With her fourth-level Qi Condensation cultivation, catching Lair Rabbits here was practically Xu Chunniang bullying rabbits.
Aside from one or two fish that slipped through the net, Xu Chunniang caught several more Lair Rabbits, all at the second level of Qi Condensation.
After catching another one, Xu Chunniang's cloth sack was nearly full. There were six lively, kicking Lair Rabbits inside.
She did the math. Six Lair Rabbits amounted to twelve spirit stones. Adding the six spirit stones she had earned from turning the tables on those robbers earlier, this trip alone had brought her a whopping eighteen spirit stones.
In less than a day, she had earned a year and a half's worth of subsidies, and that was without counting any other income.
But rewards were proportional to effort. These Lair Rabbits ran extremely fast; relying on the Spirit Void Steps, the Water Bind Technique, and a cultivation far beyond theirs, she had only managed to catch six. The process had hardly been easy.
Moreover, the Hundred Demonic Mountain Range was far more dangerous than the sect itself.
Xu Chunniang believed that being robbed, like before, would certainly not be the last time she encountered such a situation.
While catching the Lair Rabbits, Xu Chunniang had used the Spirit Void Steps the entire time, consuming a great deal of spiritual energy.
She found a secluded spot, tied the cloth sack tightly and set it aside, then began consuming spiritual dew to recover her spiritual energy.
In a place like the Hundred Demonic Mountain Range, Xu Chunniang did not dare wait until her spiritual energy was completely exhausted before replenishing it.
She had no spiritual artifact. Every technique she used required spiritual energy to sustain it, so naturally, she did not wish to place herself in such a passive situation.
Two incense sticks later, Xu Chunniang finished meditating. Her spiritual energy had recovered to eighty percent.
It was still early, only around noon.
Xu Chunniang picked up the cloth sack and prepared to head down the mountain.
There were already six Lair Rabbits in the sack. They were not light, and she had to carry them on her back at all times.
The weight had already begun to affect her movements somewhat.
Few people went down the mountain at noon. Now was the time to leave.
Xu Chunniang made her decision without hesitation. These six Lair Rabbits were worth a full twelve spirit stones; there might well be others eyeing them greedily.
If someone truly tried to rob her, she could rely on the Spirit Void Steps to escape easily, but whether she could keep the Lair Rabbits was another matter.
Xu Chunniang's choice was correct. At this hour, there was hardly anyone on the path down the mountain.
When she occasionally spotted a few people from afar, she deliberately avoided them.
Upon returning to the market, Xu Chunniang let out a breath. Although she had encountered no danger on the way back, she had kept her nerves taut the entire time and did not dare relax, leaving her somewhat weary.
Yet the moment she entered Green Mountain Town, that trace of fatigue was replaced by excitement.
The gains from this trip alone had already allowed her to recoup her investment. The Hundred Demonic Mountain Range truly was a land of treasure!
Xu Chunniang carried the sack toward the Treasure Pavilion. The sect-run Treasure Pavilion was not far from Carefree Residence, just across one street.
Green Mountain Town remained bustling during the day. People streamed through the streets, and many Rogue Cultivators had simply spread out stalls on the ground, mostly selling things of little value.
Seeing Xu Chunniang dressed in the standard Daoist robe of a Carefree Sect Outer Sect Disciple, the passing Rogue Cultivators wore faint expressions of envy.
Xu Chunniang sensed something. When she had gone up the mountain, she had been ambushed. Aside from traveling alone, perhaps her clothes had also been too conspicuous.
After all, even the worst-off sect disciples lived better than Rogue Cultivators.
If she wanted to avoid attracting attention, it would be best to change out of them and disguise herself as an impoverished Rogue Cultivator.
After entering the Treasure Pavilion and presenting her Disciple Token to state that she had goods to sell, Xu Chunniang was invited into a plain guest room.
"Junior Sister, do you have something you wish to sell?"
A woman at the fourth level of Qi Condensation glanced at the sack behind her and asked with a smile.
"My surname is Yao. You may call me Senior Sister Yao. May I know Junior Sister's surname?"
"Greetings, Senior Sister Yao. My surname is Xu. You may call me junior sister Xu."
Xu Chunniang set down the sack on her back and took out the six Lair Rabbits.
"So they are Lair Rabbits—and alive, too. No wonder junior sister Xu kept carrying them on her back."
Senior Sister Yao showed a trace of realization, then her gaze at Xu Chunniang sharpened slightly.
