Chapter 277: Gathering Wealth

Canal Dragon Palace

Zhang Jian's entire body was surrounded by a flowing water dragon, the Five Dragons True Scripture technique transforming, allowing him to remain as comfortable as a fish in water within the vast water system, not becoming a clumsy duck unskilled in water combat.

The water dragon enveloped his whole body, he resembled a dragon swimming underwater, directly piercing through the void to arrive deep within the water mansion.

"Mr. Zhang, this way please!"

Upon Zhang Jian's arrival, a beautiful and graceful dragon maiden had long been waiting here, her figure alluring, appearing fully matured from head to toe.

From afar, Zhang Jian saw the Canal Dragon King greeting several cultivators within the crystal palace, their bodies surrounded by intense Dao resonance.

These figures emanated vast mana, pure yang qi leaking forth, all being Primordial Spirit True Persons.

Or perhaps a regional demon god.

Zhang Jian did not directly step inside, but instead waited in the side hall.

Upon receiving the news, the Canal Dragon King bid farewell to the crowd and appeared in the side hall moments later.

"Sorry to keep you waiting, sir!"

This dragon king slightly clasped his hands, his expression bearing a smile.

At this moment, he also held several crystal-clear jade trays in his hand.

"Mr. Zhang's participation in our Canal gathering brings great honor to our Canal realm; this is the token, and additionally, one hundred pieces of top-grade spirit crystals, which may be of use to you!"

"Your Majesty, I have taken this token, but these spirit crystals are not necessary!"

Zhang Jian glanced at it, directly took the token, and with a dismissive wave of his hand, refused those hundred top-grade spirit crystals.

Spirit crystals, such special items, are treasures condensed from spirit veins, containing pure spirit mechanism within, generally divided into three grades: lower, middle, and upper.

Similar to top-grade spirit crystals being of immense value, they are condensed from jade essence, each containing extremely pure jade essence spirit mechanism, capable of nourishing mana, even extending to the soul.

One hundred top-grade spirit crystals constitute a considerable sum.

But Zhang Jian had no need for them; since cultivating the Dao, he had slain many arrogant cultivators, not lacking Yin Spirit Venerables, even Primordial Spirit True Persons having fallen by his hand, his person not lacking spirit crystals.

There was no need to incur the old dragon king's favor.

Seeing this, the Canal Dragon King merely smiled slightly, then immediately had the dragon maiden lead Zhang Jian to the trading area.

The trading area was established in the central region of the Dragon Palace, this place being enveloped by the power of the Dragon Palace Divine Bureau.

With the Canal Dragon Palace's reputation as guarantee, there was no need to worry.

The water depths were profound; at this moment, only the cultivators setting up stalls within the palace emitted bright radiance around them, very conspicuous.

At a glance, this Dragon Palace market resembled a long river.

"Esteemed guest, if you have any needs, you may inquire with us juniors at any time; within this market are numerous spirit objects, as well as heavenly materials and earthly treasures, various cultivation techniques, or conditions requiring trade, we juniors know them all!"

At this moment, the dragon maiden following beside Zhang Jian also smiled and spoke, explaining.

Zhang Jian's mind stirred, he asked: "Does every esteemed guest in your palace have attendants like you dragon palace envoys?"

The dragon maiden shook her head and said: "This is based on the guest's needs; for guests like you, esteemed sir, participating in the market for the first time, the Dragon King will have us guide and follow you; of course, if the guest does not need it, we can also be dismissed!"

"Esteemed guest, rest assured, we have long received our stipends within the Dragon Palace!"

Zhang Jian nodded; this Dragon Palace's service consciousness is indeed not bad.

Zhang Jian casually asked: "Fellow Daoist, do you know where in this market there are ancient scriptures and technique exchanges?"

Upon hearing this, the dragon maiden said: "Esteemed guest, you may call me Lü Zhu; our Dragon Palace market's technique trading is always a major affair, with many sects' firms coming to gather, and now all are located in the East Gate Ward!"

