Chapter Seven, Starry Tower

Inferior Body Refining Pill? One thousand pieces?

Although the Starry Pavilion covers a large area, the number of guests is not particularly high. Wu Yuan's gaze swept over the arriving and departing guests

West City can be considered a "commercial district" and also a place of extravagant spending, where it is not uncommon for some wealthy playboys to throw around money in the eastern part of the city. Wu Yuan's gaze swept across the bustling streets on both sides.

It is better described as a slow-acting poison than as a丹药.

Of course, Wu Yuan was not surprised either

All things under heaven from all directions, myriad stars and phenomena gather within the building. Wu Yuan's gaze swept over the golden characters inscribed on the blue stones flanking the main entrance

This Star Tower is truly a 'financial empire' that spans across numerous countries and hundreds of sects, Wu Yuan remarked

It does not appear to be engraved by a craftsman, but rather seems to have been left by a martial arts master using profound finger techniques

Wu Yuan did not pause for a moment, directly passing by the Starry Building and blending into the crowd

"Is this enough?" Wu Yuan turned his palm, and several banknotes appeared.

"A high-grade body refining pill costs 50 taels each! A medium-grade body refining pill costs 10 taels each!" The middle-aged man in the black robe said calmly, "May I ask how many would the esteemed guest like?"

I beg your pardon. The man lowered his head, feeling a slight shock in his heart; this stack of banknotes must be worth over a thousand taels.

Just a quarter of an hour later, Wu Yuan, carrying six hundred and eighty-seven body refining pills, left the Starry Building

Hello!

"Esteemed guest, the Body Refining Pill is an auxiliary elixir used by martial artists to temper their physique and strengthen their martial arts. Its effects are potent, but the side effects are also quite evident. I wonder..." said the middle-aged man in the black robe.

With a glance, Wu Yuan directly walked towards the side staircase, as if he were very familiar with the route, and ascended to the second floor along the stairs

The man did not dare to ask further, while Wu Yuan had already taken a few steps up to the third floor. Here, there were fewer guests and fewer counters, making it appear quite spacious, with the decor appearing even more luxurious

Wu Yuan took his seat, and another maidservant brought up the tea.

So young, carrying so many banknotes with you?

The County Military Academy, the County Governor's Office, and the General's Office, among others, are primarily located in the eastern part of the city

Certainly, such a scene is not enough to make Wu Yuan change color; as a former member of the upper echelons of the Human Federation, what could a building resembling an ancient county town's Star Tower compare to?

"Inferior?" The middle-aged man in the black robe was slightly taken aback and couldn't help but say: "Esteemed guest, inferior body refining pills contain many impurities and have significant side effects; they are generally used to..."

The Starry Tower has a history of over a thousand years and has never declined

In fact, most countries and various sects have their own silver houses, but their credibility is far inferior to that of the Qunxing Tower. Once one leaves their own territory, it is essentially unusable.

The place is even larger than I had anticipated. Wu Yuan surveyed the interior of the Starry Building; the decor was not ostentatious, yet it exuded a sense of tastefulness

The first and second floors sell ordinary goods; although some luxury items are expensive, they are of no benefit to martial arts cultivation

Li Cheng, as the core of "Li Cheng Jun", has a registered population of nearly 200,000, with a permanent population approaching 300,000, making it a "large city" within the entire Nan Meng Prefecture.

The second floor, although slightly less crowded than the library counter, holds items that are even more precious

Transporting these two stones from Minzhou to Jiangzhou would likely cost several tens of thousands of taels of silver

Finally, Wu Yuan arrived at the bustling convergence of several major streets in the west of the city, where he could see from a distance the expansive seven-story building standing at the intersection of two streets—Qunxing Building

A middle-aged man in a black robe was already seated at one side of the desk, his chair noticeably lower than Wu Yuan's, which appeared very respectful

Not only the middle-aged man in the black robe, but even the specially trained maid in purple beside him appeared somewhat astonished

Please wait, esteemed guest

Although he has only been awake for a little over a month, he has already heard of the name 'Qunxing Tower', which is undoubtedly the foremost commercial establishment in the seven provinces of the Central Plains

He did not elaborate much; the low-grade body refining pill is essentially a 'waste pill'

These maidens do not exhibit any coquetry, unlike the courtesans of the brothels; they possess a unique vitality of youth.

The third floor specializes in selling various items required by martial artists, such as divine weapons and elixirs

Therefore, when the Starry Tower accumulates a certain quantity of low-grade Body Refining Pills, it will concentrate and destroy them, resulting in a naturally limited stock.

... ...

After all, the world's greatest nation, the Great Jin, has only been established for two hundred years, and even some sacred martial arts sects find it difficult to maintain an undefeated legacy for a thousand years

"Is it vulgar?" Wu Yuan retorted

In the seven states of the Central Plains, every county city has its own divisions, and the items for sale are diverse and varied. Whether it be divine weapons, rare artifacts, pearls, antiques, or elixirs and spiritual medicines, one can find the vast majority of rare and peculiar items.

