The two atop the cliff were oblivious that not long ago, on a night of heavy snowfall, right here by this very precipice, two extraordinary figures had engaged in a conversation that directly altered the circumstances of Sheer Cliff City, Sky Rift Valley, and even the wider world beyond.
The reason for their meeting here was that the Sky Wing Tower was being prepared for the evening's Treasure Exchange Banquet, making it unfit for conversation. Furthermore, Yu Ci felt that this location was superior to the Sky Wing Tower, offering a higher vantage point, a broader view, and a better overall ambiance.
Zhao Zirui, naturally, had no objections.
At this moment, both men were casually seated on the ground. Geng Fu, the corpulent proprietor of the Sky Wing Tower, had dispatched two agile attendants to scale the cliff, bringing carpets, small tables, and other items to ensure their comfort.
Zhao Zirui appeared to be a man of patience, speaking in a roundabout and subtle manner. After formally expressing his apologies, he began to converse with Yu Ci about seemingly irrelevant matters, gradually steering the conversation towards the situation in Sheer Cliff City and discussing his observations from the past couple of days. This included the state of affairs in the White Sun Mansion, the Thousands Spirits Sect, other sects, and even the movements of the Demons.
At the end of it all, he sighed, "The situation in any given place and time can be quite challenging. As an outsider, I find it all quite dizzying. Given that you, Daoist friend, are managing affairs both within and outside the city, I imagine it must be quite taxing."
This was clearly an attempt to curry favor. Yu Ci glanced at him, smiling, "It's not as complicated as you think."
As he spoke, he drew a line on the table, tapping at both ends, "It's either this side or that side. What I need to do is to make both sides into one. Quite simple."
"Oh? Daoist friend Yu is indeed a straightforward man, a straightforward man!"
Zhao Zirui managed to maintain his smile, though he seemed at a loss for words.
The conversation so far did not reflect the attitude of a Nature-Connecting Cultivator towards a Golden Elixir cultivator, but rather the attitude of the Lichen Sect towards an "outsider". Yu Ci was used to this role, and it seemed Zhao Zirui was coming to terms with it too, pondering seriously.
Yu Ci paid him no mind. From here, he could see the rooftops of countless buildings in Sheer Cliff City reflecting the sunlight, making the late winter weather seem warmer. Spring was approaching, even the air was becoming moist. He took a long, deep breath, and the Fish-Dragon in front of him responded, its tail whipping around in circles.
Having nurtured the Fish-Dragon with the Soul Controlling Method for nearly ten days, the connection between the two had become increasingly clear. Even with his eyes closed, Yu Ci could sense the Fish-Dragon's movements within a certain radius. Sometimes, when the creature was close, he could feel their breaths intermingling. Of course, most of the time, it was the Fish-Dragon drawing on his Primordial Qi to nourish itself, but this still formed a link between them.
Perhaps because he had been so engrossed in cultivating the "Primordial Root Qi Method", Yu Ci unconsciously considered things from the perspective of physical and mental images. Especially the idea of "looking at the whole, starting from the structure, using external objects to reflect the mental image", his proud creation, had a profound influence on him.
He had pondered more than once, how intriguing it would be if he could incorporate the Fish-Dragon into his "Inner Void of the Heart."
However, this was ultimately nothing more than a fanciful daydream.
The Fish-Dragon, as a living creature, had a vibrant Aura and a complex Physical Spirit. Although it might not rival the complexity of human beings, the apex of all living things, it far surpassed the structured, single-faceted Aura of Magical Instruments. He was not a genius like Elder Jie Liang, and even if he were to incorporate the Fish-Dragon into his "Physical Image," it would be challenging to connect them with a single "stroke" and manifest it in his Inner Void of the Heart.
In simpler terms, he couldn't manage it, and even if he could, what would be the point?
As he was entertaining such thoughts, Zhao Zirui on the other side spoke again.
"Daoist friend Yu, are you truly not selling this Fish-Dragon?"
At his words, Yu Ci shifted his attention away from the Fish-Dragon, a hint of displeasure in his heart. However, seeing Zhao Zirui's sincere demeanor, he courteously replied to him.
"Daoist friend Yu, it's not that I don't understand the rules. In fact, I understand the rules of this Treasure Exchange Banquet all too well. If you wish to exchange for something to your liking here, I'm afraid it won't be that easy!"
"Oh?"
Seeing Yu Ci's interest, Zhao Zirui continued with a smile, "Our North Wilderness is resource-poor. Most of the items we use for survival are supplied by the large merchants from the south. The prosperity of their shops far surpasses that of this place. Therefore, I am quite familiar with their common tactics. For instance, this Treasure Exchange Banquet, did you receive a list of treasures before the banquet, Daoist friend?"
Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.
"I did not."
"See, in auctions and trading events like this, if they don't distribute a list of treasures in advance, how would the attendees know if there are items they need? How could they prepare and allocate resources for exchange? If they can't prepare in time, the quality of this Treasure Exchange Banquet would be greatly diminished. The Random Heart Pavilion is an old establishment in this realm, how could they not understand this principle?"
Zhao Zirui pointed at the Fish-Dragon fluttering in the air and continued, "Under such circumstances, it's all about luck. Only a very few people, like you, Daoist friend, would prepare rare items like the Fish-Dragon to showcase at the banquet. Most people are just here for the excitement, to see if there are any rare curiosities at the Treasure Exchange Banquet. If they find something they like, they'll try to exchange for it. Otherwise, there's no loss."
