The origins of Star-Treasure Pavilion are lost to history. By the time the Five Sacred Lands came into being, Star-Treasure Pavilion already existed. This entity stands outside all the struggles of the Star-River Dominion—some say it even surpasses the Five Sacred Lands themselves.
Rumor has it that countless ages ago, Star-Treasure Pavilion produced a slew of supreme treasures. A noble from one of the Sacred Lands coveted one of them—when he failed to buy it, he tried to kill and rob the Pavilion instead.
But in the end, his entire family was wiped out, and that Sacred Land didn't even dare to protest—they ended up apologizing and sending gifts instead.
That incident alone proves Star-Treasure Pavilion doesn't take part in any struggles within the Star-River Dominion, but its strength is unfathomable.
This Yellow-Blade Star-Region branch of Star-Treasure Pavilion—Evan Chu has visited it more than once before, buying star-boats, warships, and standard legion equipment several times.
Returning this time, Evan Chu was more than familiar with the place.
He found an inn in Yellow-Blade City, settled his women there, and kept gathering intel on the Starry Void Sigil. Meanwhile, he stayed in close contact with messengers from Lance Li, Nathan Star, and Nathan Yates.
Starstones kept flowing in, shipped by Violet Thunder, piling up into a mountain inside Evan's Chaos World.
Evan Chu went alone to the main hall of the Star-Treasure Pavilion branch, pulling out his Purple-Gold VIP Token in front of the guards.
"I want to see Branch Master Horace. Please announce me."
The guards recognized him instantly—a Purple-Gold Guest of Star-Treasure Pavilion. They didn't dare slack off and rushed inside to announce him.
Star-Treasure Pavilion has its own rule: spend enough, and your customer rank rises. From Blue-Stone, Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum, all the way up to Purple-Gold. Above that, there's almost nothing—unless you reach the Crystal Diamond tier, which requires both insane spending and Holy Emperor cultivation.
All Star-Treasure Pavilion branches can check your spending records. Over the past century, Evan Chu has bought mountains of warships and military gear for the Dragon-Chen Legion, burning through Starstones at a terrifying rate.
Thirty years ago, his rank shot up to Purple-Gold. In Evan Chu’s view, Starstones can always be looted or mined again, but every elite legionnaire lost is irreplaceable.
His brothers in arms deserve the best armor, the best weapons, the best star-boats and warships. Otherwise, what right does he have to ask them to follow him into life-and-death battles?
Soon, Branch Master Horace—who’d dealt with Evan Chu many times before—personally came out. Evan was received as a Purple-Gold Guest and invited inside.
"Hahaha! I thought Throne Chu would be too busy, surrounded by a million troops from the Five Dynasties, to attend this auction. Looks like I guessed wrong!"
"Branch Master Horace, you’re looking well as ever. As for me—when I decide to do something, you should know by now, no one can stop me."
"Heh, then what brings Throne Chu here to see me ten days before the auction starts?"
"No need to beat around the bush. I’m here for the Starry Void Sigil!"
As soon as Evan Chu said this, Horace Hong’s expression shifted slightly—but it wasn’t unexpected. From the moment the guards reported in, Horace already knew exactly why Evan had come; in fact, Evan was on his shortlist of likely contenders.
After ten thousand years of silence, Star-Treasure Pavilion is making major moves in the southeastern Star-River Dominion—and the Starry Void Sigil is the centerpiece.
Horace Hong’s cultivation is already at early Holy Emperor, but he doesn’t underestimate Evan Chu in the slightest. In the entire Star-River Dominion, aside from Evan himself and his Dragon-Chen Legion, only Star-Treasure Pavilion understands him this well.
In recent years, Star-Treasure Pavilion’s attention to Evan Chu has gone far beyond the usual intelligence gathering for the dynastic wars. Any scrap of information about him, they hunt down relentlessly—because headquarters has decreed: this man may one day reshape the Star-River Dominion itself!
There’s more than just Evan Chu among the Purple-Gold Guests—over a dozen have come to the Yellow-Blade Star-Region for this event, and more are arriving. But Horace Hong only personally receives one: Evan Chu.
He’s acting on special orders from above: whenever Evan Chu comes to Star-Treasure Pavilion, Horace Hong must personally handle it. Remember, Horace is the branch master here—the top authority in the Yellow-Blade Star-Region, and direct representative of Pavilion headquarters.
Ordinary people—even someone like Malcolm Mo, a Saint Emperor—would struggle to get an audience with Horace Hong.
Horace Hong studied Evan Chu carefully. Truthfully, he wasn’t surprised to see Evan here—Pavilion intelligence had already confirmed that the army besieged by a million troops wasn’t the real Dragon-Chen Legion. The true main force was off doing something that’s driving the Five Dynasties mad with frustration.
But Evan Chu doesn’t know that. If he realized someone else understood the true situation as well as he did, he’d have to re-evaluate what Star-Treasure Pavilion really is.
"Since Throne Chu has spoken plainly, I assume you know the rules."
"Of course. Star-Treasure Pavilion never takes sides in any conflict, but they do all kinds of business—including intelligence, right?"
Evan Chu smiled, then waved his hand—fifty thousand high-grade Starstones landed in front of Horace Hong.
"I want to know: of all those coming to Yellow-Blade Star-Region for the Starry Void Sigil, which ones are worth my attention, and which might qualify to compete with me?"
"Well, as things stand, there are thirteen Purple-Gold Guests, forty-six Platinum Guests, and one hundred thirty-six Gold Guests here for the Starry Void Sigil. In terms of wealth, maybe ten can truly compete with you. If you’d like, I can have their identities recorded and delivered to you later."
"That would be best."
With another wave, Evan Chu placed ten thousand high-grade Starstones before Horace Hong.
Seeing this, Horace Hong gave a helpless smile. "Throne Chu, you’re always so generous—your hush money is several times what anyone else offers. My colleagues envy me; I must look like I’m taking bribes."
"Hahaha! No need to say that, Branch Master Horace. I, Evan Chu, enjoy making friends. The extra is just my tribute to you. In all these years, the intel I’ve bought from you has never let me down—my returns have been far greater than this."
Evan Chu didn’t care in the slightest. If you’re stingy at Star-Treasure Pavilion, you’re the one with the problem.
This so-called hush money is what you pay Star-Treasure Pavilion: whenever anyone comes asking about you, Pavilion staff will never reveal a thing. Only Purple-Gold Guests have this privilege.