CHAPTER 96: CHAPTER 96: PURCHASING TECHNIQUES

"Is this the place that the clerk mentioned, where food, vegetables, and meat can be supplied for the entire city?"

Gazing at the sprawling expanse of wooden buildings before him, with their varying heights that subtly formed a divine and mystical array, Qi Xiu’s eyes shimmered with a haze of colors.

He had cultivated his ancient blood through the Hunyuan Body Refinement, becoming extraordinary and transcendent.

His physical abilities and perceptions, including his sixth sense, had all made significant leaps forward.

To others, the wooden buildings appeared unremarkable. But in his eyes, they were suffused with mysterious and obscure auras of various colors.

This Shen’s Myriad Goods Pavilion was no ordinary bazaar. There must be a Mystical Mechanism!

With a flicker of curiosity in his heart, Qi Xiu stepped into this peculiar market teeming with hidden wonders.

Upon entering Shen’s Myriad Goods Pavilion, a wave of warmth and human presence hit him in the face. The market was bustling and crowded with people. Colorful tents, vibrant drapes, and multicolored banners adorned the scene. Brilliant and diverse decorations hung on the racks, exuding charming and enticing fragrances. The stalls were filled with an array of goods, from silk and jewels to spices and herbs, covering everything conceivable. Merchants each displayed their Divine Skills while selling their most precious and rare wares. They loudly touted the advantages of their products while demonstrating their quality and uses. Customers wandered among the multitude of choices, seeking the perfect balance between their needs and budget through negotiation with the sellers.

Beside the specially repaired spacious gateway on the left, caravans loaded with rice, grains, vegetables, fish, meat, oil, and salt were continuously pulled out of the market. Clearly, they were destined for the city’s large restaurants, vegetable markets, rice shops, and miscellaneous grain stores.

"Even the supermarkets of my previous life probably didn’t match the breadth and variety of this Shen’s Myriad Goods Pavilion," Qi Xiu said in slight shock, witnessing such a massive market for the first time.

He casually scanned the market, which covered an area the size of a dozen football fields. Qi Xiu walked toward the stairs leading to the second floor of the wooden building. At each side of the stairs stood a beautiful girl, proud of posture and sweet of feature. Ropes tied to planks formed a bridge in mid-air, surrounded by red lines, creating a striking open space in this vast marketplace.

Coming before the delicately inscribed red cords, Qi Xiu hadn’t even spoken when the mystical rope untied itself and made a welcoming gesture towards him. Well, automatic doors, huh?

Seeing Qi Xiu looking astonished at the rope in front of him, the beautiful young girl guarding the stairs approached, curtsied slightly, and said in a sweet voice, "It seems it’s your first visit to our Shen’s Myriad Goods Pavilion. I am Yan Er, at your service. Shall I give you a tour first?"

With the beautiful young girl standing before him, Qi Xiu, being a proper gentleman and a scholar, naturally couldn’t dismiss her offer.

"Then, I shall trouble Miss Yan Er for her guidance."

"You are too kind, sir. May I inquire how to address you?" Yan Er laughed softly, slightly gesturing with her hand for Qi Xiu to follow her as she proceeded toward the wooden stairs leading up to the second floor of Shen’s Myriad Goods Pavilion.

"Call me... Bai Yutang," Qi Xiu said, pausing briefly as he once again donned a fresh guise. Living in the jianghu calls for caution.

"So you are Mr. Bai, Yutang... a fine-looking man with an impressive bearing. Your name truly suits you," Yan Er said, as she effortlessly played the part of a top-tier salesperson, flattering the customer to make them comfortable.

"You flatter me," Qi Xiu responded, as he climbed the wooden stairs to the second floor, which, much like the first-floor market, was a similarly sized but far more refined and elegant space.

There were no small stalls or hawkers to be seen anywhere. Walking along the pathway, shops stood side by side, each with its own signboard, bright red lanterns glowing warmly and clear, and dedicated clerks at the doors captivating customers with their pitches, all filled with the blended auras of various Divine Marvels. Almost all those walking and doing business on the second floor were martial artists and magicians around the True Intent Realm. These open-fronted shops sold items like Elixirs, weapons, secret manuals and technique registers, rare materials, and there were even a number of restaurants. But these restaurants didn’t serve ordinary food. Instead, they offered "dishes" with special effects.

