yǔ yuán xiān xiǎng xiàng de bù tóng ， fāng shì zhōng de xiū shì guǒ bù néng shuō mó jiān jiē zhǒng ， dàn yǔ zuì chū de yù jì ” qǐ mǎ duō le shù bèi yǒu yú 。
与原先想象的不同，坊市中的修士果不能说摩肩接踵，但与最初的预计”起码多了数倍有余。
Unlike his initial expectations, the market was not as crowded with cultivators as he had imagined. However, it was still significantly busier than he had anticipated, at least several times more so.
ér qiě dà duō xíng sè cōng cōng ， lín xuān shèn zhì hái kàn jiàn le lí hé ， jiào mài shēng gèng shì bù jué yú ěr duǒ 。
而且大多形色匆匆，林轩甚至还看见了离合，叫卖声更是不绝于耳朵。
Most people were bustling about hurriedly, and Lin Xuan even saw a couple of Separation and Union stage cultivators hawking their wares. The calls for attention never ceased.
“ qiáo yī qiáo a ， kàn yī kàn ， zhè kě shì yòng huà xíng qī yāo jiāo zhì chéng de gǔ máo ， wēi lì wú bǐ ， kān yǔ zuì dǐng jiē de gǔ bǎo xiāng bǐ ， yù mǎi cóng sù ， cuò guò kě shì huì hòu huǐ de 。”
“瞧一瞧啊，看一看，这可是用化形期妖蛟制成的骨矛，威力无比，堪与最顶阶的古宝相比，欲买从速，错过可是会后悔的。”
"Come take a look! This is a bone spear made from a transformed monster crocodile, with unparalleled power that can match the top-grade ancient treasures. Hurry if you want to buy it; you'll regret missing out."
“ qiān nián gǔ jīng shā zhì chéng de dùn pái ” biàn shì lí hé qī xiū shì de yī jī ， yě néng dǎng zhù ” bǎo wù dà shuǎi mài le 。”
“千年古晶砂制成的盾牌”便是离合期修士的一击，也能挡住”宝物大甩卖了。”
"And this shield crafted from millennium-old ancient crystal sand," even at Separation and Union stage, one strike could block such treasure items.
zhè yàng de jiào mài shēng chuán rù ěr duǒ ， lín xuān yě bù yóu de zhuǎn guò le tóu lú ， yào zhī dào fǎ bǎo bù bǐ pǔ tōng de dōng xī ， jiù suàn shì líng jiè de fāng shì ， yì bān yě zhǐ yǒu dà de diàn pù ， cái yǒu nà yàng de hǎo dōng xī ” dì tān shàng mài gǔ bǎo ， lín xuān hái zhēn shì tóu yī cì jiàn dào 。
这样的叫卖声传入耳朵，林轩也不由得转过了头颅，要知道法宝不比普通的东西，就算是灵界的坊市，一般也只有大的店铺，才有那样的好东西”地摊上卖古宝，林轩还真是头一次见到。
These calls drew Lin Xuan's attention as well. He knew that treasures were not like ordinary goods. Even in the Spirit Realm market, only large shops had such valuable items; seeing them sold on stalls was a novelty for him.
mù guāng sǎo guò ” hái zhēn bú shì líng qì ” bù guò zhè liǎng jiàn bǎo wù de pǐn zhì ， yě bù zhí yī tí ， jiào mài dōu yǒu kuā dà de xián yí 。
目光扫过”还真不是灵器”不过这两件宝物的品质，也不值一提，叫卖都有夸大的嫌疑。
His gaze swept over the offerings but he found they weren't spirit artifacts. The quality of these two treasures wasn't worth mentioning and their sellers seemed to be exaggerating.
dàn jí biàn rú cǐ ， yě hěn nán dé ， tè bié shì zhuǎn le yī quān zhī hòu ， lín xuān hái zhēn zài dì tān shàng fā xiàn le jǐ jiàn pǐn zhì bù cuò de bǎo wù 。
但即便如此，也很难得，特别是转了一圈之后，林轩还真在地摊上发现了几件品质不错的宝物。
Nevertheless, it was still rare to find decent-quality treasures here. After wandering around, Lin Xuan did indeed discover several items with good qualities on the stalls—though they were not for his taste as a cultivator.
