Zen entered the building with Michael Mo, trailing behind him. Once he was inside, it dawned on him how completely different the inside was from the outside. The branch of the World Comrcial Alliance was luxuriously decorated. There wasn't a single area that looked ordinary inside. 'This place is exquisite, ' Zen thought, feeling impressed.
The World Comrcial Alliance was a comrcial organization and had survived for many years. In spite of its current prosperity, it was believed that it might decline one day. Thus, it clearly had to keep a low profile if it wished to do high profile jobs.
For the World Comrcial Alliance, Zen was an important guest, so Michael welcod him in person. To be sure, such a warm welco was given to Zen because they learnt about his identity.
Earlier, Lasseter had submitted a portfolio containing all seven rune works of Zen. The prolific works left everyone, including those people from the headquarters of the World Comrcial Alliance, shocked. All mbers of this alliance were well aware about the value of a runic expert who was excellent at Perfect Brushwork. Therefore, the World Comrcial Alliance had decided to ingratiate Zen at all costs.
Although Zen was a mber of Cloud Hall, the World Comrcial Alliance generally didn't get itself involved in the struggles among sects. Since Zen was a runic expert, it was concluded that there would be a lot of room for cooperation with this guy.
After Zen took a seat, Michael clapped his hands. In a blink of an eye, two beautiful maids appeared and served them tea. The tea brought a wonderful fragrance to the atmosphere.
“Zen, do you co here to purchase materials or to sell runes?” Michael asked, without wasting anyti. He wanted to get to the gist of the matter.
“I do sell runes. But my visit here is mainly made to buy certain materials and so news,” Zen replied curtly.
Michael nodded, taking out a square naplate. The entire naplate was inlaid with gold and jade. In the center of the naplate, “Zen Luo” was inscribed. The naplate looked really exquisite. “Zen, our sub-alliance has exclusively made this naplate for you. With this naplate, you are entitled to get discounts from the branch of the World Comrcial Alliance located in any area. You are now considered as our most respectful custor. In addition, we can sell our materials to you at a 20% discount. Moreover, we intend to buy your runes at a price a little higher than the market price,”
Michael stated in a professional manner. Zen reached for that exquisite naplate as a smile crept on his face. 'People of the World Comrcial Alliance are really astute! They apparently have made this naplate for quite a long period. People here seem to be really generous. They have offered such a privilege without imposing any condition!' he thought.
People of the World Comrcial Alliance were not fools and everyone knew that. Moreover, no rchant would sell hens on a rainy day. It was beyond doubt that they expected sothing in return from Zen. However, Zen couldn't help but feel impressed with their conducts which were so pleasing.
'It is always a pleasure to deal with clever people. Besides, I am really on the lookout for a channel to sell divine textures. Undoubtedly, the World Comrcial Alliance is the best option for , ' Zen thought excitedly. He was unable to conceal his gratification.
Soon afterwards, Zen handed several of his divine textures to Michael.
“These are one star runes, but they are as effective as ordinary two-star runes once they are triggered...” Zen explained.
Michael took the runes from Zen. As he analyzed different routes of the runes, he unconsciously nodded his head in approval. As soon as Michael saw Zen's diation runes the first ti, he figured that they belonged to a different school from the ordinary ones. These runes followed totally different routes which couldn't be drawn without professional help no matter how gifted he was.
Now Michael had verified what he thought was true. Yet, what he didn't know was that the runes that Zen had drawn were actually divine textures.
Michael casually released his life vitality and lit up the textures. At the sight of bold and perfect strokes on the textures, his face bead with a bright smile. Judging from the novel routes and Perfect Brushwork, Michael concluded that he could sell the textures at a good price. Thus, he handed the textures over to the servants beside him and asked them to have the textures evaluated.
In actuality, Michael had no interest in one star or two-star runes. But he was hopeful that Zen would be capable of drawing four-star, five-star and even six-star runes as he grew up. 'This is going to be aweso, ' Michael thought with his heart brimming with pleasure.
“Zen, apart from selling runes, do you need to buy any materials?” Michael questioned casually.
He was very confident that he could get all materials within the Central Region. In consideration of Zen's current cultivation, he assud that the materials Zen required wouldn't be beyond his reach. Hence, Michael was demon-bent on helping Zen get the materials that would be handy for him.
Upon Michael's questioning, Zen nodded and responded, “I want to buy two bottles of celestial soul liquid, a purple thunder bamboo plant which has survived for more than 5, 000 years, a withered ginseng plant which has survived for 1, 000 years, and...”
