Chapter 192: Frenzy of the Festival
Dear Readers,
Thank you for diving into the Item Exchange Ceremony's fervor with Lan An and his companions! If the Water Qilin's might, the Beauty Nurturing Pill craze, and Xiao Qing Xuan's cauldron desire fuel your excitement, unleash a torrent of Power Stones! Your support drives this xianxia saga. Share with fellow cultivators, and let's conquer the heavens together!
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Ding, congratulations, Host, for successfully summoning the Water Qilin Bloodline…
As the System's voice faded, Lan An's eyes blazed with excitement.
A Qilin, no less a legendary divine beast.
Said to have a head half-dragon, half-beast, crowned with majestic horns, its body clad in splendid scales, the Qilin was among the mightiest races, commanding attributes with unparalleled prowess.
This was merely a side mission, yet it yielded such a treasure.
With four beauties by his side, his luck seemed to soar.
Noticing Lan An's sly grin, the four women Xiao Qing Xuan, Ji Ya, Shui Niang Qing, and Ai Er exchanged puzzled glances but held their questions, as a black-robed figure leaped onto the central stage.
The first exchanger had stepped forward.
Countless eyes fixed on the platform.
"Fellow Daoist, please," Cheng Bi said with a faint smile.
The tall, black-robed man paused, clearly struck by Cheng Bi's beauty. As a Peak Divine Transformation cultivator, he quickly regained composure, taking a deep breath and revealing an item.
A transparent pearl, the size of a hen's egg, gleamed like crystal. Within, vibrant blue liquid shimmered ethereally, radiating intense Water attribute energy.
Sensing the crowd's attention, the man altered his voice to a raspy tone. "This is the Water Extreme Pearl, containing Water Extreme Essence. A one-use treasure, it's the bane of myriad flames, capable of extinguishing even Strange Flames except those in the top five."
Many faces shifted, impressed by the opening item, but they waited for his terms.
"I wish to trade the Water Extreme Pearl for a Spirit Herb enhancing Earth attributes, the higher the grade, the better," he declared decisively, an Earth cultivator stuck at a bottleneck.
Over a dozen figures stood, each presenting Earth attribute Spirit Herbs of varying grades, eagerly detailing their effects.
The black-robed man chose swiftly, trading for a True Earth Vine, a High Earth-grade herb.
The unselected sighed regretfully, returning to their seats.
The True Earth Vine's owner ascended the stage, exchanging it for the Water Extreme Pearl under the crowd's watchful eyes.
The black-robed man, clutching his prize, left the plaza, eager to retreat into seclusion.
Before exiting, he paid Duo Bao Pavilion a fee in spirit stones—the festival's entry cost.
In mere minutes, the first trade concluded smoothly, sparking widespread enthusiasm.
"Worthy of a grand festival. Starting with Earth-grade items," Lan An mused softly. He dismissed the Water Extreme Pearl with a faint smile; it might counter one Strange Flame, but against his three? Doubtful. Plus, it was single-use.
"Emei Archipelago is Lan Zhou Continent's pinnacle of prosperity. High-grade items will keep appearing, especially with such renowned guests," Ji Ya said quietly.
The other three women grew expectant, especially Ai Er, her masked eyes twinkling like stars.
On stage, Bao Qiao addressed the remaining cultivator. "Well done. Do you wish to trade, Fellow Daoist?"
The cultivator, now holding the Water Extreme Pearl, nodded, revealing a massive object.
Boom
The stage trembled as a buffalo-like beast corpse appeared, its muscular frame clad in armor, with sharp claws. Though dead, its Sixth-order aura lingered.
"Corpse of a Sixth-order Iron Buffalo. Its body is a treasure for crafting artifacts horns for weapons, hide for armor," the cultivator announced, adding, "I seek a Water attribute Martial Skill, the higher the grade, the better."
The plaza fell quiet. Most attendees, from prominent backgrounds, were unimpressed by a Sixth-order beast corpse.
"I offer Raging River Palm, a Mid Earth-grade Martial Skill," a low voice called out, from a short, masked man.
"I agree," the corpse's owner said, delighted.
The short man ascended, claimed the corpse, and tossed an ancient book.
"Trade complete. Do you wish to continue, Fellow Daoist?" Cheng Bi asked, satisfied.
The short man shook his head, returning to the guest seats.
The corpse's owner stayed, resuming his place among the audience.
"Next Fellow Daoist, please," Bao Qiao said courteously.
Swish
A graceful figure in flowing robes appeared, clearly a woman despite her mask.
With a wave, she revealed a jade pendant, pulsing with fiery energy.
"Heaven-grade Mid-tier Fire attribute Martial Skill Cross Heavenly Flame. When unleashed, it forms a cross-shaped blaze, incinerating all in its path," she said succinctly.
"I seek an item for beauty or facial restoration," she added.
Her request floored many male cultivators, who lacked such items.
"Youth Grass, Peak Earth-grade Spirit Herb, slows bodily aging," a hoarse voice offered, presenting a herb.
Several others stood, offering herbs, including a Heaven-grade one granting decades of rejuvenation.
The woman scanned the options, about to choose.
"Five Supreme Beauty Nurturing Pills!" a calm voice interrupted.
The plaza quaked. Some female cultivators trembled beneath their robes.
All eyes turned to the speaker.