She smiled charmingly, her beautiful eyes at this moment also falling upon Zhang Jian, her expression respectful.

"East Gate Ward?"

Zhang Jian's eyes moved, and Lü Zhu then said.

"Esteemed guest, our Dragon Palace market each time has five regions: southeast, northwest, respectively for main technique transmission, magical artifacts, spirit medicines and pills, spirit beasts, while the fifth region is for various relics obtained, or mixed with all kinds of strange and wonderful things; the fifth ward is the Dragon Chant Ward, here also many other Dragon Palace dispatched firms!"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Jian laughed.

"Your Dragon Palace truly knows how to do business, no wonder your wealth flows in abundantly!"

Lü Zhu respectfully said.

"Esteemed guest, the State and Ancestors Dao has always upheld absolute neutrality; our Dao's reputation can be guaranteed!"

Zhang Jian nodded.

He discovered these Dao cultivators were most adept at accumulating wealth; even Feng Ling, this mountain god sealed for a thousand years, possessed wealth not to be trifled with.

Besides accepting spirit object orders from various great sects, there were also various outputs, each individual earning wealth to the point of overflowing.

Even his old father-in-law Bai Nu, though the Dragon Palace had declined, could quickly reestablish himself.

This Dao god position is entirely a golden signboard; this reputation is far better than many immortal family Dao lineages.

However, one cannot escape, and the other is Dao emphasizing virtue cultivation.

……

Within the East Gate Ward, compared to the front section Zhang Jian had just stepped into, this place is even more vast, here stalls are numerous, and there is also tower after tower of refined magical artifact workshops.

Zhang Jian's gaze swept over; this place seemed everywhere permeated with a strong 'scholarly' qi, the flavor of runes.

Sensing these thread-like ancient, time-filled spirit mechanism fluctuations, Zhang Jian's eyes showed a hint of interest.

Lü Zhu first pointed out to Zhang Jian several of the largest technique-selling workshop towers, those being the shops established by the several greatest and most special forces in the cultivation world.

For example, the Treasure Gathering Tower, or the Horizon Pavilion, Penglai Pavilion, Mountain Sea Tower, etc.

These shops are all jointly named; Zhang Jian had indeed heard of their names, many shops behind them having complex backgrounds, even to being supported by many ancient clans and great families.

For example, the Treasure Gathering Tower, behind this shop lies the shadow of the Tongshan Dao lineage and other reclusive Dao lineages, even having the ancient Holy King family supporting from behind.

Again, for example, the Penglai Pavilion and Horizon Pavilion have the shadow of extraterritorial deities within them.

While the Mountain Sea Tower is jointly established by various factions within the State and Ancestors Dao, the shop even extended into the extraterritorial void.

Zhang Jian at this moment did not directly enter these shops, he believed these shops certainly contained the techniques he needed, but in the hands of these experts, wanting to pick up bargains was almost impossible.

Meanwhile, Zhang Jian, relying on his substantiated Yang Spirit divine awareness, had already discovered many good things before the small stalls at the entrance.

Zhang Jian walked over to a small stall near a turn, where a middle-aged cultivator in Daoist robes stood—his frame frail, cheekbones high, his aura revealing a strong spiritual presence, indicating he was a great cultivator who had condensed a Golden Core.

Upon seeing Zhang Jian arrive, especially with a dragon girl following behind him, this Golden Core cultivator immediately realized that the visitor was an honored guest from the Dragon Palace.

"Honored guest, do you need anything? Junior here has many fine things, including several jade slips obtained from ruins, which are quite valuable!"

Zhang Jian's expression remained noncommittal as he simply picked up one of the jade slips afterward.

On this jade slip, he indeed sensed a particularly unique prohibition.

It was a prohibition written in ancient Yin script.

The last time Zhang Jian encountered this ancient Yin script was on the *Golden Crow True Classic*.