Chapter 34

"There's only this one," Qin Yi said calmly. He naturally understood the principle of not flaunting one's wealth. Having come to this plane alone, it was best to be careful in everything.

"Oh!" Meng Zhuang nodded somewhat regretfully. He had no idea whether Qin Yi was telling the truth, but it was obvious Qin Yi did not wish to continue discussing the matter. There was no need to offend Qin Yi over an item of unknown origins. Who knew whether Qin Yi truly possessed royal blood?

As they spoke, Fang Zhen hurried back in. He bowed to Qin Yi and said, "I have just discussed it with the proprietor. If our honored guest is willing to sell this treasure to World's Number One Pawnshop, we can offer three million mid-grade Spirit Stones and ten high-grade Spirit Stones."

Qin Yi listened for a while without understanding, then said impatiently, "I don't need snacks or anything. Just exchange it for money directly..."

Before he could finish, Fang Zhen's face turned bright red. The grief and indignation in his expression were indescribable. He even ground his teeth with such bitter hatred that Qin Yi shivered.

Even an idiot would have understood that something was amiss by then. Thinking carefully about the webnovels he had read in his previous life, he suddenly remembered that the Cultivation Realm did not use money. Instead, Spirit Stones containing spiritual energy served as the sole standard for measuring material value, equivalent to currency. He immediately laughed aloud. "Haha! Please don't mind me, old sir. I've always enjoyed joking around. I hope you'll forgive any offense."

Only then did Fang Zhen's expression slowly improve. He knew some cultivators had all sorts of strange habits and called them "cultivation." He did not dare say much, lest he offend Qin Yi. He merely cupped his hands roughly and said, "You flatter me, honored guest. This old man will handle the transaction at once."

Without waiting for Qin Yi's reply, he hurried off again. Watching his retreating figure, as though a dog were chasing him, Qin Yi touched his nose in boredom.

"Please have some tea, honored guest." The manager who had received them earlier watched his master leave in a rush and could not help feeling a pang of sympathy. But when he thought of the commission he would receive from such a large transaction, he became even more excited. He immediately served Qin Yi and Meng Zhuang with greater enthusiasm, pouring tea and water without restraint...

After Qin Yi had drunk what felt like a whole bellyful of water, Fang Zhen finally returned at an unhurried pace, holding a bracelet. He walked up to Qin Yi and handed it over. "Please inspect it, honored guest."

This time, Qin Yi understood that it was probably some kind of Storage Bracelet, so he did not make another fool of himself. He accepted it calmly. Extending his divine sense into the bracelet, he indeed saw an area of roughly one thousand square meters filled with a large number of stones...

Andre suddenly spoke from within the space. "Give me the ten stones on top."

"Why?" Qin Yi asked silently in his heart.

"The energy in those stones is useful to me," Andre replied succinctly. After Qin Yi transferred the ten stones to Andre, Andre spoke again. "Have them exchange all the stones for high-grade Spirit Stones."

"Fine." Qin Yi nodded helplessly and said to Fang Zhen, "Exchange all these stones for high-grade Spirit Stones."

"What?" Fang Zhen froze. Once he confirmed Qin Yi's request, he said somewhat awkwardly, "The conversion rate between mid-grade and high-grade Spirit Stones is one thousand to one. If you wish to convert them all, we must charge a ten percent handling fee. However, as you are a premium client of World's Number One Pawnshop, I can make the decision to waive the fee this time if you truly wish to convert them."

"That's fine." Qin Yi nodded indifferently. The money had fallen into his lap anyway, so he did not care what happened to it.

"Very well!" Seeing that Qin Yi did not mind, Fang Zhen lowered his head and said a few words to his disciple. The man turned and left the room, returning shortly afterward with a Storage Ring.

"The exchange has been completed." The man respectfully handed the Storage Ring to Qin Yi.

Qin Yi accepted it and scanned it with his divine sense. Exactly one thousand high-grade Spirit Stones were inside. After Andre confirmed it, he transferred all the high-grade Spirit Stones into Andre's space. Then he returned the now-empty Storage Bracelet to Fang Zhen.

