In the courtyard.
The wind sighed bleakly as Su Mo practiced his sword.
Su Mo's sword was exceptionally nimble. The sword followed the wind momentum, and the wind followed the sword's path. Its force was sometimes like a gentle breeze brushing one's face, sometimes like a gale sweeping through.
At this moment, Su Mo's mind was utterly clear. His understanding of the Divine Wind Swordplay had never been sharper. His entire being melded into the wind momentum; the wind's trajectory, speed, and changes all unfolded one by one in his mind.
Su Mo continued striking with his sword. The moves of the Divine Wind Swordplay flowed one after another, again and again, each sword faster than the last.
Gale Edge!
The longsword danced, sword radiance flashing. Sharp sword light pierced the air, accompanied by a shrill whistle.
Wind Sweeps Clouds!
Wind momentum merged into the sword. As the sword light moved, the wind followed, rolling through every direction with incomparable sharpness.
Wind Howls Nine Heavens!
A wild gale suddenly arose. It was no longer the wind following the sword momentum; instead, the sword momentum merged into the wind. Sword shadows flickered, sweeping across the void.
Divine Wind Kill!
The wind stopped, and the sword shadows vanished. Then, a piercing shriek rang out. An unmatched sword light shot from the void like a meteor plunging to earth, as swift as wind and lightning.
With a crack, the sword light slashed into the hard wall. Rubble flew everywhere as the wall was pierced through, leaving behind a half-meter-long sword mark.
Huff!
Su Mo sheathed his sword and stood still.
"With the four forms of the Divine Wind Swordplay, at this pace of cultivation, it won't be long before I reach the minor achievement realm!"
Su Mo was secretly delighted. Although the Divine Wind Swordplay had yet to reach the minor achievement realm, it was already very close. Its attack power had risen greatly, more than tripling compared to when he had first begun.
Worthy of being a Grade 3 Martial Skill!
Su Mo sighed inwardly.
By now, five or six days had passed since Su Mo had last left the city. Every day, he spent more than half his time cultivating martial skills.
Aside from his great progress in the Divine Wind Swordplay, his Phantom Steps had also improved steadily and were nearing the minor achievement realm.
As for his cultivation, Su Mo remained at the peak of Qi Cultivation Fourth Level. After his previous explosive increase in cultivation, his realm needed time to settle. It would be difficult to make another breakthrough in the short term unless he devoured a large amount of vital energy and blood again.
However, although his cultivation had not risen, his physical strength had increased tremendously. His Martial Soul was now a Human Grade Fifth Tier Martial Soul, allowing him to absorb Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi more than ten times faster than before, all of which he used to cultivate his body.
He would soon completely master the Second Layer realm of the Myriad Manifestations Divine Art. His physical strength had now reached a full two thousand five hundred jin—the strength of five tigers—comparable to a Qi Cultivation Fifth Level martial artist.
"Brother Su Mo, take a break!"
At that moment, a girl in white emerged from the room, carrying a steaming cup of tea and handing it to Su Mo.
"Hehe! Xi'er, have you gotten used to living here?"
Su Mo asked with a smile.
Gu Lanxi was dressed in white, pure as snow. Her beauty was peerless, and she seemed shrouded in a light haze like an immortal maiden walking upon rippling waves, as though she did not belong to the mortal world.
As the saying went, clothes made the man and saddles made the horse. Su Mo had merely bought her two outfits and dressed her up a little, yet Gu Lanxi had once again left him stunned.
Even he could not help but feel his heart stir at such a breathtaking beauty.
"Mhm, Brother Su Mo, Xi'er has gotten quite used to it here."
A faint smile rested on the girl's lovely face, utterly enchanting.
"Hehe! Xi'er, you've been here so long, but you haven't gone out even once. I'll take you around."
Su Mo said with a smile, "And we'll buy some cultivation resources while we're at it."
"Mhm!" The girl nodded obediently.
Then Su Mo took Gu Lanxi and left the Su family estate.
Originally, Su Mo had wanted to see his father, Su Hong. However, ever since Su Mo had given him a hundred Spirit Stones, Su Hong had remained in seclusion. It seemed he was attempting to break through a cultivation bottleneck, so Su Mo did not disturb him.
Purple Gold Pavilion.
Su Mo brought Xi'er to the Purple Gold Pavilion once more.
The moment they entered the grand hall, a young maid stepped forward to greet them. "Young Master, how may I help you?"
"I wish to see your Pavilion Master Luo!"
Su Mo smiled faintly and got straight to the point.
"What?"
The young maid was startled, then looked at Su Mo speechlessly. Who was this person? What nerve, demanding to see our Pavilion Master the moment he entered.
"Young Master, our Pavilion Master is very busy. If you wish to purchase pills, weapons, or other items, you may simply tell me."
The young maid tactfully refused. She had seen many people who asked to see the Pavilion Master as soon as they opened their mouths.
Their Pavilion Master's beauty had bewitched countless men. Many came here because of her reputation, only to catch a glimpse of her true appearance.
