Myriad Treasures Pavilion

Yellow Maple Valley's market stood at the northeastern foot of the Taiyue Mountain Range, separated from the Yuanwu Kingdom by only a vast mountain ridge.

Since the two nations' cultivation worlds had always enjoyed friendly relations and exchanged goods, the market had gradually grown into a major hub for cross-border trade.

The Yuanwu Kingdom's specialty, star-pattern steel, was all but indestructible and often used to forge flying swords;

Cloudglow satin was light as air, yet made excellent material for talisman robes.

Azure spirit bamboo from the Yue Kingdom could be used to craft storage artifacts,

While redflame sand was an auxiliary refining material that fire cultivators dreamed of obtaining.

Rare treasures from both nations converged here, giving rise to the market's distinctive prosperity.

A vast maple forest suddenly appeared in a distant mountain hollow.

It was late autumn. Countless leaves blazed blood-red, rolling like waves in the morning light. From afar, they looked like a silent inferno burning across the earth.

Jing Wen's pupils narrowed slightly, and he knew: he had reached Yellow Maple Valley's market.

He formed a hand seal and ended his flight, slowly descending before the rippling curtain of light at the forest's edge-

The market's protective formation was not fully activated. It merely sent out rings of ripples before allowing him inside.

The instant he stepped through the glow, a wave of noise washed over him.

Buildings of strikingly different styles lined both sides of the street. Yue Kingdom pavilions with sweeping, upturned eaves stood beside the Yuanwu Kingdom's white, domed towers. Several floating shops even hovered three inches above the ground with the aid of formations, wind chimes tinkling beneath their eaves.

His gaze was first drawn to the imposing buildings along the southern street.

The Seven-Craft Pavilion's gilded sign glittered in the sunlight. Beneath it, twelve glazed lanterns rotated without a breeze, their rainbow halos weaving flowing brocade patterns across the ground;

Nine banners stood before the Windguiding Studio, with blue, white, and gold spiritual winds roaming across their surfaces, occasionally letting out mournful howls;

Most magnificent of all was the Heavenly Works Tower. The entire building had been carved from a single block of ringing gold stone. A light tap of a fingertip would produce a clear, resonant note, while the ringing of swords occasionally drifted from within, drawing repeated glances from passing cultivators.

The temporary stall area was even more clamorous.

"Fresh talisman paper from the Yuanwu Kingdom! Tough and durable, just three Spirit Stones a stack! You'll lose out if you pass it up!"

"Redflame sand clearance sale! Perfect material for refining fire artifacts! Discounts for bulk purchases!"

Hawkers' cries and bargaining voices mingled with fluctuations of spiritual energy, creating a bustling scene.

Jing Wen walked slowly among the stalls, his Divine Sense sweeping over their wares like fine, densely woven feelers.

From cracked ancient jade to low-grade artifacts with dim spiritual light, and pottery jars filled with unidentified herbs, nothing made him stop.

Only when he reached one particular stall did a dust-covered iron fragment catch his eye.

The fragment was palm-sized and mottled with rust, yet several mysterious patterns could faintly be seen beneath the corroded surface. Its spiritual fluctuations were so weak as to be almost imperceptible.

Could it be a fragment of a magic treasure?

Jing Wen's interest stirred. He remembered that Han Li had once used a magic treasure fragment in the original story to conceal the unusual phenomenon caused by the Little Green Bottle absorbing moonlight. Could it have been something like this?

"You have a keen eye, fellow Daoist!" The stallholder, a middle-aged cultivator with a goatee, immediately rose with an enthusiastic greeting when he saw Jing Wen stop,

"I dug this out of the ruins of an ancient cultivator's cave dwelling. One look tells you it's no ordinary object. It might even be a fragment of an ancient magic treasure!"

Jing Wen did not move a finger. His tone remained flat. "What does it do?"

The middle-aged cultivator's smile stiffened. He rubbed his hands, then spread them awkwardly. "To tell you the truth, I spent half a month studying it and still couldn't unravel its secrets.

"But think about it. How could something left behind by an ancient cultivator be useless?"

At those words, the interest in Jing Wen's eyes immediately faded.

