C13 Vault of Wonders

"A darksteel longsword for only ten gold coins!" someone called out.

"Five bottles of mosquito repellent for just one gold coin!" another vendor shouted.

"A bottle of vulnerary or styptic powder for a mere three gold coins!" echoed another voice.

Along the bustling streets of Duskhaven, numerous vendors hawked their wares. Despite the approaching twilight, the streets were still teeming with people.

"We've arrived at the Vault of Wonders," Chu Lin announced.

Chu Lin and Yang Hu paused before a particularly distinctive pavilion.

"The Vault of Wonders is the most prestigious marketplace in Duskhaven. You can sell your treasures to them or purchase some of their own. Their motto is 'No treasure we can't acquire, no treasure we can't sell.' Whether it's weapons or pills, the quality of goods at the Vault of Wonders surpasses anywhere else in Duskhaven," Yang Hu explained.

"Let's check it out," Chu Lin suggested, eager to step inside.

Yang Hu hastily grabbed Chu Lin's arm, "Chu, the items in the Vault of Wonders are too pricey for us."

Chu Lin hesitated briefly but remained resolute. "Tiger, you go ahead and buy what we need for Raven's Pass. I may not have money, but I'll take a look at the treasures to widen my perspective. We'll meet up at the crossroads shortly."

With that, Chu Lin strode into the Vault of Wonders.

Upon entering, Chu Lin was greeted by a refreshing atmosphere. He observed three rows of display cases in the vast hall: the first brimming with various panaceas and pills, the second with beast cores, and the third showcasing an array of weapons.

The Vault of Wonders was sparsely populated, a stark contrast to the lively streets outside.

As Chu Lin walked in, a saleswoman in uniform glanced his way. After a brief look, she averted her eyes, her expression one of disdain.

Xu Jiaofeng had once been the sales team leader at Redband's Vault of Wonders, enjoying a comfortable life. But two days prior, she aspired to marry into wealth and power in Redband. Unfortunately, her dreams crumbled when her affair with a prominent man was uncovered by his wife, leading to a scandalous fallout. Her conduct was deemed disgraceful by the Redband's Vault of Wonders, resulting in her demotion to a sales clerk position in Duskhaven.

Today marked Xu Jiaofeng's inaugural visit to the Vault of Wonders in Duskhaven.

Duskhaven paled in comparison to the bustling Redband, making it feel like a backwater town. Understandably, Xu Jiaofeng was in a foul mood, which she promptly took out on Chu Lin as he entered.

"Nowadays, even the poor think they can stroll into the Vault of Wonders. Is this place mistaken for a resting house?" she sneered, eyeing Chu Lin's modest attire.

Chu Lin's brow creased at her words, yet he remained silent and made his way to the display case.

The Violet Spirit Flower was tagged at 500 gold coins, the Rootless Tendril at 200, and the Frosty Spring Core at 600.

"I didn't expect to find such a trove of valuable panaceas in Duskhaven. These are all medium-grade, first-level panaceas," Chu Lin remarked, astonished.

Panaceas and pills were categorized from first to fifth level, each with sub-ranks of upper, middle, and lower. The higher the rank, the more treasured the item. While these were only first-level panaceas, they would undoubtedly stir excitement in Ironhold.

"A formidable power must back the Vault of Wonders, or it would have been plundered by now," Chu Lin mused. The Broken Copper within him had caused many panaceas to wither, so he avoided lingering near the panacea cabinet. He moved on, approaching a cabinet brimming with weapons.

"Are you buying or not? This is the Vault of Wonders. If it's beyond your means, then leave!" Xu Jiaofeng scoffed.

"Is this how the Vault of Wonders welcomes its patrons?" Chu Lin retorted with a cold snort. The woman's provocations ignited his ire. He had barely set foot in the establishment and had already faced her scorn twice. Regardless of the Vault of Wonders' reputed exclusivity, as Yang Hu had described, such treatment of customers was inexcusable.

Xu Jiaofeng gave Chu Lin a sidelong glance and sneered, "Country bumpkin, do you really think you're a guest here? Can you even afford anything in the Vault of Wonders?"

Chu Lin couldn't help but smile in the face of such condescension. He pulled a finely crafted porcelain bottle from his pocket and set it on the table. "I've heard that the Vault of Wonders can purchase anything. Let's not worry about whether I can afford their items; I'm more curious to see if the Vault of Wonders in Duskhaven can afford what I have."

Xu Jiaofeng was momentarily taken aback, but she quickly resumed her scornful demeanor. "I've seen plenty of country folk like you trying to cling to their dignity back in Redband. But they all met with unfortunate ends."

She gestured toward a closed door nearby, her gaze dripping with contempt. "Behind that door is Mo Gang, the chief appraiser for the Vault of Wonders. If you're brave enough, take your worthless bottle and push through that door. If you're a coward, leave now. And don't say I didn't warn you—Master Mo Gang is not to be provoked. If you bring him garbage, he'll get angry and might just break your legs."

"Appraiser?" Chu Lin mused upon hearing this.

The bottle he held was filled with a diluted solution of ichor, derived from Broken Copper. Chu Lin had noticed that the spiritual energy of the ichor had weakened, but after it had absorbed a vast amount of spiritual energy from the panacea in the herbal garden, its potency had significantly increased, surpassing its original concentration. Even diluted, such a gentle and side-effect-free ichor was undoubtedly a treasure.

It wasn't an overstatement to say that if he offered an undiluted bottle of ichor as a trade, he could easily purchase everything on this entire floor of the Vault of Wonders.

His initial intention in visiting the Vault of Wonders was indeed to sell a bottle of the diluted ichor. He could exchange it for money and also have an authoritative figure confirm its value. But the mention of the appraiser by the spiteful woman had given Chu Lin pause.

The appraiser must be someone with extensive knowledge and formidable strength.

"Why are you just standing there? Are you having second thoughts?"

Xu Jiaofeng saw Chu Lin's hesitation and smirked with self-satisfaction. She seized the moment to mock him further.

But at that moment, Chu Lin had reached a decision. He pushed the door open and stepped inside.