The Old Man in Fine Robes

"Welcome to the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion. How may we serve you?" The two maids bowed in unison, their faces wreathed in smiles.

It certainly lives up to its reputation as the largest shop in Ascendant City! Xu Yan silently praised it. These two seemingly ordinary maids at the entrance actually possessed cultivation at the Sixth Layer of Qi Refining. Among rogue cultivators, those at the Sixth Layer of Qi Refining were already considered quite capable.

By now, the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion was already a sea of people. Who knew how many cultivators had come? Every Spirit Treasure was surrounded by a crowd.

"I'll browse on my own first. If I need anything, I'll call you." Xu Yan dismissed the two enthusiastic maids and began wandering around. His goal was simple: to check the prices of the pavilion's Spirit Treasures first, so he would know where he stood.

"Purple Sun Furnace, a sixth-tier magic artifact capable of refining pills up to the second tier. Price: three hundred and twenty low-grade spirit stones."

"Qi Gathering Pills, refined by a second-tier master alchemist. Every pill is of superior quality. Price: four low-grade spirit stones each."

"Thousand-Forged Whip, a Tier Four offensive magic artifact, crafted through a secret method from the tendon of a hundred-year-old Spirit Flood Dragon. Price: two hundred and sixty low-grade spirit stones."

"Crimson Flame Shield, a ninth-tier, supreme-grade defensive magic artifact, forged from second-tier crimson flame iron essence. It can withstand a full-power strike from a first-level Foundation Establishment cultivator. Price: nine hundred and sixty-six low-grade spirit stones."

"Ten-leaf soul-returning grass, one hundred years old. Price: seventy-two low-grade spirit stones."

As Xu Yan walked along, the countless Spirit Treasures left him dazzled. He also browsed the sections for spiritual ores and materials, but found no Space Stones.

The Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion had three floors in all. Having searched only the first floor without finding anything, he prepared to head to the second.

Just as he started moving, a middle-aged cultivator in a bright yellow Daoist robe approached him with two maids in tow. This cultivator was the manager of the pavilion's first floor. Seeing Xu Yan about to go upstairs, he had immediately come over.

"My name is Huang Qi, and I am the manager of the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion's first floor. I noticed you've browsed this floor. May I ask what sort of Spirit Treasure you wish to purchase?" Huang Qi wore his customary smile as he looked at the stern-faced cultivator before him.

Then, looking thoroughly confident, he added, "Our Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion stocks every kind of Spirit Treasure. Just tell me what you need, and I'll have them take you there."

Seeing that he was a Foundation Establishment cultivator, Xu Yan nodded to him and spoke slowly. "Does your pavilion have any Space Stones for sale?"

When Huang Qi heard that Xu Yan wanted Space Stones, a flicker of embarrassment crossed his face. He pondered for several breaths before answering slowly.

"Your timing is truly unfortunate, fellow Daoist. Our pavilion sold its last Space Stone a month ago."

Xu Yan's expression did not change, but disappointment stirred within him. Without a Space Stone, he would be unable to refine the Pill recorded by Lin Dao.

At that thought, he asked Huang Qi, still reluctant to give up, "May I ask when your pavilion will have Space Stones for sale again?"

As soon as he finished asking, Huang Qi shook his head and sighed softly. "Any other Spirit Treasure would be easier. Even if we had none now, we would be confident of replenishing our stock after some time. But Space Stones are different. I'm truly sorry, fellow Daoist, but I'm afraid there won't be any available in the near future. It isn't just our Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion. I doubt anyone in all of Fufeng Commandery will be selling Space Stones."

Huang Qi's words made Xu Yan's heart tighten, and doubts immediately arose. From what this man said, it would likely be very difficult to obtain a Space Stone.

He could not help feeling disappointed. In his estimation, there was an eighty- to ninety-percent chance that he could successfully refine that Pill. Once he succeeded, he would have another trump card to save his life. Huang Qi's words now left him deeply disheartened.

Huang Qi felt as though he had barely finished boasting to this cultivator before being slapped in the face. Worried that he had damaged the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion's reputation, he prepared to explain.

He cupped his hands toward Xu Yan and said, "Although the item you need is precious, our Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion ordinarily has no shortage of it. Since we are out of stock now, I owe you an explanation."

"I would be glad to hear the details." Intrigued, Xu Yan returned the gesture.

Huang Qi cleared his throat softly, remained silent for several breaths, then finally spoke.

"To tell you the truth, Space Stones come from the Primordial Forbidden Land. Three months ago, something went wrong there. I don't know the exact reason, but it is said to involve the Demonic Dao Forces. Since then, no one has been able to enter or leave that forbidden land, so Space Stones can no longer be mined."

"As you know, fellow Daoist, Space Stone is a commonly used material for refining artifacts. After this happened, a large number of artifact refiners began buying Space Stones in bulk, exhausting our pavilion's entire stock. I hope you understand."

Seemingly sensing the cultivator's disappointment, Huang Qi thought for a moment before continuing.

"If you truly want a Space Stone, you might try your luck at the Thousand Mechanism Hall of the Rogue Cultivator Alliance. Space Stones have become quite scarce now, but perhaps some cultivator will post a mission offering one as payment."

Huang Qi's final words made Xu Yan's eyes brighten. That was a good idea. He could try his luck there. Even if no cultivator offered a Space Stone as a mission reward, he could post a mission seeking to purchase one himself.

With that thought, Xu Yan cupped his hands toward Huang Qi and left the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion.

When Xu Yan returned to the Thousand Mechanism Hall, the sight before him caught his attention.

The crystal used to post missions in the center of the hall was surrounded by rogue cultivators.

Among the rogue cultivators, an old man in fine robes drew his gaze. Tall and wearing an arrogant expression, the old man was surrounded by three or four rogue cultivators. He took an Identity Jade Token from his Storage Bag and placed it on the stone platform before the crystal.

Hum!

The Identity Jade Token trembled slightly, and a distinct beam of golden light shot out of it, tracing the shape of a Pill Furnace in midair.

This old man is a first-tier, middle-grade alchemist, Xu Yan thought as he studied the image in the air.

Just then, the watching rogue cultivators exclaimed in admiration.

"Elder Wu must already be at the peak of a first-tier, middle-grade alchemist's level. I imagine he's come to accept Master Gu's mission," said a rogue cultivator familiar with the situation.

"Exactly. Master Gu's mission has been posted for half a month, but no one has accepted it. Now he's raised the reward again. Just a moment ago, Master Gu added a Space Stone to the reward," another rogue cultivator chimed in, nodding.

"Elder Wu probably heard about it and came to accept the mission," a rogue cultivator not far from Xu Yan continued, picking up where the other two had left off.

But no sooner had he finished speaking than a dissenting opinion arose from the crowd.

A shrewd-looking rogue cultivator glanced at the old man in fine robes and spoke softly.

"I wouldn't be so sure. Elder Wu probably came to prod Master Gu again, hoping to get more Spirit Treasures out of him. Remember, Elder Wu has already been here twice."

The rogue cultivator had not lowered his voice. Once he finished, the old man in fine robes felt that his intentions had been laid bare. He immediately looked toward the speaker and gave a cold snort.