“I don’t understand any of this,” Luo Yueguan whispered, sounding as if she was complaining about Jiang Huai exposing her.
Her eyes were particularly bright as she looked at Jiang Huai. “I think… it should be okay?”
“It shouldn’t be a problem,” Jiang Huai mumbled. However, being surrounded by so many gazes made him increasingly guilty. He glanced at Luo Yueguan, and together they turned to walk out, re-entering the mechanical staircase and heading to other floors of Ziyun Pavilion to wander.
Ziyun Pavilion had many rare and interesting treasures. Just wandering around, the two could spend a very long time.
………………………………
Ziyun Pavilion, underground.
The teahouse was dimly lit.
“Pavilion Master.”
A respectful call came from outside the teahouse.
“En?”
Someone was cultivating with their eyes closed under the dim light. Hearing the call, she opened her eyes. A moment later, she heard the Purple Clothed Elder outside the door softly inquire, “Someone has matched all the poems on the Ziyun Stele.”
The Pavilion Master’s body suddenly began to tremble violently. Her voice trembled slightly, “He matched them all?”
“Yes, all of them are exactly the same as what the person who left the Ziyun Stele… told us.”
“Who is it?”
“The one using spiritual energy is Luo Yueguan, the Sect Master of Qingxuan Sect, but I’ve inquired. The one who matched them is a young man, formerly the Saint Son of Moon Wave Continent in the Eastern Region, named Jiang Huai.”
“Gather all information about him and give it to me.”
“Understood. I’ve already sent people to do it.”
The Pavilion Master in the teahouse slowly closed her eyes and remained silent for a long time before speaking, “Go about your business. I will decide what to do in the future.”
“Qinglan understands. It’s just… Qinglan has followed the Pavilion Master for so many years. I dare to say a word.”
The Pavilion Master was silent for a long time and slowly said, “Speak if you want to speak. There’s no need to hide anything.”
“Ziyun Pavilion is currently the Pavilion Master’s Ziyun Pavilion, no longer that person’s Ziyun Pavilion. That person is not in this realm anymore. No matter how powerful they were, their hands cannot reach this realm. Why must the Pavilion Master still abide by the agreement from back then? For the past thousand years, everyone in Ziyun Pavilion has worked hard to manage Ziyun Pavilion to this point, nearly a thousand years of foundation… If it is given away like this, I believe the other several Purple Clothed Elders will also be unwilling.”
“And you? What do you think?”
“Qinglan will be the Pavilion Master’s servant for life and will obey the Pavilion Master’s wishes. Whatever the Pavilion Master thinks, Qinglan will do.”
Silence filled the dark room for a long time. The Pavilion Master slowly said.
“You may go… Let me think… and think again…”
………………………………
Jiang Huai felt a bit of anticipation in his heart.
This world was completely unfamiliar to him at first. Many of his ideas differed from those of the people in this world. But when he learned that there was someone in this world who came from the same world as him, he really wanted to meet and chat with that person if possible.
At this moment, he was accompanying Luo Yueguan, wandering through Ziyun Pavilion. The wealth of Ziyun Pavilion was quite astonishing. In the Yening Sword Pavilion on the ninety-eighth floor of Ziyun Pavilion, Jiang Huai saw more than a dozen Heavenly Level Spirit Swords, and he even heard that there were Absolute Level Spirit Swords. However, it would cost fifty thousand spirit stones to even get a glimpse of an Absolute Level Spirit Sword. He thought about it and decided not to spend the money, as he couldn’t afford it anyway.
Besides, what if Yening got jealous? When he held the Suoxue Sword previously, the Yening Sword Spirit could come out of the Yening Sword to interrogate the Suoxue Sword Spirit. Jiang Huai and Luo Yueguan also saw many interesting magic treasures, but he couldn’t afford most of them. Luo Yueguan was willing to pay for him, but Jiang Huai didn’t dare.
Firstly, it wasn’t necessary. Secondly, accepting favors always made him feel indebted. He didn’t dare to owe Luo Yueguan anything, always feeling that if he owed her, he would never be able to escape, even though he knew very well that he was standing on the edge of a cliff, swaying precariously.
Ziyun Pavilion was indeed extremely large. The two had been wandering for nearly two hours and had only managed to explore about a third of it. When they arrived at the thirty-ninth floor, the card given to him by the Pill Refinement Elder lit up, inviting him to the teahouse for a chat.
He and Luo Yueguan took the elevator to the sixty-sixth floor. As soon as they stepped out, they were met by two female cultivators in purple robes. Luo Yueguan’s pupils constricted, and she was slightly stunned.
It was rumored that Ziyun Pavilion had a total of five Purple Clothed Elders, each with Mahayana cultivation. The two female cultivators in front of them were clearly one of those five Purple Clothed Elders. She raised her vigilance slightly and moved a little closer to Jiang Huai.
The two Purple Clothed Elders led the pair into the teahouse. Inside the teahouse, eight Pill Refinement Elders were already waiting.
It was clear that their research on those pill formation diagrams had concluded, and they were ready to appraise Jiang Huai. Jiang Huai was full of anticipation and looked towards the Pill Refinement Elder with whom he had previously negotiated. However, that Elder gestured for him to look at the two Purple Clothed Elders seated beside him.
One of the Purple Clothed Elders looked at Jiang Huai in front of her, her eyes deep.
“Jiang Huai of Tian Xuan Sect?” the Purple Clothed Elder asked calmly.
“Yes, I am,” Jiang Huai nodded softly.
