235: Tianque Pavilion

In a place like the Void Black Market, where day and night do not alternate, the passage of time often becomes blurred.

But in the following days, Su Lin's perception of time was exceptionally clear; it was an ordeal measured in seconds.

Ever since he distributed the gifts that day, his disciples seemed to have been injected with a stimulant, while simultaneously flipping a strange 'virtuous housewife' switch.

Inside the small Secret Realm of the Wuyou Inn, a grand drama played out every day.

In the early morning, as soon as Su Lin opened his eyes, he would see five stunningly beautiful faces surrounding him in a circle, staring at him with the gaze of hungry wolves looking at meat.

The washing water was melted from Dawn Ice Dew by Mu Qingxue, with the temperature held constant at the most comfortable range.

The tooth powder was specially made by Chu Weiwei; although his mouth had a strange taste after every brushing, his teeth were indeed whiter.

The clothes were personally ironed by Han Yue, and even the curvature of the folds exuded imperial majesty.

Breakfast consisted of various rare and exotic beast meats caught from the depths of the void by Su Hongling; although their appearance was sometimes hideous, the taste was indeed excellent.

As for Luo Ximei... she was responsible for being handsy while he dressed, under the pretext of tidying his appearance.

Su Lin was in a state of painful bliss—or rather, the pain outweighed the bliss.

Because he had to be constantly on guard against whether these few would suddenly lash out and tie him up for 'in-depth communication.'

Fortunately, such days finally came to an end.

The seventh day.

The Void Black Market had no so-called dawn, but at this moment, the atmosphere of the entire meteorite cluster suddenly changed.

A low tolling of a bell resonated directly in the depths of every living being's Sea of Consciousness.

Ye You, who was peeling grapes for Su Lin, paused her movements and abruptly looked up, her dark green vertical pupils staring out the window.

“It's here.”

She tossed the grape aside, licked her lips with the tip of her tongue, and a flash of excitement flickered in her eyes.

“That scent that is both loathsome and anticipated... it's the scent of treasures.”

Su Lin stood up, pushed away Luo Ximei who was trying to lean in, and walked to the edge of the terrace.

In the very center of the meteorite cluster, within that originally empty dark void, violent ripples suddenly surged.

Those were no ordinary spatial fluctuations.

It was the sign of some gargantuan object forcibly squeezing into this dimension.

Space shattered like a mirror, revealing the brilliant and chaotic space-time turbulence behind it.

A giant pavilion, so magnificent it took one's breath away, slowly sailed out from within that turbulence.

This pavilion was not a static building; it was like a giant ship sailing through the myriad worlds.

Its entire body was forged from an unknown dark-gold metal, its surface covered in runes that flickered in and out of brightness.

It was too massive.

Ninety-nine stories high, it towered into the depths of the void, each floor resembling an independent mountain Peak.

At the very top of the pavilion hung a massive plaque, upon which three bold, sweeping characters were written:

【Tianque Pavilion】.

“What a grand undertaking.”

A sharp light flashed in Su Lin's eyes.

“This wasn't a Magic Treasure refined in this realm at all; it's a massive fragment fallen from the Immortal Realm, refined by someone into this mobile trading ground.”

“A fragment of the Immortal Realm?”

Han Yue walked to Su Lin's side, her purple robes fluttering, her temperament elegant and dignified.

“No wonder I feel a pressure that transcends the Imperial Dao. The person who can command such a treasure is likely not simple.”

“More than just not simple.”

Luo Ximei narrowed her heterochromatic eyes, platinum light flowing within them.

“This Venerable One... senses several loathsome auras inside.

Tribulation Transcendence Stage... and more than one.”

“Who cares how many there are!”

Su Hongling shouldered the great sword 【no edge】 and cracked her neck, making a series of popping sounds.

“As long as there's good stuff, even if the shop is run by the Heavenly King himself, I'll smash it... cough, buy it!”

After being glared at by Su Lin, she quickly changed her tune.

“Let's go.”

Su Lin tidied his purple dharma robe, regaining that indifferent and demonic temperament.

“Don't forget our identities.”

“Also, once inside, restrain yourselves. Don't act like country bumpkins who have never seen the world, and especially don't start shouting about killing at every turn.”

“We know~”

...The distance from the 【Wuyou Inn】 to the 【Tianque Pavilion】 was not far.

But at this moment, this path through the void was crowded with people.

Countless streaks of light rose from meteorites in all directions, swarming toward that magnificent pavilion like a school of carp crossing a river.

Among these people were ghost Cultivators wrapped in black robes, Yao Race riding exotic beasts, Human Race Cultivators treading on Flying Swords, and even some bizarre creatures.

Even the weakest among them radiated an aura of the Soul Transformation Stage.

And Body Integration Stage experts were everywhere to be seen here.

This was the true foundation of the Void Black Market.

It was a collection of the dark side of the entire cultivation world, and a gold-consuming den for all outlaws and powerhouses.

Su Lin's group was in no hurry to snatch a position.

They flew through the air at an unhurried pace.

But even so, they remained the most eye-catching presence.

