After the fright at the black shop, Li Wuyang became much more cautious and no longer readily trusted strangers' "kindness." Following the signs, he headed toward the more central and prosperous part of the market.
The closer he got to the center, the grander the buildings and wider the streets became. The auras of the beings passing by also grew stronger. He could even see important figures riding rare beasts and parading through the streets with entourages of servants.
Though Li Wuyang's ragtag troop drew plenty of looks, no one came to provoke them lightly anymore. After all, anyone who could swagger around with a Sky-Gazing Roarer, even an injured one, had to have some backing.
He first found an inn that looked reputable and rented a private courtyard, finally gaining a safe place to stay. Paying the lodging fee with several Mid-grade Spirit Stones made him keenly aware of just how urgently he needed to earn money.
Once settled in, he decided to visit the market's largest trading venue, the Myriad Treasures Tower, to broaden his horizons and see whether there was anything suitable for him to buy or any information to gather.
The Myriad Treasures Tower was a nine-story glazed treasure pagoda, dazzling with brilliant light. Those entering and leaving were either wealthy or distinguished. Li Wuyang entered with Huaihuai and Little Fire, while Yingying was left outside in a designated area because she was too large.
The first-floor hall was extraordinarily spacious and packed with people. All manner of rare treasures gleamed beneath the protection of formations, dazzling the eye.
There were dedicated sections for magical treasures, pills, cultivation arts, materials, and even spirit beasts and intelligence.
Li Wuyang first wandered into the cultivation arts section and saw a jade slip labeled Nine Revolutions Mystic Art (Fragment), priced at ten thousand top-grade Spirit Stones. It scared him off immediately. Then he saw a copy of Detailed Explanation of Five Elements Evasion Arts, which also cost five hundred top-grade Spirit Stones.
"What a robbery!" he clicked his tongue inwardly.
When he moved to the materials section, he saw a fist-sized purple ore flashing with lightning, labeled "Kui Niu Thunder Core," priced at three thousand top-grade Spirit Stones. He also saw a multicolored lotus sealed inside a crystal case, the "Seven-Orifice Exquisite Lotus," priced at eight thousand top-grade Spirit Stones.
He touched the meager belongings in his Void-Concealing Pouch. He did not even have enough for a fraction of the price.
"Ah, being poor is rough..." Li Wuyang sighed, truly understanding what it meant to live in the primordial wilderness and find life difficult.
Just as he was feeling discouraged, his gaze was drawn to an inconspicuous stall in a corner. It sold nothing but damaged, ancient odds and ends whose uses could not be discerned, all at relatively cheap prices.
The stall owner was a drowsy old man.
Li Wuyang walked over and browsed casually. Suddenly, the Great Dao Imprint within his sea of consciousness stirred faintly, sensing something weak from a palm-sized, pitch-black lump of wood that looked as though it had been charred.
"Boss, how much for this?" He picked up the lump of wood.
The old man lifted his eyelids. "Oh, that? Picked it up from an ancient battlefield. It's useless, hard as hell, and won't burn no matter what. Ten Low-grade Spirit Stones, and it's yours."
Ten low-grade stones? So cheap? Li Wuyang paid without hesitation.
The wooden lump felt heavy in his hand. Beneath its charred shell, there was a faint trace of extremely weak life energy. The Great Dao Imprint's response became clearer.
"Could this be a treasure?" Li Wuyang was delighted, but he kept his expression calm and put it away.
He continued wandering through the market but found nothing else particularly noteworthy. He did spend his remaining Spirit Stones on some basic healing pills and jade slips introducing the features and factions of the primordial wilderness, considering it an investment in intelligence.
Back at the inn, he eagerly began studying the charred wood. He carefully scraped away a little of the blackened shell with his axe, revealing jade-green wood beneath. A vast aura of life instantly spread through the room!
"This is... Innate Yi Wood Essence?!" Li Wuyang was both shocked and overjoyed! It was absolutely a supreme treasure for body tempering and healing wounds, priceless beyond measure! Yet he had picked it up for just ten Low-grade Spirit Stones!
Sure enough, though "Destined by Fate" was unreliable, it occasionally still delivered a pleasant surprise!
He carefully cut off a small slice and fed it to Little Fire. After Little Fire swallowed it, the flames around her immediately surged more fiercely. Her injuries visibly improved, and her aura grew far stronger!
"Good stuff!" Li Wuyang happily stored away most of the remaining charred wood.
Over the next few days, Li Wuyang wandered around the market during the day, familiarizing himself with the surroundings. At night, he diligently cultivated the Innate One Qi Art, consolidating his cultivation. With Little Fire and Yingying standing guard, along with the inn's relative safety, everything progressed smoothly.
One day, he heard that the Myriad Treasures Tower would hold a medium-sized auction in three days, with quite a few valuable items up for sale. This stirred his interest.
"I need to find a way to get some Spirit Stones..." he pondered. Selling the charred wood would draw too much attention. As for selling anything else, he did not seem to have anything valuable.
Just as he was worrying over it, an inn attendant delivered an invitation. It had been sent by Daoist Master Xuanhe, inviting him to a private gathering at Pure Tranquility Zhai in the center of the market.
"Daoist Master Xuanhe?" Li Wuyang recalled the elder who had helped him out before. It seemed the other man truly had been keeping an eye on him. It would be good to go and see what he could learn. Perhaps an opportunity might arise.
Three days later, Li Wuyang arrived at Pure Tranquility Zhai as promised. It was an elegant courtyard, and several people were already seated there. Besides Daoist Master Xuanhe, there was a sharp-auraed young man carrying a sword on his back, likely a sword cultivator; a mysterious figure shrouded in a black robe; and a proud-looking demon youth dressed in luxurious garments.
Daoist Master Xuanhe smiled as he introduced everyone. The sword-bearing young man was known as the Azure Cloud Sword Immortal, the black-robed man called himself Mr. Mo, and the demon youth was Young Master Jinpeng. All seemed to come from extraordinary backgrounds.
Everyone showed a hint of curiosity toward Li Wuyang's identity as the Primordial Dao Child, but none pursued the matter further, and the atmosphere remained fairly cordial.
As they drank tea and discussed the Dao, the conversation naturally turned to the upcoming auction.
Young Master Jinpeng declared arrogantly, "The auction's finale, the Wind Thunder Wings, is mine!"
The Azure Cloud Sword Immortal was interested in an ancient sword blank.
Mr. Mo spoke little, and his goal remained unclear.
Daoist Master Xuanhe smiled. "It seems everyone has something in mind. But at an auction, it all comes down to wealth and fortune. Fellow Daoist Li, you appear to have only recently arrived. If there is anything you need, perhaps we can exchange what we have."
Li Wuyang's heart stirred. This was an opportunity! After pondering for a moment, he said, "To be honest, everyone, I am quite interested in that Seven-Orifice Exquisite Lotus, but my purse is rather empty..."
He did not directly say he wanted to buy it. Instead, he revealed his need to see whether there might be an opportunity for cooperation or exchange.
Young Master Jinpeng snorted disdainfully, clearly looking down on Li Wuyang's "poverty." The Azure Cloud Sword Immortal neither agreed nor disagreed. Mr. Mo remained silent.
Daoist Master Xuanhe stroked his beard. "Though the Seven-Orifice Exquisite Lotus is precious, it is mainly used to nourish the soul and refine certain pills. If Fellow Daoist truly needs it urgently, this old man may be able to keep an eye out for other substitutes."
Li Wuyang expressed his thanks, though he thought to himself that he would have to find another way. Perhaps the auction would offer other opportunities?
Before you continue