888: Chapter 889 and more?

Stepping into the Treasure Pavilion, a dense wave of Spiritual Qi rushed over them, forming a stark contrast with the turbid air outside.

The first-floor lobby was spacious and bright, with transparent crystal counters displayed all around.

Inside lay various kinds of Spirit Medicine, Ore, and finished weapons, their quality clearly more than a cut above those at the roadside stalls.

"Now this is more like it." Mo Yu's gaze swept across the counters, and he nodded slightly.

"Those stalls outside have a thin Origin and coarse appearance; they simply can't compare to the goods here."

The five of them slowly walked around the counters, filtering through the resources one by one, specifically selecting top-tier resources that suited stabilizing a Heaven-Reaching Realm Foundation, nourishing the Dao body, and clearing Meridians.

Soon, they filtered out a large batch of high-quality Medicinal Pills and Origin Spiritual Plants.

The quantity was abundant, enough for the five of them to cultivate peacefully for a long time.

"Just these, then."

Fang Hanyu placed a stack of pill bottles and spiritual materials all onto the counter, stacking them neatly.

The Treasure Pavilion shopkeeper guarding the counter was a kind-faced middle-aged Cultivator at the fifth level of the Heaven-Reaching Realm. Having been stationed here year-round, he had met countless people and was highly experienced.

His gaze swept over the piled resources on the counter, quickly calculating the total price in his mind. His originally plain face instantly filled with a warm smile, and his eyes grew increasingly enthusiastic.

"You Senior Brothers have excellent taste; everything you've chosen is of the highest cost-performance ratio in our shop, and the best items for solidifying the Foundation and nurturing the Origin at the Early Stage of the Heaven-Reaching Realm."

The shopkeeper spoke briskly, smiling as he quoted the price:

"The original price of this batch of resources is 103,000 Low Grade Heavenly Stones. Since it is your first visit today, Senior Brothers..."

"...I will take it upon myself to round down the change for you. You only need to pay 100,000 Low Grade Heavenly Stones. Consider it a gesture of welcome from our shop!"

Having quoted the price, the shopkeeper looked at the five with a beaming smile, waiting for them to pay.

However, Xiao Ruobai stood in place without making any move to take out money.

He looked calmly at the counter shopkeeper, his voice steady: "Shopkeeper, we do indeed need this batch of resources."

"Could you please ask the Pavilion Master to come out for a meeting? I have an equivalent trade that I would like to discuss with the Pavilion Master in person."

As soon as these words were spoken, the entire lobby instantly fell silent.

The original low murmurs of discussion and the sounds of selecting resources all ceased.

The gazes of all the Cultivators focused squarely on Xiao Ruobai, their eyes filled with astonishment and disbelief.

Someone actually wanted to see the Pavilion Master of the Treasure Pavilion?

That the Treasure Pavilion could stand tall in the Huangyun Market for tens of thousands of years was not just due to its reputation for genuine goods.

But also because of the Pavilion Master's unfathomable background and methods.

Rumor had it that this Pavilion Master rarely made public appearances, yet no one dared to behave presumptuously in the Treasure Pavilion.

Even a True Disciple of the Tianyuan Sect could only honestly abide by the rules in the Treasure Pavilion.

Yet at this moment, an Inner Sect Disciple with a cultivation of only the first level of the Heaven-Reaching Realm actually opened his mouth to demand a meeting with the Pavilion Master?

The smile on the shopkeeper's face behind the counter stiffened slightly, and a trace of helplessness and displeasure flashed in his eyes.

Suppressing his impatience, he advised, "Senior Brother, although a transaction of 100,000 Low Grade Heavenly Stones is not small, it is still far from needing to disturb the Pavilion Master."

"If Senior Brother is temporarily short of Heavenly Stones, you can always reserve the resources first and retrieve them once you have gathered enough Spirit Stones. Why insist on seeing the Pavilion Master and make a fool of yourself?"

Xiao Ruobai's expression remained steady:

"For ordinary transactions, it is indeed unnecessary. But for my transaction, ordinary pricing methods do not apply; I can only discuss it with the Pavilion Master in person."

The shopkeeper frowned slightly, just about to decline once more.

Right at this moment, a cold, clear voice rang out clearly through the entire first-floor lobby.

"No matter."

"Let them come upstairs."

The entire lobby fell instantly silent.

The Pavilion Master actually agreed to see him?

Whispers rose one after another, and the gazes turned from initial doubt into curiosity and inquiry.

The shopkeeper behind the counter was stunned for a moment, and then the slight neglect on his face instantly vanished, replaced by a heartfelt solemnity.

He quickly bowed and made a gesturing motion to invite Xiao Ruobai and the other four, his posture extremely respectful.

"Senior Brothers, the Pavilion Master invites you. Please follow me upstairs."

Xiao Ruobai's expression showed no ripples at all. He nodded slightly and led the four of them side-by-side onto the spiritual elevator leading to the top floor.

Meanwhile, in a corner, a Disciple dressed in fine brocade silk instantly lost his casual, spectator-like indifference, which was replaced by a deep gloom.

He stared intently at the retreating backs of the five, a cold light flashing in his eyes, his thoughts unknown.

...

The ninth floor of the Treasure Pavilion, the top-floor quiet room.

This place completely cut off the noise from below. The spiritual wind was silent, the sandalwood incense was subdued, and the entire space exuded a cold, quiet aura that warned strangers to keep away.

There was not a hint of worldly bustle, only the transcendent demeanor of sitting high on the top floor and overlooking the market for tens of thousands of years.

