Chapter 161: Trade Fair on the Summit

Chapter 161: Trade Fair on the Summit

Wooden towers were scattered around the center of the summit of the Primordial Wilderness's First Peak. A gentle, warm breeze invited one to relax and soak in the breathtaking mountain scenery.

On the highest peak in the Primordial Wilderness, one could take in the panoramic view of the surrounding mountains, gazing down at the beautiful peaks and the faint mist rising from the valleys below.

"I'm back again after three years," Han Ting said with a radiant smile, her eyes alight with excitement.

Pang Jian silently surveyed his surroundings.

Many meditation mats were laid out on the smooth stone floor of the summit. Each had a wooden stall in front for displaying items. Dozens of wooden towers, each several meters high, stood separated by the meditation mats and stalls. At the top of each tower sat a woman in white, a loyal subordinate of Old Monster Cao.

Hundreds of meditation mats and stalls were arranged in a circular pattern around the wooden towers. Rogue cultivators chose a meditation mat, sat down, and displayed their spirit materials, precious crystals, pills, techniques, and spirit artifacts on the stall.

Those interested in buying spirit materials strolled between the stalls, eyes scanning for items of interest.

After observing for some time, Pang Jian was stunned to realize the roles of buyers and sellers among the rogue cultivators were fluid.

Buyers would find an empty meditation mat and start selling their items after browsing for spirit materials and finding nothing of interest. Conversely, sellers would pack up their items and become buyers if they spotted something they needed at another stall.

Each cultivator held a token engraved with the character "Mang". Once a deal was made, both parties would inform a woman in white on the nearest wooden tower and each would pay ten percent of the transaction value in spirit stones. The tokens and the women in white overseeing the transactions ensured no one made deals in secret.

Pang Jian soon noticed no cultivators from the Blood Moon Sect or the Sinister Soul Temple were present. Only rogue cultivators and disciples from noble families wandered the summit.

He quietly asked Han Ting about it.

"The items being traded on the first three days aren't that valuable, and the trading halls aren't open yet," Han Ting explained, pointing to the wooden buildings. "More valuable items will appear inside the trading halls when they open. On the final day, Old Monster Cao will bring out rare treasures, which participants can acquire by drawing lots."

Pang Jian was puzzled. "Drawing lots? Isn't it supposed to go to the highest bidder?"

"The appeal of Old Monster Cao's trade fair is that the rare treasures on the last day aren't sold to the highest bidder but are given to those with luck," Han Ting explained, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "If it went to the highest bidder, the rare treasures would always end up with the Blood Moon Sect, the Radiant Sun Sect, the Sinister Soul Temple, or the Star River Alliance.

"Old Monster Cao is also a rogue cultivator, so he gives rogue cultivators a chance. The rare treasures he brings out on the last day are priced in advance. Those who want them draw lots and the winner buys it at the set price.

"The representatives from the five major sects and the disciples from noble families have no special privileges and can't break the rules by offering higher prices. This ensures rogue cultivators can obtain the spirit materials they desperately need at a relatively low cost."

"Is he doing it out of goodwill? Doesn't he want to earn spirit stones?" Pang Jian asked in surprise.

"He's already made plenty from the transactions in the first six days," Han Ting said patiently. "The fairness and value of the rare treasures on the last day is what makes his triennial trade fair so popular.

"He takes a twenty percent cut from every transaction on the first six days. That alone already fills his coffers." Han Ting looked enviously at the wooden towers and added, "Through these triennial trading events, Old Monster Cao earns enough spirit stones to meet his cultivation needs."

Pang Jian nodded in understanding.

The two then wandered around, browsing for items.

"Is this really your first time here? You're just going to buy a few items and call it a day?" Han Ting asked in surprise.

The first time Han Ting had participated in the trade fair, she had wandered around the summit until nightfall, only leaving when the women in white announced its closure for the day.

Stall owners rarely displayed all their goods at once, and rogue cultivators could sit down and display their treasures at a whim.

"I’m short on spirit stones. I’ve already spent everything I have on the things I want," Pang Jian admitted.

Han Ting was taken aback. In her mind, disciples from the upper world always carried thousands of spirit stones.

How could this guy run out after spending just a few thousand?

After a moment of hesitation, Han Ting offered, "I can lend you some."

"No need." Pang Jian shook his head.

"Alright, then. You go ahead. I’ll keep looking around," Han Ting said without pressing further.

"Okay." Pang Jian left the summit and headed back to his cave dwelling.

After closing the stone door of his cave dwelling on the nineteenth floor, Pang Jian swallowed a Mind Soothing Pill and established a connection with the Giant Abyssal Serpent in the Fifth World.

The Giant Abyssal Serpent’s vision slowly came into focus.

A Vicious Beast, covered in thick ice, lay in a pool of blood. Curiously, the beast's blood was light blue and contained tiny ice crystals that sparkled like stars.

The Giant Abyssal Serpent was beside the massive Vicious Beast's corpse, greedily drinking its light blue blood.

The six-winged Celestial Maiden watched from nearby and murmured tenderly, "You’ve suffered during this time. Look at you. You’ve lost weight, and your bloodline advancement has stalled. It's my fault. I was stupid to think a Giant Abyssal Serpent would be a herbivore..."

Ugh, ark!

The Giant Abyssal Serpent choked on something in its throat and vomited violently.

"Solar Essence Stones! Thunderstruck Wood! Gold Obsidian!" Yu Xin flapped her wings excitedly and let out a delighted scream. "Xiao Hei, you're so good to me. I don't know how to repay you—"

"No! Wait! The ice beast's horn! You won't be able to digest it!" Yu Xin shouted in panic.

The Giant Abyssal Serpent had swallowed the severed horn in one gulp.

"This Ice Crystal Beast is a Rank Seven Vicious Beast! Its horn is extremely cold and sharp. It'll pierce your organs!" She frantically tried to stop him.

However, the Giant Abyssal had already swallowed the Rank Seven Ice Crystal Beast’s horn, transporting it from the Fifth World to the Third World, into the cave dwelling number fifty-six.