Chapter 24: Upper Profound Pavilion

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The crowd erupted into a commotion.

Every gaze turned toward one side.

Ji Ning watched and soon realized that the uproar had been caused by a person’s reflection in a mirror suddenly changing appearance, though most of the reactions were mocking laughter.

The man outside the mirror was handsome and elegant, with a graceful bearing. His reflection inside was the complete opposite. His clothing had not changed, but his features had become utterly ordinary. It was practically a head-swap operation.

Uncle Cui was completely unsurprised. In an even tone, he said, “It’s merely the simplest disguise technique. I never thought even disciples from our sect would be so fond of disguises when they came here.”

Even? Ji Ning was momentarily stunned.

She quickly understood. Uncle Cui did not supervise this place permanently, and among outsiders entering the sect, there were probably quite a few who used disguises.

The male disciple’s face flushed red as he stammered something under his breath. A strange expression briefly crossed the attendant’s face, but he said nothing and let the disciple leave.

Ji Ning took another couple of glances. Her doubts were suddenly resolved. After bidding Uncle Cui farewell, she turned and left.

The saying that women dress for those who appreciate them applied to men as well.

As for the disguise technique, she had actually forgotten all about it.

The person who had attacked her that night had a familiar build and familiar eyes, yet an unfamiliar face. Combined with all his actions, it would have been difficult to guess wrong.

After turning the corner, the bustling West Market came into view.

The goods were dazzling, and hawkers called out without pause. It was scarcely different from the busy marketplaces at the foot of the mountain. The only distinction was that most of the buyers and sellers here were cultivators.

The Martial Armory Pavilion.

The three large characters on the signboard swept across it like dragons and phoenixes, their strokes brimming with sharpness and force.

Ji Ning stopped, cast aside the distracting thoughts in her mind, and walked inside.

There were quite a few people in the shop, and weapons were even more plentiful. The designs were varied: weapons for alchemy, formation work, and talisman drawing, as well as customized furnaces for artifact craftsmen to temper metal. Any cultivator who entered could find a weapon or magical treasure suited to their needs.

If they took a fancy to something, they could simply bring it to the counter by the entrance to pay.

The Profound Origin Pavilion, diagonally opposite, was entirely different. Few people were inside, and there were few goods as well. Items were displayed on shelves and walls, with half a meter or so between each piece.

Though there were few items, every one of them was a fine masterpiece, and their prices were equally impressive.

For instance—

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A curved blade with a dark jade-inlaid handle and deep-blue patterns carved into the dagger blade cost two mid-grade spirit stones, equivalent to two hundred low-grade spirit stones.

Upon seeing the price clearly, Ji Ning silently withdrew her outstretched hand. She could not afford to pay for it if she damaged it.

Her gaze then shifted to a long sword hanging on the wall.

The scabbard was plain, but the material of the blade itself was unusual. It was iron-red in color, and its edge was razor-sharp. Then she looked at the price: four mid-grade spirit stones.

She would not have enough even if she sold everything she owned.

The goods were excellent, but the prices were beyond reach. Uncle Cui truly thought highly of her purse.

Just as Ji Ning was about to return to the Martial Armory Pavilion to look around some more, a female shop assistant saw off another customer and approached her.

“Little fellow cultivator, is there anything you fancy? I can introduce you to it.”

The shop assistant was gentle and amiable, her smile warm. She did not look down on Ji Ning because her clothes were old and faded, which left Ji Ning awkwardly caught between staying and leaving.

She tactfully replied, “There’s no need to trouble you for now. I didn’t bring enough spirit stones today. I’ll come again another day.”

Whether she understood Ji Ning’s implication or not, the shop assistant covered her mouth with a smile and suggested, “Little fellow cultivator, if you haven’t brought enough spirit stones, you can pay a deposit first. The materials prepared for these display samples are limited. If you like something, I recommend reserving it in advance. It may well be gone by the time you return.”

“Samples?” The quality and workmanship of the items displayed in the hall seemed flawless. They were actually samples?

“You must be visiting the Profound Origin Pavilion for the first time. Allow me to briefly explain our sales process.”

