Chapter 955: Starry Pavilion

There were experts of more than tens of worlds present in Starry Avenue, and there were many wandering cultivators about. All of them gathered there to trade resources, and there were all sorts of stuff available! The quality of the treasures was really high, and there were lots to choose from.

Even after Shang Xia entered many shops to look around, he couldn’t help but want to buy some rare treasures that were hard to come by. Even if he couldn’t use them, they would be extremely useful if he brought them back to the Tongyou Institution back in the Spirit Luxuriant World.

However, he had another task he needed to complete and he managed to restrain himself from going on a massive shopping spree. When he emerged from one of the pavilions, he noticed Luo Qi’s crestfallen expression while walking ahead. A look of contemplation appeared on his face.

“What’s the matter? Is something wrong?” Shang Xia asked casually.

After a short moment of contemplation, Luo Qi muttered, “Young Master Shang, the prices of everything seem a little inflated. It’s not just several particular items either. Everything is more expensive now!”

Shang Xia was slightly taken aback. However, he quickly asked, “Is that true? Why is this happening?”

“If I’m not mistaken, it might have something to do with your world forming the spatial tunnel to our Star Origin City.” Luo Qi muttered while turning back to glance at Shang Xia.

Seemingly deep in thought, Shang Xia wondered, “So... You’re saying that the businesses in Starry Avenue and the merchants along the street are planning to rip off experts of my Spirit Luxuriant World?”

Luo Qi nodded in response. “Even though the last time this happened was close to a hundred years ago when another world connected to the Star Origin City, it’s not the first I’m hearing of this. Every time a new world makes a connection, the businesses along Starry Avenue would go crazy and go on a massive spree...”

“Before forming a connection with our city, most of the worlds out there lived in an isolated state. At the very least, they wouldn’t have too many cultivation resources. When their high-level experts enter the city, it would be their first time seeing so many treasures of such high quality and level! They would be ready to spend their essence crystals on resources available, and you can only imagine how they will act when they come here for the first time. Without much knowledge of the prices, they might pay twice, or even thrice what those resources are worth. In fact, for rarer resources, they might pay tens of times the original price! After getting ripped off, they might still be celebrating their good fortune...” Luo Qi concluded.

Shang Xia nodded in understanding. Actually, if not for the fact that he had already reached the peak of the Martial Dipper Realm and couldn’t care less about ordinary treasures any longer, he might be tempted to start buying treasures. Of course, having a task to complete was also a reason he didn’t go on a crazy shopping spree.

From the looks of it, he needed to find a way to send the news back to the Spirit Luxuriant World. It was a shame Huang Jinghan and the rest left too early. He didn’t know if they detected the inflated prices.

However, since they had just connected the spatial tunnel, it was highly unlikely they knew.

After thinking about it, Shang Xia’s gaze landed on Luo Qi again. Perhaps, he could rely on Luo Qi to convey the news.

As the 2 of them continued to stroll down Starry Avenue, Luo Qi continued to introduce the specialty products of the various businesses despite Shang Xia not buying anything. He managed to gain a pretty good picture of the various merchants and businesses along the street.

Shang Xia asked suddenly, “Brother Luo, the treasures that can be bought here peak off at the fifth rank. However, I believe the Starry Avenue definitely has a place to trade rank six treasures, right?”

Slightly taken aback by the sudden question, Luo Qi burst out laughing the next moment. “Of course! Actually, I’ve thought about it when bringing you around. After all, you’re only a step away from entering the Martial Void Realm. However... Hmm... Actually, most of these businesses probably have rank six treasures in stock. However, they won’t take them out easily. They would only be willing to show those treasures to their regular customers. Moreover, the prices would usually be through the roof!”

Nodding again, Shang Xia signaled his understanding. He knew that there would be rank six treasures for sale. After all, from the battle above the Star Relay, he could tell that the main experts backing the various powers in the Star Origin City were Martial Void Realm experts. They would deal in rank six treasures, but even so, the amount was probably extremely pitiful.

“Right... It’s not like there aren’t any ways to buy them publicly!” Luo Qi said suddenly.

“Oh?” Shang Xia turned to look at him with a raised eyebrow. “Where do we go to buy rank six treasures?”

He didn’t expect Luo Qi to know so much. He wondered if it had something to do with Luo Qi’s past identity as a member of the Star Origin Guards.

Stopping in place, he pointed in a certain direction. “There. The Starry Pavilion... That’s where you can get rank six treasures!”

The building he was pointing to was a majestic structure that stood tall in Starry Avenue. If Shang Xia wasn’t mistaken, the giant pavilion was located right smack in the center of Starry Avenue. It was also the most eye-catching building.

“Starry Pavilion?” Shang Xia could feel a formless pressure being emitted from the building as he stood before it.

With Luo Qi leading the way, they entered the building. Shang Xia felt multiple people inspecting him with their divine wills or divine souls.

A Martial Dipper Realm expert quickly approached them with a face full of smiles. Shang Xia could tell that there was something strange with the other party’s aura. He seemed to have suffered injuries in the past, but his condition was stable. He was in a much better spot than Luo Qi.

“Fellow cultivator, you should be Young Master Shang from the Spirit Luxuriant World, right? Well met!” The person who was approaching quickly cupped his fists in Shang Xia’s direction while giving his greeting.