dāng rán ， shì xiāng duì yì bān xiū xiān zhě ” tā zì rán kàn bù shàng yǎn de 。
当然，是相对一般修仙者”他自然看不上眼的。
As the saying goes, "a storm is brewing," and with the looming conflict between humans and sea creatures, people's minds were unsettled. Everyone felt like they were living in a time of constant danger.
sú huà shuō ， shān yǔ yù lái fēng mǎn lóu ” rú jīn yǔ hǎi zú de dà zhàn ， yǐ dào le yī chù jí fā de dì bù ” rén zú xiū shì ， rén xīn fú dòng ， rén rén dōu yǒu yī zhǒng fēng shēng hè lì de gǎn jué 。
俗话说，山雨欲来风满楼”如今与海族的大战，已到了一触即发的地步”人族修士，人心浮动，人人都有一种风声鹤唳的感觉。
In such circumstances, different individuals made different choices. Major sects and families urgently needed supplies, talismans, magic artifacts, medicinal pills, and various materials—basically anything related to cultivation became scarce. Stocking up on these items could enhance their power.
zhè zhǒng qíng kuàng xià ， jí biàn shì bù tóng de rén wù ， yě wú wài hū zuò chū yǐ xià jǐ zhǒng xuǎn zé 。
这种情况下，即便是不同的人物，也无外乎做出以下几种选择。
While stalls occasionally yielded treasures, they were rare and unpredictable, much like waiting by a tree for a rabbit. For real quality items, one had to rely on reputable shops. And typically, the stronger the shop, the more prominent its building.
dà de zōng mén jiā zú ， jí xū dà liàng de wù zī ， fú zhuàn ， fǎ qì ， dān yào ， yǐ jí gè zhǒng gè yàng de cái liào ， jī hū yǔ xiū xiān yǒu guān de dōng xī ， dōu biàn chéng le jǐn quē huò ， chǔ bèi zhè yàng de dōng xī ， tā men kě yǐ tí gāo mén pài de shí lì 。
大的宗门家族，急需大量的物资，符篆，法器，丹药，以及各种各样的材料，几乎与修仙有关的东西，都变成了紧缺货，储备这样的东西，他们可以提高门派的实力。
Standing before a towering structure over ten meters high, Lin Xuan saw it was divided into six levels, made of wooden structures reinforced with magic. The three large characters "Tian Yuan Pavilion" were written in flowing script.
ér zài zhè guò chéng zhōng ， tā men yě huì chū mài yī bù fèn duō yú huò zhě zì jǐ yòng bù shàng de dōng xī 。
而在这过程中，他们也会出卖一部分多余或者自己用不上的东西。
Without hesitation, he entered. Inside, many customers were present—some appraising treasures, others carefully selecting items, and the occasional haggling. Despite its grand and ancient appearance, it was as noisy as a bustling market.
dà liàng de jiāo yì ” zì rán ràng fāng shì fèn wài de fán róng ” gè zhǒng gè yàng de zhēn bǎo ” bù tíng de xiàn shì 。
大量的交易”自然让坊市分外的繁荣”各种各样的珍宝”不停的现世。
Lin Xuan frowned and headed straight to the second floor. The scene there was similar, so he continued climbing...
ér sàn xiū yě yǒu zì jǐ de xuǎn zé 。
而散修也有自己的选择。
Eight hundred years of cultivation had made Lin Xuan familiar with markets; no cultivator could achieve enlightenment in isolation. Interacting with others was necessary for progress.
tā men zhōng de xiū wèi gāo shēn zhě ， huò zhě dǎn zi dà yī diǎn de ， zhǔn bèi lí kāi dà huāng hǎi yù ” huí dào rén zú de fù dì ， nà yàng suī rán bù yí dìng jiù néng bì miǎn chōng tū ” dàn kěn dìng bú huì bèi dàng zuò dì yī bō de pào huī le 。
他们中的修为高深者，或者胆子大一点的，准备离开大荒海域”回到人族的腹地，那样虽然不一定就能避免冲突”但肯定不会被当作第一波的炮灰了。
Buying and selling were inevitable for any cultivator, and Lin Xuan's experience was extensive. Generally, the higher the floor, the better the treasures.
