Chapter 19: Treasure Zone, Contest for the Strange Rock

  Qianbao Pavilion

  Xu Yang stepped into the hall, and a finely dressed woman saw him, her eyes lit up, she put down the guest she was attending to, excused herself, and walked straight over.

  "Mr. Xu, what are you going to buy today?"

  Xu Yang recognized that the woman was Qingyun, who had been in charge of selling Chi Xiu Root yesterday. He said: "I have refined some ordinary medicine and want to sell it at your pavilion."

  Qingyun smiled and said: "No problem, Yurong sister had already instructed that in the future, any medicinal herbs sent by Master Xu would be purchased by Qianbao Pavilion at market price."

  At market price acquisition, this is a pretty good treatment. You know that Qianbao Pavilion also wants to make money, so Xu Yang had long been prepared for the low price.

  Xu Yang shook his head. Qingyun saw it and thought that this young master Xu was relying on Xiao Junhou's power to raise the price, and felt slightly displeased in her heart.

  "What I've brought this time is a new medicine, as far as I know, there isn't anything like it on the market yet," Xǔ Yáng said calmly, "so its value is still to be determined by your esteemed self."

  "A new medicine?" Qingyun took a deep breath, any alchemist who could create new medicinal formulas was an alchemy master, even if he only created ordinary medicines.

  To know that the medicinal properties of drugs are different, a slight change in fire, time and quantity will make the elixir fail to achieve its effect. Therefore, when alchemists refine medicine, they are all cautious and follow the prescription step by step, fearing that any mistake will result in the loss of precious medicinal materials. However, the masters of Dan Tao can innovate and create new medicines based on pharmacology and repeated experiments.

  "What is the purpose of the new medicine made by Master Xu?" Qingyun asked.

  "A kind of powder that can quickly stop bleeding and scabbing, preventing wound festering," Xǔ Yáng said calmly. "I call it, Stanching Powder."

  Qingyun's eyes lit up. "Medicine that can quickly heal wounds sells very well." She bowed and said, "Young Master Xu, please follow me."

  Following the gentle and elegant celebratory clouds, Xu Yang's gaze inadvertently swept over her plump buttocks, which swayed seductively as she walked slowly, causing his heart to skip a beat. The beautiful women of Qianbao Pavilion are indeed like clouds, truly not an exaggeration.

  Qingyun pushed open the second small door and led Xu Yang into the inner chamber.

  Upon entering the gate, it was vastly different from the narrow indoor environment I had imagined. The interior was actually an open-air courtyard with a winding path made of cobblestones stretching far into the distance. In the center stood a large pond over 20 zhang in diameter, surrounded by a man-made hill, and occasionally water would trickle down from the top of the hill, splashing onto the rocks below like thousands of pearls.

  "What a beautiful view, it doesn't look like a marketplace at all, but rather a villa." Xǔ Yáng took a deep breath and felt a fragrance in his chest.

  "Xu Gongzi, we meet again," a soft and gentle female voice echoed like a valley orchid, "I heard from Qingyun that you've brought a new medicine this time, called Zhi Xue San. I wonder how effective it is?"

  Xu Yang came back to his senses and looked at the beautiful woman in front of him.

  The woman in the green long dress, with a slender figure and charming movements, yet had an air of nobility that made people dare not profane her. This was none other than Li Yurong, the master of Qianbao Pavilion, whom he had met yesterday.

  Xu Yang had always been straightforward and efficient in his work, so when he saw Li Yurong being direct, he immediately reported the data on the medicinal properties.

  "Mild wounds, bleeding stops within one breath, scab forms in three breaths. Moderate wounds, bleeding stops within two breaths, scab forms in ten breaths. As for severe injuries, it depends on the situation."

  "What!" exclaimed Qingyun, who knew she had misspoken, covering her small mouth with her hand, her big watery eyes wide with surprise.

