818: Preparations before crossing the border

Cries of hawkers, sounds of bargaining, the neighing of Spirit Beasts, the whistling of Magic Treasures cutting through the air, the music of string and wind instruments from restaurants, and the shouting of Cultivators playing drinking games... all sorts of sounds mixed together, forming a grand symphony full of worldly atmosphere and vigorous vitality!

The air was filled with complex scents: the tempting aroma of freshly cooked spiritual food, the refreshing fragrance of top-tier Medicinal Pills, the herbal scent emitted by spiritual materials, and even the unique odors of certain alien races... all interwoven into a unique "lively atmosphere" belonging to the Sleepless City.

Qiong Shuang looked on, dazzled, her small mouth slightly agape as she kept pulling at Yao Delong's sleeve: "Big brother! That! That glowing big bird! It smells so good! And that building! So beautiful! And that..."

Although Yao Delong was well-traveled and knowledgeable, he had to admit that the prosperity of this Sleepless City far exceeded his previous imagination. His purpose for this trip was very clear.

"Qiong Shuang, restrain yourself a bit." Yao Delong patted the excited little foodie, "Let's take care of business first."

He led Qiong Shuang through the surging crowd with a clear goal, heading straight for the White Cloud Merchant Guild located in the most prosperous core commercial district. Soon, a magnificent nine-story pavilion, built entirely of pure white jade and emitting a soft, holy light, appeared before them, with a giant "Cloud" signboard hanging from its eaves. The pavilion's Aura was grand, and the area in front of its gates was bustling with traffic. The Cultivators entering and leaving were either wealthy or noble, highlighting the White Cloud Merchant Guild's transcendent status in this place.

Yao Delong led Qiong Shuang straight toward the main gate of the guild. Two beautiful maids at the entrance, dressed in elegant skirts with white cloud patterns and having reached the Golden Core Stage, immediately noticed these two extraordinary guests. Especially Yao Delong's unfathomable Aura and the faint pressure of a high-level Yao Race emanating from Qiong Shuang's stunning appearance made their hearts tighten, and they dared not be negligent in the slightest.

"Welcome to the White Cloud Merchant Guild, honored guests!" One of the maids immediately stepped forward, a professional sweet smile on her face and a crisp, pleasant voice. "May I ask what the two honored guests need? Our guild has everything: Magic Treasures, Medicinal Pills, Cultivation Techniques, Formation Plates, news of Secret Realms, and even special employment services..."

The maid introduced enthusiastically as she led the two into the spacious, bright guild hall filled with Spiritual Qi. The interior of the hall was even more luxurious and grand, with a dazzling array of rare treasures, the spiritual light of Formations flickering, and attendants bustling back and forth.

Yao Delong had no interest in listening to this and spoke directly, his voice flat yet carrying an unquestionable authority: "Call your Manager over."

The maid was slightly stunned upon hearing this. Asking for the Manager right away? Such a tone... Although she had doubts, the other party's unfathomable Aura and the faint pressure brought by the stunning transformed female Yao Race beside him made her immediately suppress her doubts. Having a keen eye was a must for a maid in a core location. She immediately said respectfully, "Yes, honored guests, please wait a moment. This servant will go and invite the Manager!"

After speaking, she turned and walked quickly toward the inner hall.

Before long, a middle-aged Manager in a brocade robe with a shrewd face and a cultivation base at the Late Nascent Soul Stage hurried over. As soon as he stepped into the hall, his eyes swept over Yao Delong and Qiong Shuang, and his pupils slightly constricted! With his Late Nascent Soul Stage cultivation, he could not see through the young man's depth at all, only feeling that the other party's Aura was as deep as the sea and unfathomable! And the pressure of a high-level Yao Race on the white-haired woman made his heart tremble even more! She was definitely a Great Demon above the Soul Transformation Stage!

The smile on the middle-aged Manager's face instantly became incredibly warm and respectful as he stepped forward quickly. "I am Liu Quan, the Manager of the White Cloud Merchant Guild's Sleepless City branch. Greetings to the two honored guests! May I know what brings you here? Our guild will certainly serve you with all our heart!"

Yao Delong nodded slightly and, without wasting words, swiped his finger over his Storage Ring. A palm-sized token, neither metal nor jade, with mysterious purple gold cloud pattern token brilliance flowing through it and natural cloud-like patterns faintly condensing on the surface, appeared in his hand.

The moment the token appeared, an indescribable Aura of nobility and antiquity, as if representing some supreme authority, quietly spread out!

The moment Manager Liu Quan's gaze touched this token, he felt as if he had been struck by heavenly lightning!

"The pur... purple gold cloud pattern token?!!!"

He cried out in shock, his voice changing pitch! The respect on his face instantly turned into extreme shock and disbelief! He even subconsciously took half a step back, his eyes wide as he stared intently at the token as if he had seen something incredible!

As a branch Manager of the White Cloud Merchant Guild in a major border town, he naturally recognized this legendary supreme token! It was personally issued by the core high-level members of the guild headquarters, representing the highest level of friendship and authority! In the entire Ba Xia Dynasty, the number of people who possessed this token, as far as he knew, definitely did not exceed ten! Every single one of them was a Sect Master or Grand Elder of the Yin Yang Sect or Moyang Sect, or a hidden giant-level old monster within the Dynasty!

This young-looking man actually held a purple gold cloud pattern token?! Who on earth was he?!

The massive shock made Liu Quan's head buzz, but he reacted extremely quickly. Almost instantly, his shocked face transformed into a nearly fawning awe tinged with a hint of trepidation! He bowed even lower, his posture becoming more humble than ever before!

"Hon... Honored guest! Please forgive my lack of discernment! I have been negligent! Negligent!" Liu Quan's voice trembled slightly. "This place is noisy and not suitable for conversation! Please! Please follow me to the Heaven-grade private room! Allow me to serve spiritual tea and listen carefully to your instructions!"

He didn't dare ask "What do you need" again; for a guest with a purple gold cloud pattern token, all needs were of the highest priority! The only thing he was thinking about now was how to satisfy this lord!

This scene was also noticed by some sharp-eyed customers in the hall.

"Hiss... What kind of token is that? I've never seen the White Cloud Merchant Guild have a token of that color?" An Early Nascent Soul Stage Loose Cultivator whispered in surprise.

A middle-aged Cultivator next to him, who seemed somewhat knowledgeable, gasped and lowered his voice, speaking with immense awe: "Hmph, you're ill-informed! That is the White Cloud Merchant Guild's purple gold cloud pattern token! It's said to be one level higher than the highest-grade Golden Cloud Token! It's a symbol of status!"

Anyone holding this token is almost equivalent to a core Elder within the guild's scope! Not to mention discounts on purchases, they can even mobilize some of the guild's resources, seek protection, or even have the guild gather intelligence and handle trouble for them... As long as it's within the guild's capabilities, almost anything is granted! In the entire Ba Xia Dynasty, there are definitely no more than ten people with this token! They are all giants who can make the Dynasty tremble just by stomping their feet!"

"Hiss—!" Everyone around who heard this gasped, looking at the backs of Yao Delong's pair as they disappeared into the inner hall passage, filled with extreme shock and curiosity.

The Heaven-grade private room was located on the top floor of the White Cloud Merchant Guild. It was extremely luxurious, with Spiritual Qi so dense it almost liquefied, and it was protected by a powerful isolation Formation. Liu Quan personally served the highest-grade spiritual tea, maintaining an extremely low posture: "Honored guest, please give your orders! Whatever the guild can do, we will do without hesitation!"