Yao Dai felt her body soaring through the array as if hurtling through a realm of time and space. She could only sense the changing light around her, moving at a speed so incredible that everything blurred into pitch-black darkness.
She couldn't see her master or Xie Tinglan.
Clenching her fists, she couldn't help feeling nervous and quickly closed her eyes, afraid she would faint from dizziness.
Fortunately, after a short fifteen minutes, light seeped through her eyelids.
“Don't just stand there. Let's go, we've arrived in Xuanbing Kingdom.”
Startled by a pat from Wen Li, Yao Dai opened her eyes to reveal a cave abode nearly identical to the teleportation point they had left.
The only difference was that the cultivators guarding the array here were warmly dressed in thick fur coats.
Logically speaking, cultivators absorbed the spiritual energy of heaven and earth and differed from mortals, rarely affected by weather or temperature. However, extreme cold regions were uniquely severe; otherwise, they wouldn't give birth to natural treasures found nowhere else.
The people from the teleportation array filed out toward the passage exit.
Knowing the local environment, Wen Li pulled out pre-prepared cold-weather garments from her storage bag and handed them to Xie Tinglan and Yao Dai.
“Put these on. If you try to act tough and end up freezing, don't come crying to me.”
For once, Xie Tinglan didn't rely on the thick scales of his Ancient Demon nature to act tough, obediently donning the cold-weather gear designed for cultivators.
Yao Dai noticed that the clothes her master handed out this time weren't patched, but brand new. It seemed those recent looting sprees had made her master quite wealthy.
Behind them, the members of the Xuandu Sect also skillfully pulled on thick robes bearing their sect's emblem.
“Let's go.”
As they passed by Wen Li's group of three, the seductive woman waved her hand at Yao Dai by way of greeting.
Yao Dai politely nodded in return. “Goodbye.”
The three walked out of the Teleportation Pavilion.
What met their eyes was a vast, boundless expanse of snow. Heavy snowflakes drifted relentlessly down like catkins, draping houses and mountains in a coat of silver. Sunlight filtering through the thin cloud layer scattered off the snow, reflecting a soft yet vivid white glare.
Here, mortals and cultivators alike were bundled up warmly, their icy breaths visible in the air.
Unlike the short, squat hills of Heavenly Yuan Kingdom, the mountains here consisted mostly of continuous, sharp, towering peaks, resembling sharp blades swung down from the heavens and driven straight into the ground.
Even the buildings leaned toward enclosed spires.
Yao Dai couldn't help sighing in wonder. “Wow, I've never seen so much snow!”
Xie Tinglan took a few extra looks as well.
Wen Li patted both their shoulders. “Don't stare at the snow for too long, or you'll go snow-blind.”
“Master, where are we going?”
“I'm taking you to eat and rest for a bit. This afternoon, we'll head to the largest auction in Western Province, the Janas Auction, to gather information and see if there's anything you need.”
“Okay.”
...
After altering their appearances, putting on face-concealing veiled hats that were magic artifacts, and applying talismans to mask their spiritual energy to ensure no information leaked out, Wen Li's group set off for the Janas Auction.
At a local shop, Wen Li casually bought three detailed maps of the extreme cold region. She tossed one to each of them, along with communicators effective within a range of a thousand li.
“Keep these safe. If we accidentally get separated, find a place to stay on your own and contact me once you're safe.”
Following the map's directions, the three arrived at the entrance of the Janas Auction.
“Wow!” Yao Dai tilted her head back at nearly a seventy-degree angle, her eyes wide with marvel. “Master, this place is so huge and luxurious!”
Four grand characters swirled on the massive plaque ahead:
“Yunxiao Treasure Pavilion.”
The pavilion had a magnificent exterior; standing before its doors, one couldn't even see where it ended. Carved from thousand-year deep ice, it was translucent and crystal-clear, radiating a soft yet frigid glow. Though seemingly transparent, nothing inside could be glimpsed.
At the four corners of the eaves perched white cranes poised for flight—and they were alive! One could see cranes continually gliding down from the sky to settle on every corner of the roof, eventually solidifying into ice sculptures as they stood watch.
Spiritual energy drifted around the Yunxiao Treasure Pavilion, and an endless stream of people bustled to and fro, practically screaming two words:
“Money pit.”
Stepping inside, the interior presented a contrast to the icy, translucent exterior. Jade pillars inlaid with rich mahogany created an exquisite layout, offering an immediate view of the massive trading floor on the first floor.
The central area could easily accommodate nearly a thousand people, not counting the private rooms and side halls.
Looking up, a massive floating screen made of spirit stones scrolled through transaction information for upcoming auctions.
Items were categorized into pills, arrays, medicinal herbs, and more, alongside listings for purchasing intelligence or hiring cultivators.
In short, whatever you wanted was available—so long as you had the money.
The moment Wen Li's group entered, a dedicated attendant stepped forward.
“Greetings, honored guests. Are you looking to buy or sell?” The attendant was respectful without being sycophantic.
Yao Dai glanced at him—Whoa, Tenth Level of Qi Refinement.
Most of the people trading here also wore veiled hats or disguises, so their trio's attire didn't stand out at all.
From beneath her veiled hat, Wen Li spoke in a cool tone. “Both buying and selling. Get someone else.”
Hearing this, the attendant immediately recognized her as a seasoned veteran. Showing no offense, he asked with even greater deference, “Which floor would you like to visit?”
“The third floor.”
“Please follow me.” The attendant stepped aside to lead the way.
As they set off, Yao Dai asked curiously, “Master, what did you mean by that just now?”
From the outside, the Yunxiao Treasure Pavilion indeed had seven stories in total.
Overhearing her, the attendant glanced at Wen Li. Seeing her silent permission, he smiled and respectfully explained, “This young lady must be visiting our Yunxiao Treasure Pavilion for the first time. We have seven floors in total. From bottom to top, the lower six floors correspond to six cultivation realms for trading cultivators: Qi Refinement, Foundation Establishment, Golden Core, Nascent Soul, Soul Formation, and Mahayana. The seventh floor is not open to the public.”
Yao Dai asked in confusion, “So if your cultivation realm isn't high enough, you can't go up?”
“Not entirely. This division primarily categorizes the typical grade of items being bought and sold. After all, appraisers on different floors have different levels of expertise and can discern different kinds of treasures; it is simply to serve our guests better. Generally, movement within three levels is unrestricted. After all, it is rare to see a Qi Refinement cultivator bringing an item suitable for a Nascent Soul expert to auction.”
Yao Dai understood the principle that possessing a treasure invites trouble. “What if a Qi Refinement cultivator insists on going to the fourth or fifth floor?”
The attendant paused slightly before answering candidly, “We would explain the rules of the Yunxiao Treasure Pavilion. If he truly possesses an item worthy of the fourth or fifth floor, we would naturally welcome him with open arms. But if he is fabricating claims to cause trouble...”
“As you can see, young lady, we have guards on every floor.” The implicit meaning was clear: if someone refused to take a polite hint, they weren't afraid to use force.
Yao Dai nodded. “Ah, I see.”
The three took the flying lift up to the third floor.
A quick look around revealed that the main hall here indeed had far fewer people than the first floor. Even the attendants greeting guests were at the late Foundation Establishment realm.
After handing off to the third-floor staff, the Qi Refinement attendant bowed with a smile to Wen Li's group and departed.
A new attendant approached and politely addressed the three of them:
“Honored guests, please follow me.”
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