When it came to furniture and daily necessities in the cultivation world, there were generally two tiers of quality.

High-end shops offered custom-made goods with excellent craftsmanship and after-sales service, but the prices were a high wall that most Loose Cultivators couldn’t scale.

Then there was the [Wanbao Pavilion].

It was essentially a glorious junk shop. They sold everything from second-hand spirit tools to wobbly benches. The inventory was sourced from desperate cultivators pawning their possessions, leading to wild inconsistencies in quality. Some items were overpriced trash; others were hidden gems sold for dirt cheap. But the golden rule there was simple: Caveat Emptor. Once money changed hands, you were on your own.

Jiang Chen, being a pragmatist, had done his due diligence. After comparing three different shops, he circled back to [Spirit Wood Residence].

The oval-faced attendant beamed the moment he walked in. “Esteemed Immortal, you’ve returned!”

“Did you speak to your manager?” Jiang Chen asked calmly.

“I did,” she replied with a professional smile. “The shopkeeper says that given the volume of your purchase, we can offer a ten percent discount.”

Jiang Chen didn’t waste time haggling further. “Deal.”

For the next hour, Jiang Chen went on a spending spree, splitting his purchases between the high-end [Spirit Wood Residence] and the budget-friendly [Wanbao Pavilion].

At [Spirit Wood Residence], where quality mattered most, he utilized his discount:

Nanmu Bed: 13 Low-grade Spirit Stones.

Glazed Spirit Lamps (x5): 1 Low-grade Spirit Stone.

Spirit Vine Carpet (3 meters): 2 Low-grade Spirit Stones.

Then, he headed to [Wanbao Pavilion] for the utilitarian items:

Peach Wood Table & Chairs: 5 Low-grade Spirit Stones.

Storage Cabinets (x3): 1 Low-grade Spirit Stone.

Cast Iron Wok & Ceramic Steamer: 2 Low-grade Spirit Stones.

Lacquerware Tableware Set: 1 Low-grade Spirit Stone.

Celadon Tea Set: 2 Low-grade Spirit Stones.

The total damage came to 29 Low-grade Spirit Stones.

For a typical Loose Cultivator, this sum represented a month of life-threatening labor. For Jiang Chen, it was a rounding error.

He swept the mountain of goods into his Jade Green Gourd and vanished into the crowd.

With his living situation upgraded, it was time to address the primary objective of this trip: acquiring professional-grade alchemy and artifact forging equipment.

He also hoped to snag a few new pill formulas. The market for the Vitality Pill was stable, but he had already squeezed every drop of potential from it. He needed a new product line. However, he kept his expectations low; any manuals circulating in a Loose Cultivator market were usually incomplete fragments or trash-tier spells.

Minutes later, Jiang Chen stood before the towering facade of [Jade Cauldron Pavilion].

In this market, shoppers had two choices: established, formal establishments like this, or obscure little workshops hidden in the jiao jiao ga la—the forgotten nooks and crannies of the alleyways.

If he had time, Jiang Chen would have loved to scour the back alleys for a hidden master. Anyone surviving in the fringes usually had real skill. But he only had one day. He needed the reliability and speed of a big brand, even if it meant paying a premium.

A receptionist with a sweet smile and deep dimples greeted him at the door. “Welcome to Jade Cauldron Pavilion!”

“I need alchemy and forging equipment,” Jiang Chen stated bluntly.

“Certainly. Please follow me.”

She scanned his plain robes and unassuming aura, her smile not quite reaching her eyes. She led him straight into the first-floor showroom.

The hall was vast, filled with rows of cauldrons and furnaces. The layout was strictly hierarchical: the ground floor housed mass-produced, low-quality wares. The second floor held premium goods. The third floor was reserved for top-tier treasures.

Judging Jiang Chen to be a budget shopper, she stopped before a bulky black vessel.

“This is the [Black Iron Medicine Cauldron], our best-seller on this floor,” she recited from a script. “It’s cast from durable Black Iron, offering excellent heat and corrosion resistance. It also features a spacious internal chamber.”

“Price?” Jiang Chen asked.

“25 Low-grade Spirit Stones.”

Jiang Chen frowned.

Misinterpreting his expression as sticker shock, the attendant pivoted to a cheaper model. “If that is too steep, we have the [Bronze Furnace]. It is the standard for beginners. Only 20 Low-grade Spirit Stones.”

Jiang Chen waved his hand dismissively. “I’m not frowning at the price. I’m frowning because this junk is too ordinary.”

The attendant blinked, her customer service mask slipping for a split second. “Oh… I apologize. I misunderstood. If you require higher quality vessels, we must head upstairs.”

“Lead the way,” Jiang Chen said, his tone cooling.

“Right away, sir!” Her demeanor shifted instantly, becoming sharper and more attentive.

They ascended the stairs to the second floor.

The atmosphere here was different. The inventory was half the size of the floor below, but the items radiated a distinct spiritual pressure. The craftsmanship was visibly superior.

There was even a [Customization Counter] in the corner.

“How does custom forging work here?” Jiang Chen asked, curious.

“It depends on the materials and the complexity,” the attendant explained eagerly. “For standard materials like Black Iron or Refined Brass, the fee is roughly 1 Mid-grade Spirit Stone. For advanced materials like Mystic Gold or Meteoric Iron, it starts at 5 Mid-grade Spirit Stones.”

She paused, adding a disclaimer. “However, we cannot process top-tier materials like Profound Ice Crystal Marrow or Primordial Meteoric Iron. We simply lack the facilities.”

Jiang Chen nodded. It made sense; this was a branch in a Loose Cultivator market, not the headquarters of a major sect.

He lost interest in waiting for a custom job and turned his attention to the finished goods.

The attendant led him to a glistening, translucent furnace.

“This is the [Profound Ice Spirit Furnace],” she introduced with a flourish. “It is cast from profound ice harvested from the bottom of a millennial cold pond. The body is as clear as glazed glass, and it features naturally formed spiral heat-dissipation channels.”

“Stats?” Jiang Chen asked.

“It increases refinement success rate by ten percent and medicinal efficacy by twenty percent.”

Jiang Chen rubbed his chin. Not bad. I wonder how it compares to Yu Caiqing’s Black Nether Cauldron?

Seeing his silence, the attendant assumed he wasn’t impressed. She guided him to a darker, more imposing vessel.

“Then perhaps this will suit your taste. The [Starfall Mystic Gold Cauldron]. Its main body is forged from meteoric iron alloyed with nine rare metals. It boasts a twenty percent increase in success rate and a thirty percent boost to efficacy.”

Jiang Chen stepped closer.

The surface of the cauldron was intricate, engraved with the celestial chart of the Twenty-Eight Mansions. The star map wasn’t just decoration; faint spiritual light pulsed through the constellations, hinting at a complex array structure embedded within the metal.

It looked mysterious, powerful, and expensive.

The attendant, sensing the kill, leaned in. “The [Profound Ice Spirit Furnace] is 5 Mid-grade Spirit Stones. The [Starfall Mystic Gold Cauldron] is 7 Mid-grade Spirit Stones.”

Jiang Chen nodded slowly, his eyes tracing the star chart.

“Acceptable,” he murmured. “It fits the pricing of this market.”