''m truly sorry. The flying sword you reserved has been bought by someone else."


    "As for the deposit you paid, our sect will surely refund it with interest."


    Shangguan Wen speaks with a tone of guilt and deep apologies.


    "I wanted the flying sword; I don''t need this deposit," Meng Zhang says with frustration. Although the Earthfire Sect holds significant power and ranks high among the vassal sects of the Flying Swan Sect, this time, Meng Zhang is in the right and doesn''t n to let this go easily.


    "Brother Shangguan, I trusted the Earthfire Sect''s reputation when I paid the deposit and made the deal."


    "You casually break your word and vite the agreement; it''s simply uneptable."


    "Sect Master Meng, it''s all my fault. If you want to scold or me someone, me me. I ept it all. It''s all my fault for not thinking carefully before taking action, leading to this mistake."


    Shangguan Wen keeps apologizing and speaks kind words. Despite being just a Refining Qi stage cultivator, his status in the Earthfire Sect is special, and he wields considerable authority. Even some Foundation Building stage elders cannot influence him with their words. Meng Zhang has no choice but to deal with him calmly.It wouldn''t be right to scold or physically harm someone just because they broke their promise. If Meng Zhang were to do that, he would risk offending the Earthfire Sect. Last time, the Earthfire Sect unterally terminated the mineral trade with Taiyi Sect due to a ban from the Flying Swan Sect, causing a lot of inconvenience. And now, within such a short period, they''ve stood Meng Zhang up again. The blood-refined Crimson ze Sword is now unusable, causing him significant trouble. Unfortunately, in the Cultivation World, strength reigns supreme, and while the Earthfire Sect is powerful, Taiyi Sect is too weak. Reluctantly, Meng Zhang has to swallow his pride.


    However, that doesn''t mean he''ll just let this slide. He needs to get to the bottom of things and find out who the mysterious person is that made the Earthfire Sect break the deal.


    "Shangguan Elder, I''d like to know who this powerful individual is that could make the Earthfire Sect sabotage our agreed-upon deal?"


    Shangguan Wen hesitates, unsure if he should tell Meng Zhang.


    "Shangguan Elder, I admit that I''ve learned a lesson from this incident, but the Earthfire Sect cannot leave me in the dark about it."


    Meng Zhang''s tone is now filled with suppressed anger.


    After some contemtion, Shangguan Wen realizes that he can''t risk offending Meng Zhang, considering that Taiyi Sect is currently supplying a significant amount of minerals to the Earthfire Sect. So, he reluctantly gives a somewhat evasive response.


    "The day before yesterday, when the flying sword was sessfullypleted, Zhao Jiudou from the Flying Swan Sect War Hall happened to visit our sect. He took a liking to the flying sword and insisted on buying it."


    "I didn''t want to sell it to him initially, but Zhao Jiudou is a disciple of Zhao Liefeng, an elder of the Flying Swan Sect War Hall. It wouldn''t be wise to offend him, especially during wartime. If I refused the deal, and the Flying Swan Sect War Hall requisitioned the flying sword in the name of war, we couldn''t refuse."


    Shangguan Wen tells the whole story without concealing anything, but he ces all the me on Zhao Jiudou from the Flying Swan Sect, portraying the Earthfire Sect as an innocent victim.


    Meng Zhang wonders whether Zhao Jiudou intercepted the deal intentionally or if it was just coincidental. Regardless, he notes it down in his mind.


    Zhao Jiudou is not a decent person, and neither are the people from the Earthfire Sect. After listening to Shangguan Wen''s exnation, Meng Zhang decides not to waste any more words, withdraws the deposit, and leaves directly.


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