Chapter 227: Chapter 165: Celestial Secret Pavilion

Leaving the tavern.

Li Mu headed straight for the Celestial Secret Pavilion, the organization dedicated to selling intelligence.

The Celestial Secret Pavilion was located on the main street of Luotian City, and was one of the landmark buildings, its architecture resembling a Treasure Tower with seventeen floors.

The first floor of the Celestial Secret Pavilion operated much like a tea house, with groups of tea patrons coming and going, making it bustling and lively.

Upon entering the Celestial Secret Pavilion, a couplet with a mysterious aura was hung over the entrance.

Upper verse: Lying down to observe the celestial secrets, in a drunken stupor, watching the floating clouds move the bright moon

Lower verse: Sitting to discuss success and failure, laughing and talking about the changes of ancient and present times

Li Mu, like the other tea patrons, walked into the hall of the Celestial Secret Pavilion.

Dozens of tea tables were filled with cultivators, sipping Spirit Tea and eating pastries, their eyes focused on a speaker’s table at the center of the hall, where a Tea Master was eloquently narrating the current hot news.

“Three days ago, in the Cloud Frost Mountain Range, Fu Jinhong, a True Disciple of the Spirit Taming Sect, and Zhan Lingyue, the Saintess of the Celestial Demon Sect, engaged in a life-and-death battle. After a day and night of fierce fighting, Fu Jinhong, with his renowned skill in Heaven-Struggling Swordsmanship, slightly gained the upper hand, successfully cutting down the Saintess of the Celestial Demon Sect, Zhan Lingyue.”

“Fu Jinhong, the True Disciple of the Spirit Taming Sect, is at Late-Stage Golden Core cultivation. Having undergone this life-and-death struggle, he suffered severe injuries and likely lost some opportunity to advance to the Nascent Soul Realm. You’re probably all very curious about why Fu Jinhong fought against the Saintess of the Demon Sect, …, and this naturally concerns a certain secret,”

…

“Hello, Ru’Er welcomes the senior’s visit. Senior, would you like tea? Or are you here to buy intelligence? Or perhaps to purchase Spiritual Objects? Ru’Er is at your service!” As Li Mu was listening to the Tea Master’s captivating storytelling, a girl, vibrant in her youth, blocked Li Mu’s view and asked with a warm smile.

“Buy some intelligence and purchase some Spiritual Objects,” Li Mu returned his gaze and replied directly.

“Senior, please follow me!” The girl nodded joyfully, gestured invitingly, and warmly invited him.

Li Mu glanced around the hall, followed the girl’s footsteps, and arrived at a private study-like side room.

The private study was enclosed, with a redwood desk in the center, behind which sat a woman in red perusing a book, walls lined with large bookshelves filled with thick sheepskin scrolls and hefty tomes.

“Aunt Hong, this senior wishes to buy some intelligence, as well as a batch of special Spiritual Objects. Could you please assist?” The girl introduced Li Mu to the woman in red.

The woman in red set down her book, revealing a delicate face with almond-shaped eyes, a willow-leaf brow, exuding a scholarly aura with wisdom. She appeared to be about thirty.

“Honored guest, this is our pavilion’s Celestial Secret Master, Shi Hongyao. If you wish to inquire about any intelligence, you may ask her.” Maid Ru’Er introduced Li Mu.

“Fellow Daoist, please come in. Ru’Er, you may leave for now.” Shi Hongyao set down her book, nodded graciously at Li Mu, and indicated with her hand.

Ru’Er bowed gracefully, turned around respectfully, and left, not forgetting to close the door behind her.

“Fellow Daoist, please sit down. Let me inform you in advance, the intelligence at Celestial Secret Pavilion is always precise, but it is not cheap.” Shi Hongyao, also a Golden Core Peak Cultivator, indicated the vacant seat with enthusiasm, guiding Li Mu courteously.

“As long as the intelligence is accurate, a higher price doesn’t matter! But what if the intelligence is faulty?” Li Mu asked with a smile as he sat down in the seat Shi Hongyao gestured to.

“If there is an error in the intelligence, once verified, our Celestial Secret Pavilion will compensate ten times the price. Now, what intelligence does the fellow Daoist wish to acquire?” Shi Hongyao explained lightly, then asked.

“I would like to know about Celestial Fire intelligence. How many Spirit Stones does this information require?” Li Mu asked directly, gazing at Shi Hongyao.

Upon hearing this, Shi Hongyao’s willow brows slightly furrowed, unprepared for a Golden Core customer to inquire about such information, momentarily taken aback.

Celestial Fire, such a Spiritual Object, is not something Golden Core cultivators can typically reach.