kě cháng tú lǚ xíng bì jìng wēi xiǎn ， gèng duō de ruò xiǎo xiū shì zé shì xuǎn zé yǐn jū ， jiù rú tóng shàng guān mù yǔ zuì chū de dǎ suàn ， zhǎo gè huāng dǎo duǒ cáng qǐ lái 。
可长途旅行毕竟危险，更多的弱小修士则是选择隐居，就如同上官幕雨最初的打算，找个荒岛躲藏起来。
Indeed, after ascending to the fifth level, it became quieter. However, on his way up, two cultivators stopped him. Both were at late Condensation Core stage; one male and one female. The man greeted Lin Xuan with a bow: "Excuse me, sir. Goods above the fifth floor are of high value. To avoid unauthorized access, this building has a rule requiring proof of identity for guests with less than eight million crystal stones."
zhǐ shì zhè yàng zuò ， jiū jìng yǒu méi yǒu yòng chǔ ， nà jiù zhǐ yǒu tīng tiān yóu mìng le 。
只是这样做，究竟有没有用处，那就只有听天由命了。
"Oh?" Lin Xuan was slightly surprised by such rules but understood their logic. The silence on the sixth floor made sense now.
rán ér bù guǎn shì zǒu shì liú ， miàn duì wèi zhī de wēi xiǎn ， wú yí ” tā men yě xū yào zhǔn bèi yī xiē 。
然而不管是走是留，面对未知的危险，无疑”他们也需要准备一些。
Eight million crystal stones might be significant to others, but to Lin Xuan, it was just a drop in the bucket. He wasn't bothered.
yú shì chú le zōng mén jiā zú de xiǎng xiàng zhōng ， sàn xiū yě huì jù yú fāng shì ， rú cǐ yī lái ， cái ràng zhè huāng dǎo de rén qì ” yuǎn fēi yǐ qián kě bǐ ” zhēn guì de bǎo wù ” yě yī jiàn yī jiàn de xiàn shì 。
于是除了宗门家族的想象中，散修也汇聚于坊市，如此一来，才让这荒岛的人气”远非以前可比”珍贵的宝物”也一件一件的现世。
Following local customs, he didn't want to disrupt the shop's rules. He nodded and flicked his sleeve, sending out a small storage bag: "Here are eight million crystal stones. Please check if they're sufficient."
bù guò jià gé yǔ píng shí xiāng bǐ ， dāng rán guì le nà me yī xiē 。
不过价格与平时相比，当然贵了那么一些。
The man took the item from Lin Xuan without hesitation, probing it with his divine sense. His eyes nearly popped out of his head.
nòng qīng chǔ liǎo shì qíng de shǐ mò ” lín xuān bìng méi yǒu zài dì tān shàng duō zuò tíng liú ， ér shì zhí jiē zǒu xiàng le fāng shì zhōng zuì dà de yī jí jiàn zhù 。
弄清楚了事情的始末”林轩并没有在地摊上多做停留，而是直接走向了坊市中最大的一集建筑。
Inside were countless colorful crystals, dazzling to the eye. They were high-grade weak stones in large quantities.
zì jǐ yào mǎi de fēi xíng fǎ qì ， nǎi shì yòng yú bǎi cǎo mén de qiān xǐ ， suì zhì shǎo yào zhuāng shàng shù bǎi rén méi yǒu wèn tí ， ér qiě duì sù dù ， yǐn bì hái yǒu fáng hù ” dōu yǒu yí dìng de yāo qǐng 。
自己要买的飞行法器，乃是用于百草门的迁徙，碎至少要装上数百人没有问题，而且对速度，隐蔽还有防护”都有一定的邀请。
At a one-to-ten exchange rate, this man was well-traveled but still found such wealth rare. Money could make even ghosts move, and owning such a fortune indicated he wasn't an ordinary cultivator. His expression turned extremely respectful as he handed the bag to Lin Xuan: "That's enough, sir. Please come in. I apologize for any rudeness earlier."
dì tān shàng ǒu ěr suī rán yě kě yǐ táo dào bǎo wù ” dàn bì jìng shì kě yù bù kě qiú ， jiǎn dān de shuō ， jiù rú tóng shǒu zhū dài tù ， zhēn xū yào shén me hǎo de bǎo wù ” hái shì yào kàn yǒu shí lì de diàn pù 。
地摊上偶尔虽然也可以淘到宝物”但毕竟是可遇不可求，简单的说，就如同守株待兔，真需要什么好的宝物”还是要看有实力的店铺。
Lin Xuan took the bag and walked inside confidently.
