Chapter 1993: Wuhai Merchant House

"Now that you have entered my sect, you must obey my commands without the slightest deviation!"

With a solemn expression, Zhang Xuan said, "The technique I teach you must not be passed on. Not even Elder Bai Ye can be told. Can you do that?"

"Yes!" Bai Ruanqing quickly nodded.

The master's command is like a mountain, not to be defied; the master's grace is like the sea, not to be forgotten.

"Mm, stay here and consolidate your cultivation for now. I need to go out..."

Knowing that since the Heavenly Dao Scroll had formed, she must be genuinely grateful and would not leak secrets, Zhang Xuan instructed her and pushed open the door to leave the room.

He had the pills now, but he still needed to find a cultivation technique for the True Immortal realm. Since there was none here, perhaps the Wuhai Merchant House mentioned in the mission would have books for sale.

After all, he didn't need to buy them—just a glance to collect them into the library and supplement the remaining seven flaws.

He had specifically looked at the map earlier. The Wuhai Merchant House wasn't too far from here, so without taking a flying sacred beast, he walked for less than half an hour and arrived.

As expected of a top-tier city in the Upper Firmament, the flow of people was bustling, and the streets were crowded with traffic. Before even reaching the main entrance, it was already packed.

The first floor had some ordinary stalls, with medicinal herbs, rare ores, weapons, and the like—everything one could imagine. After walking around inside, Zhang Xuan couldn't help shaking his head.

There were far too many fakes. Even without the library, his Eye of Insight alone could see through them.

Moreover, their levels were all below the Void Immortal realm, of little use to him.

"I wonder if there's a place here that sells technique manuals?"

Finding a stall owner, Zhang Xuan gave him a Sword Pavilion Coin as a tip and asked.

"Technique manuals are usually auctioned off..." The stall owner's eyes lit up as he quickly replied.

A single Sword Pavilion Coin was something he might not earn in half a month.

"Just ordinary techniques will do; nothing particularly precious..." Zhang Xuan interrupted him.

Anything auctioned off would certainly be very valuable.

Whether a technique was valuable or rare mattered little to him. What he needed was quantity, not quality!

Of course, high-quality techniques would have fewer flaws and make it easier to complete the Heavenly Dao technique, but such techniques were too rare and too expensive—completely unnecessary.

"Ordinary techniques? The Changxuan Pavilion over there has plenty. For just one Divine Coin, you can read freely there for a day. But... the techniques and manuals there are all very ordinary—even I don't practice them. When we go, we're looking for those books..."

The stall owner emphasized the word "those," his smile carrying a hint of innuendo.

This young man, who could casually give a Sword Pavilion Coin as a tip, was surely a genius disciple of the Lingyun Sword Pavilion, likely a core disciple!

Such a strong cultivator would have extremely high standards. With all the techniques within the sect to study, why would he bother with methods that even someone like him, who made a living selling fake goods, looked down upon?

"Take me to see it!"

Ignoring his veiled insinuations, Zhang Xuan said.

"Alright!"

With a chuckle, the stall owner said no more and led the way. Soon they arrived before a bookshop: "Here it is..."

Zhang Xuan looked inside. There were indeed many books on display, including techniques, martial skills, strange tales, celebrity anecdotes, gossip news... and, of course, the kind he had mentioned, with covers and illustrations, exceedingly risqué.

Handing over a Sword Pavilion Coin, Zhang Xuan stepped inside.

His eyes swept across, quickly recording all the cultivation technique books into his mind.

After a moment, he wore a wry smile.

There were quite a few techniques, but they were far too low-level. The highest was at the Void Immortal realm, and not a single True Immortal technique was present, let alone one that could eliminate the flaws in the Heavenly Dao simplified technique.

He walked out of the room helplessly.

"See? Not good enough, right? These techniques are all too poor..."

The stall owner from earlier hadn't left yet. Seeing him go in and come out, he also shook his head: "If you really want a profound technique, there is one way."

"Oh?"

"The Wuhai Merchant House auction house recently acquired a treasure. Many people have tried to appraise it but failed. If you can identify what it is, you'll be qualified to enter the auction house's library and choose any technique manual you want!"

The stall owner lowered his voice.

"Appraise a treasure?"

Zhang Xuan was taken aback.

What the other said seemed to be exactly the mission he had come to Wuhai City for...

If he had known about this opportunity, he would have come earlier.

Still, he needed to ask in advance. After thinking, Zhang Xuan inquired, "Does the auction house have many techniques? Do you know if there are any for True Immortal realm cultivators?"

He had to ask beforehand, or else he might end up in the same awkward situation as before.

"There are definitely many techniques! The Wuhai Merchant House auction house has a history of over five hundred years. Among the experts protecting the treasures, the strongest has reached the Half-Step Immortal Monarch realm. There must be True Immortal techniques, and quite a few at that!"

The stall owner quickly nodded: "Every year, they auction off many techniques. From what I gather, they secretly copy them..."

Normally, auction houses do not allow copying of the techniques they auction, but there are exceptions.

Once a technique is in someone else's hands, who knows if they've kept a copy?

In fact, copying techniques had long been an unspoken rule of auction houses. Many knew about it but simply chose not to expose it.

Hearing this, Zhang Xuan breathed a sigh of relief.

