Chapter Fourteen: Zhou Mengyan

  Jiang Hao didn't realize until he reached the corner that the staircase was actually hidden behind a light screen, no wonder he hadn't noticed it earlier. This light screen seemed to be able to isolate people's spiritual power. Jiang Hao paused for a moment before preparing to step into the light screen.

  "Halt, this is not a place for you kids to come." Just as Jiang Hao was about to step in, a tall, red-faced man blocked his way and said fiercely upon seeing that Jiang Hao was just a little kid.

  "Huh?" Jiang Heng was stopped and felt very annoyed. Looking at the opponent's strength, which was at least stronger than his own, he couldn't help but sigh that there must be some treasure on this floor, otherwise a single guard wouldn't have such strength.

  Jiang Hao thought for a moment, then casually pulled out the Jiang family's token and tossed it to the man. The ruddy-faced man disdainfully accepted the token, examined it carefully, and suddenly his expression changed to one of great interest.

  "Ah, so you're the young master of the Jiang family! Why didn't you say so earlier? Hehe, are you going up now? I'll go arrange it for you." The red-faced man's sudden obsequiousness left Jiang Hua stunned, and he couldn't help but feel a little amused - this Jiang family identity was indeed useful.

  "Yes, I'm here to buy something. Would you mind showing me around?" Jiang Hao said calmly, seemingly not minding the man's rude attitude earlier.

  The red-faced man wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, hastily nodded in agreement, then took out a palm-sized jade token and stuck it onto the light screen. The light screen slowly dissipated, revealing the staircase behind it.

  "Master Jiang, this way, please go upstairs. I'll go and report to the person in charge." The red-faced man led Jiang Hao upstairs, then turned around and went to the back hall, presumably to make a report.

  Jiang Hao slowly walked up to the second floor, carefully examining it. He found that the space on the second floor was much smaller than the first floor, but there were already very few people here. Around the second floor, there were many items shrouded in light curtains, including weapons, herbs, battle techniques, and beast cores - all of which were top-notch goods. In front of each light curtain stood a tall and slender girl who provided detailed explanations.

  Jiang Hao took a closer look and found that there were still three-stage beast cores here, but unfortunately, there were no second-stage water-elemental beast cores. Sighing, Jiang Hao shook his head, discovering many things he had never seen before, such as the Meteorite Iron Stone, Deep Sea Dark Ice, and Easy Hiding Pill. Although he didn't know their value, seeing the crowd gathered in front of the light screen could tell how precious they were.

  These people are dressed in bright clothes and have elegant manners, at a glance you can tell they are some high-ranking officials.

  "Heh heh, young brother, you're a member of the Jiang family." A gentle voice floated over from behind, its melodious tone extremely pleasant to the ear. Jiang Huan hastily turned his head around, only to see a woman with a blue-green scarf slowly walking towards him. The woman's features were elegant and refined, but her temperament was extraordinary, far surpassing those ordinary women, as if she were a rare lotus flower that bloomed in the mire yet remained unsoiled by it.

  Jiang Hao was stunned for a moment, and then he stared at the woman as she walked slowly in front of him.

  "Hehe, little brother staring at a young lady like this, the young lady should be embarrassed." The green-clothed woman stretched out one delicate hand to cover her mouth and giggled, and with this smile, a hundred charms were born, and the people around couldn't hide the flames in their eyes.

  "Ah, young master Jiang, I've disturbed you." Jiang Hao slowly regained his composure, swallowed a mouthful of saliva, and said awkwardly.

  "Oh? I'm Zhou Mengyan, the one in charge of this second floor. Brother Jiang Hao, if you need anything, just let me know, consider it my gift for meeting you." The woman in green clothes said slowly with a slight bow.

  "No work no pay." Jiang Hao carefully sensed it and found that the woman's breath was introverted, definitely a master, and didn't dare to slack off, hurriedly refused.

  "Hehe, doesn't young Master Jiang know that half of the industries in this Treasure Pavilion belong to your Jiang family? I'm just borrowing flowers to offer to Buddha. If the pavilion master finds out that I'm making things difficult for you, then I won't be able to stay here either." The woman in green was on the verge of tears.

  "Ah, does that mean we have half of the Jiang family's business?" Jiang Hao was stunned again, it seemed he knew too little as the young master of the Jiang family. "In that case, I won't be polite either, trouble you, sister."

  "Heh heh, what do you need then? We have all sorts of medicinal herbs, weapons, combat techniques, and materials here." The woman in green clothing smiled through her tears.