By the window, a figure in white sat quietly.

Her plain white dress was extremely simple and light, yet it carried an innate nobility.

Her dark hair fell loosely, her profile cold and stunningly beautiful. Her eyes and brows were long and indifferent, lacking any softness or gentleness, leaving only the cold detachment and aloofness of someone long in a high position.

The Dao Rhyme around her body lay dormant deeply, not showing off, yet it invisibly projected an extremely powerful aura field.

When ordinary Cultivators stepped into this place, they would even subconsciously feel awe, not daring to look up directly.

The moment the five stepped into the quiet room, the woman finally raised her eyes slowly.

Those eyes were as cold as water, clear, indifferent, and devoid of any emotion.

Her gaze swept calmly across the five, finally settling on Xiao Ruobai. Her lips parted slightly:

"Oh? It is you who wanted to see me?"

In her eyes, five newly promoted Inner Sect Disciples, newcomers at the first level of the Heaven-Reaching Realm, rashly naming her for a meeting was either due to ignorant arrogance or not knowing their place.

She was willing to make an exception to meet them, which was already a great charity.

Facing her high-and-mighty, indifferent aura, Xiao Ruobai's expression remained unchanged. He was neither servile nor overbearing, requiring no redundant pleasantries.

With a gentle flick of his finger, an exquisite, translucent, and flawlessly pure Supreme Grade Sky Stone...

...quietly emerged and landed softly on the jade table in front of him.

In an instant, a wisp of extremely pure Spiritual Qi swept through the entire quiet room. The stuffy air instantly became warm and clear, and threads of Great Dao Rhyme slowly flowed, refreshing the mind and spirit.

The white-clothed woman, whose eyes had been indifferent and who cared for nothing, suddenly had her pupils contract!

A tempestuous wave instantly rose in her calm eyes, and all the indifference finally faded from her face, replaced by an open shock that could not be concealed!

A Supreme Grade Sky Stone?

Her body leaned forward almost imperceptibly, those eyes that were usually as calm as water...

...deadlocked onto the Supreme Grade Sky Stone on the table, her breathing subconsciously slowing down by a fraction.

Just as the low-level Disciples said, Supreme Grade Sky Stones were legendary treasures to begin with; not even one would appear in the entire Tianyuan Sect for hundreds of years.

The one before her was far more pure and refined than any she had seen in the past, absolutely incomparable to the flawed ones rumored in the market.

It took several full breaths before the woman snapped back from her extreme shock. The astonishment in her eyes slowly receded, replaced by deep caution and curiosity.

Suppressing the waves in her heart, the woman's voice remained cold and clear, yet it carried a bit more solemnity:

"I did not expect Junior Brother to hold such a rare treasure. It seems I misjudged you earlier."

She did not press for the Origin of the Heavenly Stone. This was the rule of the trade, and even more so, the shrewdness of her position as the Treasure Pavilion Master.

"Do you wish to use this Supreme Grade Sky Stone to exchange for that batch of 100,000 Low Grade Heavenly Stones' worth of cultivation resources downstairs?"

Xiao Ruobai nodded slightly, his expression open:

"Exactly. In addition, I would like to exchange all the remaining value into Low Grade Heavenly Stones."

"I wonder how the Pavilion Master would price it?"

The woman's fingertip lightly tapped the jade table. Her gaze fell on the Heavenly Stone, and after pondering for a moment, she spoke slowly:

"An ordinary-quality Supreme Grade Sky Stone is priced at one hundred High Grade Heavenly Stones on the market."

"However, yours is of top-tier quality and rich in Dao Rhyme, far exceeding ordinary items."

"I will give you the highest premium in the Huangyun Market, valuing one stone at one hundred and twenty High Grade Heavenly Stones, which is equivalent to 1.2 million Low Grade Heavenly Stones."

This price was already the utmost sincerity the Treasure Pavilion could offer, without any lowballing or scheming.

Standing quietly to the side, Wang Xiaopang and the others also had a trace of surprise flash through their eyes upon hearing this.

A single Supreme Grade Sky Stone directly equated to 1.2 million Low Grade Heavenly Stones.

Xiao Ruobai's expression remained steady, without the slightest hint of excitement or loss of composure, as he spoke calmly: "Very well."

This price was fair and reasonable, and the other party was full of sincerity, so there was no need for excessive haggling.

Seeing how decisive and straightforward he was, the appreciation in the woman's eyes grew stronger, and she lightly raised her hand.

But just as she was about to speak, Xiao Ruobai's wrist flicked slightly again, and spiritual light flashed repeatedly from his fingertips.

Swish, swish, swish—!

A total of twenty Supreme Grade Sky Stones, equally translucent, brimming with overwhelming Spiritual Qi, and of flawless quality, landed on the jade table one after another.

Neatly stacked with surging spiritual light, they instantly filled the entire jade table!

With twenty Supreme Grade Sky Stones appearing at the same time, the terrifyingly pure Spiritual Qi exploded like a tidal wave.

The concentration of Origin Spiritual Qi in the entire quiet room instantly skyrocketed dozens of times over. The dense Spiritual Qi almost condensed into physical white mist, with threads of Dao Rhyme wrapping and flowing around, shaking one's heart.

The white-clothed woman, who had already suppressed her shock and regained her calm composure, suddenly had her pupils contract violently, and she froze completely in place.

Her lips parted slightly. Her voice, which was usually steady, cold, and unmoved by external things, actually carried a hint of uncontrollable trembling at this moment:

"There... There's more?"