Chapter 26: The Ten-Thousand Spirit Stone Firework Display Was Beautiful Indeed |
By the artifact refining furnace in Forge Peak Residence, Zhong Ningyao strenuously manipulated the flames to refine a magical artifact.
Standing to the side, feeding peach wood charcoal into the furnace, Yu'an kept stealing glances at his senior martial sister.
Zhong Ningyao was using her Qi Induction cultivation base to drive Qi Refining techniques and control the peach wood spirit fire, relying on the two protective spiritual artifacts she wore.
However, the design of these two spiritual artifacts was rather revealing, thoroughly tugging at Yu'an's heartstrings.
After a long while, sensing that the restrictions were complete, Zhong Ningyao called out.
"It's done! Draw back the fire!"
Yu'an hurriedly stuffed stones into the furnace to slow the burning speed of the peach wood charcoal.
Under Zhong Ningyao's control, the artifact refining furnace opened. Two fist-sized, red-glowing copper beads spun rapidly inside.
Zhong Ningyao used tongs to place the two copper beads on the stone table. After carefully inspecting them, she spoke with a hint of relief.
"Two artifacts from one furnace! Congratulations, Senior Martial Sister, your artificing path has improved again!"
Even though it was Zhong Ningyao who had refined the two items, Yu'an looked just as thrilled.
Shooting the silly boy a subtle glance, Zhong Ningyao wiped her sweat, draped an outer robe over her shoulders, and said,
"What improvement? They are just two low-grade magical artifacts. It works out perfectly: one for you and one for Yulou.
"The five-layer one is for Yulou, and the six-layer one is for you. Consider it a reward for working so hard to tend the charcoal for me."
Yu'an was so smitten that his head spun.
'What?'
'Out of the two low-grade magical artifact Purple Copper Beads, Senior Martial Sister wants to give me the one with six layers of restrictions?'
'Does she like me too?'
Seeing that Wang Yu'an had fallen silent, Zhong Ningyao waved a hand in front of his face and instructed suspiciously.
"Why are you spacing out? Don't tell Yulou that your bead has six layers. I'm afraid he might think I'm playing favorites. Do you understand, Junior Martial Brother Yu'an?"
Looking at his senior martial sister's fair, slender hand, Yu'an snapped out of his daze and repeatedly assured her.
"I understand, I understand! Senior Martial Sister, I understand everything you're saying!"
Taking the Purple Copper Bead that Senior Martial Sister Ningyao handed over, Yu'an walked out to the front hall.
Seeing Yulou still slacking off reading travelogues, he walked over and kicked Yulou's recliner, giving him a good shake.
Placing the travelogue on his chest, Yulou glared at Yu'an from his recliner and grumbled.
"What is it now?"
Yu'an picked up a Purple Copper Bead, showed it off, and stuffed it into Yulou's hand.
"Look, a Purple Copper Bead with six layers of restrictions. Senior Martial Sister just refined two in one furnace, so we each get one."
Yulou froze for a moment before instantly figuring out the hidden implications.
"Good, good, good. Jiang Baobian greedily takes the lion's share, Master takes a small cut, and in the end, we still get a taste of the soup. Our Wang Clan didn't pay the Unity Fee for nothing."
Yu'an leaned against the counter and muttered to Yulou.
"You have no idea. The blueprints Gao Jian brought over were shabby enough, but Master still managed to scrape a little purple copper out of every firework artifact. That's how she saved up two small pieces for Senior Martial Sister Ningyao to practice with.
"But if Master's thank-you gift is only this much, wouldn't the Patriarch be taking a loss by bringing her to visit True Person Danri?"
Zhong Ningyao had thought she could use the six-layer restriction Purple Copper Bead to win over Yu'an, whose secret crush on her was practically public knowledge.
After all, Yulou clearly looked like the type who was hard to manipulate, possessing a deeply calculating mind.
Yu'an was different. He was universally recognized by the folks in the surrounding villages as an honest boy.
But she couldn't understand the Wang Clan's method of educating their younger generation, much less the bond between the two brothers who had grown up and studied together in Clear Stream Market.
Not only did Yu'an give the bead with more restriction layers to Yulou, but he also saw through the truth at a glance: this thank-you gift wasn't 'heavy' enough.
What kind of good items were two low-grade magical artifacts?
The Hundred-Li Wanderer Escape Talisman Yu'an carried on him was enough to buy ten low-grade magical artifacts!
"He won't take a loss. The Patriarch never does business at a loss."
Yulou picked up his travelogue and resumed reading.
Suddenly, a female cultivator's voice echoed in the sky above Clear Stream Market.
