Chapter 20: Wanbao Pavilion

The food at Baiwei Zhai was genuinely excellent.

The spirit beast meat had been braised until it melted on the tongue, its broth brimming with Spiritual Energy that slid warmly into the stomach. The plate of stir-fried jade greens was equally crisp and refreshing, carrying a faint, lingering sweetness.

Si Chen ate with complete, undivided focus, feeling more and more certain that leaving home had been the right call.

Even if he never found the so-called "Yang Thunder" in the end, spending his days cultivating the Yimu Everspring Art while journeying through the world and sampling fine food everywhere — that seemed like a perfectly wonderful life in itself.

While he ate in contentment, the gazes stealing glances at him from around the room were far more complicated.

There was curiosity, there was scrutiny, but most of all there was a kind of veiled pity.

Elder Lü of the Liuyun Sword Sect had just said "until we meet again" — anyone who wasn't a fool could hear the chill beneath those words.

In the territory of Wanggu City, to have a Core Formation Stage powerhouse set his sights on you... this boy, who looked no older than twelve or thirteen, likely had a bleak future ahead.

What a waste, at such a young age and with such cultivation... the onlookers shook their heads inwardly.

* * *

Several days passed in the blink of an eye.

The Liuyun Sword Sect had operated in this region for many years and maintained its own intelligence network. The moment Lü Yan returned, he immediately called in favors to investigate the name "Si Chen."

He needed one final confirmation before deciding on his next move.

The result, however, left him both surprised and unsurprised at the same time.

In the Cultivation World — no such person existed.

And in the mortal world, there were no fewer than eight or ten thousand young men named "Si Chen," making it utterly impossible to verify them one by one.

This was, in truth, all the Si Clan's doing.

As an ancient clan with a long Inheritance, they had always maintained the tradition of "free-range upbringing," calling it "tempering through worldly experience." To ensure their descendants received genuine hardship, the clan would deploy its resources to bury their true identities beneath layer upon layer of ordinary cover personas.

Not just the Liuyun Sword Sect — even the truly great sects would have to go through considerable trouble to uncover the truth, and might still fail.

When Lü Yan received the final report on the jade slip, the last trace of doubt in his heart dissolved.

Just as he had suspected.

He grew even more certain of his judgment: this brat had simply stumbled into extraordinary luck, obtaining some Fortuitous Encounter and Inheritance, which was the only explanation for how he possessed such cultivation and such a formidable physical body at his age.

Only that could explain why he had no sect backing him, yet acted with such complete disregard for consequences.

Pure ignorance — undisciplined and with no idea how vast the sky truly was!

The moment he thought of that potentially staggering Inheritance, Lü Yan's chest burned with desire.

Within it, there might just be the secret that could help him break through to the Mid Core Formation Stage — or even glimpse the path to the Nascent Soul!

His eyes filled with a covetous, all-consuming greed.

Now that he had confirmed the boy had no background worth fearing, certain things could be set in motion.

He deliberated for a moment, then spoke to Zhao Qinghe, who stood respectfully below: "Qinghe, have some sharp-eyed disciples keep an eye on him... no need to follow too closely. Just keep a general track of his movements. This boy's skills are strange — don't startle the snake by rustling the grass."

"Understood." Zhao Qinghe acknowledged the order promptly, though his feelings were complicated.

He still nursed a grudge over the "humiliation" Si Chen had dealt him that day, yet he also harbored a genuine fear of the boy's ruthless methods.

Now that the Elder had clearly decided to move against him, Zhao Qinghe felt a measure of satisfaction on one hand, and a vague sense of unease on the other — but the matter was no longer his to influence.

* * *

Si Chen knew none of this, and even if he had, he likely wouldn't have cared.

He continued eating and drinking as he pleased, and within a few days had sampled nearly every notable restaurant and eatery in Wanggu City.

He had no worries about Spirit Stones whatsoever. The ancient ring on his finger seemed to hold an inexhaustible supply, and he spent them without the slightest hesitation.

This behavior, in the eyes of Lü Yan and certain other interested parties, only reinforced the impression of "a nouveau riche who stumbled into an Inheritance."

A boy with no background — where else would he get so many Spirit Stones?

He must have obtained some unknown treasure and Inheritance, and being fresh out in the world, naive and inexperienced, he was simply flaunting his wealth without realizing it.

* * *

Having sampled all the fine food, Si Chen turned to more serious matters.

He moved through teahouses and taverns, casually asking around for information about "Yang Thunder."

A waiter wiping down a table laughed: "Young master, that's quite the peculiar question. Rain and thunder are common enough around here, but Yin Thunder, Yang Thunder — I've never even heard of such things."

An elderly Cultivator running a stall stroked his beard and shook his head: "Yang Thunder? That's something of the utmost yang and utmost rigidity. They say it only forms in certain supremely yang locations or during extreme celestial phenomena — even then, only a trace. Never mind seeing it — I've lived over one hundred years and have barely heard a handful of reliable rumors about it."

He asked around for several days and came up empty-handed.

