Xuan Zheng returned into the card.
Yun Heng looked at the last drawn Event Card.
Wanbao Ancient Object Anomaly.
It did not sound like anything good.
Wanbao Pavilion was not the Xuanxiao Sect; they conducted business across the world and had maintained their footing in various cities for countless years, so they were by no means soft-hearted or merciful. If she truly triggered an anomaly in an ancient object of Wanbao Pavilion, their immediate reaction would certainly be to test her—or even make a move against her.
However, she had to go to Wanbao Tower tomorrow.
Forget it. She would deal with whatever came her way; obsessing over it continuously was no solution.
Yun Heng sat by the table, sorting through the items she had drawn this time.
When she first arrived in Tianque City, she only had news of the Qingming Secret Realm and a Rogue Cultivator Jade Slip. Now, she finally had a bit more confidence and leverage.
Yun Heng closed the System panel and retrieved the Clear Void Spirit-Nourishing Pill.
Unstopping the small blue-jade bottle, a single pill lay quietly inside. The body of the pill was translucent, with faint cloud patterns etched upon its surface.
She swallowed the pill. As it slid down her throat, a cool, gentle spiritual power swiftly dispersed, traveling up along her meridians before sinking into her sea of consciousness. The lingering exhaustion from her Nascent Soul lightning tribulation was smoothed away bit by bit.
Yun Heng closed her eyes and regulated her breathing.
Outside the window, the long street shifted from noisy to quiet, and then back to the bustling hum of human voices once more.
As the sky brightened with dawn, Yun Heng opened her eyes.
Responding to her thought, the World-Severing Spirit Garment transformed into a plain black outer robe, concealing the overly pure spiritual aura on her body.
Yun Heng pushed open the door and headed downstairs.
Tianque City was not as tranquil as Linxiao City. Before the morning mist had even fully dispersed, the doors of shops along both sides of the long street began opening one after another. Carriages rolled across the bluestone road, the spirit beasts pulling them wearing silver rings around their hooves that clinked softly against the ground.
When Yun Heng arrived downstairs, there were already quite a few cultivators gathered in the main hall.
The voices discussing the Qingming Secret Realm from last night had faded away, replaced by hushed bargaining and soft sound transmissions.
Wanbao Tower was located at the end of the Eastern Market.
The Qingming Commands would be auctioned at Wanbao Tower tonight. If she wanted to enter the auction hall, she needed something in hand that would win Wanbao Pavilion's approval.
At the end of the long street, the outline of a tall building emerged through the morning light.
Nine tiers of upturned eaves stacked upon one another, with gilded bells hanging from their corners. When a breeze blew past, the chiming remained orderly, tinkling softly before the tower. The structure was constructed from heavy wood and green jade, and two coiling dragon stone pillars over tens of feet high stood before the entrance, their fine scales flowing with a gentle spiritual glow along their patterns.
Quite a few people entered and exited the building, yet none raised their voices.
Hanging above the doorway was a plaque with golden characters against a black background.
Wanbao Tower.
This place was even grander than she had imagined.
Yun Heng stepped inside.
The first-floor main hall had an exceptionally high ceiling, allowing one to see the corridors above simply by looking up. Several glass spirit lamps hung in midair, emitting clear, bright flames without a trace of smoke. Cabinets separated by spiritual wood lined all four sides, displaying magical artifacts, jade bottles, talisman boxes, ores, and spiritual materials sealed in array light.
The errand boys coming and going all wore neat, blue-grey short robes with a small jade medallion hanging at their waists.
Though crowded, order prevailed. Every counter was guarded by cultivators, and several discreet spiritual senses swept over from the shadows before quietly retracting.
Wanbao Tower was truly no ordinary shop.
Soon, an errand boy came forward to greet her.
He was a pleasant-looking young man with a steady smile. Bowing respectfully, his gaze swept lightly over Yun Heng, neither lingering on her face nor staring at the ornaments on her waist.
Having welcomed guests at Wanbao Tower for years, he had seen countless cultivators. Some were draped in gold and jade yet could not produce even a few high-grade spirit stones, while others dressed plainly yet could casually present rare spiritual materials.
The young woman before him wore plain clothing, but her outer garment was an exceptional spirit robe.
