On the last day before the assembly, Tang Xiaoqi decided to make one final preparation - supplementing some supplies that might be needed. Though the rules restricted using external objects, some basic healing and recovery pills, and some small gadgets that might have unexpected effects in certain specific situations, were better to have just in case. Moreover, he also wanted to collect some auxiliary materials in advance for reforging his Nirvana Crimson Flame Sword and Creation Universe Pot, though he knew those main materials were hard to come by.
He took Zhao Tiezhu and headed purposefully toward the most magnificent and famous commercial establishment on Starlight Avenue - Wan Bao Lou.
Wan Bao Lou was not a single building, but a palace complex occupying an extremely wide area, with flying eaves and carved beams, magnificent and splendid, with two huge spiritual stone Pixiu at the entrance radiating misty treasure light, displaying its abundant financial resources. Those entering and leaving were numerous, but mostly gorgeously dressed with impressive auras, clearly wealthy or noble.
Walking inside, the internal space used extremely sophisticated space expansion techniques, several times more vast than it appeared outside. Above the dome was not the starry sky, but a simulated wonder of sun and moon alternating, four seasons cycling, spiritual light flowing, beautiful beyond compare. Countless counters were arranged in rings, classified by pills, artifacts, talismans, materials, cultivation methods, rare objects, etc., in an orderly fashion. Attendants in unified attire and well-trained shuttled among them, providing consultation and service for guests.
Even Zhao Tiezhu, who had seen Tian Shu City's prosperity, was somewhat overwhelmed by the atmosphere inside Wan Bao Lou at this moment, feeling his eyes were not enough. Any item displayed in those counters was probably worth a fortune. He closely followed behind Tang Xiaoqi, not even daring to breathe loudly, afraid of breaking something.
Tang Xiaoqi however appeared as usual, walking directly toward the area marked "Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures." Here there were relatively fewer people, but those who came were basically cultivators intending to buy rare materials.
His gaze swept over the dazzling shelves, looking for things he might need. He first supplemented some high-quality healing pills and "Qi Recovery Pills" for quickly restoring spiritual power, then bought several talismans with special effects, such as the "Thousand Illusion Talisman" that could temporarily hide one's aura and even simulate other energy fluctuations, and the "Mind-Confusing Talisman" that could create powerful interference.
Then, he began to pay attention to those rare materials that could be used for artifact refining. Though the main materials for reforging divine artifacts were hard to find, some top-grade auxiliary materials were equally precious; if encountered, naturally they could not be missed.
His gaze fell on an independent transparent crystal display case. Inside the case was placed a fist-sized metal, entirely presenting a deep dark blue, with countless silver light points on its surface slowly flowing like stars.
"Stellar Iron!" Tang Xiaoqi's heart moved. This was an extremely rare artifact refining material, born where nine-heaven stars fell, containing a trace of stellar origin power, stable in nature and excellent in affinity, one of the top auxiliary materials for refining high-grade flying swords, ritual robes, and even formation disks, able to significantly enhance an artifact's spirituality, durability, and ability to communicate with celestial star power. For his future reforging of the Nirvana Crimson Flame Sword, this item would be of great benefit.
He was about to wave for an attendant to ask the price, but almost at the same time, another slender jade hand also pointed toward that piece of Stellar Iron.
"This piece of Stellar Iron, I want it."
A clear and melodious voice, like ice spring dripping onto jade, sounded nearby.
Tang Xiaoqi turned to look and saw a young woman standing beside him, not knowing when she had arrived.
This young woman wore a moon-white Daoist robe, with pale silver flowing cloud patterns embroidered on the cuffs and collar, simple yet elegant. Her figure was graceful, her black hair like a waterfall, simply tied up partially with a jade hairpin, the rest smoothly draped over her shoulders. Her appearance was extremely beautiful, skin like snow, features like a painting, but what attracted most attention was her cold and otherworldly temperament, like a moon palace fairy who did not eat human food, with a faint sense of distance between her brows, making one dare not profane.
Her aura was restrained, but Tang Xiaoqi, relying on his powerful spiritual sense, could vaguely sense the pure and cold spiritual power fluctuation contained within her body, her cultivation at least Golden Core late stage, possibly even higher. Moreover, from this young woman, he sensed a trace of extremely obscure, yet making his Green Lotus Origin slightly move, aura. That was a kind of... purity to the extreme coldness and some kind of ancient Dao charm.
That young woman also seemed to have detected Tang Xiaoqi's gaze, her cold eyes turning over to meet his for a moment. Her eyes were calm and waveless, like a deep pool ancient well, without showing any surprise or intention to compete because someone had also taken interest in an item at the same time, just calmly stating her need.