Michael gaped at Zen anxiously as he heard his requests.
All these materials ntioned by Zen were top-grade materials. Both the celestial soul liquid and the purple thunder bamboo were known as rare treasures, which were occasionally seen over several years or perhaps even decades. Most of the ti, the World Comrcial Alliance would sell these materials as soon as they got hold of them. There was always a huge demand for them. In the Central Region, the elderly people especially dread of owning these materials.
“Zen, our comrcial alliance would be more than willing to sell these materials to you if they had been available. However, they are too precious and rarely seen. It takes over a decade to get a glimpse of them. Hence, I can only assure you that I will inform you as soon as I get any news about these materials,” Michael explained with a rueful smile.
Zen nodded without any tinge of suspicion. In truth, he had already known that these things were too rare to be collected so easily. Hence, he had co to the alliance for the major purpose of getting so news.
Before Zen could speak, Michael added, “Recently, soone reported a piece of news about purple thunder bamboo to us.”
“What's the price for the news?” asked Zen curiously.
Michael smiled and replied, “Zen, the news is not a secret, so it is of no great value. To celebrate having a friend like you, I will privately offer you the news as a gift.” As soon as Michael finished, he burnt a ssage rune. A short while later, soone ca with a map. Michael reached for the map and then handed it over to Zen while saying, “But Zen, I don't suggest that you look for the purple thunder bamboo by yourself.”
A good many warriors would do anything to get these rare treasures. But the task was not as easy as it seed. Moon Mountain was the place where the precious treasures were kept. And it happened to be an unsafe and dangerous place.
In Michael's eyes, Zen was skilled at Perfect Brushwork and incomparably gifted in drawing runes. But in terms of strength, Zen had only reached the nature level, so his cultivation achievent was far from enough for going to the mountain. 'Getting the rare treasures is not sothing he can do, ' Michael thought and shook his head.
However, he had no say in it. It was up to Zen if he would go or not. But Michael thought it was his responsibility to warn him. Naturally, it was impossible for him to stop Zen. Once Zen left, Michael's face contorted with a frown. “Are elders of Cloud Hall so silly? They permitted Zen to freely stroll outside the Cloud Hall as he wished?”
Other sects would rear Zen like legendary beasts if they found that Zen was such an excellent runic expert. They would be in constant fear that so mishap would happen to him. Hence, Michael was a little puzzled to realize that Cloud Hall let Zen live the life as he pleased.
Then one month had passed. All areas which were 5, 000 miles away from Cloudy City in the southwest and outside the West Mountain Pass were categorized as Western Region, where local customs and practices differed from those in the Central Region.
Zen was dashing along the official road to Western Region. It was not because he enjoyed walking there on foot. Instead, he was compelled to do it. His flying chariot brutally crashed half a month ago. And in the Western Region, it was extrely difficult to buy a galloping horse. Thus, he had no choice but to tire himself by walking on foot.
He sprinted all the way towards the west, feeling all his energy getting drained out of his body.
The Western Region was a vast territory with sparse population. In general, no one was seen over hundreds of miles. Now, a small town ca into Zen's view. Beside the road, a small plaque was set up. On that plaque, Everest Town could be seen.
As soon as Zen arrived at this town, he rushed into a tavern.
A waiter of the tavern, wearing a braid, ca over to Zen. He behaved cordially and spoke with a rather strong accent, “Sir, this way please!”
Feeling a little out of breath, Zen nodded and followed the waiter's lead upstairs.
As soon as he reached the second floor, he felt sothing was amiss. To begin with, there were very few guests. And when he made his way, he found all waiters and the manager were looking in his direction. He felt that they had malicious intentions.
'Why are they glancing in my direction? What do they want?' he wondered, feeling bewildered. However, once he sat down, his thoughts went back to food. His stomach was growling with hunger.
The waiter with the braid ca over to Zen with a nu. In the most friendly tone, he asked, “Sir, these are special dishes at our tavern. Would you like to have so?”
Zen swiftly scanned through the nu. Placing the nu back, he nodded and said, “Yes, go ahead and serve all special dishes!” Traveling outside, Zen was open to experinting different tastes. He was never hypercritical about wine, at or food.
The waiter shortly replied, looked back and made a gesture to the manager. Afterwards, the waiters exchanged glances with each other. They seed to be communicating with each other using their eyes.
However, Zen sat calmly, not bothering to ask what the matter was. But in the pit of his stomach, he had a bad feeling. He assud that his al was going to be a disappointing one.
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