Chapter 331: Chapter 331: Treasure Pavilion
When he saw Ye Xuan take out one hundred Profound Tickets, the old man smiled wryly. "Sir, I can’t make change for this."
"Keep the change," Ye Xuan said with a faint smile. ’This old man has a hard life.’
Meanwhile, Jin Lin had already started eating. He was devouring one bun in a single bite. In the blink of an eye, half the buns were already in his stomach. His cheeks were puffed out, and grease trickled down the corners of his mouth.
"Delicious, so delicious!" Jin Lin mumbled as he ate.
Ye Xuan shook his head, speechless. He turned to Jin Lin and said, "You’re a mighty Demon King, yet look at this pathetic state you’re in. You’re like a starving man who hasn’t eaten in centuries. You’re completely shattering your image!"
’Then again,’ he thought, ’Jin Lin was trapped in the Floating Light Secret Realm for who knows how many years. Forget meat buns; even plain rice would probably taste delicious to him.’
Watching Ye Xuan and Jin Lin’s retreating figures, the old bun seller held the one-hundred-Profound-Ticket note, still looking completely bewildered.
Ye Xuan sighed softly.
In this world, not everyone was a Martial Artist. In fact, the number of ordinary people was quite large.
And their lives were a constant state of fear and anxiety.
Ye Xuan made his way toward the center of Black Stone City.
Leaving the food street behind, Ye Xuan arrived at a new one.
This new street was lined with a multitude of shops, and even the roadsides were filled with all sorts of novel items. The dazzling array had everything one could imagine.
The shops were filled with various Profound Soldiers, armor, and other goods. In addition, there were quite a few places selling Spirit Medicine and Pills.
Ye Xuan’s gaze swept over them. The vast majority of these Spirit Medicines were quite ordinary, mostly Tier Three and Tier Four. Although the variety and quality were much better than what was sold in the Thirteen Nations Alliance, they were completely useless to him.
’They say treasures are often unearthed in Wukong Ridge. I wonder if I can find anything good here in Black Stone City.’
As his eyes scanned the street, two resplendent, magnificent shops caught Ye Xuan’s attention. They were incredibly grand and occupied the best location on the street.
However, there was a clear difference in the foot traffic between the two. One shop had an endless stream of people at its entrance. The other, while much busier than the smaller shops, was significantly quieter compared to its rival across the street.
The busier shop was named "Treasure Pavilion," while the less busy one was called "Treasure Appraisal Pavilion."
Ye Xuan’s interest was piqued. ’These two shops are clearly major establishments in Black Stone City. I wonder if they have anything inside that might interest me.’ He turned around and said, "Jin Lin, let’s go. We’ll check out those two shops up ahead."
As he approached the two storefronts, Ye Xuan noticed some smaller text beneath their main signboards. One read "Tianya Commerce Association," and the other, "Divine Walk Commerce Association."
’It seems these two shops are affiliated with those commerce associations,’ he thought. ’I just don’t know how powerful these associations are.’
Ye Xuan was here to look for Spirit Medicine, so he couldn’t be bothered with the background of the two establishments.
"Sir, are you here for Spirit Medicine? Why don’t you come take a look inside our Treasure Appraisal Pavilion?"
Ye Xuan had just arrived in front of the two shops when a clerk from the Treasure Appraisal Pavilion hurried over.
Ye Xuan didn’t know the difference between the two shops and was about to follow him inside. But just then, another clerk rushed out from the Treasure Pavilion, calling out from a distance, "Sir, if you go to the Treasure Appraisal Pavilion, I guarantee you’ll be disappointed! The Treasure Appraisal Pavilion used to be the biggest Spirit Medicine Pavilion in Black Stone City, but now it’s on the verge of collapse. Their selection of Spirit Medicine is pitifully small. On the other hand, my Treasure Pavilion is now the largest gathering place for treasures in Black Stone City! Pills, Spirit Medicine, Profound Soldiers—whatever you want, we have it all. Sir, why don’t you come to our Treasure Pavilion? We’ll definitely give you a one-of-a-kind experience."
The clerk’s introduction was exuberant, his expression proud as he earnestly invited Ye Xuan.
Hearing this speech, the clerk from the Treasure Appraisal Pavilion stood to the side with a flushed face, not saying a word. Then, he quietly retreated.
’Looks like that fellow probably wasn’t just spouting nonsense.’
No wonder the Treasure Appraisal Pavilion had so few customers, while the Treasure Pavilion had an endless stream.
Ye Xuan nodded and followed the second clerk into the Treasure Pavilion.
Before leaving, that clerk shot a final, arrogant tilt of his chin at the clerk from the Treasure Appraisal Pavilion.
Although Ye Xuan disliked his behavior, he didn’t say anything. He was here to see what treasures he could find, so naturally, he would go wherever the selection was better.
Ye Xuan stepped into the Treasure Pavilion. The entire first floor had an immense amount of floor space, and dozens of clerks were bustling about.
"Sir, this floor displays our Tier Three and below Spirit Medicines and Pills, as well as various Profound Soldiers, Soul Crystals, and so on. We basically have every type available on the market. What might you be looking for, Sir? I can show you around."
Ye Xuan asked directly, "Do you have anything of a higher tier?"
Tier Three Spirit Medicine was far too low-grade; he wouldn’t even give it a second glance.
After his recent expedition in the Floating Light Secret Realm, Ye Xuan had enough Spirit Medicine to fill several Storage Rings.
Not to mention anything else, he had over a thousand stalks of Tier Five and above Spirit Medicine, and a hundred stalks of Tier Six. As for Tier Three and Four Spirit Medicine, he had a countless amount.
