The hotpot city was bustling with activity from its very first day of opening, and the residents of Pearl City almost took pride in being able to savor its delicacies.
Although Chao Yangzi, as the sect leader, had never paid much attention to wealth, seeing the hotpot city filled with guests every day and raking in money daily, he was astonished by the speed of its wealth accumulation.
Chao Tian Sect was rife with factions, and the competition for resources was fierce; the more spirit stones one had, the better. He immediately instructed the elder in charge of internal affairs to order all cities under the Chao Tian Sect's jurisdiction to fully replicate the hotpot city's model and expand their operations. The hotpot city in Pearl City became the headquarters of Chao Tian Sect's Zhen Xiu Zhai. Some important recipes, especially the secret to stir-frying the hotpot base, were not to be divulged. Finished hotpot bases would all be distributed from Pearl City.
On this day, Ye Ju received an invitation. A Pearl City appreciation event was scheduled in three days. It was delivered by the attendant, A You.
Ye Ju was puzzled. She had received an invitation before but missed it due to her seclusion. Why was there another appreciation event? While busy with the hotpot city's affairs, Ye Ju had also prepared everything she needed to buy. She was ready to return to her island, as she vaguely felt that the other three pearls in her dantian were also about to form Golden Cores. It was safer to advance on the island.
Having spent nearly two months in Pearl City, Ye Ju had figured out some basic aspects of the cultivation world. If one were to advance to Golden Core or break through to Nascent Soul, it would attract unusual phenomena and heavenly tribulations. Most people would choose to find a place to seclude themselves, or have their protective dao companions guard them. Just like the time she encountered heavenly tribulations in the deep sea, it was fortunate that it was in a deserted area. Without a powerful protector, it was easy to invite danger, and even to be attacked and have treasures stolen when weakened after enduring lightning tribulations.
Unsure about the Pearl Appreciation Event, Ye Ju decided to ask shopkeeper Zhu.
As soon as she thought of it, shopkeeper Zhu's voice sounded outside the courtyard.
"Fairy Ye, good news! The Pearl Appreciation Event in Pearl City will be held again in three days!"
As Ye Ju walked out of her room, she saw shopkeeper Zhu entering the courtyard with an excited expression.
"Just in time, shopkeeper Zhu. I was about to find you to ask about this. I received an invitation, and I'm wondering if I should go?"
"Oh, an invitation? Who sent it?" Shopkeeper Zhu looked puzzled. The outside world should not know that Fairy Ye was staying in the guest courtyard.
"Fellow Daoist Ye, Fellow Daoist Ye, will you be attending the appreciation event in three days?" Chao Xiangzi's voice echoed from outside the courtyard.
Ye Ju thought, now she knew who sent the invitation.
As Chao Xiangzi entered the courtyard, he saw his uncle sitting with fellow Daoist Ye, enjoying tea at the tea table.
"Fellow Daoist Chao, was this invitation sent by you?" Ye Ju dangled the invitation in her hand.
"Yes, Fellow Daoist Ye. The appreciation event is worth attending. You might find some treasures you desire there." Chao Xiangzi sat down and said to Ye Ju. He knew that Fellow Daoist Ye had been fond of buying things recently and likely enjoyed such occasions.
"You two seem quite excited about the Pearl Appreciation Event? What exactly is it about? Isn't it just about selling pearls?" Ye Ju thought she had plenty of pearls, so why bother going to such a competition?
"Fairy Ye, you may not know, but this Pearl Appreciation Event, while nominally for appreciating pearls, is also a treasure appraisal convention," shopkeeper Zhu said, seeing Ye Ju's confusion, and explained the rules and some secrets of the appreciation event in detail.
First, various merchant houses would present their top-tier pearls and treasures. Whoever won the top prize would secure the right to supply the tribute pearls to the Tianchen Dynasty on the Tianchen Continent the following year. Everyone on the Tianchen Continent knew that the royal family loved pearls, and the tribute pearls from Pearl City carried a unique spiritual energy that allowed most members of the royal family, even those without cultivation talent, to prolong their lives and maintain their youthful appearance. As for other heavenly treasures that could prolong life and enhance beauty, ordinary people without spiritual roots who consumed or used them would directly explode and die.
