Chapter One Hundred Ten: Bartering at the Drizzle Pavilion

Chapter 110: Trading at Drizzle Tower
Chapter 12: Preaching on Spirit Mountain, Obtaining Sublime Methods, Soaring Through the Clouds Alone (Part 20)

Ye Hua stared at the list for a long while but found nothing unusual. When he saw his own name, he thought to himself: "This was entirely unintentional. I had no intention of participating in the academic competition. When my opponent approached me, I merely sought the opportunity to spar with him. I never expected my name to be recorded here!"

After pondering for a while, he stepped away and walked along his path, reflecting as he went. Since he was carrying all his worldly possessions, he needed to prepare thoroughly before heading to Cold City.

First were the medicinal pills. His supply of Clear Water Pills and Eight-Sun Divine Pills, brought from Beitai, along with the Bamboo Siliceous Pills obtained from the Golden Eagle, were running low. These essentials had to be replenished at a place where pills and magical artifacts were traded.

In the eight cities and twelve suburbs of the capital, there were thousands of such trading venues. The most prestigious in the West City was none other than Drizzle Tower, touted as the "Number One Tower in the Capital." Back when he resided at the Zhang estate, he had heard Ma Fei and Shi Lei speak of it.

They claimed that Drizzle Tower contained everything under heaven. Though an exaggeration, it spoke to the tower's grand scale and reputation. It was said to be located near the Dragon Head River in the West City, built against the mountains by the water—a majestic structure, easy to find.

Indeed, after asking for directions, Ye Hua found the route. Half an hour later, he saw a towering, magnificent pagoda standing on a hillside, facing a wide river. The tower appeared to be several hundred zhang tall, covering forty to fifty mu of land. It looked like a jade hairpin piercing the earth, its structure supporting the clouds, surrounded by jade peaks that cast shadows upon it.

Ye Hua sighed in admiration, "The reputation is well-deserved! The title of 'Number One Tower' is no lie." As he drew closer, the jade-like palace seemed to pierce the sky, and he had to crane his neck to see the top.

After walking another hundred paces and crossing a wide plaza, he reached the entrance. The balustrades were made of translucent, emerald-like jade, and upon closer inspection, he realized they were crafted from pearls and coral. Ye Hua marveled, "Why such extravagance!"

Looking up, he saw the three large, bold characters "Drizzle Tower" written in black ink, flanked by a couplet:
"Fragrant breaths return with the clouds, connecting the city shadows to the east and the tower's reflection to the west;
The wind blows the flowers away, delighting in the chime of bells and the rain moistening the sound of the gongs!"

Outside, another couplet read:
"The treasure tower is lofty, witnessing the solemnity of golden statues, already touching the realm of the Three Clarities;
The celestial path is ethereal, observing the dignified jade faces, like wandering through the divine realm of the Nine Prefectures!"

Ye Hua nodded in appreciation; the couplets were a true reflection of the tower. Standing outside for only a moment, he saw hundreds of cultivators entering and exiting—the place was as bustling as a marketplace.

Ye Hua stepped inside and found a hall of jade pillars, golden floors, and emerald steps, all shimmering with brilliance. A white jade platform, about a zhang high, stood in the center, looking particularly magnificent. The furnishings were made of fine gold and exquisite jade, filled with the luster of pearls and the aura of treasures—it was truly a palace for immortals.

As he was looking around, an elderly man in blue robes walked over with a smile. "Young brother, I am an attendant here at Drizzle Tower. How may I be of service?"

Ye Hua noticed the old man’s eyes were clear and his spirit restrained. Despite his effort to hide it, a faint trace of cultivation pressure leaked through. Ye Hua was inwardly shocked—this man must have reached the Third Truth realm! Could he really be just an ordinary attendant here?

Looking around, he saw over a dozen other old men in the same blue robes speaking with other patrons, and he sighed to himself, "Indeed! I never imagined that even the ordinary staff at Drizzle Tower would be such powerful figures!"

