Chapter 133: Peak 9th Stage Qi Condensation...
The Azure Peak Trading Hall loomed before us, its blue-tiled roof gleaming in the morning sun. The building was easily one of the largest in the sect, second only to the main hall itself. Carved dragons wrapped around the white stone pillars, their eyes seeming to follow us as we approached the massive wooden doors.
"First time here?" Wei Lin asked, noticing my appraising look.
I nodded. "Never had anything worth trading before."
That earned me a laugh from both Wei Lin and Lin Mei. "Well," Wei Lin said, rubbing his hands together, "allow me to introduce you to one of my favorite places in the entire sect."
As we pushed through the doors, the sounds of haggling and trading washed over us. The main hall was a massive open space filled with dozens of stone counters, each staffed by sect members in formal black robes.
Disciples of various ranks milled about - some carrying spirit herbs, others clutching jade boxes or weapon cases.
"The counters are organized by type," Wei Lin explained, gesturing to different sections. "Herbs and medical supplies are on the left, weapons and equipment in the back, general exchanges and beast materials on the right." He pointed to a particularly ornate counter near the center. "That's where you go for special items or if you need an expert evaluation."
I noticed that despite the crowd, there was a clear hierarchy to how people were served. Inner disciples in their blue robes were attended to immediately, while outer disciples like us typically had to wait their turn. Though looking at the way some of the staff were eyeing the storage rings and bulging pouches of the waiting disciples, perhaps wealth spoke louder than rank in here.
"The best part," Wei Lin continued as we made our way toward the beast materials counter, "is that everything is standardized. No haggling required - though there is some wiggle room for especially rare or high-quality items."