Named after its founder, the Imperial Heaven Pavilion served as the official merchant pavilion of the Imperial Heaven Dao Palace.
Han Yi now stood in the central district of Imperial Water Dao City. Here, alongside the Imperial Heaven Pavilion, numerous other merchant pavilions and towers had been established by various Heavenly Venerable factions.
Even in the primordial chaos, no great power could afford to operate in isolation.
Even a formidable sect like the Dao God Sect maintained major trading cities along the periphery of the Dao God Continent, beyond its borders.
Later, Han Yi learned that the Ancestral Land of the Chaos Divine Clan, Ancestor God Star, was not alone. Beyond it lay the massive Chaos God Star, a platform for exchange between the powerful figures of Ancestor God Star and the Chaos Factions.
Unfortunately, neither his journey with the Nangong Divine Clan to Ancestor God Star, nor his return from the Primordial Demon Dao Domain while passing through the Ancestor God Dao Domain, took him to Chaos God Star.
In truth, the Myriad Journeys Palace he had visited in the Vast Heng Dao Domain also served as a hub for Dao Realm cultivators. It featured a merchant pavilion where cultivators could purchase necessary items such as Dao Artifacts, Dao Talismans, Holy Medicines, and Dao Techniques.
However, when Han Yi first ascended to the Dao Realm, he lacked both Dao Crystals and Dao Artifacts. Even if he encountered items that caught his eye, he couldn't afford them.
But times have changed.
During his return from the Chaotic Antiquity Dao Domain, he transformed nearly two hundred Myriad Nether Avatars. In the process, he amassed a vast hoard of Dao Crystals and treasures, including numerous Dao Artifacts. He only left the Lifebound Dao Artifacts and a small portion of cultivation resources with the Myriad Nether Avatars.
Recently, he had swept through the Wisdom Realm, plundering the accumulated treasures and Dao Artifacts of the Nine Great Subordinate Races of the Third Wisdom Vein, amassed over countless millennia.
For the Wisdom Clan's Subordinate Races, he only needed the twenty-two Dao Realm cultivators to provide proficiency. There was no need for them to engage in combat, so he essentially emptied the treasuries of every major Ancestral Court.
As a result, several of his Divine Aperture Worlds were now overflowing with resources. The Immortal-Tier treasures were so numerous they defied counting, and Dao Realm treasures were abundant. The number of even just the low-grade Dao Artifacts had reached several hundred.
Upon entering the Imperial Heaven Pavilion, Han Yi was greeted by a Dao Realm shopkeeper with a warm smile.
"Fellow Daoist, is this your first visit to the Imperial Heaven Pavilion?"
Han Yi nodded, his gaze lingering on the shopkeeper. A subtle realization struck him: the amiable shopkeeper before him was actually a Dao Fruit Realm cultivator, equal in cultivation realm to himself.
He didn't doubt that the Imperial Heaven Pavilion would have a Dao Realm shopkeeper. In fact, it wouldn't be surprising to find even External Dao, Dao Harmonization, or even Heavenly Venerable cultivators here.
But the fact that a peer-level cultivator appeared before him as soon as he approached was further proof of the Imperial Heaven Pavilion's formidable strength.
"It is my first visit," Han Yi confirmed. He had already researched the pavilion's transparent pricing rules and wasn't concerned about any tricks.
"I am surnamed Wang. Please, this way, Fellow Daoist."
The smiling shopkeeper led Han Yi deeper into the pavilion.
"Your Dao resonance is abundant, Fellow Daoist. You must have recently achieved a significant breakthrough in your cultivation. My congratulations."
"As your cultivation advances, so too must your resources. I presume that's why you've come here today, Fellow Daoist."
"Rest assured, Fellow Daoist," Shopkeeper Wang declared confidently, "the Imperial Heaven Pavilion possesses everything you could possibly need. Whether it's Dao Scriptures, Immortal Classics, Supreme Treasures, Dao Techniques, Dao Artifacts, or Dao Talismans, our collection is endless. I can even say that if you desire it, it exists within our pavilion."
