Chapter 111: The Store’s Prized Treasure

Fan Li was focused on admiring the merchandise when he was startled by Hanyue’s sudden scream.

He had thought, for a moment, that she was about to strike at him! But upon hearing the words "so expensive," he felt a mix of annoyance and amusement. Expensive? It was only 9.99 million spirit stones. And what were spirit stones? They were the common currency of cultivators, yet once they accumulated to a certain point, their value depreciated severely. It was just like the core technological patents that were monopolized in his previous life—true treasures that money simply could not buy. To Fan Li, these clearly priced spiritual garments were nothing more than ordinary goods.

Suddenly, a thought crossed his mind, and he guessed the truth. He turned to look at the Holy Maiden Hanyue, seeing her so mortified by her loss of composure that she had turned her back, not daring to face him.

"Holy Maiden, what do you think of these five outfits? If you like them, I can buy them all..."

"No!"

Hanyue misunderstood. She thought Fan Li intended to buy them all, leaving not a single one for her. Though anxious, she felt helpless. She simply did not have enough spirit stones to purchase even one of the five garments. She had already spent most of her savings during their shopping trip. It was hard to believe, but although the Pure Land of Brahma was known as a sacred sanctuary that sheltered the suffering women of the world—where all were sisters, sharing in both glory and loss—most practitioners within the Pure Land lived lives of extreme simplicity and frugality.

How much wealth did the Pure Land possess? Hanyue did not know. The Supreme Holy Maiden, Yaoguang, was the sole keeper of the treasury. As a fellow Holy Maiden, Hanyue only received a fixed quota of resources each year, including magical artifacts, pills, and spirit stones. Furthermore, she practiced only the sword and engaged in no trade, nor did she go hunting for treasures; whatever the Pure Land distributed to her was the extent of her entire fortune.

"No?" Fan Li scratched his head. "I intended to buy all five and gift them to you. Are they not to your liking?"

"Ah..." The Holy Maiden was stunned. He wanted to give such expensive treasures to her? She shook her head. Fan Li was a man she was destined to kill; how could she accept his favors? *He must have ulterior motives. Is he trying to bribe me into betraying the Pure Land?* she thought, feeling a surge of anger. Could the years of sisterhood she shared with the other Holy Maidens be compared to a few Earth-grade treasures? She even felt as though Fan Li was intentionally humiliating her.

"Hmph!"

"As the Sword Holy Maiden of the Pure Land, do you think I would covet such worldly trifles?" she declared. "If the Duke of Jin still wishes to shop, feel free to do so! I am feeling somewhat weary and shall return to the Honglu Temple. Farewell!"

With those words, the Holy Maiden Hanyue flicked her sleeves and swept away.

The old shopkeeper of the Cloud Embroidery Workshop was left dumbfounded. A Holy Maiden of the Pure Land? Could it be the legendary Pure Land of Brahma, home to the most powerful female practitioners in the world? The breathtakingly beautiful woman who had just lost her composure was actually a Holy Maiden and an expert of the Great Vehicle Realm? No wonder his barrier had been like paper before her!

As for the young man before him... the Duke of Jin? The old shopkeeper had heard that the Great Chu mission had arrived in Chang'an and that the head envoy was none other than Fan Li, the Duke of Jin and Chancellor of Great Chu. He had never imagined that the Cloud Embroidery Workshop would receive such distinguished guests, and he had nearly been negligent!

"Honored Guest." The old shopkeeper did not dare to openly address Fan Li’s status, maintaining an even more humble posture, even though Fan Li only possessed the cultivation of the Qi Refining Realm. "The Cloud Embroidery Workshop is honored by your presence. If you fancy these few Earth-grade top-tier garments, our shop is willing to offer them at a fifty-percent discount."

Fan Li paused. "Oh?" A fifty-percent discount? This was a significant reduction—it might even be the cost price, leaving no room for profit. But given his status, it was reasonable for the workshop to want to curry favor with him. After all, the workshop’s business within the Great Chu depended entirely on the patronage of the Fan Trading Firm.

"Very well," Fan Li nodded. "Pack them all up."