If even the seller could not explain its use, he hardly believed he possessed some heaven-defying luck that would let him unravel its mysteries.

Without another unnecessary word, he turned and left, his departure brisk and decisive. The stallholder remained staring blankly at the iron fragment, muttering, "Why isn't he following the script...?"

Jing Wen left the magic treasure fragment's stall without pausing and continued through the noisy stall area.

His Divine Sense swept over rows of wares, most of them low-grade materials and damaged artifacts. Only before a stall piled with ancient books and incomplete scrolls did he slowly stop.

The stallholder was an honest-looking young cultivator, his head lowered as he wiped dust from the pages. Seeing Jing Wen stop, he hurriedly looked up and greeted him. "Take a look, fellow Daoist! These are all ancient books acquired through proper channels. Cultivation techniques, miscellaneous accounts-we can discuss the price!"

Jing Wen's gaze passed over several newer copies of the Evergreen Technique before settling on an unremarkable old volume in a corner.

The thread-bound book's cover was badly worn, its corners slightly curled. The seal-script characters for "Evergreen Technique" had grown somewhat indistinct, yet carried the weight of passing years.

He casually picked it up and skimmed through it. Though the pages were old, the paper remained tough. The instructions for the first through thirteenth levels were clear and complete, without a single missing word.

"How much for this one?" Jing Wen held the edge of the book between his fingers, his tone even.

The young cultivator paused, took the book, and flipped through it before smiling somewhat sheepishly. "If you really want it, two Spirit Stones will do."

In his view, the Evergreen Technique was commonplace to begin with, and this copy was old. Getting two Spirit Stones for it was already a good sale.

Jing Wen did not bargain. With a flick of his fingers, two lustrous white Spirit Stones landed on the stall's bluestone counter with a crisp clink.

He had his own reasoning: the Evergreen Technique was hardly rare, so there was little point in forging it. This old volume in particular would be harder to tamper with than a brand-new copy.

Besides, he did not practice this technique himself. He was only buying it to complete his deal with Han Li, so its appearance did not matter.

If he were buying a manual for his own use, he would disdain not only street stalls but ordinary shops as well. He would certainly spend more Spirit Stones at an established shop belonging to a renowned sect to ensure nothing could go wrong.

"Thank you for your patronage, fellow Daoist!" The young cultivator happily put away the Spirit Stones, his face wreathed in smiles.

Jing Wen tucked the Evergreen Technique into his robe, feeling the old book's rough texture beneath his fingers.

Though it had cost only two Spirit Stones, he had still put some effort into picking it out among the stalls. When he handed it to Han Li later, he would have something to show for his trouble.

Jing Wen gently pulled up his cloak's hood, concealing his face in shadow.

He cast one final glance at the crowded stalls-there might be opportunities hidden here, but there were far more carefully disguised traps and worthless scraps.

True treasures seldom lay waiting to be discovered in the dust.

After passing through the noisy marketplace, his gaze settled on a magnificent three-story pavilion.

Beneath its sweeping eaves, a gilded plaque bore the name "Myriad Treasures Pavilion" in calligraphy that danced like dragons and soaring phoenixes. Spiritual light faintly flowed over the two stone pixiu guarding its entrance.

According to his memories of the original story, Han Li had gained much here on several occasions. More importantly, the establishment enjoyed an outstanding reputation, with no notoriety for bullying customers through its influence or following them to steal their treasures.

For Jing Wen, who needed a secure place to conduct his business, it was naturally his first choice.

He climbed the steps. The instant he entered, the surrounding marketplace's clamor seemed to be cut off by an invisible barrier.

An attendant in blue quietly approached. As he bowed, the Spirit Gathering patterns on his collar shimmered faintly.

"Welcome, honored guest. What would you like to see?"

"Bring out your finest artifacts." Jing Wen's voice was hoarse, but carried unquestionable confidence. "There's no need to show me ordinary wares."

The attendant's smile immediately grew warmer, and he bowed even lower. "You have a discerning eye, immortal master. The goods on the first floor are indeed beneath you."

He stepped aside to lead the way. "Please follow me to a private room upstairs. A new shipment from the Yuanwu Kingdom arrived just today."

