Falling Cloud Peak.
The location of the Merchant Hall was the height of luxury. Clusters of pavilions and towers were bathed in the glow of the sunset, appearing like a celestial palace descending from the heavens.
There were carved dragons and painted pillars.
Steps were made of white jade.
Osmanthus trees, money trees, and fortune trees were everywhere, alongside various podocarpus pines...
Unlike the other buildings in the Wendao Sect, which were ancient, heavy, and solemn, the Merchant Hall gave off a singular impression: wealth.
Every blade of grass, every tree, every floor, and every pavilion seemed to tell the world: I am very rich.
When Xu Xian arrived, it was nearly dusk, yet the bustle of the Merchant Hall had not diminished in the slightest. Disciples hurried to and fro, busy with their affairs.
His arrival caused a minor stir.
Many disciples stopped and swarmed around him, offering warm greetings and blatant flattery. Their words flowed in smooth, practiced streams, as if they were all intimately acquainted with Xu Xian, making him feel rather awkward.
After stating his needs, he was personally received by a Deacon Elder.
"Little Martial Uncle, please sit."
"Thank you."
"I am surnamed Qian, a second-generation disciple. Lacking in talent, I’ve managed to scramble my way into a small elder position here in the Merchant Hall. If Little Martial Uncle doesn't mind, you can call me Little Qian."
"Elder Qian," Xu Xian greeted politely.
Elder Qian waved his hand dismissively and said enthusiastically, "I wonder what my Merchant Hall can do for Little Martial Uncle? Please, do not hesitate to speak your mind."
Xu Xian didn't stand on ceremony either, listing the three items he needed one by one.
"Then I'll get straight to the point. I am looking for ten feet of 10,000-year-old Heaven-Connecting Divine Wood, a segment of 10,000-year-old Innate Bitter Bamboo, and a piece of Blazing Red Jade."
Upon hearing this, Elder Qian’s expression shifted to one of visible shock. He asked in surprise, "Little Martial Uncle, what do you intend to do with these things?"
Xu Xian remained silent, offering only a faint smile.
Elder Qian quickly corrected himself. "Look at my mouth, I shouldn't have asked, I shouldn't have asked. However..."
His expression turned difficult, and he hesitated to continue.
"If the Elder has something to say, please speak frankly."
Elder Qian straightened his posture and said honestly, "Then this old man will speak plainly. The three items you want are all rare immortal plants and immortal metals. Heaven-Connecting Divine Wood and Innate Bitter Bamboo are not inherently difficult to find; they are simply quite expensive."
Xu Xian immediately replied, "Money is not an issue."
Elder Qian smiled. "That is not what I meant."
"Oh?"
Elder Qian explained, "Heaven-Connecting Divine Wood and Innate Bitter Bamboo are not hard to find, but since Little Grand-Uncle wants the 10,000-year-old versions, that is a different matter. Currently, the sect does not have them in stock."
Xu Xian frowned. "Can they be obtained?"
Elder Qian pondered for a moment before saying confidently, "Yes."
Xu Xian breathed a small sigh of relief. "That’s good."
"However..." Elder Qian’s tone shifted. "Little Martial Uncle must give me some time. In two months, the Wanxian Chamber of Commerce will hold its annual grand auction. At that time, all the sects and families under heaven will gather in Jiangnan. Rare treasures will be countless. Our Merchant Hall will also participate. I will instruct my people to ensure we secure them for you."
Xu Xian calculated the timing in his head. Two months wasn't particularly urgent. He cupped his fists and said, "Then I shall trouble you with this."
Elder Qian smiled warmly. "Little Martial Uncle, you are too kind. Procuring and transporting necessary materials and spirit plants for the sect's disciples is the duty of our Merchant Hall; it is our responsibility."
Xu Xian nodded slightly and asked, "And the price?"
"How many merit points does Little Grand-Uncle currently have?"
Xu Xian glanced at his balance and said with confidence, "Over five hundred thousand."
"Haha, then I'm afraid that might not be enough!"
Xu Xian’s eyes widened, and he blurted out, "It’s that expensive?"