Clad in a black-and-white robe like sun and moon, his aura perfectly concealed, his plain mask tearless none other than Lan An.
Ai Er's round eyes gleamed brighter than a full moon, itching to snatch his pills.
Beauty Nurturing Pills had grown scarce. Even Duo Bao Pavilion produced only a handful yearly, far from meeting demand, leaving countless women desperate.
Battles often left scars, especially on women's faces, becoming their deepest regrets.
Rumors said Duo Bao Pavilion sold three Beauty Nurturing Pills at a Ling Wu City auction over two years ago, boosting its fame. Their value later skyrocketed, yet the buyers consumed them without hesitation.
"I'll trade," the woman said eagerly.
Lan An had struck her heart's desire. A few pills might not have swayed her, but five ensured success. He noted her Void Refinement aura, suggesting this Heaven-grade skill was her highest offer.
Whoosh
With a strange sound, Lan An appeared on stage.
"What?" Many stood, unable to track his movement.
"That guy…" Behind an ornate mask, Lan Ji's eyes narrowed, unable to discern the technique.
"Elder, what was that?" Ai Xin, cloaked in black, transmitted to her companion.
"A movement skill of utmost mastery. Below Void Refinement, none can match it," came a grave reply.
"Intriguing," Ai Xin murmured.
Many racked their brains but couldn't trace the skill's origin.
The plaza fell silent.
Lan An, seeing his Prestige Points rise, smirked inwardly. A few flashy moves earned rewards—too easy.
He savored the chance to admire the hostesses, inhaling their fragrant aura.
"Your skill, Fellow Daoist," the woman urged, offering Cross Heavenly Flame.
"Your Beauty Nurturing Pills," Lan An nodded, presenting a jade vial with five pink pills.
Bao Qiao and Cheng Bi exchanged glances, shock in their eyes. Their pavilion produced only High-grade Beauty Nurturing Pills; this man held Supreme-grade ones.
Even they coveted them.
"How many Beauty Nurturing Pills do we have?" Cheng Bi transmitted secretly.
"Three, but the Saintess used one last month. The ingredients are increasingly rare, even our Medicine Fields struggle," Bao Qiao replied wryly.
Cheng Bi sighed. She'd used Beauty Nurturing Pills, each dose a delight, addictive like the finest cosmetic—a woman's opium.
Hidden female cultivators in the plaza breathed heavily, glaring at the vial, yearning to seize it.
"Beauty is a woman's deadliest weapon… and a man's," Lan An mused, completing the trade.
"Thank you," the woman said, nearly weeping. A loved one's disfigured face had driven her to despair; these pills made it worthwhile, though the skill's value far exceeded the pills.
Beauty Nurturing Pills were unmatched for facial restoration, surpassing even Face-Fixing Pills.
"Fair trade," Lan An said, accepting Cross Heavenly Flame with a smile.
"Does this young master wish to continue trading?" Cheng Bi asked, her intuition hinting at familiarity.
"No rush. I'll let others go first," Lan An said, returning to the stands.
Swish
Before he could sit—
"Heaven-grade Mid-tier Water attribute Martial Skill Overturning Rivers and Seas. Unstoppable in water. I want ten Beauty Nurturing Pills," a cold voice demanded, eyes locked on Lan An.
"Damn, women are brainless," male cultivators cursed inwardly, baffled by beauty's importance to them.
"I'll trade," Lan An said, reappearing on stage amid murderous glares from men.
Was this guy a Beauty Nurturing Pill factory? Even Duo Bao Pavilion rarely offered such rare pills.
The trade concluded swiftly.
Holding the Water skill, Lan An returned to his seat.
Before the crowd could react, another figure took the stage.
"High Earth-grade Earth attribute Cultivation Technique Great Earth Art. I want one Beauty Nurturing Pill."
Angry murmurs rose, all eyes on Lan An.
"Sorry, I'm out of Beauty Nurturing Pills," he said, shrugging innocently.
Trading more risked Duo Bao Pavilion's scrutiny. Safety first.
The plaza exhaled in relief. They assumed he'd hoarded pills for this scarce moment.
Many envied him, securing two Heaven-grade skills. In this prosperous continent, Heaven-grade items were still elite.
As the Beauty Nurturing Pill frenzy faded, the crowd awaited the next item.
"Pity," Ai Xin sighed, having failed to acquire the pills from Duo Bao Pavilion.
"With your flawless beauty, why need them?" the elder beside her consoled, though regret flickered in her eyes, imagining her youth with such pills.
"After the festival, we'll offer a high price to buy from those women," Ai Xin transmitted firmly.
"Very well, as you wish," the elder nodded.
For the next two days, Lan An found nothing worth trading for.
"Do you ladies not want anything?" he asked the four women, puzzled by their silence.
"Nothing suitable yet," Ji Ya smiled.
A hunched cultivator, perhaps genuinely stooped or disguised, took the stage, scanning the crowd before revealing a jade cauldron in his palm, its aura shaking the space.
"Heaven-grade High-tier Artifact—Jade Green Treasure Cauldron, crafted by the Dwarf Tribe's chief, ideal for alchemy. I seek a Wood attribute defensive artifact of equal grade," he announced.
Lan An caught Xiao Qing Xuan's heavy breath.
He smiled, standing up.