Chương 120: 119. The Pavilion’s DRM Cannot Recognize My Cheat

At midday, I sit alone before the sealed talisman. The outer markings remain dark. Sunlight falls across the desk, warming the lacquered surface beneath it. Outside, the sect continues without regard for the appointed hour. Disciples cross the courtyard in pairs, their voices briefly rising whenever they pass beneath the open window. I keep my attention on the talisman. The silver lines brighten without warning. Light travels along the outer formation, completing the closed pattern before gathering at the center.

I press two fingers against it and circulate qi. The room falls silent as the talisman suppresses noise beneath a clear male voice.

"Honored guests, the Thousand Treasures Pavilion welcomes you." The central markings shift, forming three concentric rings.

"Our appraisers have verified the existence of a pristine Cold-Marrow Spirit Spring. Preliminary examination confirms the presence of Glacial Water Essence. The spring has not been subjected to organized extraction, and its precise yield remains unknown." The auctioneer continues.

"As stated in the invitation, the location intelligence will be distributed through three separate releases. The conditions will now be repeated before bidding begins." A ring illuminates the talisman.

"The First Release will provide exact coordinates to one buyer. The successful bidder will receive three full days of exclusive access before the Second Release becomes available. The Second Release will provide the same coordinates to the three highest bidders in a separate round. Access will begin after the First Release's three-day period has concluded. The Third Release will provide a general regional map to secondary buyers after the preceding periods have ended.

Further terms concerning that release will be announced separately." The first ring expands until it fills most of the talisman's surface.

"Bidding for the First Release will now begin. Submit offers by directing qi toward the central seal. The current highest bid will be announced. Identities will remain concealed." A number appears within the light. Five mid-grade spirit stones. It rises almost immediately. Seven. Nine. I rest one hand against the desk. A pristine Cold-Marrow Spirit Spring sounds more valuable than it necessarily is. Under ideal conditions, the Glacial Water Essence could be worth approximately fifty mid-grade spirit stones.

That assumes a strong yield, successful extraction, proper preservation, and buyers willing to pay full market value. None of those are guaranteed. The spring may contain less essence than the Pavilion's preliminary examination suggests. Spirit beasts may have settled nearby. Other cultivators will arrive with the same objective, and the First Release only provides time, not ownership. The talisman announces twelve mid-grade spirit stones. I send qi into the central seal. Thirteen.

The number changes beneath my hand. The Glacial Water Essence is still unusually valuable to Coiling Dragon even if selling it produces only a modest return. Historical records describe its use in upper-tier Qi Condensation medicines. Ling'er may discover further applications once she examines it directly. The spring may also contain cold-aspected deposits useful to Wei Zheng.

Frostbite requires materials far beyond anything available near Greenstone, but even lesser resources could help him experiment without risking the blade itself; alchemy, formations, medicine, artifact research… The value to the sect is broader than resale. Fourteen. Another bidder raises it to sixteen. I submit seventeen. Anything above twenty begins consuming too much of our available reserve for an uncertain resource.

More importantly, a minor sect placing an extravagant bid may attract attention before anyone reaches the spring. Coiling Dragon is wealthier than it once was. There is no reason to advertise how much wealthier. The leading offer rises to nineteen. I wait. Twenty-one appears. My hand remains still. The auctioneer allows several breaths for another response. Twenty-three. Twenty-five. The increase slows after that, but it does not stop. The final bid settles at twenty-eight mid-grade spirit stones.

"Twenty-eight mid-grade spirit stones," the auctioneer says.

"No further offers have been received." The number remains illuminated.

"First Release awarded." The first ring contracts and fades. The buyer's identity is not announced. Whoever secured it has paid more than I would risk for the privilege of reaching an uncertain spring three days earlier. Perhaps they know something I do not, or perhaps they are simply richer. The second ring expands across the talisman.

