Seven Treasures Pavilion

Ning Chuan's gaze swept across the bustling street before finally settling on an elegantly decorated shop at the corner.

Its storefront was not the largest, but its materials were exquisite, with carved beams and painted rafters that exuded understated luxury.

On the black signboard with gold lettering, three bold characters were written in flamboyant strokes: "Seven Treasures Pavilion."

Even more eye-catching was a small flag hanging beside the entrance, embroidered with the image of a delicate, radiant seven-story pagoda.

Seven Treasures Glazed Pagoda!

Ning Chuan's heart stirred.

This was the emblem of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, one of the Upper Three Sects, a faction rich enough to rival a nation!

"Seven Treasures Pavilion... Looks like it's a business under the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect." Ning Chuan made his judgment at once.

The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect was famous throughout the continent for appraising treasures and conducting trade. Its shops were spread across every major city and enjoyed an excellent reputation, especially for buying and selling rare treasures and materials.

If he sold the alloy from that unknown technological world to an ordinary Blacksmith Shop, it would be like casting a pearl before swine. But here, he might truly find someone who recognized its value and sell it for a good price!

"Dad." Ning Chuan tugged at his father's sleeve and pointed toward the shop. "Let's take a look there. It looks pretty impressive. Maybe they'll recognize what it is."

Following his son's finger, Ning Dazhuang's gaze fell upon the Seven Treasures Glazed Pagoda flag. His eyes narrowed slightly, and a trace of awe and hesitation appeared on his face.

Even a rural carpenter like him had heard the name of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect like thunder.

A place like that was somewhere common folk like him would never normally dare to enter.

"Xiaochuan, that place... isn't somewhere we should be going, right?" Ning Dazhuang hesitated. "The things there must be terribly expensive. And this stone of ours..."

"Let's just ask, Dad," Ning Chuan insisted, wearing the curiosity and stubbornness unique to a youngster who seemed not to understand proper boundaries. "It doesn't cost money to ask. What if they really like it? Maybe we can buy Mom and Xiao He several more lengths of good cloth!"

That final remark clearly moved Ning Dazhuang.

He looked at his son, then touched the pouch of Silver Soul Coins in his chest pocket, still warm from selling the furniture. Gritting his teeth, he said, "Fine! We'll go ask! Be smart, you brat. Don't touch anything carelessly. We'll leave as soon as we're done asking."

"Okay!" Ning Chuan nodded hurriedly.

The father and son parked their empty handcart somewhere by the roadside where it would not get in the way. Ning Dazhuang carefully straightened the best clothes he owned, though the coarse fabric had long since faded from washing, then took a deep breath and led Ning Chuan toward the entrance of Seven Treasures Pavilion, looking rather ill at ease.

As soon as they drew near, a faint scent of calming sandalwood washed over them, forming a sharp contrast with the noisy restlessness of the street.

A handsome attendant in a blue-green robe stood at the entrance. Seeing Ning Dazhuang and his son's clothing, a flicker of barely noticeable surprise passed through his eyes, but he showed no disdain. Instead, he gave a professional smile and bowed slightly. "May I ask what the two of you need?"

The employees of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect truly were exceptionally well-trained.

Ning Dazhuang was somewhat nervous. He opened his mouth but could not get a word out.

Ning Chuan stepped forward, took the metal wrapped in coarse cloth from his father's hand, and said to the attendant, "Brother, we'd like to ask one of your masters to take a look at this stone and give us an estimate."

The attendant's eyes fell on the unremarkable cloth bundle in Ning Chuan's hands, but his smile did not change. "Treasure appraisal and valuation must be handled by one of our masters. Please follow me."

With that, he turned and led the father and son inside.

The shop was spacious, decorated in an antique style, and softly lit.

Display cabinets with multiple compartments lined the walls, holding all manner of items: glittering ores, ancient-looking porcelain, weapons gleaming with cold light, and even several Soul Tools emitting faint energy fluctuations.

The air seemed filled with the intertwined scent of wealth and heritage.

There were not many customers in the shop, only a few richly dressed men and women quietly chatting or carefully examining the goods. When they saw Ning Chuan and his father enter, they cast a few curious glances their way.

Ning Dazhuang grew increasingly at a loss, unconsciously hunching his shoulders as though afraid he might break something.

Ning Chuan, on the other hand, tried his best to remain calm. His gaze quickly swept over the displayed items as he silently assessed them.

Anything here was probably worth several years of labor for his family.

The attendant led them to a quiet private room farther inside, invited them to sit, and served them two cups of tea before leaving to summon the appraiser.

Ning Dazhuang held his teacup with trembling hands and did not dare take a sip.

Ning Chuan sat quietly and observed in silence.

Before long, an old man wearing a dark blue silk robe entered with the attendant. He had a goatee and sharp, clear eyes.

"Are you two here for an appraisal?" The old man's gaze swept over Ning Dazhuang and Ning Chuan before finally resting on the coarse cloth bundle Ning Chuan had placed on the table. His tone was calm, revealing neither pleasure nor displeasure.

"Yes, yes, Master." Ning Dazhuang hurriedly stood, speaking with a slight stammer. "It's... it's a stone my son picked up. It looked unusual, so we wanted to ask you to take a look..."

The old man nodded and gestured for Ning Chuan to open the bundle.

Ning Chuan took a deep breath and carefully untied the cloth, revealing the dark gray metal block.

