The Lingbao Pavilion is backed by the Chen family, one of the Seven Great Families of the Central Lands, possessing formidable strength and a host of elite experts within its ranks. 1 Novel à.1κ.０ Text Version First Release

The Lingbao Assembly takes place every year, attracting numerous high-level Heavenly Masters from across the realm. It serves as a grand convention specifically for them to exchange spirit treasures. As the host, the Chen family invariably puts forth some of the world's most renowned spirit treasures. As long as the price is met, or a spirit treasure of equivalent value is offered in exchange, the Chen family is generally not stingy, willing to sell or trade.

In every previous Lingbao Assembly, astonishing spirit treasures have surfaced, drawing Heavenly Masters from all corners of the world to try their luck. This is especially true for those who have hit a bottleneck in their cultivation and desperately need a certain spirit treasure to temper their bodies or souls; these individuals will spare no effort to exchange spirit treasures they no longer need for those that will benefit their current cultivation.

The Lingbao Pavilion, as the primary pillar of the Chen family’s wealth accumulation and the largest spirit treasure merchant in the world, occupies a vast mansion in the most prosperous district of Tianshui City.

Upon arriving at the Lingbao Pavilion headquarters, Ji Changkong and Bai Qingya discovered many Heavenly Masters already seated on the level stone ground, arranging various spirit treasures before them. Some were clearly priced in Yuan Stones, while others stated they were only seeking exchange for a specific, unique spirit treasure.

To sell a spirit treasure, one must first pay a certain amount of Yuan Stones to the Lingbao Pavilion and receive a metal token. Only with this token can a seller find a spot within the Pavilion to display their wares.

Ji Changkong and Bai Qingya did not pay the Yuan Stones for a token; instead, they drifted leisurely, weaving through various areas of the Lingbao Pavilion, curiously examining the spirit treasures laid out on the ground.

Many Heavenly Masters were also wandering throughout the Pavilion, intently searching for the spirit treasures they required.

Heavenly Masters were everywhere, taking out their spirit treasures for sale. The stone ground was covered in a dazzling array of items, shining brilliantly under the sunlight. The radiance emanating from so many treasures made people involuntarily pause and linger.

Chen family experts patrolled every direction around the Lingbao Pavilion, and several squads of City Guards were stationed at various corners to prevent anyone from becoming reckless, letting greed overcome them, and harboring malicious intent to seize treasures within the premises.

In past Lingbao Assemblies, there were indeed individuals who, confident in their high cultivation, had snatched treasures and fled. However, under the Chen family’s stringent defenses, not a single treasure thief managed to escape the Lingbao Pavilion; instead, they invariably earned notorious reputations and widespread condemnation from the world.

The Chen family continuously strengthened their defenses for every Assembly, and the Tianshui City Royal Family also attached great importance to the Assemblies hosted by the Chen family, dispatching experts from the Imperial City to guard the Chen residence in recent sessions. After several daring attempts by high-level experts in the Seven-Star Heaven realm to seize treasures were swiftly neutralized, most people settled down.

In the last few Lingbao Assemblies, there had been no appearance of any ruthless individuals daring to rob others in plain sight.

The traffic of Heavenly Masters passing through was immense. Those at the Three Talents Heaven and Four Symbols Heaven realms were ubiquitous, and there were quite a few at the Five Elements Heaven and Six Harmonies Heaven realms; even a handful of Seven-Star Heaven realm experts could be spotted.

Compared to the combat testing gathering Bai Qingya had shown him a few days prior, this Lingbao Assembly attracted significantly more Heavenly Masters from across the world, with experts flooding the area like fish crossing a river.

“The Lingbao Assembly lasts for six days. For the first three days, the Lingbao Pavilion is only responsible for maintaining security and will not interfere. During these three days, any Heavenly Master who enters can find a place to sell their spirit treasures after paying a small fee. As long as the price and conditions are agreed upon, the two parties can trade freely, and the Lingbao Pavilion generally will not intervene.”

“For the last two days, personnel from the Lingbao Pavilion will specifically test the spirit treasures. Treasures that genuinely qualify as phenomenal artifacts can be sold within the Lingbao Hall. Any spirit treasure capable of entering the Lingbao Hall is guaranteed to be authentic and priceless. At that point, truly wealthy and influential figures will congregate in the Lingbao Hall to select treasures.”

“Of course, to have a spirit treasure displayed in the Lingbao Hall, besides it being truly priceless, one must also pay the Lingbao Pavilion a rather hefty fee. This is also one of the means by which the Pavilion accumulates wealth.”

“On the final day, in the topmost layer of the Lingbao Hall, the Chen family will bring out some of their own family spirit treasures for sale. Naturally, exchanges with other spirit treasures are also permitted. Generally, when purchasing with Yuan Stones, the highest bidder wins. When exchanging spirit treasures, the Lingbao Pavilion will first authenticate the offering before deciding whether to trade, thus retaining the upper hand.”

As they walked, Bai Qingya explained the workings of the Lingbao Assembly to Ji Changkong. Along the way, Bai Qingya would pause to observe the numerous spirit treasures, but she seemed unable to find anything that truly captured her interest, holding back from making a purchase.

“According to you, for the treasures sold during the first three days, since the Lingbao Pavilion doesn’t authenticate them, discerning truth from falsehood would be difficult?” Ji Changkong chuckled.