Ye Hua smiled at the old man, "This is my first time here, and I am unfamiliar with the rules. I would appreciate it if you could enlighten me."

The old man smiled, "Understood. Please, follow me, young brother."

Ye Hua nodded, "Thank you, elder."

The old man led him a few dozen paces away to a golden pillar. With a wave of his hand, a green mist rose from the column. The old man gestured, "After you, young brother."

Knowing this was a small teleportation array, Ye Hua did not hesitate. As he stepped in, he felt a flash of green light and a loud hum. A moment later, the light faded, revealing an entirely different scene.

The old man appeared beside him and smiled, "Young brother, this is the top-floor guest chamber of Drizzle Tower. Pray, do not be alarmed."

Ye Hua laughed, "I never imagined the interior could look like this!"

The top floor was an open-air pavilion. Beyond the slanting walls and cloud-gates, there were no obstructions. Looking down from the railings, one could see soaring eaves and emerald balconies. On three sides, the tower was surrounded by jade peaks, piercing the sky, their colors crystalline and vibrant. White clouds drifted like ribbons along the mountainsides, and countless jade towers were nestled among flowers and trees. It was truly a mountain of the immortals, a sight so exquisite that even the greatest masters of the Tang and Song dynasties could not have painted it.

Ye Hua sighed sincerely, "If this is not a fairy isle, then it is surely not of the mortal world!"

The old man chuckled, "You have a way with words, young brother! Please, take a seat."

Ye Hua thanked him and sat on a wooden chair. The old man sat opposite him and said, "Since you are new, the rules are very simple. The tower stores hundreds of thousands of types of artifacts and medicinal pills. If you wish to obtain what you need, you must exchange them for items of equal value. Our hundreds of elders determine the value, and they are always fair. Please rest assured."

Ye Hua smiled, "I have heard as much. It is said that golden essence ore is used as the standard, is that correct?"

The old man nodded. "Indeed. Since the imperial decree of the Sage Emperor, golden essence ore has become the currency. However, cultivators often prefer to keep it for their own use, preferring to barter with other items. Thus, it does not circulate as widely as one might think."

Ye Hua nodded in understanding. After a moment of silence, a flash of light appeared in his hand, and he produced an object. He tossed it into the air, and it slowly unfurled into a painting scroll, radiating a myriad of lights.

The painting depicted an old man sitting before a screen, holding a scripture and lecturing to dozens of disciples who listened intently. The old man’s eyes lit up, and he exclaimed, "The Scroll of Sacred Traces! This...!"

He looked at Ye Hua in shock. Ye Hua beckoned, and the scroll returned to his hand. "Indeed, it is the 'Scroll of Sacred Traces' from the Kong family of the Confucian sect."

The old man was stunned for a long time before nodding. "Although this is a replica, it seems to possess five or six tenths of the power of the original! I have heard this scroll is a secret treasure of the Kong family, capable of enlightening all things! Are you a disciple of the Kong family?"

He then laughed at himself, shaking his head. "Forgive my foolishness. If you were a disciple of the Kong family, why would you part with such a treasure? Hehe!"

Ye Hua remained silent, offering only a faint smile. The old man said, "It seems you wish to trade the scroll. May I examine it? I must seek the judgment of our elders."

Ye Hua nodded and handed him the scroll. The old man stood up and walked to a wooden table nearby.

The table appeared ordinary, save for a bronze mirror placed upon it. The old man respectfully laid the scroll down. The mirror suddenly emitted a hazy cyan light, enveloping the scroll.

After a moment, an aged voice echoed through the room: "This replica of the Kong family's 'Scroll of Sacred Traces' possesses six-tenths of the original's power. Quite remarkable! Hehe, you may offer him eight hundred pieces of high-grade golden essence ore."

The old man bowed respectfully, "Thank you for your guidance, Elder Ku."

As the light from the mirror faded, the old man retrieved the scroll and returned to Ye Hua. "Young brother, you have heard the elder's judgment. This scroll can be exchanged for eight hundred pieces of golden essence ore."