Chapter 266: Master of Magical Items

"Part 1: "Welcome to All Things City."

As they stepped out of the teleportation array, Tanner turned to the side, gesturing ahead with a smile toward Sunan and Lize.

Following his hand, Sunan took in the sight of a vast circular plaza.

The ground was entirely paved with rare white jade stone, etched with intricate arrays of runes that spread outward from the center. These runic patterns extended to the plaza's edges, forming a series of teleportation arrays.

It was from one of these arrays that the three had just emerged.

"This is the Teleportation Plaza of All Things City," Tanner explained. "All Things City prohibits any interdimensional passages unauthorized by the All Things Council. All outsiders can only enter through the city's teleportation arrays. Without the exact coordinates, no one can access this place."

Perhaps because he was back in familiar territory, Tanner seemed visibly more at ease, shedding his earlier restraint.

"Where to next?" Lize asked.

Sunan replied, "Let's buy the Soul Purification Flower first."

Tanner readily agreed, leading the way as he dutifully fulfilled his role as a guide.

The trio crossed the plaza and headed outward.

Though it bore the name "All Things City," it was, in fact, a self-contained dimension. While its size paled in comparison to Starshine Continent or the Wolf Tide Dimension, the fact that an entire dimension was devoted to a single city highlighted its immense scale.

The architectural styles were remarkably varied—dark gothic, red-brick vintage, and eastern classical designs mingled with towers made entirely of crystal, coral, or even bones, giving the impression of a grand architectural exhibition.

The diversity of inhabitants walking the streets was equally astounding.

Fairy folk, giants, beastkin, elves—various species coexisted, interacting seamlessly without any visible conflict. The harmonious blend of races seemed so natural that it was almost mesmerizing.

In her spectral form, Lize often drew attention on the Starshine Continent, but here, she blended into the eclectic environment almost seamlessly.

Sunan, having visited All Things City in his previous life, was unsurprised by the scene of interwoven cultures.

Lize, on the other hand, visiting for the first time, couldn't hide the wonder on her face.

"Isn't All Things City supposed to be exclusive to wizards? Why are there so many other species here?" she asked, puzzled.

Sunan chuckled and explained, "Most of the non-wizards here fall into three categories: slaves, service workers employed in the city's industries, or attendants to wizards. Free non-wizard entities rarely gain entry."

"Lord Sunan is absolutely correct," Tanner chimed in with a smile, though internally he was intrigued.

He had assumed Sunan was exclusively based on the Starshine Continent and would be visiting All Things City for the first time. Yet, Sunan's familiarity with the city suggested otherwise.

Lize examined the various non-wizard beings they passed, quickly noticing that many bore the unmistakable marks of slavery.

"Does All Things City engage in slave trading as well?"

"Of course! All Things City boasts the largest slave market in the entire multiverse," Tanner said with a hint of pride. "You can find anything here—from dragons to divine beings, even legendary-scale armies numbering in the thousands."

Sunan smirked. "Can you buy wizards too?"

Tanner's smile froze, and he awkwardly stammered, "You're joking, my lord. Trading wizard slaves is a grave taboo. All Things City wouldn't dare; it would provoke universal outrage."

Eager to change the subject, Tanner quickly added, "Lord Sunan, let's head to the East District. It's the central hub for material trading in All Things City. You'll definitely find the Soul Purification Flower there."

"Lead the way," Sunan said.

The three altered their course and moved toward the East District.

Flying was prohibited within All Things City, but numerous teleportation arrays were strategically placed around the city. By spending a small amount of mana stones, one could quickly reach any open location within the city.

For those who preferred to explore at ground level, mounts were available for rent.

Sunan, unhurried and interested in seeing more of the city, opted to walk and take in the sights.

Lize and Tanner, deferring to Sunan, naturally followed his lead.

Though Starshine Continent had seen considerable development over the years—especially with the spread of lesser magical technologies and full magical technologies—even its most vibrant metropolis, Flashlight City, couldn't hold a candle to All Things City.

