Yun Ze, with Zi Ji in tow, descended into a random alleyway after leaving the imperial palace.
Despite the many onlookers, the royal family of Chengtian must have preempted the populace. Though the citizens gazed at Yun Ze and Zi Ji with admiration and anticipation, none dared to approach or even speak from afar. The only interaction was a few elderly folks performing a kowtow towards Yun Ze.
Yun Ze, naturally, could not accept such a gesture and dodged it by stepping aside. Though he had now become a true immortal, in his heart, he felt no different from these mortals. Even with a lifespan many, perhaps tens of times longer, they were all, in the end, merely unfortunate souls walking this world. Everyone had their own burdens to bear, and life was no different.
Moreover…
Yun Ze looked up at the sky, his mind recalling the truth about the Nine Heavens that Bu Bu had once spoken of. Humans were, fundamentally, just humans. Even with immortal techniques and demonic desires, it couldn't change the inherent sorrow of the human race.
Never mind, thinking about this now was pointless. It was better to figure out how to acquire the two second-tier spiritual artifacts for tomorrow. He couldn't possibly use Zhu Ying and Shan Xiao, so he had to find other ways. Instead of wandering aimlessly, it would be better to visit the Immortal Gathering. Where there were people, there was opportunity. Hadn't he found his first spirit stones at the Immortal Gathering?
Yun Ze walked and thought, leading himself towards the outskirts of the city.
Not long after they left the city, they sensed a spiritual energy fluctuation nearby. A Qi Refining Yun Ze would not have felt such a disturbance, but now, after reaching Foundation Establishment, his control and perception of spiritual energy had advanced significantly.
If Brother Ji had come here, he wondered if Sister Shang and Sister Fu Yue had also arrived. Perhaps he could even see them. A smile touched Yun Ze's lips as he turned to Zi Ji. "Zi Ji, is there anything you desire?" After all, Zi Ji had helped him, resolving Brother Ji's worries. This kindness deserved to be repaid.
"Me?" Zi Ji blinked in surprise. After a few moments of careful thought, he cupped his fists towards Yun Ze. "Sir, I am in need of a good writing brush."
"A brush…" Yun Ze nodded slightly. Spirit brushes were a type of spiritual artifact, but unlike weapons like swords and sabers, they were a specialized category, usually costing about a third more. He still had forty thousand spirit stones in his spatial ring. While that was only enough for half a second-tier spiritual artifact, it was more than enough for a first-tier one. He just wasn't sure if they would have one at the Immortal Gathering.
"Alright, let's go take a look at the Immortal Gathering."
With that, Yun Ze led Zi Ji towards the direction of the spiritual energy fluctuation, arriving before a deep pool. Although the formation was different, the array itself was familiar. By channeling spiritual energy into it, one could reveal the world within.
The two of them stepped into the Immortal Gathering. However, upon entering, Yun Ze couldn't help but frown. There were simply too many people! The Immortal Gathering in the Tangshan Dynasty had at most a thousand attendees, but this… this was more like a newly built city! The Tangshan Dynasty's Immortal Gathering had only a single street lined with stalls on either side. This one, however, was a labyrinth of winding paths. Not only were the streets several times wider, but the stalls had also transformed into small shops! And the number of people… it was countless times more!
This… was this the true great dynasty?
"Two fellow Daoists."
As Yun Ze stood in a daze, a man wearing a bamboo hat approached them, cupping his fists. "Entry to the Immortal Gathering requires a five spirit stone entrance fee. If you are representing a sect and participating in the Ascension Assembly, you may present your token."
Five stones. Good heavens, that was quite a bit more expensive than the previous entrance fee. But there was a reason for the increased price. The ones collecting the fees were all at the Foundation Establishment stage, so a fivefold increase was considered reasonable.
Yun Ze produced the token given to him by Ji Shan. The man's eyes lit up, and he chuckled, "So you are Daoists from Tongtian Academy. May I know your name?"
"My surname is Tu."
"Daoist Tu." The man in the bamboo hat cupped his fists again. "Daoist Tu, are you here to sell spiritual items, browse casually, or perhaps participate in today's auction? If you intend to sell, there is only one shop currently available. I can take you there."
"No need, I'm just looking around." Yun Ze felt a slight headache looking at the winding streets. He then asked, "Daoist, do you know where I can find places selling spiritual artifacts? If it's convenient, could you point me in the right direction?"
"Simple, I'll take you there." The man in the bamboo hat gestured towards one of the paths. "My name is Lou Shan. If Daoist Tu doesn't mind, you can just call me by my name."
"Tu Sheng." Yun Ze calmly stated his name.