ér tōng cháng ” yuè qiáng de diàn pù ， suǒ dā de jiàn zhù yě yuè yǐn rén zhǔ mù 。
而通常”越强的店铺，所搭的建筑也越引人瞩目。
Just then, before his first step on the stairs, a female cultivator on his left whispered: "Brother, it’s just an Incubation Core stage cultivator. We receive many Incubation Core stage visitors; why be so respectful?"
cǐ shí lín xuān jiù zhàn zài yī gāo dá shí yú zhàng de jiàn zhù miàn qián 。
此时林轩就站在一高达十余丈的建筑面前。
It was understandable that she didn't understand. While her opponent's cultivation level was higher, to the owner of Tian Yuan Pavilion, this wasn't significant. As his subordinates, they shouldn’t have been so deferential.
jū rán fēn liù céng zhī duō ， ér qiě shì cún mù zhì jié gòu de ” bù guò xiǎn rán yòng le fǎ shù zuò wéi jiā gù ， zhěng dòng jiàn zhù xiǎn de dà qì páng bó ， tiān yuán gé sān gè dà zì lóng fēi fèng wǔ 。
居然分六层之多，而且是存木制结构的”不过显然用了法术作为加固，整栋建筑显得大气磅礴，天元阁三个大字龙飞凤舞。
"Little sister, you don't know," ordinary Incubation Core stage cultivators couldn't casually produce thousands of high-grade crystal stones with a wave of their hand. Even Separation and Union stage veterans who could prove such generosity were few. So if I'm not mistaken, the other party is an advanced Separation and Union stage cultivator with considerable status."
lín xuān háo bù yóu yù de zǒu jìn qù le 。
林轩毫不犹豫的走进去了。
"What?"
lǐ miàn de gù kè yě hěn duō ， yǒu de zài pǐn jiàn bǎo wù ， yǒu de zé zhèng mái tóu tiāo xuǎn zhe ， hái yǒu tǎo jià huán jià de shēng yīn bù tíng chuán rù ěr duǒ ” zhěng gè dà tīng de bǎi shè suī rán dà qì gǔ piáo ， dàn què cáo zá dé gèng cài shì chǎng chà bu duō 。
里面的顾客也很多，有的在品鉴宝物，有的则正埋头挑选着，还有讨价还价的声音不停传入耳朵”整个大厅的摆设虽然大气古朴，但却嘈杂得更菜市场差不多。
The female cultivator was taken aback but then nodded thoughtfully. Her brother's analysis made sense. For them, offending Incubation Core stage cultivators wasn't a big deal, but Separation and Union stage was beyond their reach.
lín xuān méi tou yí zhòu ” háo bù yóu yù de zǒu xiàng le èr lóu 。
林轩眉头一皱”毫不犹豫的走向了二楼。
Though it was speculation, showing respect couldn’t hurt. Even if the assessment was incorrect, there was no harm in being polite. As an old saying went, "too much courtesy never hurts."
qíng xíng yě chà bu duō ， suí hòu tā jì xù shí jiē ér shàng ……
情形也差不多，随后他继续拾阶而上……
Their conversation was transmitted telepathically, but Lin Xuan's divine sense was too powerful, so he heard every word clearly.
bā bǎi nián de xiū liàn shēng yá ， fāng shì lín xuān zì rán shì guàng guò wú shù cì ， méi yǒu xiū shì néng gòu yí gè rén bì guān jiù dé dào chéng xiān ， zǒng yào yǔ qí tā xiū xiān zhě hù tōng yǒu wú ， xiū wèi cái néng zhú jiàn jìn bù 。
八百年的修炼生涯，坊市林轩自然是逛过无数次，没有修士能够一个人闭关就得道成仙，总要与其他修仙者互通有无，修为才能逐渐进步。
He didn't mind that his identity had been discovered; a Condensation Core stage cultivator with such depth of character was commendable. He shook his head and continued up the stairs to the sixth floor.
mǎi mài dōng xī ， shì rèn hé yí gè xiū xiān zhě yě wú fǎ bì miǎn de ， ér lín xuān de jīng yàn fēi cháng fēng fù ” xiàng zhè zhǒng gé lóu ， yì bān shì céng shù yuè gāo ， yuè yǒu hǎo de fǎ bǎo 。
买卖东西，是任何一个修仙者也无法避免的，而林轩的经验非常丰富”像这种阁楼，一般是层数越高，越有好的法宝。
The area here was much smaller than the previous five levels but elegantly decorated, with soft music playing.
