The next day, Zhang Xian woke up refreshed and early, arriving on the deck to watch the morning mist gradually pierced by the clouds. A surge of heroic spirit welled up in his chest.

This is truly the life of cultivation!

From afar, he saw Yun Qi sitting cross-legged at the bow of the ship, practicing his breathing exercises. Zhang Xian approached and greeted him, “Fellow Daoist Yun is so diligent. Don’t tell me you’ve been meditating here all night?”

Yun Qi turned his head, looking somewhat weary. “Fellow Daoist Zhang Xian, our flying ship is a bit old. The soundproofing arrays between the rooms aren’t very good.” After saying this, he patted Zhang Xian’s shoulder and walked away.

Uh! Zhang Xian felt a bit awkward.

Yun Qi’s room was right next to Zhang Xian’s. Originally, Zhang Xian had planned to meditate in peace, but he had no choice but to run to the deck and endure the cold wind all night.

After traveling for over half a month on the flying ship, they finally arrived at Jade Capital City.

From a distance, Jade Capital City resembled an immortal city. Its walls were entirely built of white jade, gleaming with a soft luster under the sunlight. Pavilions and towers were scattered throughout the city, with the highest point being a nine-story glazed pagoda whose spire pointed directly at the heavens, faintly shimmering with spiritual light.

The flying ship slowly descended onto a landing platform outside the city, where disciples from the Cloud Raiment Pavilion were already waiting. Yun Qi led Zhang Xian and his companion off the ship, and several disciples immediately stepped forward to bow.

“Elder Yun, accommodations have been arranged,” the lead disciple said respectfully.

Yun Qi nodded and turned to Zhang Xian. “Fellow Daoist Zhang, the auction will require a few more days of preparation. Why not come with me first to rest at the Cloud Raiment Pavilion’s lodgings?”

Zhang Xian had originally wanted to purchase a residence in Jade Capital City. However, considering that spirit stones should be spent wisely, he had no choice but to agree. “Then I’ll be imposing on you.”

The Cloud Raiment Pavilion’s property in Jade Capital City was located in the southern part of the city. Behind the shop was a quiet and elegant courtyard with artificial mountains, flowing water, and spiritual plants adorning it. The spiritual energy here was several times denser than outside, clearly prepared specifically for distinguished guests.

Yun Qi personally led the two into the main hall and ordered spiritual tea to be served before speaking. “Although this Treasure Azure Workshop auction is small in scale, the items are all quite valuable. Representatives from all six major powers of the Southern Region will be present, and I estimate there will also be many reclusive seniors.”

Zhang Xian raised an eyebrow. “Oh? So Golden Cores will be as common as dogs, and Nascent Souls will be everywhere? A weak Foundation Establishment cultivator like me won’t have much standing.”

“Go on, you’re the dog! Where did you hear such nonsense? Golden Core cultivators like us are considered experts even among the six major powers. As for Nascent Soul Patriarchs, there are only about ten in the entire Southern Region.” Yun Qi punched Zhang Xian lightly on the arm.

“According to convention, auctions usually start with consumables like pills and talismans; then come techniques and magical instruments; finally, there are the rare treasures as the grand finale.”

He paused before continuing. “The Treasure Azure Workshop’s rule is that auctions must be settled with spirit stones. If you lack sufficient spirit stones, you can use equivalent treasures as collateral. However, treasures offered as collateral on-site will be valued far below market price.”

After this introduction, Yun Qi took out an identity token and handed it to Zhang Xian. “This is an entry pass for the auction. It allows two people to enter together. It contains a small array that constantly changes to conceal your identity. Even the Treasure Azure Workshop itself won’t know who you are.”

“Look at this; this is what you call professionalism.” Zhang Xian unceremoniously reached out and took it. “Your Cloud Raiment Pavilion still has a lot to learn if you want to catch up to Treasure Azure Workshop.”

Yun Qi smiled. “Well, we still have to rely on Fellow Daoist Zhang Xian to take care of our business.”

After exchanging a few pleasantries, Yun Qi arranged a fine guest room for Zhang Xian and whispered before leaving, “The soundproofing array has been specially re-setup, and both adjacent rooms are empty. Fellow Daoist Zhang can rest assured.” He then took his leave.