Han Yi understood the unspoken implication behind these words: as long as he could afford the price, he could acquire anything he wanted.
He didn't bother asking about Heavenly Venerable or Divine Venerable Ancient Artifacts, knowing he couldn't afford them even if they were available. It was better not to ask at all.
But there was another item he highly valued.
"Daring to ask, Fellow Daoist Wang," Han Yi said, his eyes gleaming, "does your pavilion sell Source Crystals, or any spiritual objects containing the Origin?"
Shopkeeper Wang's eyebrows twitched imperceptibly, his smile remaining unchanged.
"Source Crystals, of course. We have them."
Han Yi's heart leaped, but the next words cooled his excitement.
"However, they are not sold through regular channels. They only appear at auctions. If you wish to acquire one, you must participate in an auction and bid for it."
"Source Crystals are formed from the essence of the world itself. Even for Heavenly Venerables, they hold great significance, and for cultivators in the Dao Harmonization Realm, they are highly coveted. Therefore, you can be certain that cultivators at the Dao Harmonization Realm will participate in the auction. Fellow Daoist, you should understand this."
Shopkeeper Wang stopped there, leaving the unspoken truth hanging in the air.
To bid on a Source Crystal, one needed at least the strength and wealth of a Dao Harmonization Realm cultivator. For a Dao Fruit Realm cultivator to attempt such a thing was sheer delusion. Even if one possessed sufficient wealth, lacking the necessary strength would result in the crystal being snatched away—and possibly one's life as well.
Moreover, absorbing a Source Crystal allowed one to glimpse a sliver of the world's creation and destruction, providing significant aid to cultivators seeking to break through from the Dao Harmonization Realm to the Heavenly Venerable Realm. This was why many Dao Harmonization Realm cultivators went mad for Source Crystals.
"May I first examine your high-grade Dao Swords?" Han Yi asked.
Shopkeeper Wang's smile grew even warmer at these words. After all this time, Han Yi had finally gotten to the point.
The Source Crystal Han Yi had inquired about earlier was naturally categorized by the shopkeeper as something the customer "hoped to acquire in the future." But now, Han Yi was asking about high-grade Dao Swords—resources he clearly needed right now.
To Shopkeeper Wang's discerning eye, it was clear that the sword and longsword Han Yi carried were of exceptional quality. The pure white longsword on his back was undoubtedly a high-rank Dao Artifact, while the black longsword in his hand was a mid-rank Dao Artifact.
For a cultivator at the Dao Fruit Realm, possessing a high-rank Dao Artifact was hardly uncommon.
"Excellent! Fellow Daoist, please follow me. Our pavilion houses countless Dao Swords, including a vast collection of high-grade Dao Swords far exceeding your imagination. I'm certain you'll find something to your liking."
Shopkeeper Wang led Han Yi towards the upper levels of the pavilion.
As they ascended, Han Yi observed the comings and goings of cultivators and shopkeepers. Among them were Immortals and Dao Realm cultivators, including several at the Dao Harmonization Realm.
This further deepened his understanding of the Imperial Heaven Pavilion's true depth and power.
The pavilion stood only nine layers tall, but each floor was remarkably spacious, divided into numerous sections dedicated to talismans, artifact refinement materials, Immortal Artifacts, Dao Artifacts, and more.
Moments later, Han Yi followed Shopkeeper Wang to the Seventh Layer, where they entered a vast hall so expansive it could be described as boundless.
The walls of the hall were densely lined with suspended boxes. Han Yi glanced at them and quickly estimated their number.
One thousand, three hundred sixty-five.
A sudden realization struck him, catching his breath in his throat. He exhaled softly, his shock evident on his face. "Are all these boxes filled with high-grade Dao Swords?"
The boxes emitted no aura whatsoever, not even the slightest trace.
However, having climbed from the first layer, Han Yi understood the Imperial Heaven Pavilion's structure well. As one ascended, the quality of the treasures for sale increased accordingly. By his calculations, the Seventh Layer should house high-rank Dao Artifacts.
Since he specifically needed a Dao Sword, this led to his conjecture.
Shopkeeper Wang nodded, accustomed to witnessing such reactions. "Correct, Fellow Daoist. All these boxes contain high-grade Dao Swords."
"Please follow me."
Shopkeeper Wang led Han Yi to the center of the hall, where several compartments glimmered with light.
Han Yi stepped into the private booth, noticing that while the interior remained hidden from the outside, the booth itself offered an unobstructed view of the hall. The space didn't feel cramped but rather ample and comfortable.
"Please be seated, Fellow Daoist," Shopkeeper Wang said, guiding Han Yi to a seat. He then produced a golden token the size of a palm. With a flicker of his Dao Thought, he channeled it onto the token, which emitted a radiant glow.
A box suspended on the wall of the hall then detached and descended directly onto Han Yi's jade table, ignoring the booth's walls entirely.
The shopkeeper pressed the token against the box. A spirit light shimmered across its surface before gradually fading. The box then opened automatically, revealing a longsword inside.
With a wave of his hand, Shopkeeper Wang lifted the sword and suspended it before Han Yi.
"This is the Heavenly Edge Dao Sword, a high-grade Dao artifact. Please examine it carefully, Fellow Daoist."
The scene stirred memories in Han Yi. His last proper purchase of a sword artifact had been when he first ascended to True Immortal status, when he went to Zhengyang Pavilion to buy a weapon from Li Zhengyang.
A scene similar to this one, stretching back even further, to a time before his Immortal Ascension.
Han Yi reined in his wandering thoughts, his gaze settling on the Dao Sword before him.
The blade of the Dao Sword was silver, its hilt and guard black. The silver sword radiance pulsed with minute, rhythmic breaths, a sight that intrigued Han Yi.
No inscribed characters adorned the blade. Without the shopkeeper's explanation, one would never discern the sword's name from its appearance alone.
Yet, sensing the aura of the sword radiance and using his Dao Thought, Han Yi confirmed this was undoubtedly a high-grade Dao artifact.
However, it was the most basic type of high-grade Dao sword, slightly inferior to his own Autumn Water Sword.
"What is the price of this sword?" Han Yi asked.
Shopkeeper Wang didn't answer directly, instead explaining, "Dao Artifacts are classified into three tiers: low, mid, and high."
"If settled in Dao Crystals, low-tier Dao Artifacts range from ten thousand to one million Dao Crystals. Mid-tier artifacts range from one million to ten million Dao Crystals. High-tier Dao Artifacts start at ten million Dao Crystals and have no upper limit."
Han Yi nodded. Although he had never purchased a Dao Artifact from any Merchant Pavilion, he was well aware of their prices. After all, these were the standard rates in the Chaos.
Moreover, Dao Artifacts were only classified into three tiers. Even those used by the Dao Harmonization Realm cultivators were considered high-grade Dao artifacts, albeit the most exceptional ones, often referred to as "peak" Dao artifacts. However, "peak" was not an official tier in the Dao Artifact classification system.
Seeing that Han Yi had no objections to the price ranges, the shopkeeper continued:
"The Heavenly Edge Dao Sword is the most basic type of high-grade Dao sword, priced at one hundred and twenty million Dao Crystals."
"What do you think, Fellow Daoist?"
Han Yi averted his gaze from the Dao sword. He remained indifferent about the blade itself, but its slaughter aura felt slightly subdued, failing to meet his requirements.
His current path of cultivation demanded that the Dao sword he wield be a true weapon of slaughter—a ferocious, razor-sharp, and murderous blade.
Before purchasing the sword, he needed to exchange the treasures he didn't require for the universal currency of the Dao Realm: Dao Crystals.