The staircase's handrail had been carved from a single length of sinking star wood and felt cold to the touch.

Jing Wen followed the attendant, quietly sweeping his Divine Sense over the second floor's layout.

Eight private rooms were arranged according to the eight trigrams, with tranquil heart bamboo placed before each doorway to block Divine Sense.

A bronze eight-trigram mirror hung above the innermost room's door, its surface rippling faintly as it faced the stairway.

The guest room's door slowly opened, and a delicate fragrance of Sandalwood Incense greeted him.

The room was elegantly furnished. Antique tables and chairs were tastefully arranged, while several evocative paintings and calligraphic works on the walls lent the room further charm.

A middle-aged man sat holding a book, leisurely reading aloud. He was Tian Buli, the proprietor of the Myriad Treasures Pavilion.

The attendant hurried forward and whispered a few words in Tian Buli's ear. Tian Buli set down his book and greeted Jing Wen with cupped hands and a broad smile. "Welcome to the Myriad Treasures Pavilion. I am Tian Buli. May I ask your name?"

"Li Feiyu." Jing Wen casually gave an alias.

Once host and guest were seated, Tian Buli instructed the attendant to brew a pot of fine Azure Cloud Tea.

As the tea's fragrance spread, Tian Buli began chatting with Jing Wen with a smile. "This is your first visit to our pavilion, Brother Li, is it not?"

Jing Wen deliberately lowered his voice. "You have a sharp eye, Proprietor Tian. It is indeed my first visit."

"First visit or otherwise, your willingness to come honors the Myriad Treasures Pavilion, Brother Li. We certainly won't disappoint you," Tian Buli said confidently.

After some conversation, Tian Buli rose. "Please wait a moment, Brother Li. I'll fetch a few treasures for you to appraise."

A short while later, Tian Buli returned carrying several brocade boxes of different sizes.

He arranged them on the table one by one. As the boxes opened, two powerful spiritual pressures instantly locked onto Jing Wen.

Jing Wen was startled, but immediately realized these were measures the Myriad Treasures Pavilion had put in place to protect its treasures.

Tian Buli lightly traced a finger across the sealing talisman on the first brocade box, and nine beams of azure light burst forth like roaming dragons.

The lights intertwined and circled in the air before converging into a three-foot blade. Its body was translucent as green jade, with nine spiraling patterns winding from its hilt to its tip.

"This is the Nine-Turn Wandering Sword, forged primarily from verdant roaming jade marrow taken from ten thousand fathoms beneath the Eastern Sea." Tian Buli's voice unconsciously lowered. "Its forging requires nine kinds of Earthfire with different attributes. With each turn of fire, another spiritual pattern forms on the blade."

He guided it with a sword seal, and the azure blade suddenly split off eight sword phantoms that darted through the air like swimming fish.

Each phantom followed an elusive, unpredictable path, yet always circled the main sword. "When all nine swords emerge, they can form the Wandering Dragon Sword Formation on their own. Most remarkable of all..."

Tian Buli tossed the sword toward Jing Wen.

In midair, it split into nine and attacked from every angle.

Jing Wen was about to dodge when the nine sword lights abruptly stopped three feet from his body. Their tips trembled faintly, emitting clear dragon cries.

"Once attuned to your mind, it can protect its master on its own." Tian Buli looked pleased with himself. "It has already touched the threshold of a magic treasure."

Jing Wen reached out and grasped the main sword. He immediately felt nine distinctly different streams of spiritual energy flowing along his meridians.

Nine rice-grain-sized crystals were embedded in the hilt, corresponding to nine attributes.

He tried channeling spiritual power into it. One fire-attribute crystal lit up, and crimson flames instantly surged along the blade.

"What an excellent Supreme Magical Artifact." Jing Wen gathered his thoughts, his fingers still stroking the warm blade. His voice was full of admiration, but then his tone shifted, and his gaze settled on Tian Buli,

"Still, a Qi Refining Stage cultivator could unleash no more than a tenth or two of its power."

Tian Buli clapped his hands and laughed, a trace of approval flashing in his eyes. "Your eye is sharp, Brother Li. You've hit the mark with a single remark."