Such a massive quantity of Spirit Medicine had been mostly gathered by subordinates dispatched by Jin Lin. His collection of High Tier Spirit Medicine was greater than, if not equal to, the entire supply of the Thirteen Nations Alliance.
Therefore, when the clerk tried to sell him Tier Three Spirit Medicine, Ye Xuan had no desire to even look at it.
"Yes, of course! Our Treasure Pavilion is the largest Spirit Medicine Pavilion in Black Stone City—what don’t we have? All our Spirit Medicine above Tier Three is on the second floor, in the VIP hall. Please, follow me, Sir."
The clerk knew he had a big customer on his hands and hurriedly led Ye Xuan to the second floor.
The second floor had its own dedicated staff. After handing Ye Xuan over to a middle-aged man, the first clerk went back downstairs, looking quite pleased.
As long as it was a customer he brought in, he would receive a commission on anything Ye Xuan purchased.
"I wonder what you two gentlemen would like to see?" the middle-aged man asked with a smile, sizing up Ye Xuan and Jin Lin.
’He had seen all sorts of people in this place. One look at Ye Xuan and he could tell the young man was a talented disciple from some major power. The aura he had just by standing there wasn’t something anyone could project.’
’Talented disciples like him often spent tens or even hundreds of times more on Pills and Spirit Medicine than ordinary Martial Artists.’
’As for the blond young man next to him, he couldn’t tell his origin. He looked dignified enough, but his eyes darted everywhere, giving off the air of a country bumpkin visiting the city for the first time.’
"Show me what high-grade Spirit Medicine you have," Ye Xuan said flatly.
He had no need to purchase things like Profound Soldiers or Pills.
"Please, follow me." The middle-aged man led Ye Xuan to a counter and said politely, "Here we have all our precious Spirit Medicines of Tier Four and above. The prices are all clearly marked. At our Tianya Commerce Association’s Treasure Pavilion, whether we’re selling Spirit Medicine or buying it, our prices are always fair. We’re honest with all our customers."
"You also buy Spirit Medicine here?" Ye Xuan asked in surprise. He hadn’t expected the Treasure Pavilion to offer such a service.
’Ye Xuan had far too much Spirit Medicine in his Storage Ring, much of which he had no use for. If this shop’s offer was reasonable, he wouldn’t mind selling some.’
"That’s right. Our Treasure Pavilion has been acquiring all sorts of rare Spirit Medicines and Pills since the day we opened," the middle-aged man explained, though his brow furrowed slightly. "In fact, it’s not just our Treasure Pavilion. Every medicine shop in Wukong Ridge buys Spirit Medicine as well as sells it."
’He doesn’t even know this? Could he be from some minor family out in the sticks?’
’At this thought, the middle-aged man couldn’t help but feel a little disappointed. Disciples from minor families usually didn’t have much purchasing power. Many of them came to the Spirit Medicine Pavilion just to look around and broaden their horizons.’
On the second floor at this moment were quite a few other Martial Artists, all browsing for Spirit Medicine. They were all distinguished-looking individuals dressed in silks and satins.
When Ye Xuan and Jin Lin had first come up, most of them had merely shot a passing glance and paid them no mind. But now, after hearing Ye Xuan’s question, they couldn’t help but burst out laughing.
"Where did this guy come from? He doesn’t even know that the Treasure Pavilion buys Spirit Medicine."
"Couldn’t be some country bumpkin from the backwoods, could he? Here in Wukong Ridge, every shop buys Spirit Medicine."
"Tsk tsk. I’ve been in Black Stone City for so long, and this is the first time I’ve ever heard of a Martial Artist who didn’t know the Treasure Pavilion buys Spirit Medicine."
Many of them looked Ye Xuan up and down, laughing loudly without bothering to lower their voices.
Hearing their condescending tone, Ye Xuan frowned slightly. But since he was new to Black Stone City, he couldn’t be bothered to stoop to their level.
Jin Lin, on the other hand, was completely bewildered. He asked, "Your Highness, is not knowing that they sell Spirit Medicine here supposed to be funny?"
Jin Lin’s words only made the onlookers struggle even harder to contain their laughter, before they burst out again.
"Your Highness? Don’t tell me this kid is the Prince of some minor kingdom?"
"We don’t have kingdoms in Wukong Ridge. Could he be from the Thirteen Nations Alliance, on the other side of the Gulan Mountain Range? Or one of the small principalities nearby?"
"Maybe the Spirit Medicine Pavilions in their country only sell Spirit Medicine and don’t buy it," a young man in luxurious robes said with a mocking smile. "Or maybe all their Spirit Medicine is homegrown."
"Hahaha." His words once again provoked a round of laughter from the crowd.
"Jia San, you might have gotten lucky this time. You’re actually serving a ’Highness.’ Maybe this Prince plans to sell you the entire Spirit Medicine supply of his kingdom," the young man continued to jeer.
"You jest, Young Master Mo," replied Jia San, the middle-aged man who had brought Ye Xuan up. He laughed awkwardly, his expression unnatural. He turned to Ye Xuan and asked, "So, what is it that you require, sir? Are you buying, or are you selling?"
’If he had known this would happen, he definitely wouldn’t have wanted to serve Ye Xuan. But since he had already accepted him as a customer, Jia San remained impassive, though the earlier warmth was gone from his tone.’
"How much will you offer for this stalk of Spirit Medicine?"
Ye Xuan casually took a stalk of Spirit Medicine from his Storage Ring.
"Huh, the kid actually has some Spirit Medicine to sell."
"Let me see, what kind of Spirit Medicine is it?"
A crowd of people couldn’t help but crane their necks to look. And when they saw it, they burst out laughing all over again.
