Chapter 179 News
Fang Xingjian’s expression did not look good. He asked Manny, “What do you mean ‘it’s reserved’?”
Manny shrugged, ” A set of Conferred Knight’s parietal bones, on loan for six hours, although quite effective, still depends on the individual’s talent. It’s very hard to say how much help it can provide in attaining Heaven’s Perception. In normal circumstances, it’s considered quite a feat to be able to put the price between eighteen to twenty thousand gold.”
Fang Xingjian nodded in agreement. This was about the price Ferdinand had estimated for it. If it exceeded twenty thousand, the price for these parietal bones would not be reasonable. After all, although they could be used to increase the chances of attaining Heaven’s Perception, it merely raised the chances, and it was merely an experience.
Manny sighed, “I wanted to fight for it too, but this time around, an extremely rich person openly offered a price of thirty thousand gold, telling everyone else not to fight with him for it.”
“Thirty thousand gold?” Fang Xingjian furrowed his brows and asked, “Why? This is too much of an inflation. Why is he doing this?”
“For one, of course it’s because he’s rich, too rich. Although an additional ten thousand gold would pain him a little, it’s still just a little.” Manny sighed and continued, “Another reason is because there’s been a rumor recently that Governor Devitt is going to choose someone from this upcoming Regional Selection to become his disciple. Naturally, everyone wants to fight for this chance.
“If one can become Governor Devitt’s disciple, then power, wealth and various cultivation resources will easily be within grasp. The person would be able to jump up many ranks and become a member of the Empire’s upper echelon.
“Of course, if one could attain Heaven’s Perception’s before the Regional Selection, the chances of getting Lord Devitt’s favor would be higher.
“After all, it is no easy feat to breakthrough and attain the Heaven’s Perception by oneself, without the support of the Regional Academy’s resources.”
Having said that, Manny smiled. “Although it is hard to say how much help one can get with the right to use the parietal bones for six hours, what can we do when he has the money to spare?”
Fang Xingjian did not say anything, but his brows furrowed increasingly tighter. Although to other people the Regional Selection was of great importance, they would not be in despair even if they did not pass.
But to Fang Xingjian, missing this year’s Regional Selection meant he would have to wait for another two years. How could he? He had a lifespan of less than four years, and if he were to wait another two years, he would be left with less than two years. He would not be able to participate in the next National Selection either.
And in his plan of seeking vengeance from the Onassis Clan and Caroline, attaining the Divine level was a must. If he wanted to stand before them and before Fang Clan’s Old Granny Li Shuanghua, he would need to be at least at the peak of second transition, level 29.
Therefore, to Fang Xingjian, it was a must to pass the Regional Selection. It was something he could not afford to miss.
And for him to pass the Regional Selection, he would first need to get through the challenge of attaining Heaven’s Perception. To him, the value of having these parietal bones for six hours was too important.
Manny looked at Fang Xingjian in surprise. Even he could tell that Fang Xingjian’s emotions were a bit off. He asked, “What’s wrong?”
Fang Xingjian shook his head, “It’s nothing. Let’s continue.”
“Oh, right. What’s the name of the guy who released the news?”
…
After Ferdinand and Manny finished their exchange, he headed over to Ferdinand’s late that night.
Ferdinand was surprised when he saw Fang Xingjian after opening his door. He asked, “Why have you come?”
“There’s trouble.” Fang Xingjian did a quick scan, and after making sure that no one was inside, he entered. After taking a seat, he asked outright, “How much did you sell those bone remains for?”
Ferdinand replied, “There was a total of fourteen sets, and I spent various means to sell them and I now have nineteen thousand and fifty-four gold altogether. Adding it up with the two hundred and eighty-five gold from your class and the four hundred gold from the elite class, and taking away the money you have used for your cultivation during this time, we now have a total of nineteen hundred, five hundred and eighty-seven gold.”
Fang Xingjian calmly asked, “There’s still that house on the outskirts which was sold for five hundred gold, and adding in my own savings, it’s twenty thousand, five hundred and eighty-seven gold.”
Ferdinand yawned and then smiled, “Alright, this should be about enough. Worst case, I’ll lend you some too. It should be enough to buy the six-hour ownership of the bones.”
Fang Xingjian shook his head and asked, “Have you heard of a person called Bruno?”
“Bruno? He’s a profligate son. However, he’s extremely rich,” Ferdinand said. “His grandfather is a Conferred Knight and works in the Empire’s Ministry of Finance. In the whole of Kirst, there’s probably no one else who’s richer than him.”
Fang Xingjian frowned and said, “Bruno will also be participating in this auction. And he has already released the news that he’s going to get this bone even if he has to pay thirty thousand gold.”
“Thirty thousand gold?!” Ferdinand gasped. “This guy really is a profligate son.”
“Are you sure that what he said is likely to be true?” Fang Xingjian asked.
“Hehe,” Ferdinand smiled bitterly and replied, “This guy doesn’t treat money like money at all. The businesses under their clan’s name is more than enough for him to life ten lives or more.
“But why does he want the parietal bones? Based on what I know, his talent is mediocre and he should know that even if he were to use it, it’s unlikely that he would be able to attain Heaven’s Perception.”
Fang Xingjian turned to him and said, “It’s because he heard the news that Governor Devitt is planning to choose a disciple from the participants in the upcoming Regional Selection.”
“Huh?!” The rumors that Devitt was planning to choose a disciple in the upcoming Regional Selection had been released by Ferdinand to begin with. Who would have thought this rumor not only helped him gain a greater profit from selling the Garcia’s Great Warriors’ bones, it also attracted a rich competitor like Bruno.
The next moment, he regained his senses, “Although his talent is not there, if he could buy the six hours, even if he could not succeed, he could at least prevent other people’s success. This way, his chances of being selected would slightly increase.
“This damned rich guy.”
He had the feeling as if he had lifted a heavy boulder and then smashed it down on his own foot.
Half an hour later, Robert, Anthony, Ferdinand and Fang Xingjian all gathered in the room, keeping very quiet.
Anthony was the first one to break the silence, asking, “Xingjian, are you sure that you must have these bones? Even if you’re late by one to two years…”
“No way.” Fang Xingjian’s tone was very firm. “I must definitely get my hands on them.” His tone was very cold as he said, “If everything else doesn’t work out, I can only snatch them.”
“Don’t!” Ferdinand said. “The people who brought the bones are not simple characters. I’ve heard that there’s at least one Conferred Knight amongst them. It’s an Empire’s Conferred Knight. He’s not going to be as weak as Garcia’s Destined Warriors.”
“Bruno only came because he heard the rumors and thought that the Governor would select a disciple in the upcoming Regional Selection.” Robert stroked his neck and said, “Then can we arrange for a meet-up with him to tell him the truth?”
Ferdinand sighed, “It’s useless. Why would he believe us? We can’t prove it.”
Truly, the news that the Governor would be selecting a disciple in the Regional Selection was one which people had the choice to believe or not. However, there was no way for them verify it. It only depended on what people chose to believe.
After all, they could not actually go up to ask that number one character in the Great Western Region if he was going to take in a disciple in the Regional Selection.
In the beginning, Ferdinand had been very proud of his plan, but now, he thought that even he was unable to find a loophole, since the rumor could not be verified.
Anthony spoke again, “Or…we could think of a way to delay Bruno so that he would be unable to take part in the auction?”