To capture so many Lair Rabbits alive with only third-level Qi Condensation cultivation, it seemed this junior sister Xu had something extraordinary about her.
"The purchase price for Lair Rabbits is two spirit stones each. For six of them, that comes to twelve spirit stones."
Xu Chunniang nodded. The price matched what she had learned.
"That will do. Sorry to trouble you, Senior Sister Yao. Also, I would like to ask whether you have any clothes I can wear here. Not magical robes—just ordinary clothing."
Magical robes were not cheap, so Xu Chunniang deliberately added that clarification.
After all, she could not afford magical robes at all right now.
Senior Sister Yao shook her head. "The Treasure Pavilion only carries magical robes, not other clothing. If Junior Sister wishes to buy clothes, you can go somewhere that specializes in selling garments."
After leaving the Treasure Pavilion, Xu Chunniang followed Senior Sister Yao's directions. Before long, she indeed found a ready-made clothing shop.
The clothing shop's business was rather quiet. The person running it was a middle-aged female cultivator at the second level of Qi Condensation.
Seeing a customer enter, the female cultivator's face instantly blossomed into a smile. "What sort of clothing would this immortal maiden like to buy?"
Xu Chunniang noticed that ever since she had arrived in Green Mountain Town, very few people had judged her by her appearance.
Could it be because these merchants were all shrewd and unwilling to offend anyone?
Having only just arrived at the market, Xu Chunniang did not yet know that the market was like a miniature reflection of the Cultivation World. Those able to live here for long were all seasoned old foxes.
Even if they looked down on others in their hearts, they would still show three parts of a smile upon meeting them and would not dare make enemies lightly.
They feared that one day, with a single moment of carelessness, they might be avenged upon by an enemy.
Xu Chunniang looked toward the shelves, where ready-made garments of all styles were displayed. Though these clothes were not magical robes, the materials used were not bad.
Seeing Xu Chunniang staring at a black Daoist robe, the middle-aged female cultivator immediately began promoting it with all her might.
"This immortal maiden truly has a keen eye. This garment is made from the wool of Black Sheep Beasts. Not only is it sturdy, durable, and warm, it is also light, breathable, and attractive. It is one of our shop's most popular styles."
The Black Sheep Beast was a first-level Qi Condensation demon beast. It had a gentle temperament and soft wool.
Some people specifically raised Black Sheep Beasts, using their wool to make clothes and earn spirit stones.
Xu Chunniang picked up the garment and weighed it in her hand. The material was indeed very light and thin.
"How much is this?"
The woman held up three fingers. "Only three spirit stones per piece."
The corner of Xu Chunniang's mouth twitched slightly. It was a little expensive. A single garment actually cost a full three spirit stones. Without any teacher, she had learned how to bargain.
"Can it be any cheaper?"
The female cultivator pondered for a moment. "This shop operates on a small scale. Three spirit stones per piece is already close to cost price."
Seeing that Xu Chunniang was still somewhat hesitant, she immediately added,
"However, you are small in stature, immortal maiden. If you buy the smallest size, you may purchase two pieces at the discounted price of five spirit stones."
Xu Chunniang considered it. She had to wear clothes anyway, and buying two would save her one spirit stone.
She promptly took out five spirit stones and left the shop with two garments in the smallest size.
She had worked so hard catching Lair Rabbits for so long just to earn twelve spirit stones, yet buying two sets of clothes had cost her five...
Xu Chunniang shook her head mournfully. Spirit stones truly were hard to earn and quick to spend.
After returning to her room, Xu Chunniang removed her Outer Sect Disciple robes, put on her new clothes, and began condensing spiritual dew.
She had used eight bottles of spiritual dew today and had to replenish them all.
After replenishing the spiritual dew, Xu Chunniang took out her map and decided that starting tomorrow, she would no longer go to Rabbit Slope.
After all, her main purpose in coming to the Hundred Demonic Mountain Range was to gain practical combat experience. Bullying those foolish rabbits could earn her a few spirit stones, but it brought no other benefits.
Tomorrow, she would go to White Lion Ridge!
Updates generally came around ten o'clock every day.
(Thanks to Fellow Daoists A Perfectly Ordinary Book Friend, Stars Reflected in the Mirror, and i~Chasing Dreams for their rewards; thanks to Fellow Daoist Wa., ^ω^ for the monthly ticket; and thanks to every Fellow Daoist for reading! Your continued reading can send me onto the rankings, truly!)
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