Eventually, someone who noticed his young age and apparent wealth offered him a kind tip: "Young man, if you're trying to track down something that rare, you'd be better off asking at the 'Wanbao Pavilion' in the city center."

"They deal in Magical Artifacts, spirit materials, Pills, and even all manner of secret information. Their connections run very wide."

Wanbao Pavilion?

The name sounded familiar to Si Chen.

After a moment's thought, he remembered — wasn't that the place in Yunjin City where he had donated so many Spirit Stones as a child? The elderly Cultivator who had hosted the auction had kept calling him a "great benefactor."

He hadn't expected to find one here in Wanggu City as well. It seemed the Wanbao Pavilion's backing was far greater than he had imagined.

He thanked the old Cultivator and made his way to the Wanbao Pavilion at the city center.

The Wanbao Pavilion in Wanggu City had a reasonably grand facade, but compared to the main hall in Yunjin City — which in his memory had resembled an immortal palace of jade and jade towers — this one was considerably more modest.

The moment he stepped through the door, a neatly dressed attendant came forward to greet him: "Welcome to Wanbao Pavilion, young master. What might you be looking for today? Pills, Artifacts, or perhaps…"

"I'm here for information," Si Chen said directly. "About 'Yang Thunder.'"

"Yang Thunder?" The attendant blinked.

He had been working at Wanbao Pavilion for quite some time and had seen countless customers seeking Pills and Artifacts, but this was the first time anyone had come asking about thunder.

He recovered quickly, keeping his smile in place. "That is quite an unusual inquiry, young master. Information of that nature does fall under our intelligence services — Wanbao Pavilion does handle such requests. However, this is beyond my authority to decide. Please take a seat; I'll fetch the manager to speak with you in detail."

The attendant led Si Chen to a tastefully decorated private room, served him spirit tea, and hurried off.

Before long, a sharp-featured middle-aged manager in a brocade robe walked in, clasping his hands with a smile.

"My surname is Qian. I manage this branch of the Pavilion. I hear you wish to inquire about 'Yang Thunder,' young master?" Manager Qian settled into the seat across from him, his tone courteous.

"That's right." Si Chen nodded.

Manager Qian stroked his neatly trimmed short beard and said thoughtfully: "I won't deceive you, young master. Yang Thunder is a manifestation of the most supremely yang and rigid force between heaven and earth — elusive and nearly impossible to find."

"Our Wanbao Pavilion is well-informed, that much is true, but as for specific leads on this particular thing… we currently have none."

Seeing that Si Chen's expression remained unchanged — as though this answer was no surprise — Manager Qian shifted his approach.

"However, if you are seeking a Fortuitous Encounter, perhaps you might consider a different angle."

A well-measured smile spread across Manager Qian's face: "As it happens, three days from now, our Pavilion will be hosting its monthly auction. All manner of rare treasures will be gathered there, including no small number of uncommon natural materials."

"In fact, quite often, something entirely unexpected turns up. The lead you're looking for might just be hidden in some unassuming lot. Trying your luck there is surely better than searching aimlessly."

Si Chen listened quietly.

An auction? He recalled attending one in Yunjin City as well — though back then he had gone to "donate generously." Thinking back on it now, he'd had no real concept of Spirit Stones at the time. Only after truly entering the world did he understand why Third Uncle had been so furious.

"An auction…" he murmured softly.

It was worth a look.

As Manager Qian said, it was better than wandering aimlessly. And besides, he had grown curious about this Wanbao Pavilion that seemed to have branches everywhere.

"Very well."

Si Chen looked at Manager Qian. "I'll come in three days."

Manager Qian's smile deepened, and he personally placed a jade token — representing the right of entry — into Si Chen's hand. "We look forward to your esteemed presence, young master."

After seeing Si Chen off, Manager Qian returned to his inner office. The smile faded from his face, replaced by quiet contemplation.

A Foundation Establishment Cultivator this young, asking about something as rare as "Yang Thunder," with a bearing and manner of speech that was nothing like an ordinary Rogue Cultivator.

And moreover, his subordinates had just reported that a few days ago, this boy had gotten into a confrontation with a Core Formation Stage Elder of the Liuyun Sword Sect… and had walked away afterward as if nothing had happened… This young man was anything but simple.

Manager Qian's fingers tapped lightly on the surface of the table.

The Liuyun Sword Sect had entrenched itself in this area for years, and Lü Yan was notorious for never letting a grudge go.

To be targeted by someone like that and still survive — the future achievements of such a person would likely be immeasurable.

If he met an untimely end along the way… well, that was none of his concern.

For Wanbao Pavilion, every potential "major client" was worth a measured degree of attention.

And all he had done was show the boy the respect he deserved — a few polite words and one inconsequential jade token.

This was good business.

Manager Qian quickly set aside his thoughts, turned, and left to attend to the next matter of business.

In Wanggu City, people came and went every day. Geniuses and those who fell — they were all nothing more than a fleeting, insignificant footnote beneath these ancient walls.