Master of the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion

Li Ping'an's tone was exceedingly impatient.

The shopkeeper forced a smile and said,

"No, we don't have any here. But you can try the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion. They basically have everything there."

"Alright. Thanks."

Still wearing that aloof expression, Li Ping'an turned and walked out of the large apothecary.

Watching Li Ping'an's retreating back, the shopkeeper let out a long breath. Thinking back on his words and behavior just now, he wondered if he had offended this esteemed customer.

This gentleman could bring out Qi-Replenishing Pills. He was a major customer! If he came by a few more times in the future, the shopkeeper's annual revenue could multiply severalfold.

After leaving the large apothecary, Li Ping'an thought for a moment and decided to visit the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion to see whether he could buy pills that enhanced spiritual power.

He had roughly nine hundred spirit stones on him now. He could be considered loaded, so buying a couple of pills should not have been a problem.

With that thought, Li Ping'an stepped through the doors of the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion once more.

This time, a young shop attendant stood guard at the entrance. Seeing Li Ping'an's unshaven face and ordinary clothes, he immediately looked thoroughly impatient and said,

"What are you here for? Scram, scram! Is this a place for someone like you? Get out already. Don't dirty our place."

Li Ping'an frowned deeply. What the hell is wrong with the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion?

Why are they all a pack of dogs throwing their weight around?

Just as he was about to flare up, a sharp rebuke rang out beside him.

"What are you doing?! He's one of our major customers! Is that any way to speak to a customer?"

A slightly older shop attendant rushed over from the side and, without another word, slapped the young attendant across the face.

Then the older attendant hurried before Li Ping'an, bowing and scraping as he said,

"Sir, you've come again! Greetings, sir! My respects to you!"

Li Ping'an froze for a moment, then remembered.

Oh!

Wasn't this the shop attendant who had sold him cultivation manuals and scriptures last time?

After looking down on him last time, this fellow had learned his lesson. This time, he had come straight over to curry favor.

Having been slapped, the young attendant immediately dared not say another word and retreated to one side.

Li Ping'an glanced at him, the corner of his lips curling slightly. He took five spirit stones from his robes and tossed them to the older attendant.

"This is your reward. Today, you'd better show me around the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion properly. If I can't buy what I want, I'll make you regret it."

The older attendant was both startled and delighted. His eyes shone as he caught the spirit stones, and he hurriedly said,

"Rest assured, sir! I'll definitely help you find something that satisfies you!"

Seeing this, the young attendant beside them was left dumbstruck, then filled with boundless regret.

So this was actually a rich gentleman. He wished he could slap himself twice.

Five spirit stones! That was already worth half a year of his wages.

It seemed he could never judge people by appearances again.

Li Ping'an had already followed the shop attendant into the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion.

"Sir, my name is Zhao Tiezhu. In the future, just come straight to me whenever you visit our Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion. I guarantee I'll attend to you so comfortably you won't want to leave."

"Fine."

Li Ping'an took the fragrant tea Zhao Tiezhu handed him, sipped it, and said,

"Today, I want to buy some pills that can increase spiritual power. Does your Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion have any?"

"Pills that increase spiritual power?"

Zhao Tiezhu was stunned, then shook his head with a bitter smile.

"Sir, anything else would be easy enough, but we truly don't have that in our shop."

"What? Even the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion doesn't have any?"

Li Ping'an frowned, then added,

"Then do you have a formula for refining spiritual-type pills? A formula will do as well."

"A formula..."

Zhao Tiezhu scratched his head and thought for a long time before saying,

"Then please wait a moment, sir. I'll go look and see if I can find one."

"Mm. Don't keep me waiting too long."

Li Ping'an nodded.

Zhao Tiezhu bowed and hurried away.

Before long, Zhao Tiezhu returned.

"That fast?"

Li Ping'an was slightly surprised.

Yet Zhao Tiezhu said awkwardly,

"Master Li, I just asked our steward, and we really don't have any formulas in the shop. But if you want to buy something related to spiritual-type pills, you could ask our Pavilion Master."

"Your Pavilion Master?"

Li Ping'an was slightly taken aback.

"Yes. Our Pavilion Master is extraordinarily knowledgeable. Many things aren't brought into the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion for sale, and she may have them in her personal collection. Sometimes, when customers can't buy what they want, or when they need rare and unusual items, we seek out the Pavilion Master."

"Alright."

Li Ping'an nodded.

"Then call your Pavilion Master out. I'll ask him."

"Certainly. Please wait a moment."

Zhao Tiezhu trotted off again.

Not long afterward, a middle-aged woman in a long blue dress descended from the upper pavilion.

She wore light makeup and was exceptionally beautiful, carrying the mature charm of a woman, every movement brimming with allure.

As she came down from the pavilion, her gaze immediately fell on Li Ping'an, seated in a chair.

A wave of spiritual energy swept toward him.

This person is incredibly strong!

Li Ping'an was alarmed. Without realizing it, Great Dream Soul-Drawing Art began circulating quietly within him, disguising his cultivation as the Foundation Establishment Realm.

In other words, at this moment, the middle-aged woman saw Li Ping'an as a Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator.

Yet in just those few breaths, cold sweat had already appeared on Li Ping'an's forehead.

Circulating Great Dream Soul-Drawing Art consumed far too much mental energy. Especially when facing this middle-aged woman who had suddenly come downstairs—her strength was certainly above the Foundation Establishment Realm—Li Ping'an's spiritual power was depleted even faster.

Fortunately, after discovering that Li Ping'an was a Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator, the woman immediately withdrew her probe, and a friendly smile appeared on her face.

"Fellow Daoist, are you the one seeking a formula for spiritual-type pills?"

"That is correct."

Li Ping'an forced himself to hold his mind together, not letting the woman see how weak he was.

"You are the Pavilion Master of the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion, aren't you? Do you have one?"

"I do, but this formula is for a third-rank pill. Fellow Daoist, can you truly refine third-rank pills?"

The Pavilion Master looked Li Ping'an up and down, clearly doubtful. After all, third-rank alchemists were exceedingly rare.

"Mm."

Li Ping'an hesitated for a moment before saying,

"I don't have absolute confidence, but it isn't impossible."

Seeing that Li Ping'an did not seem to be putting on an act, the middle-aged woman nodded.

"I can sell you the formula, but I have one condition."

"What condition?"

Li Ping'an asked.

"If you successfully refine the pills, you must give thirty percent to our Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion. What do you say?"

"Thirty percent?"

Li Ping'an was slightly stunned, then began to ponder.

As for refining this third-rank pill, naturally he had no confidence whatsoever, because he did not know alchemy at all!

The reason he had told the Pavilion Master that he had some confidence was that he could use the Heaven-Tempering Hammer to hammer out damaged pills.

He only needed to have someone else refine the pill. Even if they failed, he could use the Heaven-Tempering Hammer to bring it back from the brink of death.

So it was not as though there was no hope at all.

"Alright, I agree."