The golden hall exuded extravagance, the entire space shimmering under the crystal chandeliers hanging high in the ceiling. A five-meter-wide staircase covered with a red carpet stretched forward.
After walking along the red carpet for a while
, a spacious hall appeared before them. The space was divided into dozens of areas, each labeled with a different category.
However, Qian Xunji did not enter the hall.
The items here were quite ordinary, all common things found outside. So the two did not linger, but went directly to the elevator platform at the back.
Here, several girls in long dresses were also there, responsible for helping guests set up and down the floors.
Before Qian Xunji and his companion could even approach, one of the young women slowly walked over, a professional smile on her face, and asked, "Distinguished guests, which floor would you like to go to?"
Qian Xunji asked, "Which floor sells clothes and accessories?" "
Distinguished guests, floors six through eight sell exotic costumes. We have a complete selection, and the designs are all by famous designers. We guarantee your satisfaction," the young woman explained.
Qian Xunji smiled slightly and nodded slowly, saying, "Thank you, then we'll go to the sixth floor."
Qian Xunji's sudden smile was like a breath of fresh air, especially when combined with his devilishly handsome face, it was simply irresistible. The young women blushed upon seeing this, avoiding his gaze.
As hostesses at the Seven Treasures Pavilion, they were used to being groped or treated like lecherous men. They dared not resist; they were just ordinary people, powerless to fight back. Most of the guests were of high status, either nobles or Soul Masters. If they were lucky enough to be chosen by a noble, they could become his concubine, living a life of comfort and ease. If they were unlucky, even if they were tortured to death, the nobles would only compensate them with a few gold soul coins.
Such was the way of this era: human life was cheap, class divisions were stark, and this was the fate of the lower classes.
Qian Xunji arrived on the sixth floor, and what he saw was a dazzling expanse of gold: a wide, magnificent passageway, its luxurious decoration breathtaking. The passageway was over ten meters wide, paved with precious ivory-white jade bricks. Every ten meters on either side, there was a pair of pillars of the same material, carved with exquisite patterns, and the walls seemed to be wrapped in gold leaf.
The carvings on the walls were intricate and ornate. Qian Xunji, with his powerful spiritual energy, was immediately astonished by their exquisite detail. This was merely for decorating the walls! It was unimaginable how much more exquisite the interior would be. At
the top of the passageway,
magnificent crystal chandeliers hung down, yet there was no sense of oppression, despite the passageway's height of five meters. The soft, bright yellow light, reflected off the golden walls on either side, created a three-dimensional golden world that would dazzle anyone.
Upon closer inspection, rows upon rows of clothing and accessories were displayed in a dazzling array, and combined with the bright yellow lighting, it felt like being in a king's palace.
Qian Xunji turned to look at Jiang Hao, only to see the simple-minded boy looking utterly bewildered, his mouth wide open, pupils slightly constricted, clearly extremely shocked.
"Stop looking at this. You look like you've never seen the world before. This is what life is like for the upper class in Douluo Continent—extravagant and corrupt. And this is just a peripheral main city. Imagine what the capital of the Heaven Dou Empire must be like," Qian Xunji said.
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"Then why is it that we commoners, working diligently every day, live in poverty and hunger, while nobles, who never engage in production, are rolling in wealth? Why is that, big brother? Can you tell me?" Jiang Hao clenched his fist, his eyes filled with determination, and looked at Qian Xunji.
Qian Xunji's eyes showed admiration. Jiang Hao was very clever; he had grasped this question at such a young age. It was just a pity that his world was still too narrow and needed proper nurturing. So Qian Xunji said,
"I didn't expect you to think of this. That's very good. However, I won't tell you the answer. You need to discover and understand it yourself. What I'm telling you is just my opinion. Only when you truly understand this question will you truly understand this world. Jiang Hao, your talent is remarkable. I have high hopes for you." With that, Qian Xunji gently patted Jiang Hao's shoulder and walked away.
Watching Qian Xunji walk away, Jiang Hao carefully considered what Qian Xunji had just said to him and secretly vowed: I will definitely find the answer, I promise!
Qian Xunji browsed the clothes with great interest, gesturing occasionally. She called Jiang Hao over to ask what kind of clothes he liked. Jiang Hao lowered his head meekly, and Qian Xunji, assuming he didn't like them, led him to the seventh floor.
Unbeknownst to Qian Xunji, Jiang Hao's eyes were red-rimmed, his body trembling. He wondered to himself, "Why is he so good to me? I'm just an orphan, a commoner. Perhaps if it weren't for this encounter, I would never have met him." Jiang Hao secretly vowed to repay Qian Xunji, and from that moment on, Qian Xunji became a part of his life.
Unlike the somewhat cluttered sixth floor, the seventh and eighth floors were more organized and smaller, but the items there were far more exquisite and expensive, appearing incredibly luxurious.
The entire hall had ten rows of display cases, each with dozens of display stands. A semi-circular glass dome covered the display case, showcasing various rare and precious items collected by the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School. The spacing between each row of cabinets was quite wide, enough for three people to pass side by side. Everything on display was undeniably valuable. However, the VIPs who entered the seventh floor generally possessed considerable wealth and usually purchased several interesting items.
At this moment, the young woman approached Qian Xunji and said, "Esteemed guest, is there anything I can help you with?"
Qian Xunji thought for a moment and said, "First, find him some clothes that fit him well. The size should be right, comfortable, and neither too extravagant nor too plain." Qian Xunji pointed to Jiang Hao and said to the young woman.
"Okay, please follow me," the young woman smiled.
Qian Xunji and the young woman followed the young woman to the counter and waited quietly. Soon, the young woman brought out the clothes for Jiang Hao to try on. The clothes were entirely black, with gold patterns embroidered at the hem. These gold patterns strangely formed a design, and the cuffs and collar were cleverly designed. Wearing them, Jiang Hao looked even more shrewd and capable, radiating youthful spirit. Qian Xunji nodded in satisfaction and said to the girl,
"Give me ten sets, preferably a little larger, so he can wear them later."
The girl glanced at Jiang Hao with envy, her meaning unspoken. Those clothes were no ordinary items; they must have cost at least tens of thousands of gold soul coins. That man spent them without batting an eye. The girl nodded and said, "Okay."
Qian Xunji felt a gaze upon him, turned around, and found Jiang Hao looking at him with gratitude. Qian Xunji paused for a moment, then said, "Alright, don't look at me like that. If you're truly sincere, you should cultivate diligently and repay me with your strength."
Jiang Hao said, "I know, I will definitely not let you down, big brother, I definitely will."
Qian Xunji nodded, reached out and patted Jiang Hao's head, saying, "Jiang Hao, remember, everyone comes into this world for a purpose. If you encounter difficulties in the future, don't give up; you must overcome them. This is my advice to you; you must keep it in mind."
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