Leaving Master Lu to his own devices, Fin, Seth, and Mina left to saunter around the commercial district. They didn't intend to visit any big attraction before they dealt with the troublemakers, but there were some errands they could finish.
Before they left, Master Lu had given them all his fortune as a down payment. With the additional 300 high-grade spirit stones in their pocket, and the 1100 still to be paid, any vague worries about money had vanished from their minds, going on a little shopping spree.
Master Lu had also given them spirit-grade storage rings, meaning they now had some proper space to put their souvenirs in, instead of completely littering their inventory with the stuff. The only drawback was that they didn't have a divine sense like cultivators, so if they wanted to take something out, they had to dumb everything.
But that wasn't a problem for now. Since they were just storing stuff and souvenirs they intended to bring back home. While they were window shopping, they came to one of the more special places in Doushi, the Sun-Baked Spice Bazaar
This was a wide, open-air plaza that only operated at peak noon when the intense sunlight allegedly maximized the potency of the goods. As they got closer, their noses were already filled with a thick, intoxicating, and intensely fragrant smell.
On the plaza, huge silk awnings shaded rows and rows of tables made from Doushi's volcanic rock, where merchants presented rare, ground spices, used for cooking and alchemy. There were things like fiery volcanic peppers and glowing, sun-cured herb pastes that were prized by divine chefs across the continent.
Chef Lu Bai had also recommended it when they mentioned that they had a friend who cooks. That was one of the reasons they came here. This time it was not to get stuff for Alison, but new, exotic ingredients for Link, their gourmet hunter.
The other reason they came here, now, was that they were hungry. Walking from stall to stall, they always came across new street delicacies specifically prepared for the midday heat. Seth, and especially Fin, were sampling as much as possible. From Glazed Flame-Apricots dusted with sweet phosphorus sugar, or cold bowls of Spiritual Snow-Lotus Jelly that instantly chilled their bodies from the inside out, they tried to take in everything.
It was also an interesting place to visit apart from the food and spices themselves, as they could see many merchants actually prepare the spices on location. Many actually had domesticated salamander lizards that could breathe fire like a stove.
They used the flames to dry or roast their ingredient. Some also simply used it to make candied nuts like almonds, and sell the still-warm snacks. Their newly obtained spatial rings were already filling with bags of snacks and spices.
Seeing they needed storage, Seth seriously considered having the golems sift through the bag of storage items he had looted and see whether they could use a couple of them like the ones right now. After all, they had made some open space in Legion.
When the bazaar actually closed in the afternoon, the three kept gallivanting around the commercial district, taking in the everyday scenes of the cultivation city. The streets were bustling, slightly chaotic, and the skies were filled with flying vessels or people riding swords from place to place.
At late noon, they came by a big public square sitting flanked by towering bronze statues of what seemed to be legendary masters. On the plaza was a ring of active cauldrons where people were busily moving about, cooking salves and dyes.
The scene resembled the open display of alchemists they had witnessed the other day. The one they remembered with mixed feelings, as one of the cauldrons literally exploded. However, it seemed like these people were brewing at lower temperatures.
"What is this place?" Seth asked Mina and Fin, looking at the massive building flanked by the bronze statues. However, before Mina could answer, a local who had heard his question chimed in to answer.
"This is the Alchemist Guild's headquarters, my friend. These public cauldrons are kept running at their cost for rogue apothecaries and traveling doctors who can't afford a private cauldron to work with. Anyone can book some time on the cauldrons to brew something," the man in green robes explained, jolly.
Seth was convinced the alchemist guild paid this guy to advertise this, but he didn't say it outright.
"Are you some kind of paid guide?" Fin said it for the blacksmith.
"In fact, I am. I'm an advisor of this space, and it is my task to manage and inform people of the proper use and etiquette in this place," he said openly with a smile. He wasn't talking as 'politely' as many other service people they met in this place, which made him more sympathetic to the group.
"What an interesting place, so anyone is allowed to use the cauldrons?" Mina asked.
"Yes, as long as they made an appointment beforehand. But if you want to use one now, i am afraid you can't. They are booked for the next two weeks," he answered with a wry smile.
"No worries, I wasn't going to," Mina said with a chuckle. After watching the place a little longer, they got back on their way. The evening was closing in, and they needed to get to the location for the Grand Auction.
But they didn't go to the beast highway station this time. Although they could have used a flying barge to get to the auction house, there was a better place that offered a shortcut through the commercial district.
"Shaded Willow Canals, this should be it," Mina stated, as they came to a wide promenade along the banks of a crystal-clear canal. The promenades on both sides were shaded by willows, hanging wide over the canal.
This was one of the few open waterways running through the city built among mountains. For a couple of low-grade spirit stones, they got a gondola to travel down the idyllic canal. In the clear water, they could see swarms of colorful carps swim along the bottom of the river.
Along the canal were Tea Boats that offered tea and small snacks for the gondolas passing by.
Other boats had kitchens on them, offering fresh river prawn dumplings. Of course, those were tasted and judged as delicious.
Floating by, they saw local elderly folk playing games on the stone bridges, and some people cooling their feet in the water at the banks of the canal. It was nothing magical or out of the ordinary, but a nice, calm experience woven into their way to the auction house.
They almost forgot that honeymoon was paused, as they enjoyed the ride in the gondola. Fin even fell asleep under the rhythmic sway. However, they got their heads back in the game when the gondola halted at a pier.
In the distance, they saw a massive building, almost the size of a stadium or large theater. Well, it was the latter. This was Daoshi's Celestial Opera House, which was also used for the Grand Auction once a year.
Apart from the occasional auction, this was a place that would show plays from across the Voracious Cloud Continent. it was also on the list of things Mina and Fin wanted to visit in this place. Of course, they originally wanted to watch a play, not enter an auction.
On the square before the theater, there was a line of carriages and a crowd waiting to enter the establishment.
"Looks like we are on time," the blacksmith commented as they woke up Fin and got off the gondola.
It was time for the Grand Auction, and the subsequent cleanup.