Chapter 379: Great Tong Golden Mirror

Chapter 379 -204: Great Tong Golden Mirror

“Please, Venerable.”

A mere ten-odd years seemed insufficient to bring about even the slightest change in Weiyun Immortal City.

Stepping foot into Weiyun Immortal City once again, Xuzhuang made his way directly to the Upper Scenic Golden Pavilion. Following a Steward’s guidance, he arrived at a tea room.

He had just taken a seat when a serving maid entered gracefully, presenting a teacup. She said, “This is a rare tea the Chief Steward specially prepares to receive honored guests. All who taste it sing its praises.”

“Oh?” Xuzhuang took the teacup and had a sip. It was indeed fragrant and rich, with a taste like sweet dew.

In truth, at his current level of cultivation, ordinary Spirit Tea or Spirit Fruits offered no real benefits. To simply be able to taste such a fine flavor was already worthy of praise. “Excellent.”

“Based on flavor alone, this tea can be ranked first-class in the world.”

Before his words had faded, a familiar voice came from outside the door, laughing, “Fellow Daoist Xu, you have fine taste.”

Xuzhuang looked up to see Mi Yuan Dao striding into the tea room. Holding up four fingers, he said, “This tea is something I personally crafted. I traveled up to the Celestial Mountains and down to the Frigid Valleys, gathering dozens of rare flowers and exotic herbs. After much blending and experimentation, I selected four of them, which are then processed through forty-nine steps to create the final product.”

Xuzhuang said in surprise, “I didn’t expect you to have such a refined hobby, Fellow Daoist.”

Mi Yuan Dao laughed. “Mi Mou’s only real preference is for the pleasures of the palate. I’ve made a fool of myself in front of you, Fellow Daoist.”

Xuzhuang replied, “Not at all, Fellow Daoist. We cultivators only seek to pursue our true nature. As for the pleasures of the tongue, Xu Mou is quite fond of them as well.”

“Haha,” Mi Yuan Dao laughed. “Since you enjoy it, Fellow Daoist, I’ll prepare a few jars for you later. You mustn’t refuse.”

Xuzhuang didn’t stand on ceremony. He smiled, offered his thanks, and immediately asked, “The matter I entrusted to you before I left—has there been any progress?”

Mi Yuan Dao clapped his hands lightly to summon the serving maid. She presented a silk cloth folded into several layers. He smiled and said, “Mi Mou would not dare forget what you entrusted to me, Fellow Daoist. All the Red Dust Silk I’ve collected over the past ten years is right here.”

Xuzhuang glanced at it and couldn’t help but be a little surprised. “You’ve gone to great trouble, Fellow Daoist.”

This bolt of Red Dust Silk was nearly a hundred zhang long. The effort required to gather this much was no small feat.

Hearing this, Mi Yuan Dao simply said, “This item merely lacks a market; it’s not some incredibly rare celestial treasure. As long as one is willing to pay the price, someone will be willing to refine it. Mi Mou only commissioned it from others. It was no trouble at all.”

Xuzhuang didn’t offer any more pleasantries. He cupped his hands and said, “Xu Mou accepts your kindness, Fellow Daoist.” He put the Red Dust Silk into his pouch, then took out a purification bottle from his sleeve and pushed it across the table. “This is the Primal Essence Xu Mou promised to gather for you.”

Mi Yuan Dao didn’t act shy. He took the purification bottle, glanced at it, and praised, “Fellow Daoist, you truly possess abilities beyond the ordinary. To think you can actually gather and refine Primal Essence from the void.”

Xuzhuang smiled faintly, took a light sip of tea, and changed the subject. “Last time I was here, I heard you describe the wonders of the Great Tong Golden Mirror, and I’ve been longing to see it ever since. I wonder if I might have the chance this time?”

“Oh?” Mi Yuan Dao asked in surprise. “Do you have some treasure that needs appraising, Fellow Daoist?”

Xuzhuang didn’t beat around the bush. He said directly, “I have a Magical Artifact that has been with me for a long time, but I don’t have its Sacrificial Refining Method, so it’s difficult for it to improve any further.”

“Doesn’t your pavilion’s Great Tong Golden Mirror claim to be able to deduce the Sacrificial Refining Skill for magical treasures? Xu Mou wishes to borrow this wondrous ability.”

“So that’s how it is.” Mi Yuan Dao nodded and replied, “That’s not difficult. I can make the arrangements for you right now, Fellow Daoist.”