Here, magical products were ubiquitous. Simple shops displayed treasures such as mana stone lamps, and magical energy fountains adorned public spaces, subtly enhancing the concentration of ambient energy particles.

The city had pushed magical technology to its zenith, even venturing into the realm of magical crystal technology.

Taking in the scenery, Sunan nodded thoughtfully.

"If we continue advancing magical technology, perhaps Starshine Continent's future might resemble All Things City today," he mused.

Interestingly, while the various non-wizard species were dressed in simple cloth garments or armor, wizards exclusively wore robes. This seemed to have become a mark of distinction within the city.

As they walked, the non-wizard inhabitants instinctively made way for them, their gazes tinged with respect and awe.

Amid such an atmosphere, Sunan soon lost interest in sightseeing. Opting for efficiency, he led the group to the nearest teleportation array and transported them directly to the East District.

"The East District houses thousands of guilds and merchant groups. Unless you're after something exceptionally rare, you'll find nearly everything here," Tanner explained, gesturing to the bustling streets and shops around them.

"Of these guilds, the most prominent are Radiant Pavilion, All Things Emporium, and True Law Hall."

"What sets these three apart?" Lize asked curiously.

Tanner elaborated, "Radiant Pavilion is run by an ancient Radiant Dragon. According to rumors, it has the backing of the Dragon Realm, which explains why it stocks so many rare treasures."

Radiant Dragons, high-tier dragons resembling glowing platinum statues, were creatures of divine majesty. Even those in their elder years possessed power equivalent to Level 3 Wizards.

In their ancient stage, Radiant Dragons approached the strength of True Spirit Wizards.

As for the Dragon Realm, it was the origin dimension of all dragonkind and the cradle of draconic bloodlines—a force rivaling the greatest wizard factions like the Deep Blue Alliance or the Wisdom Codex.

Lize pondered aloud, "Dragons are notorious for hoarding treasures. If they run a shop, wouldn't they be reluctant to sell their collected treasures?"

Tanner laughed. "True, which is why Radiant Pavilion operates with an unusual rule: it only accepts barter trades. Mana stones are not accepted. Whether or not a deal goes through depends entirely on the owner's mood."

"Such a rule?" Lize said, taken aback. "Wouldn't that drive away customers?"

"On the contrary, it only underscores how extraordinary their treasures must be," Tanner replied with a grin.

Lize quickly realized the truth in his words. If Radiant Pavilion's policies were so peculiar yet it still thrived as one of the city's top three guilds, its wares must indeed be extraordinary.

Sunan, who had some familiarity with the city but not these guilds, listened with interest and asked, "What about All Things Emporium?"

"It's the official trading branch of the All Things Council," Tanner explained. "Their products are extensive and of guaranteed quality, with fair dealings. However, they're known for being more expensive than most."

Sunan nodded indifferently. Tanner, likely connected to the All Things Council, was bound to speak favorably of them. If he admitted the prices were high, they probably were exorbitantly so.

"And True Law Hall?" Sunan inquired.

"True Law Hall carries fewer products than the other two, but their prices are lower. The downside? Quality is inconsistent. Every so often, someone gets duped with a fake or defective item. Shopping there is a gamble."

Sunan smirked. "Gambling on quality, is it? Interesting."

Even so, he quickly dismissed the notion.

"I want to see Radiant Pavilion first," Sunan decided.

If he could trade for the Soul Purification Flower with existing items, that would be ideal. If not, he could always explore the other options later.

Radiant Pavilion was conveniently located near a teleportation array. After a short walk, the three stood before its entrance.

Surprisingly, the shop resembled an ordinary inn from the outside.

Were it not for the sign reading "Radiant Pavilion," Sunan might have suspected they'd arrived at the wrong place.

"The owner certainly has a unique style," Lize commented with a wry expression.

"Dragons are known for their eccentricities," Tanner replied with a laugh.

Entering the shop, they found a modest space of about 200 square meters, sparsely stocked with a few wooden shelves displaying random trinkets and baubles—most of which Sunan instantly recognized as inexpensive items.