"As you wish." The old shopkeeper was not surprised by Fan Li’s spending power. Anyone who hesitated to choose between five Earth-grade treasures would not be worthy of the illustrious title of the Duke of Jin of Great Chu.

"Beyond these five, your shop must still have treasures you haven't brought out yet," Fan Li asked with a smile. "Am I correct?" He stared at the old shopkeeper, his confident gaze piercing through everything.

"Your insight is keen, Honored Guest," the old shopkeeper admitted, not daring to hide anything. He remained secretly shocked; despite being so young and having such low cultivation, this man held the power of a nation. This Duke of Jin was truly no ordinary mortal! How could he have seen through the fact that the shop’s true treasure was hidden on the third floor?

Seeing the man’s surprise, Fan Li did not act arrogant. After all, this was the flagship store of the Cloud Embroidery Workshop, and it was overseen by an old shopkeeper at the ninth level of the Spirit Severing Realm. A few Earth-grade garments were not worthy of being the store’s centerpiece. There had to be a Heaven-grade item. He had his own calculations for wanting to gift those five garments to Hanyue earlier, but he was determined to secure the true treasure of the shop!

"Please forgive me, Honored Guest," the old shopkeeper said nervously. "There is one treasure on the third floor, but it cannot be purchased with spirit stones."

Fan Li laughed upon hearing this: "What I want is exactly the kind of treasure that no amount of spirit stones can buy!"

"Then..." The old shopkeeper swallowed hard, testing the waters. "It is the Heaven-grade first-tier 'Purple Ribbon Gown.' Below the Integration Realm, none can break its defense; at the Integration Realm, it will be damaged but not destroyed, and it can withstand three strikes from a first-tier Great Vehicle Realm expert, ensuring the wearer remains completely unharmed."

"Might I ask, Honored Guest, what is your offer?"

Upon hearing the description, Fan Li inwardly exclaimed, *Holy cow!* As expected of a Heaven-grade first-tier item, its defensive capabilities were astonishing! It was a pity, however, that it was women's clothing. If Fan Li could wear it, even the likes of Eunuch Chen from the Imperial Palace of Great Chu would find it extremely difficult to kill him. Such a treasure was rare and hard to find! Fan Li didn't even dare to hope that a male version of the "Purple Ribbon Gown" existed in the world.

*I must buy it no matter what! Should I give it to Yuehua, Wuzhui... or perhaps Xiang Ning? Damn it, there is only one.*

*The system's reward, 'The Emperor's Undergarment,' is also a Heaven-grade treasure and should be no less impressive than the 'Purple Ribbon Gown,' but unfortunately, the quest isn't complete yet.*

While debating internally, Fan Li calculated the cost. He looked at the old shopkeeper and said word for word, "For the next ten years, the Fan Trading Firm will grant the Cloud Embroidery Workshop unlimited procurement of all material supplies."

"Really!?" The old shopkeeper was instantly moved. The Cloud Embroidery Workshop possessed top-tier craftsmanship and embroiderers with deep cultivation, but they lacked rare materials. Some of these raw materials were not produced within the Great Han at all! If the Fan Trading Firm opened its procurement channels, the workshop would be able to weave at least three more Heaven-grade garments comparable to the "Purple Ribbon Gown" within ten years!

"Agreed!" The old shopkeeper, without even needing to consult his superiors, made the decision on the spot. "A promise from an honored guest is worth a thousand gold pieces; the Cloud Embroidery Workshop accepts this deal!"

...

Hanyue left the workshop, but she did not return to the Honglu Temple. She felt restless and wandered aimlessly through Chang'an. She had lost all interest in enjoying the scenery. It was only when a new moon hung in the sky that she realized how much time had passed and hurried back to her residence.

"What is this?"

Upon entering her room, she was astonished to find five sandalwood boxes placed on her bedside. She opened them one by one, and the expression on her face turned incredibly strange—at times delighted as if she had found a priceless treasure, and at others, frustrated and annoyed. For there, resting in the boxes, were the five Earth-grade treasures from the Cloud Embroidery Workshop.