“I’ll have to trouble you, then, Fellow Daoist.” Xuzhuang said with a bow. Mi Yuan Dao called over the serving maid, gave her a few instructions, and had her leave first. Only then did he turn back to Xuzhuang and say, “To use the Great Tong Golden Mirror, you must indeed go in person. Please, follow me, Fellow Daoist.”

Xuzhuang, of course, was happy to comply. He rose and followed Mi Yuan Dao out of the tea room. 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

The Upper Scenic Golden Pavilion had three floors specially designated for appraising treasures for clients. There was a reason, of course, for the arrangement from lowest to highest.

The Great Tong Golden Mirror was on the highest floor. The two had just stepped into the main hall when they heard someone inside ask, “Isn’t Master Huangfu at the Upper Scenery Pavilion today?”

A serving maid replied in a gentle voice, “He is. However, Master Huangfu only receives clients after noon. If you wish to have something appraised, Venerable, you may seek another expert in the pavilion, or I can lead you to a private room to wait and see Master Huangfu after noon.”

Mi Yuan Dao paid little attention to the situation in the hall, leading Xuzhuang directly into a rear hall. Soon, a person came out to greet them, making a bow. “Steward Mi, this old one has been waiting for some time.”

Mi Yuan Dao returned the bow and said, “Master Zhang.” He then introduced him to Xuzhuang, “Fellow Daoist Xu, Master Zhang is a senior appraiser who has mastered the technique for the Great Tong Golden Mirror. You can just hand your treasure over to him.”

Master Zhang was not a tall man. His hair was unbound by a cap, and he wore a simple robe. Hearing the introduction, he bowed to Xuzhuang and said, “Greetings, Fellow Daoist Xu.”

Xuzhuang returned the bow, then formed a one-handed seal for a Spell and released his Gangyun from above his head.

“Ah!” Master Zhang half-covered his face, stumbling back several steps before he stopped. A look of astonishment appeared on Mi Yuan Dao’s face as he asked, “Master?”

Master Zhang seemed to compose himself, lowering his hand. He gave a wry smile. “My apologies, Chief Steward. This old one has cultivated a rather profound ocular technique, so I was startled by this Fellow Daoist’s level of cultivation. It is my own fault.”

Xuzhuang raised an eyebrow. A Purple Clay Small Jar rose from within the Gangyun and descended into his palm. He then retracted the Gangyun before saying, “My apologies, Master Appraiser. Xu Mou was being reckless.”

Master Zhang quickly said, “It’s no matter. Fellow Daoist, you may give the treasure to this old one now.”

Xuzhuang turned the Purple Clay Small Jar over in his palm, smiled slightly, and passed it to Master Zhang, saying, “I’ll have to trouble you, Master Appraiser.”

Master Zhang nodded. His eyes fell upon the Purple Clay Small Jar, and after examining it for a moment, he said in surprise, “This old one has been appraising for so many years, yet I cannot discern the material of this Magical Artifact.”

“Please wait a moment, Fellow Daoist. This old one will be right back.”

Xuzhuang gave a slight nod. Master Zhang put away the Purple Clay Small Jar and went inside. Seeing this, Mi Yuan Dao laughed and said, “Master Zhang, Master Huangfu, and Master Deng are all equally famous, known together as the three great appraisers of the pavilion. If even he can’t identify it, the material of your Magical Artifact must be truly extraordinary, Fellow Daoist.”

‘He had obtained that Purple Clay Small Jar from the Dragon Palace. Although it had been somewhat useful over the years, he had never considered that it might have a special origin.’

‘My visit this time to deduce the Sacrificial Refining Skill was partly on a whim and partly because I wanted to witness the power of the Great Tong Golden Mirror. I didn’t expect there might be an additional reward?’

While the two were making small talk, Xuzhuang’s Spiritual Sense suddenly stirred. He seemed to see a flash of golden light and couldn’t help but narrow his eyes. However, since he was still in the Upper Scenery Pavilion, it was not appropriate to open his ocular technique to peek.

Before long, Master Zhang hurried out from the inner room again, a look of marvel on his face. As he returned the small jar to Xuzhuang, he couldn’t help but exclaim, “The restrictions on this treasure are perfect, yet it was refined from ordinary purple clay. It’s simply…”

“The person who refined this jar must have possessed absolutely supreme Daoist techniques.”

“Oh?” Xuzhuang’s interest was piqued. He took the treasure from Master Zhang’s hands. The master then took out a Jade Talisman and said, “All the details are recorded in this Jade Talisman. You will understand once you see it, Fellow Daoist.”