The Lu family's Jinyu Pavilion ranked among the top ten largest shops in the Huangfeng Valley market. Like all large businesses, it sold everything from the lowest-grade spiritual materials to the most commonly used magical instruments, talismans, elixirs, elixirs, formations, and so on.
Standing at the door, Lu Tiandu surveyed the stream of people coming in and out, feeling a surge of emotion.
Reborn with a talent for cultivation and the support of his family, he started out much stronger than many. Coupled with the benefits of the golden finger, he unknowingly developed the ambition to pursue the Great Dao.
Suppressing his distracting thoughts, Lu Tiandu stepped into the attic.
He was greeted by a bright hall that could accommodate dozens of people. Three sides of the hall were lined with counters and shelves of various colors crafted from aged ironwood.
Several waiters, dressed in uniform blue shirts, were explaining something to the guests.
At that moment, a clever young man in a blue shirt spotted Lu Tiandu entering. A glint flashed in his eyes, and he quickly walked over to him, politely saying, "Fourth Young Master, you're here!"
"It's Tingchou,"
Lu Tiandu nodded at the young man. He was a member of a branch of the Lu family. While capable of cultivation, his aptitude was not particularly high, so his family had sent him here to serve as a waiter.
While this was a waiter's job, the monthly income was a few low-level spirit stones, and many less talented members of the clan clamored for it. Moreover, over time, if one could develop independent skills and become a manager, their income would increase significantly.
After a brief conversation with the young man, Lu Tiandu, led by Lu Tingchou, ascended to the second floor.
While the second floor was slightly smaller than the first, it was more elegantly furnished, and the lingering fragrance of spiritual incense filled the air, refreshing the moment one entered.
Two people were currently conversing in low voices in the hall.
An elderly man with a ruddy complexion, a long beard, and a few streaks of white hair was explaining something to a black-clad customer.
Lu Tiandu smiled and nodded at the elderly man, who looked up at him, then took a seat nearby.
The customer only glanced at Lu Tiandu before examining the magical artifact in his hand.
A moment later, the elderly man and the buyer reached an agreement, happily counting the spirit stones and magical artifacts before concluding the transaction.
"You, boy, it's been almost a year and you haven't even come to see an old man like me!"
the bearded man scolded, smirking at the dusty-looking Lu Tiandu. "You didn't even bother to find a few family companions to accompany you on your journeys? You youngsters, lacking experience, must be cautious when you go out..."
"Thank you, Uncle Thirteen, for your concern. I'm back safe and sound!" Lu Tiandu bowed and smiled.
The elderly man was the owner of the Lu family's Gold and Jade Pavilion, and he and Lu Tiandu were very familiar with each other, making no bones about it.
Looking across at the smiling Lu Tiandu, the bearded elder suddenly seemed to realize something, his eyes widening.
"You've already reached the eleventh level?"
Upon receiving Lu Tiandu's definitive answer, the elder excitedly stroked his long beard. "Great! Great! You truly are my Lu family's Qilin child..." He then burst into laughter.
Lu Tiandu, possessing wind-elemental spiritual roots, was the most highly regarded among his peers by the elders. After all, including the Lu family's three Foundation Establishment cultivators, as long as he survived, Lu Tiandu was the Lu family's most likely member to reach the Core Formation stage.
A Nascent Soul cultivator determines the fate of a sect, while a Core Formation cultivator determines the fate of a clan. The significance of a Core Formation cultivator within a family goes without saying.
The two chatted about their recent progress. Regarding his growth in cultivation, Lu Tiandu simply explained that he had accidentally acquired a few bottles of elixirs left behind by a senior, which had allowed him to easily break through bottlenecks and rapidly improve his cultivation.
The Thirteenth Elder didn't pursue the matter further. After all, entering a senior's cave dwelling offered many opportunities.
"You've arrived just in time. The treasures the family sought for you, crafted by a renowned refiner, have arrived a while ago. I'll bring them to you!"
The bearded elder exclaimed excitedly, then hurried to the third floor.
A hundred years ago, the third floor of the Jinyu Pavilion was where the Jindan Patriarch used to privately organize trade fairs with fellow masters. Unfortunately, after the Patriarch's passing, the Lu family had no successor, and these trade fairs were shelved.
The second floor was still used to accommodate Foundation Establishment cultivators, wealthy Qi Refining cultivators, and elite disciples from other sects.
In just a moment, the Thirteenth Uncle returned to the second floor, holding two jade boxes covered with various forbidden talismans.
