Cultivation Begins with Daily Intelligence Reports

164: Tianfa PavilionLin Jingyu’s heart skipped a beat, and he cursed himself for being reckless.

A flash of embarrassment and sheepishness quickly crossed his face, and he wanted to pull his hand back as if he had been electrocuted.

However, the evasion or rebuke he had anticipated did not occur.

Yun Momo, whose head he was stroking, not only did not pull away, but instead acted like a small kitten that had been comfortably groomed by its owner.

Her petite nostrils twitched slightly, her eyes narrowed comfortably into two curved crescents, and her long eyelashes drooped like little fans. A faint, delicate sound, like a kitten acting spoiled, escaped her throat: ”Mm-hmm.”

Her previously tense little shoulders relaxed completely, and her whole being radiated a sense of laziness and contentment.

Qin Yue took in the whole scene. She leaned against the grand armchair, supporting her cheek with one hand, a clear and teasing smile playing at the corners of her lips. She shook her head slightly but did not point it out.

That look seemed to say: ”Oh, young people...”

Lin Jingyu keenly caught the playfulness in Qin Yue’s eyes, and his embarrassment deepened.

He quickly took the opportunity to withdraw his hand, using the act of turning to tidy the Jade Boxes on the table to cover his awkwardness, and hurriedly put those smooth Jade Boxes one by one into his Storage Pouch.

The Jade Boxes felt cool and delicate to the touch, making him feel even more that his previous action had been truly abrupt.

”Sister Yue,”

He cleared his throat, trying to make his voice sound calm and normal, filled with the utmost sincerity.

”These Materials, how many Spirit Stones do these Materials cost in total? I will pay you.”

Upon hearing this, Qin Yue waved her hand lazily, her tone casual and gentle:

”They are just a few ordinary auxiliary Materials, they aren’t worth many Spirit Stones. Just consider it a little help from me, your sister, to my brother.”

Lin Jingyu raised his head and looked at Qin Yue with a firm gaze: ”I haven’t properly thanked you for the Spirit Tea last time. If I accept your things for free again this time, no matter how thick-skinned Jingyu is, I really wouldn’t be able to face you.”

His tone was decisive, carrying an unquestionable persistence. He even made a move to take the Jade Boxes he had just put away back out of his Storage Pouch.

”Sister Yue, if you won’t accept it, then Jingyu absolutely cannot take these Materials!”

His attitude was exceptionally firm, his body leaning slightly forward, his gaze burning. The posture suggested that if Qin Yue didn’t name a price, he really might return everything immediately.

Watching his stubborn appearance, Qin Yue was both annoyed and amused. Finally, she sighed helplessly and held up two slender fingers:

”Fine, fine, fine, I can’t win against you. Then... one hundred Low-Grade Spirit Stones it is. Just a token amount will do; if you refuse again, I will really get angry.”

The price she quoted was clearly symbolic, lower than the actual value of those Materials.

Lin Jingyu knew this clearly, but he did not insist on increasing the price. He knew this was Qin Yue’s good intention, and refusing again would only seem distant.

Without further hesitation, he nimbly counted out exactly one hundred Low-Grade Spirit Stones, shimmering with a gentle luster, from his Storage Pouch and stacked them on the table in front of Qin Yue.

”Sister Yue, please accept these.” Lin Jingyu’s voice carried relief and gratitude.

Qin Yue looked at the pile of Spirit Stones, smiled helplessly, and with a wave of her fair hand, swept them into her own Storage Pouch. It was a way to fulfill Lin Jingyu’s desire not to owe a favor.

”Alright, let’s focus on the important matters.”

Qin Yue stood up, adjusted her collar, and regained the shrewd and capable demeanor of the Third Manager of Miaoling Pavilion. ”Let’s go, I’ll take you to Tianfa Pavilion. The matter of the Spirit Gathering Array and the Spirit Activation Array should be handled sooner rather than later.”

