Chapter 35: Small Cloud Platform Meeting
Chapter 35: Chapter 35: Small Cloud Platform Meeting
The next morning, Lu Zhao walked toward the Nine Abyss Pavilion, stepping on the slick, wet moss. His Divine Sense sank into the recently refined Heavy Water Bead.
Yesterday, when the shopkeeper of the Hundred Refinement Pavilion had poured in his Magical Power, he had struggled to lift the fist-sized bead. The water patterns on its surface had suddenly swirled in reverse, and just by gazing at it, Lu Zhao had felt the Spiritual Power in his body stagnate, as if locked in place by something.
Then, Shopkeeper Liuu had explained the bead’s function in detail:
"This is the effect of the One-Element Heavy Water Bead’s Spiritual Power suppression. Any Demon Beast or human locked by it within a thirty-foot radius can only resist it with brute force." The Shopkeeper’s voice was low. "This bead weighs 3,600 jin. When you encounter an enemy, if you smash them with it, even mountains and rocks will turn to dust..."
After hearing the detailed introduction and experiencing a fraction of the bead’s power, Lu Zhao had been immediately tempted and, in the end, bought it despite the painful cost.
Soon, Lu Zhao arrived at the Nine Abyss Pavilion. Seeing Lu Zhao enter, the Shopkeeper spread his hands. "I don’t have the Magic you’re looking for."
Lu Zhao’s expression darkened slightly. Seeing this, the Shopkeeper chuckled and pulled a wooden token from his Storage Bag. "However, in three days at the Small Cloud Platform Meeting, someone from the Zhou Family intends to sell an item. It contains what you’re looking for."
"The Small Cloud Platform Meeting is an exchange meet for the Zhou Family’s Qi Cultivation Disciples. It’s held a few times a year. Pills, Magical Artifacts, Talismans, Cultivation Techniques, and manuals from seniors all show up. Even some Spiritual Objects that you don’t normally see occasionally appear."
Upon hearing this, Lu Zhao asked, "Can outsiders enter as well?"
"Those holding a Token from a Zhou Family disciple may bring two people with them," the Shopkeeper said. "In three days, I will accompany you."
"And the Magic...?"
The Shopkeeper tapped a finger on the Cyan Jade Disc. "An attendee from last month revealed that someone obtained a ’partial inheritance’ from the ’Celestial Water Wanderer.’"
"That person is selling their cultivation insights, with the ’Thousand Overlapping Waves Skill’ appended at the end. When that Magic is cultivated to Great Success, its nine-layered waves are more powerful in a single strike than even a High-Grade Spiritual Artifact."
"Unfortunately—" He scoffed and shook his head. "The seller has attended three meetings in a row, trying to trade this scroll exclusively for Water Attribute Pills. He’s clearly an old Cultivator stuck at the late-stage of Qi Cultivation, trying to use someone else’s wealth to break through!"
Lu Zhao’s expression grew solemn. "Will he still try to sell it this time?"
"He’s certain to come!"
The Shopkeeper’s tone was decisive. "The man already has white hair at his temples. I’m afraid he’s nearly sixty. His Qi and Blood are about to decline, and he can’t afford to wait any longer. If he doesn’t show up again, he’ll lose any hope of reaching the Late-stage of Qi Cultivation in this lifetime."
Hearing this made Lu Zhao even more worried, but he still bowed to the Shopkeeper. "I will remember the grace of your assistance."
Hearing this, the old Shopkeeper seemed to recall something and finally said, "Sigh... in three days, I’ll bring my grandson, Zhou Mo, with us. You two should get to know each other. That boy... he needs a chance to see the world."
「Three days later」
Before the morning mist had dissipated, Lu Zhao arrived at the Nine Abyss Pavilion once more.
This time, besides him and Shopkeeper Zhou, there was one other person.
As soon as he reached the Nine Abyss Pavilion, Lu Zhao saw a boy of about twelve or thirteen standing next to the Shopkeeper. The boy was slender, dressed in blue robes of cloud-patterned brocade, with a piece of Cyan Jade hanging from his waist.
"This is my grandson, Zhou Mo." Shopkeeper Zhou made the brief introduction and said no more.
The moment the boy saw Lu Zhao, he looked like he wanted to say something, but the words seemed to get stuck in his throat. Only when he raised his eyes did Lu Zhao see that his pupils were as clear and bright as rain.
Lu Zhao was taken aback. He thought to himself, ’I never expected to find someone like this in the brutal Cultivation Realm. I thought people like him only existed in my past life.’ But considering his Zhou Family background, it made sense. Only a Foundation Establishment Clan could possibly raise someone like this.
