101: The sixth floor of the Star Pavilion! Amethyst Marrow! Blood Burning Secret Technique!

Chapter 101: Star Dust Pavilion's Sixth Floor! purple crystal marrow! Blood Burning Secret Art!

Leaving Xin Ruyin's Bamboo Courtyard, Lu Qiu's heart was not overly troubled.

He left the choice to her; whatever the outcome, it would be acceptable.

If it succeeded, it would naturally be a mutually beneficial good thing.

If it failed, it would just mean one less helper, and he would find another way.

The path of Cultivation is long, with countless Opportunities; there's no need to force it.

He returned to the small courtyard Zhao Wen rented and settled down to Cultivate.

He continued to Cultivate daily without stop, solidifying his cultivation, studying the profound mechanism array canon, pondering the mysteries of the Xuanji Pupil, and also waiting for Xin Ruyin's reply.

A few days later, Zhao Wen returned, dusty and tired, but his eyes were bright, clearly indicating he had put much effort into his task.

He respectfully presented a Storage Pouch to Lu Qiu: "Master, your subordinate has done his best to gather the Ore crystals and illusion-attribute Spiritual Materials you requested. However... most of the items of this type circulating in the market town are of ordinary quality and limited in quantity."

Lu Qiu took the Storage Pouch and swept it with his Divine Sense.

Indeed, there were over a dozen purple spirit crystals of varying sizes inside. The small ones were like pigeon eggs, and the large ones were no bigger than a fist. Their colors varied in depth, and the crystalized energy they contained also differed in strength, so their overall quality could only be considered average.

Illusion-attribute Spiritual Materials were even scarcer, with only two palm-sized, slightly dull-looking "Bewildering Stones" and a few "Illusion Heart Grass" plants less than a hundred years old, containing weak energy.

"These were acquired by your subordinate through repeated searching and premium purchases at several Medium Grade shops and street stalls." Zhao Wen lowered his head somewhat ashamed: "Higher quality goods, those large shops either don't have much in stock, or they keep them as their most prized treasures and are unwilling to sell them easily, or... the prices are ridiculously high. Your subordinate's financial resources are limited, so I dared not make decisions on my own."

Lu Qiu nodded, not blaming him.

He knew that such specific and high-quality resources were inherently scarce, and for Zhao Wen, being new, to acquire these at this price was already quite good.

"However, your subordinate did uncover a piece of information."

Zhao Wen changed the subject, raising his head with a hint of hope in his eyes, "If you want to buy truly high-quality rare items, perhaps you can try the sixth floor of the Star Dust Pavilion."

"Star Dust Pavilion? The sixth floor?" Lu Qiu's eyes flickered.

The Star Dust Pavilion was the largest and most influential comprehensive commercial pavilion in the Tianxing Sect Market Town, with nine floors in total. He had only purchased ordinary supplies on the first to third floors before.

"Yes."

Zhao Wen explained, "It is said that the first seven floors of the Star Dust Pavilion are open to the public. The first to third floors serve Qi Refinement Stage Cultivators, while the fourth to sixth floors specifically serve high-level Cultivators above the Foundation Establishment Stage, with the quality of goods increasing with each floor. Especially the sixth floor, it is said that true fine and even rare treasures often appear there, but the entry threshold is also extremely high, requiring not only proof of cultivation at least at the Middle Stage Foundation Establishment, but also verification of sufficient financial resources."

"Middle Stage Foundation Establishment..." Lu Qiu pondered for a moment. Although he suppressed his Aura to Early Foundation Establishment Stage, his true cultivation was already close to the peak of Middle Stage Foundation Establishment.

As for financial resources, with his current wealth, it was not an issue.

"Understood, I will handle this myself. You continue to pay attention to other information; if there are any clues about purple spirit crystal Spiritual Veins or high-quality illusion-attribute Material Origins, report them to me promptly." Lu Qiu instructed.

"Yes!" Zhao Wen acknowledged the order and withdrew.

---

The next day, Lu Qiu changed into a slightly more opulent dark green Magical Robe, adjusted his Aura to the Middle Stage Foundation Establishment level, and walked calmly to the magnificent nine-story Star Dust Pavilion, located in the very center of the market town.

The pavilion had flying eaves and ornate brackets, carved beams and painted pillars, a wide facade, and a constant stream of Cultivators entering and exiting, presenting a prosperous scene.

