Risking the Journey Out of the Market

After leaving the office, Shen Jingchuan did not return to his cave abode.

With True Person Moxuan temporarily stabilized, he felt more confident and bolder. He continued to buy and sell goods in the market, and his business was much more open than before.

Before he knew it, it was noon. He decided not to go back, grabbed a quick bite on the street, and continued strolling around. He kept busy like this until dusk, almost dinnertime, before slowly making his way back to his cave abode.

Back at the cave abode, Huan'er had already prepared a meal, and the three of them ate together. During the meal, he didn't mention a word about being invited by the True Person during the day, chatting and laughing as if nothing had happened.

After finishing his meal, he returned to his room, closed the door behind him, and first activated the Spirit Gathering Formation Plate. A layer of soft spiritual light enveloped the entire room, preventing any external Divine Senses from penetrating.

He then tallied up his gains for the day, including what he earned in the morning, totaling over 42,000 Low-Grade Spirit Stones, as well as a large quantity of mid-grade pills and talismans.

With a thought, Shen Jingchuan summoned Xian'er's soul, counted out 40,000 Spirit Stones, and sent them into the space of his Heaven and Earth Ring.

Xian'er looked at the pile of Spirit Stones that resembled a small mountain and raised an eyebrow:

"Wow, you made quite a bit of money on this trip."

"It's alright," Shen Jingchuan chuckled.

"Don't be too happy yet." Xian'er wasn't as relaxed as him. "I still have to remind you, your current strength is too weak. No matter how many Spirit Stones you earn, you still need to be alive to spend them."

"Sister, I know." Shen Jingchuan's smile faded. "Actually, I've already been exposed. Someone has been watching me for a while now. True Person Moxuan came to see me today to ask about this."

"It's good that you know what's going on."

Xian'er nodded, then changed the subject:

"I heard you talking to those two monks today."

She looked him up and down, and unusually, offered a compliment:

"I didn't realize you had such guts, kid. A mere Qi Refinement Fifth Layer dares to challenge Golden Core True Person like that."

"I was forced into it." Shen Jingchuan scratched his head and chuckled.

"And also--"

Xian'er drawled out her words, teasing him with a half-smile:

"I really didn't realize you were such a good storyteller, you brat. Nascent Soul Ancestor, you just spout it off without even blushing."

"Hey, when you're out in the world, you need some skills to protect yourself, right? Sister, that's a skill in itself, isn't it?"

Shen Jingchuan, shamelessly laughing it off, quickly steered the conversation back on track:

"Sister, you decide how to use these Spirit Stones."

As he spoke, he also sent the large pile of mid-grade pills and talismans into his spatial storage.

Xian'er didn't stand on ceremony and quickly came up with an idea:

"I'll absorb 10,000 first, and then use the remaining 30,000 in the Heaven and Earth Ring to see if I can upgrade the space."

She glanced at the pile of pills and talismans:

"Upgrading these mid-grade goods by one level won't cost many Spirit Stones, and you'll still have a large surplus."

Shen Jingchuan nodded and did as instructed, placing the jade pendant that Moxuan had given him inside as well.

Thirty thousand Spirit Stones were absorbed into the Heaven and Earth Ring, and a faint green light enveloped the pills and talismans. The originally lifeless space was now faintly filled with Spiritual Qi. Wow, that's expensive! It's practically a money-devouring beast.

Fortunately, things are finally changing, but at this rate, I don't know how many Spirit Stones it will take before the Heaven and Earth Ring takes on a new look.

The next morning, Shen Jingchuan went out as usual.

But after visiting only two shops, he realized something was wrong.

When he was buying mid-grade pills and talismans, the prices had quietly risen compared to yesterday; but when he tried to sell high-grade goods, the buyers started to lower the prices and became picky, no longer as straightforward as they had been a few days ago.

Shen Jingchuan knew exactly what was going on.

His aggressive buying and selling spree disrupted the market.

Spirit Creek Market is just a small place, it can't withstand his constant disruptions in a short period of time.

It's time to stop.

He didn't linger, quickly finished a couple more strokes, and returned to his cave abode in the afternoon to greet Xiao Mingshu.

"Sister, don't wait for me for dinner tonight. I'm practicing my Heaven and Earth Ring in my room, so don't let anyone disturb me."

Xiao Mingshu nodded and didn't ask any further questions.

He returned to his room and closed the door. First, he activated the Spirit Gathering Formation Plate, which enveloped the area with spiritual light, preventing any outside probes from entering. Once everything was set up, he teleported back to the modern world with a thought.

Come to think of it, he hasn't come over for several days, and he hasn't had a chance to contact Meng Ke either. That girl must be worried sick.

I made a phone call, and sure enough, the person on the other end was angry, but as soon as I heard his voice, most of the anger subsided.

That evening, the two found a restaurant that Meng Ke had been talking about for a long time and had a sweet and intimate meal. Shen Jingchuan served her food while telling her some trivial anecdotes, making her smile.

Since they had some time to spare after dinner, and there happened to be a newly released movie, the two bought tickets and went in to watch it.

It wasn't until after 10 or almost 11 p. m. that Shen Jingchuan finally dropped Meng Ke off at her apartment building. He watched her go upstairs and the lights come on in her window before turning to leave.

After seeing Meng Ke off, Shen Jingchuan drove back to the West Mountain Separate Garden and then back to his cave abode.

The Spirit Gathering Formation inside the room was still operating quietly. He sat cross-legged on the futon, not in a hurry to practice his skills, but first considered what was to come. Tomorrow, it was time to leave.

He was still worried about Azure Cloud Stronghold. He wouldn't be worried if it were just a regular Government Army siege; what he was really afraid of was the Great Qian Dynasty resorting to cheating if they lost, and secretly sending cultivators to join the fray—that would be a real problem.

He had to go back and oversee this personally; otherwise, he wouldn't feel at ease.

As for Xiao Mingshu, let her stay in the market and cultivate diligently in this Spiritual Qi rich cave abode.

After mentally reviewing the plan to return, and confirming that it should be fine, Shen Jingchuan finally calmed down.

He took out a High-Grade Qi Condensing Pill, tilted his head back and swallowed it, then gently closed his eyes and began to cultivate slowly, circulating the Five Elements Qi Refining Instruction.

The next morning, Shen Jingchuan found Xiao Mingshu:

"Sister, I have to go back today. You and Huan'er stay in the market to cultivate and stay in this cave abode for a while. I'll come back to find you in some time."

Xiao Mingshu was taken aback, and quickly said:

"Are you really going to go alone? I... I'm a little worried about you."

"Sister, what are you afraid of?"

Shen Jingchuan waved his hand:

"I'll travel alone; without the two of you to hold me back, I'll be safer. Don't think you can help just because you're only at the Qi Refining Sixth Layer. The opponent is at the Qi Refining Great Perfection. What good will it do you to come along? I'll drive the carriage; you two can stay here peacefully. That's what makes me feel at ease."

Xiao Mingshu remembered that he had said before that the Shen Household would have a way to help him, but she swallowed her words and didn't try to persuade him further. She only whispered a few words of advice:

"Then... please be careful."

Huan'er, standing beside him, had tears in her eyes, tugging at his sleeve, reluctant to part.

"Young master, why don't you take me with you? At least... at least I can drive for you."