  Jiang Hao pulled out the list of medicinal materials and handed it to Zhou Mengyan, saying: "These are some of the medicinal materials I need. It's best to take a few more copies. Also, I still need a second-order water system beast core."

  Zhou Mengyan took the list, glanced at it: "En, these medicinal materials are precious, but we have them all here. As for the second-order water system beast core, I don't have any on this second floor. Unless...I'll go ask the master, there should be a few in the warehouse, I'll go get some for you."

  "It's great, thank you." Jiang Huan no longer declined, cupped his hands in gratitude, and felt a bit overwhelmed by the enthusiasm of this green-clothed woman.

  Zhou Mengyan hastily ordered a maid to pour tea for Jiang Hao, and she herself rushed to the back hall on the second floor, presumably to report to the master. Jiang Hao was not polite either, drinking tea while waiting. This Jibao Pavilion was indeed wealthy and extravagant, with the teacups and tea being extraordinary. After tasting a sip, Jiang Hao felt refreshed and extremely comfortable.

  In an instant, rustling footsteps were heard from ahead. Jiang Huan knew that something was coming and hastily stood up.

  "Jiang Hao little brother, just wait, this is a second-order water system beast core. This is the herb you wanted, you can take a look." Zhou Mengyan personally handed a storage bag to Jiang Hao.

  Jiang Hao used his soul power to investigate and found that these herbs still had dew on them, indicating they were freshly picked. He opened the jade box containing the beast core, revealing a transparent pearl inside. As soon as he opened the box, everyone felt the humidity in the air begin to spread, proving it was indeed a second-grade water-elemental beast core.

  Jiang Hao put away the beast core and herbs, then flipped his hand to bring out a second-order thunder system beast core, handed it to Zhou Mengyan, and said: "Little junior just arrived, thanks to sister's care, this thunder system beast core is considered as little junior's heart, hope sister won't decline."

  Zhou Mengyan was taken aback, and a hint of a smile involuntarily appeared at the corner of her eye. She felt the numbness from the beast core in her hand, and she couldn't help but look at Jiang Hao again. "Hehe, a Thunder-type Beast Core? Little brother is really generous. It's good that you didn't say I was being insincere. I'll accept this gift, and if you need anything next time, just come find me."

  Zhou Mengyan handed a jade token to Jiang Huan: "This is the pass for the second floor, from now on you can come up directly without reporting."

  "Then thank you." Jiang Huan put away the jade card and said with a smile.

  "Oh, right, excuse me, sister, does this place accept beast cores? I'd like to exchange them for some gold coins." Jiang Huan asked after a brief pause.

  "Do you have beast cores to sell? Hehe, I can help you get rid of them, the price will definitely satisfy you, it's just that I don't know how many beast cores you have?" Zhou Mengyan didn't expect Jiang Huan to be selling things and asked in surprise, seemingly a bit disbelieving.

  "Can't we find a place with no one around to talk?" Jiang Hao looked around at the people constantly walking by and furrowed his brow.

  "Hehe, little brother, you're really cautious, that's good. Let's talk in the VIP room then." Zhou Mengyan said with a smile.

  In a spacious room, Zhou Mengyan saw the pile of Lei Su beast cores on the table, and she could no longer conceal her astonishment. If Jiang Huan had only obtained one, she might have still believed it, but seeing so many beast cores, and they were rare second-order Lei Su, she couldn't help but take it seriously.

  "Is all of this really yours?" Zhou Mengyan suppressed the surprise in her heart and looked at Jiang Hao, who was calm and composed.

  "Yeah, accidentally picked up some, sister take a look at how much gold coins can be sold." Jiang Huan was made to feel uncomfortable all over by Zhou Mengyan's gaze, and rubbed his nose in response.

  "Found one?" Zhou Mengyan almost jumped up, second-order thunder system beast cores were extremely rare, because most of the second-order thunder system magic beasts had extremely fast speeds, making it very difficult to capture and kill them.

  "There are a total of 135 second-order beast cores, each priced at no less than 2,000 gold coins. That's a total of 270,000 gold coins." Zhou Mengyan calmed down and counted the beast cores on the table again.

  She then had someone come and take away the beast cores, and paid 2.7 million gold coins to Jiang Heng. He took a blue card handed over by Zhou Mengyan, on which he faintly saw the words "War Spirit" and "Jiang Heng".

  "Hehe, this is a universally used gold coin card on the mainland, with 270,000 gold coins inside. You can also withdraw cash at any time." Zhou Mengyan said with a smile.

  "Thank you, sister. That little guy will take his leave first." Jiang Huan put away the gold coins and didn't linger any longer. After thanking Zhou Mengyan, he left the Treasure Pavilion.