Chapter 496 Simple and Direct

On the way to the palace of the Azure Firmament Merchant Guild, they passed a street lined with stalls.

During the Stone Gambling Convention, there were more vendors and treasure hunters than usual.

Xu Chen's eyes lit up, like a hungry man seeing delicious food. He couldn't help but slow down, using his Qi Observation Technique to examine the stalls one by one.

Xu Luo and Xu Qiufeng, who understood him well, followed suit, slowing down and watching the stalls with interest.

Sometimes, on a whim, they would also find some treasures at low prices.

There were too many stalls here. Xu Chen came often, and some items on the stalls were there every day, so he didn't need to look at them. He only needed to use the Qi Observation Technique to look at the new arrivals.

They walked and looked like this, passing over a hundred stalls. Xu Chen used the Qi Observation Technique to look at countless items, and finally made a discovery.

Xu Chen came to an ordinary stall with a stone slab as a table. The vendor was chubby, with a round face, and his eyes narrowed into slits when he smiled.

"Three young brothers, see if there's anything you like. The price is negotiable."

Xu Chen nodded calmly.

With years of experience in finding treasures at stalls, Xu Chen had reached a state of returning to simplicity. It was difficult for vendors to glean anything from his expression and attitude; he always gave off an unfathomable feeling.

No one understood treasure hunting better than Xu Chen. His level was not something ordinary people could reach.

The vendor knew that this young man was not simple.

Xu Chen picked up a grey formation map the size of a washbasin and asked directly, "How much?"

Actions like looking at this and that, finally pretending to casually pick one, or buying one and taking the truly desired item as a freebie, were similar operations.

Xu Chen had done them many, many times and was already tired of them.

It was better this way, simple and direct.

The round-faced vendor replied, "This is an ancient formation map obtained from an ancient ruin. According to ancient records, using this formation map can…"

"Just state the price," Xu Chen interrupted the vendor's lengthy speech impatiently, not giving him a chance to bluff.

After all, Xu Chen had heard similar words countless times and was already annoyed.

The vendor chuckled sheepishly, held up three fingers, and said, "Three hundred supreme-grade Spirit Stones."

"Pfft…"

Although they still appeared calm on the surface, upon hearing this price, Xu Luo and Xu Qiufeng almost couldn't help but burst out laughing.

Having traveled throughout various continents for many years and met many vendors, this was the first time they had encountered someone with such a thick skin.

Saying such an outrageous price, and not even showing the slightest discomfort on his face, was extremely natural and effortless, as if he was speaking the truth, as if this was the real price of this formation map.

This was three hundred supreme-grade Spirit Stones. Even in Seven Kings City, it was a considerable sum.

If used to buy items used by Saint Realm experts, it would be appropriate, but to buy a broken formation map found from who knows where, for who knows what use, no normal person would agree.

Xu Chen's face was as calm as an ancient well. He replied softly, "I'll take it for one High-Grade Spirit Stone."

"No, no, that's too low," the round-faced vendor shook his head like a rattle-drum.

"You must know this was found in an ancient ruin. Just for this formation map, many experts were lost. Its value…"

Seeing that he was about to start talking endlessly again, Xu Chen interrupted once more.

"You just said it was found in an ancient ruin, why is it now an ancient ruin? There's quite a difference between the two."

"Is that so?" A hint of awkwardness flashed across the vendor's round face, disappearing in an instant.

Just as Xu Chen was about to speak and take it directly.

An indifferent voice came from the side, "One hundred supreme-grade Spirit Stones, I'll take this formation map."

All four turned to look. The round-faced vendor was smiling happily, overjoyed, while Xu Chen frowned slightly.

The speaker was tall and handsome, wearing a golden robe, with a noble and elegant demeanor. Golden dragons flowed in his eyes, and his aura was like an abyss or a sea, like an ancient fierce beast that could awaken at any moment.

He was followed by three attendants, one woman and two men. The woman was likely a maid, and the two men were guards.

The vendor also knew that this person's identity was certainly not simple and quickly said flatteringly.

"Alright, thank you, Young Master, for patronizing my small business."

The noble young man didn't spare the vendor or Xu Chen another glance and turned to leave. The maid beside him took out a bag of Spirit Stones and handed it to the vendor. The vendor bowed and respectfully presented the formation map to the maid.

Everything was smooth and natural, making Xu Chen seem a bit redundant. If Xu Chen hadn't arrived first, there wouldn't have been any problem.

Xu Chen, who witnessed all this happening from the side, showed no change in expression and didn't speak, just watched quietly.

Because Xu Luo had just transmitted a message: "This person is the Fourth Prince of the Heavenly Radiance Imperial Court, one of the strong contenders for the position of Crown Prince of the Heavenly Radiance Imperial Court. Try not to have unnecessary conflicts with him."

In his previous life, when Xu Luo left Cang Continent and traveled to various continents, it was already very late. By then, this Fourth Prince of the Heavenly Radiance Imperial Court had successfully won the succession and become the Crown Prince of the Heavenly Radiance Imperial Court.

To successfully win the succession in an imperial clan, one must have a combination of background, ability, Luck, and talent. He was definitely not simple.

Now they were struggling to move even an inch in Seven Kings City and couldn't afford to cause unnecessary trouble over such a small matter.

Xu Chen transmitted back, "It's fine, this formation map isn't very important. It doesn't matter if I give it to him."

Based on Xu Chen's years of treasure hunting experience, this formation map should contain something special, but its overall value was only so-so. It was worth Xu Chen stopping to buy it, but among his many treasures, it was nothing. Missing it was just missing it.

The round-faced vendor said, "Sorry, young brother, I also wanted to earn a bit more. See if there's anything else you want, I'll give you a discount."

Xu Chen shook his head, and the three of them turned and left.

In Xu Chen's many treasure hunting experiences, he had encountered many situations. This kind of thing was nothing.