txolops Chapter 220 Thunder Spirit Crystal! The Dark Trade Fair! The Holy Maiden of Tianlan is on her way!
Chapter 220 Thunder Spirit Crystal! The Dark Trade Fair! The Holy Maiden of Tianlan is on her way!
On the way to the capital of Dajin, Lin Chuan did not rush straight ahead, but traveled at a leisurely pace, taking about eight or nine months.
Of course, he wasn't sightseeing; he was consciously using the daily updated divination results to search for the auxiliary materials needed to craft the two treasures along the way.
The divination provided guidance, sometimes clear, sometimes vague, but it always pointed him in the general direction. With his powerful divine sense, rich experience, and combat strength far exceeding that of his peers, Lin Chuan reaped considerable rewards along the way.
When he encounters a sect or cultivator who is reasonable and willing to trade, he usually follows the principle of "courtesy first, then force," offering a price that the other party finds hard to refuse, often high-grade spirit stones or rare materials and spiritual herbs of equal value in exchange, and he has successfully obtained a lot of the things he needs.
Of course, the cultivation world is never short of greedy and foolish people.
If there are any who rely on their power to demand exorbitant prices, or who simply take advantage of Lin Chuan's loneliness and wealth to plot against him, Lin Chuan will never show mercy.
For those with ulterior motives, he would usually first use swift and decisive measures to intimidate them. If they remained obstinate, the Great Geng Sword Formation and the Jingzhe Divine Sword would be the final judgment.
After several such encounters, Lin Chuan's reputation as a "jinx" spread in small circles in some of the areas he passed through, which saved him a lot of trouble.
Through this process of collection, almost 80-90% of the rare auxiliary materials needed to refine the "Imitation of the Tongtian Lingbao Hunyuan Jade Disc" have been gathered!
Only two or three types of materials remained, which were not entirely unique and could perhaps be found in large markets. This made Lin Chuan even more excited about the upcoming auction in Beijing.
In comparison, the collection of materials for crafting "late-stage Nascent Soul puppets" is slower.
The creation of puppets is extremely complex, and the materials required are incredibly diverse, many involving the balance of the five elements and yin and yang, as well as the carrying of special energies. Among them, the most essential and the most difficult to find are the "Five Elements Jade" and the "Radiant Crystal," which Lin Chuan has yet to obtain.
He vaguely remembered that these two materials seemed to have appeared at the super auction in Jinjing mentioned in the original work, which was one of the main reasons why he made Jinjing an important destination.
On this day, Lin Chuan, weary from his journey, finally arrived at the heart of the Great Jin Dynasty—Jinjing.
Standing high in the sky, looking out, a colossal city, so vast and awe-inspiring, lies sprawling across the boundless earth.
The city wall is not a single circle, but rather layered upon layered, with as many as nine layers!
Like nine giant concentric circles, the city is divided into different areas.
The further out you go, the lower the city walls become, and the more chaotic the buildings appear; the further in you go, the taller and more majestic the city walls become. The highest point, the inner city core wall, is estimated to be a hundred feet high, like a mountain range stretching across the landscape, exuding an ancient and heavy aura and powerful restrictive energy.
The entire city covered an area of several hundred square miles, roughly estimated, and had a population of tens of millions, making it a bustling and prosperous place.
However, having witnessed the super immortal city of Chaotic Star Sea Star City, which covered four thousand miles and resembled an independent continent, Lin Chuan was not particularly shocked by Jinjing. He simply nodded slightly, praising its meticulous planning and magnificent scale.
There is a clear no-fly zone over the capital, strictly prohibiting cultivators from flying at will, as a sign of respect for imperial authority and for ease of management. Lower-level cultivators and mortals can only pass through the city gates.
However, this ban was practically meaningless to Lin Chuan.
He showed no intention of stopping his escape. His green robe fluttered as he transformed into an inconspicuous blue rainbow, ignoring the astonished, awe-inspiring, and angry gazes below. He flew over the nine outermost towering city walls and landed directly in the innermost city area.
Wherever he went, the warning and interception barriers on the city walls flickered slightly, but they were easily bypassed by the powerful aura naturally emanating from his body and his exquisite escape techniques, failing to play any role in hindering him.
"How dare you! Who would dare to trespass in the no-fly zone of Jinjing...?"
On several watchtowers in the inner city, law enforcement cultivators dressed in standard armor and at the Core Formation stage were alerted and questioned them sternly.
But when their divine senses swept over the azure rainbow and sensed the undisguised spiritual pressure of the mid-stage Nascent Soul realm, all their rebukes instantly caught in their throats.
"He's a senior in the mid-Nascent Soul stage!"
"Quickly, put away your magical artifacts! Don't be rude!"
"Please forgive me, senior! I was blind to your abilities!"
Several law enforcement cultivators turned pale and hurriedly put away the magical artifacts pointing to the sky. They bowed respectfully towards the direction of the azure rainbow that was already falling towards a certain place in the inner city, cold sweat beading on their foreheads.