The bearded old man made several magic seals, then gently tapped one of the jade boxes, and several sealing talismans fell out. He opened the jade box, and a small green flag about a foot long appeared in front of the two.
The green flag emitted a faint green light, and a rich spiritual energy flowed through it.
Lu Tiandu instantly felt the strong wind spiritual power on it.
"Is this the Green Dragon Flag?"
Lu Tiandu held the small flag and examined it carefully. On the flag was a green dragon with bared fangs and claws, swimming non-stop. Various talismans were painted on the flagpole, and Lu Tiandu discovered several basic wind-related spells.
"This is the treasure. Let's inject spiritual power into it and see?" The old man said with a smile.
Lu Tiandu slowly injected his own spiritual energy into the Green Dragon Flag in his hand. A flash of green light flashed, and suddenly, in the blink of an eye, it magnified dozens of times, reaching a height of nearly ten feet and emitting a hazy green sheen.
The flag fluttered without a breeze, and the dragon atop it, with its fangs and claws bared, seemed even more lifelike, as if ready to devour its prey.
"This Green Dragon Flag is made primarily from the entire spine of a second-tier wind-type dragon, infused with its remnant soul, along with numerous other precious materials. It took a master refiner over a month to refine. You'll see its power when you try it!"
the old man explained with a chuckle.
"Thank you, Uncle Thirteen, for your help!" Lu Tiandu thanked him.
"It truly is a top-tier magical weapon!"
Although unable to test its power within the hall, Lu Tiandu couldn't help but fondly play with the flag.
Magical weapons are categorized into lower, intermediate, upper, and ultimate levels.
Top-tier magical instruments are further divided into common top-tier instruments, exquisite top-tier instruments, rare top-tier instruments, and extremely rare, ultimate-grade instruments.
The best instruments available to Qi Refining cultivators are common top-tier instruments, while instruments above that are generally held by Foundation Establishment cultivators.
While this Green Dragon Flag is only a rare top-tier instrument, it is considered a minor top-tier instrument because it incorporates the remnant soul of a dragon.
The old man smiled, delighted that this member of the family with a Wind Spirit Root had obtained this minor top-tier instrument, which perfectly matched his attributes.
"With this instrument, combined with the Wind-Following Sword, the family will be more assured of your daily travels. However, be sure not to use the instrument's power to cause trouble..." the old man added with earnest caution.
Uncle Thirteen, don't worry. I'm not one for trouble!" Lu Tiandu smiled faintly, and with a wave of his hand, the several-foot-long Green Dragon Flag returned to its original form.
"I wonder how much this instrument is worth?" Lu Tiandu asked.
As one of the family's elite, Lu Tiandu, thanks to his exceptional spiritual roots, enjoyed numerous privileges, including elixirs, monthly spirit stones, and cultivation techniques and spells. When it came to purchasing this small, top-grade magical instrument, something even Foundation Establishment cultivators coveted, he wasn't prepared to take it for free.
"The materials alone are worth over nine hundred spirit stones. The renowned refiner, out of respect for the Lu family, charged a hundred spirit stones for its refining. The market price is roughly between one thousand four hundred and fifteen hundred. If you find a cultivator with compatible attributes like yours, the price might be even higher. The family's intention is that you only pay one thousand two hundred spirit stones..."
The bearded elder smiled. He knew that Lu Tiandu's natural talent for spells and talismans meant purchasing this small, top-grade magical instrument would be easy, and it would last him until he reached Dan Condensation.
"Thank you, uncles, for your kindness!" Lu Tiandu smiled, thanking the family for their kindness.
Listening to the old man's words, Lu Tiandu looked forward to the power of this magical weapon even more.
An ordinary top-grade magical weapon costs only three or four hundred spirit stones, and a fine top-grade magical weapon usually costs five or six hundred spirit stones. The Suifeng Sword that Lu Tiandu often carries with him is a fine top-grade magical weapon, but because wind-type flying swords are rare, he only spent seven hundred spirit stones to buy it.
This Suifeng Sword was a fine flying sword that he had accumulated by combining the savings from his previous incarnation and subsequently selling many talismans.
The material value of this Qingjiao Flag alone is almost the same as that of a rare top-grade magical weapon (worth over eight hundred spirit stones). If it were sold on the market, it would be comparable to those extremely rare top-grade magical weapons that cost over one thousand five hundred spirit stones.
(End of this chapter)