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第九十八章 海龙阁

Lin Xuan was surprised, but his face remained calm. As soon as he entered the market district, a young man approached him with respect: "Greeting Master Immortal!"

"Ah," Lin Xuan nodded.

"May I ask if you are looking for materials, pills, or talismans?"

Lin Xuan was taken aback: "Do you have all of these?"

"Certainly," the youth nodded. A trace of pride flashed across his face, but he remained respectful as he said, "Our Sea Dragon Pavilion is the largest in a thousand miles around. Although we may not have everything that Foundation Establishment and Flexible Spirit period cultivators need, most can be found here."

Such a bold claim caught Lin Xuan's attention, but it also brought him some joy. This was indeed something Yanzhou could not match. He pondered for a moment: "Can you take me to the largest shop selling alchemical materials?"

"Of course," the youth led Lin Xuan through various pavilions and corridors until they arrived at an ornately decorated building.

Technically, the entire market district was one large structure, but it was made up of countless buildings, each a masterpiece of craftsmanship.

However, this particular pavilion stood out as the most grandiose among them, with a large sign hanging above: "Sea Dragon Pavilion."

It was clear that this must be Sea Dragon Sect's own business.

"Master Immortal, please!"

Upon entering, Lin Xuan was startled by the array of talismans and spiritual artifacts displayed behind the counter. He estimated there were over ten pieces of spiritual artifacts on display, though most were lower-grade. Their casual placement still amazed him.

A fat man who looked like a shopkeeper approached with a bow: "Friend Daoist, are you an outsider cultivator just arrived from Yanzhou?"

Lin Xuan felt wary upon hearing this. How did the other party know his background? Although he knew that Fire Spirit Sect's influence could not reach here, he discreetly gathered his spiritual energy.

"Haha, there's no need to be nervous," the man said. "Only cultivators arriving from Yanzhou would find this surprising."

The fat man still wore a friendly expression. Lin Xuan remained calm and replied: "I am willing to hear more."

"Of course, I will tell you everything."

After about an incense stick's time, Lin Xuan relaxed his guard. The reason the other party could deduce his background was simply because of his initial expression upon entering.

Listening to the fat man, Lin Xuan realized that Yanzhou's cultivation level was even more backward than he had imagined. This lag wasn't just due to lower overall cultivation levels but also a lack of various cultivation materials.

For instance, in Yanzhou, only elite disciples and Foundation Establishment period cultivators generally possessed spiritual artifacts. However, in Youzhou, many Fourth Stage Flexible Spirit cultivators owned at least one, even if it was low-grade. This difference highlighted the disparity between their cultivation levels.

Thus, local Youzhou cultivators wouldn't be surprised to see so many spiritual artifacts on display for business, while Yanzhou cultivators would look astonished.

Lin Xuan nodded in understanding: "That makes sense."

It seems the information collected from Elder and his senior was incomplete. He must quickly learn about Youzhou to integrate into this cultivation world.

"By the way, what do you need here?" The shopkeeper was competent; he didn't treat Lin Xuan with disdain because of his origins in a remote area.

"Do you have any books on alchemy?"

"Talismans and pills," the fat man pondered. "Yes, there are some basic ones, but more advanced ones..."

"Basic ones will suffice."

Although it was for top-grade pills, Essence Cleansing Pills were merely low-level cultivation materials in the cultivation world. Moreover, secondary refinement was simpler than regular pill-making, so basic methods would be enough.

"Please wait a moment," the shopkeeper called a young boy and instructed him. The boy promptly left with a respectful expression.

"He will fetch the alchemy method you need. Do you have anything else in mind?"

"Do you have any Fire Talismans?"

The shopkeeper didn't seem surprised by Lin Xuan's request, instead showing understanding: "It appears you wish to refine pills. Our Fire Talisman is made by Foundation Establishment period experts of Sea Dragon Sect; it's both high-quality and affordable."

After viewing the samples, Lin Xuan felt delighted. The process was simpler than expected, thanks to Youzhou's higher cultivation level. The market district gathered various materials, allowing cultivators to exchange resources. In Yanzhou, finding such items would require much effort.

However, his joy didn't last long because Fire Talismans were extremely expensive, and the cost of refining pills was high. Fortunately, he had obtained many middle-grade spirit stones from Clear Spirit Immortal's storage bag after killing him. But after purchasing the Fire Talisman, Lin Xuan found himself with little left.

"By the way, do you want to refine a Middle-Grade Essence Cleansing Pill?"

Lin Xuan was taken aback: "How did you know?"

"Because your cultivation level is at the peak of Flexible Spirit stage, you must want to refine a Middle-Grade Essence Cleansing Pill to advance to Foundation Establishment."

Even with his composure, Lin Xuan nearly gasped. The reason was simple; only cultivators of the same realm could use Inner Vision to check each other's cultivation levels, but that was considered impolite in the cultivation world. He hadn't felt him using Inner Vision.

"Haha, there's no need to be surprised," the man said. "The old Inner Vision technique required active use to check one's cultivation level. But our improved version can automatically detect your cultivation level just by looking at you once you learn it. This method costs a hundred crystal stones; do you want to try?"

"A hundred crystal stones?" Lin Xuan's expression froze. It would be better to rob, but the cultivation level in Youzhou was impressive. The Inner Vision technique had been improved so much that one shouldn't underestimate its simplicity—it could have significant daily utility.

"Really?"

"Certainly. Our Sea Dragon Pavilion items may be a bit expensive, but their quality is guaranteed; we won't deceive fellow cultivators with fake goods."

Hearing the fat man's words, Lin Xuan smiled and increased his liking for him. The price was high, but as long as it was worth it: "Show me your Inner Vision technique."

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