"As for the Random Heart Pavilion, they will assuredly present several treasures of exceptional quality. These are usually slightly beyond the locals' ability to afford, prompting them to deliberate and ponder carefully. If a successful exchange is made, it is considered a typical business transaction. However, if they fail to trade, they can still retain the reputation of Random Heart Pavilion for producing exquisite items."
"A gimmick?" Yu Ci summarized.
"Precisely!"
Zhao Zirui clapped his hands and laughed, "For a large merchant like Random Heart Pavilion, their primary income still comes from bulk trading. These small Trade Caravans are merely for creating a few gimmicks. To find something truly satisfying here, one must have exceptional good luck. Instead, as Daoist friend Ming suggested, what do you wish to exchange for the Fish-Dragon? I have a few connections and can arrange quite a few good items. Perhaps, I can satisfy Daoist friend?"
Hearing his words, Yu Ci couldn't help but size him up again, finally smiling, "What Daoist friend said is reasonable and insightful, I have learned a lot. However, it is a pity that this Fish-Dragon already has an owner."
Zhao Zirui left with a disappointed expression. Yu Ci watched as he opened a green light shield around his body and flew down the cliff, not taking his eyes off him for a long time.
If this guy really wanted to buy the Fish-Dragon, it would be a relief. However, judging from his behavior, it might not be that simple.
Yu Ci suddenly missed the days when he possessed the Divine Map. As the saying goes, it's easy to go from frugality to extravagance, but hard to do the opposite. At this moment, he was thinking, if he had the Divine Map here, not to mention a Zhao Zirui, even the slightest movement in the entire sheer cliff city could not escape his notice!
Ever since his battle with Nan Songzi, which resulted in the disappearance of the Divine Map, he had been diligently refining the Divine Bronze Mirror every day, making its resonance with his own aura more delicate and tight. His every breath could drive the tide of spiritual energy within the Divine Bronze Mirror. According to the standard of the "Heavenly Gang and Earthly Sha" Refining Ritual, the layered Talisman should have reached more than five layers, but the Divine Map still had not recovered.
Yu Ci never believed that he couldn't move forward without the Divine Map, like this time in the sheer cliff city. Even if he was alone and had the Divine Map, it would be impossible to control the entire city in just a few days, making White Sun Mansion unable to raise its head. However, people are always a bit greedy.
"What are you thinking about?"
Xie Yan's voice suddenly came out, startling Yu Ci. Turning his head, he saw Xie Yan standing behind him at some unknown time.
He quickly stood up, smiling and bowing, "Elder Xie."
Over the past few days, the tacit understanding between Yu Ci and Xie Yan had deepened, and the way they addressed each other had unconsciously changed from the more formal "Immortal Elder Xie" to "Elder Xie". This had already transcended the status of Outer Disciples, but Xie Yan didn't mind, so everything was easy.
Xie Yan paid him no mind, his gaze solely fixated on Fish-Dragon, observing the creature's movements. After a while, he nodded his approval, "You're doing very well."
Then he said, "Let's go."
"Now?"
The Treasure Exchange Banquet wouldn't start for another two hours. Given Xie Yan's status, it wouldn't matter if they arrived now or even a bit late; no one would dare to make idle chatter. His haste indicated the extreme importance he placed on the Golden Bone Jade Disc.
Understanding this, Yu Ci had no objections. He was immediately enveloped by Xie Yan's Sword Energy and descended directly to the top floor of Sky Wing Tower. Their arrival caused quite a stir. Not to mention the spectators on the bridge, even the early-arriving Cultivators on the lower three floors were buzzing with discussion.
Zhao Zirui and his companions, except for the one still recuperating from the injuries inflicted by Lu Mingyue, had arrived early. They leisurely wandered between the floors, gathering and dispersing at their leisure. Upon hearing of Xie Yan and Yu Ci's arrival, they all regrouped and chatted, their faces relaxed but their words heavy:
"We didn't understand the situation before and thought we could fish in troubled waters. But now, it seems that while the city of sheer cliffs is chaotic, the waters are not muddled!"
Zhao Zirui's thin lips moved slightly, his voice low but clear:
"I had a chat with the guy upstairs. His Cultivation Level is average, but he's adept at leveraging power and seems to have big plans. With the Lichen Sect backing him, if we get involved, we might not be able to extricate ourselves. Remember, from now on, do not act rashly, halt all major deals, wait for this wave of chaos to pass, then we can discuss other matters, understood?"
His companions all nodded. Sha Cong, the second in command among them, while brash and brutal, was clear-headed. He lowered his voice:
"We've found a few customers."
"Big or small deals?"
"Small deals, legitimate business."
"Do it, why not? The Treasure Exchange Gathering is a great opportunity for us, the second-hand dealers. Remember, we are second-hand dealers, reselling is fine, and we should find more customers to establish our reputation. However, do not overstep boundaries. If anyone dares to take on a major deal and embarrass us all, don't blame me for being ruthless!"
As he spoke, the lion cat in his arms let out a sharp, ear-piercing "meow". Sha Cong and the others nodded in acknowledgment.
**********
Zhao Zirui would not stand under a precarious wall, and Brother Fishbone lay high among the cloud bamboos. The Spirit Platform Mirror attracted many onlookers, and the Treasure Exchange Banquet was filled with graceful figures. Two days before the week was up, don't let the click rate and the popularity fall too far behind, and keep the collection stable and sustainable, thank you!
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I have also posted the following more chapters [All free] on: https://www.readgates.com/article/74a39e