The attendant in charge of this counter hurriedly ran over with a professionally respectful smile on his face, looked at Tang Xiaoqi, then at that moon-white Daoist robe young woman, somewhat embarrassed saying: "Two distinguished guests, truly sorry, this 'Stellar Iron' is a treasure of this building, currently only this one piece. You see this..."
According to convention, in such situations, either the higher bidder gets it, or whoever spoke first gets it, or simply a dispute arises.
Zhao Tiezhu watched somewhat nervously from the side, afraid the item his senior had his eye on would be snatched away.
However, to everyone's surprise, that moon-white Daoist robe young woman did not propose a bidding war, but instead moved her gaze away from the Stellar Iron, once again looking at Tang Xiaoqi, her cold voice still flat: "Fellow daoist also needs this item?"
Tang Xiaoqi looked at her clear eyes without a trace of impurity, and suddenly felt that competing with such a woman for a material seemed somewhat falling into cliché. He smiled slightly, his tone peaceful: "Indeed I need it. However, since young lady spoke first, a gentleman does not take what others fancy. This item, let it go to young lady."
His words out, not only the attendant and Zhao Tiezhu were stunned, but even that cold young woman's ancient-well-like eyes quickly flashed a trace of imperceptible surprise.
In this cultivation world where the weak were prey to the strong and resources were fiercely contested, especially in a place like Tian Shu City, facing such precious materials, being able to yield so easily was not common. Moreover, she could sense that this cyan-robed cultivator before her was not putting on an act, but truly did not care.
The young woman deeply looked at Tang Xiaoqi once more, her cold eyes seeming to soften by an extremely slight amount. She did not say words of thanks, just slightly nodded, accepting this favor. Then she said to the attendant: "Wrap it up."
The attendant hurriedly assented, carefully taking out the Stellar Iron and packaging it.
Tang Xiaoqi seeing this, intended to leave, to go to other counters to look.
Just then, the young woman however suddenly spoke, her voice still cold, but with less of the previous distance: "Fellow daoist's bearing is extraordinary, may I ask your name? Where do you come from?"
Tang Xiaoqi stopped, turned to look at her, answering candidly: "Southeast Region, Qingxu Temple, Tang Xiaoqi."
"Southeast Region... Qingxu Temple..." The young woman softly repeated once, these two names clearly equally unfamiliar to her. But she did not show any disdain, just slightly nodded again: "Xuanji Holy Land, Mu Xue."
Xuanji Holy Land!
Tang Xiaoqi's heart slightly stirred. This was one of the top forces in the Central Plains, on par with Central Plains Imperial Dynasty and Cloud Heaven Immortal Sect, its strength and foundation unfathomably deep. And the name "Mu Xue," he seemed to have seen on that "Hidden Dragon List Chronicles," ranked quite high, being Xuanji Holy Land's Holy Maiden of this generation, bearing the "Heavenly Melody Constitution," her strength unfathomable!
Unexpectedly, here, in this way, he would encounter this top-ranked genius on the list.
"So it is Fairy Mu Xue, I have long admired your name." Tang Xiaoqi cupped his hands, his tone neither humble nor arrogant.
Mu Xue looked at him, her cold eyes seeming to have a trace of extremely faint appreciation. She could sense that the other party, upon hearing the name "Xuanji Holy Land," only had a moment of surprise, then immediately recovered calm, not a disguise, but true indifference to honor and disgrace. This character was rare among the young geniuses she had seen.
She did not say more, took the jade box containing the Stellar Iron handed by the attendant, once again slightly nodded to Tang Xiaoqi, then turned to leave, the moon-white Daoist robe figure quickly disappearing among the dazzling shelves, as if never having appeared.
Tang Xiaoqi watched the direction she left, thoughtfully. This Xuanji Holy Land's Holy Maiden seemed somewhat different from the rumors of being high above and unapproachable.
"Senior, that... that piece of iron, you just let her have it?" Zhao Tiezhu only then came over, asking somewhat regretfully.
Tang Xiaoqi withdrew his gaze, smiling indifferently: "Just a piece of Stellar Iron, opportunity not yet arrived, forcing it is useless. Moreover, making a good connection may not be a bad thing."
He did not take this matter too much to heart, continuing to search within Wan Bao Lou. Though he did not find another supreme item like Stellar Iron, he still bought several decent auxiliary materials and pills, counting as a good harvest.
Only, this brief encounter with Xuanji Holy Maiden Mu Xue, like throwing a small stone in a calm lake, though the ripples quickly dispersed, that cold and transcendent impression, and the other's seemingly indifferent yet actually transparent nature, quietly remained in the bottom of his heart.
In this Tian Shu City where geniuses gathered and competition was cruel, encountering such a uniquely tempered opponent who was not all about fighting for dominance, could be counted as an interesting matter.