“My name is Qinglan,” Elder Qinglan said slowly, her eyes looking deeply at Jiang Huai, as if trying to appraise him from head to toe. For some reason, Jiang Huai felt that her gaze was slightly cold. Although it wasn’t intimidating, it still made him feel a little uncomfortable.
Qinglan continued, “The pill refinement methods you provided have been studied by the eight Pill Refinement Elders. You previously stated that you could provide perfect refinement methods for two hundred and thirty-seven commonly used pills below the Heavenly Level. Is what you said true?”
“You can have them verify the goods.”
Jiang Huai took out a book and pushed it onto the table. The book immediately floated in the air, carried by spiritual energy. The eight Pill Refinement Elders skimmed through it and understood. However, Jiang Huai had added a unique imprint to the book. To truly understand the profoundness of the pill formations within, one needed to observe them with their divine soul in solitude.
“No problem,” the eight Elders replied simultaneously.
Qinglan shifted her gaze back to Jiang Huai. A moment later, she flipped her palm, holding a purple card between her fingertips, and then looked at Jiang Huai, “What is your estimated price?”
“Ten million spirit stones,” Jiang Huai said without hesitation. Although his inner expectation was only between three to four million spirit stones, he would be satisfied with this figure. But since he was asked to estimate, he had to ask for a high price to set a basis for negotiation, to avoid being pressured too much. This was the most basic negotiation strategy.
Qinglan looked at him meaningfully. Jiang Huai was reluctant to meet her gaze, always feeling that her eyes were incredibly cold. Luo Yueguan sat beside him, making him feel a little more at ease. A long silence filled the teahouse.
Qinglan lightly tapped her fingertips on the table, seemingly contemplating Jiang Huai’s offer. Jiang Huai did not disturb her.
Time ticked by, and the scent of sandalwood lingered in the teahouse. After an unknown amount of time, Qinglan flicked her finger, and the card in her hand flew to Jiang Huai.
The eight Pill Refinement Elders present were all stunned.
Their estimated price was around four million spirit stones. They also understood that Jiang Huai’s offer had considerable room for negotiation, but the Purple Clothed Elder directly handed him this Purple Jade Card.
“This is… a Purple Jade Card?” Luo Yueguan asked softly after a moment of hesitation.
The Purple Clothed Elder nodded slightly and said no more.
Only Jiang Huai didn’t understand. He looked at Luo Yueguan in front of him. Luo Yueguan leaned close to his ear and whispered, “The Purple Jade Card is a card that transcends the original membership card system of Ziyun Pavilion. It is only given to guests who have rendered a service to Ziyun Pavilion or are particularly important guests. No one in our entire Moon Wave Continent has this Purple Jade Card.”
“What’s it for?” Jiang Huai whispered.
At this moment, Qinglan spoke, “This Purple Jade Card now belongs exclusively to you. Please do not give it to anyone else. With this Purple Jade Card, you can ask Ziyun Pavilion to do one thing for you each year. Ziyun Pavilion will use all its power to try and fulfill your wish. For purchasing many items in Ziyun Pavilion, Ziyun Pavilion can generally give you a forty percent discount. At the same time… the ten million spirit stones you wanted have already been transferred to your card. You can use this card at any Ziyun Pavilion to exchange for spirit stone tickets or spirit stones.”
Jiang Huai’s expression became somewhat strange. After a few seconds, he seemed to suddenly think of something and asked softly, “Does Ziyun Pavilion also do business at a loss? The price just now… actually had room for negotiation.”
A hint of impatience seemed to flicker in Qinglan’s eyes. “This is not my intention.”
“Is it… the intention of the Ziyun Pavilion Master?” Jiang Huai asked cautiously.
Qinglan was silent for a moment and then nodded gently.
This friend from the same world had clearly given Jiang Huai a great gift. Jiang Huai then asked, “Then, may I ask… can I meet the Ziyun Pavilion Master?”
“The Pavilion Master is currently in seclusion. She is unable to see you. If one day she is willing to see you, she will naturally summon you.”
“I see, understood…” Jiang Huai clutched the card in his hand and said softly, “Please thank the Pavilion Master for me, Elder Qinglan.”
“I will convey your message to the Pavilion Master.” Qinglan stood up, seemingly unwilling to say more. However, as she turned, she suddenly seemed to recall something and said, “There will be a grand auction in Ziyun Pavilion tonight. Your Purple Jade Card is also valid at the auction. If you are free, you can come and participate.”
“Okay, thank you, Elder Qinglan.”
Qinglan and the other Purple Clothed Elder stood up and left the teahouse. The Pill Refinement Elders also received the pill formation secret manual from Jiang Huai’s hand and left gleefully as if they had found a treasure. Jiang Huai and Luo Yueguan sat in the teahouse. Luo Yueguan frowned slightly, “Something’s not right. Do you have a connection with that Ziyun Pavilion Master?”
Jiang Huai thought for a moment and shook his head.
“She’s being too good to you. It’s very strange.”
“Perhaps it’s because I matched her Ziyun Stele poems, so she values talent?” Jiang Huai winked at Luo Yueguan. Luo Yueguan was silent for a moment. It seemed to make some sense. She nodded gently and stopped thinking about it, instead placing her hand on Jiang Huai’s shoulder.
“What’s wrong?” Jiang Huai was startled.
Luo Yueguan winked at him, “There were many things I wanted to buy in Ziyun Pavilion before, but I was always reluctant to. Do you understand what I mean?”
Jiang Huai couldn’t help but laugh and cry. He stood up, “Let’s go, I’ll buy them all for you.”
————————
PS: Lottery draw in the live broadcast room at 1 p.m.
