The middle-aged man spoke with deference, “It is but a flying sword, esteemed sir. I, in my humble opinion, found it most ordinary. Perhaps some hidden power lies within, but I suspect it cannot be significant. Such trinkets do not meet the trading standards of our Treasure Convergence Pavilion.”

He dared not show disrespect to the aged figure before him. Though the old man’s cultivation was merely at the initial stage of Spirit Transformation, his status within the Pavilion was extraordinary. Moreover, the middle-aged man knew, with some certainty, that the elder’s power had once reached the mid-stage of Nascent Divinity. But a grievous wound had caused him to fall from grace, descending to his current state.

The elder watched as Wang Lin’s silhouette faded into the distance. A flicker of doubt crossed his clouded eyes, but soon he shook his head, turning back into the Treasure Convergence Pavilion.

“That back… it seems strangely familiar…” The elder’s figure seemed burdened with weariness. He retreated inside, settling into a rocking chair in a secluded parlor. With a bitter sigh, he clutched at his chest, gazing at the floor, lost in silent contemplation.

Wang Lin departed the Treasure Convergence Pavilion and made his way to the elegant Azure Bamboo Pavilion. Though modest in size, the pavilion exuded a sense of refined simplicity. Stepping inside, Wang Lin surveyed his surroundings. Rows of wooden cubbies lined the walls, each holding a small, open box lined with aged yellow silk, displaying various magical treasures and elixirs.

A young scholar sat within the shop, engrossed in an ancient tome. Upon noticing Wang Lin’s arrival, he marked his place and rose, a welcoming smile upon his face. “Though our humble shop is not large,” he said, “our selection is quite comprehensive. What treasures does the esteemed Daoist seek?”

The scholar’s cultivation was at the initial stage of Spirit Transformation. Unlike the Treasure Convergence Pavilion, he displayed no arrogance, but rather a cordial enthusiasm.

Wang Lin smiled faintly, tapping his storage pouch. A flying sword materialized in his hand. “Does the Daoist accept trades for this blade?”

The young man’s brow furrowed slightly at the sight of the sword. “Esteemed Daoist, this blade… well, allow me to examine it closely?”

His demeanor was exceedingly amiable, and Wang Lin, smiling, extended his right hand. The flying sword floated gently toward the scholar. Taking it, the young man swept his divine sense across its surface. “This sword seems rather unremarkable, I fear… wait!”

The young man’s words were cut short. His eyes widened, fixed upon the seemingly unremarkable blade in his hand. Shock dawned in his expression.

He looked up sharply at Wang Lin, exclaiming, “Esteemed Daoist, the arcane power within this blade…”

“See for yourself,” Wang Lin replied, a knowing smile playing on his lips.

The scholar took a deep breath, calming the turmoil within him. As his divine sense had probed the sword, he had discovered a potent arcane power. He could not discern its exact nature, but the waves of oppressive energy emanating from it sent tremors through his very soul.

Channeling the spiritual energy within his body, he poured it into the blade. As his energy touched the arcane seal within, the sword erupted with a torrent of concentrated sword energy. Simultaneously, the scholar felt a strange sense of resonance, as if the blade were an extension of his very being.

Delight flashed in his eyes. The sword had not even unleashed its power, yet the exceptional resonance alone qualified it as a masterpiece amongst magical treasures.

Resisting the urge to immediately test its secrets, he controlled the blade, pointing it toward the massive, high-grade spirit stone displayed outside the shop. With a piercing whistle, the blade shot forth, transforming into a streak of light, hurtling toward the stone. Without a sound, the blade pierced cleanly through the superior spirit stone under the bright light of day, returning to the scholar in a shining arc.

“A fine blade indeed!” The scholar exclaimed, admiration shining in his eyes. Yet, a trace of regret lingered. “Such resonance marks it as a mid-tier spiritual treasure, and its sharpness borders on high-tier. But alas, the speed of the blade is not its equal. A pity, a pity!”

As he spoke, he activated the arcane power within the blade. In that instant, his pupils contracted violently. He watched in disbelief as the sword vanished before his very eyes, only to reappear a moment later ten yards away.

“This…”

The scholar trembled. He strode out of the shop, wielding the blade. With a wave of his hand, the sword teleported back to him. The scholar’s face was no longer elated, but stricken with awe. He inhaled sharply, pointing once more at the massive spirit stone. In a flash, the sword appeared within the stone, piercing through it with ease.

“This… this is… teleportation!” the scholar stammered. He instantly recalled the sword to his grasp, his mind reeling. Flying swords rarely contained teleportation seals, as their bodies could not withstand the friction of such instantaneous travel. Moreover, only cultivators of unparalleled power could imprint such a seal upon a sword.

And even then, without a supreme cultivation technique and a profound understanding of intent, the seal within the sword would never be self-sustaining.

Wang Lin’s unique understanding of the Cycle of Life and Death allowed the teleportation within his sword to be, in a sense, perpetually renewing, though the slightest imbalance would cause it to fail.

