Chapter 45: Thousand Beast Pavilion
After leaving Master Huan's forge, Su Tianhao began making his way to his next destination, but he couldn't help pausing to reflect on how fortunate he had truly been these past weeks.
"Looks like the heavens really do favor me," Su Tianhao murmured, his gaze distant as vivid memories played through his mind.
'Not only did I discover I'm the son of a Supreme Immortal Dragon and an Immortal Sword Saint—receiving inheritances that completely solved my cultivation problems—I was also fortunate enough to reunite with Lu Ruyi, which cleared my financial struggles entirely. And now I've obtained a magnificent sword for free.'
A profound smile spread across his features. 'What good karma have I accumulated to deserve all of this? Without question, the Shadowfang sword would be worth over one thousand gold coins on the open market.'
Before his encounter with Lu Ruyi, his original plan had been to spend roughly one thousand silver coins—ten gold coins—on a low-grade weapon. After receiving over three hundred gold coins from her storage pouch, his standards had naturally risen. Even so, his actual goal when visiting Master Huan had been a decent mid-grade weapon worth approximately one hundred gold coins. A high-grade weapon had been beyond imagination—even the most common high-grade blades sold for at least one thousand gold coins.
'If I used every coin I possess and sold everything I own, I still couldn't afford the Shadowfang,' Su Tianhao thought with a wry smile, his hand resting on the smooth scabbard at his waist.
'I'll find a way to repay Master Huan properly in the future,' he vowed quietly before resuming his walk. 'For now... I'll sell the beast materials to those shrewd beast merchants. No need to complicate it.'
Beast merchants were specialized traders who dealt exclusively in spirit beast parts and materials. Previously, he had considered selling each type of material to different vendors to maximize profit, but now that he had obtained an exceptional sword without spending a single coin, his mood had improved considerably. With his current financial situation, there was no need to exhaust himself haggling across multiple shops.
After walking through the marketplace for some time, Su Tianhao halted with a slight frown. "I've been searching for a while and haven't encountered a single beast merchant."
His brows furrowed. Normally beast merchants were scattered throughout the entire marketplace. Something had changed.
His sharp eyes landed on a middle-aged merchant selling trinkets from a modest stall nearby—robust frame, amiable expression, the kind of face that invited conversation. Su Tianhao walked over directly.
Seeing him approach, the merchant immediately offered a welcoming smile. "What can I do for you, friend? Want to try my treasures? Authentic good luck charms—lasting fortune in both life and cultivation!"
Su Tianhao glanced at the so-called treasures. Under his analytical gaze, sharpened by inherited memories, he could tell instantly that every item on display was an ordinary object with no genuine spiritual properties whatsoever.
"I'm not interested in your trinkets," he said plainly.
The merchant's friendly smile vanished. "Then why approach my stall?"
"I'm looking for somewhere to sell spirit beast materials. Why are there no beast merchants operating in this area?" Su Tianhao asked calmly.
The merchant looked him over from head to toe, frown deepening. 'Dressed in rags and asking about beast merchants. How could someone like this afford to buy anything?'
Just then a gold coin appeared in Su Tianhao's outstretched palm.
The merchant's eyes brightened immediately. He snatched the coin before the young man could reconsider.
"Can you answer my question now?" Su Tianhao asked with a slight edge of impatience.
"Of course, young master!" The merchant's entire attitude transformed in an instant, disdain replaced by a flattering smile.
Su Tianhao observed the shift and sighed inwardly. 'As the old saying goes—gold speaks louder than words, and greed is a universal language.'
"The independent beast merchants no longer operate in this district," the merchant explained. "You must not have visited the marketplace in a long time, young master. With the establishment of the Thousand Beast Pavilion right here in the Su family marketplace, those small independents had no chance of competing."
"The Thousand Beast Pavilion?" Su Tianhao's brows rose. "What is that?"
The merchant shook his head slowly. "It seems you're truly unfamiliar with this development." Seeing Su Tianhao's piercing gaze fixed on him in silent demand, he cleared his throat and elaborated.
"The Thousand Beast Pavilion is a prestigious establishment specializing in trading all varieties of spirit beast materials—fangs, hides, claws, beast cores, blood essence, rare spirit bones, organ tissues. They offer consistently fair market prices, guarantee authenticity on all products, and operate with the backing of a powerful force behind the scenes. They arrived in Oakwood City roughly six months ago, and most small-time beast merchants simply couldn't compete. Many shut down entirely or relocated outside the Su family district."
He leaned in slightly, lowering his voice. "They maintain established branches in multiple major cities across the region. Their appraisers are all powerful cultivators—experts who can see through even sophisticated forgeries and determine exact material grades with near-perfect accuracy."