“Fellow Daoist, Celestial Fire is a Celestial Dao Spiritual Object, extremely rare in the world. To purchase intelligence on this kind of Spiritual Object is costly. Moreover, I need to consult the Celestial Secret Mirror at our pavilion. Once the intelligence is verified through the Celestial Secret Mirror, a fifty percent upfront payment is required. Fellow Daoist, are you sure you want to purchase this information?” Shi Hongyao looked at Li Mu earnestly, explaining in detail.

“Oh! Prepayment is required? How much might the intelligence on Celestial Fire cost?” Li Mu asked with concern, his brows furrowed as he observed the response.

“Celestial Fire is a Celestial Dao Spiritual Object, ranked at Tier Seven. The relevant intelligence requires at least 10,000 Top-grade Spirit Stones. Fellow Daoist, you need to make a down payment of 5,000 Top-grade Spirit Stones, with the balance to be settled once the intelligence is provided.” Shi Hongyao looked at Li Mu meaningfully and spoke seriously.

“Then forget it, I won’t buy this piece of intelligence for now. Instead, I’ll purchase some Spiritual Objects! Does your pavilion have any Tier Five Flood Dragon Skeletons or Flood Dragon Essence Souls?” Li Mu inquired, watching Shi Hongyao.

“Tier Five Flood Dragon Skeleton or Flood Dragon Essence Soul! Fellow Daoist, please wait a moment; let me check!” Shi Hongyao nodded, took out a Purple Jade Scroll, and immersed her Divine Sense into it.

“Our pavilion happens to have a set of Tier Five Flood Dragon Skeletons, but no Flood Dragon Essence Souls!” Shi Hongyao confirmed and responded to Li Mu.

Li Mu’s eyes slightly brightened; the Celestial Secret Pavilion was indeed well-resourced, having a set of Tier Five Flood Dragon Skeletons. However, it was understandable that they didn’t have the Flood Dragon Essence Souls, as such Spiritual Objects are seldom useful to cultivators apart from Demon Cultivators.

The true value lies in the Flood Dragon’s body, scales, and its blood, liver, gallbladder, and similar items of real worth. As for Essence Souls, they can only be used in refining Demonic Soul Artifacts, which have limited utility.

An ordinary Artifact Refiner cannot, like him, integrate Demon Beast Essence Souls into a Spiritual Artifact to form an Artifact Spirit. Li Mu could do this, not only due to his Artifact Refining Divine Technique—Divine Refining Melting Spirit—but also with the assistance of Xiaobai, the Spirit-devouring Thousand Insect Gu Spirit, persuading those unruly Demon Beast Essence Souls.

“Could you please bring me the Flood Dragon Skeleton to take a look?” Li Mu asked Shi Hongyao for confirmation.

“Fellow Daoist, please wait. If you wish to purchase Spiritual Objects, I will have a maid take you to the Spiritual Objects purchasing room.” Shi Hongyao smiled apologetically, then shook the table bell for Xiaoling, summoning Maid Ru’Er.

“Xiaoru, this esteemed guest wishes to view the Tier Five Flood Dragon Skeleton; please take him to Shopkeeper Lin!” Shi Hongyao indicated to Ru’Er who responded to the summons.

“Alright, Senior, please follow me!” Maid Ru’Er accepted the task happily, inviting Li Mu respectfully.

Li Mu nodded joyfully, stood up, and followed Maid Ru’Er out of the private chamber into another room, where various high-tier Spiritual Objects were displayed on shelves.

Li Mu’s eyes lit up, as his Innate Divine Power—Recognition of Ten Thousand Spirits, revealed the attributes of the Spiritual Objects on the shelves, one by one in the virtual frame.

Li Mu observed carefully for a while, still contemplating whether he could find a hidden treasure,

when a young man, full of smiles, approached, blocking Li Mu’s line of sight with a grin.

“Senior, this is our shopkeeper, Lin Wanping. Should you require any Spiritual Objects, please feel free to tell him.” Maid Ru’Er introduced Li Mu, then tactfully withdrew.

Shopkeeper Lin wore a blue robe, with clean features, a smile on his face, looking at him with a genial smile, exuding a refined and elegant demeanor, yet not lacking in enthusiasm.

After cultivators advance to the Golden Core stage, their lifespan greatly increases, the fundamental cultivation techniques can change their appearance, revert them to a youthful state… all possible, hence young cultivators are everywhere.

The outward appearance cannot represent real age, only examining bone age can discern truth from falsehood.

The spiritual pressure emanating from the other was also the fluctuation of a Golden Core Peak Cultivator.

The foundation of this Celestial Secret Pavilion is indeed impressive, having so many Golden Core shopkeepers.

“Greetings, fellow Daoist, I am Lin Wanping. Are you looking to purchase a Tier Five Flood Dragon Skeleton?”