Lu Zhao took the initiative to greet Zhou Mo. Seeing this, Zhou Mo let out a sigh of relief, returned the bow, and finally managed to get out the words that had been stuck in his throat. "Mr. Lu..."
Lu Zhao smiled and returned the gesture. Soon, the two were chatting, though it was clear that Lu Zhao was leading the conversation.
Shopkeeper Zhou also breathed a sigh of relief at this, but then he thought of Zhou Mo’s initial behavior and sighed heavily again.
He had brought Zhou Mo out mainly so he could get to know Lu Zhao and hopefully form a friendly connection.
After spending half a day together, Zhou Mo and Lu Zhao were getting along wonderfully. An hour ago, Zhou Mo had stopped calling him Mr. Lu and switched to Brother Lu.
After walking for another half hour, they reached a mountain pass in a valley thirty li outside the Zhou Family’s Spirit Mountain. Zhou Mo suddenly pointed at a stone stele. "Brother Lu, look!"
But at that moment, Lu Zhao had no mind to listen to him. His attention was completely captivated by the sight before him.
Nine waterfalls cascaded down a thousand-foot cliff, their mist coalescing into a rainbow bridge that spanned a turquoise pool.
At the top of the cliff, where ancient pines twisted their roots, stood a palace pavilion. The most wondrous sight was the ground covered in frost-like grass, with Spirit Dew dripping from the tips of its leaves.
’Spiritual Qi condensing into dew?!’
Lu Zhao took a deep breath, and the Little Spirit Rain Technique in his Dantian began to circulate. He muttered to himself, "If I could cultivate here, my speed would be at least fifty percent faster than at Cyan Rattan Stream."
Seeing that Lu Zhao hadn’t seemed to hear him, Zhou Mo called out again. Lu Zhao snapped back to his senses and finally noticed a cyan stone stele engraved with the name "Qiyun."
Leaning on his staff, Shopkeeper Zhou pointed toward the depths of the clouds. "This is the Zhou Family’s foundation, Qiyun Mountain."
Seeing Lu Zhao staring in a daze, he explained, "This is just the periphery, where the Spiritual Qi from the Tier Two Spirit Vein overflows. The real residences are from the mountainside up."
Lu Zhao looked up. At the end of the rainbow bridge, two white-robed Cultivators stood in the mist with their hands in their sleeves. The Jade Tokens at their waists resonated with the one Zhou Mo wore.
"Let’s go. The Small Cloud Platform Meeting is at the foot of the mountain; we still have a ways to go." After another quarter of an hour, Shopkeeper Zhou led the way into the palace pavilion, and the other two followed him inside.
Upon entering, Lu Zhao saw nine Cyan Jade Pillars supporting a domed ceiling. The floor was paved with jade, and over a hundred meditation cushions were arranged on either side. At the very front was a high platform that looked as if it were carved from jasper.
Dozens of Cultivators were seated on the meditation cushions, talking in low voices in groups of three and five.
Seeing the three of them arrive, the crowd merely glanced over before quickly returning to their own business.
The Shopkeeper said nothing, leading the two to a corner to sit down. He then explained to Lu Zhao that this palace pavilion was called the "Cold Fragrance Pavilion" and that the Zhou Family only used it for large events. The exchange meeting was to be held here.
Over the next few quarter-hours, another fifty-odd people arrived in succession.
When the meditation cushions were nearly full, a gray-robed elder suddenly stood up and walked to the high platform at the front.
"All of you are either disciples of my Zhou Family or old friends. I don’t need to repeat the rules. The exchange meeting begins now."
Acting as the host, the elder was the first to present an item: a fist-sized, fiery-red object. "A Tier One High-Grade Spiritual Object, nine jin and four liang of Red Fire Spirit Iron. I wish to trade it for a Tier One Middle-Grade Fire Attribute Flying Sword."
Half a quarter-hour of silence passed with no response. After waiting a little longer, the elder sighed, stepped down, and was replaced by another person.
A moment later, a young girl who looked to be seventeen or eighteen years old walked up. "Uncles, brothers, I wish to trade a Tier One Middle-Grade Wood-Attribute Spiritual Artifact for some Cold Iron."
With that, she took out a staff-shaped Magical Artifact. Several people quickly stepped forward, as Cold Iron was a relatively easy Spiritual Object to obtain within the Zhou Family. Even Lu Zhao had a few liang of it on hand.
After the girl completed her trade, another seven or eight people went up in succession. Some managed to trade for the Spiritual Objects they wanted, while others did not. Each person was allowed to stay on the platform for half a quarter-hour at most.