  To know that there is no decent hemostatic medicine on the market, some spiritual pills have hemostatic effects, but the price is high, such as the second-grade spiritual pill "Shengmu Huoxue Dan", one pill sells for several Xun Bao coins, and its effect on hemostasis is not as good as the hemostatic powder mentioned by Mr. Xu.

  Li Yurong was also shocked by the efficacy data, but as the person in charge of Qianbao Pavilion, she quickly calmed down and smiled: "Young Master Xu, I still need to conduct some tests before making a purchase. Please don't mind, this is after all a rule that cannot be violated."

  Xu Yang nodded and asked: "If the medicine is qualified, what price will Qianbao Pavilion buy it at?"

  Li Yurong said: "As long as the medicine has 80% of the effect that Master Xu said, Qianbao Pavilion is willing to buy it at a price of two Qinglang coins for three sets."

  Higher than expected by half, Xu Yang was very satisfied. He first put down the package filled with hemostatic powder and then returned to the outer hall to purchase a large quantity of hemostatic powder ingredients.

  Qianbaoge's efficiency was extremely high, and soon Qingyun walked out with a smile, handing a money bag to Xu Yang: "Please, Master Xu, count the amount."

  "It's all right," Xǔ Yáng said with a shake of his head, moving his feet to take a casual stroll around the hall.

  This outer cabinet hall occupies a vast area, divided into several large districts, such as the Dan Medicine District, the Mysterious Device District, and so on. What surprised Xu Yang was that there were actually cultivation methods and mysterious techniques placed on the shelves.

  The practice of Xiu Xuan can be divided into six levels according to its power: Jing, Dian, Ji, Zi, Juan, and Jue. For example, the "Xuān Tiān Bā Jǐng Jīng" (Mysterious Heaven Eight Scenic Scripture) practiced by Xǔ Yáng is considered a divine technique, which can be used to cultivate up to Xuán Huáng or even higher levels. In contrast, the main practice of the Xǔ family is the "Qī Yuè Bǎo Jué" (Seven Luminaries Precious Technique), which can only cultivate up to the Xuán Zōng realm.

  Xuan Shu and Gong Fa are different. Gong Fa is the foundation, while Xuan Shu is the branches and leaves. Gong Fa is used to absorb Xuan Qi, refine the body and cultivate oneself, whereas Xuan Shu is mainly used for combat.

  Xuan Shu can be divided into four levels: sacred, heavenly, earthly and human. The Xuan Shu placed here are all of the lowest level of the human rank, and as for the methods, they are only the most basic "key points", or even just fragments. Xu Yang lost interest after looking at a few.

  Qingyun followed him, saw the disappointment on Xu Yang's face, guessed the reason, and smiled slightly: "If Mr. Xu needs a method or a mysterious technique, he can go to the inner cabinet. The ones placed in the outer cabinet are just some basic methods, of course, they can't enter Mr. Xu's eyes." Qingyun lowered his voice and leaned over, saying: "The inner cabinet has earth-level mysterious techniques."

  A whiff of fragrance wafted over, but Xu Yang remained unmoved, slightly opening up and saying, "Thank you."

  Xu Yang had countless divine techniques and secret methods in his mind, how could he be moved by the mere Earth Stage Mystical Technique? However, he also knew that during the Golden Age, mystical techniques were precious. The fact that Qian Bao Pavilion could take out an Earth Stage Mystical Technique for trade showed that their strength was indeed very strong.

  Strolling around, Xu Yang walked through the Xuan Shi District, Dan Yao District and Xuan Qi District, finally stopping at a remote area.

  Glancing around, none of the items on display have price tags, and several of them appear slightly damaged.

  Qingyun, who had just proactively approached Xu Yang but was politely rejected, not only didn't get angry, but her impression of Xu Yang actually improved a bit. She smiled warmly and said: "This is the treasure storage area. Many items that can't be appraised or have unknown uses are placed in this section. Buyers rely on their own judgment. Maybe if you're lucky, you'll find a good treasure."

