228: Chapter 228 The Stepping Stone to the Myriad Phenomena Pavilion

At the edge of the Yunmeng Great Swamp, the water stretched endlessly, and the fog that never dissipated throughout the year seemed particularly thick in this region.

"Splash!"

A massive spray of water suddenly erupted from the calm surface.

A water-blue streak of light burst forth from the water, spun around in mid-air, and landed steadily on the surface.

As the ripples spread, Gu Shen's transformed appearance as a middle-aged Loose Cultivator was revealed.

He wore a loose, grey-green robe, his hair was tied up in a high bun, and there were a few lines of weariness at the corners of his eyes.

His entire body exuded the steady and upright mana fluctuations of the Foundation Establishment Initial Stage.

No matter who was here, it would be extremely difficult to associate this seemingly law-abiding middle-aged Cultivator before them with that cold-blooded Asura in the Desolate Valley of Mang Mountain.

Gu Shen stepped on the waves, his eyes clear and bright, his gaze piercing through the layers of fog ahead.

Looking into the distance, a dark green giant turtle, resembling a small mountain, was quietly lying dormant on the sparkling surface of the Great Marsh.

This Mirage Water Market of the Wanxiang Merchant Alliance was built entirely upon the shell of the giant turtle.

Its main structure was a seven-story giant spirit wood treasure ship.

Hanging from the bottom of the treasure ship were over a dozen boarding piers.

These piers were tightly connected by ten-thousand-year dark iron chains as thick as water vats.

Above the chains, broad and flat white jade slabs were laid, forcefully creating wide, crisscrossing streets over the water near the turtle shell.

Various shops and houses were situated on both sides of the streets, and at a glance, it looked like a small water-based market.

On the perimeter of the water market, a massive, pale gold Formation light screen tightly enveloped the entire floating water city.

Complex and profound defensive runes flashed across the surface of the Formation from time to time, demonstrating the formidable foundation of the Wanxiang Merchant Alliance that could not be provoked.

In mid-air, streaks of light of various colors and Cultivators riding flying beasts rose and fell from time to time.

All of them consciously descended at a hundred zhang outside the water market's light screen, switching to boats to approach.

The rules of a great merchant association were displayed vividly here.

Gu Shen focused his Qi into his Dantian, dispersed the light beneath his feet, and walked on the waves as if walking on flat ground, blending into the flow of Loose Cultivators heading to the water market by boat.

Arriving at the main entrance on the front of the water market, a giant archway, ten zhang high and carved entirely from sunken gold-threaded nanmu wood, stood on the water.

Below the archway, there were dozens of entrance passages, each guarded by two Late-Stage Qi Refining guards wearing the specially made robes of the Wanxiang Merchant Alliance.

What was even more daunting was a grey-haired old man sitting cross-legged in mid-air above the archway.

This person's eyes were slightly closed, and the aura exuded from his body had reached the Foundation Establishment Great Perfection, responsible for guarding the safety of this gateway.

Gu Shen walked leisurely to one of the passages.

"Fellow Daoist, please stop. To enter the Mirage Water Market, you need to pay ten Low-Grade Spirit Stones as an entry fee for one month."

The guard had a rigid expression and extended his hand in a business-like manner.

Ten Low-Grade Spirit Stones were by no means a small sum for a low-level Loose Cultivator, enough to keep many impoverished people out.

The Wanxiang Merchant Alliance used this method to filter out clientele who possessed the qualifications for trading.

Gu Shen's expression was calm; he reached into his sleeve and took out ten Low-Grade Spirit Stones from his Storage Ring, handing them over.

After checking and confirming everything was correct, the guard handed back a wooden token engraved with water wave and cloud patterns.

"This is the market access token. Private fighting is strictly prohibited within the water market, and flying is strictly prohibited. Violators will be killed without mercy by the Merchant Alliance's guard team."

The guard warned coldly.

Gu Shen nodded slightly, took the token, hung it at his waist, and strode into the Formation light screen.

The moment he passed through the light screen, the clamorous noise of the crowd and the extremely rich scents of various Magical Artifacts and Spirit Medicines rushed toward him.

On both sides of the wide white jade slab street, shops and pavilions of all sizes stood in great numbers.

These pavilions were all designed with upturned eaves and carved beams and painted rafters.