Aside from these regular shops, Qi Xiu also saw two betting houses, three flower halls, and over a dozen mysterious shops called "Immortal’s Forest."

"This Shen’s Myriad Goods Pavilion really lives up to its name; they sell everything here," Qi Xiu murmured, his gaze withdrawing from the tightly shut windows and doors, sealed shut without a crack, of Immortal’s Forest, and he smiled lightly.

After all, such things were quite normal in this world. Especially in the high-pressure, high-risk Cultivation Realm. Unable to effectively release the pressure and depression in one’s heart, martial artists and magicians could easily fall into the Demonic path or even mutate into demons. Compared to such a tragic and harmful fate, a small hobby was nothing to worry about.

"Since we’re open for business, of course, the customer is our top priority. Mr. Bai, is there something you wish to purchase? I could help you get a discount~," Yan Er said, looking at him with her watery eyes that held a hint of anticipation.

Qi Xiu nodded inwardly. This Shen’s Myriad Goods Pavilion truly has a knack for seizing business opportunities. How many ordinary men could resist such eyes?

"The wares here indeed are quite comprehensive and fine. But they aren’t quite suitable for me," Qi Xiu replied, causing a shadow to pass through Yan Er’s hopeful eyes as she sighed softly, realizing she wouldn’t be earning a commission today.

"Miss Yan Er, do you know if, within Shen’s Myriad Goods Pavilion, there is a specialized marketplace for Cultivators of Dao?"

"What? A... A Cultivator of Dao? Mr. Bai, you are a Cultivator of Dao?" Yan Er looked at Qi Xiu with surprise, her eyes filled with disbelief.

This Mr. Bai was actually a Cultivator of Dao. In an instant, Qi Xiu’s image in Yan Er’s eyes became radiant and imposing. Doing business with a Cultivator of Dao and earning a commission would be enough for her to live on for half a year! What was more crucial was the opportunity to speak with a Cultivator of Dao; if she served him well, her days ahead would be much easier.

"What, it doesn’t look like it?"

By mobilizing a trace of Gang Qi for convergence, Qi Xiu’s body suddenly lit up with a clear and penetrating aura of Body-Protecting True Gang.

"Body-Protecting True Gang!"

Being able to work at Shen’s Myriad Goods Pavilion, Yan Er had naturally undergone specialized training. She immediately recognized that the colorful light, akin to glazed glass, was indeed the Body-Protecting True Gang that only Cultivators of Dao could command!

Suppressing her surging emotions, Yan Er unconsciously inched a bit closer to Qi Xiu. "Mr. Bai has an extraordinary presence, far beyond the common folk; Yan Er truly failed to see your worth."

Moving in closer, her soft body nearly pressed against Qi Xiu, and her faint, pure fragrance increasingly spread to his nostrils.

Taking advantage of the situation to encircle her slender, soft waist, Qi Xiu chuckled, "It’s not too late to know now."

After all, wouldn’t it be against all reason not to take advantage of a bargain presented to one?

With cheeks flushed red, Yan Er mustered her courage and hooked her arm in Qi Xiu’s. "The market for Cultivators of Dao is very dangerous, and we, the ordinary servants, seldom enter there; you’ll have to take extra care of Yan Er later."

"Of course."

Nodding his head, Qi Xiu, with the fragrant body in his arms, walked leisurely towards the inner depths of the second floor’s marketplace.

They arrived before a dark, heavy bronze door. In front of the door sat an odd person, wearing a short coat of dark ink, with meticulously arranged hair, a mature posture, yet the appearance of a child.

"Uncle Wu, this is Mr. Bai Yutang; he wishes to purchase some Dao-Entering Realm Dharma Gates, please guide us."

Approaching the child with the mature demeanor, Yan Er bowed respectfully.

Upon glancing up at Qi Xiu, who stood with one hand behind his back and a clean, handsome face, the child known as Uncle Wu revealed a hint of surprise. "Mr. Bai has great talents indeed, to have achieved the Initiate Realm at such a young age; your future holds no bounds."