He slowly walked to Jing Wen's side, his gaze passing over the nine still-quivering sword phantoms,

"The Nine-Turn Wandering Sword was never intended for Qi Refining Stage cultivators. Only in the hands of a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, with all nine swords forming the Wandering Dragon Sword Formation, can it reveal its true edge."

"Foundation Establishment Cultivator..." Jing Wen's heart jolted, and his grip on the sword hilt tightened slightly.

He had been so absorbed in the artifact's wonders that he had failed to notice he was inadvertently revealing the limits of his cultivation. Clearly, Tian Buli had seen through him.

But his alarm lasted only an instant before he quickly accepted it.

Although Jing Wen had not used the Heavenly Eye Technique to examine Tian Buli's cultivation, he had long since noticed that the man's aura was condensed and deep as an abyss, without the slightest trace leaking out-such depth was beyond any Qi Refining Stage cultivator.

Moreover, as the Myriad Treasures Pavilion's proprietor, Tian Buli was almost certainly a Foundation Establishment Cultivator.

Trying to conceal his cultivation from a Foundation Establishment Cultivator had been a fool's dream to begin with.

He lightly turned his wrist, making the main sword draw the nine sword phantoms through his fingers. Their silver radiance illuminated his thoughtful face.

An artifact that consumed so much spiritual power was indeed not the best choice for the Qi Refining Stage.

Yet the Nine-Turn Wandering Sword was the finest among Supreme Magical Artifacts, making it truly difficult for him to relinquish.

Seeing that Jing Wen could hardly bear to put it down, Tian Buli closed the brocade box with a smile, then opened another square box forged from Black Iron.

The moment its lid opened, an ancient, weighty aura washed over him.

A palm-sized tortoise shell lay quietly inside. It was dark blue-black, with naturally formed eight-trigram patterns across its surface.

"The Dark Tortoise Shell. It was not forged, but formed by nature." Tian Buli's expression grew solemn,

"It came from a Ten-Thousand-Year Dark Tortoise that passed away in the Penglai Secret Realm. Our pavilion's master artifact refiner spent seven times seven days-forty-nine in all-activating its innate spiritual patterns."

At first, the shell appeared no larger than a palm. But once removed from its box, it grew upon meeting the air. In the blink of an eye, it became as broad as a door and floated in midair, bearing the oppressive weight of an approaching mountain.

Silver light flowed around its edges. Densely packed runes slithered like living snakes, rapidly interweaving into a translucent, three-dimensional barrier. Spiritual energy misted around it, with the faint sound of tides echoing within.

"The finest thing about this shell is that you need not deliberately activate it. It opens on its own when it senses mortal danger." Tian Buli lightly tapped the Protective Shield, sending rings of ripples through its runes. "A Foundation Establishment senior once used it to take a Golden Core cultivator's blow head-on and survive. That was thanks to the Dark Tortoise Shell's innate defensive power."

"A Ten-Thousand-Year Dark Tortoise?" Jing Wen's pupils narrowed slightly, astonishment filling his heart.

In the legends of the cultivation world, a Ten-Thousand-Year Dark Tortoise was at least a nascent soul-level existence. How could its shell have become a treasure available for sale?

Beyond his shock, he was even more puzzled-why would the Myriad Treasures Pavilion so readily display such a supreme treasure?

Noticing Jing Wen's changed expression, Tian Buli showed no embarrassment. Instead, he laughed heartily. "Haha, don't be alarmed, fellow Daoist.

"What I said wasn't exactly false. This Dark Tortoise Shell does have a deep connection to a Ten-Thousand-Year Dark Tortoise." He paused before explaining,

"The place where that Ten-Thousand-Year Dark Tortoise passed away was rich in spiritual energy. Before its death, a drop of its blood essence seeped into the nearby waters, nourishing the entire Dark Tortoise Population there.

"This Dark Tortoise Shell was refined from the shell of the oldest dark tortoise in that population."

Understanding dawned on Jing Wen, but he merely nodded lightly without arguing.

Back on Earth in his previous life, he had seen plenty of exaggerated claims about "ancestral secret formulas,"

"Thousand-year-old ginseng,"

And "exclusive use by emperors."

