Chapter 333: Chapter 333: Seven-Colored Chaos Soil
"If Your Excellency is from one of the great clans of the Sky Empire or a prominent family in Wukong Ridge, just show me your insignia and give me your name. I can have the main branch of the commerce association search for you. If not, then I’m afraid these are the only Spirit Medicines we sell here at the Treasure Pavilion in Black Stone City."
Steward Liu said all this in one breath, then paused before adding, "However, I’m certain that regardless of your background, these Tier Six Spirit Medicines from our Treasure Pavilion can be considered true treasures. There’s no reason to be dismissive of them—unless, of course, you aren’t actually serious about buying."
At first, Steward Liu hadn’t been sure if Ye Xuan was unwilling to buy or simply couldn’t afford to. But now, seeing Ye Xuan dismiss even Tier Six Spirit Medicines, he had a sudden realization. ’This kid definitely can’t afford them. He’s just putting on an act.’
The Tier Six Spirit Medicines he had presented weren’t the absolute finest of their tier, but they were certainly items all the major powers would need. They were far from common goods.
"Treasures?" Jin Lin, who had been wandering about out of boredom, couldn’t resist leaning in for a look. A grin split his face. "You call *these* treasures? Apart from this Purple Wisteria Root, which tastes decent, the rest are pretty much the same as the others from before. They’re way worse than the meat buns I had earlier!"
Jin Lin curled his lip. To him, these Spirit Medicines were the kind of thing you’d only take a couple of bites of on the rare occasion you even remembered you had them.
Pfft!
The moment Jin Lin spoke, the surrounding guests could no longer hold back and erupted into laughter.
"Haha, Steward Liu, it’s not that we want to give your Treasure Pavilion a hard time, but what this guy said is just too hilarious."
"He’s actually comparing the taste of Tier Six Spirit Medicines to meat buns! Buddy, are you trying to be funny?"
"To hear him talk, you’d think he’s eaten tons of Spirit Medicines. He even knows Purple Wisteria Root tastes good. Seriously, if you’re going to boast, at least make it plausible."
Many of the guests were laughing so hard they could barely stand, on the verge of rolling on the floor.
A Tier Six Spirit Medicine contains an astonishing amount of medicinal power. A Tier Five Martial Sect would have their body explode on consumption, and only a Tier Six Martial Venerable could barely withstand it. Could this blond young man actually be a Tier Six Martial Venerable?
Besides, who in the world eats Spirit Medicine raw?
Steward Liu’s face turned livid.
"Sir, there’s an old saying: ’Even if a deal isn’t made, goodwill remains.’ My Treasure Pavilion has always conducted business fairly. But if you’re here to cause trouble, I suggest you take a good look at the sign for our Tianya Commerce Association. On the Dream Realm Plain, our association is second to none and collaborates with several top-tier powers. If you dare to act wild in here, I guarantee that no matter what your background is, you’ll be in for more than you can handle."
Steward Liu had already branded Ye Xuan as a troublemaker.
"I have no interest in the Tianya Commerce Association’s background. I only came here to purchase Spirit Medicine, but unfortunately, you don’t have what I need. In that case, goodbye." Ye Xuan waved his hand dismissively. The Treasure Pavilion had been a great disappointment, and he had no desire to linger.
"Tch. So Tier Six Spirit Medicines aren’t good enough for you? Don’t tell me you’re looking to buy Tier Seven Spirit Medicines?" sneered Young Master Mo, who had been mocking Ye Xuan the loudest. "If you want a Tier Seven treasure, it’s not like Black Stone City is without one. The Treasure Pavilion across the street has a piece of Seven-Colored Chaotic Soil. It can be bought, as long as you have sufficient treasures to trade. If you’ve got the means, why don’t you go buy it for all of us to see?"
’Seven-Colored Chaotic Soil?’
Ye Xuan’s heart leaped in his chest. He stared at the young master, his eyes glinting sharply. "Are you serious?"
Seven-Colored Chaotic Soil was an exceedingly rare material, a type of what was known as Earth-Breathing Loam. Though it was the lowest grade of its kind, it was still a Tier Seven King Level treasure.
Its primary function was to reforge a Martial Artist’s body, allowing it to undergo a metamorphosis and become more attuned to the earth.
Of course, the effects would be even more profound for a Martial Artist who practiced an Earth Element Cultivation Technique.
Ye Xuan’s Nine-Revolving Saint Body had already reached the Third Transformation. Advancing to the Fourth Transformation was impossible without a powerful treasure, and the Seven-Colored Chaotic Soil was precisely one of the items that could facilitate that breakthrough.
Furthermore, his Great Earth Martial Soul was also of the Earth Element, meaning the Seven-Colored Chaotic Soil would provide it with an immense boost as well.
Faced with Ye Xuan’s dazzling and oppressive gaze, Young Master Mo jumped in fright. He felt as if a primeval beast had locked its eyes on him, and he couldn’t help but gulp.
He suddenly remembered he was the center of attention. Forcing himself to appear composed, he sneered again. "Of course it’s true. Everyone in Black Stone City knows that the Treasure Pavilion has the Seven-Colored Chaotic Soil. What? Don’t tell me you’re actually planning to buy it?"
Young Master Mo’s tone was filled with contempt; he clearly thought Ye Xuan was just showing off.
"Let’s go!"
Ye Xuan, however, couldn’t be bothered with him any longer. Taking Jin Lin with him, he turned and headed down the stairs, making for the Treasure Pavilion across the street.