Lin Wanping’s whole face was filled with a smile, his demeanor identical to Wang Wenbao.

Li Mu merely glanced casually and then shook his head, “Yes, I’m curious, how much does a Tier Five Flood Dragon Skeleton cost?”

The Tianyan Divine Monarch did not leave behind many spirit stones, however, within the Painting Realm Treasure Mansion, Tier Four, Tier Five, Tier Six, various spirit grasses, spirit fruits, and spirit medicines, were as numerous as cattle’s hair; auctioning them randomly could fetch considerable wealth, plus other spoils, Li Mu was full of vigor and confidence.

“Let me first show daoist friend the goods. If you are satisfied, the price can be negotiated!” Lin Wanping smiled slightly, took out a storage bracelet, and beckoned with a hand gesture.

In the next moment, a two-zhang long green Flood Dragon appeared suddenly in the center of the room, emitting extremely strong demon qi.

[Cyan Sea Mad Flood Dragon.]

[Grade: Tier Five Flood Dragon Bones.]

[Attributes: Indestructible, tightly-knit bones.]

[Fond of living in the deep sea under high pressure, Flood Dragons are extremely difficult to capture, inherently docile, they do not like to fight, with their body containing a strand of ancient cyan dragon blood.]

Looking at the dragon corpse, under the Innate Divine Power – Recognition of Ten Thousand Spirits, detailed information was displayed within the character’s virtual frame.

Li Mu’s eyes lit up, gleaming continuously.

Unexpectedly, he finally obtained a complete set of Flood Dragon bones, and it’s water-attribute.

Quite remarkable.

It’s just a pity there is no Flood Dragon’s Soul, somewhat lacking.

Fortunately, there are two other Flood Dragon souls. It’s just unknown if they can be compatible with the dragon bones or if the soul can match it.

At that time, a trial can be attempted.

“This set of Flood Dragon bones is worth one hundred fifty thousand Middle Spirit Stones,” Lin Wanping introduced.

“I also need other items. Do you have any spiritual essence blood for cultivating blood techniques?” Li Mu nodded and then asked.

Li Mu had another Fire Python Flood Dragon to soak in the blood of living beings to repair it, so he couldn’t help but inquire further.

Upon hearing this, Lin Wanping’s face slightly changed.

“Sir, you are not intending to use it to cultivate demon techniques, are you?” Lin Wanping’s face turned slightly cold, he looked at Li Mu, concerned, and asked.

Li Mu smiled slightly, this demon cultivation is abhorred everywhere, even the Celestial Secret Pavilion is unwilling to do business with demon cultivators.

Li Mu smiled and waved a hand, summoning forth a Fire Flood Dragon Skeleton from the Nine Treasures Spirit Pearl.

“You’ve misunderstood me, fellow Daoist. I purchase flood dragon bones for array formation purposes. This flood dragon bone is ancient and somewhat damaged, needing some spiritual essence blood to restore its energy.”

“So that’s how it is, I was impolite.”

Lin Wanping sighed in relief but shook his head with a wry smile and said, “We, Celestial Secret Pavilion, don’t sell such filthy things. But if you need it, I can provide a clue.”

“Where?”

Li Mu listened attentively.

“There’s a demon cultivator practicing Blood Refining Demon Techniques, slaughtering many innocent lives; he must have a large quantity of spiritual essence blood on him.”

“Oh! How much does the information about this demon cultivator sell for?” Li Mu understood immediately, Lin Wanping intended to sell intelligence.

“This demon cultivator information is of Grade Five, divided further into lower, middle, and upper three levels.”

“Elementary information is about him personally, more detailed information concerns his movements and whereabouts.”

“If you require more detailed information, it requires waiting a week to find his exact location; if unable to respond after a week, part of the payment will be refunded!”

Lin Wanping stood confidently with hands behind his back and introduced.

Li Mu nodded, this Celestial Secret Pavilion indeed had some power.

“Give me a set of upper-level intelligence, and also, I need to purchase some high-tier spirit plant seeds; does your pavilion have any?” Li Mu nodded and asked concernedly.

“Hmm! Of course, fellow Daoist, what spirit seeds do you need?” Lin Wanping was full of confidence and asked concernedly.

“Tier Three Flame Spirit Grass, Tier Three Wood Dragon Vine; Tier Three Golden Sword Grass; Tier Four Dragon Blood Celestial Grass, Tier Four Dragonfly Jade Fruit, …,” Li Mu promptly listed the required spirit plant seeds one by one.

Lin Wanping’s eyes lit up, seeing that the types of spirit plant seeds Li Mu needed were numerous and also plentiful in quantity, realizing it was a big order!

Lin Wanping noted them all down and started to search carefully.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep