124: The Brothel of Love! A Supreme Furnace! A Mysterious Blood Bead!

Chapter 124: Wind and Moon Tower! Top-Tier Cauldron! Eerie Blood Bead!

When he returned to the small courtyard he rented in the Yanyue Sect market, the last rays of the setting sun were just sinking into the distant mountains.

His External Incarnation, Black Fiend, was still in the Quiet Room cultivating the Blood Refining Divine Light. The blood-colored mist permeating around him seemed a bit thicker than yesterday, and his aura was steadily increasing. Zhao Wen was already waiting in the hall.

“Master, you've returned.”

Zhao Wen stepped forward to salute and then handed over a neatly organized Jade Slip. “This is the information I gathered in the market today, summarized for you.”

Lu Qiu took the Jade Slip and immersed his Divine Sense into it. Zhao Wen was indeed meticulous; the information was categorized and quite detailed.

The Jade Slip recorded that the Yanyue Sect market was massive, with such a variety of shops that it was truly dazzling.

In addition to large shops common in the cultivation world like the 'Hundred Herb Hall,' 'Godly Weapon Pavilion,' 'Myriad Beast Garden,' and 'Heavenly Secret Workshop,' there were many unique merchants.

For instance, there was a shop called 'Splendid Pavilion' that specialized in selling dharma robes refined from various spiritual silk and Yao Beast pelts. These robes were both beautiful and protective, making them popular among beauty-loving female Cultivators and status-conscious Cultivators.

What surprised Lu Qiu even more was a restaurant in the market called 'Zhenwei Pavilion,' which occupied a magnificent three-story wooden building and enjoyed a very prosperous business.

According to Zhao Wen's investigation, this pavilion specialized in 'Spiritual Cuisine'—dishes made primarily from Yao Beast meat rich in Spiritual Qi, Spiritual Plants, and spiritual rice. Supplemented with special cooking techniques and secret seasonings, the dishes were not only exceptionally delicious but also gently replenished Qi and blood, slightly increased magic power, and nourished the Physical Body.

Of course, the prices were also quite substantial. A regular spiritual meal cost several or even a dozen Spirit Stones. Those 'luxurious banquets' made with precious Second-Grade or Third-Tier Demonic Beast Materials or rare spiritual herbs could cost dozens or even hundreds of Spirit Stones per table.

“Even Cultivators have so many who indulge in the desires of the palate.” Lu Qiu shook his head slightly, though he could understand.

The road to immortality is long. Aside from bitter cultivation and fighting, a bit of enjoyment and culinary pleasure, as long as it doesn't affect the Foundation of one's Dao Heart, is harmless. It could even serve as a way for some Cultivators to adjust their state of mind.

Among all the information, the one Zhao Wen highlighted—and which was recognized as the largest and most influential in the market—was the place called 'Wind and Moon Tower.'

It was the largest shop in the Yanyue Sect market, located in the most central and bustling area. The building was five stories high, with carved beams and painted rafters, extremely luxurious. It was said that its backer was the Yanyue Sect itself.

This Wind and Moon Tower was, naturally, a place that provided Dual Cultivation services.

Inside the tower, there were not only female and male Cultivators who practiced orthodox Dual Cultivation Techniques—possessing superior looks, temperament, and cultivation—available for guests to choose for mutually beneficial Dual Cultivation.

There was also a special category of 'merchandise'—Cauldrons.

These Cauldrons were mostly Cultivators with special Physiques or those who practiced specific fast-track Cultivation Techniques, accumulating pure Primordial Yin or Primordial Yang within their bodies. They were raised and sold like goods.

By paying a high price, a guest could perform 'Plucking and Nourishing' on a Cauldron to rapidly increase their own cultivation or break through a Bottleneck.

Of course, after being plucked, a Cauldron would, at best, suffer a massive loss of Origin Qi and a regression in cultivation, or at worst, have their Foundation completely destroyed and become a cripple. The methods were quite insidious.

Because of this, high-quality Cauldrons, especially 'pristine' ones that had never been plucked, were staggeringly expensive. They usually only circulated among high-level Cultivators or powerful organizations.

“Cauldrons...” Seeing this, Lu Qiu's eyes flickered, and he couldn't help but glance toward the Quiet Room where Black Fiend was.

His External Incarnation, 'Black Fiend,' practiced the Blood Refining Divine Light, which took a fast and overbearing path. It needed a large amount of pure Origin Qi to rapidly advance its cultivation.

Purchasing a Cauldron for plucking was, for Black Fiend, a 'suitable' shortcut.

An Incarnation didn't need to consider long-term paths or Heart Demon risks; it only needed to increase its strength as quickly as possible.

Thinking of this, Lu Qiu made a decision.

He instructed Zhao Wen to keep an eye on market trends, especially regarding any upcoming Auctions or special trade fairs, and then left the courtyard alone.

To avoid drawing attention, Lu Qiu operated the Myriad Transformations Hidden Origin Art to suppress his outward spiritual fluctuations to the Early Foundation Establishment Stage. He changed into a plain green robe, blending into the still-bustling nighttime market crowd like an ordinary Foundation Establishment Loose Cultivator with some wealth, out seeking pleasure or an Opportunity for a Breakthrough.

Before long, he arrived in front of the largest Wind and Moon Tower in the heart of the market.

The building was five stories high, with eaves hung with colored lanterns and glass wind chimes that shimmered and tinkled in the night.

The vermilion doors were wide open. Standing before them were four welcoming female Cultivators dressed in light gauze, with lovely faces and charming smiles. Their cultivation was all at the Middle Stage of Qi Refining, and their eyes held a natural allure.

Inside the tower, pleasant music and the faint sounds of feminine laughter drifted out, mixed with a strange, sweet, but not cloying warm fragrance that made one's heart flutter upon smelling it.

People flowed in and out incessantly. Most had decent cultivation, their faces showing expressions of anticipation, satisfaction, or urgency.

Lu Qiu's expression was calm as he stepped inside.

The main hall was even more luxurious, the floor covered in snow-white Yao Beast fur, the pillars inlaid with bright pearls, and the decorations everywhere were exquisite and elegant.

Many guests were accompanied by Cultivators in various beautiful dresses, drinking and chatting in elegant seats, creating a romantic atmosphere.

“This Fellow Daoist looks like a new face. Is this your first time at our Wind and Moon Tower? I am Yun Niang, the manager here. May I ask what you require?” A beautiful woman in a deep purple silk dress, her hair piled high and still possessing great charm, stepped forward. Her cultivation was impressively at the Middle Stage Foundation Establishment.

She smiled appropriately, her gaze sweeping over Lu Qiu. Although his aura was only at the Early Foundation Establishment Stage and his clothes were plain, his steady and composed demeanor made her not dare to underestimate him, and her words were quite polite.

Lu Qiu got straight to the point, his voice flat: “I need a high-quality Cauldron, Qi Refinement Stage cultivation, preferably pristine.”

Yun Niang's beautiful eyes flickered, her smile unchanging: “Fellow Daoist, you've come at the right time. The tower recently acquired and trained a top-tier Cauldron. She has the rare 'Soft Water Physique,' her Primordial Yin is abundant and pure, her cultivation has reached Qi Refinement Great Perfection, and she is still untouched. It's just... the price, I'm afraid, will not be cheap.”

“Spirit Stones are not an issue,” Lu Qiu said, his tone still flat. “Also, are there any Foundation Establishment Stage Cauldrons? The higher the cultivation, the better.”

Hearing this, a flash of surprise crossed Yun Niang's eyes.

A Foundation Establishment Stage Cauldron?

Those were rare items, usually reserved or fought over by major powers or high-level Cultivators as soon as they appeared.

She looked Lu Qiu over carefully and smiled bitterly: “Fellow Daoist must be joking. A Foundation Establishment Stage Cauldron is a rare find not just in this tower, but in the entire State of Yue; one might only be seen once every few years. Even if there's occasionally stock, they are mostly damaged goods that have already been plucked, and they're snatched up instantly. How could they flow into the open market? Even within our sect, such resources are in high demand.”

After hearing this, Lu Qiu understood and gave up on the idea.

A Cauldron that had already been plucked had damaged Primordial Yin or Yang, and its value was greatly reduced, making it meaningless to him.

He practiced the Yin-Yang Crown, which sought harmony between Yin and Yang and mutual benefit. He wasn't particularly fond of the predatory plucking techniques; if not for the need to quickly increase his Incarnation's strength, he wouldn't have taken this shortcut.

“In that case, let me first see the Qi Refinement Great Perfection Cauldron you mentioned,” Lu Qiu said.

Yun Niang led Lu Qiu to a more secluded, heavily restricted independent courtyard behind the tower.

In an elegantly decorated room burning calming incense, Lu Qiu saw the 'top-tier Cauldron.'

It was a young girl who looked to be no more than sixteen. She wore a plain white gauze dress, her figure was delicate, and her face was exquisitely beautiful. Her eyes, in particular, were like black gems soaked in autumn water, pure but carrying a hint of pitiable fear and confusion.

She sat quietly by the bed, indeed surrounded by a pure and gentle water-attribute spiritual aura—the manifestation of the 'Soft Water Physique.' Her cultivation was indeed at the Qi Refinement Great Perfection.

Lu Qiu swept his Divine Sense over her, confirming her Primordial Yin was intact and there were no other hidden marks or dangers, then nodded.

“This girl is named 'Ruoshui.' The base price is eight hundred Spirit Stones,” Yun Niang stated the price.

Eight hundred Low-Grade Spirit Stones were enough to buy a decent Top-Grade Magical Artifact or enough Medicinal Pills for a Foundation Establishment Cultivator to practice for several years.

But for a pristine, special Physique, Qi Refinement Great Perfection Cauldron, this price in the Yanyue Sect market was considered fair, even somewhat of a 'bargain.' Perhaps it was because while the 'Soft Water Physique' was good, it wasn't among the very top-tier Cauldron Physiques.

Lu Qiu didn't haggle and directly took out the Spirit Stones to pay.

Then, with a thought, he quietly summoned Black Fiend, who was cultivating in the small courtyard, through their soul connection.

When the cold-auraed, hollow-eyed Black Fiend appeared in the room, Yun Niang's eyes flashed with surprise again, but she tactfully didn't ask questions.

There were many eccentric people in the cultivation world; it wasn't unheard of to bring a servant or companion to purchase a Cauldron.

“I'll leave the rest to you,” Lu Qiu instructed Black Fiend, then turned and left the Wind and Moon Tower, leaving Black Fiend and the girl named Ruoshui in the heavily restricted room.

Back at the small courtyard, Lu Qiu could faintly feel a slight throb belonging to Black Fiend through their soul connection. It was the Blood Refining Divine Light technique instinctively reacting with desire and accelerating its rotation upon contact with pure Primordial Yin.

He stopped paying attention and meditated peacefully, waiting for the result... The next day, the first light of dawn appeared.

Lu Qiu finished his morning lessons and habitually checked the reorganized Opportunity information for the day.

Several pieces of white information flashed by, all regarding certain stalls in the market having cost-effective Qi Refinement pills or Materials, which were of low value.

Then, a piece of silver information emerged:

【silver information】: Loose Cultivator Pei Long often sets up a stall in the East District of the market to sell Yao Beast Materials. Among the many bone fragments of the Second-Grade Yao Beast 'Iron Armored Rhinoceros' on his stall is an inconspicuous dark-gold bone chip. It is actually a rare 'Tiger-Patterned Gold' ore mother, one of the high-quality core Materials for refining gold-attribute Magic Treasures. Adding just a little can greatly enhance a Magic Treasure's sharpness and sturdiness. Pei Long himself does not recognize its value.

“Tiger-Patterned Gold?” Lu Qiu's eyes lit up.

This was good stuff!

Magic Treasures were items that only Core Formation Cultivators could wield. Refining them was extremely difficult, and the required Materials were all rare and hard to find.

This Tiger-Patterned Gold ore mother was a standout among them. Even if he couldn't use it now, collecting it in advance to prepare for refining his Lifebound Treasure after reaching Core Formation in the future was a highly valuable investment.

This item must be taken.

And the final piece of information made Lu Qiu's heart shake:

【gold intelligence】: Zhao Kang, a chef at 'Zhenwei Pavilion,' while processing a new batch of Second-Grade 'Blood-Patterned Boar' carcasses this morning, unexpectedly found a thumb-sized, blood-red bead deep within its heart. The bead seems to have hazy blood-light flowing inside. Its aura is obscure; Zhao Kang only feels it is extraordinary but does not know its origin or use, and is currently pondering over it privately.

Another gold Opportunity!

Moreover, this Opportunity pointed to the 'Zhenwei Pavilion' mentioned in yesterday's information, which specialized in Spiritual Cuisine!

The object of the Opportunity was an 'Eerie Blood Bead' from inside a Second-Grade Yao Beast!

Lu Qiu's thoughts spun rapidly.

It was extremely rare for a foreign object that could trigger a gold Opportunity prompt to appear inside a Second-Grade Yao Beast.

This bead was definitely no small matter!

“Zhenwei Pavilion... Zhao Kang...” A sharp light flashed in Lu Qiu's eyes.

It seemed necessary to pay a visit to this 'Zhenwei Pavilion.'

Whether for that 'Eerie Blood Bead' or to taste the rumored Spiritual Cuisine that could increase cultivation, it was worth going.

At the same time, the 'Tiger-Patterned Gold' on the stall of the East District Loose Cultivator Pei Long could not be missed either.