At the counter near the door stood a tall, golden-haired youth, leafing through a ledger. He didn't even glance up at their entrance.

The youth's features were strikingly handsome, surpassing even that of elves. However, the faintly unique aura he exuded, combined with a subtle yet undeniable pressure, revealed his true nature.

Sunan immediately realized that this was the Radiant Pavilion's proprietor—the Ancient Radiant Dragon in human form.

He hadn't expected such a powerful being to personally man the counter without so much as a single attendant.

It made the shop's humble interior all the more baffling.

"Excuse me," Tanner called, breaking the silence.

The golden-haired youth lazily raised his head, casting a cursory glance at Tanner before pausing briefly on Lize.

But when his gaze fell on Sunan, his platinum-colored eyes lit up slightly.

"An unusually solid soul presence. For a Level 3 Vapor Wizard to have such a refined soul, your potential to become a True Spirit Wizard is significant."

Both Lize and Tanner blinked in surprise.

The Radiant Dragon had a natural ability to perceive the essence of souls, making it remarkably accurate at gauging an individual's strength. Its evaluations had rarely been wrong. In simpler terms, the dragon's ability to "see through people" was unmatched.

Many wizards who had been assessed by the Radiant Dragon later proved its judgments correct through their subsequent growth.

Tanner, already impressed by Sunan's capabilities, was further astonished when even the Radiant Dragon remarked that Sunan had a high likelihood of advancing to a True Spirit Wizard.

This elevated Sunan's status in Tanner's eyes even more.

Sunan, however, merely smiled faintly at the Radiant Dragon's words, offering no comment. Instead, he got straight to the point.

"Do you have Soul Purifying Flowers here?"

"Of course," the Radiant Dragon replied lazily. "What are you offering in exchange?"

With a wave of his hand, Sunan materialized a Tentacle Master Automaton from thin air. Its massive frame nearly toppled a nearby shelf.

"How about this?"

The Radiant Dragon scrutinized the automaton for a moment before raising an eyebrow.

"A Tentacle Master Automaton from the Starfall Society? I've heard the design schematics were lost with the society's collapse. I didn't expect to see one here, especially an upgraded and enchanted version. Fine. This automaton can be exchanged for a Soul Purifying Flower."

Though the Soul Purifying Flower was undeniably rare, a wizard-grade automaton was equally valuable. Both had comparable worth, but the rarity of a Tentacle Master Automaton made it especially appealing to the dragon, who intended to add it to his collection.

"I need two Soul Purifying Flowers," Sunan stated.

One was for Lize, and the other for Artil, who also needed to restore his body.

The Radiant Dragon gave him a lazy look.

"One automaton is enough for me. If you want the second flower, you'll need to offer something else."

Sunan frowned slightly but quickly relaxed. With a twist of his wrist, a brilliant gemstone, intricately inscribed with mystical runes, appeared in his palm.

"How about this?"

If there was one thing dragons loved more than anything else, it was shiny gemstones.

Even a high-level dragon like the Radiant Dragon was no exception. However, ordinary gemstones wouldn't impress it. Only magical gemstones could attract its attention.

Among magical gemstones, Engraved Gems were particularly exceptional.

The Radiant Dragon's gaze fell upon the gem. Initially indifferent, its expression gradually turned to surprise as it examined the object more closely.

"A gemstone imbued with rune inscriptions?"

"What exquisite craftsmanship. Did you make this yourself?"

When Sunan nodded, the Radiant Dragon's golden-white eyes flickered with amazement.

Ordinary gemstones couldn't bear rune inscriptions due to their lack of structural integrity. On the other hand, high-grade magical gemstones often came with innate magical properties, making it challenging to overlay additional inscriptions.

To successfully engrave runes

onto a gemstone was not only difficult but an accomplishment equivalent to creating an entirely new type of rune.

Could this wizard before him be a master of magical artifact creation?

(End of Chapter)