Chapter 83: Did He Rob Soone's Spirit Stone Mine?
"This..." Su Rui's confident words left Shadow speechless.
She had always known that Su Rui could be extrely stubborn at tis, but she truly hadn't expected her to be stubborn to this degree.
"I know you have high hopes for this Feng Bugui, but you need to think clearly. Another attack could happen at any mont," Shadow earnestly reminded her.
"The first ti, we could claim we were caught off guard. But if it happens a second ti, the reputation of our Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion in Cloud Firmant City will plumt. By then, I'm afraid no one will dare to set foot in our pavilion anymore."
She admired Su Rui's conviction and her discerning eye, but given the critical situation, she hoped Su Rui would exercise more caution.
However... Su Rui clearly wasn't listening.
She gently shook her head. "Don't worry, I know what I'm doing."
On the other side, Gu Xiu, who was busy setting up the arrays, didn't harbor so many conflicting thoughts.
He could sense the odd looks from the staff, but he paid them no mind. He simply continued his work with absolute focus.
He had prepared three layers of arrays for the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion.
The first was an illusion-trapping array, the second a physical trapping array, and the last a killing array.
All three were arrays Gu Xiu had learned five hundred years ago during his travels across the world.
Speaking of which, the path of array formation and the path of talismans may seem similar on the surface, but they are actually two completely different disciplines.
If the path of talismans emphasizes affinity with Heavenly Dao Rhy, then the path of array formation focuses more on the understanding and application of spiritual energy.
Through the placent of different array flags and cores, spiritual energy is guided to circulate in predetermined patterns, simulating or attracting Heavenly Dao Rhy to unleash astonishing power.
This is also why ordinary people can set up arrays as long as they possess an array diagram and expend the materials, but cannot create talismans rely with ink and paper.
Anyone can set up an array, but a talisman master must possess an affinity for Heavenly Dao Rhy.
However, this doesn't an array masters are inferior.
In fact, powerful array masters must possess a ticulous understanding of spiritual energy. They must be able to utilize it effectively, harmonizing with and borrowing power from the Heavenly Dao itself.
This process is exceptionally complex.
Strictly speaking, Gu Xiu isn't a master of arrays.
In the path of array formation, he is at best a beginner who has just glimpsed the doorway. He can rely on his own strength to imitate and inscribe the arrays he is familiar with.
That's all.
Moreover, most of the arrays he knows were acquired during his travels five hundred years ago.
But... that was the past.
Nowadays, Gu Xiu possesses the Seven-Star Jade Pendant.
This jade pendant has the ability to analyze and dismantle arrays, allowing Gu Xiu to peer into their mysteries and grasp their core essence directly.
The benefit this brings is imnse. While setting up major arrays, Gu Xiu can strengthen their capabilities by observing their inner workings through this insight.
Even ordinary arrays can beco extraordinary under his hands.
By noon the next day, the three major arrays were completed.
Confirming that everything was functioning properly, Gu Xiu promptly took his leave. "Manager Su, the arrays are set. If there's nothing else, I'll order so puppets and head back."
Su Rui expressed her gratitude profusely and imdiately presented five cultivation technique manuals.
Gu Xiu glanced at them and was sowhat surprised.
Most of the techniques Su Rui brought were at least Mystic-grade. There was even one Earth-grade technique among them!
Afterward, Su Rui took Gu Xiu to the fourth floor of the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion, which was dedicated to selling puppets.
The floor was filled with chanical constructs of all shapes and sizes.
"Our Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion isn't specialized in puppetry, so our stock only goes up to Qi Condensation Layer Five," Su Rui explained.
High-grade puppets are undoubtedly rare and precious, but low-grade puppets are a staple for rchant associations like the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion.
They are generally used by rogue cultivators or those with low strength to explore dangerous ruins or fight enemies of similar levels.
Gu Xiu examined them carefully for a while and was quite satisfied.
Most of these were humanoid puppets carved from high-quality Iron Pear Wood.
They had simple structures and were durable. Intricate puppet runes were carved onto their limbs, and when used with the matching Spirit Thread Manipulation technique, they could provide significant assistance in battle.
"Fellow Daoist Feng, feel free to choose as many as you want. Our Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion will gift them to you."
"That won't do," Gu Xiu shook his head.
Su Rui smiled. "Fellow Daoist Feng, please don't be polite. You are a friend of our Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion. A few puppets are nothing; we can certainly afford the loss."
"Really, it's not appropriate. I want quite a few," Gu Xiu insisted.
"Quite a few?" Su Rui found it strange but maintained her smile. "Although puppets are valuable, our Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion..."
"Manager Su!" Gu Xiu interrupted her seriously. "Please don't refuse paynt. Otherwise, I wouldn't dare accept them."
