This purple-robed Taoist was named Fuyunzi. Previously, Fire Dragon Shangren had mentioned this person, saying that he was the one who organized the trade fair.
Fuyunzi was very enthusiastic and exchanged a few more words with the two.
"Please come in, both of you. Many fellow Taoists have already arrived."
As Fuyunzi spoke, he flipped his hands, and a small, round, cyan bead appeared. Faint runes flickered on it, making it clear that it was no ordinary item.
"Fellow Taoist Zhang, this is a special magical artifact, the 'Mirage Water Bead,' that I refined. It can be used to confuse the divine sense of those who try to probe you. Wearing it can reduce some trouble."
Zhang Ling took the cyan bead and examined it. In his ear, he heard Fire Dragon Shangren beside him, sounding somewhat dissatisfied.
"Why don't you give me one too?"
"Didn't you just swindle several from me? These Mirage Water Beads aren't so easy to refine."
"Hehe, this thing is only single-use. One bead only maintains its effect for a few days. It's not some amazing treasure."
"You, you old ghost, you're selling favors after taking advantage…"
The two joked for a few sentences. Fire Dragon Shangren seemed to have a good relationship with Fuyunzi, acting like old friends.
While the two were talking, Fire Dragon Shangren also took out an identical bead from his sleeve.
Zhang Ling saw that it was no different from the bead in his hand. He watched as Fire Dragon Shangren injected a stream of spiritual power into the bead. The cyan bead flashed with spiritual light, turning into a layer of white mist that covered him.
The next moment, with a soft 'poof,' the mist dissipated, and Fire Dragon Shangren's figure became blurry, as if covered by a layer of water.
When divine sense swept over Fire Dragon Shangren, it was repelled by a thin layer of mist, only allowing a blurred figure to be seen.
Seeing this, Zhang Ling didn't stand on ceremony. He glanced at the bead in his hand and injected spiritual power into it. A layer of white mist also emanated from the cyan bead, enveloping him, and his figure also became blurred.
It was indeed a good treasure, Zhang Ling sighed inwardly.
However, judging from Fire Dragon Shangren's words, this treasure seemed to be single-use.
Then, the three of them walked towards the second floor of the pavilion.
In a short while, they arrived at the second floor.
It was larger than Zhang Ling had imagined, and it had also been carefully decorated. The floor was covered with spotless white animal skins, and the surroundings were adorned with calligraphy and paintings.
In the center was a huge square table, ten zhang in length and width, and some redwood chairs.
At this moment, seven or eight cultivators were already sitting beside the table.
A slight sweep of his divine sense revealed that the spiritual light on these people was different, but all of them had astonishing spiritual power and were all advanced cultivators.
The arrival of the three also attracted some attention. However, these people only glanced at them briefly with their divine sense and then stopped paying attention.
Fuyunzi did not hide his figure, seemingly not caring at all. Zhang Ling and Fire Dragon Shangren casually walked to an empty chair and sat down.
After sitting down, Zhang Ling looked at the other cultivators.
Like them, these people were covered in a layer of faint spiritual light, their figures blurred. However, he still noticed that two of them had condensed spiritual power, clearly not in the early stage of the Golden Core realm.
Some of these people seemed to have come alone, while others were acquainted and were whispering to each other.
However, more people were sitting in their chairs with their eyes closed, seemingly waiting for the start of the trade fair.
A pavilion gathered seven or eight Golden Core cultivators. If ordinary cultivators knew, they would be shocked.
Since he began cultivating, Zhang Ling had never seen as many Golden Core cultivators as he had today. He felt a little excited, but his expression did not reveal anything unusual.
In this atmosphere, more than half an hour passed. When the last person arrived, there were a total of seventeen Golden Core cultivators gathered here.
At this time, Fuyunzi walked directly to the head seat in front of the square table. He clapped his hands lightly and said to everyone with a smile.
"The time is almost up. The fellow Taoists who should come have arrived. If everyone has no objections, let the trade fair begin. The rules remain the same. We'll exchange items first. Which fellow Taoist would like to start?"
"Then Li will go first."
As soon as Fuyunzi finished speaking, a deep voice rang out from the right. A cultivator stood up.
Although he couldn't see the person's appearance clearly, he could still make out the general clothing. This person was a fat man wearing a black robe.
The fat cultivator chuckled and, with a wave of his hand, a wooden box appeared on the table.
Fuyunzi didn't say much. He smiled and sat down in the main seat.
The cultivators present had basically experienced the rules of the exchange countless times, so naturally, no one was talkative.
Zhang Ling had previously learned the rules of the trade fair from Fire Dragon Shangren. He also focused his attention on the standing fat cultivator.
Several spiritual talismans were pasted on the box in front of this person, clearly indicating that it contained no ordinary items.
With a soft 'pop,' the jade box was opened. Inside was a round, red jewel, which immediately attracted everyone's attention.
This was actually a fire-attribute demon core.
Being able to take out a demon core right away, Zhang Ling also began to look forward to this trade fair.
"A demon core of the fifth-order desolate beast, the Crimson Fire Python. Li needs to exchange it for a water-attribute demon core of the same level, or a pill that can increase cultivation."
The fat cultivator scanned the cultivators present and said in a muffled voice what he wanted to exchange for.
The appearance of the fire-attribute demon core immediately attracted everyone's attention.
"The demon core of the Crimson Fire Python. Fellow Taoist, you have good skills. To be able to kill a fifth-order demon beast." A somewhat magnetic voice murmured. The tone was a little strange, it was unknown whether it was envy or jealousy.
The fire spiritual power emitted from this demon core was very condensed. The cultivators present were not weak, so they could naturally recognize its authenticity at a glance.
After seeing clearly that it was indeed a fifth-order demon core, the other cultivators also stirred, and several cultivators began to discuss in low voices.
The fat cultivator scanned everyone and said in a calm tone.
"Since all fellow Taoists recognize the demon core, you should also know its value. I won't say it again. Whether the demon core is used to refine magical artifacts or pills to improve cultivation, it is more than enough."
Zhang Ling was also secretly sizing up the demon core in this person's hand. He also had a demon core of the same demon beast in his hand.
It was just that it was earth-attribute. It was the demon core of the fifth-order Earth Armor Beast that Elder Chen had killed, and it had been carefully collected by him.
This kind of treasure would naturally attract everyone's attention.