"To make it convenient for all Fellow Daoists to exchange for their desired magical artifacts, medicinal pills, cultivation methods, and secret inheritances, we are holding the Clear Stream Grand Gathering! The Red Lantern Illumination Sect's Merit Hall branch is now open to all rogue cultivators, clans, and sects!
"Starting today, the branch will be stationed in Clear Stream Market and will depart after the three-month period expires!"
The female cultivator's voice sounded very tender, as if it belonged to a thirteen- or fourteen-year-old girl, yet it was amplified by immense magic power, spreading throughout Clear Stream Market.
Slightly surprised, Yulou walked out of Forge Peak Residence and looked up at the red flying boat in the sky, the Golden Crow Driving Sun.
"Bang— Bang—"
The single-use firework magical artifacts prepared by Jiang Baobian bloomed continuously in the sky. Even though it was broad daylight, the blossoming flower cores were still incredibly beautiful.
In the sky, the Golden Crow Driving Sun flying boat sat in the center, flanked by the Huang Clan's Hundred Treasures Market and the Immortal Alliance Emissary's traveling carriage. Other flying spiritual artifacts belonging to various clans, sects, and merchant chambers were scattered around them.
Fireworks burst brightly in their midst. A firework display worth tens of thousands of spirit stones was beautiful indeed.
Watching the magnificent scene slowly fade, Yu'an cursed.
"That son of a bitch Jiang Baobian!"
Tens of thousands of spirit stones!
Just like that, they were forcefully snatched away by Jiang Baobian!
Under the brilliant sky, Yulou lowered his head and turned back into Forge Peak Residence.
"Endure! We must endure what ordinary people cannot, only then can we properly shoulder our clan's responsibilities, and only then can we walk a little further on the path of cultivation.
"Being high-spirited and vigorous is a luxury that only true Golden Core True Persons can afford. Yu'an, from now on, you must not speak so recklessly without considering the occasion!"
His older brother's warning made perfect sense, and Yu'an took it to heart, but he still felt a knot of frustration in his chest.
"Pah!"
Spitting in the direction of the Golden Crow Driving Sun to fully express his indignation, Yu'an finally returned to Forge Peak Residence as well.
'Just you wait. You just wait!'
'The day I, Wang Yu'an, become an immortal will be the day you die!'
Such was the hot-blooded spirit of youth. Yu'an didn't yet understand that even if he only reached the Purple Palace realm, someone like Jiang Baobian would be nothing more than a dog to him.
Why would he need to wait until he became an immortal to take his revenge?
In the afternoon, Wang Xianmao led the two youths into the Huang Clan's Hundred Treasures Market.
Upon entering, Yulou's first subconscious thought was of Diagon Alley from Harry Potter.
It was a narrow aisle packed with various shops on both sides. Although there weren't too many people walking about, most of them were cultivators at the Qi Refining realm or higher, making the place feel quite lively.
"This Hundred Treasures Market is no ordinary place. It holds Heaven and Earth within, yet it isn't overly vast. It exists somewhere between a spiritual artifact and a magic treasure.
"You can circulate your cultivation techniques slightly to feel it. Isn't the spiritual energy here even richer than at our clan estate?"
Yulou closed his eyes and sensed his surroundings for a few seconds before saying in surprise,
"It is indeed very high."
Wang Xianmao explained with a hint of envy.
"The difference between a Purple Mansion family and a Foundation Establishment family is like an uncrossable chasm. The Huang Clan has several more Hundred Treasures Markets just like this one."
The Huang Clan was a giant merchant family in the Wunan Cultivation World, specializing purely in 'Wealth' among the four great cultivation pillars of wealth, methods, companions, and land.
"So, Patriarch, the Red Lantern Illumination Sect appointing someone from the Huang Clan as the sect master... is it really just as I guessed?" Yulou asked in a low voice.
"Hahaha, let's go. I'll take you two to the Huang Clan's artifact refining room. The artifact refining rooms in the Hundred Treasures Market are vastly superior to Forge Peak Residence."
The Patriarch brushed over the topic, not answering Yulou's question.
Yu'an, who had also been observing their surroundings along the way, noticed something highly unusual.
Outside one particular shop stood an elaborately carved red gatehouse, bearing three large characters: Beautiful Pavilion.
Beneath the gatehouse, a crowd of eager, impatient male cultivators had gathered, making the spot look incredibly lively.
Pointing at the beautiful gatehouse, Yu'an asked innocently,
"Patriarch, why is it so crowded in front of that shop?"
Wang Xianmao glanced over, his mouth twitching. He raised his hand and slapped the back of Yu'an's head.
"Don't look around so recklessly. That place is full of female cultivators who practice Charm Arts, and they specialize in draining the Yang energy from young boys like you!"
