With a polite nod to the elder and a final wave to the stunned crowd, Yu Liang stepped out of Food Heaven into the streets of Jade City.
The noise of the hall faded behind him, replaced by the steady rhythm of city life. The sun was slipping lower, brushing the cobblestones with a warm orange glow. He spent more time in Food Heaven than he expected
Yu Liang exhaled slowly. The attention, whispers, even the envy, none of it mattered compared to the quiet satisfaction he carried inside.
He willed the inventory display to open, and the familiar numbers appeared.
30,948,062,092.
That’s a total of Thirty billion, Nine hundred Forty Eight million, Sixty Two thousand, Ninety Two million low grade spiritual stones. The number was a surreal string of digits that stretched across his eye.
He looked at them without disbelief this time. A fortune so vast it had crossed the line from imagination into reality. His thoughts drifted back to the years he had spent as a handyman doing odd jobs, menial tasks, carefully saved spirit stones.
He remembered the familiar pouch tied to his waist. No matter how carefully he spent, there was never enough inside.
A faint smile tugged at his lips. That life felt distant now, though it had only been days.
This wasn’t just about wealth. He understood that clearly. Money could buy pills, techniques, weapons, and conveniences, but all of that meant little if he didn’t turn it into real progress.
Cultivation was the only thing that lasted. Spiritual stones would come and go, but strength, once gained, would remain.
The goal wasn’t to be a temporary "monster of wealth" but to transform this fleeting fortune into something permanent, cultivation and power.
He set his mind back on his purpose. There was one place in Jade City that could provide what he needed.
Jade City was divided into three regions. the Outer Region, the Middle Region, and the Inner Region. The mission assigned to Yu Liang or his team by the sect lay in the Outer Region, while the place he intended to visit was located in its central district.
The Mystic Pavilion.
He had passed by it before, carrying herbs for trade, but at the time he was mapping all other shops while doing tasks. Today, things were going to be different.
Yu Liang walked with a slow pace while enjoying the flavours of the city, his familiarity with the city guided him without hesitation. Soon, the building came into view.
The Mystic Pavilion stood apart from its neighbors, not because of extravagant decorations but because of its presence.
A tall pagoda built from dark wood towered over the nearby shops, every line and angle perfectly balanced. Faint halos in the air around it confirms the protective formations around it. Like your casual shop, No banners were hung outside, no voices constantly calling customers in. The steady stream of cultivators stepping through its doors was proof enough of its reputation.
He paused for a moment to take in the sight before stepping through the doors.
Inside, the atmosphere shifted immediately. The city’s bustle was left outside, only chatting of the customers and attendants could be heard. As he entered, rows of display cases came into view, each carefully arranged with its contents. Nothing was cluttered, and each had enough space in between. It was orderly, this simple thing alone created a vast difference which truly felt like a Pavelion rather than a marketplace.
He scanned the room, taking it all in. Weapons rested on polished stands, their surfaces gleaming faintly under the lantern light. A section farther down held jars filled with pills and powders, each sealed tight and marked with neat inscriptions. Scrolls were displayed upright within protective cases.
Yu Liang stood for a moment, absorbing the details. He had imagined chaos and noise, but instead, there was discipline here. This place is for serious cultivators, not casual wanderers.
"Welcome to the Mystic Pavilion."
The voice drew his attention. An attendant approached, young, composed. Her dark hair was secured by a jade pin, and her green robes bore a simple embroidered pattern. She carried herself with quiet professionalism, neither distant nor overly familiar.
Yu Liang inclined his head in greeting.
Her eyes studied him briefly, not with suspicion, but with curiosity. Then she smiled. "I don’t believe I’ve seen you here before. Is this your first visit?"
"Yes," Yu Liang replied. "I’ve only recently had the opportunity to come."
"Then allow me to give you a brief introduction." Her smile held a hint of formality now. "The Pavilion is divided into three levels except this. What you see now is the base floor where you can get your daily items. The first floor houses pills and medicinal supplies, everything from body tempering aids to advanced refining elixirs. The second floor is dedicated to weapons, ranging from ordinary spirit tools to higher grade artifacts. The third floor contains manuals, techniques, and cultivation methods. Each floor is accessible to customers, though certain restricted sections may require approval or recommendation."
Yu Liang listened carefully. The structure made sense. Pills for the cultivation, weapons for combat, techniques for growth, the progression was logical like the foundation of any cultivator’s path.
"Do you have something particular in mind?" she asked.
Yu Liang considered for a moment. He had not yet decided on specifics, only that he needed resources to push his cultivation forward. Still, this was not the place to speak openly about plans. "I’ll begin with the first floor," he said simply.
"Of course. Please, follow me."
She gestured lightly, leading him toward the section dedicated to pills. As they walked, Yu Liang took in the shelves and display cases. Bottles and jars were arranged neatly, each labeled with precise script. Some held single pills that seemed ordinary until one felt the faint ripple of energy around them. Others contained powders with a sharp medicinal scent.
Cultivators lingered nearby, some bargaining with attendants, others looking at descriptions with serious expressions.
Even those with high status seemed to keep their voices measured, as though the weight of the place put a certain restraint.
Yu Liang followed in silence. This was only the first step. He had wealth now, but wealth was only the beginning. What he purchased here would shape the next stage of his path.