What Bai Zhiqiu said before leaving really weighed on her mind. What did she mean by “keep a good eye on your Senior Sister”? And what did she mean by “if anything happens, you can find me”?
‘Why can’t this charlatan just speak clearly? Does she enjoy being a riddler so much?’
Sitting behind Wu Yan, Yu Qingyao lowered her head in deep thought. Meanwhile, Wu Yan, sitting in front of her, was also contemplating something.
She had already spoken with the inner Wu Yan. Those demonic cultivators who invaded the Piaomiao Sect hadn’t been brought in by her. It just so happened that the moment the inner Wu Yan killed the Sect Master, those demonic cultivators broke through the Sect Protecting Array and stormed in. Who exactly was the demonic spy within the sect?
Wu Yan couldn’t help but look at Xia Lingshuang, who sat in the center. ‘Didn’t Master investigate the movement of personnel and the flow of funds within the sect? Did she find anything?’
The dusky sunset traced the clouds on the horizon with a delicate golden edge, marking the end of the seven-into-four matches.
“Junior Brother Lin, you’re amazing! You actually managed to break into the top thirteen!”
Zhao Wuji reached out and patted Lin Xiao’s firm back, his voice filled with admiration.
“That’s right, that’s right! You’re incredible, Senior Brother Lin!” Su Qianqian chimed in from the side, her eyes practically sparkling.
Although Lin Xiao had lost to Xie Wenyuan of the Taiqing Sect in the seven-into-four match, honestly, the fact that he reached the top seven without any byes had exceeded everyone’s expectations. According to their initial predictions, a Body Cultivator in the Early Golden Core Realm like him would have fulfilled his duty just by making it into the top twenty-six, let alone achieving the best result after Wu Yan.
“It was nothing, really. I just got lucky. Besides, didn’t I lose today?” Lin Xiao scratched his head, speaking with a hint of embarrassment.
The group then returned to the courtyard. Wu Yan did not head back with them today; instead, she went straight to the Tianbao Pavilion in the Central Province.
Compared to the branch in Qingshan City, the Tianbao Pavilion in the Central Province was far more luxurious.
If the one in Qingshan City was a delicate three-story manor, then the one before her was a tower that reached the heavens.
The Tianbao Pavilion in the Central Province had nine floors and was built entirely of white marble, its surface carved with various rare and exotic beasts. These carvings formed a defensive array through a special technique and sequence. Wu Yan had heard from Bai Zhiqiu’s introduction that this array could withstand a full-power strike from a cultivator at the Body Integration Stage.
The “Tianbao Tongshen” plaque was carved from red sandalwood and hung in the center of the top floor. Nine red warm-jade pillars, carved with the Nine Sons of the Dragon, encased the entire massive tower. It was a staggering sight at first glance.
As Wu Yan drew closer, she noticed a layer of golden-pink mist drifting out from the entrance.
It was truly the height of extravagance.
As soon as Wu Yan stepped into the Tianbao Pavilion, a familiar voice rang in her ears.
“Oh, Fairy Wu, what brings you here?”
Wu Yan followed the sound, passing several beautiful attendants dressed in identical flowing cloud silk dresses. Her gaze finally landed on a young girl wearing a light pink embroidered short-sleeved dress and a pair of pink-and-white gradient stockings.
The girl’s slightly chubby face and peach-blossom eyes were quite distinctive.
“Miss Tao’er, why have you come to the Central Province?”
Wu Yan felt somewhat surprised. She had just obtained that piece of Meteor Wind Iron from Tao’er at the Tianbao Pavilion in Qingshan City not long ago. She hadn’t expected to run into her again in the Central Province.
The inner Wu Yan stared at Tao’er suspiciously, trying to find any clues on her. ‘I think she followed you here. Otherwise, how could a normal attendant be running around everywhere?’
Tao’er approached Wu Yan with light steps, a faint scent of mint trailing after her. “Naturally, it’s because the foot traffic in the Central Province increases significantly during the Five Sects Tournament. As the only Tianbao Pavilion in Tianyuan City, the daily staff isn’t enough to handle the surge, so attendants are called from all over to support.”
As she spoke, she giggled and pointed to her pink embroidered short dress. “They gave me this one when I arrived~ And all the first-floor attendants you see were brought in from other places!”
With Tao’er’s explanation, Wu Yan understood. It was the same concept as a business trip for support in her previous life.
“May I ask what brings Fairy Wu to the Tianbao Pavilion today?”
Hearing Tao’er’s question, Wu Yan subconsciously placed her hand on her Storage Bag.
“We naturally accept such things. Fairy Wu, this way, please.”
Tao’er made an inviting gesture with both hands and led Wu Yan into a room. Beneath their feet was a carpet woven from silk, and the ceiling, walls, and even the floor were studded with night pearls.
The long table in the center was made of golden phoebe wood. Atop it, an ancient purple clay incense burner emitted coils of blue smoke.
“Fairy Wu, please have some tea.” Tao’er brewed a cup for Wu Yan as per her usual routine.
“What kind of Monster Beast corpses and inner cores do you wish to sell? Let me appraise them for you and see if I can get you a good price.”
Wu Yan looked at the room’s environment, slightly hesitant to take out the Monster Beast’s body.
Sensing Wu Yan’s hesitation, Tao’er explained, “Don’t worry about making a mess. This room has its own cleaning array. Once we leave, the array will activate and clean the room itself.”
Hearing this, Wu Yan no longer hesitated and took the massive corpse of a Two-headed Corrosive Python directly from her Storage Bag. One of the python’s large heads was missing, and the lower jaw of the remaining head had been pierced by a sword. Fortunately, the rest of the corpse was well-preserved and had not rotted.
After the time it took for half an incense stick to burn, Tao’er took off her gloves.
“A Two-headed Corrosive Python at the Foundation Establishment Peak. The poison sacs, gall bladder, skin, and even the meat are very well-preserved. Although one head is missing, causing some damage to its inner core, we can certainly give you 120 Middle-grade Spirit Stones for it.”
The price of 120 Middle-grade Spirit Stones exceeded Wu Yan’s expectations. In her view, getting ninety Middle-grade Spirit Stones for these things would have been the absolute limit.
“Fairy Wu, do you accept this price?”
“I do.”
“Good.” Tao’er clapped her hands and put the corpse into her own Storage Bag, then took out 120 Middle-grade Spirit Stones and handed them to Wu Yan. “Then I wish us a pleasant transaction~”
Wu Yan did not immediately take the 120 Middle-grade Spirit Stones. Instead, she reached into her Storage Bag and pulled out an inner core about the size of a chicken egg.
The core’s body was pitch-black, but upon closer inspection, one could see two dark-red blood veins on it, dividing the core into upper and lower halves.
When this core was fully revealed, the entire room was suddenly filled with a suffocating pressure. Luckily, there was a chair behind Tao’er; otherwise, she might have collapsed onto the floor then and there.
“This is…” Tao’er swallowed hard, her voice filled with disbelief.
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