Chapter 224: Forbidden Items of the Myriad Laws Tower

Jiushan Prefecture, bordering the territory of the Five Elder Council, serves as a true frontline in the ongoing conflict. Over centuries of warfare, its ownership has changed hands numerous times. Rather than investing significant effort in construction only to have it ultimately benefit the opposing side, both the Myriad Immortals Alliance and the Five Elder Council tacitly agreed to let the region remain in chaos. This mutual understanding allowed it to serve as a strategic buffer zone, thereby creating Jiushan Prefecture's status as a "lawless land."

In front of Tianchang Mountain, True Monarch Qingmu revealed his identity. A moment later, everyone who had entered Tianchang Mountain City collectively breathed a sigh of relief, their tense nerves finally relaxing as weariness set in. Most decided to find a place in the city to rest. Li Fan, however, felt relatively fine; after all, he was merely a clone, and his demise wouldn't incur significant losses. Not particularly fatigued, he opted to stroll around Tianchang Mountain City.

Tianchang Mountain City, built against the mountainside, featured an architectural layout distinctly different from other Heavenly Cities. It was staggered into nine levels from top to bottom. The statue of the Dharma-Imparting Heavenly Venerate stood on the topmost tier, gazing down upon all beings. The level immediately below it housed official Myriad Immortals Alliance structures, such as the Martial Arts Hall and the Heavenly Secrets Hall. Further down was a clear dividing line, marking the core of the city's grand protective formation. The lowest few levels appeared considerably more disarranged, filled with a variety of shops and residences.

Gazing at Tianchang Mountain City from a distance, Li Fan suddenly had the peculiar impression that the upper three levels of the city had simply descended from the sky and settled upon the mountain. They seemed strikingly out of place compared to the architectural style of the lower tiers.

The most significant distinction of cities within Jiushan Prefecture, when compared to other regions, was the complete absence of the Sky Profound Mirror. Li Fan had already been aware of this before his arrival; perhaps for security reasons, no Sky Profound Mirrors were installed throughout Jiushan Prefecture. If neither party in a transaction possessed a portable Sky Profound Mini-Mirror, then all settlements had to be made using spirit stones.

The purpose of the clone's journey was to acquire cultivation techniques. After asking for directions from passersby, Li Fan soon reached the Myriad Dharma Chamber of Commerce on the sixth level. It was an unassuming small building; had it not been for the instantly recognizable "Wan" character embroidered on the flag fluttering at its entrance, Li Fan might have believed he was in the wrong place. No one greeted him at the door. As Li Fan stepped inside, the light abruptly shifted, revealing a hidden realm within the seemingly modest structure.

Distant sounds of bustling activity reached him, and as he looked around, he saw throngs of people. It resembled a vibrant marketplace, with numerous cultivators operating stalls. After a brief observation, Li Fan noticed that the crowded areas were distinctly sectioned off by several flags. These flags were emblazoned with characters such as "Artifacts," "Formations," "Pills," "Talismans," "Books," and "Miscellaneous."

At the very heart of the bustling market, a tall edifice stood majestically. A prominent plaque, emblazoned with the character "Fa" (Dharma), hung in the center of the building. Li Fan navigated through the throng of people, making his way towards the Myriad Dharma Tower.

Inside the tall building, cultivators were constantly entering and exiting, indicating a high level of activity. Upon his entry, a Qi Cultivation realm cultivator, clad in a dharma robe, promptly approached him with a greeting. "Greetings, esteemed customer! What brings you here today?" he inquired enthusiastically, "Are you looking for cultivation techniques, forbidden items, or perhaps even slaves?"

"I'll just browse for now," Li Fan replied calmly. The shop attendant smiled and nodded, "Very well, please take your time. Should you require any assistance, do not hesitate to ask."

Li Fan began to explore the Myriad Dharma Tower. Occasional signs within the building informed him that the first floor exclusively sold items for cultivators at or below the Foundation Establishment stage. Nonetheless, the sheer diversity of goods on display greatly broadened Li Fan's horizons.

