The name Myriad Treasures Pavilion alone made it clear how confident the owner was in his wares, and that confidence was well founded.
In the original novel, the protagonist, Han Li, had exchanged two thousand-year-old spirit herbs here for four treasures.
A set of Golden Toad Mother-and-Son Blades, a Black Iron Flying Shield, a Heavenly Thunder Seed, and the Golden Light Brick Talisman Treasure.
These treasures were also exactly what Lin He needed at present.
With that Golden Light Brick and Heavenly Thunder Seed, I'd have a much better chance against the Ink Flood Dragon. Otherwise, facing it with my current strength would be quite a headache.
In the original story, when Han Li sought out Old Xu to refine magic artifacts, he had mentioned that a second-rank Ink Flood Dragon, a spirit beast born of heaven and earth, possessed strength comparable to a late Foundation Establishment cultivator even immediately after advancing to the second rank. It was truly difficult to deal with.
That was precisely why Lin He had spent so much time accelerating the growth of spirit beasts, then refining them into magic artifacts to sell. Only then had he obtained enough spirit stones to purchase these treasures.
Moreover, the Myriad Treasures Pavilion conducted its business honorably. Han Li, a mere Qi Condensation cultivator, had brought two thousand-year-old spirit herbs to exchange for treasures, yet they had not even sent anyone to follow or investigate him. Their reputation was exceptional, especially considering that thousand-year-old spirit herbs were treasures even Nascent Soul cultivators could use.
As these thoughts raced through his mind, Lin He arrived inside the Myriad Treasures Pavilion. The moment he stepped through the door, he could not help exclaiming in admiration.
The bright hall before him could easily accommodate several dozen people. Its counters were made of expensive red paulownia wood, and there were seven or eight attendants alone. Dressed in matching outfits and warmly welcoming customers, they had clearly been well trained, standing in stark contrast to the poorly managed little shops outside.
The counters held a dazzling array of goods that overwhelmed the eye, but Lin He did not linger over them. A single glance told him that they were all low-grade magic artifacts, talismans, and materials, with nothing he wanted.
An attendant approached him and said enthusiastically, "What would you like to see, honored customer? Our shop carries all kinds of magic artifacts, talismans, and materials..."
The attendant was about to continue, but Lin He interrupted him. "I want fine-quality magic artifacts and talismans. There's no need to introduce anything on the first floor."
The attendant was startled, then delighted. Realizing that a big spender had arrived, he hurriedly led Lin He to the private reception room on the second floor.
A refined middle-aged man was holding an ancient book. Seeing Lin He come upstairs, he set it down. The attendant stepped forward, whispered a few words into the man's ear, then returned downstairs.
"I am Tian Buli, the manager of the Myriad Treasures Pavilion. May I ask your name?"
"My name is Wang Yu!"
Wang Yu? What an unusual name, Manager Tian muttered inwardly. His expression, however, remained warm as he said,
"So it's Brother Wang. Please, have a seat!"
Manager Tian ordered tea to be served, but Lin He was eager to acquire the treasures. How could he be in the mood to leisurely sip tea? He quickly said,
"Manager Tian, we can take our time over tea later. I came here on the strength of the Myriad Treasures Pavilion's reputation. I hope your shop won't disappoint me."
"Hehe, Brother Wang is rather impatient. Please wait a moment. I'll be right back."
Before long, Manager Tian returned with several brocade boxes of different sizes.
"I heard that Brother Wang wanted fine-quality magic artifacts and talismans, so I made a special trip to the Treasure Vault and brought out these treasures, which we've kept in our collection for quite some time."
With that, Manager Tian began introducing the first three items in turn. Lin He was already very familiar with them, but he still patiently listened to the entire explanation.
After introducing the first three items, Manager Tian fell silent and gave Lin He a meaningful look instead.
Lin He naturally understood what he meant. The Myriad Treasures Pavilion had demonstrated what it could offer, so Lin He ought to show his purchasing power in return. Otherwise, if Manager Tian talked for ages only for Lin He to dust off his hands and say he had brought no spirit stones, wouldn't it all be a waste of time?
Lin He smiled faintly, took more than twenty medium-grade spirit stones from his Storage Bag, and casually placed them on the table. He acted as though they were merely pocket change, entirely unlike his manner before the spirit beast stallholder earlier.