Su Rui was puzzled. Feng Bugui was usually asured and pragmatic; he wouldn't be overly polite about minor details. She hadn't expected him to be so insistent this ti.
Then she saw Gu Xiu take out a storage pouch and hand it to her. "This is for the purchase."
"This... alright then," Su Rui said helplessly as she accepted it.
But the mont her spiritual sense swept inside the pouch, her eyes widened. "This... this is..."
Gu Xiu smiled. "According to market price, this type of puppet costs around five thousand spirit stones each. There's one million spirit stones in here. I plan to order two hundred for now."
"How many???" Su Rui was stunned.
"Two hundred. Of course, I imagine your store doesn't have that many in stock right now. That's fine; just have them transferred here as quickly as possible."
"This..."
"Oh, and I might order another batch later on. I'll inform Manager Su in advance when that ti cos."
Su Rui: "Huh???"
Half an hour later.
After exchanging a few more words with Su Rui, Gu Xiu slowly left the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion.
Su Rui watched his retreating figure with gratitude in her eyes.
She truly was grateful.
Thank goodness Feng Bugui had interrupted her earlier; otherwise, she would have lost face today.
The reason was simple: Gu Xiu's storage ring currently held thirty puppets—he had bought out every single puppet in the store!
And the Pavilion still owed him one hundred and seventy more!
This... was simply outrageous!
When Gu Xiu said he wanted puppets earlier, Su Rui thought he ant one or two, or at most three to five. She could easily gift him that many.
But two hundred?
A full one million spirit stones!
Even as a manager of the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion, she couldn't casually give away a million spirit stones!
"He's supposed to be a rogue cultivator? To think he's actually been a hidden tycoon all along! He can casually toss out a million spirit stones? Did he go rob a spirit stone mine or sothing?"
"Can you still call him a rogue cultivator???"
Shadow erged from the shadows, staring in shock at the direction where Gu Xiu had disappeared.
The first ti they t Gu Xiu was in the Heaven-Leveling Mountains. Back then, his cultivation was weak, and he used a broken wooden stick as a weapon. He didn't look like soone with substantial wealth at all.
So they had both assud Feng Bugui was a penniless, down-and-out rogue cultivator.
And now?
Good heavens! He casually spends a million spirit stones?
What kind of impoverished rogue cultivator is this? He's clearly an extrely low-key tycoon!
So after all this back-and-forth... we were actually the poor ones?
"But what does he need so many puppets for?" Shadow asked curiously. "Aren't these kinds of puppets usually bought by major families as bodyguards for their descendants? His own strength isn't lacking; what use does he have for an army of wood?"
Su Rui was equally puzzled.
However, just as she was reeling from Feng Bugui's extravagant spending, she saw two figures approaching the entrance.
These two were wearing the distinctive sect robes of the Azure Mystic Sacred Land!
"Manager Su," one said upon arrival. "We heard your branch needed soone to set up arrays. We two have co specifically to help you with that."
"Set up arrays?" Su Rui frowned.
Just then, Shopkeeper Jin hurried out from inside. "Manager Su! These two fellow Daoists from the Azure Mystic Sacred Land—I sent them a ssage last night."
"Nonsense! Didn't I say to wait for my decision on this matter?" Su Rui snapped, clearly displeased.
Shopkeeper Jin looked aggrieved. "I thought Manager Su would definitely seek help from the Azure Mystic Sacred Land... so I notified them ahead of ti... so when Manager Su ntioned it later... I... well..."
It was a severe oversight on his part.
Su Rui frowned.
Not long ago, regarding the talisman business, the Azure Mystic Sacred Land had shown their true colors quite thoroughly. If possible, she preferred not to have any further dealings with them.
But now that their people had arrived, it put her in an awkward position.
One of the disciples sneered, clearly understanding what had happened. "So, the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion already found soone else to make arrays? It seems Manager Su thinks our Azure Mystic Sacred Land's array mastery is lacking."
"Manager Su looked down upon our talismans. Now even our arrays aren't good enough? Could it be you want to sever cooperation with our Azure Mystic Sacred Land entirely?" The other disciple added, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
This made Su Rui frown deeply. She dared not say such things, nor did she have the authority to say them.
anwhile, the two extrely arrogant disciples had already reached the entrance of the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion.
"I really want to see what kind of array Manager Su considers superior to our Azure Mystic Sacred Land's work."
With that, the disciple stepped inside, his gaze quickly sweeping the surroundings.
But...
Just one glance later, the disciple's face froze in astonishnt.
"The Mystic Yang Trapping Array?"
"Isn't this our Azure Mystic Sacred Land's array from over five hundred years ago?"
"Who helped you set this up?"
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