Myriad Treasures Pavilion

Dusk deepened, but the private room at Yuelai Inn was brightly lit.

The Eight Immortals table was laden with Qingyang City specialties. The signature crystal shrimp dumplings from Drunken Immortal Tower were translucent and gleaming, while the old South Street shop's soy-braised pork knuckle was rich without being greasy.

Qin Lie raised a celadon wine jug and filled Su Yu's cup with amber liquor.

"Come on, Brother Su, try this Fire-Burning Cloud."

Qin Lie's dark face glowed red. "It's brewed with Vermillion Fruit from Crimson Flame Valley. One cup is enough to knock an ordinary man flat!"

Su Yu took a small sip and felt heat blaze down his throat.

The wine of the Nine Heavens Continent was extraordinary indeed. It was far stronger than the so-called hard liquor of his previous life.

Without showing it, he circulated the Purple Sun Art and slowly dissolved the alcohol's effects.

After three rounds of drinks, everyone began to loosen their tongues.

Qin Lie slapped the table. "In our Great Xia Kingdom, the mightiest powers are one pavilion, one valley, and three sects!"

He counted them off on his thick fingers. "Mysterious Heaven Pavilion, Crimson Flame Valley, Falling Water Sect, Yunlan Sect, Green Wood Sect..."

"Though Mysterious Heaven Pavilion and Crimson Flame Valley are both Third-rank Sects," Liu Fei continued, tapping a slender finger against her cup, "I've heard the pavilion master and the current Xia emperor are sworn brothers. Half the military officers at court came from Mysterious Heaven Pavilion."

When Qin Yue learned that Su Yu was an Inner Sect Disciple of Yunlan Sect, her almond eyes widened. She ticked names off on her delicate fingers as though reciting the treasures in her own home. "I know Zhao Fusheng, the Floating Life Sword, Lei Ming, the Thunder Hand, and Bai Yingxue, the Cold Frost Sword..."

She suddenly slapped the table. "Oh, right! And Ye Chen, the Falling Dust Sword!"

Su Yu shook his head with a rueful smile.

Despite being a genuine Yunlan Sect disciple, he knew less about its prodigies than an outsider did.

"You're still young, Brother Su." Qin Lie slung an arm around Su Yu's shoulders, his speech slurred.

"With talent like yours, within three years, all of Great Xia Kingdom will surely..."

Before he could finish, the hulking man slid beneath the table, snoring like thunder.

Liu Fei gave Chen Mo a helpless glance, and he hauled Qin Lie aside with some effort.

She said apologetically to Su Yu, "Our captain loses his manners when he drinks. Sorry you had to see that, young hero."

"Not at all." Su Yu raised his cup and took a light sip.

"Brother Qin is openhearted and forthright. He's a man of genuine feeling."

Moonlight brightened outside the window. Liu Fei tucked back a lock of hair. "Tomorrow's auction is set for the afternoon. If you have time, young hero, you could visit the Myriad Treasures Pavilion first."

A shrewd glint crossed her eyes. "Rare treasures from the sects often turn up there. You might find an opportunity."

When the wine was finished and the guests had gone, Su Yu returned to his room.

Moonlight poured down like water as Su Yu sat cross-legged on the cushion in his room.

He held the Beast Core from the Magic Wind Wolf in his palm. It gleamed a deep blue-green in the candlelight.

At the lightest touch of his fingertips, he could clearly feel the surging spiritual energy within it. This Level 2 Low Rank Beast Core held more than ten times the energy of a Level 1 High Rank core.

Humm—

The Ancient Sword deep in his soul suddenly trembled, its blade humming with hunger.

A smile tugged at Su Yu's lips. "Brother Sword, I knew you couldn't wait."

Before the words had faded, the Beast Core in his palm turned into a streak of blue-green light and was swallowed whole by the Ancient Sword.

In an instant, a tidal surge of spiritual energy flowed back from the depths of his soul and rushed through his meridians.

Su Yu immediately circulated the Purple Sun Art. A faint purple halo rose around him as he guided the pure energy through every part of his body.

His meridians swelled slightly under the rush of spiritual energy, and the vortex in his dantian grew visibly larger.

When the last trace of energy had been refined, Su Yu slowly opened his eyes. A flash of purple light flickered in them and vanished.

His cultivation had settled firmly at the late stage of the second level of the Spirit Condensation Realm.

Extraordinary indeed... He gazed thoughtfully at the powder in his palm.

The Level 2 Low Rank Beast Core held far more spiritual energy than a Level 1 High Rank core, and the difference in purity was as vast as heaven and earth.

The combined energy of ten Level 1 High Rank Beast Cores might match one Level 2 Low Rank core, but their impurities greatly reduced how efficiently he could absorb them.

The night watchman's clappers sounded outside. It was already midnight.

Perhaps I can find more Level 2 Beast Cores there tomorrow. If I get one more, reaching the peak of the second level will be just around the corner.

At the first glimmer of dawn, Su Yu stepped into Qingyang City's most renowned establishment, the Myriad Treasures Pavilion.

The moment he entered, the mingled scents of sandalwood and spirit herbs swept over him, lifting his spirits.

The pavilion's furnishings were lavish in the extreme. All manner of rare treasures gleamed on rosewood shelves beneath the power of formations.

"Young master, I don't believe I've seen you before. Is this your first visit to our shop?"

A quick-witted attendant hurried over. His gaze lingered briefly on the Lone Swan Sword at Su Yu's waist, and his manner grew even more respectful.

Su Yu nodded slightly, his gaze sweeping over the prices on the shelves.

A century-old lingzhi was priced at thirty Low-grade Spirit Stones, and a bottle of Qi Condensation Pills at two hundred Low-grade Spirit Stones... The prices were steep, but fair enough.

"What are you looking for, young master?"

The attendant beamed. "The Myriad Treasures Pavilion has a sterling reputation in Qingyang City. Fine goods at fair prices—satisfaction guaranteed."

"Do you have any Level 2 Beast Cores?" Su Yu asked directly.

The attendant's eyes lit up. "Your timing is perfect, young master! Usually, the Pill Refining Pavilion and Artifact Crafting Pavilion reserve every last one, but today we happen to have ten Magic Wind Wolf Beast Cores left."

He lowered his voice. "Level 2 Low Rank, and top quality!"

"How much?"

"Normally, they're a hundred Low-grade Spirit Stones apiece."

The attendant rubbed his hands together. "But today, I can offer you a special price: just fifty Low-grade Spirit Stones each."

Su Yu calculated silently. Ten Level 1 High Rank Beast Cores sold for only ten Low-grade Spirit Stones. A Level 2 core cost five times as much.

He turned without a change in expression and pretended to examine the other wares. "That price... seems a little high."

"You have a keen eye, young master!"

The attendant hurried after him. "Beast Cores are terribly scarce these days. Pill refiners and artifact crafters both depend on them. At fifty Spirit Stones, we're practically selling at a loss!"

Su Yu continued strolling through the Myriad Treasures Pavilion without revealing anything. Suddenly, the Ancient Sword deep in his soul shook violently.

Its response was stronger than ever before.

The longing it conveyed bordered on frenzy, like a beast starved for days catching the scent of blood.

Su Yu forced himself to remain calm and casually approached the display case. The object that had stirred the sword was an ordinary-looking Black Iron Fragment.