"To facilitate fellow Daoists in exchanging for their desired magical artifacts, medicinal pills, cultivation methods, and secret transmissions, a Clear Stream Grand Gathering is being held. The Merit Hall branch of the Red Lantern Illumination Sect is now open to all rogue cultivators, families, and sects!"
"Starting today, the branch will be stationed in Clear Stream Market and will depart after the three-month term expires!"
The female cultivator's voice sounded tender, as if it belonged to a thirteen- or fourteen-year-old girl, yet it was bolstered by immense magical power, spreading throughout all of Clear Stream Market.
Looking slightly surprised, Yulou walked out of Forge Peak Residence and gazed at the red flying boat in the sky, Golden Crow Driving Sun.
"Bang! Bang!"
The single-use firework artifacts prepared by Jiang Baobian scattered across the sky one after another. Even though it was daytime, the blooming flower pistils were still exceptionally beautiful.
Up in the sky, the Golden Crow Driving Sun sat in the center. The Huang Clan's Hundred Treasures Market and the Immortal Alliance Emissary's mobile palace flanked it on either side, while the flying spiritual artifacts of various other families, sects, and merchant guilds were scattered around the periphery.
Fireworks bloomed amidst them. The ten-thousand spirit stone display was beautiful indeed.
Watching the magnificent scene fade away, Yu'an cursed.
"That son of a bitch Jiang Baobian!"
Over ten thousand spirit stones!
Just like that, they had been blatantly robbed by Jiang Baobian!
Under the brilliant sky, Yulou lowered his head, turned around, and walked back into Forge Peak Residence.
"Endure! We must endure what ordinary people cannot so that we can shoulder the responsibilities of our family and walk a little further on the path of cultivation.
"So-called high spirits and vigor belong only to true Golden Core True Persons. Yu'an, you must never speak so recklessly again, regardless of the setting!"
His older brother's warning made sense, and Yu'an took it to heart, but he still felt a knot of frustration in his chest.
"Pah!"
Spitting toward the Golden Crow Driving Sun to fully express his indignation, Yu'an returned to Forge Peak Residence as well.
'Just wait, just you wait!'
'The day I, Wang Yu'an, become an immortal will be the day you all die!'
Ah, the hot-bloodedness of youth. Yu'an still didn't understand that even if he merely reached the Purple Palace realm, Jiang Baobian would be nothing more than a pig or a dog in his eyes.
Why would he need to wait until he became an immortal to take his revenge?
That afternoon, Wang Xianmao led the two teenagers into the Huang Clan's Hundred Treasures Market.
Upon entering, Yulou's first subconscious thought was of Diagon Alley from Harry Potter.
It was a narrow aisle packed with various shops on both sides. Although there weren't many people in the aisle, most were cultivators starting from the Qi Refining stage, making it look incredibly lively.
"This Hundred Treasures Market is extraordinary. It contains Heaven and Earth within, yet it isn't overly vast. It is an existence somewhere between a spiritual artifact and a magic treasure.
"You can circulate your cultivation methods slightly to feel it. Isn't the spiritual energy here even richer than in our clan grounds?"
Yulou closed his eyes to sense it for a few seconds and exclaimed in surprise.
"It is very rich."
Wang Xianmao explained with a hint of envy.
"The difference between a Purple Palace family and a Foundation Establishment family is like a heavenly chasm. The Huang Clan has quite a few Hundred Treasures Markets similar to this one."
The Huang Clan, a giant merchant family in the Wunan Cultivation World, specialized exclusively in the 'wealth' aspect of the four great necessities of cultivation: wealth, companions, methods, and land.
"So, Patriarch, was the Red Lantern Illumination Sect's appointment of someone from the Huang Clan as the sect master exactly as I guessed?" Yulou asked in a low voice.
"Hahaha, come, I'll take you to the Huang Clan's artifact refining rooms. The refining rooms in the Hundred Treasures Market are vastly superior to those in Forge Peak Residence."
The Patriarch spoke vaguely, dodging Yulou's question.
Yu'an, who had been observing their surroundings the whole way, noticed a highly unusual place.
Outside a particular shop was an elaborately carved red archway bearing three large words—Beautiful Pavilion.
Beneath the archway, a crowd of eager male cultivators squeezed together, making the area look exceptionally bustling.
Pointing at the ornate archway, Yu'an asked naively.
"Patriarch, why is it so crowded in front of that shop?"
Wang Xianmao took one look, his mouth twitching, and raised a hand to slap the back of Yu'an's head.
"Don't look around blindly. That place is filled with female cultivators who practice Charm Arts. They specialize in sucking the Yang energy out of young men like you!"