Lu Qiu stepped into the grand hall on the first floor. The hall was extremely spacious, with dozens of counters displaying a dazzling array of Magical Artifacts, Medicinal Pills, Talismans, and Materials, all shimmering with light and brimming with Spiritual Qi.

Many Qi Refinement Stage Cultivators lingered at various counters, asking questions amidst the noisy chatter.

A sharp-eyed Qi Refinement Stage attendant, noticing Lu Qiu's profound Aura, quickly greeted him with a beaming smile: "Senior, welcome to Star Dust Pavilion! May I ask what you need? I can guide you and introduce our goods."

Lu Qiu's gaze swept over the goods on the first floor, which were clearly aimed at Qi Refinement Stage Cultivators. He shook his head and directly said: "I need some rare treasures. Do you have any here?"

The attendant was stunned but maintained his smile, his tone becoming even more respectful: "Senior, I apologize! This is the first floor, and I'm afraid there's nothing suitable for you. If Senior truly wishes to purchase fine goods, please move to the third floor or above; that is where we specifically serve high-level Cultivators. The fourth to sixth floors have even better quality goods."

Lu Qiu nodded, said nothing more, and walked straight towards the wide staircase inside the hall that led upstairs.

Star Dust Pavilion had strict internal management, with each floor having corresponding cultivation restrictions and reception standards.

Lu Qiu, displaying a Middle Stage Foundation Establishment Aura, passed through the second, third, and fourth floors unimpeded.

On these floors, there were fewer customers, the quality of goods significantly improved, and the environment became more elegant and quiet.

As he stepped onto the fifth floor, he distinctly felt that the Spiritual Qi on this floor was richer, the displayed goods glowed brightly, all of them Top-Grade Magical Artifacts, rare Medicinal Pills, and uncommon Materials. The Cultivators coming and going were mostly at the Foundation Establishment Stage, with occasional sightings of False Core Cultivators.

Lu Qiu did not linger on the fifth floor, continuing his steps towards the staircase leading to the sixth floor.

However, just as he was about to step onto the staircase, a red figure silently appeared at the stairwell, blocking his path.

This was a handsome young attendant dressed in red, with a somewhat indifferent expression, whose cultivation was only at Qi Refining Perfection. Yet, his posture as he stood there exuded the composure of someone backed by a powerful force.

"Esteemed guest, please stop."

The red-clad attendant bowed slightly, his tone neither humble nor arrogant: "According to the regulations of our pavilion, the qualification to enter the sixth floor must be approved by the manager of the fifth floor. Please first meet with the manager."

Lu Qiu stopped and calmly glanced at the attendant.

Although the other party's cultivation was low, he clearly understood the rules of the Star Dust Pavilion and was not intimidated by him, a "Middle Stage Foundation Establishment" Cultivator, likely having seen many high-level Cultivators.

He nodded, not making things difficult for the other party, and turned towards an elegantly decorated side hall inside the fifth floor.

A sign reading "Steward's Office" hung at the entrance of the side hall. As Lu Qiu approached the door, a beautiful middle-aged woman in a light purple long dress, with her hair neatly coiled, and an elegant demeanor, greeted him with a smile.

Her Aura was profound; she was actually a Late Foundation Establishment Stage Cultivator!

"Fellow Daoist, you seem unfamiliar; is this your first time on the fifth floor of our Star Dust Pavilion?"

The beautiful middle-aged woman smiled gently, her gaze briefly sweeping over Lu Qiu, already discerning the "depth" of his cultivation: "My surname is Lan, and I serve as the manager of this floor. May I ask what Fellow Daoist's business is? Do you wish to visit the sixth floor?"

Lu Qiu cupped his hands and said, "Manager Lan, my greetings. I do indeed wish to visit the sixth floor to find and purchase some rare items."

Manager Lan heard this, gently tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, and smiled charmingly: "Of course, you can go to the sixth floor. Star Dust Pavilion opens its doors for business and naturally welcomes distinguished guests from all directions. However, according to the pavilion's rules, I still need to verify Fellow Daoist's qualifications, so please bear with me."

The so-called qualification verification was nothing more than two points: cultivation and financial resources.

