Chapter Fifty-eight: Taibai Pavilion

“Our Taibai Pavilion spans the entire Heavenly Azure Realm—Zhao State’s three sects are nothing to us,” the portly manager boasted with pride.

Lin Cheng said, “Then you must be quite powerful. Why have I never heard of your organization before?”

The manager replied, “That’s only because Zhao State is so small. One day, when you step beyond its borders and see the wider world, you’ll understand.”

Lin Cheng curled his lip and asked, “If your Taibai Pavilion’s influence is so vast, surely you have a great many elixirs for sale? I’ll take ten Spirit-Breaking Pills.”

The manager’s round face twitched. “Do you take Spirit-Breaking Pills for cabbages? Ten of them, you say...”

Lin Cheng persisted, “Didn’t you just say your organization is everywhere? I imagine a hundred or so Spirit-Breaking Pills would be no trouble for you.”

A flush crept up the manager’s cheeks, and he cursed his own big mouth in silence. “Well, that’s true in theory, but here in Dragon City’s branch, we don’t have any in stock. You know, Dragon City is just a mundane city, so headquarters doesn’t pay us much heed, and rare resources are seldom allocated here.”

Seeing the manager’s embarrassment, Lin Cheng smiled knowingly and nodded. “So that’s how it is. I understand.”

The manager gave an awkward laugh. “If you are in urgent need of Spirit-Breaking Pills, you could wait two days…”

“Oh?” Lin Cheng looked at him in puzzlement.

“In two days, there will be a grand auction held here. Perhaps you’ll find what you need then,” the manager explained.

Lin Cheng raised an eyebrow. “Oh? Could you tell me what items will be auctioned?”

“I haven’t seen the complete list yet,” the manager admitted. “This time, a special envoy from headquarters will be presiding. But rumor has it there will be mystic-level cultivation manuals and spiritual artifacts up for auction…”

“It seems Dragon City is in for some excitement,” Lin Cheng mused. Upon hearing about the mystic-level manuals and spiritual artifacts, he knew that the local powers would be vying for them tooth and nail.

He himself had no interest in those items, but if Spirit-Breaking Pills appeared, he wouldn’t mind bidding for some—if not for his own use, then as gifts for those two girls.

“Is there nothing else you want besides Spirit-Breaking Pills?” the manager probed.

“There’s really nothing here I need,” Lin Cheng replied. “I only came hoping for some luck—if you had Spirit-Breaking Pills, I’d buy a few to keep on hand. But your pavilion’s architecture is quite unique…”

He glanced around again. “I noticed a stone sword atop your roof. I suppose your founder must have been a formidable sword cultivator?”

At the mention of their founder, the manager straightened up, his face full of reverence. “The Pavilion Master is indeed a sword cultivator—an unparalleled one. But I’ve never had the fortune to meet him.”

Lin Cheng’s eyes lit up. “An unparalleled sword cultivator? How does he compare to Master Hidden Edge of the Azure Sun Sect?”

The manager frowned. “Master Hidden Edge?”

“You mean you don’t know of Master Hidden Edge from the Azure Sun Sect?” Lin Cheng was displeased—how could anyone not know his teacher’s name?

“Oh, you mean that Master Hidden Edge…” The manager finally understood. “No offense, but there’s really no comparison…”

“Is your Pavilion Master truly that powerful?” Lin Cheng asked.

“Let me put it this way,” the manager said, “Taibai Pavilion is famed as the foremost merchants’ guild across the Heavenly Azure Realm. Do you know why we have stood firm for so long, and why all powers prefer friendship with us to enmity?”

Lin Cheng stayed silent.

“It’s because of our Pavilion Master. No one dares touch us with him at the helm,” the manager said with quiet pride.

Lin Cheng felt his blood stir. From the manager’s words, he could tell this was no empty boast. One man intimidating all powers—such a hero! If only he could meet him in person.

“Your Pavilion Master is truly a peerless figure. If I could receive a bit of his instruction, I would consider it a life’s blessing,” Lin Cheng sighed.

The manager laughed. “I can see you’re no ordinary man yourself. Perhaps you’ll meet him one day.”

As he spoke, the manager produced a blue card and handed it to Lin Cheng. “This is a Taibai Pavilion VIP card. It’s only the basic level, but as long as you hold it, you’ll get a ten percent discount on all purchases here.”

“I couldn’t possibly accept such a gift, especially since I haven’t even bought anything yet,” Lin Cheng protested.

“Brother, my name is Zhang Xu. My cultivation may be modest, but I pride myself on my judgment of character. Consider this a token of goodwill—please don’t refuse,” Zhang Xu insisted.

“Then call me Lin Cheng, Brother Zhang. I’ll gratefully accept,” said Lin Cheng.

“That’s more like it! Come, let me show you around upstairs,” Zhang Xu said, leading the way.

With the manager guiding him, Lin Cheng ascended to the second floor.

“Greetings, Steward Zhang!” Two waiters at the corridor’s corner bowed hastily when they saw them.

Lin Cheng glanced around. Aside from a few scattered figures, the second floor seemed rather deserted.

He looked at Zhang Xu with amusement. “Brother Zhang, business doesn’t look too good up here, does it?”

Zhang Xu paused, then shook his head with a smile. “From the second to the fifth floor, most of the rooms are for tea and leisure, but even a cup costs spirit stones. Even in a city as large as Dragon City, few can afford that.”

“I see.”

As they walked from the second to the fifth floor, Lin Cheng noticed that while there weren’t many people, most were powerful or unusually well-dressed cultivators.

At one point, he even sensed the undisguised auras of two Spirit Realm experts in a private room near the corridor.

“This way, Brother Lin…” Zhang Xu called when he saw Lin Cheng lingering.

“Brother Zhang, your Dragon City branch must have some powerful cultivators on guard, right?” Lin Cheng asked.

“Of course,” Zhang Xu replied.

“Who’s the most powerful person here?” Lin Cheng pressed.

Zhang Xu only smiled mysteriously and did not answer. “Come, let me show you our core business.”

With that, Zhang Xu stepped onto the sixth floor.

What Lin Cheng saw made his eyes shine.

From the sixth floor up, the space was no longer open and empty. Rows of shelves lined the hall, filled with all manner of items: cultivation manuals, martial techniques, weapons—spears, staffs, sabers, swords, shields, axes, halberds, hammers, forks—an endless variety.

On the rear shelves were spirit herbs and elixirs, and even the rarest metals for forging spiritual artifacts—all in abundance.

As Lin Cheng stepped forward, he suddenly caught sight of an old man standing ahead, whom he hadn’t noticed before, and almost jumped in surprise.

There had been no one there a moment ago. Puzzled, he hesitated.

Just then, Zhang Xu stepped forward and gave the old man a deep bow. “Your humble servant Zhang Xu greets the Grandmaster.”

The old man, addressed as Grandmaster, said nothing, but with a single stride, he appeared before Lin Cheng, his eyes sharp and penetrating.

“There’s a familiar scent about you…”