Betrayed, But Not Defeated novel Chapter 144

"Hey, you've got a great eye! This one's two million dollars, no bargaining!" The stall owner grinned and quoted the price without hesitation.

The bearded man hesitated for a moment, then gritted his teeth and said, "Fine, I'll take it."

Being a martial artist was an expensive pursuit. Every stage of advancement required a significant amount of resources, and the items involved often cost tens of millions or even hundreds of millions of dollars. For most martial artists, window shopping was all they could afford.

This was also one of the reasons why martial artists often sought patronage from wealthy families or corporations. After all, all their time was spent cultivating, so where would they have the time to earn money?

Thus, it was far more practical to align themselves with a powerful backer who could support their growth.

The bearded man paid the money, and the stall owner handed over the Immortal Stone. Without hesitation, the bearded man carried the stone to the side.

Opening an Immortal Stone wasn't as simple as cracking it open. It required a specific tool—chalcedony.

This was a case of one thing countering another. While Immortal Stones could withstand the blood energy of martial artists, they would instantly soften when exposed to chalcedony, making them easy to open.

The bearded man grabbed a handful of chalcedony and, with a slight shake of his arm, crushed them into powder. He then sprinkled it over the Immortal Powder. Soon, the Immortal Stone began to soften, eventually becoming as pliable as soft candy. It would even wobble slightly when touched.

However, the bearded man clearly wasn't in the mood to play around. With a firm grip, he tore the stone open.

"Ah, what a shame."

"Bigger isn't always better when it comes to Immortal Stones. He's probably lost everything, down to his underwear."

The crowd let out a collective sigh. Although the Immortal Stone was large, all it contained was a fist-sized piece of withered wood. While the wood did emit a faint spiritual energy, anyone with a discerning eye could tell it wasn't worth much.

The stall owner, however, was a savvy businessman. He grabbed a fist-sized Immortal Stone from his side and a bit of chalcedony. "Don't be discouraged, sir. Here, take this Immortal Stone on the house. Come back and play another time."