C24 Nangoong Xuewei!.

Mounts from outside were not permitted within the city walls, but there was a place just outside where one could stable their steeds.

Du Shaomu, without a penny to his name, needed some cash. Instead of stabling his Black Scaled Horse outside Dreamy Cloud City, he pawned it at a place nearby.

Traveling from dawn to dusk, the journey on the Black Scaled Horse would take about four to five hours. Du Shaomu had a laundry list of tasks to accomplish in Dreamy Cloud City.

The previous evening, Du Shaomu had a choppy chat with Liu Tong, mainly to gather information.

Words once spoken, like water thrown, cannot be taken back. With just nine days until his wedding, Du Shaomu naturally had to make arrangements and prepare.

His destination was the Heaven and Earth Pavilion, a place he learned about from Liu Tong the night before. The Pavilion was divided into the Heavenly Pavilion and the Earth Pavilion.

The Heaven and Earth Pavilion's origins were shrouded in mystery, its influence spanning the entire continent. Its crystal cards were exchangeable anywhere across the land.

The Earth Pavilion specialized in selling resources for cultivators, such as medicinal herbs, Heaven and Earth Spiritual Treasures, Treasured Weapons, pills, and even cultivation techniques and martial skills.

The Heavenly Pavilion, on the other hand, was rumored to be the most well-informed entity in the world, controlling numerous Space Wormholes throughout the continent.

The continent was vast beyond measure, comprising one sea, three lands, and six continents.

Each of the six continents was vast in its own right. A Martial Emperor Stage expert, traveling day and night, would still find it challenging to cross a single continent in a month, making Space Wormholes a necessity. However, activating these wormholes consumed a significant amount of crystals and came at a steep cost.

Yet, what the Heavenly Pavilion was most renowned for was not its control over the Space Wormholes, but the Infinite Divine Domain.

The Infinite Divine Domain was divided into the Martial Divine Domain and the Pill God Realm. Within the Martial Divine Domain, martial cultivators could enter a realm so lifelike that every battle felt real, complete with sensations of pain and the presence of death.

In the Martial Divine Domain, challenges between individuals were commonplace. Every advantage a martial cultivator possessed, including martial skills, techniques, and signature moves, could be unleashed to their fullest potential within this realm.

Moreover, the Martial Divine Domain was rife with trials and tribulations. Death within this domain had no real-world consequences, allowing one to face perilous trials without the fear of actual death. Such an advantage was invaluable, driving martial cultivators to the brink of obsession.

Consequently, martial cultivators from across the continent maintained accounts in the Martial Divine Domain.

The Pill God Realm, on the other hand, was the gathering place for Pill Masters. Here, all spiritual medicines and alchemy furnaces were as tangible as those in the real world. For a Pill Master, refining skills were paramount. Yet, no one could guarantee a perfect success rate with each pill concoction. Failures, particularly with high-grade herbs, could be prohibitively costly.

Therefore, practicing pill refinement in the Pill God Realm to gain experience could significantly reduce the failure rate when refining in the real world—a tremendous advantage for any Pill Master.

The Heaven and Earth Pavilion, while widespread across the continent, was not found just anywhere. Within the Dreamy Cloud Ninth City, only a bustling metropolis like Dreamy Cloud City boasted a branch of the Pavilion.

Du Shaomu learned that the Heavenly Pavilion and its counterpart were not yet unified, nor were they located on the same street. He casually entered a shop specializing in medicinal herbs, purchasing some common yet somewhat rare ingredients with the money from pawning his Black Scaled Horse, and also acquired a black cloak and wide robe.

In a deserted alley, unseen by anyone, Du Shaomu reduced several herbs to ashes with the flames in his palm, creating a pool of medicinal liquid. As he applied the liquid to his exposed skin, his appearance transformed before his very eyes. His skin tone shifted, his features altered—eyes narrowing, nose enlarging—and his build slightly more robust.

In mere moments, Du Shaomu had assumed a completely new identity, his hair now streaked with strands of greyish white.

Enshrouded in a black cloak, Du Shaomu was transformed beyond recognition.

The boy of fifteen suddenly appeared as a man in his thirties, with eyes that, though smaller, sparkled with intensity.

