Following the directions the old wine seller had given them—
the siblings continued through the bustling Night Market.
They passed rows of lively stalls.
Masked cultivators negotiated over rare treasures.
Spirit beasts bartered with human merchants.
Ghostly figures drifted silently through the crowds.
The deeper they ventured—
the grander the buildings became.
Before long—
they arrived at the third intersection.
Ling Yue turned left without hesitation.
Only a short distance later—
an enormous building came into view.
Unlike the surrounding shops, it rose several stories high.
Its walls were fashioned from dark jade stone that reflected the lantern light like polished obsidian.
Intricate silver formations glowed faintly beneath the surface, their light flowing through the stone like veins of moonlight.
Two towering pillars flanked the entrance.
Above the massive doorway hung a broad plaque carved from pale moon jade.
Upon it were engraved four elegant characters.
**Cloud Moon Pavilion.**
Ling Yue tilted her head upward.
"...Cloud Moon Pavilion..."
She read the name aloud before unconsciously muttering,
"...At least this one's different."
Ling Wei couldn't help smiling.
"It doesn't have 'Lotus' in the name."
Ling Yue nodded with complete seriousness.
"I appreciate the effort."
Ling Wei let out a quiet chuckle before his gaze returned to the imposing structure.
"...So..."
"This is the trading house Senior wanted to visit."
His expression gradually became thoughtful.
*To think...*
*A place like this is hidden beneath what appears to be an ordinary town.*
From the outside—
Windborne Town had seemed completely unremarkable.
Quiet streets.
Simple homes.
Nothing out of the ordinary.
Yet hidden behind a concealed entrance...
existed an entire marketplace catering to Foundation Establishment cultivators.
And at its very center—
stood this enormous trading pavilion.
*If Senior hadn't brought us...*
*We never would have even imagined something like this existed here.*
Ling Yue also looked around in amazement.
Even the cultivators entering and leaving the pavilion carried an aura unlike those outside.
Some radiated restrained killing intent.
Others concealed their cultivation so completely that she couldn't sense the slightest trace of them.
None of them paid any attention to the two shadow-covered figures.
The concealment surrounding their bodies blended naturally into the crowd.
Above them—
Lizarius remained silent.
His golden eyes rested upon the pavilion.
The bright thread he had been following...
ended inside.
"...Enter."
His calm voice reached only the siblings.
Ling Yue immediately nodded.
"Yes, Senior."
Without another word—
the two walked toward the entrance.
As they crossed the threshold—
a faint ripple passed over their bodies.
The formation guarding the pavilion examined them for the briefest instant.
Then—
finding nothing unusual—
it allowed them to pass without resistance.
The spacious interior unfolded before their eyes.
Rows of crystal display cases stretched across an enormous hall.
Treasures floated within transparent barriers.
Spirit herbs.
Ancient manuals.
Refined ores.
Rare beast materials.
Formation disks.
Talismans.
Every item radiated powerful spiritual fluctuations.
Attendants dressed in robes embroidered with silver moons moved gracefully between customers, answering questions with practiced courtesy.
The moment the siblings stepped inside—
the vast trading hall grew noticeably quieter.
Nearby conversations gradually died away.
Quite a few customers turned toward the entrance.
Not because the newcomers had done anything unusual—
but because of the quiet confidence with which they carried themselves.
The young attendant maintained her professional smile as she stepped forward and offered a graceful bow.
"Welcome to the Cloud Moon Pavilion."
"How may I assist our honored guests?"
Ling Yue answered without hesitation.
"We're here to purchase every spiritual material containing yin energy."
She pointed deeper into the pavilion.
"Bring all of it."
"We'll take everything."
She hadn't spoken particularly loudly.
Yet within the suddenly quiet hall...
her words carried astonishingly far.
Several nearby cultivators paused.
One slowly raised an eyebrow.
Another turned to look.
Ling Wei felt the surrounding gazes gathering upon them.
He leaned slightly toward Ling Yue.
"...Yue."
"What's with your voice?"
"Lower it a little."
"You don't want to attract—"
Before he could finish—
Ling Yue replied without hesitation.
"...Senior."
Ling Wei paused.
"...Right."
He immediately stopped asking.
If Senior wanted it done this way...
there was undoubtedly a reason.
Although...
he had absolutely no idea what that reason was.
The attendant remained courteous.
Her smile never faltered.
She bowed slightly.
"If our honored guests would accompany me to a private room..."
"We may discuss your requirements in greater detail."
Ling Yue shook her head.
"There is nothing to discuss."
"Simply bring every yin-attributed material your pavilion possesses."
"Name the price."
"We do not have time."
Silence.
The attendant remained motionless for several moments.
When she spoke again...
her voice was still polite.
Yet noticeably firmer.
"...May I confirm once more..."
"...Are our honored guests certain?"
"The quantity of resources you are requesting is... considerable."
She looked directly at the two shadow-covered figures.
"If you truly possess the means to pay..."
"The Cloud Moon Pavilion will naturally accommodate your request."
A brief pause followed.
"...However..."
"If this is merely an attempt to disrupt our business..."
Her cultivation leaked out for only the briefest instant.
A wave of pressure swept across the surrounding area.
It lasted less than a heartbeat.
Yet Ling Yue and Ling Wei immediately felt their breathing grow heavier.
Foundation Establishment.
Even the faintest trace of that pressure was enough to remind them of the vast gap between realms.
The attendant's smile remained unchanged.
"...Then this matter will not end pleasantly."
Silence settled over the hall.
Several nearby customers watched with growing interest.
Some folded their arms.
