Spirit Stones for the Taking

Shen Jingchuan was startled. His first thought was that the secret of his personal space had been exposed. He composed himself and stammered in a flustered manner, "Senior Sister, how... how did you know I was cultivating?"

Seeing his nervous expression, Yan Shuyao couldn't help but laugh:

"Silly junior brother, you've already Qi Refining Second Layer, yet you can't contain your Spiritual Power energy. Anyone with a little cultivation knowledge can tell at a glance. Qi Gazing Technique is the most basic Law Technique in the cultivation world. What, didn't your teacher teach you that?"

Shen Jingchuan shook his head:

"Senior sister, to be honest, I did have a fortuitous opportunity and obtained a cultivation Method Formula. I tried to cultivate on my own, and I had no idea there was such a way."

Seeing that he didn't even know such a minor Law Technique, Yan Shuyao realized he must have practiced on his own. She then pulled out a palm-sized booklet from her sleeve and pushed it towards him.

"Here, these are some minor Law Technique commonly used by cultivators when I first started practicing. The first page is the method for Qi Gazing Technique. Now that your Divine Sense is formed, just try it by following the qi circulation route and you'll get it."

Shen Jingchuan opened the booklet, focused his Mnemonic and circulated his energy according to the incantation. When he looked up again, he indeed saw Yan Shuyao surrounded by a faint halo of Spiritual Power, but he couldn't discern the depth of her cultivation. He wondered:

"I can sense that you have cultivation, but I can't tell which level it is."

"You can't see through someone with a higher cultivation level than yourself using the Qi Gazing Technique." Yan Shuyao's lips curved into a smile. "I'm only at the Qi Refining Third Layer, so naturally you can't see through me."

Shen Jingchuan then realized, "So that's how it is."

Yan Shuyao then briefly explained the whole story:

When she was six years old, a wandering immortal master, admiring the talent of the Great Confucian Yan, visited her and, during the meal, casually tested her and her brother's Spirit Roots.

Her brother had no Spirit Roots, but she discovered that he had a low-grade Five Phases Spirit Root.

The immortal master said that such talent would not be accepted by any sect, and that it would be difficult for him to achieve great things. Out of respect for Great Confucian Yan, he left him a basic Cultivation Method and a few rudimentary Law Technique before taking his leave.

Great Confucian Yan was very disappointed, and since there was no cultivation lineage in his Lineage, he stopped caring.

The Spiritual Qi in the mortal world is scarce, and she had to cultivate at home on her own, making very slow progress. It wasn't until ten years ago that the Third Princess, who had been cultivating in the sect for more than twenty years without making any progress, returned to the capital.

The Third Princess, who had always loved poetry and literature, visited the Great Confucian Yan and thus got to know her, recognizing her profound knowledge and cultivation.

Thus, the two became close friends despite their age difference. The Third Princess would often give her one or two Spirit Stones, which she would repay with calligraphy and paintings, so she didn't receive the favor for nothing.

Even with the occasional help of Spirit Stones, she only reached the Qi Refining Third Layer six years ago, and has been stuck at that level ever since. The Third Princess said that without the help of elixirs, it would be difficult for her to make any further progress in this lifetime.

Shen Jingchuan thought to himself, "No wonder I felt that the Third Princess had an extraordinary temperament when I first met her; it turns out she is also a cultivator."

Yan Shuyao changed the subject, looking up at him. "There's something else I want to ask you. Are the pocket watches and wristwatches sold in the Zhou Household's shop in the Capital supplied by you?"

Shen Jingchuan was startled again and blurted out, "Senior Sister, you know about this too?"

"You gave one to me, my father, and the third princess back then, how could I not recognize it?"

Yan Shuyao curved her lips into a smile:

"This thing suddenly became very popular in the capital recently. The Zhou Household shop priced it at 1,200 taels of silver per piece. Officials and wealthy people considered it an honor to wear one, and it became a rare item to show off their status."