"The Second Release will now begin. Three positions are available. Each successful bidder will receive exact coordinates after the First Release access period concludes." A fresh number appears. Eight mid-grade spirit stones. The bidding begins more cautiously. Several of the participants who pursued the First Release do not appear willing to spend heavily again. The amount rises to ten, then eleven, remaining there long enough for the auctioneer to repeat it. I submit twelve. Another bidder raises it to thirteen.

The second qualifying offer remains at eleven. The third sits at ten. I raise my offer to fifteen. The talisman confirms the submission. For several breaths, nothing changes. Then another bidder reaches fourteen. A third raises to thirteen. Fifteen remains the highest qualifying offer. I do not increase it. No one challenges the leading position. One of the lower bids rises to fourteen, pushing the previous third bidder out, but my offer remains secure.

"Fifteen mid-grade spirit stones," the auctioneer announces.

"Fourteen mid-grade spirit stones. Fourteen mid-grade spirit stones." The three values remain on the talisman.

"Second Release awarded to the three qualifying bidders." The ring contracts. A new set of markings forms at the center.

"Successful buyers are instructed to present themselves at the designated Thousand Treasures Pavilion branch listed in their invitation. Payment must be submitted before the sealed coordinate talisman is issued." The branch location appears briefly in the light. I recognize the address in Greenstone City.

"Collection must occur before the end of tomorrow. Failure to submit payment will forfeit the position to the next qualifying bidder." The auctioneer pauses.

"The Thousand Treasures Pavilion thanks all honored guests for their participation. Please keep your talisman for proof of identity." The voice fades. The rings collapse inward, and the silver markings darken. The sounds beyond my room return to prominence. I wait several breaths before touching the talisman again. Thousand Treasures Pavilion Message Talisman - Grade: Low Type: Communication Artifact (Single-use) Effect: Auction transmission completed.

Internal formations have exhausted their stored qi and cannot be reactivated. Verdict: Inert. No remaining function. Keep as evidence or discard. I turn it over once before placing it inside my storage ring. Ling'er may still find the structure useful. Long-distance communication is extremely valuable in any context. The following day, I leave Coiling Dragon shortly before evening. Ling'er notices.

She does not say anything while I summon Autumn Leaf, though the look she gives me from across the training grounds makes it clear that she understands exactly which part of my schedule I am avoiding. Autumn Leaf rises before she can suggest that we train after I return. The changes Wei Zheng and Ling'er made are immediately apparent. The sword accelerates with less resistance, turning cleanly when I adjust my weight rather than drifting several breaths beyond where I intended.

The Swift Wind array gathers around the blade, reducing the pressure against my body as the mountain recedes behind me. By the time Greenstone City appears, the sun has lowered close to the horizon. I descend beyond the walls and complete the remaining distance on foot. Sect compounds occupy the better hills, merchant estates gather near the central roads, and cultivation shops stand behind walls reinforced enough to discourage casual theft.

The First Release buyer could be somewhere within the region already preparing to depart. I consider the likely candidates while following the address in the Pavilion's letter. Violet Sky is unlikely. A sect of that scale probably controls several comparable springs and would not spend twenty-eight mid-grade stones competing for one within minor-sect territory.

'Iron Peak is more plausible.' They possess enough wealth to justify the bid. It could also be a merchant clan, an independent Foundation Establishment cultivator, or a sect I have never encountered. The secrecy of the auction makes speculation cheap. The address leads me away from the central commercial district and toward a quieter street lined with tea houses and private courtyards. The Thousand Treasures Pavilion branch does not display its name. A wooden plaque above the entrance reads Quiet Reed Teahouse.

Two stone lanterns stand beside the doors, neither carrying any visible formation marks. A young attendant bows as I approach.

"Has Senior come to hear the evening zither?"

"The third string is best heard after the tea has cooled." The phrase earns no visible reaction.

