PID Chapter 53

(5/5) Extra Update ~

<( ⸝⸝•̀ – •́⸝⸝)>

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The two arrived at the largest Jinxiu Pavilion branch in Lin’an City and found the exchange counter according to the layout.

 

The exchange counter’s trading rules were interesting. One could use money or items to exchange, could exchange for things, or make requests. As long as the price was right and the Jinxiu Pavilion was willing to accept, it could be done.

 

Chu Jinglan and Xiao Mo queued up to the counter and picked up paper and brush. The manager was very enthusiastic, not looking down on them despite their weak cultivation auras.

 

This was the attitude of doing business.

 

Chu Jinglan picked up the brush and wrote down what he wanted to exchange.

 

The manager took it and looked, immediately surprised. He couldn’t help but look at Xiao Mo and Chu Jinglan a few more times. His professional demeanor was high, and he quickly put on a smile again: “Please wait a moment. This matter needs to be verified by someone with higher authority before we can know if it’s acceptable.”

 

Chu Jinglan had written: Borrow a medium-grade spirit vein from the Jinxiu Pavilion as a cultivation site, tentatively for one year.

 

Even for an experienced person like the manager, this was the first time seeing such a request.

 

The Jinxiu Pavilion didn’t keep them waiting long. After hearing the content relayed through the messaging jade tablet, the manager became even more enthusiastic towards them: “Gentlemen, as it happens, our young master is here. He’s very interested in your request and is willing to accommodate you, but the exchange items need to be discussed in person.”

 

He gestured: “This way, please.”

 

Young master? Was it the young master of the Lin’an City branch, or someone of higher status, like the young master of the Wang family of the Jinxiu Pavilion?

 

After all, the Phantom Moon Secret Realm had just closed, so it was reasonable for Young Master Wang to stay in Lin’an City for a few days.

 

The two followed the manager to a room. When the door opened, they were immediately struck by the overwhelming aura of luxury:

 

The room’s decor was luxurious yet understated, meticulous in every detail. The seemingly ordinary table was made of hundred-year spirit wood. Even the single flower in the vase was an extraordinary spirit herb. Those unfamiliar would just find it beautiful, while those with some knowledge would understand that the owner was either extremely wealthy or noble, displaying the words “absolutely not short of money” to the fullest.

 

And who else could be sitting in the main seat of the room but Wang Ludian, who had been seasick on the flying boat earlier?

 

When Wang Ludian saw Xiao Mo and Chu Jinglan, he was first stunned for a moment, then showed undisguised admiration in his eyes. His gaze didn’t make one feel uncomfortable, perhaps because he naturally had a round, cheerful face that was approachable.

 

The young master Wang waved his hand: “Please, gentlemen, sit here.”

 

Xiao Mo and Chu Jinglan sat down, and attendants served them tea. Wang Ludian fanned himself with a folding fan, his tone relaxed, more like casual conversation than a business deal.

 

“I am Wang Ludian. I’ve seen your request and found it interesting, so I wanted to meet you in person. Now that I see you, you indeed have the bearing of dragons and phoenixes, as graceful as jade trees in the wind.”

 

Starting with flattery was very much a merchant’s style. Xiao Mo also politely introduced himself: “Xiao Mo, Chu Jinglan. Young Master Wang is also a talented individual.”

 

Wang Ludian laughed heartily. With the pleasant opening concluded, they could now discuss business.

 

“I can authorize opening a medium-grade spirit vein for you to enter. But gentlemen, forgive my directness, observing your cultivation levels – one at Qi Condensation, one at Foundation Establishment – you might not be able to use much of the spirit vein’s energy. Why make such an unprofitable deal?”

 

Xiao Mo replied calmly: “We have our own uses. With our low cultivation, we won’t use much of your spirit energy. Shouldn’t the young master be even happier about that?”

 

Wang Ludian just smiled: “Then what do you gentlemen plan to exchange for it?”

 

Chu Jinglan directly took out the spirit sword Daybreak from his storage device and presented it: “We’ll use this.”

 

When Wang Ludian saw the sword, he was stunned for a moment. Then, realizing something, his eyes widened in disbelief, and he leaped up from his chair, nearly overturning the table and chairs!

 

“This, this is—”

 

He involuntarily reached out his hand, but just before touching the sword, he realized his loss of composure and quickly withdrew. However, his eyes remained fixed on the sword, his voice trembling with excitement.