If Han Yi only needed to buy one or a few high-grade Dao swords, the Dao crystals he had scraped together would have been sufficient. But if he wanted to purchase ten, or even dozens, or even hundreds of high-grade Dao swords, he was far from having enough.
Therefore, he needed to clear out some of his "inventory" and exchange it for a massive quantity of Dao crystals.
"Shopkeeper, I don't have enough Dao crystals to purchase the Dao swords I want. Could I sell some of my other Dao-grade treasures to your pavilion first? Once I have enough Dao crystals, I'll buy the swords."
Shopkeeper Wang understood Han Yi's situation and nodded understandingly. This was a common occurrence, and the Imperial Heaven Pavilion wasn't just a place to buy things; they also bought things. In fact, both buying and selling could be profitable.
Therefore, the shopkeepers welcomed cultivators who came to sell things.
With a wave of his hand, Han Yi put the Heavenly Edge Dao Sword back in its box and removed the token. The box then flew out of the private booth and slowly returned to its original hanging position.
"Of course, Fellow Daoist. First, take your things out and I'll assess them and give you an appraisal. If you agree, we'll make the transaction. The Dao crystals you earn will be temporarily recorded under your name, and we'll settle everything at once when you're ready to purchase your items."
Hearing this, Han Yi produced a jade box. This box had been obtained from the Imperial Secret Vault of the Mechanical God Race, one of the Nine Great Subordinate Races of the Wisdom Realm. Inside the box lay a three-petaled metallic flower. The flower seemed to shimmer between solid and ethereal, its color shifting constantly, and faint sounds like whispers of wind and thunder emanated from it.
Shopkeeper Wang's eyes lit up at the sight. He gently lifted the jade box, opened it, and subjected the flower to various Immortal Arts and even Dao Techniques for authentication. Finally, he closed the box.
"This artifact is truly unique, forged from the rare Wind Thunder Illusion Stone found in the Chaos. Though classified as a low-grade Dao Artifact, its effects are far from ordinary. When unleashed, it can cast deceptive illusions capable of ensnaring even a Dao Fruit Realm cultivator who lets down their guard."
"Thirty thousand years ago, a similar treasure appeared in the Imperial Heaven Pavilion and sold for eight hundred thousand Dao Crystals."
"How about this? I'll appraise it at seven hundred thousand Dao Crystals. What do you think, Fellow Daoist?"
Han Yi was satisfied with the appraisal. Even if the Imperial Heaven Pavilion had ultimately sold it for eight hundred thousand Dao Crystals, the hundred thousand Dao Crystals service fee was still quite reasonable.
"Agreed. Let's proceed with this appraisal."
He placed the Jade Box on the tray and looked at Han Yi with expectant eyes. Han Yi didn't disappoint, producing another Dao-grade treasure, which the shopkeeper gladly appraised.
As time passed, the number of appraised treasures grew, exceeding a thousand. Each item bore distinct characteristics, clearly originating from different factions or even different worlds.
This left Shopkeeper Wang increasingly astonished.
Han Yi had previously stated his intention to exchange treasures for high-grade Dao swords. Based on the current appraisal, the total value in Dao Crystals had already reached six hundred million.
Didn't this mean that, given the price of a Heavenly Edge Dao Sword, he intended to purchase at least five high-grade Dao swords?
How could a Dao Fruit Realm cultivator possibly Swordmaster five high-grade Dao swords?
After appraising another treasure, Shopkeeper Wang voiced his confusion: "Fellow Daoist, approximately how many treasures do you intend to sell? Could there be another thousand?"
"And... are you purchasing more than one high-grade Dao sword?"
Han Yi remained calm. "Of course. I intend to purchase thirty-two high-grade Dao swords."
"Among them, one must be a Peak Dao Sword."
"Rest assured, the treasures I possess are more than sufficient to exchange for these Dao swords."