Elder Qian explained, "Little Martial Uncle might as well do the math. One hundred merit points can be exchanged for one low-grade spirit stone. Your five hundred thousand points are only equivalent to a mere five thousand low-grade spirit stones."
"On the market, any single immortal plant starts at a minimum of ten thousand spirit stones. Although the Heaven-Connecting Divine Wood and Innate Bitter Bamboo you want are only ten feet and a single segment, the fact that they are 10,000 years old changes everything. The price will double several times over..."
When he put it that way, Xu Xian truly couldn't refute a single point.
Indeed.
Hundreds of thousands sounded like a lot.
But he had forgotten to account for the exchange rate.
When converted, it really was just a mere five thousand low-grade spirit stones.
He conceded, "True. So according to what you're saying, wouldn't I need to prepare millions or even tens of millions of merit points?"
Elder Qian narrowed his eyes slightly and chuckled, "Naturally, that won't be necessary."
Xu Xian said solemnly, "Elder Qian, please explain clearly. Don't play these games with me. It’s true I’ve been in the sect for five years, but you all know I spent four of those years asleep."
"Haha!" Elder Qian laughed jovially. "Little Martial Uncle might not know, but our Merchant Hall has a rule: when trading with mission merit points, the upper limit for a single transaction is one million."
"What does that mean? It means that no matter what you buy—be it an immortal sword or divine plants—you only have to spend a maximum of one million merit points."
Xu Xian was stunned, then delighted. "It’s that good?"
"Yes, this can be considered one of our sect's hidden benefits for its disciples."
"Wouldn't the hall lose a fortune?" Xu Xian blurted out.
Elder Qian joked, "Look at what Little Grand-Uncle is saying. My Merchant Hall controls the entire economic lifeline of the Wendao Sect. We are incredibly wealthy; we couldn't lose it all even if we tried."
"The Merchant Hall earns the money and the sect spends it; not a single cent is spent outside. In fact, some items in our Merchant Hall are actually sold to the sect's disciples at a loss."
Pausing for a moment, Elder Qian emphasized, "Of course, there are restrictions on such large-scale merit point transactions. Ordinary disciples can only use this once every hundred years. Elders and Deacons, twice every hundred years. Peak Masters and Hall Masters, three times every hundred years. Furthermore, the items purchased cannot be resold; they must be for personal use..."
One had to admit, this benefit was truly excellent!
It was exactly as Ye Xianyu had said: the benefits of the Wendao Sect were hidden; you couldn't see them on the surface.
But as long as you joined the Wendao Sect, you could enjoy them all.
Where else in the world could you find such a thing?
Which other sect allowed you to pick any cultivation technique in the Dao Pavilion for just two thousand merit points?
Two thousand points was the reward for a single Grade B mission—equivalent to four high-grade spirit stones.
If one didn't want to go on missions, sweeping the sect grounds for two months was enough.
Moreover, all techniques were available to learn. There was no such thing as the higher-ups hoarding secrets or monopolizing techniques.
That was just one part of it.
The swords of the Sword Mound.
Every person received at least a spirit weapon, given as soon as they reached foundation establishment.
And then there was foundation establishment itself.
The most core resource, the Foundation Establishment Pill, could be taken on credit until you successfully achieved foundation establishment...
And so on!
There wasn't another sect under heaven that could be this generous.
Most importantly, it was fair; everyone could enjoy it.
Therefore, every disciple of the Wendao Sect was willing to devote their everything to the sect from the bottom of their hearts.
All of this stemmed from the Wendao Sect's unique system.
Growing up in such an environment, it was impossible for a Wendao Sect disciple to turn wayward.
The sect bared its heart and soul to you, and you became unswervingly loyal to the sect. It was mutual.
Xu Xian was not stingy with his praise. "Not bad, not bad at all. Then what about me? How many chances do I have?"
"Although Little Martial Uncle holds no official post, you are a member of the Sword Pavilion and enjoy the treatment of a Pavilion Elder. You have unlimited uses. Of course... the premise is that the Merchant Hall can actually buy what Little Martial Uncle wants. If you truly wanted an immortal sword or divine plants, we would be powerless."
Xu Xian waved his hand, laughing. "Haha, that won't happen..."
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