The fabric was not flashy, its spiritual glow concealed deep within, so an ordinary person would merely take it for a clean robe. But he had seen esteemed guests ushered up to the third floor of Wanbao Tower, and he recognized those who could truly afford high-tier spirit garments.
Such fabric warded off dust and concealed aura; most importantly, it was unobtrusive.
Then he looked at her expression.
Most people entering Wanbao Tower for the first time would look around repeatedly. She looked as well, but her gaze moved quickly, taking in the array patterns, hidden sentries, and counter positions.
The errand boy immediately understood.
This guest was not to be slighted.
His smile grew even more respectful. “Greetings, esteemed guest. May I ask if you have come to Wanbao Tower today to browse artifacts, collect pills, or offer spiritual items for sale?”
Yun Heng replied, “I have spiritual items to sell.”
Without asking further, the errand boy stepped aside to lead the way. “This way, please, guest.”
With that, he guided Yun Heng toward the corridor at the side of the main hall.
The corridor was far quieter than the outside. Light-colored jade tiles were embedded in the walls on both sides, with sound-isolating array patterns every few paces. Reaching the end, the errand boy stopped before a carved wooden door and knocked twice.
A voice came from within: “Come in.”
The errand boy pushed open the door and ushered Yun Heng inside.
It was a small reception hall.
A dark carpet covered the floor, and a pot of green-leafed spiritual plant sat by the window, a drop of liquid glistening at its tip. A low table stood in the center, flanked by soft couches on both sides.
A middle-aged man sat inside the room.
He wore a dark blue robe with Wanbao Tower's golden patterns embroidered on the cuffs. Lean-faced, his features were not particularly sharp, but his eyes were remarkably bright. Hearing the door open, he laid down the jade slip in his hand and looked up.
No pressure emanated from him, but his fingertips bore faint grooves from rubbing jade and spiritual tools over many years. Beside the table lay a small silver mirror, a red sandalwood box, and three fine needles used for spiritual verification.
Yun Heng reached a conclusion in her mind: this man appeared to be an appraiser of Wanbao Tower.
Stepping half a pace forward, the errand boy introduced, “Guest, this is our Wanbao Tower's appraiser, Master Cheng Buyi.”
Cheng Buyi nodded slightly. “Please take a seat, Miss.”
Yun Heng sat down across from him.
The errand boy poured her tea and quietly stepped back to the side.
Cheng Buyi glanced at Yun Heng and said in a calm tone, “Is this your first time visiting Wanbao Tower, Miss?”
“It is,” Yun Heng replied.
“Since it is your first visit, let me explain briefly. Wanbao Tower accepts items under two sets of rules. If an item's value is straightforward, we can negotiate the price on the spot and settle the transaction immediately. If an item is rare and suitable for the auction, Wanbao Tower will auction it on your behalf and take a commission afterward.”
He smiled at this point.
“Naturally, whether an item can enter the auction depends on the item itself.”
Yun Heng listened without interrupting.
Seeing her composed demeanor, Cheng Buyi did not beat around the bush. “May I ask what you have brought today, Miss?”
Yun Heng raised her hand, a faint spiritual light flickering in her sleeve.
A jade box appeared on the low table.
The jade box was not large, smooth and warm throughout, with a Spirit-Sealing Talisman affixed to its cover. The moment the talisman was peeled off, a faint trace of chill emanated from within the box.
Cheng Buyi had merely been sitting calmly, but as his gaze fell inside the jade box, his eyes flickered slightly.
Inside the box lay a snow-white Lingzhi.
The Lingzhi was only the size of a palm. Fine silver light shimmered along the edges of its cap, and frost still clung to its base. The moment it appeared, the green-leafed spiritual plant in the room trembled slightly, the drop of liquid on its leaf tip turning into a puff of white mist.
Cheng Buyi reached out, though he did not touch it directly.
He first picked up a fine needle from the side of the table and lightly touched the base of the Lingzhi.
The tip of the needle turned white.
Next, he held up the small silver mirror and shone it upon the cap. Ring after ring of faint patterns surfaced on the mirror's face, only stopping after reaching the ninth ring.
“A Thousand-Year Snow Lingzhi.”
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