In Impermanence Valley in the Northern Desert, within a market district where cultivators and ordinary folk lived side by side, several Spirit Tamers wearing cloaks and broad-brimmed hats rode tiger and leopard spirit creatures down the main street.
"Whoa!"
As they passed a building flying the banner of the Lin Trading Firm, the Spirit Tamer at the head of the group suddenly raised a hand. His mount stopped, as did everyone following him.
He swung down and landed on the ground.
The leading Spirit Tamer raised his head to look at the plaque overhead. Written upon it in rounded brushstrokes were the words "Treasure Gathering Pavilion."
"This is the place."
"Come on. Let's go in."
The Spirit Tamers immediately entered.
Several ordinary folk dressed as laborers were chatting in the first-floor hall. Seeing them enter, they hurried over and asked respectfully, "Greetings, honored customers. What can we do for you? Our humble shop is the Lin Family's trading branch here. We specialize in all manner of demon treasured materials and rare curiosities, and stock every kind of resource needed for cultivation."
The leading Spirit Tamer shoved the speaker aside and said coldly, "Save your breath. Get whoever's in charge out here."
This Spirit Tamer had a thin, long, pointed face, a hooked nose, and the eyes of a tiger or wolf. He looked vicious enough already, and his behavior terrified the laborer, who had no idea how he had offended the man.
"Fellow cultivator, what seems to be the matter?" a voice asked.
Everyone turned to look. A middle-aged man in fine clothes, evidently the manager, approached from the rear of the hall.
He held two golden pellets the size of egg yolks in his hand. As he rolled them around, they knocked against each other with a rattling sound.