The small gathering at Pure Tranquility Studio gave Li Wuyang an initial understanding of the marketplace's upper circles, and he also realized that his meager wealth was nowhere near enough. The auction's finale items routinely cost thousands or tens of thousands of high-grade Spirit Stones. He might not even have enough for the deposit required to bid.
"I need to make money. I have to make money!" Li Wuyang reaffirmed his resolve.
He remembered the several dozen low-grade Spirit Stones he had looted from that shady wolf demon's shop, along with some miscellaneous materials in his Void-Concealing Pouch. They were not worth much, but every little bit counted. He decided to head to the marketplace's free vending area first and sell them off for some working capital.
The free vending area was packed with all sorts of people and bustling with activity. Li Wuyang found an empty spot, spread out a piece of cloth, laid out his odds and ends, and marked their prices. Little Fire dozed beside him, having grown lazy after recovering from its injuries. Yingying flew about curiously, while Huaihuai stood quietly behind him.
His goods were of average quality, and few people showed any interest. Just as he was getting bored, the talisman vendor beside him leaned over and struck up a conversation. "Fellow Daoist, you look unfamiliar. First time setting up a stall?"
Li Wuyang nodded. "Yeah. Just getting rid of some things I don't need."
The vendor was a chatterbox and quickly began introducing the finer points. "There's an art to vending! Location, shouting out to customers, even the way you arrange your goods all matter! Look at my 'Golden Light Talismans.' I arranged them in a Seven Stars Formation, and sales have gone up quite a bit!"
Li Wuyang did not know whether to laugh or cry. Even the Primordial World had marketing?
As they chatted, a customer suddenly appeared before the stall. He was a plainly dressed young Daoist with clear eyes. The moment he saw several inconspicuous ores on Li Wuyang's stall that carried an earthy smell, his eyes lit up. "Fellow Daoist, how much are these pieces of Earthen Essence?"
Earthen Essence? Li Wuyang froze. He did not recognize them at all; he had only thought the stones felt somewhat heavy and casually picked them up. "Uh, name your price."
The young Daoist hesitated before holding up five fingers. "Five mid-grade Spirit Stones. Is that all right?"
Five mid-grade? Joy surged through Li Wuyang. These lousy rocks were worth that much? He was about to agree when the talisman vendor beside him abruptly coughed and cut in. "Fellow Daoist, that's not very honest of you! Earthen Essence is excellent material for refining earth-element artifacts. Its market price starts at no less than ten mid-grade Spirit Stones! Are you trying to take advantage of this newcomer?"
The young Daoist blushed and hurriedly waved his hands. "No, no, that's not what I meant! I... I only have five mid-grade Spirit Stones..." He clearly wanted the ores badly.
Li Wuyang understood. These stones were treasures, and the young Daoist had been hoping to get a bargain, only for the talisman vendor to expose him. After some thought, Li Wuyang decided that he knew nothing about artifact refining, so keeping them would be useless. He might as well build some goodwill. Smiling, he said, "It's fine. Since you need them, five mid-grade Spirit Stones will do. Take them."
The young Daoist was overjoyed. He quickly took out five mid-grade Spirit Stones brimming with spiritual energy and handed them to Li Wuyang, then hugged the ores to his chest like treasures. After repeatedly thanking him, he ran off.
The talisman vendor shook his head. "Fellow Daoist, you're too honest. You lost at least five mid-grade Spirit Stones!"
Li Wuyang smiled. "It's fine. I picked them up for free anyway." He thought to himself, This 'Destined by Fate' thing was pretty interesting. An unexpected gain could come from the most casual encounter.
After selling the ores, a few more people bought some of his miscellaneous items. Li Wuyang finally had several hundred low-grade Spirit Stones and a few mid-grade Spirit Stones as working capital.
After packing up his stall, he decided to visit the information district to gather intelligence. He had never forgotten his "ultimate goal"—finding the way back to Hongmeng, or at least figuring out what exactly had happened to Primordial Father.
He found a shop bearing the sign of the Hundred-Knowledge Pavilion and walked inside.
The interior was elegantly furnished, with dedicated attendants. Li Wuyang paid one mid-grade Spirit Stone and received an opportunity for a basic consultation.
Choosing his words carefully, he asked, "I'd like to inquire about Hongmeng and the Great Dao."
At his words, a sharp glint flashed in the old man's eyes. The man studied Li Wuyang carefully before slowly saying, "What you ask concerns the secrets of the world's origin and is of extraordinary value. A basic consultation cannot cover it. If you wish to investigate further, you must pay... one thousand high-grade Spirit Stones, or an equivalent item."
Li Wuyang drew a sharp breath. One thousand high-grade Spirit Stones! Even if he sold himself, he would not be worth that much!
"That expensive?"
The old man replied blandly, "Matters concerning Hongmeng are vague and elusive. Only great powers may know them, and only those with great opportunity may encounter them. This pavilion's knowledge is limited as well, and the karmic implications are immense. If you do not intend to pursue the matter deeply, it would be best not to ask."
Helpless, Li Wuyang could only settle for less. "Then... are there any recent unusual developments concerning Buzhou Mountain? Or perhaps... any abnormal celestial phenomena or rumors?"
This time, the old man answered more readily. "Buzhou Mountain is the pillar of heaven and earth, where opportunities and dangers have always coexisted. There have been no special rumors lately. As for celestial phenomena... several months ago, a streak of light from beyond the heavens fell into the wild northwestern lands. It was suspected to be Chaos Meteorite, prompting searches from all sides, but no definite news has emerged so far."
A streak of light from beyond the heavens? Li Wuyang's heart stirred. Could it have something to do with him? But he did not dare ask further, afraid of giving himself away.
It seemed that obtaining core information required paying an enormous price. He simply could not afford it now.
Leaving the Hundred-Knowledge Pavilion with a trace of disappointment, Li Wuyang walked down the street, feeling somewhat lost. Buzhou Mountain stood right before him, but where should he go? News of Hongmeng was impossibly distant. The Primordial World was vast—where was the road home?
He looked up at the towering outline of the colossal mountain stretching between heaven and earth in the distance and muttered, "Buzhou Mountain, Buzhou Mountain... tell me, should I go left or right?"
Yingying on his shoulder seemed to sense his low spirits. She gently rubbed against his cheek and let out a comforting "yiya."
Li Wuyang smiled and stroked her. "It's fine. There's always a way when we get to the mountain! Let's figure out how to make a fortune at the auction first!"
(End of Chapter Fifteen)
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