As long as there were True Immortal technique manuals, that was fine. He was going to take this appraisal mission anyway.

After asking for the exact location of the auction house, he took his leave and headed straight there.

"Do you have an invitation?" Before he could enter, a young man blocked his way.

"I am a disciple of the Lingyun Sword Pavilion. I accepted the appraisal mission from your auction house and have come specifically to appraise a treasure!"

Flipping his wrist, Zhang Xuan produced the mission token from before.

"This way, please..." The young man glanced at the mission token and immediately bowed, his attitude becoming respectful.

As one of the six great sects, the Lingyun Sword Pavilion governed Wuhai City. Those who became its disciples were all geniuses among geniuses, unmatched at the same level, so he dared not show any negligence.

Following behind, Zhang Xuan entered a room where an elderly man stood before an object, examining it closely.

"Elder He, this is a disciple of the Sword Pavilion who has come for the appraisal mission," the young man said as he approached.

"Let him wait a moment..."

Without turning his head, Elder He continued to study the object before him, his fingers gently stroking it, filled with excitement.

Seeing that the man was ignoring him, Zhang Xuan looked over.

This Elder He appeared to be in his sixties, with a cultivation base that was vigorous and pure—he was actually a True Immortal realm expert.

Before him stood a statue about a foot tall, its features unrecognizable—at least, Zhang Xuan didn't recognize them. The statue emanated an ethereal aura, giving one a sense of calm and tranquility at first glance.

The statue was colored, with profound artistry. On the Master Teacher Continent, it would require at least a nine-star painting and calligraphy master to complete.

"Good, good!"

After studying for a while, Elder He couldn't help stroking his beard and nodding repeatedly.

Not far away, a middle-aged man, seeing his expression, brightened and looked over respectfully: "Elder He... is this genuine?"

"Based on my appraisal, this statue was left by Immortal Monarch Duhe, carved from Heart-Calming Stone. If used as the center of a formation, it can calm the mind and spirit, allowing one to cultivate without being troubled by inner demons..."

Elder He nodded and smiled.

"Thank you, Elder He..."

Hearing that it was genuine, the middle-aged man waved excitedly, and a servant behind him stepped forward, handing over a bag of Divine Coins—a considerable amount.

"Manager Wang, you're too kind!"

Elder He waved his hand.

"It's only right. For troubling Elder He with the appraisal, this is the proper fee..."

The middle-aged man, called Manager Wang, quickly nodded and approached the statue, carefully preparing to pack it up and take it away.

Seeing this, Zhang Xuan couldn't help shaking his head but said nothing.

After finishing the appraisal, Elder He turned around. Seeing a young man, he frowned: "You're the disciple from the Lingyun Sword Pavilion who accepted the mission?"

Zhang Xuan nodded: "May I ask what treasure your auction house needs appraised?"

He didn't want to waste words; he wanted to finish the appraisal quickly so he could go read books.

"Not so fast!"

Turning to sit on a nearby stool, Elder He picked up a teacup and looked over with an indifferent expression: "Sword Pavilion disciples are skilled in swordsmanship, but when it comes to appraisal, they're not so good. Two came last time and couldn't identify anything, so I sent them back. You want to try too? What skills do you have? Care to demonstrate?"

Zhang Xuan frowned.

Appraisal wasn't a monkey show; he wouldn't just show off casually.

More importantly, the other's attitude was contemptuous, clearly looking down on him.

"What I say may sound harsh, but it's the truth. Although Wuhai City is under the Sword Pavilion's jurisdiction, its disciples only know how to practice swordsmanship all day. Appraisal... don't insult that profession!"

Shaking his head, Elder He raised his hand: "Yuanqing, take two Sword Pavilion Coins and give them to this swordsmanship genius. Let him leave! I don't need anyone causing trouble..."

"Yes!"

The young man who had led Zhang Xuan in quickly bowed, took two Sword Pavilion Coins from a pouch, and handed them over: "Please!"

"Causing trouble?"

Zhang Xuan frowned.

He hadn't intended to say anything... but why did this guy have to stick his face out, just waiting to be slapped?

Was he uncomfortable if he didn't get slapped?

Ignoring the young man offering the coins, Zhang Xuan turned and walked over to the middle-aged man who was packing the statue: "My friend, I advise you not to be in such a hurry to take this thing away."

"Oh?"

Manager Wang stopped and frowned.

He had heard the earlier conversation. This Elder He might not fear offending a Sword Pavilion disciple, but he dared not.

"Nothing much, I just wanted to tell you... this thing of yours is not left by Immortal Monarch Duhe, nor is it carved from Heart-Calming Stone. If you really use it as the center of a formation, you'll likely fall into demonic possession before long and die without knowing how!"

Zhang Xuan said with a faint smile.

"I just finished appraising it; it's undoubtedly left by Immortal Monarch Duhe. And you say it's not? What, you think my appraisal is wrong?"

Elder He's face darkened.

He had been appraising treasures for over a century and had almost never made a mistake. This brat in his twenties was too green to cause trouble.

"Wrong is an understatement..."

Raising his eyelids, Zhang Xuan curled his lips: "It's complete nonsense, utter rubbish. If Manager Wang truly believes your words, I can guarantee he'll be dead within three days!"