"And they're operating within the Su family's marketplace territory?" Su Tianhao asked, eyes narrowing thoughtfully.
The merchant nodded. "They rented one of the most valuable central shops available. Prime location, maximum traffic. Some say the Su family leadership personally welcomed them and offered favorable lease terms."
Su Tianhao fell silent for a moment, a contemplative glint in his golden eyes. 'It seems I missed quite a few developments during my year of confinement.'
Several dozen meters away, concealed behind a neighboring stall, Ye Jianping and his companion watched with narrowed eyes. Ye Jianping's expression had grown increasingly ugly.
"That beggar is carrying gold?" his companion muttered in disbelief. "How does a talentless trash have that kind of wealth?"
"Something doesn't add up," Ye Jianping growled, fingers clenching. "First Master Huan gives him a sword, now he's casually spending gold coins for information. What kind of abandoned failure carries himself like that?"
"Should we still confront him?" his companion asked uncertainly.
"Of course," Ye Jianping hissed. "In fact, I'm even more interested now."
Meanwhile, completely unaware of his persistent stalkers, Su Tianhao turned back to the merchant. "Where exactly is this Thousand Beast Pavilion?"
The merchant pointed toward the heart of the commercial district. "Straight down the main street to the central market square—you'll know it by the large fountain. From there, look for the tallest building with black-tiled roofing and a silver beast emblem above the entrance. You can't miss it."
"Thank you," Su Tianhao said, already turning in the indicated direction.
"No need to thank me, young master. That would only make this lowly one feel guilty—you already paid generously for such simple information," the merchant replied with a bittersweet smile.
Su Tianhao nodded once and headed toward the Thousand Beast Pavilion, following the directions given. His steps carried purpose and quiet confidence—the bearing of someone who had survived genuine hardship and emerged stronger for it.
Behind him, maintaining their careful distance, Ye Jianping and his companion exchanged dark looks and continued their pursuit.
The confrontation was merely delayed, not avoided.
---
After following the directions given by the merchant, Su Tianhao arrived at an impressive three-story building with distinctive black-tiled roofing near the busier end of the marketplace district.
The structure stood out—not because of sheer size or gaudy opulence, but because of its clean architectural lines and quiet, confident presence. Its dark wooden exterior was polished and meticulously maintained, projecting a restrained elegance that immediately set it apart from the surrounding shops. Above the main entrance hung a rectangular plaque carved with three bold characters: Thousand Beast Pavilion. Just beneath it, an engraved silver emblem shaped like a coiling serpent wrapped around a crouching tiger gleamed faintly under the afternoon sun.
Two stone pillars framed the entrance, each etched with intricate carvings of spirit beasts captured mid-roar or mid-flight—not ostentatious, but executed with refined skill that hinted clearly at the substantial wealth backing this establishment. A soft medicinal scent and the faint metallic tang of blood lingered in the air, blending naturally with the earthy musk of tanned hides and preserved beast materials.
Though newly established in Oakwood City, the pavilion had already gained strong footing. Several cultivators loitered near the entrance—some walking out with satisfied expressions, others still inside engaged in quiet negotiations. The guards posted at the doors wore matching dark uniforms and carried sharp, alert gazes that gave the entire place a distinctly professional atmosphere.
Su Tianhao's golden eyes swept the scene slowly.
"So this is the Thousand Beast Pavilion," he murmured, then stepped purposefully forward.
---
Concealed in a quiet alley across the street, Ye Jianping and his companion watched Su Tianhao's every movement with predatory focus.
"Looks like he's gone inside," his companion observed, a smile that didn't reach his eyes spreading across his face.
"Perfect. We'll ambush him the moment he steps back out," Ye Jianping said, cruel anticipation clear in his voice.
"We've waited long enough. I can't wait to finally deal with that arrogant bastard," his companion muttered with barely concealed malice.
Ye Jianping nodded—then his eyes dropped to the Shadowfang sword Su Tianhao had carried through the marketplace, and naked greed flashed across his features.
"While we're at it, we'll be taking that sword. Someone like him isn't worthy to possess such a treasure."
As he spoke, he could already envision it clearly—Su Tianhao lying defeated at his feet, the Shadowfang firmly in his own hands.
As the old saying went: a man's fortune always breeds greed in the eyes of others.
---
Stepping through the polished doors, Su Tianhao was greeted by a cool, earthy scent mixed with faint traces of blood, cured hide, and herbal preservatives. The interior was surprisingly spacious and well-organized, lit by soft crystal lamps mounted along sturdy wooden support pillars. The floors were polished dark wood, impeccably clean, while the air held a quiet hum of professional conversation.