 

“Could it be the heavenly-grade spirit sword, the divine weapon Daybreak?”

 

Chu Jinglan said nothing, only unsheathing part of the blade. The sword’s fierce aura rushed forth, and Wang Ludian exclaimed excitedly: “It’s definitely the one!”

 

He could barely contain his excitement, raising his hand several times involuntarily before forcibly pulling back, his face flushed. After several attempts, he finally managed to calm down enough to speak coherently.

 

Wang Ludian sat back in his seat, cleared his throat, and forced an innocuous smile at Xiao Mo and Chu Jinglan: “Excuse my behavior.”

 

He opened his fan to cover half his face, fanning himself with noticeably less composure, his movements carrying more force. His eyes now held the shrewdness and probing typical of a merchant.

 

“Daybreak was taken away by the Yingyue Sect’s senior, the Moon Lord, years ago and disappeared with him. May I ask what relationship you two have with the Moon Lord?”

 

Chu Jinglan put down the sword. Xiao Mo met Wang Ludian’s subtle scrutiny calmly: “Friend, is it necessary to thoroughly investigate the background of your trading partner for a transaction that will be settled immediately?”

 

Seeing no displeasure on Xiao Mo’s face, Wang Ludian considered, then quickly put away his fan and laughed: “Haha, not at all. It’s just that this transaction involves such a valuable item – it’s a big deal – so I couldn’t help but ask a few more questions. If I’ve offended you, I apologize.”

 

He actually bowed slightly as he spoke. His eyes darted as an idea formed in his mind. When he looked up again, his smile was even more genuine: “A spirit vein is used for producing spirit stones and cultivation. Our inner disciples regularly get the chance to enter for cultivation. But you’re asking for a tentative one-year period, which is indeed very long. And there’s a possibility it could be even longer?”

 

After all, it was said to be tentative.

 

Chu Jinglan estimated the time to be one year, but as things hadn’t started yet, he couldn’t guarantee an exact duration: “If we need to extend, we’ll exchange more items.”

 

Wang Ludian, however, waved his hand with a smile, suddenly becoming generous: “No need.”

 

“Daybreak is truly precious, please keep it. For me, ten earth-grade spirit swords will suffice. I can promise you a three-year cultivation period. If you come out early, I can convert the remaining time into spiritual treasures or return some spirit swords to you. How does that sound?”

 

Xiao Mo and Chu Jinglan exchanged a glance, thinking this young man truly lived up to his Jinxiu Pavilion upbringing, quite the schemer.

 

They hadn’t revealed their relationship with the Moon Lord, so Wang Ludian changed tactics to probe. Ten earth-grade spirit swords certainly couldn’t match one heavenly-grade, but Wang Ludian could compare the swords they offered to see if they were all from the Moon Lord’s collection.

 

If not only Daybreak was in their possession, but other collections as well, then their relationship with the Moon Lord would be quite intriguing.

 

Clever indeed.

 

Of course, Xiao Mo and Chu Jinglan, who immediately understood his underlying intentions, were no pushovers either.

 

Wang Ludian’s various probes and potential future investigations were within their expectations, and there was an extra surprise – Wang Ludian had proactively changed the terms of the deal.

 

Xiao Mo immediately sent a mental message to Chu Jinglan: “Agree to it.”

 

They could keep Daybreak without giving it away!

 

They had thought they had no other option and would have to use all available bargaining chips, but unexpectedly, the situation turned around, allowing them to keep the item Chu Jinglan rarely liked. Xiao Mo’s spirits lifted entirely.

 

Hearing the joy in Xiao Mo’s voice, Chu Jinglan nodded to Wang Ludian: “Agreed.”

 

Wang Ludian, thinking they hadn’t seen through his intentions, happily tapped his fan: “I love doing business with straightforward people!”

 

He beckoned for paper and brush. An attendant brought them on a gold-trimmed tray, and he wrote down the transaction details. Wang Ludian had someone bring out two access tokens: “With these tokens, you two can cultivate in the Jinxiu Pavilion’s spirit vein at the foot of Qingquan Mountain. The tokens have no other use and will expire after three years. If you finish early, you can come to me anytime to exchange for other items.”

 

Wang Ludian not only gave them two tokens but also generously offered his own messaging jade seal, indicating they could contact him directly for any matters without going through subordinates – truly a great convenience.

 

The three left their jade seals on each other’s messaging tablets. Chu Jinglan raised his hand and laid out ten earth-grade spirit swords.