"Daoist Tu Sheng." Lou Shan walked beside Yun Ze, completely ignoring Zi Ji. After all, Zi Ji was only at Qi Refining, and strictly speaking, not yet a true immortal. Foundation Establishment cultivators would generally overlook such individuals. While this was common in the cultivation world, Yun Ze found it somewhat displeasing.
As they walked, Lou Shan introduced them to various sights. However, Yun Ze offered him no warmth, merely nodding in response to his words.
"We're here." Lou Shan, still with a smile on his face, introduced Yun Ze. "These shops on both sides all sell spiritual artifacts. If Daoist Tu Sheng cannot find anything you like here, you can also visit the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion in the center of the Immortal Gathering. There will be an auction today, and perhaps you will find something you desire."
"Mm." Yun Ze replied curtly.
"Then I shall take my leave."
"Mm." Lou Shan cupped his fists again and turned to walk back the way they came. Once around the corner, he glared back and spat, "Hmph! Just Tongtian Academy, acting all high and mighty? Deserves to be schemed against!" With that, he quickly navigated through several streets and entered a shop selling spiritual materials, heading to the back.
"Brother Lou!" An elder with white hair smiled as Lou Shan entered. "Is everything settled?"
"Don't worry, Brother Gong," Lou Shan said, patting his chest. "I've spoken to all the shopkeepers. No matter which shop he buys from, he'll end up with the one we prepared for him! To avoid suspicion, I haven't even lowered the price. It's just being sold at the minimum price for a second-tier spiritual artifact."
"Excellent, excellent!" Gong Xiao stroked his white beard. "Brother Lou, rest assured, once this is done, this old brother will not forget your rewards!"
"What are you saying, Brother? It's just a small favor."
…
At the Immortal Gathering.
Yun Ze and Zi Ji browsed through the shops along the street, visiting almost every spiritual artifact store. Second-tier spiritual artifacts were available, but their prices were upwards of a hundred thousand spirit stones. With Yun Ze's current wealth, he could at best afford half of one. First-tier spirit brushes were also available, and their prices were not high, with the most expensive being fifteen hundred spirit stones. However, none of them caught Zi Ji's eye after visiting several shops.
Yun Ze was at a loss regarding him. This little dimwit, if you called him stupid, he could come up with strategies for governing a nation. But if you called him smart, he was picking and choosing free spiritual artifacts, wasn't he afraid Yun Ze would change his mind?
"Zi Ji…" As the two emerged from the last spiritual artifact shop, Yun Ze sighed. "What kind of brush are you looking for?"
"I don't know." Zi Ji shook his head, a bitter smile playing on his lips. "Mr. Tu, I've looked at all the brushes in Tongtian Academy, but none of them are what I want. These, naturally, are not either."
"You've seen them all? Have you even seen the Dean's?" Yun Ze asked, leading Zi Ji towards another street. Although spiritual artifacts were hard to come by, since they were here, they might as well explore.
"Yes." Zi Ji replied honestly, then added, "Steady but lacking sharpness, I don't like it."
Yun Ze was speechless! The Dean of Tongtian Academy was a cultivator at the Integration stage, just one step away from Tribulation Transcendence, and known as one of the contemporary powerful figures, the Azure Peak Venerable! His Azure Peak was not a sword, but a spirit brush! A seventh-tier spirit brush named Azure Peak! Zi Ji's audacity was too much, to say that the Dean's brush was steady but lacking sharpness? Sometimes, Yun Ze truly didn't know what went on in his head.
"Then I can't help you," Yun Ze feigned a sigh, wanting to see Zi Ji's reaction. "I was going to give you a spirit brush as a reward, but since you don't even fancy the Dean's Azure Peak, I can't possibly find an eighth-tier spirit brush for you."
"A reward?" Zi Ji was confused, tilting his head. Then, his eyes lit up with joy. "Sir, if you wish to reward me, why not answer one question for me!"
"That's fine too, as long as I know it, you can ask."
Zi Ji stopped, looked up at Yun Ze, and asked with great seriousness, "Sir, why did you have two different attitudes towards Senior Lou just now? You told him your name earlier, but later you were so cold and unapproachable?"
"Just this?"
"Yes!"
"Are you sure?" Yun Ze held up a finger. "A first-tier spiritual artifact, or the answer to this question, which do you choose?"
"I want to know the answer."
"The answer is simple, it's…"
Yun Ze was about to speak, but before he could, a cry of surprise echoed from afar!
"Gold! It's gold! Look! It's really gold!"
This exclamation drew everyone's attention, accompanied by a clamor.
"What! Where is the gold?"
"East Fourth Stall, let's go! Hurry and see!"
"Quick, quick! If we're late, we won't even catch a glimpse of the treasure!"
Gold? Yun Ze frowned, looking in the direction everyone was rushing, his eyes filled with curiosity. It seemed to be quite lively over there.