The pitch before him was nothing more than the Cultivation World's version of marketing patter.

Tian Buli formed a hand seal and guided the shell. It rapidly shrank to palm size and landed steadily in Jing Wen's hand.

The instant it touched his palm, his hand sank under its weight!

Though only three inches thick, the shell weighed more than a thousand jin of Black Iron, dragging his wrist slightly downward.

Within the amber tortoise pearl at the center of its back, something pale green seemed to swim slowly, its spiritual energy gentle yet substantial.

Another outstanding piece among Supreme Magical Artifacts. Jing Wen secretly rejoiced, feeling that his luck today was truly excellent.

The Nine-Turn Wandering Sword served offense, while the Dark Tortoise Shell served defense. The two complemented each other perfectly.

He looked up at Tian Buli, who was watching him with a smile. This was certainly no casual presentation of two treasures, but a deliberate arrangement-first demonstrating the sword's might, then supplying the shell's defense, guiding him step by step. The man had clearly grasped cultivators' essential need for offensive and defensive artifacts.

Jing Wen's gaze unconsciously swept over the two unopened jade boxes on the table. Anticipation filled him as he wondered what other rare treasures lay inside.

Yet after a short wait, Tian Buli merely stood with his hands behind his back, his smile unchanged, showing no intention of opening them.

His reaction stirred something in Jing Wen's mind, and understanding immediately dawned.

Tian Buli had displayed two Supreme Magical Artifacts in succession to whet his appetite, then stopped. He was clearly testing Jing Wen's financial strength. After all, no matter how fine a treasure was, one still needed enough Spirit Stones to acquire it.

Remaining composed, Jing Wen took an ornately carved Green Jade brocade box from his Storage Bag. Silver-thread cloud patterns adorned its surface, its spiritual energy restrained without diminishing its value.

He gently pushed it across the table, his movements unhurried.

Tian Buli's brows rose slightly. He took the box and brushed his fingertips across its lid. Spiritual light flickered, and the seal quietly dissolved.

As the lid lifted, a crisp medicinal fragrance gushed forth like a spring, refreshing both heart and mind.

Yet Tian Buli merely glanced inside before chuckling, his tone faintly teasing. "Brother Li, surely you don't truly intend to exchange this Yellow Essence Fungus for our pavilion's treasures?

"Though its quality is decent, it can hardly be called rare.

"Unless it's a top-quality specimen at least two or three hundred years old... its value is ultimately limited."

He closed the lid, seemingly about to push it back.

Jing Wen remained unhurried. He merely lifted the celadon teacup beside him and took a light sip of warm tea. Amid the curling steam, the faintest smile appeared at the corner of his lips, his eyes calm as a deep pool.

That air of complete confidence instead sent a chill through Tian Buli's heart.

Could it be... I misjudged it?

His brow furrowed slightly as he reopened the brocade box and examined it intently.

This time, he was no longer careless.

A lustrous, jade-colored sheen edged the spirit herb's leaves. The patterns along its stem coiled like ancient dragons, and faint golden spiritual energy lingered around it without dispersing. This was nothing a mere hundred-year-old spirit herb could possess.

Tian Buli's breath caught, and his fingertips trembled slightly.

That closer look made Tian Buli draw a sharp breath. The disdain on his face had vanished completely, replaced by utter shock.

"This... could it be..."

Its color, markings, and concentration of spiritual energy all hinted at a Millennium Spirit Herb!

But thousand-year-old yellow essence fungus was a legendary treasure, rarely found even in the Herb Gardens of major sects. How could this young man possess such a precious thing?

Not daring to make a rash judgment, he hurriedly called out, "Please summon Old Ding!"

A moment later, an elderly man with snowy gray hair and a plain hemp Daoist robe walked slowly inside.

His eyes were half closed, and he leaned on an ebony staff covered in runes. His presence was ancient and steadfast as a pine. This was Old Ding, the medicinal appraisal elder stationed here by the Myriad Treasures Pavilion.

"Old Ding, sorry to trouble you with an appraisal." Tian Buli respectfully handed him the brocade box, an unusual trace of tension in his voice.

Old Ding said nothing and merely took the box slowly.