The shop assistant led Ji Ning along as she spoke. “The Profound Origin Pavilion specializes in fine goods. Everything displayed in the shop is a sample. After a customer makes a purchase, we carefully craft an entirely new piece according to the user’s requirements. Aside from the primary materials, the customer may increase or reduce the amount of materials, decorations, and auxiliary components according to their budget. Naturally, the price will change accordingly. In addition, our shop also provides forging services. The customer supplies the materials and design, while we charge a certain forging fee.”

Ji Ning listened attentively, finding the whole thing strangely familiar. This was an incredibly modern business model.

Were the merchants of the cultivation world really this capable?

Of everything the woman had said, Ji Ning focused on one point. “If the materials are reduced from those used in the sample, will that affect the weapon’s performance?”

Adding more would certainly be beneficial, but Ji Ning was poor. At present, she could think only of reducing the materials.

The Profound Origin Pavilion’s goods were a level above those of the Martial Armory Pavilion. If the price was acceptable, this would definitely be her first choice.

“The primary forging materials are guaranteed to be of high quality, and the auxiliary components add attributes and abilities. I wouldn’t recommend reducing either of those. Decorations, however, generally serve only an aesthetic purpose, so removing them will not matter,” the shop assistant patiently explained.

Ji Ning nodded. She had examined most of the goods in the shop. Considering the prices, the difficulty of use, and several other factors, her gaze settled on the curved blade she had noticed at the beginning.

In truth, the price was the most important factor.

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The shop assistant followed Ji Ning’s gaze and immediately understood.

“This dagger’s blade is forged from equal proportions of black iron and profound iron. A first-grade water-type rune and a first-grade ice-type rune are carved into either side, granting it the effects of barrier-breaking and freezing. The dagger is nimble and has considerable killing power, making it very suitable for female cultivators. The blue-white jade set into the hilt has no special effect and can be omitted.”

Weapon runes were like spirit talismans. A cultivator did not need to possess the corresponding elemental affinity to use them.

Ji Ning asked, “How many spirit stones would it cost without the jade?”

“One hundred and thirty low-grade spirit stones. You would need to pay fifty spirit stones as a deposit first, then pay the remainder when the finished weapon is delivered in a month.”

Ji Ning was astonished. That small piece of jade was actually worth so much.

At present, she had roughly eighty spirit stones in hand. She was still short by fifty—equivalent to two hundred and fifty contribution points. After setting aside the teaching fees she expected to pay, she would have plenty of work to do this month.

After making the payment, the shop assistant handed her an iron token. It was specially made for buyers by the Profound Origin Pavilion and impervious to both water and fire.

Then the shop assistant took out the dagger and handed it to Ji Ning for a trial.

“Weapons differ from person to person. Our shop custom-makes each one according to the user’s height, build, and palm size.”

After trying it, Ji Ning found that her palms were somewhat small, while the grip was a little too thick. She could not hold it firmly with one hand.

But she was only ten years old. What about when she was twenty?

The shop assistant seemed to have guessed her concern and said, “The Profound Origin Pavilion has branches throughout the continent. As long as a product was made by the Profound Origin Pavilion, it can be remade free of charge for life. Any modifications requiring additional materials, however, will be charged separately.”

A business specializing in high-end custom work, with tiered service for paying customers and lifetime replacement—such a distinctive shop was something she had never heard of in her previous life…

With the matter of the weapon settled, and seeing that it was still early, Ji Ning wandered around for a while.

By an unfortunate stroke of luck, in this marketplace packed with people, she ran into Jiang Yeqiu.

Jiang Yeqiu saw Ji Ning as well. Carrying two swords in her hands, she hurried over excitedly.

“Look! I bought a sword for you!”

Jiang Yeqiu had broken through to the fourth level of Qi Refining at the beginning of the month. At the end of the year, she would take the outer-sect examination together with Ji Ning, and she also wanted to buy a weapon to participate in the final trial.

The instant Ji Ning accepted the long sword, she sensed that something was wrong.

This sword was far too light!

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