Chapter 53: Archive City 2

’There are a lot of hidden exits around this city. I wonder why?’ Frowning at the thought, he kept walking.

With his perception, he could see every nook and cranny within a thousand kilometers easily, only avoiding certain areas. He noticed a large number of tunnels extending to different exits in this city. What confused him was the purpose behind these passages.

The city was very peaceful, but he wasn’t sure whether it was crime-free. Maybe those tunnels were dug up to smuggle illegal products, but there were a lot of them. From where he was standing, he could count 98 such intertwining tunnels leading to separate exits.

A lot of things about this city just seem to bother him.

"Hey, young man, could you help me out?"

An aged voice snapped him out of his thoughts. He was so focused on finding a purpose for those passages that he paid less attention to his immediate surroundings. It was becoming a bad habit that needed to be resolved immediately.

Focusing on the voice, he saw an elderly man who looked to be in his 70s yet still brimming with youth, wearing bright golden robes. Beside him was a box that was too heavy for him to lift. His request was obvious: he wanted the young man to carry that load to his destination.

Without thinking too much, he decided to help, fully knowing that all this was just a setup for something he could make a guess or two about. He would confirm it anyway.

"Ok. I have nothing better to do right now." He said as he approached the elderly-looking man. Without much effort, he picked up the load. "Lead the way, sir."

’Heh, I wonder why.’ Alaric snickered within.

"Haha, what a kind young man. I have been there for over an hour, and you are the only one who chose to help me." The man said as he led the way. "My name is Xiao Zhihujī, but most people just call me the golden merchant. What do you think of this city, young man? Beautiful, is it not?" They were back at the massive marketplace he had just left.

’He just gave his full name without any care. That’s like giving up your life to another.’ As he has come to find out, names hold a certain degree of power in higher realms and a vulnerability in lower realms. Curses could be placed on someone through their full name, or your fate could be easily accessed through the name attachment. As a blessed, he was immune to some of these nefarious methods, especially those linked directly with higher existences, but he was cautious and would rather just give his name while omitting ’Voss’.

This way, even if someone wants to divine or curse his fate, they would be met with many individuals bearing the name ’Alaric’; hopefully, one such individual is a higher being than the diviner. They would surely be met with death.

’It’s either that he is highly protected or he just doesn’t care. Maybe he doesn’t even know about these things, as he is a mortal.’

"My name is Alaric, elder Xiao Zhihujī. I arrived a week ago, waiting for the selection. My stay here has been quite pleasant; accommodation and food are free for those here for the selection. Every resident here has been very kind to my partner and me; for that, I am very grateful." His voice came as calm as usual, but held a lower tone, expressing his gratitude.

"Haha, no need to sweat it, Alaric. Anyone here for the selection is welcome to stay until it ends." The man said with a bright smile on his face.

Alaric gave him a side glance, his half-lid eyes fixing on the man’s face, before asking, "What about those not here for the selection?" He asked calmly.

The man didn’t pause, nor did his enthusiasm diminish for a second before replying, "Well, isn’t that most fortunate. I wouldn’t want to be that guy, hahaha."

He laughed it off, not wanting to continue that conversation. Alaric, unbothered, continued with the man. "I see."

"We are here."

Before them was a golden pagoda, towering above them, blocking out the sun.Its foundation alone stretched across the street, vast enough to swallow multiple other pagodas within its shadow. Layer upon layer of immense roofs rose toward the heavens, each tier clad in plates of pure gold that caught the sunlight and shattered it into rivers of molten radiance.Countless bells hung from the upturned eaves. Though each bell was larger than anything he had laid eyes upon, they chimed with crystal clarity whenever the wind passed through the colossal monument. The resulting chorus drifted for miles, transforming the air into a sea of resonant music.Every pillar was carved from golden stone veined with luminous jade, thick as ancient redwoods and engraved with dragons, phoenixes, celestial beasts, and forgotten scriptures. The carvings seemed alive beneath the shifting light, as though entire histories slumbered within the metal.Standing before it, one felt not merely small but insignificant. The pagoda possessed the weight of ages and the majesty of a magnate distilled into a single monument. It seemed less like a building and more like a celestial mountain forged by the gods themselves, a monument raised to challenge the sky and remind all who gazed upon it of the overwhelming grandeur that lay beyond mortal reach.

A gigantic plac at the top held ’THE GOLDEN MERCHANT HOUSE’ in elegant bold calligraphy.

