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Chapter 498: A Different Kind of Research
Chapter 498: A Different Kind of Research
After making their decision, Lu Chen and his companion parted ways, each heading in a separate direction.
"May I see your invitation token, fellow cultivator?"
As Lu Chen approached the grand entrance of the Duobaolou, a cultivator in the early stages of the Foundation Establishment stage greeted him with a smile.
Upon presenting his gilded invitation token, Lu Chen was granted entry without further hindrance.
The interior of the Duobaolou was even more spacious than it appeared from the outside, resembling a small city. It bustled with activity, as cultivators came and went in great numbers.
There were likely several hundred Foundation Establishment cultivators who had come to attend the Tianyu Treasure Fair, and occasionally, one could even glimpse a cultivator whose profound aura hinted at an even deeper cultivation, likely at the Core Formation stage.
"Senior, are you new here?"
A voluptuous and alluring female cultivator approached him with a flirtatious smile, her clothing revealing more than it concealed, exposing ample amounts of her snow-white skin.
"Yes," Lu Chen nodded slightly.
"The treasure fair hasn't started yet. Senior can choose a room to rest or explore the Duobaolou and enjoy its unique ambiance."
"I think I'll rest for a bit first, the journey here was quite tiring."
Lu Chen was curious about the "unique ambiance" mentioned by the female cultivator, but as he was new to this place, he decided to err on the side of caution and take a moment to relax.
He observed his surroundings and, mimicking others, settled himself on a dark green circular wooden platform.
With a thought, the platform slowly ascended and brought him to an empty room.
"This Duobaolou is full of intricate mechanisms and designs. It's no wonder it was crafted by the Qianji Sect, the most skilled sect in the cultivation world when it comes to mechanisms and puppets."
"Compared to this, my grass puppet, also a product of the Qianji Sect, pales in comparison."
Lu Chen sighed with emotion.
The grass puppet was a second-hand purchase he had made when he was still a Qi Refining cultivator. According to the seller, it originated from the Qianji Sect, sharing the same source as this high-grade Duobaolou.
"However, after nourishing it with Grass Spirit Essence and Naling Spirit Grass Pills for an extended period, the grass puppet has grown and improved significantly."
As he thought about this, Lu Chen pushed open the door to the room.
"Greetings, senior," a unique-looking girl emerged cautiously from the shadows.
The girl had snow-white skin, delicate features, and long silver-white hair that fell to her waist. Her eyes held an innocent and pure expression, like that of a little rabbit.
What caught Lu Chen's attention even more was a snow-white fluffy tail extending from between her legs. The thick fur of the tail looked incredibly soft and fluffy.
It swayed gently in the air, drawing one's gaze irresistibly towards it.
Lu Chen found himself unconsciously drawn to the snowy-white fluffy tail, his eyes glazing over as his thoughts wandered.
As the girl drew closer, a refreshing fragrance wafted from her, snapping Lu Chen back to his senses. A few questions arose in his mind, and he took the opportunity to examine the girl carefully from head to toe once more.
"How was this formed? Is it the result of a crossbreed between a demon and a human? Or perhaps it's the result of a transplant experiment, similar to what the old fox in the forbidden land conducted? Or maybe it's a mutation caused by a unique environmental factor?"
Having raised and trained spiritual beasts extensively, Lu Chen's mind immediately jumped to these possibilities upon seeing the girl.
The white-tailed girl, feeling the intensity of his gaze, became a bit uncomfortable, but due to her training, she did not dare to speak up. She stood there, her fluffy tail fidgeting slightly.
"Senior, is there anything this servant can help you with?"
She asked softly.
"Apologies, I was a bit rude. Seeing you just now made me think of some related research, and I became a bit distracted."
Lu Chen's face showed a hint of apology.
"If...if senior thinks that this servant is satisfactory, you can redeem me from the Duobaolou, and then you are free to research me as you wish."
At his words, the girl trembled involuntarily, a hint of fear flashing in her eyes as she looked at Lu Chen.
Unperturbed, Lu Chen asked, "I'm not very familiar with the Tianyu Treasure Fair or the Duobaolou. Can you tell me more about them?"
"Yes, senior," the long-tailed girl with fluffy tails replied hastily, afraid to displease Lu Chen and end up as his research subject.
"Since the cultivators with invitation tokens are coming from different distances or may be delayed by other matters, the treasure fair won't officially start until tomorrow," she explained.
"During this time, you can explore the Duobaolou, which is divided into three parts. The bottom two parts are used for the treasure fair, one illuminated and the other hidden."
"For the illuminated section, the displayed treasures must have detailed information, including their grade, unique characteristics, and functions."
"As for the hidden section, there are no such requirements. It contains all sorts of strange and mysterious unknown treasures. You may find immense opportunities there to soar to greater heights, or you may end up wasting your spirit stones on useless items."
"It all depends on your discernment and luck."
"As for the topmost part of the Duobaolou, it belongs to the several major powers that control the Duobaolou. There, you can purchase a large number of relatively common high-grade treasures and also experience the dual cultivation techniques of sects like the Union of Bliss Sect."
As she mentioned this, the girl slightly raised her head, her eyes shimmering with a watery light as she glanced at Lu Chen before quickly lowering her eyelids again.
"That's the den of debauchery and hedonism," Lu Chen commented briefly.
From the girl, he learned that every room had a presence similar to hers. The cultivators in the rooms could be changed at will, or they could be redeemed from the Duobaolou, granting them complete dominion.
After gaining some insight into the treasure fair, Lu Chen left the girl in the room and ventured out into the spacious floor of the tower, which resembled a street.
"Hmm, a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator of the evil path?" Lu Chen mused as a thin and gaunt elderly man passed by. The old man's neck was wrapped in yin energy, and a dark green infant ghost could be seen clinging to it.
"Another one," he added as a skinny middle-aged cultivator approached. The man's arms hung low, revealing that they were formed from countless slimy tentacles entwined together. His robe undulated strangely, exuding an eerie aura.
Lu Chen couldn't help but marvel at the number of evil cultivators he had encountered in the Duobaolou, more than he had seen in his entire life.
Suddenly, a brilliant idea struck him, and he stopped in his tracks, a wild joy filling his heart.
"With so many evil cultivators openly present in the Duobaolou, it means that I can freely exchange and sell various treasures that they require without any restrictions from the rules of the righteous path."
"The rewards I obtained from the strange spirit plants and the light spheres will finally have a use!" Lu Chen thought excitedly.
The rewards from the mature strange spirit plants and the light spheres tended to be rather sinister, and he had been concerned about dealing with them within his sect or in Jianmen Town, fearing that it might draw unwanted attention.
But in the Duobaolou, with evil cultivators roaming freely and in large numbers, he could openly sell the Holy Infant Pills and Black Yin Pills without any worries.
(End of Chapter)
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