In the cultivation world where the strong are respected, especially in Jinjing, a place teeming with hidden talents, mid-Nascent Soul cultivators are already at the top, enjoying numerous privileges. The so-called "no-flying order" has very limited binding force on them.
Unless they directly attack the imperial palace or the core forbidden areas of the top sects, the patrolling cultivators usually turn a blind eye.
Lin Chuan paid no attention to the commotion behind him. Following the directions he had found out beforehand, he moved swiftly and landed at the end of a bustling street in the inner city.
Here stands a seven-story pavilion, entirely constructed of a type of blue jade, with an exquisite and unique design. The plaque above it bears three ancient characters: Tianji Pavilion.
This Tianji Pavilion is a shop in the capital of Jin, belonging to the Tianji Sect, a rather mysterious weapon-refining sect in the Great Jin Dynasty. It is famous for its expertise in refining various ingenious mechanisms and magical treasures.
Lin Chuan came here hoping to see if he could buy a "Heavenly Secrets Mansion" that was rumored to be portable and could be used for cultivation at any time.
After all, having a comfortable and safe temporary cave dwelling would be much more convenient when traveling for a long time.
Upon entering the Tianji Pavilion, one finds numerous exquisite models of magical artifacts and jade slip catalogs displayed in the main hall on the first floor, with several staff members attending to guests.
Upon seeing Lin Chuan enter and sensing his unfathomable aura, an elderly man in the late Core Formation stage, who appeared to be a steward, hurriedly stepped forward and respectfully bowed: "Junior is a steward of the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion, greetings to senior. May I ask what you need, senior? Our pavilion has all kinds of mechanisms, magical artifacts, grotto-heaven treasures, and custom-made services."
"I have heard that your esteemed establishment sells 'Heavenly Secrets Mansions,' which can be carried with you and unfolds into a cave dwelling. I, Lin, would like to purchase one."
Lin Chuan stated his purpose directly.
Upon hearing this, the old man's face showed an apologetic expression: "Senior, you've come at an inopportune time. The Heavenly Mystery Palaces refined by our pavilion are already rare in quantity, and the refining cycle is also long. The last batch of three was sold out a month ago. The next batch will probably have to wait for another year."
"Sold out?" Lin Chuan frowned slightly, a hint of regret in his voice, but he didn't press the matter. "In that case, are there any other portable cave dwellings with similar effects, or of decent quality?"
"this……"
The old man pondered for a moment, then took out a jade slip from his robes. He kept it so he wouldn't get lost while following the book, titled "A Daily Divination for Steady Immortal Cultivation in Yellow Maple Valley!" and presented it with both hands. "Senior," he said, "this is a list of some of the rare materials and special magical artifacts currently in our inventory. Perhaps there are some that you might be interested in. We don't have portable cave dwellings at the moment, but we do have some rare materials and array plates for setting up cave dwellings."
Lin Chuan took the jade slip, probed it with his divine sense, and quickly browsed through it.
The list is quite extensive, ranging from various rare refining materials to core array plates and flags for setting up spirit-gathering, protective, and illusionary formations, as well as some uniquely functional one-time-use mechanical puppets. The variety is extensive, and the prices are clearly marked, often amounting to tens of thousands or even hundreds of thousands of spirit stones.
His gaze swept quickly across the list, initially not holding out much hope, but when it reached an inconspicuous corner at the back, his eyes suddenly sharpened.
"'Thunder Spirit Crystal,' produced in the land of thunderstorms in the Nine Heavens, contains pure thunder power. It can be used to refine thunder-attribute magic weapons, set up thunder-attracting arrays, or assist in cultivating thunder-based divine abilities. Consignment item, price negotiable."
Thunder Spirit Crystal! This is an important auxiliary material needed to refine a "Late Nascent Soul Puppet". Although it is only a "residue", it is extremely rare. It is an unexpected surprise to find it here!
This substance can only be condensed in extremely dangerous places where thunderstorms are constant, and it takes millions of years for even a trace of it to form. It is one of the key materials for balancing the five elements of thunder power within a puppet and enhancing its explosiveness and speed.
"Where is this 'Thunder Spirit Crystal' now? I want it." Lin Chuan pointed to the message in the jade slip and said to the old man.
Following Lin Chuan's gaze, the old man suddenly realized and said, "Oh, this item was entrusted to our pavilion by a Nascent Soul stage senior for sale. Because it's consignment and the price is quite high, it hasn't been sold yet. That senior said that if it can't be sold before the auction, he plans to try his luck there. Please wait a moment, senior. I will send a communication talisman to invite that senior to come and talk to you in person."
After saying this, the old man took out a pale yellow communication talisman, whispered a few words, and the talisman turned into flames and flew out the door.
Before long, a streak of earthy yellow light landed outside the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion, and an old man with an ordinary face and three long wisps of beard walked in. His cultivation level was also at the mid-Nascent Soul stage.