"Then Senior's table has been prepared." He guides me inside. The main room is half-filled. Merchants and minor officials sit behind low screens while a woman performs near the far wall, her fingers moving steadily across a darkwood zither. No one looks toward me for long. The attendant leads me upstairs to a private room furnished with a low table, two chairs, and a window overlooking the rear courtyard. Tea is already waiting. I inspect the room with spiritual sense before sitting.

The walls contain sound-dampening formations. Nothing else stands out.

'The tea is better than expected.' I finish half the first cup before footsteps approach. A man enters without an escort. He appears to be in his late forties, with carefully trimmed facial hair and robes plain enough to avoid ostentation while fitted too well to be inexpensive. A string of wooden counting beads rests around one wrist. He rolls one beneath his thumb as he bows.

"Lu Chen, Sect Leader of Coiling Dragon Mountain?"

"Yes."

"My name is Qiao Wenrui. I oversee the Pavilion's affairs within Greenstone City." His manner is polite without becoming deferential. He takes the seat opposite me.

"For confirmation, may I inspect the invitation seal?" I place the original letter on the table. He checks the Pavilion mark, then compares it against a thin metal plate removed from his sleeve. The two formations answer one another with a faint flash. I activate the Gaze. Qiao Wenrui - Foundation Establishment (Third Stage) Name: Qiao Wenrui Age: 48 Spirit Root: Mixed Three Elements (C-grade) Cultivation: Foundation Establishment (Third Stage) - Stable Verdict: Branch manager of the Thousand Treasures Pavilion.

Experienced in appraisal, contract negotiation, and controlled information sales. No immediate hostile intent. Values profitable relationships more than unnecessary conflict. Weaker than me, but not by much. The Pavilion may not compare with the Crimson Dragon Alliance, but it does not entrust sealed intelligence and several rooms of artifacts to mortals. If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. Qiao Wenrui returns the letter.

"The invitation is genuine. Before the coordinate talisman can be released, the Pavilion requires payment in full." I remove a sealed pouch from my storage ring and place it on the table. He does not reach for it immediately. Instead, he slides a small brass tray beneath the pouch. The surface lights as it weighs and counts the spiritual density within.

"Fifteen mid-grade spirit stones," he says.

"Payment confirmed." Only then does he collect it. From inside his sleeve, he removes a narrow black case; it opens to reveal a square talisman wrapped in silver thread. The formation etched across its surface is denser than the one used for the auction message. Qiao Wenrui places it between us.

"This contains the exact coordinates purchased through the Second Release." He taps one corner of the seal.

"It will open naturally in two days when the First Release period ends. Once opened, the contents will remain visible for one hour before the talisman destroys its internal structure."

"And before then?"

"Any attempt to force the seal is expected to damage the stored information." Qiao Wenrui continues in the same even tone.

"The Thousand Treasures Pavilion accepts no responsibility for loss caused by interference, improper storage, spiritual contamination, deliberate dismantling, or attempts to activate the talisman before the assigned time."

"That covers most possibilities."

"We have found that customers become… imaginative when expensive information disappears." He rotates one of the beads around his wrist.

"Keep it away from strong lightning, corrosive qi, and unstable storage artifacts. Otherwise, no special handling is required." I accept the case. The talisman feels inert beneath my fingers. I activate the Gaze. Sealed Coordinate Talisman - Grade: Medium Type: Information Artifact Effect: Contains a map with exact coordinates to a Cold-Marrow Spring. From the eastern gate of Fragrant River City, six hundred and two li east and five hundred and eighteen li north, within the northern reaches of Blackwater Ravine.

Verdict: Seal is sufficient to deter ordinary spiritual perception and forced inspection by most Qi Condensation and Foundation Establishment cultivators. Premature physical disruption will destroy the internal inscription. I keep my expression still. The words remain plainly visible. My instinct had been correct. The Gaze can see through its defenses. I have suspected for some time that the ability operates at least at the level of Nascent Soul perception, perhaps higher.