The three left Miaoling Pavilion, with Qin Yue leading the way, and walked toward the deeper parts of the inner Southeast Market Town.

Passing through the relatively quiet street where Miaoling Pavilion was located, further inside, the atmosphere suddenly changed.

The street was noticeably wider, the ground paved with neatly cut Blue Steel Stones that reflected light like a mirror. The buildings on both sides were also taller and more magnificent, with flying eaves, bucket arches, and carved beams and painted pillars, and the Spiritual Qi fluctuations were significantly denser than in the outer areas.

The Cultivators walking on the street generally had higher cultivation levels. Cultivators at the Qi Refining Mid-Stage were everywhere, and one could even see many deep-breathed, steady-stepping Late Stage Qi Refining experts.

Whether walking alone in a hurry or chatting in small groups of three or five, the Spiritual Pressure faintly radiating from them made Lin Jingyu, with his lower cultivation level, feel a trace of invisible pressure.

The air was filled with a complex scent of various Magical Artifacts, Medicinal Pills, and Talismans, along with the special incense wafting from some shops to attract customers.

Lin Jingyu observed his surroundings calmly. This was his first time venturing so deep into the core area of the inner market, and he was secretly assessing the prosperity, potential opportunities, and risks here.

Before long, a magnificent, landmark-like building appeared before the three, blocking half the sky.

Tianfa Pavilion!

The building was six stories high and constructed entirely from an expensive spirit material called ”Red Flame Glazed Stone,” which refracted a deep and magnificent ruby-like luster under the sunlight.

The flying eaves were like blades, pointing straight to the firmament. Huge bronze bells hung from the corners of the eaves, swaying without wind and emitting a low, distant hum, as if containing some kind of Formation rhythm.

The main entrance consisted of two massive bronze doors over three zhang tall, engraved with complex patterns of celestial movement. They were open, and above the lintel hung a huge black plaque with golden characters — ”Tianfa Pavilion.”

The three large characters were written with sweeping dragon-and-snake-like brushstrokes, faintly revealing immense Spiritual Qi fluctuations, as if containing the Laws of heaven and earth, making one feel awestruck at the sight.

Opposite Tianfa Pavilion across the street, of almost the same scale and grandeur, was the ”Tianshu Pavilion,” which sold Cultivation Techniques and classics.

The two magnificent buildings stood like twin giant beasts, and the square in front of the doors was paved with smooth white marble, clean and tidy.

Only a few Cultivators in luxurious clothing with extraordinary Auras entered and exited, making it quite quiet, a sharp contrast to the clamor of the outer areas.

”Tianfa Pavilion and Tianshu Pavilion both belong to the same owner — ’Wanbao Tower’.”

Qin Yue introduced this to Lin Jingyu in a low voice, her tone carrying a trace of imperceptible awe:

”Together, they hold one of the qualification rights for the annual largest auction in the Southeast Market Town, and their status is transcendental.”

”To enter these two places to buy things, one must either be a Late Stage Qi Refining Cultivator or hold a VIP token issued by them; otherwise, you can’t even get through the door.”

Wanbao Tower!

This was a behemoth that spanned the entire Eastern Spirit Nation, and its status was very transcendent.

It only focused on doing business and never participated in disputes.

However, its terrifying foundation was enough to make any force tremble with fear.

When they walked to the huge bronze doors, two guards stood at the entrance, dressed in uniform cyan robes with steady Auras, both at the Qi Refining Sixth Layer.

Their eyes were sharp as eagles, and when they swept over Lin Jingyu, a young man who was clearly of low cultivation and a stranger, they carried an undisguised scrutiny.

Qin Yue remained composed, taking out a palm-sized jade Talisman from her sleeve that was glowing white and engraved with complex cloud patterns, and showed it to the guards.

Upon seeing the jade Talisman and carefully recognizing Qin Yue’s face, the guards’ expressions immediately became extremely respectful. They stepped aside to clear the path, bowed, and saluted: ”Please enter, Shopkeeper Qin!”