"Thank you. This is yours."

"There is no need to be polite, honored guest. This is a gift for our premium clients. Please keep it." As Fang Zhen pushed it back, his fingers accidentally touched the Storage Bracelet. His spiritual sense instinctively probed inside, and when he discovered it was already empty, he was even more horrified—

This man was actually proficient in spatial arts...

Qin Yi had no idea that he had frightened Fang Zhen again by accident. Since Fang Zhen did not want it, he was happy to take it back and give it to Qin Rong. Qin Rong did not have any storage item yet, after all!

With everything settled, Qin Yi had no intention of staying longer at World's Number One Pawnshop. He stood to leave, but Fang Zhen called out to him—

"I wonder whether you still possess treasures like this, honored guest? World's Number One Pawnshop would be willing to trade with you, and the price would definitely—"

"No more." Qin Yi shrugged, cutting Fang Zhen off. "I only got that one by chance!"

With that, he waved casually and left World's Number One Pawnshop with Meng Zhuang, leaving Fang Zhen with a carefree retreating figure...

Author's note: I'm sorry, everyone. Little Eight is ashamed. Starting today, I've decided to update ten thousand words daily for the next three days as an apology and to repay everyone for your continued support.

I'm truly sorry!!!!!!!!

Chapter 34

Chapter 34

After leaving World's Number One Pawnshop, Qin Yi felt a little hungry. When he mentioned it to Meng Zhuang, Meng Zhuang looked up at the sky and saw it was still fairly early. He then took Qin Yi to Wishful House.

The name Wishful House carried the meaning of "may all wishes come true." Naturally, it also meant "making customers' wishes come true." The entire building stood six stories tall, perhaps also invoking the auspicious meaning of sixes bringing smooth fortune.

Meng Zhuang explained that the first floor of Wishful House served peddlers, laborers, and merchants with a little money. The second floor consisted entirely of private rooms and received those who were either wealthy or noble. People generally liked to conduct business or discuss other matters there, as it was also a way of displaying one's wealth. The third floor required an exclusive VIP card and catered to major tycoons who dominated their regions. From the fourth floor upward, it served cultivators, and even payment had to be made with Spirit Stones...

Qin Yi laughed inwardly as he listened. It was basically the same as the business clubs of the future. The wisdom of merchants truly could not be underestimated anywhere!

Given Meng Zhuang's status, he could already dine on the fourth floor. Meng Zhuang had intended to use this to show Qin Yi his family's wealth. After all, whether cooperating or making friends, being relatively equal was what truly mattered.

Qin Yi understood perfectly, but he did not pay it much mind. He had never intended to seize the other party's wealth or bully them. Still, he was quite curious about the food of this otherworldly continent.

However, once the dishes arrived, Qin Yi's interest waned. The soups and watery fare could not compare to the countless varieties of Chinese cuisine. If not for the spiritual energy contained in every dish, it probably would not even have tasted as good as the street snacks from Qin Yi's previous life.

Still, Qin Yi now understood why payment from the fourth floor onward required Spirit Stones. Damn, even the food contained spiritual energy. Wishful House really was impressive!

After the two finished a simple meal, Qin Yi was eager to buy some travel souvenirs for his family, so they hurriedly left Wishful House. Since Qin Yi wanted to buy things, Meng Zhuang naturally would not let him shop at street stalls just to curry favor with him. He immediately led Qin Yi to East Market of Chang'an, where exquisite little pavilions filled with dazzling goods stood everywhere. Qin Yi guessed it served the same purpose as the commercial streets of the future, perhaps even like one of those high-end shopping districts.

They chose a particularly grand pavilion, both in decoration and every other respect, and entered. Qin Yi looked up at the signboard and saw the words "Treasure Gathering Pavilion." He inwardly mocked these people's lack of creativity.

After they entered, a seductive beauty dressed in court robes approached with a smile. A large expanse of pale, soft skin was exposed at her chest. "So it's Fourth Young Master Meng. It has been many days since we last met."

Meng Zhuang narrowed his eyes and greedily swept his gaze over the woman's pale cleavage before smiling. "I've been rather busy these past few days. The moment I had some free time today, I came to see you."

