Seven Treasures Pavilion

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

The 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 golden lettering were three flamboyant characters: "Seven Treasures Pavilion."

Even more eye-catching was the small flag hanging beside the entrance, embroidered with an exquisite, radiant seven-story pagoda.

Seven Treasures Glazed Pagoda!

Ning Chuan's heart stirred.

This was the symbol of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, one of the Upper Three Sects, a sect as wealthy as a nation!

"Seven Treasures Pavilion... it looks like this is a business under the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect." Ning Chuan immediately came to a conclusion.

The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect was renowned across the continent for appraising treasures and conducting business. Its shops could be found in every major city, and its reputation was impeccable. It was especially skilled at purchasing and selling rare treasures and materials.

Selling the alloy from an unknown technological world in his hands to an ordinary Blacksmith Shop would be like burying a pearl in dust. 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 go take a look. It seems impressive. Maybe they'll know what this is."

Ning Dazhuang looked in the direction his son pointed. When he saw the Seven Treasures Glazed Pagoda flag, his eyes narrowed slightly, and a trace of awe and hesitation appeared on his face.

Even a country carpenter like him had heard of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.

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

"Xiaochuan, that place... isn't somewhere we should go, is it?" Ning Dazhuang hesitated. "The things there must be terribly expensive. As for our stone..."

"Let's just ask, Dad." Ning Chuan insisted, his face showing the curious, stubborn look unique to a youth who seemed not to understand propriety. "Asking doesn't cost anything. What if they really like it? Maybe we can buy Mom and Xiao He several more lengths of good cloth!"

That last sentence clearly moved Ning Dazhuang.

He looked at his son, then touched the bag of Silver Soul Coins from selling furniture, still warm from his body, tucked inside his clothes. Gritting his teeth, he said, "Fine! We'll go ask! You be smart, kid. Don't touch anything carelessly. We leave as soon as we're done asking."

"Okay!" Ning Chuan nodded hurriedly.

The father and son parked their empty cart at the roadside where it would not get in anyone's way. Ning Dazhuang carefully straightened the best clothes he owned, though the coarse cloth had long since faded from washing. Only then did he take a deep breath and lead Ning Chuan, somewhat awkwardly, toward the entrance of Seven Treasures Pavilion.

The moment they drew near, a faint fragrance of sandalwood that calmed the mind washed over them, forming a stark contrast with the noisy restlessness of the street.

A handsome attendant in a green long robe stood at the entrance. When he saw Ning Dazhuang and Ning Chuan's clothing, a flicker of barely perceptible surprise crossed his eyes. Yet he showed no contempt. Instead, he gave a slight bow with a professional smile. "What may I do for you two?"

The attendants of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect were indeed exceptionally well trained.

Ning Dazhuang was nervous. He opened his mouth, but no words came out.

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

The attendant's gaze 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 to lead the way and brought the father and son into the shop.

The interior was spacious, decorated in an antique style, with soft lighting.

Treasure cabinets lined the walls, displaying all kinds of items: crystalline ores, ancient porcelain, weapons gleaming with cold light, and even several Soul Tools emitting faint energy fluctuations.

The air was filled with the scent of wealth and deep foundations intertwined.

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

Ning Dazhuang looked even more at a loss, unconsciously hunching his shoulders, afraid he might break something.

Ning Chuan, meanwhile, did his best to remain composed. His gaze quickly swept across the displayed items as he silently assessed them.

Any one of the things here could probably support his family for years.

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

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

Ning Chuan sat quietly, observing everything in silence.

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

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

"Yes, yes, Master." Ning Dazhuang hurriedly stood up and stammered. "It's... it's a stone my son found. 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 instant the metal block was fully exposed to the air, the old man's eyes sharpened!

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

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

Finally, he even took out a monocle embedded with a crystal lens from his robe, put it on, and studied the fractured surface of the metal block for a long while. From time to time, soft clicks of astonishment escaped his lips.

Ning Dazhuang watched every movement the old man made, so tense that he barely dared breathe.

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

After a long while, the old man slowly straightened up and removed his monocle. An expression mixing astonishment and confusion appeared on his face.

"How strange..." the old man muttered. Then he looked at Ning Chuan with an inquisitive gaze. "Little fellow, where did you get this 'stone'?"

Ning Chuan had long prepared his answer. A suitably blank look appeared on his face, 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 this? Is it valuable?"

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

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

After pondering for a moment, the old man slowly said, "This is by no means a natural ore, but a kind of... peculiar 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... Fascinating. Truly fascinating."

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

Ning Chuan was overjoyed, but he tried hard to keep his expression calm and instead looked toward his father.

What would Ning Dazhuang know about this? Rubbing his hands together, he mumbled, "Well... just give us whatever you think is fair. Whatever you think is fair..."

The old man smiled faintly and held up three fingers. "Thirty Gold Soul Coins. How about it?"

"Th-thirty Gold Soul Coins?!" Ning Dazhuang's eyes flew wide open. Even his voice changed pitch. He almost thought he had misheard!

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 also lurched. This price was much higher than he had expected!

The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect truly was extravagantly wealthy!

Ning Chuan suppressed his excitement and did not agree immediately. He knew that a shop like this would never offer its final bottom price at the start.

A hesitant, reluctant expression appeared on his face. "Only thirty... Master, my dad said this 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..."

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

The old man looked at Ning Chuan's "innocent" yet "determined" eyes and laughed in spite of himself. Rather than getting angry, he found the boy somewhat interesting.

Stroking his beard, he pondered for a moment. "In that case... fine. In consideration of your filial heart, forty Gold Soul Coins. That is the highest price this old man can offer. Though this item is unusual, its use is unknown. Its research value exceeds its practical value."

Forty Gold Soul Coins!

Ning Dazhuang was completely dumbfounded. His mouth hung open, but he could not say a word.

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

The old man nodded and instructed the attendant to fetch the payment. Before long, the attendant returned carrying a small tray with four shining Purple Soul Coins on it (1 Purple Soul Coin = 10 Gold Soul Coins).

With trembling hands, Ning Dazhuang practically snatched the four heavy Purple Soul Coins and clutched them tightly in his palm, as though afraid they might fly away. Then he 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 casually ask, "Little fellow, did you see anything else similar on that riverbank?"

Alarm bells rang faintly in Ning Chuan's mind, but his face showed regret. "No, I only found this one. I went back and searched several times."

A trace of imperceptible 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 if he were dreaming. He clutched his chest tightly, 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 as he spoke. "You really found a treasure!"

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

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

"Buy it! We'll buy the best!" Ning Dazhuang waved his hand grandly, more lavish than ever before. "Come on! We'll buy cloth first! Then we'll get you two new outfits! What you're wearing now really can't do!"