Narrowing his clouded eyes, he first studied the herb's shape from a distance, then examined its color up close. Next, he gently stroked its roots with his withered fingers. Finally, he bent close, shut his eyes, and inhaled its scent for three breaths.

Silence settled over the room. Only sandalwood incense curled through the air as steam drifted gently from the tea.

After a long while, Old Ding slowly opened his eyes and carefully set the brocade box on the table. His voice carried unmistakable excitement and certainty. "Congratulations, shopkeeper!

"This is indeed yellow essence fungus over a thousand years old. In fact, it is at least eleven hundred years old.

"Look at its plump roots and abundant spiritual energy. It must have been unearthed only recently. Its medicinal properties are completely intact-a supreme specimen among supreme specimens!"

Overjoyed, Tian Buli said to Jing Wen, "Brother Li, this spirit herb can be exchanged for two Supreme Magical Artifacts, or for the item in the final brocade box alone.

"If neither option satisfies you, our pavilion can also purchase it with Spirit Stones."

Jing Wen lowered his eyes and tapped a fingertip lightly inside his sleeve, rapidly weighing his options:

When Han Li accelerated the Spirit Medicine's growth, he actually added another hundred years...

At market prices in the cultivation world, a millennium spirit medicine was certainly precious, but it still fell a little short of being worth two Supreme Magical Artifacts in an even exchange.

Yet millennium spirit medicine was scarce to begin with. If a cultivator urgently needed one to refine pills or break through a bottleneck, even double the normal price would be reasonable. There might still be room to maneuver in this transaction.

Jing Wen raised his eyes, but did not answer Tian Buli's question. He merely smiled faintly and said calmly, "Shopkeeper, why don't you open the remaining two brocade boxes first?"

Tian Buli paused, then burst into laughter and cupped his hands. "My fault, my fault! I was so busy marveling at the Spirit Medicine that I neglected you, Brother Li.

"How discourteous of me!"

He picked up the third brocade box. Made from black sandalwood patterned with Thunder Runes, it was cold to the touch, with faint arcs of electricity flickering over it.

The instant the lid opened, a murderous aura spread through the room, dimming the lamplight.

His expression solemn, Tian Buli lifted out a blue bead the size of a longan fruit with both hands.

The bead was transparent as ice crystal, with thunder seeming to surge within it. On closer inspection, countless silvery-white lightning serpents coiled and roared inside, giving off barely audible crackles.

"This is-the Heavenly Thunder Pearl." He lowered his voice, as though afraid to disturb the divine might within it.

"Several hundred years ago, a mysterious cultivator captured a strand of innate thunder force from the nine heavens thunder tribulation. Only after refining it for seven times seven-forty-nine days-did he produce this object.

"Every single pearl possesses the power to destroy mountains and shatter peaks."

He paused, his gaze sharp as a blade. "A Late Foundation Establishment Cultivator once refused to believe its power and took a Heavenly Thunder Pearl head-on. The result? Even his primordial spirit failed to escape. He was reduced to ashes on the spot."

Jing Wen's pupils contracted slightly, while his heart surged like great waves crashing against the shore.

The Heavenly Thunder Pearl!

Below the Golden Core realm, almost no one could withstand a single strike from it!

He forcibly suppressed the barely containable delight in his eyes. His face remained calm as still water, but his fingers had quietly clenched inside his sleeve.

This was exactly the trump card he had dreamed of.

Not for winning fights, but for staying alive.

On this path of cultivation, where murderous danger lurked at every step, a single Heavenly Thunder Pearl could sometimes outweigh a thousand schemes.

Tian Buli carefully returned the Heavenly Thunder Pearl to its brocade box. His gaze swept over the last unopened box on the table, and he smiled at Jing Wen. "Brother Li, now that you have seen the sword, armor, and thunder pearl, why not take a look at our final treasure?"

The entire box was reddish gold, sealed with flame-patterned markings. Even before it opened, faint golden light seeped from its seams, exerting a pressure that made their breathing hitch slightly.

The lid lifted gently, revealing a talisman resting quietly on a Cinnabar lining.