Even the common people had a special fondness for pearls. Obtaining the tribute qualification meant becoming an Imperial Merchant. And Imperial Merchants enjoyed immense rights and benefits. The resource competition of the great immortal sects was inseparable from financial support.
Although cultivators were held in high regard in this world, they also needed to maintain peace in this realm and protect ordinary people. The inheritance of sects required the continuous selection of people with spiritual roots and talent from the mortal world, thus forming a balance.
The Pearl Appreciation Event had another function: it was also an exchange for heavenly treasures. Any family with treasures could participate in auctions or exchange them for items of equal value. Bartering!
Ye Ju's interest was instantly piqued. She needed to understand what heavenly treasures looked like in this world, otherwise, she would be completely clueless, unable to recognize treasures, and miss out!
Seeing Ye Ju's interest in heavenly treasures, Chao Xiangzi directly took out a spirit item appraisal book from his spirit ring and gave it to her. It contained detailed introductions to over ten thousand types of spiritual plants, over five thousand famous ancient artifacts, and the innate skills and attributes of over five thousand types of spiritual pets.
Ye Ju was overjoyed. After browsing for a while, she knew how precious the book was. Never one to take advantage of others, she immediately gave him two ice spirit fruits in return.
"No, no, Fellow Daoist Ye, this book is a gift to you; it's not valuable."
"No one should accept favors without earning them. This book is so precious; consider it a barter!"
"This... this..."
Chao Xiangzi repeatedly refused, his face turning red with anxiety. Only after Ye Ju glared at him with a killing intent did he quiet down.
Ye Ju... she truly disliked these pedantic ancient people!
Chao Xiangzi... how difficult it was to repay a kindness!
Shopkeeper Zhu, who witnessed the entire exchange, also shook his head helplessly. His nephew was a genius in cultivation, artifact refining, and even creating cultivation methods. He was also a cold-faced young master in the sect, but in front of Fairy Ye, he seemed like an inexperienced, flustered young boy.
Three days later, at the appreciation event, a luxurious carriage arrived at the entrance of the venue. A thin attendant jumped down from the carriage and handed an invitation to the doorman. The doorman glanced at it and then opened the gate, allowing the carriage to proceed to a designated area for carriages. Specialized personnel then parked the carriage. From the carriage descended a graceful young woman wearing a veil and a water-blue dress, followed by a girl around ten years old. The girl also wore a veil over her face.
The attendant immediately handed it to a waiting escort who was guiding guests. It was a wooden plaque engraved with orchids. The escort was surprised upon seeing it. The boxes marked with plum, orchid, bamboo, and chrysanthemum, the four noble plants, were only for distinguished guests. The consumption of spirit stones started from ten top-grade spirit stones. He then led the woman in white and her entourage to the Orchid private room on the second floor of the appreciation hall.
The young woman removed her veil, and it turned out to be Ye Ju, who had previously refused to join Han Xiangzi with her two companions.
A knock sounded at the door, and a beautiful maidservant holding a tea set waited outside.
As soon as Ye Ju entered, she scanned the area with her divine sense. Some places seemed to be shielded from divine sense, likely where treasures were kept. She couldn't peek into any of the private rooms. However, people inside the private rooms could see people outside their own rooms. This made sense; if it were an enemy, they wouldn't want to be caught off guard at the door without knowing who it was.
The attendant was A You. Ye Ju asked him to open the door and let people in.
"Distinguished guest, the maidservant Lan Ci is responsible for all matters in the Orchid private room. From serving tea and water to bidding on behalf of our esteemed guests!" Lan Ci entered the room, curtsied with two fingers holding her skirt, and bowed.
"You don't need to be so formal. Thank you for your trouble today." Ye Ju had never seen such an ancient maidservant before. She was beautiful but not aggressive, and her words were as clear and pleasant as pearls falling on jade, and her every move made one feel as if bathed in a spring breeze.
"Fairy, please have some tea!" Lan Ci clearly recognized Ye Ju, the little fairy who fought on the arena! Lan Ci was also slightly excited. Last time, Miss Li had been arrogant and overbearing in the Orchid private room, and she, being weak and outnumbered, dared not resist. Now, this little fairy had avenged her. She had even gone to watch the arena. The imposing aura of the fairy when she was slaughtering everyone was simply mesmerizing!