The moment the metal block was fully exposed to the air, the old man's eyes sharpened instantly!

His previously indifferent expression changed slightly. He stepped forward and nearly pressed his face against the metal block as he studied it closely.

He extended thin yet steady fingers and lightly touched the metal's surface, feeling its icy texture and dense composition. Then he tapped it with his knuckles, listening to the dull yet unusual resonance.

Finally, he even took a monocle set with a crystal lens from his robe, put it over his eye, and closely examined the fractured surface of the metal for a long while. Quiet sounds of appreciation occasionally escaped his lips.

Ning Dazhuang nervously watched every movement the old man made, scarcely daring to breathe.

Ning Chuan's heart rose into his throat as well. This old man's expertise far exceeded his expectations. Could he really discern the origins of this alloy?

After a long while, the old man slowly straightened, removed his monocle, and revealed an expression that mixed astonishment with confusion.

"How strange..." the old man murmured. Then he looked toward Ning Chuan, his eyes probing. "Little fellow, where did you get this 'stone'?"

Ning Chuan had already prepared his story. He showed the right amount of bewilderment along with a hint of pride. "I picked it up on the riverbank behind our village. It was black and really heavy, so I brought it home. Master, what is it? Is it worth money?"

"You picked it up on a riverbank?" The old man frowned deeply, clearly full of doubt at that answer.

But after closely examining Ning Chuan's expression and Ning Dazhuang's utterly genuine nervousness, he felt that they did not seem to be lying.

The old man pondered for a moment before slowly saying, "This is by no means a natural ore, but rather a kind of... strange metal that even I have never seen before. Its density far surpasses ordinary steel, its toughness is exceptional, and it has an extremely faint inert reaction to Soul Power... Remarkable. Truly remarkable."

After another pause, he looked at Ning Chuan. "Although this is not a treasure urgently needed for Soul Master cultivation, its material is unusual and has considerable research value. Seven Treasures Pavilion is willing to purchase it. What price do you two have in mind?"

Ning Chuan was ecstatic inside, but he tried hard to remain composed. Instead, he turned to look at his father.

What did Ning Dazhuang know about such things? Rubbing his hands together, he said awkwardly, "Well... you can decide what to give us. Whatever you think is right..."

The old man smiled faintly and held up three fingers. "Thirty Gold Soul Coins. How does that sound?"

"Th-thirty Gold Soul Coins?!" Ning Dazhuang's eyes flew wide open. Even his voice changed pitch, as though he could hardly believe what he had heard!

One Gold Soul Coin was enough for a family like theirs to live comfortably for a month!

Thirty Gold Soul Coins... this was practically a fortune! That broken stone was actually worth so much?!

Ning Chuan's heart gave a violent leap as well. The price was far higher than he had expected!

The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect really was extravagantly wealthy!

Ning Chuan forcibly suppressed his excitement and did not agree immediately. He knew that the price offered by a shop like this could never be their final limit.

He revealed a hesitant and reluctant expression. "Only thirty... Master, my dad said it might be star iron that fell from the sky... Could you... give us a little more? My mom wants to use the money to make new clothes for my little sister too..."

He displayed, at just the right moment, a child's fondness for his "treasure" and concern for his family.

Seeing Ning Chuan's "innocent" yet "stubborn" gaze, the old man laughed despite himself. Rather than becoming angry, he found the child somewhat interesting.

Stroking his beard, he pondered. "In that case... very well, in consideration of your filial heart. Forty Gold Soul Coins. That is the highest price I can offer. This item may be unusual, but its use is unknown. Its research value exceeds its practical value."

Forty Gold Soul Coins!

Ning Dazhuang was completely stunned. His mouth hung open, but no words came out.

Knowing when to stop, Ning Chuan immediately nodded. "Thank you, Master!"

The old man nodded and instructed the attendant to fetch the money. Soon, the attendant brought over a small tray holding four gleaming Purple Soul Coins (1 Purple Soul Coin = 10 Gold Soul Coins).

With trembling hands, Ning Dazhuang practically snatched the four weighty Purple Soul Coins and clenched them tightly in his palm, as if afraid they might fly away. He then quickly stuffed them into the innermost pocket against his chest and unconsciously pressed it down.

Once the transaction was complete, the old man seemed to ask casually, "Little fellow, did you see anything else like this at that riverbank?"

Alarm bells rang softly in Ning Chuan's heart, but he showed regret on his face. "No, there was only this one. I went back and searched several times too."

A trace of barely noticeable disappointment flashed through the old man's eyes, but he did not ask further. He politely saw the father and son out of the shop.

After leaving Seven Treasures Pavilion and reaching a secluded corner, Ning Dazhuang still felt as though he were dreaming. He tightly covered his chest, his face flushed red with excitement.

"Xiaochuan! Forty Gold Soul Coins! A whole forty!" he said excitedly to his son in a lowered voice, which trembled with emotion. "You really did pick up a treasure!"

Ning Chuan smiled, feeling relieved as well. The first step had finally been taken. With this starting capital, many things would become much easier.

"Dad, now we can buy Mom and Xiao He lots of new cloth, right?"

"Buy it! We'll buy the best!" Ning Dazhuang waved his hand grandly, more lavish than ever before. "Come on! Let's buy cloth first! Then we'll get you two new outfits! You really can't keep wearing those clothes!"