In the bustling streets of Azure Void City, where the hustle and bustle of life painted a vivid scene, there was one place that stood out from the lively surroundings. A rather inconspicuous building with a small sign reading "Trading Pavilion" was devoid of the usual crowd. This was the place for transactions.
Wang Hong, still concealing his true appearance under two layers of disguise, now appeared as a middle-aged man. He lingered around the vicinity, his first time entering the inner circle of this tier as a Foundation Building cultivator. The only acquaintances he had in this circle were Elder Brother and someone named Liu Changsheng.
In the cultivation world, each tier had its own social circles, often referred to as "dao companions" in the realm of wealth and cultivation. Everyone inevitably had to interact with other immortal cultivators, engaging in discussions, sparring, and trading items. Hence, having companions was indispensable.
Except for Liu Changsheng's guidance, Wang Hong wouldn't have paid much attention to this unassuming venue, as he had passed by it several times before without noticing it. Surprisingly, this seemingly inconspicuous place was a trading pavilion specifically for Foundation Building cultivators.
Liu Changsheng informed him that cultivators of Foundation Building or higher rarely sold rare spiritual objects directly. Most preferred to keep them, hoping to exchange them for items they needed from other cultivators. This method of trade was highly inefficient in a world filled with countless treasures, such as the myriad of Spirit Herbs Wang Hong had studied, numbering over a hundred thousand.
In this vast array of treasures, the probability of two people possessing items the other needed was lower than finding a Dao Companion in a sea of people. Yet, very few were willing to exchange their precious items for Spirit Stones, as converting back to Spirit Stones was challenging.
Entering the small shop, Wang Hong was greeted by an Old Man in the mid-stage of Qi Cultivation, who amiably bowed to him. "Is the senior here for the trading pavilion?"
"Thank you! It's a hundred Spirit Stones per person."
Wang Hong handed over a hundred Spirit Stones, the entrance fee for this venue. These establishments, mainly run by well-connected cultivators, thrived on these fees. Sometimes, familiar cultivators gathered for impromptu trades, but such occasions were infrequent. Thus, the need for a dedicated place arose, organized periodically with an entry fee to cover costs and ensure a profit for the organizers.
"Senior, please head upstairs."
Having received the Spirit Stones, the Old Man led Wang Hong to the upper floor.
In the hall upstairs, there were nearly a hundred sets of tables and chairs, with over a dozen Foundation Building cultivators already seated. Most of them were at the early stage of Foundation Building, with only one at the later stage.
After Wang Hong entered, he casually found a seat, and soon someone placed some ordinary spirit fruits and spirit tea on his wooden table.
These were common spirit fruits, not worth many Spirit Stones. Wang Hong took a sip, finding the taste quite ordinary. Considering the mere hundred Spirit Stones entrance fee, he didn't expect anything fancier.
With two hours left until the official start of the trading pavilion, people continued to trickle in. After two hours, more than fifty people were seated in the hall, not reaching full capacity but still contributing over five thousand Spirit Stones for this session.
Twice a month, on the first and fifteenth days, this income added up to over a hundred thousand Spirit Stones annually, a decent profit.
At this moment, a middle-aged cultivator entered, stood in the center, and respectfully bowed to each direction.
"I am Xue Pu. I thank Fellow Daoists for the honor and for participating in this trading pavilion. As per tradition, please place the items you wish to trade on the table and then state the items you want in return based on seating order."
After his words, everyone presented their trade items on the tables. The items varied from materials obtained from Demonic Beasts, such as claws, feathers, teeth, bones, and essence blood, to bizarre things like a whip resembling a tiger's, as thick as a person's calf and five feet long, origin unknown.
This action attracted the attention of nearby female cultivators. Some showed disinterest, others pretended to be disgusted while sneakily glancing, and there was even a bold one who curiously reached over and touched it.
Various ores and materials for refining tools and alchemy were also displayed. One cultivator with a stern expression even placed a massive material, larger than two tables combined, directly on the floor.
Of course, Wang Hong was most interested in the array of Spiritual Herbs and related items. Some were already in his possession, and for those he lacked, he hoped to acquire them all. After all, he was operating under a false identity and wasn't afraid of attracting attention.
First up was a mid-stage Foundation Building female cultivator, appearing to be in her twenties. Her skin was radiant, and she showcased several Spirit Herbs, pieces of ore, and a section of black spirit wood.
"I want to exchange for a Resplendent Visage Elixir. You can choose from my itemsStar-Moon Grass, Purple Orchid Grass, and this section of Golden Ironwood."
She introduced all her items, which were second-tier Spirit Herbs and ores. After finishing, she looked expectantly at the gathered cultivators.
Over a hundred years old, she had taken a Resplendent Visage Elixir in her youth, allowing her to maintain a youthful appearance even in her centennial age. Dao Companions had come and gone, but she still looked like a maiden in her prime. Her favorite pastime was strolling outside, where young cultivators blushed upon seeing her.
Unfortunately, the effects of the Resplendent Visage Elixir were about to fade, and once they did, she would rapidly age, eventually becoming an elderly woman with gray hair and wrinkled skin. This prospect was unbearable to her, and in recent years, she frequented various trading pavilions in hopes of obtaining another Resplendent Visage Elixir.
She looked at more than thirty people consecutively, all without any response. It seemed like another failed attempt, and she could only return empty-handed.
When she looked at a middle-aged cultivator, his gaze didn't shy away from her scrutiny. Instead, their eyes met, and his gaze was clear. She knew this wasn't a gaze of admiration but something else.
She smiled and asked, "Fellow Daoist, do you happen to have a Resplendent Visage Elixir?"
"I do have a Resplendent Visage Elixir, but Fellow Daoist, I'll need to pick at least three items from your table in exchange."
Wang Hong replied with a smile.
[Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]