Among the offerings were cultivation techniques, presented like books with detailed descriptions of their effects; immortal cultivator slaves standing silently, their eyes devoid of life; uniquely powerful magical artifacts crafted by master refiners; and even storage rings purportedly salvaged from fallen cultivators, explicitly stating their contents were yet to be examined. The tower also offered a private customization service: for a fee, one could swiftly acquire any desired magical artifact, slave, or cultivation technique, bypassing the need for extensive browsing and searching within the Myriad Dharma Tower itself.

The goods were for viewing only, separated from visitors by a translucent light screen that prevented physical contact. Focusing one's spiritual sense on an item would cause its textual description to appear on the light screen. To make a purchase, one simply needed to summon a shop attendant, and payment could be swiftly processed using contribution points via a Sky Profound Mini-Mirror. Once an item was purchased, its display was immediately replaced by another product, ensuring no display slot remained empty.

As Li Fan circled the floor, he was reminded of his pre-transmigration experiences browsing shopping malls. Compared to virtual shopping via the Sky Profound Mirror, the consumer experience within the Myriad Dharma Tower felt somewhat primitive. Nevertheless, it seemed to more effectively stimulate the desire to purchase.

Passing through a barrier, Li Fan ascended to the second level of the Myriad Dharma Tower. According to the guidelines posted within, cultivators were generally permitted to access only floors corresponding to one realm higher than their current cultivation level. This second floor was dedicated to goods relevant to the Golden Core stage, making it the highest level Li Fan could currently reach.

The variety of goods on this floor mirrored that of the first, though the quantity was considerably reduced. The attending shop assistants here were also of Foundation Establishment cultivation, yet they maintained the same polite demeanor and smiles.

After browsing for a while, Li Fan paused before a cultivation technique titled "Vast Misty Waters." As his spiritual sense locked onto it, the description appeared: "A water-attribute Golden Core cultivation technique. Upon completion, the spiritual energy within the body will be as boundless and inexhaustible as a lake stretching ten thousand miles, and one's movements will become as elusive as wisps of smoke, unfathomable to spirits and deities. Price: seventy thousand contribution points. Buyout price: one hundred forty thousand contribution points."

This "buyout price" had not been present on the first floor. Its meaning was unclear, especially as it was double the standard selling price. Intrigued, Li Fan inquired about it with a shop attendant.

After the explanation, Li Fan finally understood. What was typically sold as a cultivation technique was, in essence, merely the right to use it. The Myriad Dharma Tower retained backup copies of all such techniques. If a purchased technique remained unpracticed for thirty years, regardless of the reason, the Myriad Dharma Tower would re-list it for sale. The "buyout price," conversely, represented the complete and outright purchase of the technique. Once sold at this price, the Myriad Dharma Tower would no longer retain any copies. The purchasing cultivator would then possess full and absolute ownership of the technique. If the buyer inadvertently lost the technique, it could not be recovered through the Myriad Dharma Tower. Furthermore, if the purchasing cultivator died without leaving behind any legacy, the technique would be considered entirely lost.

"Interesting, a cultivation technique buyout..." Li Fan mused. "The price is double the standard cost... it's truly hard to say whether it's a gain or a loss."

Not rushing to make a purchase, Li Fan recalled that despite his extensive browsing, he hadn't yet encountered the "forbidden items" the shop attendant mentioned upon his arrival. He decided to inquire about them. "Ah, the forbidden items sold here at the Myriad Dharma Tower aren't necessarily highly priced," the attendant explained enthusiastically. "It's simply that for various reasons, they aren't suitable for public display. If you wish to view them, you'll first need to sign a confidentiality agreement."

Li Fan had no objections and promptly signed the agreement. The attendant then produced a golden "Fa" (Dharma) character talisman. A surge of golden light emanated from it, enveloping both of them. In an instant, Li Fan found himself on an entirely different, previously unseen floor.

On this floor, both the merchandise and the number of customers were even scarcer. Li Fan surveyed his surroundings with keen interest, confirming that these were indeed forbidden items. The very first item he laid eyes on immediately captured his attention: "Illustration of the Dharma-Imparting Heavenly Venerate Forcibly Seizing the Grand Primeval True Scripture."