Zhang Xian felt awkward again.

For several days in a row, the two wandered around Jade Capital City. This major cultivation city was far more prosperous than Yiyang. Shops lined both sides of the streets, filled with spiritual materials, magical treasures, and talismans galore. Many cultivators even set up stalls directly on the roadside, with hawking calls rising one after another.

Zhang Xian didn’t find anything particularly appealing. Although there were some high-grade magical instruments and Profound-grade talismans for sale, they all required refinement and were far less useful than items produced by his system. However, several famous restaurants were quite good.

Once cultivators reach the Qi Refining stage, they can abstain from eating grains. Mundane food, if eaten too much by cultivators, generates turbid qi, hindering cultivation. Only ingredients cooked with spiritual materials are beneficial, commonly known as “spiritual feasts.”

Spiritual feasts were quite expensive. In Shuicheng City and Yiyang, they represented high-end venues. But in Jade Capital City, he didn’t expect that eating would require waiting in line?

Looking at the token marked “Jia Seven” in his hand, Zhang Xian felt like he had returned to his previous life.

【Ding! Discovered 92-point Daughter of Destiny Long Zhi】

Wow! Zhang Xian’s hand trembled. 92 points! Big cities indeed offer more opportunities.

Apart from Zhang Lele, who had no destiny points, the highest score Zhang Xian had encountered was the 60-point Nan Gongyao. Suddenly encountering a 92-pointer left him at a loss.

Seeing Zhang Xian looking around, Lin Yinyin tugged at his sleeve. “Brother, what are you looking at?”

Zhang Xian shook his head. The system’s detection range wasn’t very large. In this bustling market area of Jade Capital City, finding someone face-to-face wasn’t very likely.

The 60-point Nan Gongyao was already that ruthless. Who knew how brutal a 92-pointer might be?

He already had Lin Yinyin. He should focus on nurturing her well. Thinking this, Zhang Xian squeezed Lin Yinyin’s small hand, saying, “It’s nothing. I’m just thinking about where we should go play next.”

Brother is so good! Lin Yinyin felt a surge of deep affection.

On an official road not far away, a man and a woman were strolling.

The man was tall and slender, dressed in black tight-fitting clothes with a silver mask covering half his face. The woman wore plain white robes, her figure exceptionally graceful with a slender neck, but her facial features appeared rather ordinary.

“Master, not far from here, there’s a tavern. I heard they have an excellent Tianye Yuquan wine. Would you like to try it?” the man suggested.

“No.”

“Then, Master, should we go first—”

“Go directly to the Glazed Pagoda. It’s too noisy here. I don’t like it.”

“Alright.” The man reluctantly agreed.

Their figures gradually faded into the distance.

Auction opening day.

The main hall of the Treasure Azure Workshop was located in the center of Jade Capital City, adjacent to the nine-story glazed pagoda.

The entire building resembled an inverted bronze cauldron. Its outer walls were carved with reliefs of the ancient mythical beast Taotie. The beast’s mouth held a large “Treasure Appraisal Pearl,” emitting blue light day and night. Cultivators could use it to identify the authenticity of treasures.

There were entrances and exits in all eight directions of the great cauldron. Each entrance was guarded by two Treasure Azure Workshop cultivators. Guests entered orderly using their tokens.

The auction venue was divided into three levels:

First Level: The main auction stage.

Second Level: General seating, bustling with noise.

Third Level: Gilded private boxes, about fifty, reserved for high-end clients. Yun Qi had specifically arranged a third-floor box for Zhang Xian.

This time, Yun Qi didn’t accompany Zhang Xian, instead representing the Cloud Raiment Pavilion and sitting in another box.

A maidservant guided Zhang Xian and Lin Yinyin into the box labeled “Jia Seventeen,” served spiritual fruits and wine, then withdrew. The box walls were carved with full array patterns, blocking divine sense. The window was covered with a gauze curtain. From inside, they could clearly see the entire venue, but outsiders couldn’t peer inside at all.

Zhang Xian looked out the window. “Wow, the first floor is almost full.”