Clutching the sword, the scholar hurried back into the shop, addressing Wang Lin, “Esteemed Daoist, our shop will acquire this blade! Is one hundred thousand high-grade spirit stones sufficient?”

Wang Lin frowned. The scholar’s cultivation was too low. Using his meager spiritual power, he had only unlocked a fraction of the sword’s true potential.

Noticing Wang Lin’s displeasure, the scholar hesitated, then gritted his teeth. “Esteemed Daoist, I can offer no more than one hundred and fifty thousand high-grade spirit stones. Though this is indeed a superior spiritual treasure, I have offered you its utmost value.”

“Do you have a Nascent Divinity cultivator here?” Wang Lin asked, his brow furrowed.

The scholar recoiled, a flash of annoyance crossing his face. “What is the Daoist implying? Do you believe my power insufficient to discern the worth of this flying sword? Indeed, we have Nascent Divinity seniors within our shop. Since you insist, I shall summon one!”

The scholar tapped his storage pouch, producing a jade slip. He murmured a few words into it, then flicked his wrist. The jade slip transformed into a streak of azure light, exiting the shop and vanishing from sight. With the message sent, the scholar sat in his chair, silent, toying with the flying sword.

Wang Lin’s cultivation was far beyond the petty squabbles of lesser cultivators. His inner peace was that of a grandmaster. He let out a soft chuckle and began examining the magical treasures within the surrounding cubbies.
The young man, by contrast, grew restless, his gaze darting towards Wang Lin, a flicker of bewilderment in his eyes. Though the cultivator before him possessed only a late-stage Core Formation cultivation, he felt a presence akin to that of his own clan patriarch, or even one of the venerated elders.

The man’s nonchalance, his placid expression, were ill-fitting for a Core Formation cultivator. Yet, his cultivation was undeniably as such. He had considered the possibility of concealed power, but the Azure Bamboo Pavilion was warded with formations laid by the clan elders. Should anyone below the Soul Transformation stage enter, their true strength would be laid bare.

Before long, a breeze swept in from the outside, and a figure in azure robes entered. The elder’s eyes immediately locked onto the flying sword held by the young man, a flash of keenness hidden within their depths.

The young man swiftly rose, bowing respectfully. “Junior Sun Mo greets the Elder.”

The elder grunted in acknowledgement, his gaze briefly sweeping over Wang Lin, his expression unchanging. “Is this the one seeking appraisal of a magical treasure?” The young man affirmed with haste, offering the flying sword with reverence.

As the elder entered, Wang Lin had spared him a glance before withdrawing his attention. The man’s cultivation had reached the late-stage of Nascent Soul, though not yet perfected. He had clearly weathered countless trials, his heart tempered by life’s harsh lessons, far more profound than the four youngsters he’d encountered on his journey.

Without further preamble, the elder seized the flying sword, its essence flooding his senses. His countenance, previously impassive, now betrayed a shocking revelation. “Elder, this treasure, Junior believes…” the young man began, only to be cut off by the elder’s piercing glare, forcing the words back down his throat.

The elder flicked the blade with his left hand, and a clear, resonant chime filled the chamber, a sound of celestial beauty. His shock deepened, and with a wave of his hand, the sword vanished, transported a thousand *li* away.

In an instant, the flying sword reappeared, circling the elder, its very being now emanating an ethereal aura, forming into sharp, unsent sword qi.

More importantly, tendrils of lightning danced across its surface. The elder inhaled sharply, his gaze fixated on the electric currents. After a moment of contemplation, he tentatively reached out to touch them. A muffled *crack* reverberated, and the elder’s face paled instantly as he staggered back several steps. Yet, no anger flared within him, only a rare and overwhelming joy.

The young man, witnessing this spectacle, stood frozen. With his limited perception, he could see that the elder’s control over the sword was causing it to… possess celestial power! “A Celestial Treasure… this… it’s a Celestial Treasure…” he stammered, dumbfounded.

“Not a Celestial Treasure, but a Pseudo-Celestial Treasure! It also contains the Great Teleportation technique. However, the peculiar lightning is what truly makes it valuable. Without this lightning, it would be merely a common Pseudo-Celestial Treasure, but with it, this item is vastly different!” The elder did not hide his assessment, his gaze now turning to Wang Lin. “This was bestowed upon you by a clan elder, no doubt. Are you certain you wish to sell it?”

“Three thousand Celestial Jades!” Wang Lin replied, stating his price.

The elder’s eyes narrowed as he scrutinized Wang Lin. Without a word, he slapped his storage pouch, and a heap of Celestial Jades appeared on the floor, their potent celestial energy filling the Azure Bamboo Pavilion.

With a flick of his sleeve, Wang Lin collected the jades into his own storage pouch.

“Do you have any other Pseudo-Celestial Treasures?” the elder inquired, his gaze unwavering.

Wang Lin, his expression unchanging, reached into his storage pouch and produced a bronze mirror, tossing it to the elder.

The elder caught it, and upon a single glance, his face contorted in a shock even greater than before. He cried out, his voice filled with disbelief, “A Legacy Pseudo-Celestial Treasure!”