"Magnificent, isn’t it?" He asked Alaric.

"Yes, it is," Alaric replied while he thought. ’But impossible for mortals to have built, just like the city walls and gates.’

Before they could take another step forward, a chubby man in luxurious golden dragon-patterned robes ran towards them, and two workers wearing black-and-white mixed robes ran beside him.

"Ah, elder Xiao, welcome back. Let us help you inside, sir." The chubby man said hurriedly, trying to catch his breath.

"Manager Go, calm down. This young man has been helpful, so he must be rewarded accordingly. Let us go inside." The elder pointed at Alaric.

"No need for a reward, elder, it was no trouble at all helping you. I will drop this inside and be on my way." Alaric said calmly. He didn’t mind doing some good.

"Hahaha, nonsense, young man, come along."

"This..."

Manager Go looked confusedly at the two workers he had brought with him before following them.

Stepping through the towering golden gates, Alaric expected the interior to match the pagoda’s overwhelming grandeur. Instead, he found something far more practical, though no less impressive, after a preliminary scan.The first floor resembled a bustling city market enclosed within a palace. Vast halls stretched in every direction beneath vaulted ceilings supported by colossal golden pillars. Streams of cultivators who are here for the selection flowed between thousands of merchant stalls arranged in neat districts, each marked by hanging silk banners and polished jade plaques. The air carried a mixture of scents: medicinal herbs, freshly forged metal, incense, ink, and exotic spices gathered from distant regions.Sunlight filtered through enormous crystal windows high above, illuminating floating golden lanterns that drifted silently through the air. These lanterns adjusted their brightness throughout the day, ensuring every shelf and display remained perfectly visible.The merchandise was clearly intended for low-level cultivators. Rows upon rows of shelves displayed common spirit herbs sealed within glass containers, basic qi-gathering pills, low-grade talismans, beginner cultivation manuals, ordinary spirit weapons, and protective robes enchanted with simple formations. While none of the items would attract powerful experts, their quality was reliable and their prices fair, making the pagoda a favored destination for new cultivators.The noise of commerce echoed throughout the hall.Merchants enthusiastically demonstrated talismans that emitted sparks of spiritual light. Apprentices hurried between counters carrying crates filled with spirit stones. Young cultivators bargained passionately over the price of medicinal ingredients while experienced shopkeepers negotiated with the calm patience of veterans who had witnessed countless generations pass through their doors.The architecture subtly guided visitors. The lower levels housed the most affordable goods, while gently ascending ramps led toward higher floors where increasingly valuable merchandise could be found. Elegant waterfalls flowed down the center of the building through channels carved into the walls, their spirit-infused waters helping visitors maintain clarity and focus while shopping.Several open courtyards occupied the center of the interior. These spaces contained training grounds where customers could test weapons, evaluate talismans, or practice techniques before making purchases. Nearby stood appraisal halls staffed by knowledgeable elders who could identify treasures and assess the value of rare finds brought in by wandering cultivators.Though the pagoda catered primarily to beginners, there was no sense of cheapness. Every counter was crafted from polished spiritwood. Every floor gleamed like liquid gold. Every detail reflected the wealth and prestige of the organization that owned the structure.It felt less like a marketplace and more like a grand academy of commerce, a place where countless aspiring cultivators took their first steps into the wider cultivation world. Here, fortunes were not measured in legendary treasures or divine artifacts, but in a young cultivator’s ability to purchase their first spirit pill, cultivation manual, or weapon, each transaction carrying the quiet promise of a greater future.

After a brief walk, they arrived at a massive compartment, clearly an office belonging to someone important. Alaric was asked to drop the load at a corner of the space while the elder moved to his table, rummaging through an assortment of items before finally finding what he sought after.

A 4-by-3-inch golden card that clearly held importance by the look on the chubby man’s face. It was gently placed on Alaric’s hands, while he calmly observed it. It was engraved with ’THE GOLDEN MARCHANT HOUSE’.

"This is our very own merchant card, young man. It allows you to purchase items at 50% of the actual price in this marketplace. With this, you are also able to sell items here too. This is my thanks to you for your help, young man." The elder said once again.

"Ah. That’s too generous, elder."

Without having much thought, the elder solved the card in his hands before releasing it.

Alaric clasped his hands and bowed, "Thank you, elder. I will make sure to use it properly." The chubby man’s lips twitched slightly, but he ignored them.

’It’s just as I thought.’