Chapter 65: Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion
This novel is translated and hosted on BCatranslation.
Yu Zhao and Zhou Jin Yue shared the same perspective.
Yu Zhao’s cultivation was firmly stabilized, but she needed a certain degree of stimulation to achieve a breakthrough.
Coincidentally, she also required a Life-Bonded Artifact to be crafted before the upcoming Cultivation World Grand Competition.
Her plan was to train while searching for all the necessary artifact crafting materials. The endpoint of her journey was set as the Green Wood Sect. The day she left the Green Wood Sect would mark her return to the Five Elements Dao Sect.
Zhou Jin Yue, filled with concern, gave Yu Zhao detailed advice on the potential dangers of the journey. She also handed over all the Talismans she carried for Yu Zhao’s protection. Grateful for Zhou Jin Yue’s thoughtfulness, Yu Zhao did not decline.
After expressing her thanks, Yu Zhao visited Elder Gu at the Archive Pavilion, informing him of her departure. Elder Gu simply reminded her to return in time for the Grand Competition. While there were categories for both sect and individual contests, it was common knowledge that the sect competition was much easier than the individual one. Returning as a disciple of the sect would increase her chances of securing a spot.
Yu Zhao assured Elder Gu of her understanding. With a wave, he dismissed her.
As she had few close contacts in the sect besides Zhou Jin Yue and Elder Gu, Yu Zhao left the pavilion directly for the mountain gate without stopping at the Inner Courtyard.
Once outside the Five Elements Dao Sect, Yu Zhao swiftly traveled toward Lantern City, the first destination of her journey, where she had stayed during her previous training.
…
Lantern City was as bustling as ever.
Upon arriving at the city gates, Yu Zhao paid the entrance fee and chose a random inn to stay in. For the following days, she remained inside her room, venturing out only after nightfall.
As the city streets emptied, leaving only lanterns casting their soft glow, Yu Zhao leaped out of her window. Walking along the quiet streets, her sharp eyes quickly caught sight of a faint yellow marking on a wall in a small alley.
Smiling faintly, she tapped the stone bearing the mark in the rhythm of three long knocks followed by two short ones. Moments later, the sound of grinding stone echoed from behind the wall. A hidden door quietly appeared.
Without hesitation, Yu Zhao stepped inside.
The interior resembled an entirely different world.
The spacious and brightly lit hall glowed as if it were daytime. Two young cultivators stood guard at the entrance.
The left guard was a voluptuous woman with a seductive air, while the right was a handsome man exuding charm.
Upon seeing Yu Zhao, the male cultivator approached with a smile. “Greetings, my lady.”
Though his voice lacked the softness of the woman’s, it carried an alluring undertone, reminiscent of lovers bantering.
Yu Zhao’s expression remained indifferent. “I’m here to find someone.”
The Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion was the largest trading association in the cultivation world. Officially, it dealt in artifacts, pills, and other items. Unofficially, its Dark Pavilion operated in the shadows, dealing in confidential intelligence. The Dark Pavilion was divided into three departments: Inquiry, Search, and Request.
Inquiry allowed for the purchase or sale of exclusive information. Search specialized in locating people or items. Request involved submitting personal needs for the Dark Pavilion to fulfill.
Yu Zhao’s statement indicated she sought someone or something.
Realizing she was no newcomer, the male cultivator dropped his flirtatious demeanor, his voice turning crisp and professional. “This way, my lady.”
He guided her to a private room, which featured a partition wall with a small window at shoulder height.
“Please wait here for a moment, esteemed guest. The Seeker will be with you shortly.”
Yu Zhao gave a calm acknowledgment. As soon as the attendant retreated, a small window on the partition opened, and a palm-sized wooden token floated into the room.
Yu Zhao reached out and caught it.
The front of the token bore the character “Seek” (?), while the back was blank.
Using her spiritual energy as a pen, Yu Zhao flipped the token over and wrote two items: Supreme Essence Water and Heavenly Fairy Herb.
These were the final two rare materials she needed for her artifact crafting. Both were uncommon treasures in the cultivation world.
She infused spiritual energy into the token, sending it back through the window. The small window shut instantly.
After a short while, it reopened. A wooden tray floated out and stopped in front of Yu Zhao. On it lay a note that read: “Five mid-grade spirit stones.”
This was the price Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion quoted for sourcing the items.
Seeing the note, Yu Zhao let out a subtle sigh of relief.
The Pavilion never accepted requests it couldn’t fulfill. If they lacked a reliable source or deemed the task impossible, they wouldn’t charge a fee. In fact, they would compensate clients instead—albeit modestly, as a gesture of goodwill.
Yu Zhao was not short on funds; what she needed was a Life-Bonded Artifact. Without hesitation, she placed five mid-grade spirit stones on the tray and sent it back through the window.
When the window reopened, Yu Zhao finally received the information she sought. The Pavilion, true to its reputation as the greatest intelligence network in the cultivation world, provided five leads: three for Supreme Essence Water and two for Heavenly Fairy Herb.
After reviewing the details, Yu Zhao identified the most promising locations: Black Water City in the Southern Region for the water and the Marsh Forest in the Western Region for the herb.
After some thought, she decided to head to Black Water City first.
In three months, the city would host an auction featuring Supreme Essence Water as one of its items. With her spirit stones, acquiring it was almost guaranteed.
Her plan was clear: secure the water at the auction, then proceed to the Marsh Forest to search for the herb.
The next day, Yu Zhao began her journey southward.
By her flying speed, reaching Black Water City would take less than a month. However, she felt that devoting all her time to traveling and searching for materials would make for a dull and unproductive journey. She wanted to improve her cultivation through experience.
Thus, she kept an eye out for traveling merchant caravans along the way.
Whenever she spotted one, she approached to see if she could hitch a ride.
On days when luck was not on her side, she lingered longer in cities or in the wilderness where demonic beasts roamed, immersing herself in local cultures and landscapes.
In this leisurely fashion of travel, a month passed in the blink of an eye.
One day, Yu Zhao stumbled upon a small town.
This town lacked any cultivators and was home only to mortals who lived simple lives—rising with the sun and resting at sunset.
Feeling that her arrival here was fated, Yu Zhao transformed her attire into a plain, modest outfit and entered the town.
“Fresh flowers for sale! Miss, would you like to buy some flowers? They’re fresh and beautiful!”
“Miss, how about a steaming hot bun? Freshly made!”
“Sweet candied hawthorn! Sweet candied hawthorn sticks!”
As Yu Zhao strolled through the lively, smoke-filled streets, a distant memory surfaced in her mind.