  Xu Yang nodded, with great interest, and looked at them one by one. This was equivalent to rummaging through street stalls on Freedom Street; if you had a keen eye for spotting treasures, you could pick out valuable items, commonly known as "picking up leaks".

  Wanting to pick up bargains at Qianbao Pavilion is more than ten times harder than Freedom Street.

  Shattered fragments of mysterious artifacts, engraved with obscure floral patterns, wooden boards that seemed to hold cryptic symbols, and hollowed-out strange stones... Even if Xǔ Yáng used his extraordinary vision, which surpassed the understanding of this world for thousands of years, it would still be difficult to see through the mysteries within.

  Suddenly, Xu Yang's gaze stopped, he bent down and picked up a strange stone in front of him.

  This strange stone is about one foot square, cut open by a knife with a smooth and flat incision. In the middle of the stone, there are faint red marks, as if part of a painting.

  Rubbing the concave and convex places on the back of the strange stone, feeling its rough stone body, Xu Yang asked lightly: "Where did this stone come from?"

  Qingyun was somewhat curious about why Xuyang was interested in this ordinary-looking stone, and replied: "This was obtained from a mysterious stone mine. At the time, it was still a whole piece of stone. Someone said that there was a treasure hidden inside, so they bought it at a high price and cut it open. As a result, it was empty inside, with only red marks."

  Looking at Xu Yang's expression, Qingyun said in surprise: "Young Master Xu, you wouldn't want to buy it, would you?" She lowered her voice and said: "This stone has been verified by many appraisers and has no spiritual energy or aura, so it's worthless."

  Xu Yang smiled slightly: "Thank you for your kindness." He handed over the stone: "Help me wrap it up, will you?"

  Qingyun furrowed her brow, and with a kind intention to remind him, she was ignored. She felt slightly annoyed in her heart, so she stopped talking and directly wrapped up the stone, saying lightly: "This rare stone is priced at twenty Canglang coins."

  Xu Yang didn't mind her attitude and paid without batting an eye. Suddenly, a voice came from beside him: "I'll buy this stone."

  The two turned back to see a tall youth in front of them, wearing a green robe with a seven-colored tribal emblem on his chest, indicating that he was a member of the Xǔ family.

  Xu Yang couldn't help but laugh, he had only bought two things at Qian Bao Ge, and both times they were snatched away by the Xu family members. Could it be that the Xu family members were naturally incompatible with him, their eight characters not matching?

  "I'm sorry, this stone has already been sold to Master Xu Yang." Qingyun bowed and said.

  That tall and sturdy young man smiled faintly and said with great confidence: "I was rude, I didn't report my name - my name is Xu Zhengming. Now, can this stone be sold to me?"

  Xu Yang's heart slightly stirred, Xu Zhengming was a talent in the Xu family, and at a young age, he had already entered the initial stage of the Xuan Shi realm. Compared to Xu Zhengfei and Xu Zhengdang, he was fundamentally on a different level. Moreover, Xu Zhengming's father, Xu Qingliu, also held a significant position in the Xu family, often attending the "Jianbao Conference" at the Qianbao Pavilion, where Jingyun had seen him no less than ten times.

  Xu Zhengming looked at Xu Yang after reporting his name. He thought that this abandoned son of the family would definitely present the strange stone to him, the legitimate son of the family, in order to curry favor with him.

  Qingyun looked at Xuyang, seeking his opinion. She also thought that Xuyang would hand over the strange stone to seek peace. After all, Xu Zhengming was famous outside, and he was a remarkable figure of the third generation of the Xu family.

  "I already know your name," Xǔ Yáng said calmly, "but this strange stone is still mine. First come, first served, that's the rule of Qiǎn Bǎo Gé."

  Xu Zhengming's face changed bit by bit, from a smiling face to an iron-green color: "Do you know who I am? Do you know what you're talking about?"