Others quietly waited to see how the situation would unfold.
Ling Yue swallowed instinctively.
Just as she was about to respond—
Lizarius' calm voice reached only the siblings.
"...Continue."
The invisible pressure weighing upon her heart seemed to lessen.
Ling Yue straightened.
She met the attendant's gaze without retreating.
"...If this is how the Cloud Moon Pavilion treats its guests..."
"...Then perhaps you simply aren't interested in doing business."
"If so..."
"I'm truly disappointed."
The attendant remained silent.
Her eyes carefully studied the two mysterious figures.
Neither had retreated.
Neither showed the slightest hint of panic.
Most importantly...
neither had attempted to bargain, explain themselves, or back down.
Only certainty.
Several long moments passed.
Then—
the pressure disappeared completely.
The attendant lowered her head in a respectful bow.
"...My apologies."
"If our honored guests are sincere..."
"The Cloud Moon Pavilion will naturally fulfill your request."
She stepped back.
"Please wait here."
"I shall return with every yin-attributed resource currently available within the pavilion."
She paused before adding calmly,
"...However..."
"If, after everything has been gathered..."
"...Our honored guests prove unable to complete the transaction..."
Her courteous smile returned.
"The pavilion will seek an explanation."
Without waiting for a reply—
she turned gracefully and disappeared into the depths of the trading pavilion.
The moment she vanished—
whispers spread throughout the hall.
"They're buying every yin-attributed material?"
"Who are those two?"
"They must have an extraordinary background."
"No ordinary cultivator would dare speak like that here."
Ling Wei quietly exhaled.
"...Senior..."
"...I have a feeling this is about to become very dangerous."
Above them—
the invisible white-scaled lizard remained perfectly still.
His golden eyes swept across the pavilion.
Watching.
Waiting.
As though he expected something far more important than the arrival of the requested materials.
The trading hall remained unusually quiet.
No one left.
No one resumed browsing.
Every so often another customer would arrive, notice the strange atmosphere, and quietly ask someone nearby what had happened.
Upon hearing the explanation—
they stayed as well.
Curiosity spread faster than conversation.
The two shadow-covered figures remained standing calmly near the center of the hall.
Neither spoke.
Neither showed the slightest impatience.
Above them—
Lizarius quietly observed everything.
The customers.
The attendants.
The formations hidden beneath the floor.
Even the subtle shifts in spiritual energy flowing throughout the pavilion.
Time passed.
Nearly half an hour later—
soft footsteps echoed through the hall.
The young attendant returned.
Behind her followed several attendants, each carrying carefully arranged silver trays.
Resting upon each tray was a storage pouch.
The attendants quietly placed the trays together before respectfully stepping back.
The young attendant lifted one storage pouch with both hands and presented it toward Ling Yue.
She bowed politely.
"Our honored guests."
"Every yin-attributed spiritual resource currently available within the Cloud Moon Pavilion has been gathered."
She gently placed the pouch upon the tray.
"Everything is contained within this storage pouch."
She straightened.
"The total value comes to..."
"...One hundred and thirty-four top-quality low-grade spirit stones."
Her flawless smile remained unchanged.
"May I ask how our honored guests intend to pay?"
Silence.
Dozens of eyes immediately focused upon the two mysterious figures.
The whispers ceased.
Even the attendants nearby held their breath.
Would they truly be able to pay?
Or had this all been an elaborate bluff?
No answer came.
Then—
Whoosh.
Whoosh.
Two spirit stones drifted out of empty air.
They floated calmly across the trading hall before gently descending onto the silver tray beside the storage pouch.
Clink.
Clink.
The sound was soft.
Yet within the silent hall...
it echoed with astonishing clarity.
The attendant lowered her gaze.
The instant she saw them—
her pupils contracted violently.
"...This..."
She carefully picked up one of the stones.
Her fingers trembled almost imperceptibly.
It wasn't a low-grade spirit stone.
Nor was it a top-quality low-grade spirit stone.
It was...
"...A standard-grade spirit stone..."
Her voice became noticeably quieter.
She immediately examined the second one.
Identical.
Perfectly refined.
Without a single visible impurity.
Two standard-grade spirit stones.
Each one...
equivalent in value to one hundred top-quality low-grade spirit stones.
Together—
their worth reached two hundred.
Far exceeding the requested price.
A wave of astonishment swept through the trading hall.
"What?!"
"Standard-grade spirit stones?!"
"Impossible..."
"I haven't seen one in years..."
"Who exactly are those people?"
Several cultivators unconsciously stepped forward.
Even the attendants standing behind the young woman could no longer maintain their composure.
The young attendant slowly drew in a breath.
She looked back toward the two shadow-covered figures.
Her expression had completely changed.
The courtesy remained...
but now it carried unmistakable respect.
She bowed deeply.
"Our honored guests..."
"The amount exceeds the required payment by sixty-six top-quality low-grade spirit stones."
"We shall immediately prepare your change."
Before she could move—
Ling Yue's calm voice interrupted her.
"...No need."
The attendant blinked.
"...Pardon?"
"We're not taking any change."
Another ripple of surprise swept through the crowd.
Ling Wei nearly turned to look at Ling Yue.
He knew perfectly well...
those words hadn't come from her own thoughts.
They were Senior's.
The attendant remained silent for several moments.
Then she bowed once more.
"...The Cloud Moon Pavilion thanks our honored guests for their generosity."
Without another word—
she respectfully offered the storage pouch with both hands.
This time—
no one questioned where it disappeared.
The pouch simply vanished into empty space.
Not a single person dared ask why.