It identifies things hidden from divine sense, reads formations without dismantling them, and distinguishes truths their creators intended to conceal. It does not grant unlimited strength. It remains a cheat worthy of the name. I close the case before the satisfaction reaches my face. The First Release buyer possesses the same coordinates and believes they have three uncontested days. I now possess them during that window. The only concern is timing.

Arriving immediately would make the breach obvious if the buyer survives to report it. The Pavilion may not investigate deeply after receiving payment, but there is no reason to advertise that Coiling Dragon can ignore its seals. Qiao Wenrui pours more tea.

"Is there anything else the Pavilion may provide today?" I place the sealed case inside my storage ring.

"Do you maintain a catalogue?" His eyes sharpen slightly.

"We maintain several." He rises.

"If Sect Leader has time, I can show you the items currently available for direct purchase." I follow him from the private room. The zither continues below as we climb another flight of stairs. The upper floor is quieter, and each doorway is covered by a formation that distorts whatever lies beyond. I sense the spatial distortion produced by formations expanding the floor beyond the building's exterior dimensions. Qiao Wenrui touches his identification plate to the first seal. The distortion clears.

Storage pouches, spirit tools, sealed manuals, medicinal cases, and small defensive artifacts rest within glass-fronted cabinets. Each is labelled with grade, function, known defects, and price. I inspect several with the Gaze. The descriptions are accurate. A defensive talisman advertised to withstand three attacks from a Foundation Establishment Peak cultivator can do exactly that under ordinary conditions. A storage pouch contains the space listed.

A movement manual incomplete at the final stage, and the label states so openly. There is no hidden inheritance beneath the cabinets. No forgotten treasure misidentified as scrap. No ancient ring waiting for someone sufficiently observant to purchase it for three copper coins.

'These people appraise artifacts for a living. Expecting every merchant stall to contain a secret fortune is wishful thinking.' That doesn't mean nothing is useful. A dark silver ring rests inside the final cabinet. Its surface carries no decoration beyond a narrow groove around the band. I activate the Gaze. Storage Ring - Grade: Medium Type: Spirit Artifact Effect: 250 cubic feet of stable storage space. Currently empty and functional. Verdict: No traps, no residue. Ready for use.

The space is only half of what Elder Frostheart's ring provides. It is still far beyond any storage pouch used by the disciples.

"How much?"

"Ten mid-grade spirit stones." I look toward Qiao Wenrui.

"For an empty ring?"

"For a functional medium-grade storage artifact with no damage."

"Eight."

"Nine and eight low-grade stones." The speed of the answer suggests he expected the negotiation.

"Eight and fifty pressure cookers." For the first time, his fingers stop moving over the counting beads.

"The Coiling Dragon pressure vessels?"

"Pressure cookers." Qiao Wenrui studies me with renewed interest.

"Your sect has been making considerable noise with them. Several caravans have begun carrying preserved spirit-beast meat alongside the vessels."

"Then you know they have value."

"I know they have demand. That is not always the same thing." He looks back toward the ring.

"Ten mid-grade stones and fifty pressure cookers."

"That is the listed price without the cookers."

"The listed price does not include five batches of high-grade Qi-Gathering Pills." I glance toward him. Qiao Wenrui rotates the next bead.

"The pills have been sitting in storage longer than I prefer. Their seals remain intact, but the local market favors smaller batches." That is the opening. The Pavilion clears slow-moving inventory. Coiling Dragon receives medicine it can use immediately.

"Ten mid-grade stones, fifty pressure cookers, and the five batches of pills."

"Delivery within forty-five days."

"Sixty."

"Fifty."

"Agreed." Qiao Wenrui smiles, though only slightly. He has likely made more from the exchange than I have. That does not make it a poor purchase. Even after materials and labor, fifty pressure cookers cost far less than five sealed batches of high-grade Qi-Gathering Pills. He removes the ring from the cabinet and brings out five sealed medicinal boxes from a neighbouring array. The Gaze confirms that each contains high-grade Qi-Gathering Pills in good condition. The contract takes longer.

