"Hmm," Dugu Qianye nodded, leading Xiaohuo into the city with Lan i following behind.
"Sister, let’s stay in the most bustling area!" Xiaohuo suggested excitedly.
Despite possessing an inheritance, Xiaohuo was still only at a young stage of growth, with a mind like a child’s, fond of lively scenes and mischief.
Dugu Qianye and her companions went to the business center to look for a place to stay. Because Empire College was about to enroll new students, most of the hotels were already full. Left with no choice, Dugu Qianye had Lan i enter the Refining Demon Pot and Xiaohuo disguise itself. Eventually, she managed to find a hotel to stay in, but it was already late at night, with the moon high in the sky.
After resting for a night, Dugu Qianye got up early the next morning. After a simple breakfast, she began to wander around the Imperial Capital.
Since Pu City was vast in size, there would always be horse-drawn carriages for transportation, similar to modern taxis. Of course, people of status had their own carriages. So Phantom Masters, if conditions allowed, would ride their own mounts, which often attracted the amazent of passersby.
Dugu Qianye hired a carriage. The carriages here were similar to the one she had bought originally, but it had to be driven by soone.
She chose not to sit in the back canopy but shared a seat with the coachman in front, looking around curiously, asking him about anything special or interesting she saw. The coachman was a warm and talkative fellow, and knowing that Dugu Qianye was visiting Pu City for the first ti, he enthusiastically began to introduce her to the sights.
"Young master, once we get past this street, we’ll be at Hudred Street. It is the longest, widest, and most bustling street in Pu City, with elixirs, Phantom Devices, and Phantom Beasts. The best shops are all located there," the coachman said proudly. "However, it’s not a place where ordinary people can afford to shop. A single transaction there could support an ordinary person for dozens of generations!"
Dugu Qianye nodded in agreent, her experiences of both poverty and wealth giving her a profound understanding.
Turning the corner, they arrived at Hudred Street, and Dugu Qianye imdiately noticed several gleaming buildings. Upon seeing the signs clearly, she couldn’t help but mutter to herself: This Qian Pavilion really looks like it’s built of gold!
"Just take to the Qian Pavilion," Dugu Qianye told the coachman.
"Sure thing! This Qian Pavilion is the largest marketplace in Pu City. It’s more valuable than the properties of the six major families combined!" the coachman said with a reverence like he actually owned it.
Dugu Qianye alighted at the entrance of Qian Pavilion, handed the coachman a gold coin, leaving him so delighted that he couldn’t stop thanking her, insisting she should look for him if she needed a ride again.
Dugu Qianye entered Qian Pavilion and was imdiately greeted by an attendant.
"Welco. What would you like to purchase, sir?" the attendant asked warmly.
"I’m just browsing," Dugu Qianye replied.
"Please take your ti. If you need any assistance, feel free to let us know!" The attendant politely excused herself after speaking.
Dugu Qianye started exploring on her own. The Qian Pavilion here was different compared to the one in Baishi City; in Baishi City, Qian Pavilion was a five-story building with each floor selling different items. However, in Pu City, Qian Pavilion resembled a cluster of separate, interconnected buildings, with each building having several levels, ascending in rank.
Dugu Qianye looked around each area and found that the consumption level in the Imperial Capital was indeed higher. The sa items were nearly 10% more expensive than in Baishi City and the quality seed higher too. The best elixirs in Baishi City were only grade four, while here, there were grades five and six available.
When she reached the Phantom Beast section, Dugu Qianye saw various Phantom Beasts in cages with prices ranging from several hundred thousand to millions, even tens of millions. The higher the level, the higher the price. However, most of the Phantom Beasts here were at the level of Spiritual Beasts, with Holy Beasts being quite rare.
"Wow, what a pretty Red Fla Fox! Brother Qi, can you buy one?"
A coquettish voice ca over, drawing Dugu Qianye’s attention. She looked over and saw a girl around thirteen or fourteen, dressed in a pink long dress, looking at a white fox in a cage, with a boy about eighteen or nineteen standing beside her.
"Lei, we are here to buy combat-ready Phantom Beasts in preparation for the Empire College’s admissions, and this Phantom Beast is just good-looking with poor combat capabilities," Long Qi said to Long Lei.
"No, no, I want this one!" Long Lei took Long Qi’s hand, cooingly insisting. She seed determined to keep shaking his hand until he agreed.
With no way to get out of the situation, Long Qi agreed to buy the Red Fla Fox for Long Lei, who happily lifted it out of the cage and caressed it in her arms. The tad Phantom Beast was as docile as a kitten.
Dugu Qianye glanced at the price tag — 400,000 Gold Coins for just a level 3 Spiritual Beast. The price really was astonishing!
"Oh! Aren’t these the young master and young lady of the Long Family? Are you preparing for the Empire College admissions? Why would you only buy such a Red Fla Fox?" A young woman ca down from the upstairs, her voice sharp upon seeing Long Qi and Long Lei about to pay, "Could it be that your Long Family doesn’t have enough money to buy Phantom Beasts for you?"
"What we buy is none of your business! Are you so bored that you have to ddle in the affairs of our Long Family?" Long Lei glanced at the woman, her words dripping with sarcasm.
"Hmph, I’m just kindly advising you. If you keep associating with the Mo Family, it won’t be long before the Long Family is no longer one of the top six families in the Imperial Capital," the young woman shrugged her shoulders, speaking with a touch of regret, "Who said there’s no fighting within the city? Alas, I’ll be waiting for you at the Empire College!"
After speaking, she left with her companions.
Long Lei, watching the woman leave, scoffed and spat disdainfully, "Pfft, what’s so great about her, nothing more than a pricy Phantom Master!"
"Lei, you were too impulsive just now," Long Qi said, looking at his sister helplessly.
"Humph, I just can’t stand that arrogant look on Feng Xue’s face! What’s so great about her? The Feng Family is just annoying." Long Lei said disdainfully.
Feng Xue? The Feng Family?
Long Qi turned back to continue with the transaction that was interrupted, but Dugu Qianye stepped forward and said, "Miss Long, it would be better to buy a Red Fla Fox than that Red Fla Fox."
Dugu Qianye’s words made the Long siblings and the attendants all look over. Seeing an unfamiliar young man, they had puzzled looks on their faces. Dugu Qianye chuckled and pointed to a cage in the corner. Inside the cage was a lethargic-looking red fox.
Long Lei glanced over and pouted, "That fox looks sick and its fur isn’t shiny. Not as pretty as the Red Fla Fox."
"Hehe, Red Fla Foxes are lively and active. It’s natural for it to seem spiritless when caged. When it’s energetic, it looks much better than the Red Fla Fox! Moreover, it is a combat-type Phantom Beast, fitting perfectly with your purpose for today," Dugu Qianye said.
"Who are you? How do you know about us?" Long Qi looked at Dugu Qianye warily.
"I just arrived a little while ago and happened to overhear your conversation," Dugu Qianye explained with a smile, then said to Long Lei, "Once you form a contract with it, it will naturally recover. If you don’t believe it, you can ask the attendant."
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