The stone tower was made entirely of black stone blocks, reaching tens of feet high. Its body was covered with complicated runes, which shimmered with a faint spiritual light and radiated a powerful defensive power.
From a distance, the building looked majestic and imposing, making people hesitate to approach it easily.
Gui Yuanzi followed Wu Heng into the stone tower.
He knew that from the moment he stepped into the stone tower, an unknown game had begun.
However, he had no way out. For the sake of the young master and the Guiyuan Sect, even though there was an abyss ahead, he had to face it.
The inside of the stone tower was much more majestic and spectacular than the outside. In stark contrast to the ancient and solemn exterior, the inside was exquisitely and luxuriously appointed, showing the wealth and resources of the Void Merchant Guild.
The first floor was a huge hall, more than three meters high, with countless fist-sized glowing crystals embedded in its dome.
The crystal emitted a soft yet bright light, illuminating the entire hall as if it were daytime, leaving not a single dark corner untouched.
These crystals were not ordinary spiritual crystals, but rather high-grade spiritual crystals that contained abundant spiritual power, and each of them was extremely precious.
There were hundreds of such crystals in the dome, which in itself was enough to show the wealth of the Void Merchant Guild.
On both sides of the hall stood dozens of thick stone pillars, all black and covered with ancient runes.
The runes shimmered with a faint spiritual light, emitting a fierce defensive power that enveloped the entire hall, forming a sturdy defensive barrier.
Neither external attacks nor internal chaos could penetrate this barrier.
The bases of the stone pillars were carved with beautiful patterns, including auspicious dragons and phoenixes, as well as scurrying mythical creatures, all so lifelike that they seemed ready to descend from the pillars at any moment, adding a touch of playfulness to this magnificent hall.
In the center of the hall, there is a long table made of warm white jade with a smooth, mirror-like surface.
On it were several exquisite jade boxes and glass bottles, containing various kinds of spiritual ingredients and pills, which emitted a faint spiritual aura.
Behind the counter stood several monks wearing uniforms. They were all respectful and humble, and received guests who came to trade or entrust their goods to be auctioned in an orderly manner.
Customers came in twos and threes; some asked the price and quality of the goods at the counter, some paced the halls, looking at the surrounding furniture, and some spoke in low voices, discussing the details of the transaction.
Even though it was crowded, the entire hall was neat and without any chaos.
Wu Heng did not linger in the hall for long. He led Gui Yuanzi straight through the hall and towards the inner corridor behind him.
At the entrance of the corridor stood two cultivators wearing black armor. They were tall, with dignified expressions and calm demeanors, both at the peak of the True Immortal Realm.
As soon as he saw Wu Heng approaching, he immediately bowed respectfully and said, “President.”
Wu Heng nodded slightly, said nothing, and continued to walk forward.
Gui Yuanzi followed behind him, his eyes vigilantly observing everything around him.
He could feel that the two cultivators in armor were quite strong, and their auras were extremely cold, which clearly indicated that they were experts who had fought or carried out assassination missions for many years, and were probably Wu Heng’s bodyguards.
This shows that Wu Heng is also very alert.
The corridor was long, with pale blue lights embedded in the walls on both sides. The lamps gave off a dim light, so the lighting was dim enough to barely see the road underfoot.
The floor of the corridor was also paved with bluestone slabs, covered with fine patterns that faintly emitted spiritual energy fluctuations, clearly indicating a simple restriction.
The corridor was winding and winding, with bends every few moments. Walking in it feels like being in a maze, with no end in sight and no sound from the outside world.
Only the sound of their footsteps echoed in the corridor, it sounded very clear and also very oppressive.
Gui Yuanzi’s hands never left the long sword at his waist, and his divine sense was constantly used to closely investigate the movements on both sides of the corridor.
He knew that the corridor, although seemingly calm, might actually be full of danger, and there might be a trap in one corner.
Wu Heng was a smart and cunning man, and no one knew what he was planning. He must always be alert and must not be careless in the slightest.
He didn’t trust Wu Heng at all.
Although the Void Merchant Guild had a good reputation and claimed to offer fair trade, it was ultimately just a place to do business. The merchants were profit-oriented, and in their eyes, there was only profit and no human touch.
Wu Heng’s willingness to tell him about other alternatives, and even bring him here, was definitely not out of kindness; he definitely wanted something from him.
Maybe they wanted the treasures he had, maybe they wanted to use them to do something dangerous, or maybe it was all a trap, a trap set against him and the young master.
FAQ Novel
Q: Why is Guiyuanzi initially hesitant to follow Wu Heng?
A: Guiyuanzi is wary of Wu Heng’s seemingly helpful offer, suspecting ulterior motives given the Void Merchant Guild’s focus on profit and his belief that there’s ‘no such thing as a free lunch’.
Q: Who advises Guiyuanzi to proceed despite his doubts?
A: The ‘young master,’ whose divine soul resides in a jade bottle, provides crucial advice, reassuring Guiyuanzi that the potential reward is worth the risk, even if it leads to a trap.
What strategic gambits will unfold as Guiyuanzi steps into Wu Heng’s enigmatic invitation?