The talisman paper was dark gold, its texture resembling silk yet not quite silk. A long, rectangular brick was drawn upon it, its surface inscribed with ancient seal script. Golden light flowed around it, as though it held the weight of mountains within.

Jing Wen's gaze sharpened, and he blurted out, "A Talisman Treasure?"

A trace of surprise flashed through Tian Buli's eyes before he clapped his hands and laughed. "To think Brother Li could recognize it at a glance!

"You truly are well informed. I admire your knowledge!"

Jing Wen's expression was modest, while his voice carried just the right degree of curiosity. "You flatter me, Shopkeeper Tian.

"I have merely happened to hear the term 'Talisman Treasure' before. I know very little about them, so I hope you will be generous enough to enlighten me."

Tian Buli stroked his beard and nodded, saying solemnly, "A Talisman Treasure is created by a cultivator at the Core Formation Stage or above. Using their bonded Magic Treasure as a medium, they expend their own vital essence to forcibly seal a portion of its power into specially prepared talisman paper.

"It combines the convenience of a talisman with the might of a Magic Treasure, hence its other name: a 'pseudo-magical treasure.'"

He paused and lowered his voice further, as though afraid to disturb the spirituality within the talisman. "Creating a Talisman Treasure not only temporarily weakens the original Magic Treasure, but also severely drains its owner's vitality. At best, they must spend several months in secluded cultivation. At worst, their cultivation foundation is damaged.

"For that reason, even in major sects, Talisman Treasures are exceedingly rare. An ordinary Foundation Establishment Cultivator might never see one in their entire life."

As he spoke, he lightly tapped the golden brick design at the talisman's center and said softly:

"This one is called the Golden Light Brick Talisman Treasure. It was made by a now-deceased Rogue Cultivator at the middle Core Formation Stage.

"Its original form, the Mountain-Suppressing Golden Brick, once withstood three direct blows from an old Nascent Soul monster without breaking. Its reputation was formidable."

"Though this Talisman Treasure retains only a tenth of the original treasure's power, once activated, it can transform into a golden brick over ten feet long and smash down from the sky with the crushing weight of ten thousand tons.

"Never mind a Qi Refining cultivator-even a Foundation Establishment Cultivator without a supreme defensive treasure would struggle to escape having every bone and sinew shattered."

As his words faded, silence fell over the room.

Jing Wen's gaze was deep, but waves were already rising in his heart.

The golden light brick... suppression, breaking defenses, settling everything with a single blow.

Another trump card!

Although Jing Wen already possessed the Small Sword Talisman Treasure, who would ever complain about having too many trump cards?

Besides, most of the Small Sword Talisman Treasure's power had already been depleted, whereas this golden brick Talisman Treasure was brand-new!

Jing Wen's gaze passed over the Nine-Turn Wandering Sword, the Dark Tortoise Shell, the Heavenly Thunder Pearl, and the Golden Light Brick Talisman Treasure in turn. Each was a supreme treasure cultivators dreamed of possessing, together covering offense, defense, killing, and protection.

Unable to contain his desire any longer, he looked up and told Tian Buli plainly, "I want all of them."

The smile on Tian Buli's face froze instantly, and his expression abruptly darkened.

He had expected Jing Wen to negotiate over one treasure. Who could have imagined that the man wanted to sweep up every last one? To him, this was an outrageous demand, even bordering on provocation. His voice cooled as well:

"Brother Li, that is rather greedy. Every one of these treasures is worthy of being a centerpiece of the Myriad Treasures Pavilion. They are certainly not something a single Millennium Spirit Herb can buy."

Seeing this, Jing Wen showed no sign of panic. Instead, he smiled calmly, reached into his Storage Bag again, and took out a cloud-patterned jade box identical to the first. He placed it gently on the table and pushed it over, his voice calm but carrying unquestionable confidence:

"You misunderstand, Shopkeeper Tian. I have no intention of taking anything by force. How about exchanging these two Millennium Spirit Herbs for all the treasures in your brocade boxes?"

"Two?!" Tian Buli's eyebrows shot up. The gloom on his face vanished, replaced by sheer delight and astonishment.

When he saw the yellow essence fungus inside, likewise covered in a faint golden sheen and brimming with spiritual energy, his breathing grew rapid.

