Star Martial Era: The Way of Star Light Cultivation

Chapter 518: Chapter 220 New Combined Star Skill

”Lord Xu, I’ve received reliable information that a sword-type Star Artifact will appear at tonight’s auction. However, since it’s an auction, the information about the items is general and not specific. My advice is for you to make a trip there yourself,” said Vice Hall Master Ling Mao from the Foreign Affairs Hall.

”Is it within the city or outside?” Xu Jin asked.

”Lord Xu is concerned about safety, right? It’s inside Wanyi City, within the auction house, which should be absolutely safe, as that’s their reputation. But on the way...”

On the way, Ling Mao couldn’t guarantee safety.

In recent times, there had been several lockdowns, especially after the assassination incident at Cangming Star Hall. Although the lockdowns were lifted, no one could guarantee complete safety.

”If Lord Xu is concerned about safety, I can go on your behalf,” Ling Mao suggested.

”I’ll go myself. Besides, it’ll be an eye-opener. I haven’t attended an auction in Wanyi before,” Xu Jin said.

After the last attempt on Zhang Zhen’s life, the National Taoist Institute had imposed another three-day lockdown, which was lifted after three days, and everything returned to normal.

Cheng Yuxiao had specifically told Xu Jin that he could now move freely in and out of the National Taoist Institute, but he still needed to be cautious.

It was said that all parties had been appeased and similar assassination incidents wouldn’t occur, but that couldn’t be completely guaranteed.

It was advised that if Xu Jin needed to leave the Institute, he should send a Starlight Transmission to Elder Peng, who would arrange for the Pill Dawn Guard to protect him covertly, and if leaving Wanyi, he should definitely consult Elder Peng.

”That’s good. Wanyi’s auctions still have many fine items. Most are from the Galaxy Battlefield, and there are many bidders. If you go, Lord Xu, you’d better prepare ample Starlight.

The auction only accepts Starlight transactions,” Ling Mao said.

Xu Jin was about to discuss this, when, during their conversation, he took out the Flame Burst Emblems he had made over the past four days.

He was originally going to take out eighty, but for bidding, Xu Jin decided to bring out all the Flame Burst Emblems he had made in these four days.

A total of ninety-five.

Fifteen third-tier middle-grade and eighty third-tier top-grade Flame Burst Emblems.

Xu Jin’s generosity no longer surprised Ling Mao. There were actually a lot of young people focused solely on making money.

But after thinking it over, Ling Mao gave Xu Jin some advice.

”Lord Xu, the third-tier middle-grade Flame Burst Emblems have a purchase price of 300 Taoist Merits each; I can purchase them directly. However, these third-tier top-grade Flame Burst Emblems are quite in demand. My advice would be to put them up for auction on the spot once you get to the auction.

The bidding will at least be a bit higher than the National Taoist Institute’s buying price, with the lowest bid being around thirty-five strands of Starlight each. The proceeds from the auction can be used directly for transactions at the auction and will also save you a transaction tax.”

Xu Jin naturally followed this excellent advice.

But Xu Jin did some calculations. Even if all eighty top-grade third-tier Flame Burst Emblems were auctioned, that would only amount to around 2,800 strands of Starlight. Adding in his own inventory, it just exceeded three thousand.

But it was still quite far from being ample.

”Then... Hall Master Ling, I’d like to exchange some Taoist Merits for Starlight to ensure I’m sufficiently prepared,” Xu Jin said.

”That’s not cost-effective.”

Ling Mao shook his head, ”Exchanging Taoist Merits for Starlight is at a ratio of 10 to 1, but Star-picking Tower directly deducts a ten percent transaction tax. It’s not a small amount.

If I were to lend you some, I’d also have to directly deduct a twenty percent personal transaction tax.

How about this, I go with you, then bridge the monetary gap, so there will be no need to pay taxes.”

”This, then I’ll have to trouble Hall Master Ling,” Xu Jin hesitated for a moment, then agreed.

He already owed Ling Mao quite a few favors; one more wouldn’t make much difference, and he could repay him later.

That was also Ling Mao’s intention.

Otherwise, why would he be so kind to Xu Jin?

Xu Jin was well aware of this.

Help from someone like Ning Yuchan, who sought nothing in return, was extremely rare, so Xu Jin cherished it greatly.

But Xu Jin had no demands of his own.

In this world, if someone helps you, they’re giving you a favor; if they don’t, they’re just following duty.

Even with expectations, one must remember this kindness.

”It’s no trouble. Tonight at the auction, I will directly pay for you, Lord Xu. Afterwards, you can just repay me with Emblems, saving us both some taxes and making it more convenient!” Ling Mao said.

”Okay.”

There and then, Xu Jin handed over the fifteen third-tier middle-grade Flame Burst Emblems to Ling Mao, and also bought one hundred third-tier Star Jades.

[Taoist Merit:17981 points.]

Lately, Xu Jin was earning fewer and fewer Taoist Merits.

To Xu Jin’s surprise, after completing the transaction, Ling Mao told him to wait for a moment as he was going to apply for permissions.

Before long, Ling Mao returned and handed Xu Jin a token.

The token was blue, with intricate patterns and a large seal character on it: Fourth Tier!

”What’s this?”

”I meant to tell you last time, according to the unified regulations of this world and the Galaxy Battlefield, successfully making ten third-tier Emblems grants one the identity of a low-tier third-tier Emblem Master, which isn’t of much use.

According to the unified regulations of this world and the Galaxy Battlefield: selling over a hundred third-tier middle-grade and top-grade Emblems, including over fifty top-grade, entitles one to acquire the Fourth Tier Emblem Master identity token ahead of time.

Your last two sales just happened to exceed a hundred, and there are records within Star-picking Tower, so I applied directly through permissions for your Fourth Tier Emblem Master identity,” Ling Mao explained.

Looking at the token in hand, Xu Jin casually tucked it away, not placing much importance on it.