The streets were crowded with people: rough men wearing animal skins, Sect Disciples in long robes with wide sleeves, and mysterious Loose Cultivators covered in black robes.

The sounds of hawking and bargaining intertwined, and the level of prosperity far exceeded any Loose Cultivator market Gu Shen had ever seen before.

Gu Shen did not linger at all on this noisy scene.

His eyes were deep, his gaze passing over the layers of pavilions, locking directly onto the seven-story spirit wood treasure ship in the very center of the water market that stood out from the crowd.

The treasure ship was constructed entirely from extremely precious ten-thousand-year spirit wood.

Embedded at the top of the treasure ship's main sail was a water-repelling night-luminescent pearl the size of a millstone, which emitted a dazzling radiance even in broad daylight.

Above the main entrance on the first floor of the treasure ship hung a large purple-gold plaque, inscribed with the three large, dancing ancient seal characters for "Wanxiang Pavilion."

This was the core hub where the Wanxiang Merchant Alliance truly conducted top-level, large-scale transactions.

Gu Shen passed through the bustling crowd, ignoring the many street vendors calling out enthusiastically along the way, and went straight to the five-zhang-wide white jade steps of the Wanxiang Pavilion.

The doors of the Wanxiang Pavilion were open, and the interior was paved with thick, soft red fox fur carpets.

On both sides of the door stood four golden-armored Puppets holding long halberds, their bodies shining with golden light.

Gu Shen recognized at a glance that these four Puppets had extremely precise miniature Spirit Gathering Formations embedded within them, and each possessed the terrifying combat power to rival a Foundation Establishment Initial Stage Cultivator.

Such luxury and strictness truly showed the prestige of a top-tier merchant alliance.

Gu Shen walked up the steps and calmly stepped into the pavilion.

The space inside the pavilion was extremely vast, and the air was filled with the top-tier dragon saliva incense that focused the mind and calmed the spirit.

The first-floor hall was lined with dozens of crystal display cases, inside which various Low Grade and Medium Grade Magical Artifacts, as well as ordinary Medicinal Pills and Talismans, were displayed.

Dozens of beautiful attendants dressed in uniform green silk skirts were smiling and guiding the passing Cultivators, explaining things to them.

As soon as Gu Shen stepped in, a beautiful attendant in a green skirt with Qi Refining Middle Stage cultivation immediately came forward to greet him.

She had excellent discernment and saw at a glance the mana fluctuations of a Foundation Establishment Stage Senior on Gu Shen.

"Greetings, Senior. I wonder if you have come to Wanxiang Pavilion to purchase Magical Artifacts or Medicinal Pills, or to sell Spirit materials or treasures? This Junior can guide you."

The attendant curtsied slightly, her tone soft and melodious.

Gu Shen's gaze swept calmly over the crystal display cases in the first-floor hall, his tone indifferent.

"The items here do not catch my eye. I have a big deal in my hands and need to see a high-level manager here who can make decisions."

Upon hearing this, the attendant's expression became even more respectful.

She knew well that a Foundation Establishment Senior who dared to boast of a "big deal" in the Wanxiang Pavilion was definitely not someone a low-level receptionist like her could handle.

"Senior, please follow me. The second floor has quiet private rooms, specially provided for distinguished guests like you to rest and trade."

The attendant turned to lead the way, guiding Gu Shen to a rosewood staircase leading to the second floor.

Upon reaching the second floor, the noise was immediately completely blocked by some kind of sound-insulation Formation.

The second floor was divided into independent, enclosed private rooms, and the door of each room was engraved with Formation runes to prevent Divine Sense from prying, ensuring the absolute privacy of the guests' transactions.

The attendant invited Gu Shen into a private room named "Listening to the Waves."

The furnishings inside the private room were extremely elegant; blue smoke curled from a purple clay incense burner, and spirit fruits and fragrant tea were placed on the mahogany coffee table.

"Senior, please sit and have some tea; this Junior will go and invite Manager Liu to make a decision."

The attendant respectfully poured a cup of tea steaming with Spiritual Qi, then slowly exited the room and closed the door.

Gu Shen sat comfortably on the rosewood armchair and took a light sip from the teacup.

The Spiritual Qi contained in this tea was extremely mild and could greatly soothe a Cultivator's meridians, showing that the Wanxiang Pavilion spared no effort in the details of hospitality.