I sign beside the Coiling Dragon name, apply the sect seal, and authorize Shen Qiao to arrange the delivery of fifty pressure cookers before the agreed date. Shen Qiao will complain that I negotiated inventory without consulting him. Wei Zheng will complain that I sold fifty devices he now has to help produce. Both complaints will be justified. The storage ring remains worth it.

Two hundred and fifty cubic feet is enough for materials, medicine, manuals, and equipment without forcing Ling'er to divide everything across smaller pouches. I place the pill boxes inside the new ring and confirm that the space remains stable. Qiao Wenrui returns us to the private room afterward. I remain there for several hours. The tea is replaced twice. The zither performance ends, and the evening crowd below thins until only the occasional murmur reaches the upper floor.

I review the coordinates again from memory, consider the route to Fragrant River City, and allow the tension from the auction and negotiation to settle before returning to the mountain. By the time I return to Coiling Dragon, morning has already settled over the mountain. Autumn Leaf carries me above the outer paths; workers cross between the halls while disciples begin the first portion of their training. Wei Chen is climbing the eastern slope with a boar across his shoulders.

The animal is large enough that its legs drag behind him despite the way he has lifted it. Blood darkens one side of his robe, though none appears to belong to him. He notices me overhead and pauses.

"Good morning, Sect Leader."

"Come to the main hall shortly." Wei Chen looks toward the boar.

"After I deliver this?"

"Yes." He nods and continues toward the kitchens. I guide Autumn Leaf higher. Ling'er is visible near the alchemy hall, speaking with a worker beside a row of drying medicinal plants. Even from this distance, the arrangement of her hair continues to conceal the horns beneath it. I send a sound transmission.

'Come to the main hall when you finish. Tell Mei Lin to come when you see her.' Ling'er looks up immediately. She gives a small nod. By the time I reach the main hall, the sealed coordinate talisman, Pavilion letter, and route notes are already waiting inside my storage ring. Mei Lin arrives first. She enters with a faint medicinal scent still clinging to her sleeves and bows before taking a place near the table. Wei Chen follows several minutes later.

He has washed the blood from his hands, though a darker stain remains near the hem of his robe. Ling'er arrives last, closing the doors behind her without being asked. I remove the Pavilion documents and place them on the table.

"We have a mission." Wei Chen's attention sharpens. Mei Lin looks toward the sealed talisman. I explain the Cold-Marrow Spirit Spring, the confirmed presence of Glacial Water Essence, and the Pavilion's sale of the location through staggered releases. I do not explain how the Gaze bypassed the seal. They only need to know that I possess the coordinates before the Second Release officially opens.

"The spring lies within the northern reaches of Blackwater Ravine," I say.

"The First Release buyer already has access. Other groups will follow once the next window opens."

"What level of competition?" Mei Lin asks.

"Unknown. But expect disciples on the level of Stone River or even stronger." That is the only honest answer.

"The resource is valuable to Qi Condensation cultivators and useful to sects beyond that level. Most groups will likely send elite disciples rather than elders, but there is no guarantee everyone will follow the same expectation." Wei Chen rests one hand against the back of a chair.

"What do you want us to secure?"

"Glacial Water Essence first. Cold-aspected deposits if the site contains anything worth extracting." I look across the three of them.

"You are the foremost disciples of Coiling Dragon. I trust you to complete the mission and return safely. Contributions will be recorded according to what you secure and how the mission develops." Wei Chen nods. Mei Lin bows.

"We will not disappoint you." Ling'er appears unsurprised.

"I will inform Shen Qiao that my lessons and production must be moved." I resist the urge to close my eyes. Shen Qiao will be dealing with fifty pressure cookers he does not yet know I sold. Removing Ling'er from the mountain at the same time will interrupt pill production, medicinal planning, formation maintenance, and several lessons that likely depend on her presence. Despite that, the mission remains more important.