Lu Qiu's thoughts stirred, and he slightly released a trace of his suppressed Aura. A pure, profound Spiritual Pressure, far exceeding that of an ordinary Middle Stage Foundation Establishment Cultivator, instantly flowed out. Although it was fleeting, it made Manager Lan's beautiful eyes flash with surprise, and the smile on her face became a bit more genuine: "Fellow Daoist has a deep Foundation, and is not far from the Late Stage; your cultivation qualification is certainly sufficient."

Next, Lu Qiu casually took out a Storage Pouch containing twenty Mid-Grade Spirit Stones and handed it to Manager Lan for inspection.

Manager Lan swept it with her Divine Sense, and her smile deepened: "Fellow Daoist has abundant financial resources, so you are naturally qualified to go to the sixth floor. Please follow me."

She personally led Lu Qiu back to the stairwell and nodded slightly to the red-clad attendant. The attendant immediately stepped aside and bowed, saying, "Esteemed guest, please proceed."

Lu Qiu thanked Manager Lan and stepped onto the carpeted stairs, heading towards the mysterious sixth floor... The space on the sixth floor was much smaller than the lower floors, but the decor was more ancient and luxurious.

The floor was paved with warm jade, the walls were inlaid with luminous pearls emitting soft Spiritual Light, and the air was filled with a refreshing scent of sandalwood mixed with Spiritual Qi.

There were only a few counters in the hall, and customers were sparse, with only two Cultivators with concealed Auras quietly conversing with staff in the distance.

As soon as Lu Qiu stepped onto the floor, a young woman in a plain white dress, with a beautiful and serene face but a rather indifferent expression, appeared before him.

This young woman appeared young, but her Aura was refined, and she actually possessed Early Foundation Establishment Stage cultivation. Her gaze was steady, clearly indicating her extraordinary status.

"What does Fellow Daoist wish for?" The young woman asked directly, her tone flat, lacking the usual enthusiasm of a shop assistant: "As long as Fellow Daoist can afford the price, our Star Dust Pavilion's sixth floor can provide most of what Fellow Daoist desires."

Lu Qiu did not beat around the bush and directly said: "I need two kinds of Materials. First, a rare Ore crystal similar to 'purple spirit crystal' but of higher quality and containing more refined crystallized energy. Second, high-quality illusion-attribute Spiritual Materials, whether Ore, crystal, or spiritual wood, the higher the quality, the better, and quantity is not limited."

The young manager's indifferent face showed a subtle flicker of surprise for the first time upon hearing this.

Special Ore crystals like purple spirit crystal were already niche, with few demanders, and high-quality ones were even rarer.

Illusion-attribute Materials were also uncommon and difficult to obtain.

This guest actually sought both of these items simultaneously?

She pondered for a moment, not asking about the guest's purpose, but simply clapped her hands softly.

"Tap, tap, tap..." Heavy footsteps sounded as a humanoid puppet, nearly ten feet tall, entirely crafted from some dark golden metal, with flexible joints and red Spiritual Light flashing in its eyes, steadily walked out from the inner room, holding a tray, and stopped beside the young woman.

The young woman lifted the red silk covering the tray, revealing two parallelly placed zitan wood boxes beneath.

She opened the first wooden box.

In an instant, a pure, rich purple glow, as if condensed from the essence of stars, permeated the air!

Inside the box lay a strange crystal, about the size of an adult's fist, entirely translucent like the finest amethyst, with strands of silver starlight flowing ceaselessly within it!

The crystallized energy fluctuations it emitted were more than ten times purer and richer than all the purple spirit crystals Lu Qiu had seen before combined!

"This is 'purple crystal marrow,' an essence that can only form in the core of a purple spirit crystal Spiritual Vein after more than a thousand years of gestation.

In terms of quality and energy, it far surpasses ordinary purple spirit crystals.

This item can not only be used to nurture certain special Spirit Beasts but is also an excellent auxiliary Material for refining Top-Grade earth-attribute and star-attribute Magic Treasures, and can also serve as one of the core energy sources for high-level Formations."

The young manager calmly introduced it, stating a price: "This piece of purple crystal marrow is priced at one thousand two hundred Spirit Stones."

One thousand two hundred Spirit Stones!

Such a price was extremely expensive.

But as Lu Qiu looked at the shimmering purple, star-flowing purple crystal marrow, he felt it was worth the price.

This item would undoubtedly have a miraculous effect on the growth of the Purple Crystal Sable.