Whether it was Su Lin's unfathomable temperament or the five peerless and uniquely featured maids behind him, they were enough to make anyone look twice.

“Who is that man? What a powerful presence!”

“Never seen him... judging by his dress, he seems to be from the Demonic Path.”

“Shh! Don't stare! Look at that woman in red behind him... that door-sized board on her shoulder... it seems to be stained with blood! That blood's aura... it's from a Body Integration Stage Yao Beast!”

“And that woman in white, so cold... I just glanced at her, and my Divine Soul almost froze!”

The surrounding Cultivators all moved aside, fearing they would bring trouble upon themselves.

Su Lin ignored this and flew straight toward the main gate of Tianque Pavilion.

The gate was a hundred zhang high, with two rows of guards in golden armor standing on either side.

These guards were not living people but lifeless Puppets, yet the fluctuations emitted by each Puppet were actually at the Peak of the Void Refining stage!

“This is what I call a foundation.”

Chu Weiwei looked at those Puppets, her eyes shining as she whispered to herself.

“If only I could take one apart to study it...”

“Don't do anything reckless,” Su Lin warned in a low voice. “These Puppets are connected to a grand Formation; touch one and you affect the whole.”

They arrived at the entrance.

A middle-aged Cultivator who appeared to be a manager came forward to meet them.

This man had a kind and benevolent face, but his eyes were sharp and radiant, and his cultivation was impressively at the Early Stage of Body Integration.

“Seniors, welcome to Tianque Pavilion.”

The manager cupped his hands, his gaze sweeping over Su Lin and the others, his heart secretly alarmed.

He had mingled in this black market for hundreds of years and had developed a pair of discerning eyes.

Although he could not see through the cultivation of the purple-robed youth before him, that calm and unhurried demeanor was definitely not that of a Mortal.

And the five women behind him... each was more terrifying than the last!

Especially that woman with heterochromatic eyes and the red-clothed girl; they gave him a lethal sense of threat, as if he could be torn apart at any moment.

“May I ask if you have an invitation, Seniors?” the manager asked respectfully.

“No.”

Su Lin said indifferently.

“However...”

He gave a casual wave of his hand.

“Clang!”

A black medallion was tossed into the manager's hand.

This was the medallion he had taken from Myriad Corpse True Person; at the time, Su Lin felt it would be very useful, and it was perfect to take out now to try it.

“Inside are fifty million Top-Grade Spirit Stones as a deposit.”

“I want the best private box.”

The manager took the medallion and looked at it, his expression changing slightly. When he saw the Storage Pouch, his hands even trembled a bit.

Fifty million Top-Grade Spirit Stones!

This was a massive sum!

The manager immediately put on an even more fawning smile; no matter where you were, money made you the boss.

“Seniors, this way! The Heaven-Grade Number One box on the top floor happens to be vacant!”

“Lead the way.”

...The interior of Tianque Pavilion was vast, utilizing the technique of 'Sumeru in a Mustard Seed.'

The first floor was the main hall, packed with thousands of Cultivators.

Above were layers of private boxes, becoming more prestigious the higher they went.

Under the manager's guidance, Su Lin's group went directly to the ninetieth floor.

There were only three boxes here.

Heaven-Grade Number One, Two, and Three.

Each box occupied an enormous space and was incredibly luxurious inside, not only with dedicated maids to serve but also independent defensive Formations and Restrictions to isolate Divine Sense.

Su Lin and the others entered the Heaven-Grade Number One box.

The interior was practically a small palace, the floor covered with the fur of ten-thousand-year-old snow foxes, and the tables laid with spirit fruits and immortal brews gathered from various worlds.

The front was a massive transparent crystal wall, through which the auction stage below could be clearly seen, while those outside could not see in.

“It's passable.”

Han Yue looked around and gave her evaluation. “A bit inferior to my own palace, but in this wilderness, it's considered rare.”

“Revered Master, please sit.”

Luo Ximei attentively assisted Su Lin into the wide beast-hide chair, then naturally knelt by his legs and began to... massage them.

“You've walked for so long, your legs must be sore, right? This servant will loosen them for you.”

“I'll do the shoulders!”

Su Hongling rushed to the back, her two large hands pressing onto Su Lin's shoulders.

“Be gentle!” Su Lin's eyelids twitched.

“Don't worry, I'm holding back my strength. I guarantee I won't crush your bones!”

Chu Weiwei occupied the other side, holding a cup of spirit wine and feeding it to Su Lin's lips with a smile.

“Revered Master, try this. It's not poisoned, really.”

Mu Qingxue stood by the window, guarding like an ice sculpture, her cold eyes scanning the venue below.

Ye You... Ye You squatted on the table, gnawing on a spirit fruit, her tail swaying behind her.

“Revered Master, there seems to be someone next door.”

Ye You suddenly stopped her movements, her ears twitching.

“Box number two, the aura is very strong.”

“Ignore them.”

Su Lin closed his eyes, enjoying his disciples' service.

“We are here to buy things, not to fight.”

“As long as they don't provoke us, let them be.”

“But...”

