Zhao Chun first presented her Inner Sect Disciple token before being allowed to enter the Treasure Pavilion. The gatekeeper saw that she was young and rather unfamiliar, guessing she was a newly promoted Inner Sect Disciple, and smilingly led a servant over.
That person was dressed in grey clothes, with a small and thin frame, and he was stooped over as he said, "This humble one is Ping Sheng. I have been working in this Treasure Pavilion since I was young, so I am clearer than anyone about the matters within.
If Honored One has anything she wishes to know, just ask this humble one." Zhao Chun saw he was about thirty years old, yet still at the First Level of Qi Refinement, and knew he was likely some kind of menial laborer. She replied to him, "I wish to purchase a magic tool.
Where would be a good place to go?" After speaking, she took out two Essence Stones from her bosom and gave them to him. Seeing her generosity, Ping Sheng's eyes instantly lit up, and his face broke into a wide, happy smile.
He said, "When it comes to magic tools, you have to go to the Immortal Forging Hall in the southeast. That's a shop endorsed by Elder Wu, you can't go wrong!" Wu Yunzhang, one of the four Inner Sect Elders, was most skilled in artifact forging.
Zhao Chun followed him and asked again, "The Martial Goods Market outside also sells magic tools. What's the difference between them and the ones here?"
"Honored One might not know, but the things in the Martial Goods Market are unranked; they are all considered mortal items. Ordinary cultivators can use them, but once one advances to the mid-to-late Qi Refining Stage, they become useless."
"I saw that the Pill Market has ranked, fully-formed pills. Why are the two markets different?"
"Eh, how can elixir pills and magic tools be the same," Ping Sheng waved his hand and explained in detail, "When cultivators train on a daily basis, who doesn't buy a few pills to use? Unformed medicinal powders cost two or three doses for a single Essence Stone. Even ranked, fully-formed pills only cost a few Essence Stones, a price one can afford by gritting their teeth. But ranked magic tools are different. They're trades that easily go for hundreds or thousands. How could they dare to put them in the outer market?"
"Besides, it's only wealthy Inner Sect Disciples like yourself. An ordinary cultivator might not even have one by the mid-to-late Qi Refining Stage. They're a rarity!"
Zhao Chun thought to herself, this is probably the difference between daily consumables and luxury goods. A few months ago, she was destitute, and now she had become a wealthy household. Truly, after a separation of three days, one should be looked at with new eyes.
The two entered a magnificent, resplendent hall. There were quite a few people inside, all strolling about and selecting items. Ping Sheng led her towards an inner room, mentioning her status as an Inner Sect Disciple.
Although Zhao Chun was only at the Third Level of Qi Refinement, the shopkeeper still dared not underestimate the weight of the words "Inner Sect," and dispatched a dedicated person to ask what she needed.
"I want a defensive magic tool, preferably a light one."
The middle-aged man who asked called himself Li, a Steward of the Immortal Forging Hall. After hearing her words, he pondered for a moment and replied, "There are many defensive magical artifacts in the hall. This humble one observes that Fellow Daoist's cultivation base is at the Third Level of Qi Refinement.
I imagine you have come to prepare for the Minor Trial!" These words were exactly what Zhao Chun was thinking. True Spirit Sect disciples had a test when advancing to the middle stage of Qi Refinement, called the Minor Trial.
There was another test when advancing from Qi Refining to Foundation Establishment, called the Major Trial. Passing both tests granted entry into the Inner Sect. Zhao Chun had entered the Inner Sect based on her Spiritual Root and was not exempt from these two trials.
Although failing wouldn't get her expelled from the Inner Sect, if she got a black mark because of it, not only would her personal resources be greatly reduced, but she would also drop a rank in the eyes of the elders above. In the end, it was a losing business she couldn't afford.
Furthermore, she also wanted to get a good result in the Minor Trial to shut the mouths of others, saving herself the trouble of being annoyed by gossip.
"It is indeed as the Steward says."
Zhao Chun nodded. The Minor Trial required one to go outside the sect. Heavens knew what unexpected events could happen out there.
Her life and safety were paramount, so a defensive treasure was indispensable. Hearing this, Steward Li brought over two lacquer boxes and said, "In that case, this humble one has two items to recommend." He first opened the left lacquer box, revealing a bronze mirror resting on bright yellow silk cloth.
"This is the Eight Treasures Mirror, a replica of the Yellow Grade High-Tier magic tool, the Eight Treasures Auspicious Mirror. Although it is a replica, it possesses a fraction of the original's magical power. It can protect the body and block three full-power attacks from a mid-stage Qi Refining cultivator, or one from a late-stage one. It is a Mortal Grade Mid-Tier magic tool."
The right lacquer box revealed a pair of jade armbands.
"These are the Jade Twin-Fish Armguards. When struck, they can form a Qi Armor to protect the entire body. The Qi Armor's strength depends on the cultivator themselves; the higher the cultivation base, the more useful it becomes. It is a Mortal Grade High-Tier magic tool."