Nodding, Bai Qingya smiled, “Exactly. Some people lack discernment and might be tricked into spending a fortune on treasures that aren’t worth the price. The Lingbao Pavilion grants absolute freedom during the first three days and sends no dedicated appraisers. Since all sorts of people exist in the world, those who try to exploit fools will naturally appear. Hehe, but there are also those with unique vision who can acquire rare treasures at bargain prices during these initial days, as the sellers might not always have a perfect understanding of what they possess.”

“For instance, a descendant of a declining family might bring out an ancestral spirit treasure for sale. After many generations, he might not know its true worth in Yuan Stones. If he urgently needs a certain cultivation material, he might simply list a requirement for a special grade of Yuan Stone not of the same level, or a specific spirit herb, and have it easily taken by someone else.”

“...This sort of thing happens every year; it’s nothing unusual. This is precisely what draws Heavenly Masters from across the realm to the Lingbao Assembly. After all, people generally believe they are the smartest and can acquire the most precious artifacts at the lowest cost!”

Smiling faintly, Ji Changkong listened to Bai Qingya’s explanation while accompanying her wandering tour. He seemed utterly uninterested in the sea of spirit treasures spread across the ground, not even glancing at them.

“Changkong, don’t look so indifferent. The treasures sold in the first three days really can hide rare oddities. I’m not lying to you. In previous Assemblies, someone once traded a piece of green jade for an unparalleled divine weapon, and someone else bought Star Gold, used for forging divine weapons, with just a few common Yuan Stones. This truly happens at every single gathering!”

Seeing Ji Changkong pay no attention to the treasures beside him, Bai Qingya explained with a serious expression.

Ji Changkong nodded with a smile, speaking casually, “Sister Bai, I rely on something other than my eyes to choose spirit treasures. Rest assured, I have my own way. Any so-called rare marvel must possess a peculiar energy fluctuation. No matter what method is used to suppress or conceal those fluctuations, I will always be able to detect some hint of them.”

Bai Qingya’s bright eyes suddenly lit up, her delicate face full of excitement. She leaned close to Ji Changkong and whispered, “Are you serious? You can truly sense the various energy fluctuations within spirit treasures?”

“Eh!”

Ji Changkong, who had been nonchalant, let out a sudden, light exclamation. Without answering Bai Qingya, he walked straight toward a shifty-eyed middle-aged Heavenly Master at the Three Talents Heaven level.

Bending down, Ji Changkong picked up a jade hairpin from among the various Heavenly Master spirit treasures displayed before the man and asked with a smile, “Uncle, how much for this hairpin?”

“Ah!”

The shifty-eyed man exclaimed in surprise, extending his thumb in praise, “Little brother truly has a sharp eye! To single out such a fine treasure at a glance! This hairpin is a divine weapon tempered by a Seven-Star Heaven expert. He was killed during a fight with an enemy, and I happened to pass by, snatching the hairpin while risking exposure. Unfortunately, my cultivation is insufficient to unleash its power, and since I’m a man, I obviously can’t use it, which is why I’m selling it. Little brother is clearly a connoisseur, just give me a hundred high-grade Yuan Stones, and you can have it!”

Based on the concentration of elemental energy contained within, Yuan Stones are categorized into four grades: Low-grade, Mid-grade, High-grade, and Top-grade. Ten Low-grade Yuan Stones contain only the elemental energy equivalent to one Mid-grade Yuan Stone. Therefore, ten Low-grade Yuan Stones exchange for one Mid-grade Yuan Stone, and so on.

“Just one high-grade Yuan Stone! If you sell it, I’ll take it; if not, I’m leaving!” Ji Changkong casually tossed the hairpin back into the messy pile of assorted ‘spirit treasures’ before him and stood up impatiently.

“Forget it, I like your demeanor, little brother. One high-grade Yuan Stone it is. Take it. It’s only because it’s you; for anyone else, even if they offered more Yuan Stones, I might not agree to sell. I…” As he flattered, he quickly retrieved the jade hairpin Ji Changkong had tossed aside and handed it over with a beaming smile.

Throwing down a single high-grade Yuan Stone, Ji Changkong turned and left. Once away from the man, he handed the hairpin to Bai Qingya, saying with a smile, “Sister Bai, this is for you.”

Bai Qingya forced a smile and took the hairpin, glancing at it. After a moment of hesitation, she said, “That fellow calls himself Chen Wei, claiming to be a member of the Chen family from the Lingbao Pavilion, but the actual Chen family folks never acknowledge him. He appears at every Lingbao Assembly, specializing in scamming people with all sorts of junk. This hairpin is probably not even worth a single Low-grade Yuan Stone. I don’t know where he traded some copper coins for it. You’ve been tricked, ah!”

Despite her words, Bai Qingya still happily tucked the hairpin away. “But I accept your kind gesture, Sister Bai appreciates it. Thanks!”

“Sister Bai, give me the hairpin back,” Ji Changkong said with a wry smile.

“No way!” Bai Qingya stepped back, smiling slyly, “Even if it’s worthless, it’s good for tying up my hair, hehe. You, you, you—you claimed you could appraise any spirit treasure, yet you lied so convincingly that even I almost believed you.”

With a bitter smile, Ji Changkong shook his head but offered no further explanation, merely offering a firm instruction: “Sister Bai, you must keep the hairpin safe!”

“I will, I will. How could I dare be careless with something gifted by my good little brother?” Bai Qingya replied with a smile, feeling quite pleased. In her eyes, even if the hairpin was cheap, it was still a token of Ji Changkong’s regard, and she secretly resolved to wear it every day from now on.

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