Shang Xia was surprised as he glanced at Luo Qi beside him. However, the smile on his face appeared right on cue and he muttered, “Fellow cultivator, I didn’t expect you to know about me. How should I address you?”

Shang Xia’s doubt couldn’t escape the other party’s eyes. He knew that Shang Xia was feeling a little bewildered at the moment and he quickly explained, “Young Master Shang, please don’t misunderstand. Luo Qi has nothing to do with this. Your Spirit Luxuriant World managed to form a connection with our Star Origin City and it’s a great event that hasn’t happened for hundreds of years! Moreover, the exchange between Martial Void Realm True Immortals above the Star Relay brought a lot of attention to you guys. If I was still unaware of your identity, our Starry Pavilion’s reputation which has lasted for thousands of years would go down the drain!”

Pausing for a moment, he continued, “Oh, right! You can call me Zhou Mingdao. I am the assistant manager in the Starry Pavilion!”

A look of realization appeared on Shang Xia’s face. “Assistant Manager Zhou, it’s an honor to meet you. I am Shang Xia from the Spirit Luxuriant World, but I believe you already know my full name. After all, your pavilion is truly amazing at information gathering...”

Zhou Mingdao’s lips trembled slightly when Shang Xia addressed him as ‘Assistant Manager Zhou’. However, he had seen all sorts of customers, and his customer service ability was amazing. His expression didn’t change too much and he continued laughing, “Haha! Of course... Even though there are all sorts of people in the Star Origin City which makes it a little complicated, our Star Origin City is only so big at the end of the day. Didn’t Brother Luo Qi tell you about the background of our Starry Pavilion?”

Shang Xia shot a glance in Luo Qi’s direction, but he noticed the extremely strange look on Luo Qi’s face.

Seeing how Zhou Mingdao was also looking at him, Luo Qi eventually coughed awkwardly, “Young Master Shang, my apologies. I didn’t bring it up earlier because I didn’t think it would matter. Actually, many Star Origin Guards who retired went on to manage the Star Origin Guards’ business in the city. The Starry Pavilion is one of them. Moreover, it’s one of the most important units they possess... Camp... No, Deputy Pavilion Master Zhou was once the Camp Commander of the Sixth Camp.”

Shang Xia cupped his fists again and gasped in shock. “Oh! I apologize for my rudeness. As it turns out, it’s Deputy Pavilion Master Zhou!”

It was no wonder Luo Qi would show such a strange expression.

Shang Xia had already tried to overestimate the power of the Star Origin Guards the best he could. However, he realized that he was still unaware of the true strength they possessed.

Actually, he should have expected as much. The Star Origin Guards had established themselves for more than a thousand years, and the whole time, they maintained 343 members. There would definitely be some experts who retired due to their injuries or were killed in their line of duty. There would also be some who left due to various reasons. Disregarding those who were dead, it wasn’t as though everyone who was no longer a part of the Star Origin Guards had nothing to do with them any longer.

It seemed as though a portion of them went to manage the Star Origin Guards’ business in the city after leaving.

The person standing before him was one of them. He was once the Camp Commander of the Sixth Camp, and his status was extraordinary! However, he was only able to become the Deputy Pavilion Master in the Starry Pavilion... One could only imagine the background of the Pavilion Master!

One had to know that Luo Qi told him earlier that the Starry Pavilion was the only place to obtain rank six treasures publicly.

The reputation of the Star Origin Guards alone wouldn’t be enough to stop the prying eyes of the various experts. There was only one other explanation! There was a True Immortal in charge of the Starry Pavilion!

After connecting all the dots, Shang Xia realized something else. Luo Qi seemed to be doing really badly for a member who was once part of the Star Origin Guards.

As for the reason behind Luo Qi not telling him about the Starry Pavilion’s background, Shang Xia thought that he was merely trying not to expose too much of the Star Origin Guards. After all, Luo Qi still had a strong sense of belonging to them and would put their interests first.

“Sigh... What do you mean Deputy Pavilion Master... I’m just the Assistant Manager!” It might be his first time being called an Assistant Manager by someone, but he found it pretty interesting. “Young Master Shang, what are you looking for? I have some time now and if you don’t mind, I would like to bring you around the Starry Pavilion!”

“It’s an honor for Assistant Manager Zhou to come all the way out here to greet us, I wouldn’t dare get you to bring us around. With Brother Luo here, I believe I won’t get too lost. I would just have to trouble you to get any staff member to show me around.”

After Shang Xia learned of Zhou Mingdao’s identity, he naturally wouldn’t go overboard and ask the man to bring him around like an ordinary attendant.

“It’s fine, it’s fine!” Zhou Mingdao grinned. He seemed to have already guessed Shang Xia’s goal of coming to the Starry Pavilion and he added, “It won’t matter if you are only planning to look at the ordinary treasures around the pavilion. However, if you need something more special, it would be more convenient to have me around!”

Shang Xia was slightly taken aback, but he quickly chuckled, “Since... Since that’s the case, I would have to trouble you!”

Zhou Mingdao waved his hand and roared with laughter. Reaching forward, he gestured, “Young Master Shang, please!”

Watching them chat and laugh with each other, Luo Qi quickly followed behind.