Yan Jue's beard twitched, and Shen Guanlan's gaze paused as well.
A complete ancient pill recipe was merely an old family heirloom?
There was no family like that in the Eastern Region.
Several names flashed through Shen Guanlan's mind, but he pressed them down one by one. His expression showed little change, though his tone grew even more polite than before.
“I see.”
The way Yan Jue looked at Yun Heng had completely changed.
He had originally only guessed that she had a power backing her, but now that she had uttered those words, his suspicion was almost confirmed.
Someone whose family could produce a complete ancient pill recipe and casually call it an old heirloom... Could she belong to a secluded clan?
Shen Guanlan raised his hand, his fingertips tapping lightly against the edge of the low table.
“It is Wanbao Tower's good fortune that you are willing to bring this recipe to us, Miss Yun.”
Yun Heng looked at him.
Shen Guanlan said, “Wanbao Tower wishes to build a good relationship with you, Miss. As for the pill recipe, we will naturally provide ample spirit stones. In addition, for tonight's auction, Wanbao Tower will reserve a top-tier private room for you.”
He paused briefly before continuing.
“Furthermore, in my capacity as Master of Tianque City's Wanbao Pavilion, I shall gift you a Wanbao Token.”
Yan Jue secretly breathed a sigh of relief; this was the sincerity they ought to display.
Shen Guanlan continued, “The Wanbao Token is no ordinary guest pass. Whoever holds this token can enter the inner trading areas of all branch towers across the Taiyan Continent. Should you wish to consign spiritual items, purchase pills, or appraise artifactual weapons, you may directly request a tower manager to examine them.”
“And should you attend an auction, you will be granted priority seating.”
He looked at Yun Heng, his tone steady.
“Wanbao Tower will not pry into origins you are unwilling to disclose. As long as you hold this token when entering our tower, you are an honored guest of Wanbao Tower.”
Yun Heng felt a subtle stir in her heart.
This was indeed a fine item. Wanbao Tower was spread all across the Taiyan Continent—information, spiritual materials, auctions, and trading were all tied to it.
She nodded.
“Very well.”
The few people in the room breathed a sigh of relief at the same time.
Shen Guanlan offered a warm smile. “Rest assured, Miss Yun. Partnering with Wanbao Tower will not disappoint you.”
He put away the pill recipe and added, “If you have any spiritual items, pill recipes, or magical artifacts to sell in the future, please do come to Wanbao Tower again. Prices and rules can all be negotiated favorably.”
“If I have the need, I will come.”
He turned to the errand boy. “Lead Miss Yun to a private room on the second floor to rest. Starting today, as long as Miss Yun remains in Tianque City, she may stay at Wanbao Tower.”
The errand boy immediately responded, “Yes.”
Shen Guanlan spoke to Yun Heng again: “I will personally deliver the spirit stones and the Wanbao Token shortly. Before the auction begins, someone will also come to invite you to the venue.”
Yun Heng stood up. “Thank you for your trouble.”
The errand boy led Yun Heng all the way up to the second floor.
The second floor of Wanbao Tower was much quieter than the first. Soundproofing array patterns lined both sides of the corridor in interconnected layers, so footsteps fell with hardly a whisper of an echo.
The errand boy stopped before a private room and pushed the door open.
“Miss Yun, this is the private room the Pavilion Master arranged for you.”
Yun Heng stepped inside.
The furnishings were more spacious than the reception room earlier. A soft daybed sat by the window, offering a view of a corner of the East Market's long street. Freshly brewed spiritual tea rested on the table, alongside two jade plates—one holding spiritual fruit, and the other containing several sticks of Mind-Clearing Incense to nourish spiritual sense.
A screen stood against the wall, concealing an inner chamber behind it.
The spiritual energy inside was far more stable than outside. Array patterns buried under the carpet glowed faintly as she stepped inside before quickly fading from sight.
Standing by the door, the errand boy bowed respectfully. “Please rest here for now, Miss Yun. Should you require anything, simply call out. I will be waiting right outside in the corridor.”
Yun Heng nodded. “Thank you.”
The errand boy hurriedly said, “You are too polite, Miss.”
With that, he stepped back quietly.
The door closed softly behind him.
Standing in the corridor, he finally let out a long breath.
He had thought he was merely welcoming a wealthy guest today, but who could have guessed he had brought in such an influential figure?