Along both sides, extensive display shelves held an impressive variety of beast materials—sharp fangs, wicked claws, carefully preserved pelts, cleaned bones, and neatly labeled glass jars filled with preserved organs and concentrated blood essence. Several cultivators and merchants browsed the merchandise or negotiated quietly with attendants in simple gray robes embroidered with the pavilion's insignia—a coiling serpent wrapped around a single gleaming fang.
Despite the diverse range of guests, the atmosphere remained remarkably calm and efficient, business flowing smoothly throughout the space.
As Su Tianhao stepped further into the main hall, a young female attendant in a light blue robe approached with a polite, practiced smile.
"Greetings, young master. Are you here to buy or sell?"
The courteous approach genuinely surprised him. Given his current appearance—blood-stained and tattered—he had mentally braced for dismissal or worse. Not this. His impression of the Thousand Beast Pavilion rose immediately.
"I'd like to sell some beast materials," he replied with a small smile.
"Would you prefer a professional appraiser's evaluation, or will you accept standard market pricing?"
"An appraiser," Su Tianhao answered without hesitation.
"Please follow me."
The attendant guided him away from the main crowd to a small but well-appointed counter in a quieter section of the building.
Behind the counter sat a strikingly handsome man who appeared to be in his late thirties. His expression was one of profound, almost philosophical indifference—the look of someone who wouldn't stir even if the world around him began collapsing. Long hair fell carelessly down his back in scattered disarray. His eyes stared into the middle distance with the glazed detachment of a man perpetually somewhere else.
"Master Lu," the attendant greeted with a respectful bow.
In the cultivation world, appearances could be deeply misleading. This languid, disheveled man was Lu Qingran—the Ghost Eye Appraiser, one of Thousand Beast Pavilion's most prominent professionals. Beneath that perpetually lazy exterior lay terrifying precision and depth of knowledge. His appraisals were swift, devastatingly accurate, and carried an authority that even seasoned veteran merchants dared not openly question. It was said throughout commercial circles that nothing escaped his gaze—not the true origin of a rare beast fang, not the hidden impurities lurking within a supposedly flawless ore. When Lu Qingran passed judgment, even the most arrogant cultivators listened.
He sized Su Tianhao up with half-lidded eyes. Something flickered briefly in his gaze—a flash of peculiar recognition—before he turned toward the attendant with an obvious frown.
"What is the meaning of this, Lan Er? Haven't I told you to only bring me interesting customers?"
Lan Er responded without flinching. "Master Lu, the other appraisers are already occupied. You've pushed every influential customer to them already. You're the only one available."
"Is that so," Lu Qingran sighed heavily, still not bothering to look directly at either of them. "Drop whatever you wish to sell on the table."
He waved a dismissive hand at Lan Er. "You may leave."
Su Tianhao raised an eyebrow at the thoroughly dismissive attitude—but wasn't particularly offended. 'He's definitely not simple,' he noted inwardly as he reached into his storage pouch and began laying out the carefully preserved materials from his two weeks in Dragonspire Forest. One by one they appeared on the counter—gleaming silver scales, wickedly sharp claws, intact hides, various other valuable beast parts.
Lu Qingran's expression shifted.
The casual boredom dissolved, replaced by something that looked almost like genuine surprise. His experienced eyes moved quickly across the growing spread of materials, and with each new item revealed, his expression grew progressively more complicated.
"Boy..." he said, deceptive calm in his voice. "Are all these materials from Dragonspire Forest?"
Su Tianhao raised an eyebrow slightly. He didn't fully understand the reason behind Lu Qingran's sudden interest—but answered honestly. "Yes. I collected them during my training period."
Lu Qingran nodded once. He picked up a set of gleaming silver scales and held them toward the light from a nearby window. They shimmered with an impressive metallic luster that immediately commanded professional attention.
"Silver Pangolin scales," he stated. "Completely intact—no damage whatsoever. Valuable for weapon crafting." He set them down carefully and moved to the next items. "Jade Cow tendon... Ironhide Ox hide..." He paused briefly. "Boy, these are all peak grade one beast materials. The preservation quality is exceptional."
Su Tianhao said nothing, watching the appraisal with quiet interest.
Lu Qingran continued with practiced efficiency, his movements swift and expert as he handled each piece with the ease of long familiarity. Then his hand reached a particular set of dark, hardened bones carrying a faint crimson sheen.
He stopped completely.
"This is..." His voice trailed off as recognition crystallized in those sharp, half-lidded eyes.
"Savagebone Ape remains?"