"What does this place sell?" Yang Kai looked up to see three large characters inscribed on a signboard above the shop entrance.
"Opening Heaven Hall!"
Once inside, Yang Kai understood what kind of business Opening Heaven Hall was in — it was also a place that sold Yin-Yang Five Elements materials, only its scale and presentation were on a completely different level from the chaotic stalls outside.
Following behind Die You as she browsed the first floor, Yang Kai found himself dazzled. The entire level was packed with counters, and inside each one, transparent vessels held materials condensed from the power of Yin-Yang and the Five Elements, available in vast quantities and every variety imaginable. The prices, however, were a touch higher than those of the goods displayed at the outdoor stalls.
Even so, transactions were being struck left and right here, with customers settling up with the Seven Mysteries Ground disciples who wore robes of seven colors.
"Are these all First Grade?" Yang Kai asked in a low voice. Over the course of his journey, he had developed a sense for how these materials were ranked by grade. After a circuit around the floor, he found that every material on this level was First Grade.
Die You nodded. "The first floor is First Grade, the second floor is Second Grade, and the third floor is Third Grade!"
Yang Kai's eyes lit up. "They sell Third Grade materials here?" By his earlier calculations, Third Grade materials would cost over fifteen thousand Opening Heaven Pills — a sum that, for someone of menial-worker status, was nothing short of astronomical.
At a menial worker's wages, one would need to save for at least five thousand years to afford it. But what menial worker could go that long without spending a single Opening Heaven Pill on food or supplies? And no menial worker could realistically labor here for five thousand years.
"Want to take a look?" Die You asked with a smile.
Yang Kai replied, "Since we're already here, of course I want to see it."
"Then let's go." Die You beckoned and led Yang Kai up the stairs.
They didn't linger on the second floor, heading straight for the third. The third floor was noticeably smaller than the first, and far fewer materials were on display. Presumably, Seven Mysteries Ground knew that it was extremely difficult for menial workers to purchase Third Grade materials — there was little point in stocking too many. A modest selection gave the menial workers just enough hope to keep them motivated in their work.
Yang Kai couldn't help but suspect that the materials on this third floor were like the carrot dangled in front of a donkey cart…
"Take your time looking around," Die You said with a smile. "As long as you don't touch anything, no one will bother you."
Yang Kai nodded and strolled with his hands clasped behind his back.
There were also Seven Mysteries Ground disciples stationed on the third floor, but just as Die You had said, so long as he didn't touch anything, they wouldn't say a word.
He paused before each counter, carefully committing the characteristics of the Third Grade materials to memory, his pace unhurried.
For someone who intended to refine the wood element of the Five Elements using the Ageless Tree, these Third Grade materials naturally didn't interest him. Although he had only just set foot in the world beyond the boundaries of the universe, Yang Kai had set his sights high from the very start. Even if it was for the sake of the Ageless Tree, he would find materials worthy of matching it before condensing his power and advancing to Opening Heaven.
Otherwise, such a fine beginning would be nothing but a waste.
He had come here mainly for the novelty.
The third floor didn't take long to cover. Before long, Yang Kai had finished his rounds. He looked up and saw Die You standing before a counter, so he walked over.
Following her gaze, he saw a bizarre object resting inside the counter — a mass that continuously twisted and shifted its shape, brimming with the power of the metal element. Longing filled Die You's eyes.
Yang Kai's heart stirred. He lowered his voice. "You want to buy this?"
Die You turned to glance at him and smiled. "Finished looking?"
Yang Kai nodded. "Finished. There wasn't much to see, really." The moment these words left his mouth, he felt a sharp gaze fall upon him. He looked up to find one of the Seven Mysteries Ground disciples guarding the third floor staring at him with a mocking expression, likely because his remark had come across as quite the tall claim. After all, for any menial worker, everything here was priced beyond reach — precious few could actually afford to buy anything. The words "not much to see" certainly had the ring of sour grapes.
What the disciple didn't know was that for Yang Kai, beyond the novelty factor, there truly wasn't much worth looking at here.
"How many Opening Heaven Pills is this thing?" Yang Kai asked.
"Sixteen thousand!" Die You replied. She had clearly inquired about the price long ago, and it was a bit higher than Yang Kai's earlier estimate. But that couldn't be helped — Seven Mysteries Ground was the only place open to menial workers where Third Grade materials could be purchased at all. Scarcity commanded a premium, and a slight markup was well within the acceptable range.
"Do you have enough?" Yang Kai tilted his head toward her.
Die You laughed. "How could it possibly be enough? I don't even have three-tenths of it."
Yang Kai frowned. "But this is only a Third Grade material…"