When the Third Princess heard the news and rushed over, there were only a dozen or so items left in the shop. She bought them all and immediately took them to the cultivation market to sell. They were all sold out in just two days.

She paused, then continued:

"The Third Princess said that this thing is very useful for cultivators. It can be used for alchemy, setting up formations, crafting weapons, and daily life. It is a hundred times more convenient than an hourglass or sundial. There is a huge shortage of it in the market."

She guessed the goods originated from you, and specifically asked me to inquire whether you could supply in large quantities? Payment would be made in Spirit Stones, not silver.

Shen Jingchuan's heart skipped a beat. In modern times, there would be countless of these things; exchanging them for Spirit Stones would be practically free.

He suppressed his inner elation and simply nodded without showing any emotion.

"I can figure out a way to source the goods. If payment is made in Spirit Stones, the Lineage will take it very seriously, and large-scale supply won't be a problem. I just don't know how the Spirit Stone conversion is calculated?"

Yan Shuyao replied:

"The exchange rate in the market is that one Low-Grade Spirit Stone can be exchanged for about one hundred taels of gold or one thousand taels of silver. The Third Princess said that as long as the supply can keep up, the standard will be one thousand taels of silver. One Spirit Stone will buy one watch or pocket watch, men's or women's, the same. Is that feasible?"

"Feasible? Absolutely amazing." Shen Jingchuan suddenly felt that getting to know the Yan Household was the greatest fortuitous opportunity he had had since transmigrating.

Seeing him hesitate and remain silent, Yan Shuyao assumed he was dissatisfied with the price, and explained with a smile:

"Junior brother, don't be fooled by the market's apparent exchange rate. One Low-Grade Spirit Stone is worth one hundred taels of gold, but if you actually try to exchange gold for Spirit Stones, they simply won't give it to you."

"In the cultivation world, only Spirit Stones are accepted for settlement. No matter how much gold a cultivator has, it's just a mundane commodity; it can't buy Cultivation Method or pills, nor can it be exchanged for cultivation resources."

She paused, then said:

"If the Third Princess only wanted to earn some spare Spirit Stones, she could simply buy the goods directly from the Zhou Household's shop and resell them at the market; the price difference would be hers. But the Zhou Household's stock is too small and unstable. She guessed that you were the source of the goods, so she specifically asked me to inquire."

She'll only settle accounts with you entirely in Spirit Stones if you can consistently supply her with large quantities, and if she charges spirit stones for her goods. Otherwise, it's absolutely impossible.

Seeing that she had misunderstood, Shen Jingchuan quickly waved his hand to explain, and began to make up a bunch of nonsense:

"No, no, Senior Sister, you've misunderstood. I wasn't trying to overcharge. I was just figuring out how to get this batch of goods delivered safely. Don't worry, I'll contact the Lineage to arrange for more stock; we'll definitely be able to supply it."

Yan Shuyao, hearing his reply, took a brocade pouch embroidered with a subtle pattern from her waist, placed it on the table, and pushed it towards him.

"This is what the Third Princess asked me to bring—thirty Low-Grade Spirit Stones, as a deposit. She asked me to ask you if you can pay the deposit first, and then settle the remaining Spirit Stones with you after all the goods are sold."

Shen Jingchuan was naturally happy to agree, but he didn't immediately give his consent. After hesitating for a moment, he nodded.

"Alright. I trust both Senior Sister and the Third Princess's character, so I'll agree."

He picked up the brocade bag and casually set it aside, showing no intention of opening it to count the money.

Yan Shuyao instead reminded him, "Aren't you going to count them?"

"No need," Shen Jingchuan said frankly. "My senior sister delivered them herself, so what's there to worry about? Here's what I'll do: I'll prepare a hundred watches for you later. Take them to the market to sell first, and we'll settle the accounts after you've sold them all."

Yan Shuyao was very satisfied to see that he was so quick to trust her.

At this point, the two realized that it was already past lunchtime. Shen Jingchuan immediately got up, opened the door, and instructed the waiter downstairs to quickly bring up the prepared food.