Zhao Chun asked, "What are the prices of these two items, respectively?" Steward Li replied, "The Eight Treasures Mirror is six hundred Essence Stones. The Jade Armguards are much more precious; they will cost two thousand."
To be honest, the Jade Armguards were not of much use to Zhao Chun at present. Her cultivation base was still low, and the Qi Armor it produced could only block cultivators of the same stage, making it seem somewhat useless.
The Eight Treasures Mirror was a consumable item that could be used at a life-or-death moment, making it most suitable for her current needs. But Zhao Chun also knew that her cultivation speed had greatly increased now. Although she didn't dare say she was aiming straight for Foundation Establishment, she was confident about reaching the mid-to-late Qi Refining Stage.
It was just a matter of a few years. If she came back for these armguards then, they would likely have long since fallen into someone else's hands!
"I find it difficult to choose between these two items," Zhao Chun paused slightly, then said, "Steward, please wrap them both up for me. Those armguards should become useful later on."
Her words were spoken with great extravagance. Steward Li was shocked by her spending money like water, thinking she was a disciple from a great noble family. His attitude became even more respectful, and a look of delight appeared on his face as he hurriedly said, "Excellent!
Fellow Daoist is a straightforward person. This humble one will pack them up for you right away!" Zhao Chun paid four hundred Essence Stones and then picked out two Spirit Jades.
She didn't have much loose change and needed to save some to exchange for magical arts at the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion. Steward Li packed away the items, shot a glance outside, and asked in a low voice, "I wonder if Fellow Daoist has an offensive magic tool? If not, there is a marvelous item in the Immortal Forging Hall.
Would Fellow Daoist be willing to take a look?" Zhao Chun stopped. She only had an ordinary iron sword in her possession, which was just about sufficient for now.
But if she advanced to the middle stage of Qi Refining in the future, she would have to find another magic tool. It would be better to settle it all today. So she replied, "Please speak plainly, Steward."
Steward Li nodded and waved over a servant, who was carrying a long lacquer box. He opened it and placed it before Zhao Chun. Inside was a dagger the length of a forearm, with both sides sharpened.
The body of the blade was an inky black, while the edges were tinged with red, giving it a somewhat demonic and unusual air.
"The Red-Edged Dagger, Mortal Grade High-Tier. However, its value far exceeds other high-tier magic tools..."
Zhao Chun raised an eyebrow.
"Why is that?"
"It was originally one of the Dual Demon-Slaying Blades, a Yellow Grade magic tool. The Dual Demon-Slaying Blades consisted of the fire-attribute Red-Edged Dagger and the wood-attribute Green-Edged Dagger. Wood feeds fire, which is how they gained their fame. However, the Green-Edged Dagger has now been lost, so this Red-Edged Dagger naturally no longer lives up to its former glory."
"Although its rank has dropped, the quality of its material and the sharpness of its edge are still incomparable to other magic tools."
Zhao Chun was also tempted. The attributes of this Red-Edged Dagger matched hers, and its size was also conveniently light. However, she had never learned dagger techniques and didn't know how it would handle when used in conjunction with her swordsmanship.
"I only use sword weapons. I don't know if a dagger would be easy to handle."
"Fellow Daoist can take it out and try it, then consider further!"
Since it was so, Zhao Chun did not refuse and immediately took out the Red-Edged Dagger. The dagger was long and slender, only slightly shorter than the ordinary iron sword she had custom-made. It felt heavy in her hand, but was very light when swung.
Zhao Chun took a step forward and performed the first two forms of the Swift-Walk Sword Technique as smoothly as flowing water. Only then did she put the dagger away and smile, "This item is excellent. It can be used as a short sword.
I wonder what its price is?" Steward Li had previously thought she was just a big spender with the title of an Inner Sect Disciple. Now, seeing her proficient performance of a sword technique, he regarded her in an even higher light and said, "It was originally three thousand two hundred Essence Stones.
This humble one can take the liberty of rounding it down for you." Zhao Chun accepted this kind gesture, took out another three Spirit Jades, and put the Red-Edged Dagger into her pouch. Two defensive magic tools and one offensive magic tool.
This trip to the Treasure Pavilion had truly made her bleed a lot of money, but fortunately, Zhao Chun was very satisfied with the results. She was not a stingy person.
For her, it was fine not to spend money, but if she was going to spend it, it had to be on something important, so it wouldn't be a waste.
After leaving the Hundred Treasures Market, Zhao Chun rushed to the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion without stopping, where she exchanged for the Tiger Strength Art and the Snake-Form Step, spending eight hundred Essence Stones. She did a quick calculation. She still had thirty Spirit Jades and over two thousand Essence Stones left, which was still considered wealthy.
However, no amount of money was ever enough. She couldn't only spend without earning; she had to find another way to make money. Now that she had both magic tools and magical arts, Zhao Chun focused her heart on heading straight for the middle stage of Qi Refining.
She made up her mind to undergo ascetic cultivation and not come out of seclusion until she broke through. She took a Smoke Boat all the way back west, only to encounter a familiar yet not-so-familiar person standing beneath the springhead behind her courtyard.
(End of this chapter)