novelraw Chapter 964 - 529: Conch Pearl
Chapter 964 - 529: Conch Pearl
When Ning Xiaoxian took out her wallet to settle the bill, she saw Jiu Mo still looking at the mirror in a daze, her face slightly flushed, making her appear even more otherworldly. A thought crossed her mind, reminding her of the times she summoned Tu Jin and Jiu Mo within the Hidden Stream, who often arrived together. Tu Jin always wore that inscrutable ice-cold face, but Jiu Mo sometimes had a flushed face with a few strands of messy hair, making Ning Xiaoxian suspicious. Seeing Jiu Mo’s expression now, she couldn’t help but whisper softly, "You, could it be that you have feelings for Tu Jin...?"
Jiu Mo startled, her face turning cold as she said, "Why mention him? Who wouldn’t keep their distance from such a freak?" She turned around and walked out of the store first. Indeed, she always kept her distance but would always end up being caught. With Early Stage Tribulation Crossing cultivation, it seemed useless in front of him...
Ning Xiaoxian wasn’t upset by her denials and instead secretly curled her lips, thinking, "That sneaky rabbit indeed eats the grass by the nest. What’s even more annoying is Changtian, he’s bound by a Blood Oath with these two and couldn’t possibly not know, yet he’s kept it from me too."
Duling City is right next to the Mirror Sea, and the authorities even constructed a wide stone road that can accommodate six carriages running side by side. Thus, with an ordinary person’s pace, a half-hour walk from the Duling City Gate can reach the seaside. From the North Gate, it directly connects to the seaside, where there’s a natural deepwater harbor. The large transoceanic ships docking here have at least three masts, their white sails as pristine as clouds in the sky, allowing thousands of sails to pass, leaving behind sea goods.
Relying on the mountains if near mountains, and the sea if near the sea is an irrefutable iron law everywhere. Therefore, Duling City’s seafood is unparalleled. Every morning before dawn, the freshest seafood, the plumpest pearls, and the most exquisite handicrafts are continuously sent into Duling City. Apart from being specially supplied to dignitaries, most of them flow into restaurants, artisan workshops, and various Treasure Buildings, like the Heavenly Pearl Building where Ning Xiaoxian and Jiu Mo just entered.
The treasures from the sea surpass those on land many times over. Among the Seven Treasures of Buddhism—gold, silver, glaze, crystal, chequ, coral, amber—both chequ and coral come from the sea. In this Heavenly Pearl Building, besides offering finely crafted jewelry inlaid with gold and jade, there are many sea treasures made into pendants and decorations, like a piece of black coral that many customers couldn’t take their eyes off of. Although less than two feet high, its branches are twisted like dragons, resilient and elegant. Ning Xiaoxian knew this unique coral, also known as "sea iron," would dull and secrete some mucus before rain, used to forecast weather, which was quite interesting.
However, Ning Xiaoxian had a Blood Jade Coral in her storage bag, and its value far surpassed this black coral, so she only smiled at it.
At the moment, she pulled Jiu Mo to pick a lot of valuable jewelry. Most birds have a great interest in shiny objects, just like crows love to steal diamonds, glass, gold, and hide them in their nests. Even Qingluan and Jiu Mo retained such instincts. Hence, Jiu Mo’s eyes brightened here, much more willing than in the clothing store.
Ning Xiaoxian was no longer the little pauper following the Cloud Tiger Trading Team. Because of the exchange rate between Spirit Stones and money, cultivators generally didn’t care much about mortal gold and silver. The Heavenly Pearl Building’s clerk saw the two of them being extravagant, knowing they were either immortals or noble, and served them carefully, showing treasures of increasingly high value.
Ning Xiaoxian felt a bit bored after picking for a long time. Although the jewelry here was more exquisite in craftsmanship than what she saw on the Westward Journey, the varieties seemed insufficiently satisfying. Isn’t Duling City the seat of the Mirror Sea King’s Mansion, and yet nothing of strange treasures can be shown here?
The clerk, being quite perceptive, observed her slight disinterest and felt happy instead, taking a few small steps forward. Jiu Mo disliked mortals getting close, raising her head to give him a cold glare.
There was murderous air in that glare, making the clerk feel like he was being watched by a beast, causing a sudden chill down his back and breath to catch. Yet, working in the Heavenly Pearl Building for many years, he had encountered many cultivators, knowing these immortals and immortals were temperamental but saw gold and silver as mere trinkets. Selling them one or two items could ensure his whole family lived well for months. Thus, he steadied himself and fawned, "The two immortal ladies are incredibly powerful, so no wonder you find these items unworthy. But our shopkeeper does have one fine item hidden away..."
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