The young woman then opened the second wooden box.

Inside was a strange branch, about a foot long and as thick as a child's arm, entirely displaying a mesmerizing, dreamlike seven-colored glazed luster, as if mist slowly flowed within it.

The surface of the branch naturally formed intricate patterns, subtly forming tiny illusionary vortices, and looking at it for too long could make one feel disoriented.

"This is the 'thousand-year phantom mist glazed branch,' which grows in the convergence of extreme yin lands and illusion-attribute Spiritual Veins, taking a thousand years to mature. It is a top-tier Material for refining Top-Grade illusion-attribute Magical Artifacts, arranging high-level illusion Formations, or nurturing illusion-attribute Spiritual Insects. The illusionary power it contains is pure and long-lasting." The young woman quoted again: "This branch is priced at one thousand eight hundred Spirit Stones."

One thousand eight hundred Spirit Stones!

Another exorbitant price!

But Lu Qiu didn't hesitate at all, directly saying: "I'll take both of these."

The young manager's surprise deepened in her eyes, and she looked at Lu Qiu intently, as if wanting to re-evaluate this customer's financial resources.

She gently nodded, signaling the Puppet to push the two wooden boxes towards Lu Qiu.

Lu Qiu readily paid the Spirit Stones and put away the purple crystal marrow and the thousand-year phantom mist glazed branch.

After the transaction was complete, Lu Qiu did not leave, but continued to ask: "May I ask the manager, does your esteemed pavilion sell rare beast-taming secret arts? Regardless of orthodox or demonic sects, as long as the effect is special or the power is strong, the higher the grade, the better."

"Beast-taming secret arts?"

The young manager pondered for a moment, seemingly recalling the pavilion's inventory.

Star Dust Pavilion's goods encompassed all treasures, and naturally included beast-taming Cultivation Techniques and secret arts, but those reaching the "rare" level and suitable for Cultivators above the Foundation Establishment Stage were not many.

A moment later, she clapped her hands again.

The metal Puppet once again entered the inner room, and when it emerged, it held a smaller black Jade Box engraved with Seal Talismans.

The young manager opened the Jade Box, revealing only an ancient Jade Slip, dark red in color, as if stained with dried blood.

"This technique is called 'Blood Burning Art.'" The young manager's voice was still calm, but the content was startling: "It is not an ordinary method for nurturing, communicating with, or controlling Spirit Pets, but an extremely domineering and costly temporary burst secret art."

"To cast this art, the caster's own vital blood must be used as a guide, combined with a special incantation, to instantly ignite the Spirit Pet's Origin vital blood and potential, causing its strength to surge dramatically in a very short period. Depending on the Spirit Pet's Foundation and the degree of burning, the amplification effect ranges from 30% to a full fold, lasting for about half an hour."

At this point, she paused and looked at Lu Qiu: "The cost is that after the secret art's effect ends, the Spirit Pet's Origin will suffer irreversible severe damage. Not only will its cultivation permanently drop by a small Realm, but its future potential will also be permanently lost by at least 10%, and its Foundation will be damaged, making subsequent Cultivation even more difficult. This art is like drinking poison to quench thirst; it might reverse life and death in a desperate situation, but it should never be used lightly in normal circumstances."

"This Jade Slip is a unique copy, priced at nine hundred Spirit Stones." The young woman stated the price.

Lu Qiu looked at the dark red Jade Slip, his eyes flickering.

The "Blood Burning Art"... instantly greatly boosts a Spirit Pet's combat power, at the cost of permanent damage to potential and a drop in cultivation. This was practically the ultimate trump card prepared for turning the tide in a desperate situation! Although the cost was heavy, if it truly came down to life and death, how could a Spirit Pet's potential and cultivation compare to one's own life?

"I'll take this art." Lu Qiu did not hesitate, once again taking out Spirit Stones to pay.

The young manager gave Lu Qiu a deep look and pushed the black Jade Box, along with the dark red Jade Slip inside, over to him.

With his gains from this trip, Lu Qiu turned and left the sixth floor of the Star Dust Pavilion under the young manager's indifferent gaze.

This trip not only resolved the need for high-quality resources for his Purple Crystal Sable and Illusion Spirit Butterflies but also yielded a beast-taming secret art that could be considered a killer move.

Although the expenditure was significant, Lu Qiu felt it was very worthwhile.