Mei Lin and Wei Chen have grown enormously, but in the wider cultivation world they are only approaching the level expected of competent disciples from a medium sect. Their strength is enough to participate. It is not enough to make the risks negligible. Until they reach Foundation Establishment, I find it difficult to send them on serious missions without either Ling'er or me present. That cannot remain true forever. For now, it is.

"You leave before nightfall," I say.

"Prepare for at least several days. Bring recovery medicine, preservation vessels, and enough supplies for delays." The three disperse after the briefing. By nightfall, they are ready. Several packs and storage pouches rest beside the main path. Mei Lin has secured the Water Reflecting Blade at her hip. Wei Chen carries the Mountain Breaking Blade across his back along with enough additional equipment that I suspect he expects the ravine to collapse around him. Ling'er appears to have brought very little.

I remove the new storage ring and hold it toward her.

"This is for the mission." Ling'er accepts it and activates the bond. Her expression changes slightly as she examines the interior.

"It is larger than the pouches." She looks at me.

"Master purchased this yesterday?"

"Yes. Use it for the essence, cold-aspected materials, and anything else worth bringing back. Keep unstable objects separated using the pouches if required." Ling'er slides the ring onto one finger.

"If the mission is delayed, send a messenger hawk." I say.

"We will report if the schedule changes." Her confidence is calm rather than dismissive. A small procession has gathered near the gate. The newly promoted outer disciples stand together, watching the first serious expedition to leave since their probation ended. Jun is present with several records under one arm. Mei Lin's alchemy supplies have already been inspected. Old Chen has provided enough food for twice the expected duration. Zhuang Zhou looks openly disappointed that he is not going.

"Have a safe trip." I watch until the three figures have passed beyond the outer boundary. The feeling is unfamiliar. For most of the past year, every serious problem has required my direct involvement. If disciples left the mountain, I either followed or spent the entire absence waiting for evidence that something had gone wrong. That cannot be what I do forever. A Sect Leader is not meant to brave every mission and solve every problem personally.

He is meant to raise people capable of doing so, then guide the sect through what follows. The thought is easier to understand than to accept while watching them disappear. Wei Zheng stands several paces away. He has gained weight since arriving at Coiling Dragon. His face remains sharp, but no longer carries the same hollowness, and his shoulders have filled out beneath his work robes.

The disciples treat him like a difficult uncle whose complaints are too familiar to take seriously; he insults their grip, their maintenance habits, and their complete lack of respect for properly balanced steel. But he also reinforces every practice sword to withstand repeated impacts and leaves space within new armor for later modifications, including the micro-arrays Ling'er continues developing. His bond with Wei Chen runs deeper than the others. I look toward him.

"Worried?" Wei Zheng waves one hand.

"I have three upgrades planned for the Mountain Breaking Blade. If that idiot chips it again, I will make him repair it himself." Before I can answer, movement near the lower path draws my attention. Shen Qiao is running toward us. He reaches the gate with a ledger tucked beneath one arm and takes several breaths before speaking.

"We have enough rice for four months, vegetables for six weeks, and meat until tomorrow." I stare at him.

"What?"

"Meat until tomorrow."

"Ling'er just left."

"Yes."

"She is also the largest person eating it."

"She is also the largest person supplying it." Shen Qiao opens the ledger.

"She has not hunted in several days. Her schedule was already overfilled with alchemy, formation work, and training. The existing stores were sufficient until Old Chen increased tonight's portions for the departing group." I look toward the empty sky. Removing Ling'er should have reduced consumption. Instead, it has removed the person responsible for most of the supply. I close my eyes briefly. I summon Autumn Leaf.

"A Sect Leader must remain adaptable during periods of change." Shen Qiao looks toward the sword, then back at me.

"You are going hunting?"

"Yes." I step onto the blade and rise from the path.