’To think they’re actually selling Seven-Colored Chaotic Soil here... What an unexpected surprise. No matter the cost, I have to get it.’
"That kid is actually going to the Treasure Pavilion."
"He doesn’t really intend to buy the Seven-Colored Chaotic Soil, does he?"
"He must be putting on a show. With how shabby he looks, how could he possibly afford the Seven-Colored Chaotic Soil?"
"Whether he can afford it or not, this is going to be entertaining."
"Come on, let’s go watch."
Seeing this, the guests on the second floor were all surprised. Unable to contain their excitement, they all hurried to follow.
In the blink of an eye, the second floor of the Treasure Pavilion was completely empty of guests. They were all eager to see if this young man, who seemed to be from the countryside, was actually going to buy the Seven-Colored Chaotic Soil.
"Steward Liu..." Seeing this, the staff on the second floor of the Treasure Pavilion were dumbfounded.
"You all stay here. I’m going to see for myself what power this kid has to purchase the Seven-Colored Chaotic Soil." Steward Liu snorted and followed them out as well.
In the main hall of the Treasure Pavilion, a number of employees stood about, looking bored.
A woman stood quietly at the top of the second-floor staircase.
The woman appeared to be about sixteen years old. She wore a white gauze dress, and her jet-black hair was styled in an elegant bun, lending her an air of grace and dignity. Her fair face had a rosy glow, her skin so flawless it seemed it would bruise at a touch. With clear, limpid eyes and gracefully curved, willow-leaf brows, she was the picture of exquisite beauty.
Her figure, in particular, was spectacular. Though obscured by the white gauze, its graceful and perfectly proportioned curves were still evident.
At this moment, however, her face held a trace of melancholy, and a deep, seemingly irresolvable worry was knitted into her brows.
"Uncle Ye, how has business been at the pavilion lately?" the young woman asked, her voice as clear and melodious as a warbler’s song.
An old man beside her sighed. "Young Miss, business at the pavilion has been declining day by day. We’re still turning a small profit for now, but I fear that if things continue like this, it won’t be long before our Treasure Pavilion starts operating at a loss."
The young woman gazed at the sparse crowd in the shop, her expression silent.
Ever since news of the Divine Walk Commerce Association’s crisis began to spread, business at the Treasure Pavilion had plummeted. The once-packed pavilion, where you could barely find a place to stand, was now nearly deserted.
’Father and the others are completely overwhelmed, and I can’t help them at all. Even the business here at the Black Stone City Treasure Pavilion, which is under my care, is getting worse and worse. I want so badly to help, but I don’t know what to do.’
"Even after we put the Seven-Colored Chaotic Soil up for sale, we still can’t convince those other powers to relent?" the young woman asked, biting her lip.
A helpless expression crossed the old man’s face. "Young Miss, the only ones in Black Stone City who can afford the Seven-Colored Chaotic Soil are a handful of clans. They all know about the Divine Walk Commerce Association’s situation, and every single one of them is just looking to take advantage of the chaos. There isn’t a single sincere buyer among them..."
The old man trailed off. The Seven-Colored Chaotic Soil was the Divine Walk Commerce Association’s ultimate treasure. Under normal circumstances, it would never be offered for sale. But with the association in crisis, the Young Miss had been the one to propose this solution.
What the young woman didn’t realize was that if the old Divine Walk Commerce Association had put the Seven-Colored Chaotic Soil up for sale, countless powers would have flocked to them, vying for the purchase. But now, with the association in such a precarious state, the powers of Wukong Ridge—none of whom were anything less than ruthless—were experts at kicking a man when he was down. The move had actually made life for the Treasure Pavilion in Black Stone City even more difficult.
But the old man couldn’t bring himself to say this. He knew how much the Young Miss was already worrying about the association’s affairs. If she knew the truth, there was no telling how heartbroken she would be.
’I hope the Divine Walk Commerce Association can weather this storm,’ the old man sighed internally.
Just then, a commotion erupted at the entrance to the Treasure Pavilion, and a large crowd of people swarmed inside.
"I hear you have Seven-Colored Chaotic Soil for sale?" the black-haired youth at the head of the group asked a staff member the moment he walked in.
This group was, of course, Ye Xuan, who had come to purchase the Seven-Colored Chaotic Soil, and the crowd of Martial Artists who had followed him from the other Treasure Pavilion.
The staff of the Treasure Pavilion, long accustomed to their shop being nearly empty, were stunned by the sudden influx of people.
The young woman and the old man on the floor above were stunned by the sight. But when their gazes landed on Steward Liu among the crowd, their faces immediately darkened.
"Steward Liu, your Tianya Commerce Association’s Treasure Pavilion is across the street, is it not? Are you trying to cause trouble, bringing this many people into *my* Treasure Pavilion?"
Before the flustered staff could utter a word, a voice as clear as a warbler’s song floated down from above. Everyone looked up to see a young woman, her eyes flashing with anger, descending the stairs with an elderly man at her side.
"It’s Miss Dongfang Zisi from the Divine Walk Commerce Association."
"Miss Dongfang Zisi! She’s one of the ten great beauties of the Dream Realm Plain and a genius student at Gale Light Academy. She’s almost never in Wukong Ridge. I can’t believe she’s back in Black Stone City."
"How could she stay away? The Divine Walk Commerce Association has been in crisis, facing financial trouble everywhere. Dongfang Zisi is a student at Gale Light Academy, so she has some prestige. Her return helps to prop up the Divine Walk Commerce Association’s reputation. I heard it was her idea to put the Seven-Colored Chaotic Soil up for sale in the first place."