After praising him, Uncle Wu pondered in secret. Bai? Could he be a descendant of Mr. Bai of Yun Pu’s family?

After exchanging pleasantries, Uncle Wu clasped his hands together, and suddenly produced a radiance that enveloped himself and Qi Xiu. "Dear guest, please feel free to tell me which Initiate Realm Dharma Gates you want to purchase, and I will offer you the best price. The content of our conversation will be absolutely confidential; should anyone else become privy to it, Ten Thousand Goods Store is willing to compensate a hundredfold."

After mulling it over for a moment, Qi Xiu raised his hand in salute and said, "I, Bai, would like to find a Martial Path Dharma Gate, adept at offense; as well as an Art-Path Dharma Gate, for trapping enemies, escaping, and defending—anything along those lines. I wonder if Senior has any recommendations."

Upon hearing Qi Xiu’s request, Uncle Wu’s expression slightly changed. Well, isn’t this young man ambitious, dual cultivation of Arts and Martial Path?!

He then spread open his right hand, his fingers moving in an incantation, before he quietly calculated for a moment. In his hand, there appeared an irregularly shaped jade stone with flickering golden specks inside and characters roaming about.

"This technique is called ’Great Azure Flame Handprint,’ a Martial Path Dharma Gate. Created by Sect Master Qingyunzi of Mingguang Sect, it’s incredibly powerful; when deployed, it unleashes raging green flames, with continued palm prints powerful enough to shatter mountains. If cultivated to perfection, there’s even a chance to understand the Divine Marvel of flame control. It’s sold for merely one hundred Dao coins; an extremely cost-effective deal."

Uncle Wu vividly explained to Qi Xiu. However, he completely failed to notice the subtly awkward and... embarrassed expression on Mr. Bai’s face.

Dao coins? What are Dao coins? Qi Xiu suddenly realized that the currency circulating among the transcendent Cultivators of Dao might no longer be the mundane silver and gold. And as a brand-new Cultivator of Dao, Qi Xiu had nothing but several tens of thousands of silver notes soaked in the Flood Dragon Pool. Not a single Dao coin to his name.

Noticing Qi Xiu’s complexion appeared somewhat amiss, Uncle Wu curiously asked, "Does Mr. Bai not fancy the ’Great Azure Flame Handprint’?"

Thinking Qi Xiu wasn’t interested in the Martial Path Dharma Gate, Uncle Wu flipped his palm, ready to offer another technique.

"Senior Wu, there’s no rush; in my haste to leave this morning, I seem to have nearly spent all my Dao coins. I was wondering if I might be able to sell some spirit talismans here, as I happen to have a batch I wish to offload."

Of course, he couldn’t admit to this child-faced elder that he was entirely penniless. Otherwise, he’d be chased out with a beating. Quick-witted Qi Xiu came up with a somewhat reasonable excuse.

"Oh, I understand. Shen’s Myriad Goods Pavilion does both buying and selling. But I’m curious what kind of spirit talismans Mr. Bai has to offer; may I take a look?"

Being used to seeing the sons of affluent families, who spend money like water, Uncle Wu laughed and nodded.

After a swipe on the Flood Dragon Pool Ring, Qi Xiu took out a Suppression Talisman. This Suppression Talisman was one he had inscribed before his breakthrough to the Initiate Realm and was originally intended to be sold to Song Tingye, but other matters had caused a delay. Hence, this Talisman Script wasn’t on ordinary paper but an iron tablet Qi Xiu had specially commissioned a blacksmith to create. Its quality was quite remarkable.

Taking the Suppression Talisman, Uncle Wu examined it and then sent a trace of Gang Qi into it.

HUM—

The Suppression Talisman activated, and beams of golden light suddenly burst forth. A profoundly heavy suppressive and extinguishing aura permeated the void, shaking the surrounding light barrier.

A fine piece! It had been a long while since he felt such a pure and lawful golden light. Though its power was weak, the Divine Marvel in its aura was unmistakable. This was probably just the lowest-grade Talisman Script he possessed. He must have even higher-quality goods! This Mr. Bai was indeed out of the ordinary!