Beside him, Old Ding also drew a startled breath, his withered fingers instinctively clutching his sleeve. Millennium Spirit Herbs were incredibly precious. In his decades at the Myriad Treasures Pavilion, he had only acquired five. Yet Jing Wen had produced two in one go. Such extravagance was simply unheard of.

After repeatedly confirming that both herbs were Millennium Spirit Herbs with their medicinal properties fully intact, Tian Buli's gaze toward Jing Wen changed completely. Its complexity was difficult to describe: it held not only eager greed for the Millennium Spirit Herbs, but also a profound wariness of Jing Wen's identity.

Even for Golden Core cultivators, millennium spirit medicine was a supreme treasure that could only be encountered by chance, never sought at will;

if Nascent Soul cultivators urgently needed it to refine high-grade pills, a single millennium spirit medicine was enough to make two such mighty figures tear off all pretense of civility and come to blows.

An ordinary cultivator could spend an entire lifetime without ever seeing a millennium spirit medicine. Obtaining one was an opportunity that came once in a thousand years.

Yet this seemingly young cultivator could casually produce two. The power backing him had to be unfathomable.

Tian Buli's thoughts raced like a wild horse slipping its reins:

Was he the secret heir of some ancient Cultivation Family hidden from the world?

Or a core disciple painstakingly nurtured by some mysterious organization?

Or had he obtained the legacy of an ancient mighty cultivator?

He frantically searched his memory of the cultivation world's major powers and talented young figures, yet could find no one who matched Jing Wen. His wariness deepened further.

The unknown was the most frightening of all. Someone like this must never be offended lightly.

The room remained silent for a long while, with only sandalwood incense curling upward, its pale smoke coiling like dragons.

Tian Buli lightly tapped the edge of the table, his gaze moving back and forth between the two thousand-year-old Yellow Essence Funguses and the four great treasures. He seemed to be weighing his options-or placing a wager.

At last, he let out a long sigh, a complicated expression of both pain and magnanimity appearing on his face:

"Brother Li, you should understand that, at market prices, exchanging our four treasures for two millennium spirit medicines would actually cost the Myriad Treasures Pavilion over a thousand Spirit Stones."

He paused, a shrewd gleam flashing in his eyes, but his tone turned sincere. "However, today I would like to make a friend of you, Brother Li.

"It is only a few Spirit Stones. Let the loss be a loss."

Then he changed tack, lowering his voice with a trace of probing anticipation. "Only... if you obtain such rare Spirit Medicine again in the future, Brother Li, I hope you will consider the Myriad Treasures Pavilion first."

He looked Jing Wen straight in the eyes and said with deliberate emphasis, "Our pavilion has always upheld fairness, cheating neither children nor the elderly. The price we offer will certainly far exceed those of other shops-we will never let you lose out, Brother Li."

"Since you are so generous, Shopkeeper Tian," Jing Wen rose and cupped his hands in a bow, his tone solemn yet retaining a certain distance, "if I have Spirit Medicine in the future, I will naturally come to the Myriad Treasures Pavilion first."

Tian Buli hurriedly returned the bow, his face wreathed in smiles. Yet deep in his eyes, a lingering trace of wariness and curiosity remained.

A moment later, Jing Wen turned and left. His blue-robed figure disappeared into the market's crowds like water flowing into the sea, silently and without a trace.

Tian Buli remained standing inside the pavilion, staring at the two millennium spirit medicines on the table without moving for a long time.

The moment Jing Wen crossed the Myriad Treasures Pavilion's threshold, his expression turned cold and stern.

"Leaving with treasures this valuable... even Foundation Establishment Cultivators would be tempted."

An innocent man became guilty merely by carrying a precious jade. It had always been so.

The instant he crossed the market's boundary, Jing Wen hesitated no longer. Spiritual power surged violently around him, spiritual light flared beneath his feet, and he drove the Wind-Riding Art to its limit.

His spiritual power became a powerful thrust that carried him soaring into the sky. In the blink of an eye, his black-robed figure became a streak of blue-black lightning, cleaving the autumn sky as he sped toward the distant mountains beyond the city.