Entering the Martial Arts Pavilion

Lin Chen understood that once he joined the Four Seas Merchant Guild and received a first-class talent rating, more resources would naturally come his way.

But... choosing a maid?

That arrangement caught him off guard.

Still, Lin Chen did not refuse. As Elder Su had said, having a maid at Spirit Mist Mountain to handle everyday chores would leave him with more time and energy for other things.

"The Four Seas Merchant Guild really has thought of everything."

That was Lin Chen's response.

Elder Su then explained a few more matters concerning his membership in the guild before taking his leave.

Before going, he summoned an attendant to serve Lin Chen. By coincidence, it was the same young attendant who had greeted Lin Chen when he first arrived at the guild.

The young attendant bowed slightly and spoke with respect.

"Young Master Lin."

"My name is Chen Ping. I'm a third-class attendant at the Four Seas Merchant Guild's Yunlan City branch. I didn't know of your exceptional talent earlier. If I showed any discourtesy, I hope you'll forgive me. Please let me know whatever you need."

Lin Chen nodded slightly, then asked, "Elder Su said I could choose a cultivation art and martial arts techniques. How do I go about it?"

Chen Ping answered at once.

"Young Master, the Martial Arts Pavilion is in the guild's inner compound. Your Purple-Gold Token will grant you entry. If you'd like to go now, I can lead the way."

"All right. Sorry for the trouble."

Chen Ping led him toward the guild's inner compound. On the way, Lin Chen took the opportunity to ask a few questions.

"How much do you know about Spirit Mist Mountain? Tell me in detail."

"Yes, sir!"

Chen Ping perked up and quickly gathered his thoughts.

"Young Master, Spirit Mist Mountain is a cultivation haven controlled by the Four Seas Merchant Guild. It lies among the mountains nine hundred li east of Yunlan City. Spiritual veins converge there, mist blankets the mountain year-round, and its spiritual energy is far denser than elsewhere. It's especially suited to martial artists' cultivation."

"Including you, Young Master, there are currently two martial artists with first-class potential and eight with second-class potential cultivating on the mountain."

"Some of them have cultivated there for as long as six years and are about to leave. Others only arrived last year. Four have reached the Profound Martial Realm, while the rest remain in the Spirit Martial Realm."

"In addition, an Earth Martial Realm elder resides on the mountain. Every six months, another Earth Martial Realm martial artist comes to give a public lecture. It's a rare opportunity for everyone there, and you can attend when the time comes."

"As for living and cultivation quarters, martial artists with first-class potential each have a Spirit Charm Lodge to themselves, complete with a training room and a small herb garden. Those with second-class potential also receive private residences."

"Beyond that, the mountain has cultivation chambers, an alchemy hall, and other facilities that can be used for Spirit Stones..."

As Chen Ping went on, Lin Chen gained a clearer picture of Spirit Mist Mountain.

It truly was a sacred place for cultivation, worthy of its reputation as a haven.

They chatted as they passed through several courtyards and halls, finally arriving before a towering, seven-story pavilion.

This was the Four Seas Merchant Guild's Martial Arts Pavilion.

A black-clad guard stood on either side of the entrance. Both had deep, formidable auras and were at the sixth level of the Spirit Martial Realm.

Dad said he was part of the Four Seas Merchant Guild for a while. I wonder what he did there. I can ask him when I go back to Kaiyang City...

The thought crossed Lin Chen's mind.

As the two approached, the guards raised their hands to stop them.

The one on the left said in a low voice, "Purple-Gold Token holders may enter. Ordinary attendants must remain outside."

The guard on the right bowed slightly to Lin Chen. His tone was mild but firm. "Please enter, Young Master. The Martial Arts Pavilion is a restricted area. Only token holders may enter, so this attendant must wait outside."

Chen Ping stopped. Showing no surprise, he immediately stepped back and said respectfully to Lin Chen.

"Young Master, your Purple-Gold Token grants you full access to the first five floors of the Martial Arts Pavilion."

"The higher the floor, the more valuable its collection of martial arts manuals. The fourth and fifth floors contain techniques for the Profound Martial Realm. You may choose any three."

"I'll wait here for you."

Lin Chen nodded to Chen Ping without another word and entered the pavilion alone.

He headed straight for the fifth floor.

Although both the fourth and fifth floors held Profound Tier martial arts, those on the higher floor were clearly superior.

Since he needed to choose a cultivation art and two martial arts techniques, he might as well choose the best.

Lin Chen climbed the stairs. A pale blue barrier blocked the passage to each floor, but whenever he drew near, the Purple-Gold Token at his waist glowed faintly. The barrier then vanished, allowing him through.

So this is what access privileges mean...

Lin Chen knew the Purple-Gold Token's privileges extended beyond the Martial Arts Pavilion.

Wherever he traveled in Cloud Province, any Four Seas Merchant Guild branch would recognize the token and its privileges.

Soon, Lin Chen reached the fifth floor.

He looked up. The ceiling curved overhead like a night sky, with points of starlight drifting across it. It was an array simulating the paths of stars, and it seemed to resonate faintly with the pavilion.

Ahead stood countless jade platforms, each bearing a floating jade slip. At a glance, there seemed to be several hundred.

The jade slips were divided into sections for cultivation arts, movement techniques, secret arts, and more, making it easy for martial artists on the fifth floor to find what suited them.

A tower starts with its foundations. The cultivation art matters most. I'll settle that first!

Lin Chen looked around, walked to the cultivation arts section, and took down a floating jade slip to examine with his spiritual sense.

"Crimson Sun True Art": A top-grade Profound Grade cultivation art. Its True Essence was fierce and domineering. Once mastered, it could condense Crimson Sun True Fire, granting tremendous offensive power. However, it placed considerable strain on the meridians and required cold-natured pills to balance its effects...

"Nothing special."

Lin Chen shook his head.

He put down the "Crimson Sun True Art" and examined the next jade slip.

"Moonlight True Essence Art": A mid-grade Profound Grade cultivation art. It drew in lunar radiance to temper True Essence, making it pure and concentrated. The practitioner had to be a woman, or an effeminate man who no longer had his equipment...

At the words "no longer had his equipment," Lin Chen silently put the jade slip back.

The previous art had merely been unremarkable. This one was something he could not practice at all.

He had no desire to become Lin Pingzhi.

"To master a divine art, first castrate yourself. Yeah, no."

Lin Chen moved on to the next slip without a second glance.