A subtle smile curved his lips, revealing a 'disguise skill' Du Shaomu had mastered in his past life.

This technique, still at a basic level, required the aid of medicinal herbs.

Yet, for Du Shaomu, even this rudimentary disguise was sufficient; the average person would be none the wiser.

As dusk fell, the sky bled crimson.

The Heavenly Pavilion stood not in the bustling heart of Dreamy Cloud City, but at its outskirts.

The towering structure loomed majestically, its spire piercing the heavens, exuding an overwhelming presence from a distance.

"Who are you? The Heavenly Pavilion is no place for recklessness, and our deacon does not grant audiences to just anyone."

Access to the Heavenly Pavilion was not granted lightly. Upon arriving at the entrance, Du Shaomu was stopped by a disciple of the Pavilion.

"I need to speak with your manager," Du Shaomu stated.

The disciple's expression darkened. The Heavenly Pavilion was a place of reverence and respect, and here was this man, audaciously demanding to see the manager. In all of Dreamy Cloud Ninth City, few could claim the right to such an audience.

"Do I need to repeat myself? I wish to speak with your manager. Miss this chance, and you may regret the consequences."

Du Shaomu didn't waste time arguing with the disciple. At present, he was merely a Pill Master and Martial Master, but the aura of his former life's soul caused the disciple's spirit to quake.

Sensing the formidable presence emanating from Du Shaomu, the disciple reconsidered. Perhaps this was someone of importance. After all, who else would dare such boldness at the Heavenly Pavilion? With some reluctance, the disciple escorted Du Shaomu inside.

Shortly thereafter, in the seclusion of a VIP room, Du Shaomu met with the Pavilion's steward.

The steward, a robust man in his fifties with a ruddy complexion befitting a martial cultivator, introduced himself while appraising Du Shaomu. "I am the deacon of Heavenly Pavilion, surname Chu. Most refer to me as Steward Chu. And whom do I have the honor of addressing?"

"I've come to the Heavenly Pavilion to propose a collaboration," Du Shaomu said without mincing words, laying out his intentions plainly.

He knew of the vast network the Heavenly Pavilion had across the continent and wanted them to disseminate news that in five days, he would be offering medical consultations at the Pavilion, addressing all manner of complex ailments and even assisting martial cultivators in unlocking their acupoints and meridians.

"May I have the honor of knowing your name?" asked Steward Chu, visibly intrigued by the claim that someone could resolve such intricate issues for cultivators and even aid in opening acupoints and meridians. Was it possible that this individual before him was a Pill Emperor?

"The name is not what matters. What's important is the partnership I'm proposing. Heavenly Pavilion will receive a ten percent share of all profits," declared Du Shaomu.

"I'm afraid I cannot accept this proposal on behalf of the Pavilion. We have a reputation to uphold," Steward Chu replied, his displeasure evident.

Heavenly Pavilion was renowned, and even if a medical expert were to offer consultations, it wouldn't be extraordinary for them. Moreover, the young man before him, barely past thirty, could hardly be expected to possess such profound medical expertise. To claim he could resolve all difficult conditions and unblock meridians was audacious. If the Pavilion were to spread such news and it proved false, they would be the subject of ridicule.

"If you're not the decision-maker, please allow the person next door to take over. If there's no interest, then partnering with Heavenly Pavilion isn't my only option," Du Shaomu responded, unfazed by Steward Chu's attitude.

Steward Chu's expression shifted at those words, and his gaze took on a new intensity.

"Steward Chu, please attend to your duties. I'll speak with our esteemed guest," came a clear, feminine voice from the adjacent room.

With a slight change in his demeanor, Steward Chu excused himself and departed.

To Du Shaomu's surprise, the newcomer was a woman in her mid-twenties, clad in a light blue palace dress, her skirt flowing elegantly behind her, adding a touch of otherworldly grace to her poised figure.

The woman appraised Du Shaomu, her unadorned face radiant with natural beauty. Her captivating eyes sparkled with life, and a subtle smile played upon her red lips. Without a trace of effort, she inquired, "Nangoong Xuewei has the pleasure of meeting this esteemed guest."