guǒ rán ， zài shàng le wǔ céng yǐ hòu ” jiù zhú jiàn qīng jìng xià lái 。
果然，在上了五层以后”就逐渐清净下来。
"Another senior has arrived, please take a seat."
rán ér zài wǎng shàng zǒu ， lín xuān què bèi liǎng míng xiū shì gěi lán zhù ， liǎng gè dōu shì níng dān hòu qī ” yī nán yī nǚ ， qí zhōng nà míng nán zi xiàng lín xuān bào quán xíng yī lǐ ：“ duì bù qǐ qián bèi ， wǔ céng yǐ shàng de huò wù ” dōu shì jià gé bù fēi de ， wèi le bì miǎn xián zá rén děng jìn rù ， běn lóu yǒu yí gè guī jǔ ， bì xū tí gōng shēn jiā zhèng míng ， fēi yōng yǒu bā bǎi wàn jīng shí de kè rén ， shì bù néng zài wǎng shàng zǒu dì 。”
然而再往上走，林轩却被两名修士给拦住，两个都是凝丹后期”一男一女，其中那名男子像林轩抱拳行一礼：“对不起前辈，五层以上的货物”都是价格不菲的，为了避免闲杂人等进入，本楼有一个规矩，必须提供身家证明，非拥有八百万晶石的客人，是不能再往上走地。”
A pleasant greeting caught Lin Xuan's attention as he saw an elderly man and a scholar sitting at a table, surrounded by various delicacies. The hall was filled with beautiful maids singing and dancing while musicians played in the background.
“ ó ？”， lín xuān lüè gǎn chà yì ， zhè yàng de guī jǔ ， tā jiàn dào hái shì dì yī cì ， bù guò zhè yàng de ān pái méi cuò ， guài bù dé liù céng yī xià zi jiù ān jìng xià lái le 。
“哦？”，林轩略感诧异，这样的规矩，他见到还是第一次，不过这样的安排没错，怪不得六层一下子就安静下来了。
For a moment, Lin Xuan thought he had gone to the wrong place; this seemed like both a treasure market and a banquet.
bā bǎi wàn jīng shí zài bié rén yǎn lǐ ， huò xǔ shì bù fēi de shù zì ， dàn jiù lín xuān de qíng kuàng lái shuō ， bù guò shì máo máo yǔ ， tā zì rán bú huì jiè yì 。
八百万晶石在别人眼里，或许是不菲的数字，但就林轩的情况来说，不过是毛毛雨，他自然不会介意。
However, his gaze on the two cultivators revealed they were both at mid-Separation and Union stage. Interesting.
suǒ wèi rù xiāng suí sú ， qiáng bīn bù yā zhǔ ， tā jì rán shì lái mǎi dōng xī ， dāng rán bù hǎo huài le diàn jiā de guī jǔ 。
所谓入乡随俗，强宾不压主，他既然是来买东西，当然不好坏了店家的规矩。
Seeing more cultivators as he entered, Lin Xuan realized hiding his true strength was pointless. These young ones couldn't be offended, so he ate heartily, enjoying the feast despite being an adept at cultivating without food.
diǎn diǎn tóu ， lín xuān xiù páo yī fú ， yí gè xiǎo qiǎo de chǔ wù dài fēi lüè ér chū ：“ bā bǎi wàn jīng shí ， dào yǒu kàn kàn ， zhè lǐ miàn suǒ shèng zhī wù ， jià zhí kě zú gòu le ？”
点点头，林轩袖袍一拂，一个小巧的储物袋飞掠而出：“八百万晶石，道友看看，这里面所盛之物，价值可足够了？”
The Separation and Union stage cultivators exchanged glances but showed no interest in him. He was just a lowly Incubation Core stage disciple after all.
nà nán zi bù kàng bù bēi de cóng lín xuān shǒu lǐ jiē guò bǎo wù ” jiāng shén shí wǎng chǔ wù dài lǐ tàn chū ， suí hòu chà diǎn zāi le yí gè dà gēn tou 。
那男子不亢不卑的从林轩手里接过宝物”将神识往储物袋里探出，随后差点栽了一个大跟头。
However, as guests, they were served with respect. The maids led Lin Xuan to an empty table, each person having their own seat.
lǐ miàn wǔ yán liù sè ， quán shì liàng jīng jīng de dōng xī ， jiāng tā de yǎn jīng dōu gěi huǎng huā le 。
里面五颜六色，全是亮晶晶的东西，将他的眼睛都给晃huā了。
"Excuse me, sir," the young servant explained apologetically, "my lady has some urgent matters and will be delayed for a bit. Please wait here while enjoying the performances. You can purchase treasures only after my lady returns."
shàng pǐn ruò shí ， ér qiě yǒu shù qiān zhī duō 。
上品弱石，而且有数千之多。
"Oh, I see."