The books observe the expressions of different people

For hundreds of years, the Hongyun Sect has dominated this land, gradually forming a pattern of "wealth in the east and richness in the west, poverty in the north and lowliness in the south"

"Esteemed guest, we are unable to sell it," the middle-aged man in the black robe said with a bitter smile

Please come this way. The maid in purple attire smiled and quickly led Wu Yuan into a private reception room

The blue stone with a hint of red, is this the silk-blooded blue stone that is a specialty of "Minzhou"? Each of these large stones weighs at least over a hundred thousand jin

Unlike the usual shop signs

Each state is vast and expansive, with Jiangzhou and Minzhou separated by Chuzhou. According to Wu Yuan's geographical knowledge, the two sides are tens of thousands of miles apart

The clientele of Qunxing Building typically consists of the "upper class" within a county.

Low quantity, but high unit price

However, most of these guests are dressed in luxurious traditional Chinese garments, clearly indicating that they are either wealthy or of noble status

He understands that the group of stars behind the Yueling Tower, which can stand firm for a thousand years, is by no means simple and is not inferior to some great nations and sacred sects

The absence of airplanes and railways here, this alone is sufficient to reveal the astonishing financial power of the 'Starry Sky Tower'

A short and stout young man, dressed in a blue brocade robe and wearing a felt hat, walked into the Starry Pavilion, appearing quite unremarkable; it was Wu Yuan, who had just changed his clothes.

It is precisely because of the formidable reputation of the Starry Sky Tower that Wu Yuan has come

Middle-earth is further divided into the Seven States of the Central Plains and the Six States of the Barbarians

"No need for more words, just state the price." Wu Yuan's voice was extremely hoarse, carrying a hint of indifference, as if he was unwilling to say more

The sixteen provinces of the world, excluding the three distant and overseas provinces of Yaoyuan and Tushu

Esteemed guest, may I inquire what you require?" A beautiful maid dressed in purple approached.

The strength of Qunxing Tower can be seen in part

Compared to the other guests entering and exiting the Starry Building, Wu Yuan's attire was too plain, making him stand out conspicuously

This time

This has always been his habit; upon arriving in a new place, he must first familiarize himself with the geography and local customs

From Wu Yuan's perspective, these guards are likely at least seventh-tier warriors.

The font is robust and powerful, with strokes as sharp as arrows

"Body Refining Pill." Wu Yuan uttered these three words; this was the purpose of his journey

The plaque on this tall building appears as if it were painted in gilded gold, completely devoid of any words, with only several shooting stars streaking across, giving it an exceptionally unique appearance

"What? Do you find my silver insufficient? Is this the attitude of Qunxing Tower towards its guests?" Wu Yuan frowned slightly

In the past, he had only heard of this building, but had never entered it.

Indeed, if one were to delve deeply into the grassroots level and even encroach upon the businesses at that level, it is likely that various nations and sects would find it difficult to tolerate. Wu Yuan lowered his head to glance at his own attire and slightly furrowed his brow: "I have not considered this thoroughly"

As inscribed on its stele, "All things under heaven gather within the tower"

"One or two taels of silver, two pieces!" said the middle-aged man in the black robe

In the western part of the city, it is a place of luxury, where merchants gather, and various forms of entertainment, including performances and brothels, are all congregated here

Wu Yuan did not stop and went directly to the stairs on the third floor

"How many are there? I want them all," Wu Yuan said straightforwardly

I want one thousand pieces!" Wu Yuan stated directly

The first floor is spacious, featuring numerous counters selling various items. There are many attendants, as well as dedicated armed guards.

After all, he did not have much money before, so how could he afford good clothes

These messages, which are naturally not recorded in the classics of the Martial Arts Academy, are a summary of some information gathered during casual discussions and exchanges with Wu Yuan and many disciples of the Martial Arts Academy over the past month.

No," the middle-aged man in the black robe shook his head, "the low-grade body refining pills we have here are not that many

Even the banknotes circulating in the seven provinces of the Central Plains are issued by the 'Qunxing Silver Bank' of Qunxing Tower. Wu Yuan recalled the special anti-counterfeiting mark on his banknotes that bore the two characters 'Qunxing'.

Good

Unhurriedly, Wu Yuan walked through several bustling streets and numerous alleys, making his way from the eastern part of the city where the martial arts academy is located to the western area of the city

Li City is a port city, where the Nanlong River flows from the west of the city to the north. The influx of visitors and goods is quite substantial. Although my Wu family belongs to the 'north of the city', we are also close to the west of the city. Wu Yuan has become quite familiar with the layout of Li City

Unlike the desolation of the eastern part of the city and the street vendors in the northern area, the western region, while bustling, clearly has a higher standard. It features more storefronts along the streets, and pedestrians generally dress better.

Even if it cannot be found immediately, as long as one is willing to spend a considerable amount, even if separated by thousands of miles, Qunxing Tower can deliver it!

Not long.

I will handle the matter without your excessive words. Wu Yuan frowned and said coldly: Just state the price

The attendant in the corridor politely stopped Wu Yuan, saying: "To go up to the third floor, you need to verify your funds or confirm your identity"

Which family's young master

This is a treatment that has never been experienced on the first and second floors