In all his years working at Wanbao Tower, he had seen plenty of direct sect disciples and scions of prominent clans, yet rarely had he seen the Pavilion Master place such importance on a first-time guest.
He couldn't help looking back at the closed door.
His judgment really wasn't bad. At first glance, he had felt Miss Yun shouldn't be neglected, and it turned out he had bet right.
Inside the room, Yun Heng took out her Breath-Concealing Array Plate, then sat down and poured herself a cup of tea.
Before long, a light knock sounded at the door.
Yun Heng looked up. “Enter.”
The door opened.
Shen Guanlan walked inside.
He came alone, carrying a dark ebony box in one hand and a dark gold token in the other.
“Pardon the intrusion, Miss Yun.”
Yun Heng stood up. “Pavilion Master.”
Shen Guanlan placed the wooden box on the table and set the token down beside it.
“These are the spirit stones we agreed upon.”
The wooden box opened to reveal several storage bags neatly stacked inside. The opening of each bag was sealed with Wanbao Pavilion's gold patterns, untouched and intact.
Shen Guanlan said, “One thousand five hundred high-grade spirit stones for the Thousand-Year Snow Lingzhi. Fifty thousand high-grade spirit stones for the Taiqing Nascent Soul Pill recipe. Fifty-one thousand five hundred in total, not a single one missing.”
Yun Heng took a glance. “Thank you.”
“I am grateful that you trust Wanbao Pavilion, Miss Yun.”
He pushed the dark gold token half an inch forward.
“This is the Wanbao Token. It contains the inner mark of Wanbao Pavilion. Should you bring this token to any branch in the future, you will naturally be received with honor.”
Yun Heng reached out and accepted it.
The token felt slightly heavy in her hand.
Dark gold throughout, its edges were unrefined and lusterless, as though dulled by time. The character “Wan” was carved deeply on the front, with intricate array patterns flowing between the strokes. On the back was a faint engraving of a nine-story tower, its shadow so subtle that without a close look, one might mistake it for mere ordinary scratches.
“Understood.”
Shen Guanlan did not linger.
“If you have no other matters, Miss Yun, I shall take my leave. Before the auction begins, someone will invite you to the venue.”
“Thank you, Pavilion Master.”
The door closed once more.
Yun Heng stood in place, listening as his footsteps faded into the distance before sitting back down by the table.
She first stored the spirit stones into her Qiankun Spirit-Storing Bag, then took out the Wanbao Token and observed it for a moment.
Then, she summoned the System panel, and a pale blue light screen unrolled before her eyes.
[Current Awe Points: 450]
After drawing cards yesterday, she had four hundred left.
After entering the city, going into Wanbao Pavilion, and selling the pill recipe, going through all that trouble had only netted fifty points.
Yun Heng sighed softly to herself. This wouldn't do.
The gacha System was her greatest variable. If her Awe Points didn't rise faster, then when she encountered another dead end later, she would eventually run out of cards to play.
Yun Heng closed the panel, stood up, and walked to the door.
She opened the door, and as expected, the errand boy was still waiting outside in the corridor. Seeing her open the door, he immediately stepped forward.
“Do you have any instructions, Miss Yun?”
Yun Heng looked at him. “Is there a place in Tianque City for cultivators to spar?”
The errand boy reacted quickly.
“Are you referring to a sparring arena, Miss?”
Tianque City was so large, with cultivators gathering everywhere, so disputes were naturally plentiful. Private fights were forbidden in the city, but official sparring was permitted. Otherwise, the tempers of rogue cultivators, sect disciples, and guards from prominent clans would have no outlet, making them even more likely to cause trouble in the city.
“Yes,” the errand boy said. “To the west of the city, there is the Martial Inquiry Arena, managed by people under the City Lord's Estate. Most of those who spar there are rogue cultivators, though some sect disciples go there to test their blades as well. The rules are quite strict—after signing a combat contract, victory is decided on stage, and no vendettas are allowed once off stage.”
At this point, he added another sentence.
“The Martial Inquiry Arena enjoys quite a reputation in Tianque City. If one wins brilliantly there, word spreads very quickly.”
Yun Heng's eyes stirred slightly.
Observing her expression, the errand boy faintly understood something in his heart, but he didn't pry further.
He merely said respectfully, “If you are interested, Miss Yun, you can go take a look another day. However...”
Yun Heng looked at him.
The errand boy reminded her in a low voice, “There is only half an hour left until the auction begins.”
“If you wish to go to the auction venue, I can lead you there now.”
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