Before long, the door of the private room was gently pushed open.

An old man wearing a purple brocade robe with a kind face walked in with a smile.

The old man looked benevolent, but the mana fluctuations faintly exuded from his body had already reached the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage.

"I am Liu Quan, one of the managers of this second floor of the Wanxiang Pavilion. I heard that you, Fellow Daoist, have a large transaction to cooperate with our Merchant Alliance. I wonder what kind of rare treasure it is?"

Manager Liu sat down opposite Gu Shen, his seemingly cloudy small eyes furtively sizing Gu Shen up.

He had seen countless people, but he found that this middle-aged Loose Cultivator before him had an aura as steady as a mountain, and when his Divine Sense probed, it was like a clay ox entering the sea, unable to detect any reality.

Gu Shen put down the teacup, his expression clear and steady, and got straight to the point.

"I have come this time, firstly to purchase a set of high-level concealment Formation pattern diagrams, which must be top-tier goods capable of covering the operation of large-scale Formation mechanisms and even shielding against the probing of heaven and earth's Qi. Secondly, to purchase a batch of high-purity High-Grade Spirit Stones."

Upon hearing this, Manager Liu raised his eyebrows slightly, and the smile on his face faded a little.

"The items you are asking for, Fellow Daoist, are all strategic-level resources of no small significance. Especially the High-Grade Spirit Stones; although our Wanxiang Merchant Alliance has them in stock, we have always only accepted equally rare heaven and earth spirit materials for barter, and do not accept Low Grade or Medium Grade Spirit Stones for exchange."

Manager Liu's words revealed a hint of probing.

These two things combined were enough to empty the foundation of an ordinary immortal cultivation family, and he had to confirm whether this unremarkable-looking Loose Cultivator before him was qualified to sit at the table for the transaction.

A faint smile appeared on the corner of Gu Shen's mouth.

He didn't say much, reached into his sleeve, took out a warm, smooth jade box with a Spirit-Sealing Talisman attached, and pushed it gently onto the table in front of Manager Liu.

"Manager Liu might as well take a look at this item before making a decision."

Manager Liu was curious, reached out to remove the Spirit-Sealing Talisman on the jade box, and slowly lifted the lid.

"Hum—"

The moment the lid was opened, an extremely pure and rich medicinal fragrance that made one's pores relax instantly filled the entire private room.

In the center of the jade box, a Medicinal Pill the size of a soybean, white and jade-like all over, was quietly placed.

On the surface of the pill, three green cloud patterns looked naturally formed and were extremely vivid.

What was most shocking was that there was not a trace of turbid Qi around this pill, and the vitality and medicinal power contained within it presented a state of absolute, perfect stability.

"This... this is!"

Manager Liu exclaimed, his body, which had originally been sitting as steady as Mount Tai, suddenly leaned forward, his eyes fixed tightly on the white Medicinal Pill, and even his breathing became rapid.

As a manager of the Wanxiang Pavilion, he had handled thousands of precious Medicinal Pills, but he had never seen a Divine Grade one with such high purity and zero residual pill poison.

"A High Grade healing Medicinal Pill... and it is the legendary, unattainable flawless cloud-pattern quality! This kind of Divine Pill without any pill poison would make even a Core Formation Old Ancestor turn green with envy upon seeing it!"

Manager Liu's hand trembled, wanting to pick it up to examine it closely, but he was afraid that his own aura would contaminate this Divine Pill.

In the end, he had to forcibly suppress the palpitation in his heart and close the jade box again.

When he looked at Gu Shen again, the probing and contempt in his eyes had long since vanished, replaced by extreme solemnity and awe.

Someone who could casually take out such a Divine Pill must have an unfathomable background or personal Alchemy attainment.

"Fellow Daoist, this stepping stone of yours is truly as heavy as Mount Tai."

Manager Liu calmed his agitated blood and Qi, his demeanor becoming incomparably respectful.

"Such a flawless Divine Pill is already beyond my authority. Please wait here for a moment, Fellow Daoist; I will go to the top floor and invite the Chief Administrator to come down personally to discuss this heaven-shaking transaction with you!"

Gu Shen nodded slightly, picked up the teacup, and sat in a relaxed posture.