If you don't look closely, it's not much different from an ordinary market.
After passing through the market, Xiao Ning arrived at the palace-like building in the center of the city. Of course, it was not a palace, because the huge plaque at the entrance read "Xuan Gui Ge" (玄龟阁).
Even on the top of this grand palace, a giant black tortoise was cast, seemingly about to take flight.
"Sir, may I ask which sect or school you belong to? Or are you a rogue cultivator? Have you come to the Xuan Gui Pavilion to sell or buy things?"
Upon seeing Xiao Ning arrive, several disciples immediately came forward to greet him. These disciples were dressed in monastic robes, holding whisks, with sharp and piercing eyes, powerful physical auras, and physical cultivation levels of the eighth level of Divine Might and the ninth level of Spiritual Connection.
In the secular world, this level of attainment would make one a martial arts master, but in a Taoist sect, it would only make one a junior disciple.
However, the whisks in their hands emitted wisps of magical power, suggesting they were spiritual artifacts. Moreover, their bodies were filled with faint magical power, indicating they might possess powerful spiritual artifacts or magical implements.
He's clearly a disciple of a prestigious sect with considerable wealth.
"I am but a rogue cultivator, and I have come to seek out Fellow Daoist Haishan. Please inform him!"
As he spoke, Xiao Ning inadvertently released a wisp of aura, and instantly, an immense pressure surged forth. The pupils of the welcoming disciples immediately shrank, and their faces were filled with horror.
Admittedly, independent cultivators cannot compare to disciples of prestigious sects, but that only applies to ordinary cultivators. For true masters, the situation is naturally very different.
The person before them, though claiming to be a rogue cultivator, possessed an aura as surging as an abyss, unfathomable. Even a mere wisp of it leaked out, making it almost impossible for them to breathe. This demonstrated his unfathomable cultivation level, making him undoubtedly a master among rogue cultivators.
Despite the immense pressure, one of them managed to maintain his composure and asked, "May I ask, senior, what brings you to Senior Brother Haishan?"
"What else could it be?"
Xiao Ning said with a smile, "All cultivators in the world know that Wan Gui Hai City is a place for doing business. I came here to find Fellow Daoist Hai Shan, naturally for the purpose of trading."
After he finished speaking, he casually waved his hand, and several bottles of pills appeared out of thin air, landing in the hands of the group, one bottle for each person.
Xiao Ning continued, "Please inform everyone that I have some pills as a reward."
"this..."
The guards hesitated for a moment, then opened the bottle and smelled the fragrant medicine. Their faces lit up with joy.
"Hiss, Pure Yang Pill..."
"As expected of a senior expert, he is indeed very generous!"
Immediately, the leading guard replied respectfully, "Senior, please follow me and wait inside for a moment. I will go and inform Senior Brother Haishan right away!"
"Okay, go ahead, I'll wait."
Xiao Ning readily agreed and, led by a guard, entered a living room and sat down. Immediately, maids served tea and spiritual fruits, showing great hospitality.
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Chapter 8 Going Up the Mountain
Just as Xiao Ning was leisurely sipping his spiritual tea, a cheerful voice rang out, arriving before the person.
"May I ask which fellow Daoist has arrived? I apologize for not greeting you properly!"
The visitor was none other than the Taoist Haishan, whom Xiao Ning had been searching for on this trip. As soon as he entered, he greeted him with great enthusiasm.
His gaze lingered on Xiao Ning, and in just one glance, he felt as if he were seeing an unprecedented, terrifying abyss, unfathomable.
"I am Xiao Ning. I have come here without permission. I hope Fellow Daoist Haishan will not mind. Why should I be surprised?"
One shouldn't hit a smiling face, so Xiao Ning smiled and responded. Then, without any preamble, he cut straight to the point and asked, "I heard that Fellow Daoist Haishan has obtained a magical piece of wood. Perfect timing, as I'm cultivating a wood-based divine ability and need various kinds of spiritual wood, so I came to take a look!"
"Fellow Daoist Xiao's information network is truly impressive!"
Hai Shan's eyes lit up, and he sat down to the side. He flipped his palm, revealing a piece of pitch-black wood: "This is the divine wood I obtained. I wonder what Fellow Daoist Xiao thinks?"
This piece of wood, only the size of a palm, is twisted and crooked, resembling a human figure, somewhat like ginseng, but without roots.
The wood has a purplish-black hue, resembling sandalwood, but it is not sandalwood. When Haishan held it in his hand, he felt its immense weight.
Xiao Ning immediately reached out and took it in his hand, only to discover that this small piece of wood actually weighed four or five thousand catties.
"Without any fluctuation of magical power, he easily lifted four or five thousand catties of weight with just his physical body. This Fellow Daoist Xiao's cultivation is truly unfathomable!"
Upon seeing this, Hai Shan's pupils contracted, and a strange look appeared on his face.
Xiao Ning feigned ignorance and asked in confusion, "May I ask Fellow Daoist Haishan, what kind of spiritual wood is this? I have never seen it before. Moreover, I seem unable to absorb any wood spirit energy."
Upon hearing this, Hai Shan's face immediately showed a hint of embarrassment, and he stammered, "This... I don't know either. But this thing has been refined by me many times, whether by burning it with true fire or soaking it in spiritual water, I still cannot refine it, and I can't cut a single nick with any flying sword."
"Therefore, I can conclude that it must be a rare treasure of heaven and earth. If Fellow Daoist Xiao wants it, all you need is a magic weapon, and I will gladly hand over this rare treasure of heaven and earth to you."
"A precious artifact?"
Xiao Ning looked at Hai Shan with the eyes of someone looking at an idiot: "Brother Hai Shan, this divine wood is far too precious for me to bear. You should keep it and cultivate it yourself."
“If you don’t have a magic weapon, thirty spiritual artifacts will do.”
Hai Shan seemed to know that this piece of wood was a bit strange, but actually not very useful. After seeing it, Xiao Ning's interest clearly waned, so he quickly relented.
"This treasure is too precious. Even with my wood-type supernatural powers, which I have cultivated for nearly a thousand years, I cannot refine it. It must be a rare treasure of heaven and earth. If I can understand its mysteries, I will definitely be able to reach the realm of immortality."
"But please forgive my low cultivation level, I have no time to waste. Fellow Daoist Hai, you should give it to someone who knows its value, and maybe you can exchange it for a Dao artifact."
Xiao Ning shook his head, seemingly with regret, or perhaps a sense of pity.