He made it sound as though a patron had come to visit his favored courtesan.

The woman covered her mouth and laughed coquettishly, her silver-bell laughter instantly filling the room. Then she said unconcernedly, "If that were true, I would be overjoyed. What a pity! Every girl in Chang'an knows that Fourth Young Master Meng is heartless. I would not dare hope for such a thing."

Without waiting for Meng Zhuang to respond, she continued, "Tell me, then. What are you looking for today?"

Meng Zhuang turned his gaze to Qin Yi. Qin Yi smiled and said simply, "Something distinctive."

At that, the woman raised her carefully shaped willow-leaf brows and glanced at Qin Yi. "May I ask what specific requirements you have for 'distinctive'?"

"It should look nice and be something one can handle and admire. It should have local character." Qin Yi thought for a moment, then added, "It would be best if it had some practical use as well."

"May I ask, young master, are you choosing something for a cultivator or an ordinary person?" The woman frowned in thought before asking.

"An ordinary person," Qin Yi answered.

"Very well!" The woman nodded. "Treasure Gathering Pavilion happened to receive a shipment of new goods yesterday. Please follow me, gentlemen!"

With that, she led the two upstairs with a swaying, seductive figure. Crossing the hall, she brought them into an elegantly decorated room. Shortly afterward, two young girls in short jackets and ruqun skirts entered carrying two trays covered in red cloth.

After placing the trays on the table, the woman in court robes lifted the red cloth. Inside lay several jade bracelets and jade pendants, along with a number of exceptionally ornate gold hairpins and jeweled pins.

"These are carved from the finest Spirit Jade. They contain spiritual energy and can ward off evil while nourishing the body. Worn for long periods, they can clear the mind, refresh the spirit, and prolong one's life," the woman said with a smile.

Qin Yi was quite tempted after looking them over. But considering the era his family lived in, he selected only jade bracelets and jade pendants, leaving the gold hairpins and such behind.

Once Qin Yi had finished selecting, the woman in court robes had the remaining jade pieces removed. She then said to Meng Zhuang, "I'll give you a ten percent discount on these. You only need to pay another three thousand Spirit Stones."

Meng Zhuang apparently was used to such prices. He casually took out three thousand Spirit Stones from his storage pouch and handed them to the woman.

Qin Yi felt embarrassed. "Since I'm the one buying them, I should naturally pay for them myself."

"Little Yi, don't stand on ceremony with me. You are an honored guest of Meng Residence. How could we let an honored guest pay out of his own pocket?" Meng Zhuang said with a smile. Then, without giving him a chance to refuse, he led Qin Yi out of Treasure Gathering Pavilion.

Seeing Meng Zhuang's attitude, Qin Yi said nothing more. But he secretly resolved that before he left, he would definitely give Meng Zhuang a Bright Gem. From Fang Zhen's attitude, he knew the item was highly effective for ordinary people. He did not want to owe Meng Zhuang a favor, so he could only make it up this way.

By the time they left Treasure Gathering Pavilion, it was already getting late. The two immediately returned to Meng Residence. At that time, the residence was brilliantly lit, with exquisitely crafted palace lanterns hanging before its gates, making one's eyes light up at the sight.

"Master Qin has returned. I wonder whether you enjoyed your outing today?" Meng Lan asked with a smile.

"Very much!" Qin Yi nodded with a smile.

They exchanged a few pleasantries about Chang'an's customs and the weather. After dinner, Qin Yi returned to his room to rest.

In the study of Meng Residence, Meng Zhuang stood respectfully before the desk, looking at Meng Lan, who wore a thoughtful expression.

"Grandfather, he truly brought out a Spirit Stone unlike any other. Fang Zhen from World's Number One Pawnshop immediately offered three million mid-grade Spirit Stones and ten high-grade Spirit Stones in exchange." Recalling the scene, Meng Zhuang's expression was somewhat strange. What they cared about was not the price, but the nature of that Spirit Stone. World's Number One Pawnshop was famous for never acting without profit. If it was willing to spend so much, that proved the Spirit Stone truly had that kind of value.