The Secret of the Artisan Pavilion, Yuan Ziyi Places Her Bet!

Yuan Ziyi was pinned to her seat by one of Jiang Chuan's hands. Her entire body was stiff, and she did not dare move an inch as cold sweat slid down her forehead.

The burly man Jiang Chuan had sent flying with one punch was her strongest guard.

Zhao Tieshan.

A level sixty-five Berserker.

His physique was as formidable as a savage dragon's. He had once single-handedly wiped out a Blood Cat nest.

In Tianyuan City, where the strongest people were only seventh-rank powerhouses, Zhao Tieshan was one of the select few standing at the peak of the pyramid.

Zhao Tieshan was the most loyal subordinate Yuan Ziyi had brought from the Yuan Family. He had followed her for twelve years and had never failed.

Now, he had been sent flying by a single punch from this youth who had only just awakened.

His fate was unknown.

Yuan Ziyi's emerald, limpid eyes were filled with unprecedented fear and disbelief.

Was this guy even human, or was he a monster?

No.

Even a monster—

Could not possibly be this powerful at the first rank!

"Mr... Mr. Jiang."

Yuan Ziyi's voice trembled, and her tone had changed completely. All her earlier probing was gone as she said humbly, "I was presumptuous. Please forgive me, Mr. Jiang."

Sensing the surging emotions and thoughts within her, Jiang Chuan said calmly,

"Is an apology something you settle with words?"

Yuan Ziyi shuddered and hurriedly took out a gold note. "This is an anonymous one-million treasure note from the Black Star Trading Company. Please accept it."

"A treasure note?"

Jiang Chuan examined it. It was a rectangular gold note covered in intricate patterns, with a dark star emblem in the center and a string of numbers denoting its value.

It was his first time seeing such a thing, so he immediately asked, "How is this treasure note different from cash?"

Yuan Ziyi explained honestly, "Human currency can only circulate within the Federation, and the other races do not recognize it. The Black Star Trading Company, however, is a top-tier force spread across the Source Realm. Its treasure notes circulate throughout the entire Source Realm and can be exchanged directly for an equivalent amount of cash... though the actual exchange rate is somewhat higher."

Through the effects of [Mind Perception], Jiang Chuan could tell whether she was lying. Curious, he asked, "You conduct secret transactions with the other races too?"

Yuan Ziyi quickly said, "They are normal business dealings. Not all other races are aggressive. There are also many peace-loving races in the Source Realm. Their technology is not very advanced, and many things manufactured by humans are what they need."

"I see."

Jiang Chuan gained another measure of understanding about this world.

He removed his hand from Yuan Ziyi's shoulder, suddenly curious about her true appearance beneath the veil.

Power made people reckless.

So did strength.

Jiang Chuan tore the veil from Yuan Ziyi's face, revealing a smooth and stunningly beautiful visage.

She cried out and instinctively turned her head away, only for Jiang Chuan to grip her chin and forcibly turn her back. Her clear, beautiful eyes immediately filled with anger and embarrassment.

Jiang Chuan gently rubbed her delicate cheek with his fingers and teased, "You're this beautiful, and it's not like you can't be seen. Why keep your face covered with a veil all the time?"

Having said that, he made no further move. He turned and sat back down in his chair, then said leisurely,

"Tell me, what business did you want to discuss with me?"

Yuan Ziyi's face turned ashen as she took a deep breath and forced herself to calm down.

She was a merchant. Merchants pursued profit by nature and would not easily let their emotions sway their decisions.

Very soon.

Yuan Ziyi regained her composure.

Picking up her veil and putting it back on, she asked, "Mr. Jiang, I would first like to confirm something. Are you truly a first-rank professional?"

Jiang Chuan said, "You should have already found out that I awakened only recently and haven't even visited the Job Advancement Temple."

Yuan Ziyi nodded. "The business I wish to discuss concerns the core secret of the Artisan Pavilion. I hope Mr. Jiang will keep it confidential."

"Fine."

Having received his promise, Yuan Ziyi still did not fully trust Jiang Chuan, but she had little choice.

She first asked, "Mr. Jiang, do you know why, despite there being so many Artifact Refiner professionals in Tianyuan City, the Artisan Pavilion alone has become the leading name?"

Jiang Chuan said, "I've heard a little. Supposedly, your success rate for forging equipment is higher, and the quality is better as well."

"That's right."

Yuan Ziyi took out a small wooden box and pushed it toward him. "The reason the Artifact Refiners trained by our Artisan Pavilion far surpass their peers is entirely because of this."

Jiang Chuan took the box and opened it. Inside lay a flame-colored crystal.

[Artisan Spirit Crystal: D-rank. Contains the crystallization of a D-rank Artifact Refiner's lifetime of forging insights. Upon consumption, it can raise one's forging talent by one level. This item is effective only the first time it is used.]

Jiang Chuan was greatly surprised. "It can raise a talent level? Something like this exists?"

"The Source Realm is full of wonders."

Yuan Ziyi said seriously, "This item comes from a special secret realm owned by my Yuan Family. It is precisely because of this secret realm that the Artisan Pavilion's business has remained so prosperous."

Jiang Chuan nodded thoughtfully. "If nothing unexpected happened, then something unexpected happened."

"That's right."

Yuan Ziyi's tone turned bitter. "About half a year ago, abnormalities began appearing in that secret realm. Its entrance started rejecting high-rank professionals."