Earlier, he had kept his wealth hidden to avoid attracting other cultivators' attention and tempting anyone to murder him for his treasures.
But things were different now. This was a private reception room on the second floor, with only Lin He and Manager Tian present. Most importantly, the Myriad Treasures Pavilion had an excellent reputation, so Lin He was not worried that they would send someone to kill him and seize his treasures afterward. By adopting this attitude, he was also displaying his wealth so Manager Tian could proceed with the transaction without concern.
Sure enough, seeing Lin He's manner, Manager Tian realized he had a wealthy customer before him. His face immediately filled with smiles as he said,
"Brother Wang truly has deep pockets. I'm impressed. Now, let me introduce the fourth item."
"The Golden Light Brick Talisman Treasure sacrifices flexibility in pursuit of maximum power. It may be less versatile than other types of Talisman Treasures, but its sheer might is exceptionally rare. Even a Foundation Establishment cultivator who takes a direct hit would lose a layer of skin, if not his life."
Manager Tian explained with animated enthusiasm, and Lin He could not help nodding. The man was not exaggerating. Hadn't that Ink Flood Dragon, which was comparable to a late Foundation Establishment cultivator, dropped dead after taking a direct hit from this Talisman Treasure?
Once he finished his explanation, Manager Tian asked with a broad smile, "These four items are the finest treasures in our shop. The last Talisman Treasure in particular is our crowning treasure. Brother Wang, which would you like to choose?"
Lin He rubbed his chin and pointed at the four treasures. "Manager Tian, I'm very interested in all four. I don't want to pass up a single one."
Rather than looking excited, Manager Tian frowned at this. "Brother Wang, the Golden Toad Mother-and-Son Blades and the Black Iron Flying Shield each cost more than three hundred spirit stones. This Heavenly Thunder Seed in particular sells for thirteen hundred, while this Talisman Treasure costs over two thousand. The twenty-odd medium-grade spirit stones you've produced aren't quite enough."
Lin He found nothing strange about these prices. In the original novel, Han Li had exchanged a thousand-year-old spirit herb for a Talisman Treasure, while a thousand-year-old spirit herb had fetched over two thousand spirit stones at an auction held by a secret shop in the Heavenly Star Sect. By that reckoning, Manager Tian's prices were fairly reasonable.
So Lin He took another dozen or so medium-grade spirit stones from his Storage Bag. Together with the twenty-odd stones he had already produced, they totaled forty medium-grade spirit stones.
Manager Tian could not help giving Lin He another once-over. But Lin He was wearing a hooded cloak and a gray robe, so there was naturally little to discern.
Someone who could produce four thousand spirit stones in one go was either a scion of a cultivation family or had a powerful expert backing him. Such were Manager Tian's thoughts, but aloud he said,
"Brother Wang, you truly possess substantial wealth. Leaving aside these two top-grade magic artifacts, my Heavenly Thunder Seed and
"Talisman Treasure both have astonishing power. I'm afraid four thousand spirit stones still falls a little short."
"That's not quite right, Manager Tian. This Heavenly Thunder Seed may be excellent, but it's a single-use consumable. Once used, it's gone. Otherwise, why would it have sat in your shop for so long without selling?"
What followed was a round of bargaining. After much persuasion from Lin He, Manager Tian finally agreed to sell them for four thousand spirit stones.
Once the transaction was complete, Manager Tian even escorted him all the way to the entrance, saying warmly, "Brother Wang, if you need anything else in the future, please feel free to come browse our shop."
"Certainly, next time!"
Lin He agreed with a smile. After leaving the Myriad Treasures Pavilion, he turned a corner and hid in a small alley not far from the shop.
Only after a long wait did he see an ordinary-looking young man with dark skin enter the Myriad Treasures Pavilion. It was Han Li.
Lin He waited patiently for a while. Sure enough, Han Li emerged from the shop with a gloomy expression, then entered another large shop nearby. He came out again after quite some time. His expression had improved somewhat, but he did not seem to have found any treasure that truly pleased him. Rather than leaving immediately, he visited several more shops, emerging from each looking disappointed.
Apparently giving up on his search for treasures, Han Li used the Wind Riding Art to leave the Market, then soon took to his leaf-shaped flying magic artifact and headed back toward Yellow Maple Valley.
Behind him, Lin He followed at an unhurried pace aboard the Flying Spirit Boat.