As soon as he entered, his gaze fell on Lin Chuan. He cupped his hands and smiled, "I am Fu Cheng, the external affairs elder of the Nine Nether Sect. Is it possible that you are interested in my 'Thunder Spirit Crystal'?"
"Indeed. I urgently need this item. I wonder if Fellow Daoist Fu would be willing to part with it?" Lin Chuan returned the greeting.
Fu Cheng laughed heartily, readily took out a jade box with a sealing talisman affixed to it, and opened the lid.
Inside the box was a soft silk lining, upon which lay a crystal the size of a pigeon's egg, its surface a deep blue-purple, with faint, fine silver electric currents coursing through it.
Although it was small in size, the pure and violent aura of thunder was unmistakable; it was undoubtedly a Thunder Spirit Crystal, only smaller in size, making it a "residual grain".
"I obtained this item by chance in a dangerous place many years ago. It is useless to my cultivation techniques, so I have kept it. Since you recognize its value and are sincerely interested, please name your price."
Fu Cheng pushed the jade box forward a little.
Lin Chuan carefully sensed it, confirmed it was correct, and pondered:
"Although this is a fragment, its purity is its greatest asset. I, Lin, am willing to offer three high-grade spirit stones in exchange for this crystal. What do you say, Fellow Daoist Fu?"
"Three high-grade spirit stones?" A hint of surprise and joy flashed in Fu Cheng's eyes.
Although this fragment of Thunder Spirit Crystal is rare, its small size limits its practical use. His original price expectation was only two to three high-grade spirit stones, or other rare materials of equivalent value.
Unexpectedly, the other party directly set the upper limit, and even used rarer high-grade spirit stones to pay!
"Haha, Fellow Daoist Lin is so generous! In that case, how could I refuse? Deal!"
Fu Cheng clapped his hands and laughed heartily, then pushed the jade box toward Lin Chuan with great pleasure.
Lin Chuan didn't hesitate and took out three high-grade spirit stones brimming with spiritual energy, handing them to Fu Cheng. Both parties got what they needed, and everyone was happy.
With the transaction complete, Fu Cheng seemed to be in a good mood. He lowered his voice and said to Lin Chuan, "Fellow Daoist Lin, it seems you've also come for the upcoming auction? To be honest, while the auction is excellent, the competition for truly top-tier items will be incredibly fierce, driving prices sky-high. Moreover, after the official auction concludes, there's usually another one..."
"Yes, there's a more private 'underground trade fair' with higher entry requirements. Some of the goods traded there might not be of the proper origin, but their quality and rarity are often superior. I'm not particularly talented, but I'm qualified to recommend someone to participate. If you're interested, you can come and find me after the auction."
"Oh? Is that so?" Lin Chuan's heart stirred; this was an unexpected gain. These underground trading fairs often offered glimpses of "black market goods" or truly rare treasures that would never appear on the market, making them the perfect place for him to find scarce materials.
"That is indeed my wish, but I dare not ask. Then I will trouble Fellow Daoist Fu to lead the way after the auction." Lin Chuan smiled and cupped his hands.
"Of course, of course! Fellow Daoist, just come to 'Listening to the Rain Pavilion' to find me when the time comes." Fu Cheng left an address, exchanged a few more pleasantries with Lin Chuan, and then took his leave.
Lin Chuan carefully put away the Thunder Spirit Crystal, feeling satisfied.
Although I didn't manage to buy the Heavenly Mystery Mansion during this trip to the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion, I did obtain Thunder Spirit Crystals and unexpectedly learned about the underground trading fair.
It was definitely worth the trip.
He nodded slightly to the old man who had reached the Core Formation stage, then turned and walked out of the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion.
However, as soon as he stepped out of the Tianji Pavilion and before he even descended the steps, he came face to face with a woman who was about to enter.
The woman wore a moon-white long dress with silver patterns. She had a slender figure and her black hair cascaded down her back, held up by a simple wooden hairpin. A light veil covered her face, concealing her features, revealing only a pair of eyes as clear as a cold pool.
At this moment, the woman's eyes were filled with astonishment, disbelief, and a rapidly igniting raging fire of anger.
Their eyes met, and the air seemed to freeze instantly.
Lin Chuan paused slightly, his expression unchanged, but a sense of understanding flashed through his mind.
What a small world...
This woman is none other than Lin Yinping, the Heavenly Saintess who was robbed of the "Heavenly Sacred Beast" by him back in the Heavenly Plains!
It seems she did indeed catch up with him in the Great Jin Dynasty, and even managed to run into him in the capital city.
"It's...you?!"
Lin Yinping stared intently at Lin Chuan, even though Lin Chuan's aura was slightly different from back then.
But she would never mistake those calm, deep eyes, or that familiar green robe!
This was the person who stole the sacred beast from the temple, causing her to suffer a great humiliation and forcing her to flee to the Great Jin. The anger and hatred that had been suppressed for so long erupted in her chest like a volcano, making her voice tremble slightly.