"At first, those above the fifth rank could not enter. Later, it became those above the third rank, and then..."

"Now."

"Only first-rank professionals can enter."

Jiang Chuan raised an eyebrow slightly. "So you set your sights on me?"

Yuan Ziyi said sincerely, "We found more than a dozen outstanding first-rank professionals, but after entering, every one of them vanished without a trace. I'm afraid that after a while, even first-rank professionals will be unable to enter. At that point, we will never be able to determine what happened inside the secret realm."

Jiang Chuan tapped his fingers lightly against the table a few times. "What is the danger level of this secret realm?"

"Fifth-rank."

Yuan Ziyi added, "It was fifth-rank before the abnormality occurred. We do not know what the situation inside is like now."

She was indeed being honest. Then again, other than honesty, she had no bargaining chip that could persuade him.

Jiang Chuan considered it for a moment.

As Yuan Ziyi had said, the secret realm possessed dangers above the fifth rank, yet only allowed first-rank professionals to enter. It was indeed not a problem an ordinary person could solve.

He asked, "What do I get out of it?"

Yuan Ziyi said solemnly, "To be honest, the bargaining chip I originally prepared is simply not worth mentioning before you. I had planned to offer a piece of gold equipment as payment and ask you to make a trip into the secret realm."

One piece of gold equipment in exchange for a life was, in a merchant's eyes, a very fair price.

But after witnessing Jiang Chuan send Zhao Tieshan flying with one punch—

That price was clearly no longer enough.

What could a few pieces of gold equipment amount to for someone capable of crushing a sixth-rank powerhouse?

"So?"

Jiang Chuan asked, "What bargaining chip do you have now to negotiate with me?"

Yuan Ziyi fell silent for a moment. Then, she took out a token from her robes, placed it on the table, and pushed it toward Jiang Chuan.

The token was entirely black. The words [Stellar Crown] were engraved on the front, while the back bore an image of a starry sky. It felt cold to the touch.

"A Stellar Crown Academy admission token."

Yuan Ziyi said, "With this token, you can enter Stellar Crown Academy directly without undergoing any assessment and receive the same treatment as every official student!"

"Oh!?"

Jiang Chuan was instantly delighted. A place at Stellar Crown Academy had been his goal, and he had been considering how to arrange it through Xu Yinyin.

Who would have thought—

Yuan Ziyi would personally deliver exactly what he wanted to his door!

Jiang Chuan picked up the token and examined it from every angle. Under the light, the starry-sky pattern glimmered with a faint blue radiance, as though a miniature galaxy had been sealed within the token.

Jiang Chuan set the token back on the table without immediately putting it away.

He picked up his teacup. The tea had long gone cold, but he still took a sip and slowly swallowed it before speaking. "I need more information about the secret realm. The map, routes, records left behind by those who went before—everything you have, I want to see it all."

"No problem."

"Also, I need supplies. Potions, food, wilderness survival tools—everything must be provided at the highest standard."

"Fine."

Jiang Chuan said, "Lastly, let me make this clear. I will only investigate the cause of the secret realm's abnormality. If it is within my ability to resolve, I will help you resolve it. But if it is too difficult, I will not take the risk."

Yuan Ziyi hesitated. Having offered such a precious bargaining chip, she naturally hoped Jiang Chuan could directly solve the root of the problem.

But she hesitated for only two seconds before nodding.

"Fine."

Because she had no other choice.

Everyone she had sent in had already died inside. If they could not determine the cause, her family would lose that secret realm forever. At the very least, asking Jiang Chuan to act could bring back a sliver of hope.

"Good." Jiang Chuan put away both the token and the box containing the crystal, then asked, "When do we leave?"

Yuan Ziyi rose as well and bowed slightly. "Whenever Mr. Jiang is available, I can make the arrangements at any time."

"Tomorrow, then."

Jiang Chuan said, "I'll come to the Artisan Pavilion to find you tomorrow morning."

"Ziyi will await Mr. Jiang's arrival."

The fifth-floor hall fell quiet, leaving Yuan Ziyi standing alone in place, staring blankly at the empty staircase.

Only after quite a while did she walk to the wall, crouch down, and check Zhao Tieshan's injuries.

Zhao Tieshan had already slid down from the wall and was sitting against it. A trace of blood seeped from the corner of his mouth, but his breathing remained fairly steady.

He opened his eyes, saw Yuan Ziyi, and his first words were, "Pavilion Master, that guy... what kind of monster is he?"

Yuan Ziyi did not answer.

She raised her head and looked through the floor-to-ceiling windows at the setting sun over Tianyuan City. Dusk dyed the entire city orange-red, while the outlines of the distant mountains blurred in the evening haze.

"I don't know."

She said softly, "But I know one thing."

"What is it?"

"No matter what he is, we cannot become his enemy."

Zhao Tieshan fell silent, then nodded heavily.

The lights on the fifth floor came on one after another, illuminating the entire hall.

Yuan Ziyi stood before the window, her figure reflected as a blurred silhouette in the glass.

She unconsciously touched her cheek, recalling Jiang Chuan's almost humiliating actions. Her face actually felt a little hot.

It was not because of humiliation.

It was excitement.

A young man who could effortlessly defeat a sixth-rank professional with first-rank strength, a young man who could overturn the rules, had appeared before her. And she had the good fortune to become his first investor.

Whether this business would turn a profit—

She did not know.

But she knew that if she did not take this chance, she would definitely regret it!