She glanced again at Xi'er beside Su Mo, thinking that this young man was far too fickle-hearted. He already had such a beautiful woman accompanying him, yet he was still not satisfied?
"Oh? Is that so? Can you make decisions on transactions worth more than ten thousand taels of gold?"
A smile curled across Su Mo's lips as he asked.
"Ah! Ten... ten thousand taels of gold?"
The young maid was instantly stunned. She hurriedly said, "Young Master, please wait. I will notify the Pavilion Master at once."
With that, the young maid hurried away.
She did not doubt whether Su Mo was telling the truth. The Purple Gold Pavilion had an enormous backing, and within Linyang City, no one dared cause trouble at the Purple Gold Pavilion.
Before long, the young maid returned in haste and said to Su Mo, "Young Master, the Pavilion Master invites you in!"
It was still the side hall from last time. Su Mo once again met the Pavilion Master of the Purple Gold Pavilion—Luo Huan.
Luo Huan sat in the seat of honor within the side hall. She still wore a tight leather skirt, her figure voluptuous, her alluring eyes soft as silk, and the corners of her eyes brimming with springtime charm.
From far away, Su Mo could smell a faint fragrance that was especially enticing and intoxicating.
If a woman like this set out to seduce a man, there was likely not a single man who could resist her.
"It's been many days, yet Pavilion Master Luo's elegance remains unchanged."
Su Mo's expression remained calm, showing not the slightest sign of intoxication.
"Hehe! Young Master Su, you flatter me. This humble woman is old and faded—how could I compare with the beauty by Young Master Su's side?"
When Luo Huan saw Xi'er beside Su Mo, her eyes flashed, and she was inwardly astonished.
She came from a great power, so her sights were not limited to a tiny place like Linyang City. Yet even so, she had never seen such an elegant and unworldly young woman.
Hearing Luo Huan's words, Xi'er's lovely face immediately flushed red, and she lowered her head shyly.
"Pavilion Master Luo, does your pavilion purchase Spirit Stones? What price do you offer?"
Su Mo did not engage in idle chatter and asked directly.
"Oh! Young Master Su has Spirit Stones?"
Luo Huan raised her brows in surprise and asked, "How many Spirit Stones does Young Master Su have, and what grade are they?"
With a turn of his palm, a milky-white crystal appeared in Su Mo's hand. "Spirit Stones like this. Not many, only a few."
Su Mo only intended to sell a few Spirit Stones. Spirit Stones were extremely valuable, and although the Purple Gold Pavilion had an excellent reputation, exposing too many would inevitably invite unnecessary trouble.
Moreover, five Spirit Stones were already an immense fortune.
"These are low-grade Spirit Stones. I can offer you three thousand taels of gold for each."
Luo Huan glanced at it, pondered briefly, and spoke.
"Fine. I have five Spirit Stones, so that makes fifteen thousand taels of gold."
Su Mo took out four more Spirit Stones and handed them over together.
"Young Master Su, do you require any other items?"
After accepting the Spirit Stones, Luo Huan smiled sweetly and asked.
Seeing her smile, Su Mo had the feeling that he had been swindled.
"Beast Souls again. What is the price of a First Grade Ninth Tier Beast Soul?"
Su Mo asked. Low-level Beast Souls now had little effect on raising his Martial Soul's grade, so he planned to buy First Grade Ninth Tier Beast Souls.
"A First Grade Ninth Tier Beast Soul costs four hundred taels of gold."
"Then give me thirty!"
Su Mo was now flush with wealth. He did not care in the slightest about ten thousand or so taels of gold, looking every bit like a nouveau riche.
"Also, give me twenty Body Tempering Pills."
Su Mo was purchasing the Body Tempering Pills for Xi'er, so she could complete Body Tempering as soon as possible.
The medicinal effects of Body Tempering Pills could strengthen one's constitution and temper the physical body.
However, this kind of pill could only be taken once every half month. Taking more would have no effect.
Luo Huan gave the order, and before long, thirty First Grade Ninth Tier Beast Souls and twenty Body Tempering Pills were delivered to Su Mo.
"Oh, right, Pavilion Master Luo, I also have some Demonic Cores. I'll sell those to you as well!"
Su Mo took out several Demonic Cores, which he had obtained last time in the Youfeng Mountain Range and had kept in his Storage Ring.
"Alright. Thirty Beast Souls come to twelve thousand taels, and twenty Body Tempering Pills come to one thousand taels, for a total of thirteen thousand taels of gold. That leaves two thousand taels of gold."
"I'll value these Demonic Cores at five hundred taels, making it two thousand five hundred taels of gold."
After accepting the two thousand five hundred taels' worth of gold notes, Su Mo bid Luo Huan farewell. "Pavilion Master Luo, since I have bought everything I needed, I shall take my leave!"
"Hehe! Take care, Young Master Su. This humble woman will not see you out!"
Luo Huan rose to her feet and smiled seductively.
After Su Mo left, a thoughtful expression appeared on Luo Huan's delicate face.
"Buying Beast Souls in such quantities... what secret does this little fellow possess?"
"If only your Martial Soul grade were not so low, I could recommend you to the island."
Before you continue