àn zhào yī bǐ yī wàn de duì huàn bǐ lì ” nà nán zi yě suàn jiàn shí guǎng bó ， dàn yī jiù hěn nán yù jiàn zhè me cái dà qì cū de rén wù 。
按照一比一万的兑换比例”那男子也算见识广博，但依旧很难遇见这么财大气粗的人物。
Lin Xuan waited patiently despite his eagerness to buy a flying magic artifact. He nodded and began eating heartily, as even cultivators could enjoy food.
yǒu qián néng shǐ guǐ tuī mò ， yōng yǒu zhè me dà yī bǐ cái fù de xiū xiān zhě ， jué bú shì jiǎn dān de rén wù ， xīn zhōng rú cǐ xiǎng zhe ， tā de biǎo qíng biàn dé gōng jìng yǐ jí ” shuāng shǒu jiāng chǔ wù dài ， pěng dào lín xuān de shēn cè ：“ gòu le gòu le ， qián bèi lǐ miàn qǐng ， xiǎo zi gāng cái duō yǒu shī lǐ zhī chù ， hái qǐng nín qiān wàn bú yào jiè yì de 。”
有钱能使鬼推磨，拥有这么大一笔财富的修仙者，绝不是简单的人物，心中如此想着，他的表情变得恭敬以极”双手将储物袋，捧到林轩的身侧：“够了够了，前辈里面请，小子刚才多有失礼之处，还请您千万不要介意的。”
The two Separation and Union stage cultivators cast sidelong glances but Lin Xuan paid them no mind; he ate his own meal!
Unlike his initial expectations, the market was not as crowded with cultivators as he had imagined. However, it was still significantly busier than he had anticipated, at least several times more so.
Most people were bustling about hurriedly, and Lin Xuan even saw a couple of Separation and Union stage cultivators hawking their wares. The calls for attention never ceased.
"Come take a look! This is a bone spear made from a transformed monster crocodile, with unparalleled power that can match the top-grade ancient treasures. Hurry if you want to buy it; you'll regret missing out."
"And this shield crafted from millennium-old ancient crystal sand," even at Separation and Union stage, one strike could block such treasure items.
These calls drew Lin Xuan's attention as well. He knew that treasures were not like ordinary goods. Even in the Spirit Realm market, only large shops had such valuable items; seeing them sold on stalls was a novelty for him.
His gaze swept over the offerings but he found they weren't spirit artifacts. The quality of these two treasures wasn't worth mentioning and their sellers seemed to be exaggerating.
Nevertheless, it was still rare to find decent-quality treasures here. After wandering around, Lin Xuan did indeed discover several items with good qualities on the stalls—though they were not for his taste as a cultivator.
As the saying goes, "a storm is brewing," and with the looming conflict between humans and sea creatures, people's minds were unsettled. Everyone felt like they were living in a time of constant danger.
In such circumstances, different individuals made different choices. Major sects and families urgently needed supplies, talismans, magic artifacts, medicinal pills, and various materials—basically anything related to cultivation became scarce. Stocking up on these items could enhance their power.
While stalls occasionally yielded treasures, they were rare and unpredictable, much like waiting by a tree for a rabbit. For real quality items, one had to rely on reputable shops. And typically, the stronger the shop, the more prominent its building.
Standing before a towering structure over ten meters high, Lin Xuan saw it was divided into six levels, made of wooden structures reinforced with magic. The three large characters "Tian Yuan Pavilion" were written in flowing script.
Without hesitation, he entered. Inside, many customers were present—some appraising treasures, others carefully selecting items, and the occasional haggling. Despite its grand and ancient appearance, it was as noisy as a bustling market.
Lin Xuan frowned and headed straight to the second floor. The scene there was similar, so he continued climbing...