Luo Ximei looked up, a hint of playfulness flashing in her heterochromatic eye.

“I sense a very loathsome aura... like... those hypocrites of the Righteous Path.”

“Righteous Path?”

Su Lin opened his eyes.

“People of the Righteous Path would come to the black market too?”

“Not only did they come, but they are also big fish.”

Luo Ximei licked her lips.

“If I haven't sensed wrongly... it should be people from the 【Orthodox Dwelling Sect】.”

Orthodox Dwelling Sect.

Composed of the five top Sects, it aimed to maintain the order of the Heavenly Dao, but in reality, it was a behemoth that controlled the resources of the cultivation world.

Su Lin's eyes flickered slightly, but he said nothing, only closing his eyes again... time passed.

The auction hall below gradually filled with people.

The clamor rose and fell, various powerful auras intertwining.

A clear tolling of a bell suppressed all the noise.

In the center of the auction stage, a pillar of light descended.

From the pillar of light walked out a hunched Old Man wearing a grey cloth shirt.

He looked ordinary, like a Mortal schoolteacher, even holding a dry tobacco pipe in his hand.

But as soon as he appeared, the entire venue instantly became silent.

Even the powerful auras in boxes two and three were restrained somewhat.

Because the fluctuations emitted by this Old Man were at the... Tribulation Transcendence Stage!

And it was the Late Stage of Tribulation Transcendence!

He was only one final Heavenly Tribulation away from Ascension to the Immortal Realm!

“It's Old Ancestor Cang Ming!”

Someone whispered in shock.

“Heavens, he is actually presiding over it himself! This is an old monster who has lived for five thousand years!”

“It seems the items in this auction... are extraordinary!”

Old Ancestor Cang Ming took two puffs of his pipe, exhaled a smoke ring, and scanned the entire venue with his cloudy old eyes.

“Ahem.”

He coughed twice; the sound was not loud, yet it echoed clearly in everyone's ears.

“Fellow Daoists, I hope you have been well.”

“My old bones originally didn't want to move about.

But this time there are too many good things, and I was afraid the people below couldn't keep things under control, so I had to personally show my face.”

He spoke with a smile, his tone amiable.

“Everyone knows the rules.”

“The highest bidder wins.”

“If anyone dares to cause trouble here...”

He tapped his pipe, knocking out the ashes inside.

“Then don't blame this Old Man... for stuffing him into this void rift to serve as fertilizer.”

Although those last words were still spoken with a smile, the killing intent within them made everyone present involuntarily shudder.

“Alright, enough nonsense.”

Old Ancestor Cang Ming waved his hand.

“Let the auction begin!”

...The auction officially started.

The first item ignited the entire venue.

“The first item: an inner dan from the ancient exotic beast, the 【Heaven-Swallowing Toad】!

This dan contains the Space Law and can be used to refine storage Magic Treasures, or... help Cultivators who Cultivate spatial Divine Abilities to break through their Bottlenecks!”

“Starting price: five million High-Grade Spirit Stones!”

“Six million!”

“Seven million!”

Bidding voices rose one after another.

Su Lin was not interested in this.

With his current spatial attainment, he no longer needed such external items for assistance.

The next few auction items were also rare treasures.

There were ten-thousand-year-old Spirit Medicines, fragments of Top-Grade Magic Treasures, and even a lost Demonic Path Cultivation Technique.

But Su Lin never made a move.

He was waiting.

Waiting for the thing he needed.

“Revered Master, why aren't you buying anything yet?”

Su Hongling looked at the lively scene below, unable to sit still.

“That big hammer looks pretty good! Buy it for me to crack walnuts, okay?”

“That is the 【Earth-Shattering Hammer】, a High Grade Spiritual Artifact, and you want to use it to crack walnuts?” Su Lin was speechless.

“Is that not allowed? It's not as heavy as my sword anyway.”

“Watch quietly.”

After an unknown amount of time.

Old Ancestor Cang Ming stepped to the front of the stage again, his expression becoming slightly more solemn.

“The next auction item is somewhat special.”

He waved his hand, and two strongmen carried up a cage covered with a black cloth.

The black cloth was pulled away.

Inside the cage was a young girl.

Her skin was so pale it was almost transparent, and her eyes were pure gold, without any Impurities, yet filled with hollowness and indifference.

She had no spiritual energy fluctuations, just like a Mortal.

But the high-level Cultivators present could all feel that she radiated an extremely special aura.

It was an aura that was completely out of place with the Laws of heaven and earth.

“This is...”

Su Lin suddenly sat up straight, a flash of shock in his eyes.

“What is this?” Su Hongling asked curiously.

“A Natural Dao Fetus?” Mu Qingxue frowned.

“No.”

Su Lin stared fixedly at the little girl.

“This is a 【world spirit】.”

“The Incarnation of a Small World.”

Old Ancestor Cang Ming's voice rang out at the right moment:

“This was captured by a Fellow Daoist within a Small World that was about to collapse.”

“She is the final aggregate of that world's will.”

“Possessing her is equivalent to possessing the Law fragments of a world.”