 

Wang Ludian first briefly verified the goods, confirming they were all earth-grade, then politely cupped his hands: “The deal is done.”

 

He didn’t personally see Xiao Mo and Chu Jinglan off, as there was no need to appear too deliberate. As soon as the two left, he immediately jumped up from his chair and summoned several attendants.

 

He pointed to each one:

 

“You, find out everything about them, the more detailed the better. Don’t miss even the smallest detail.”

 

“You, check the inventory of the Moon Lord’s spirit sword collection from back then. Compare these ten swords to see if they’re from the Moon Lord’s possessions.”

 

To the last one: “You, prepare the ink. I need to write a letter to my brother.”

 

This attendant, who had been with him for years, smiled and asked: “Which brother is the young master referring to?”

 

Wang Ludian gave him a look without reproach: “Who else could it be? My dear brother is very interested in geniuses like the Moon Lord. There’s been no news from the upper realm all these years, but now we’ve found a trace in the middle realm. It’s too complex to explain briefly, so I’d better write him a letter first.”

 

Wang Ludian, caught up in his emotions, wrote half a letter before calming down. The information wasn’t fully collected yet, so he couldn’t send an incomplete letter. He paced the room, holding his brush, waiting for his subordinates to gather information on the two, not leaving the room.

 

The Jinxiu Pavilion was in the business of information trading. For two small figures like these, once a focal point was established, information could be gathered quickly. In less than half a day, the information was in Wang Ludian’s hands.

 

Wang Ludian eagerly opened it to read.

 

“Chu Jinglan, born in the lower realm, dantian destroyed, recently seen around Yushan Sect. Before being crippled, he was… at the peak of Golden Core at seventeen?!”

 

Wang Ludian cried out in disbelief, reading it three times to confirm the characters weren’t wrong, his eyes nearly glued to the paper.

 

His personal guard was also startled, coming over to check several times, his face full of astonishment: “Such talent even far surpasses the Moon Lord of those years. How could even the Jinxiu Pavilion be completely unaware!”

 

Wang Ludian examined the paper back and forth. After the initial shock, his mind still worked quickly. He slowly put down the note and calmed himself: “I guess the entire lower realm collectively concealed information about Chu Jinglan. Otherwise, for such a genius, there would have been bloody battles to compete for him since his childhood. Whether it was to protect him or for their own interests is hard to say.”

 

Wang Ludian, after all, was the heir to the Jinxiu Pavilion in the middle realm, and he understood the dirty dealings well: “The fact that we can easily investigate now is because he’s crippled and no longer worth concealing.”

 

“Yushan Sect, Jing Lei, he’s looking for a way to repair his dantian. Borrowing our cultivation place is also for this… Ah,” Wang Ludian’s eyes narrowed in a smile, “If he succeeds, this deal of ours will be extremely profitable.”

 

Geniuses either wither under hardships, or if they can endure trials without falling and still maintain hope for cultivation, showing extraordinary perseverance, lacking neither willpower nor talent, if Chu Jinglan could truly rise again, he would surely have a place in the future cultivation world.

 

His guard nodded: “But we found no connection between him and the Moon Lord.”

 

“That’s not all.” There was far more that wasn’t found. Wang Ludian shook the note, “And this Xiao Mo, the information is pitifully scarce, everything is marked as unknown or omitted. They claimed to be brothers at Yushan Sect?”

 

Wang Ludian tapped his fan on the line recording Chu Jinglan’s birth: “There’s no record of such a person in the Chu family or Chu Jinglan’s maternal family. Chu Jinglan is an only child, where did this brother come from?”

 

The strange thing was that the two actually had many similar facial features. Anyone who saw them at first glance would think they were blood relatives. While Chu Jinglan’s origins could be traced, Xiao Mo seemed to have appeared out of thin air, just showing up by Chu Jinglan’s side.

 

The two were truly shrouded in mystery.

 

Now Wang Ludian could finish writing his letter. After sealing it, he took out a water mirror, adjusted and rotated it for a moment, then placed the letter on the mirror’s surface. As he let go, the letter merged into the mirror and disappeared.

 

He wondered what expression his cousin would have upon receiving the letter. Would he come down directly from the upper realm? Hehe, Wang Ludian smiled slyly: Wouldn’t that be even more interesting?

 

 

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1 Kofi = 1 Extra Chapter