Eight hundred years of cultivation had made Lin Xuan familiar with markets; no cultivator could achieve enlightenment in isolation. Interacting with others was necessary for progress.
Buying and selling were inevitable for any cultivator, and Lin Xuan's experience was extensive. Generally, the higher the floor, the better the treasures.
Indeed, after ascending to the fifth level, it became quieter. However, on his way up, two cultivators stopped him. Both were at late Condensation Core stage; one male and one female. The man greeted Lin Xuan with a bow: "Excuse me, sir. Goods above the fifth floor are of high value. To avoid unauthorized access, this building has a rule requiring proof of identity for guests with less than eight million crystal stones."
"Oh?" Lin Xuan was slightly surprised by such rules but understood their logic. The silence on the sixth floor made sense now.
Eight million crystal stones might be significant to others, but to Lin Xuan, it was just a drop in the bucket. He wasn't bothered.
Following local customs, he didn't want to disrupt the shop's rules. He nodded and flicked his sleeve, sending out a small storage bag: "Here are eight million crystal stones. Please check if they're sufficient."
The man took the item from Lin Xuan without hesitation, probing it with his divine sense. His eyes nearly popped out of his head.
Inside were countless colorful crystals, dazzling to the eye. They were high-grade weak stones in large quantities.
At a one-to-ten exchange rate, this man was well-traveled but still found such wealth rare. Money could make even ghosts move, and owning such a fortune indicated he wasn't an ordinary cultivator. His expression turned extremely respectful as he handed the bag to Lin Xuan: "That's enough, sir. Please come in. I apologize for any rudeness earlier."
Lin Xuan took the bag and walked inside confidently.
Just then, before his first step on the stairs, a female cultivator on his left whispered: "Brother, it’s just an Incubation Core stage cultivator. We receive many Incubation Core stage visitors; why be so respectful?"
It was understandable that she didn't understand. While her opponent's cultivation level was higher, to the owner of Tian Yuan Pavilion, this wasn't significant. As his subordinates, they shouldn’t have been so deferential.
"Little sister, you don't know," ordinary Incubation Core stage cultivators couldn't casually produce thousands of high-grade crystal stones with a wave of their hand. Even Separation and Union stage veterans who could prove such generosity were few. So if I'm not mistaken, the other party is an advanced Separation and Union stage cultivator with considerable status."
"What?"
The female cultivator was taken aback but then nodded thoughtfully. Her brother's analysis made sense. For them, offending Incubation Core stage cultivators wasn't a big deal, but Separation and Union stage was beyond their reach.
Though it was speculation, showing respect couldn’t hurt. Even if the assessment was incorrect, there was no harm in being polite. As an old saying went, "too much courtesy never hurts."
Their conversation was transmitted telepathically, but Lin Xuan's divine sense was too powerful, so he heard every word clearly.
He didn't mind that his identity had been discovered; a Condensation Core stage cultivator with such depth of character was commendable. He shook his head and continued up the stairs to the sixth floor.
The area here was much smaller than the previous five levels but elegantly decorated, with soft music playing.
"Another senior has arrived, please take a seat."
A pleasant greeting caught Lin Xuan's attention as he saw an elderly man and a scholar sitting at a table, surrounded by various delicacies. The hall was filled with beautiful maids singing and dancing while musicians played in the background.
For a moment, Lin Xuan thought he had gone to the wrong place; this seemed like both a treasure market and a banquet.
However, his gaze on the two cultivators revealed they were both at mid-Separation and Union stage. Interesting.
Seeing more cultivators as he entered, Lin Xuan realized hiding his true strength was pointless. These young ones couldn't be offended, so he ate heartily, enjoying the feast despite being an adept at cultivating without food.
The Separation and Union stage cultivators exchanged glances but showed no interest in him. He was just a lowly Incubation Core stage disciple after all.
However, as guests, they were served with respect. The maids led Lin Xuan to an empty table, each person having their own seat.
"Excuse me, sir," the young servant explained apologetically, "my lady has some urgent matters and will be delayed for a bit. Please wait here while enjoying the performances. You can purchase treasures only after my lady returns."
"Oh, I see."
Lin Xuan waited patiently despite his eagerness to buy a flying magic artifact. He nodded and began eating heartily, as even cultivators could enjoy food.
The two Separation and Union stage cultivators cast sidelong glances but Lin Xuan paid them no mind; he ate his own meal!