The Path of Trial

The New Floating Market was vast, encompassing all sorts of businesses. Here, one could find restaurants, pleasure houses, casinos, auction houses, pharmacies, treasure shops, and more.

The streets, paved with bluestone slabs, were wide and straight, bustling with crowds. Various shouts and calls rose and fell, creating a cacophony.

Although Fang Chen had been at the Glazed Sword Sect for several years, he had never once visited the market. This was simply because he had no money. The monthly stipend he received was always completely extorted by Cao Bin and his ilk. None of the handymen from Dragon Tiger Mountain were willing to take him along, either.

The doormen in front of some shops rang their handbells with a clear, crisp sound. They also employed dazzling spells to constantly attract the attention of passersby.

This was Fang Chen's first time visiting a cultivator's market, and he was instantly captivated by the doormen's various dazzling techniques on the street.

Li Yanshan, familiar with the area, led Fang Chen and Elder Yun to a restaurant named Heavenly Fragrance Pavilion. The building had five floors, with red pillars, white walls, and emerald glazed tiles that reflected a dazzling light under the sun. Guests constantly entered and exited through the open doors.

Two women in short-sleeved palace gowns stood at the entrance. They had delicate features, fair skin, and slender figures that were curvy. Holding ceremonial fans, they smiled and bowed repeatedly to the entering and exiting guests. Because their necklines were cut rather low and their chests were quite ample, it was inevitable that some visually appealing scenery would be revealed when they bent over.

Besides these two beautifully dressed women, there were many well-dressed doormen at the entrance.

The duty of these doormen was not to solicit customers but to help some guests tether their horses or guard their belongings.

Li Yanshan looked at the sign above the entrance of Heavenly Fragrance Pavilion and said to Fang Chen with a smile, "Fang Chen, Heavenly Fragrance Pavilion is the most famous restaurant in the New Floating Market. Both the dishes and the fine wine are top-notch. If you're afraid that Elder Yun and I will rip you off, we can go somewhere else!"

Fang Chen reached into his embrace, pulled out a money pouch, and handed it to Li Yanshan. "Uncle Li, I've never spent money in a place like this before, and I don't know the prices. All the money I have is in this pouch. Please check if it's enough. If not, we'll find another place!"

Li Yanshan opened the cloth bag and glanced inside. He saw that there were over thirty Spirit Stones. His eyes narrowed slightly; he hadn't expected Fang Chen to have so many Spirit Stones.

However, when he recalled that Fang Chen had just earned a second-class merit, receiving five hundred Contribution Points alone, these few dozen Spirit Stones meant nothing to him.

He looked up at Fang Chen and said, "Fang Chen, it's enough. Not only for one meal, but we could eat here for several days!"

After saying that, he immediately returned the money pouch to Fang Chen.

"That's great!"

Fang Chen smiled slightly. This was the first time he was treating someone since coming to the Glazed Sword Sect. If he ran out of money after everyone had eaten and drunk their fill, it would be truly embarrassing.

Elder Yun immediately dismounted his small donkey.

A doorman quickly walked over and led the small donkey away.

"Let's go!"

Li Yanshan supported Elder Yun and led Fang Chen into Heavenly Fragrance Pavilion.

Upon entering the pavilion, Fang Chen found it packed with people. There were no seats left in the first-floor hall.

With no other choice, they went up to the second floor and requested a private room.

Private rooms had a minimum spending requirement, at least five Spirit Stones.

Fang Chen didn't care. Uncle Li and Elder Yun had been kind to him. Spending a mere five Spirit Stones for a meal was nothing.

If he were to be calculative, the Spirit Jade Elder Yun had given him before was worth more than five Spirit Stones. Although he liked money, he would never be stingy with money that needed to be spent.

Soon, the food and wine were served. Fang Chen's mouth watered as he looked at the exquisite dishes before him.

Li Yanshan picked up a jar of wine, preparing to pour some for Fang Chen. Fang Chen, quick as lightning, snatched the wine jar from Li Yanshan's hand and said, "Uncle Li, let me!"

"Haha, alright!"

Li Yanshan laughed and didn't argue with Fang Chen.

Fang Chen held the wine jar and filled the bowls in front of Li Yanshan and Elder Yun. Then, he picked up his porcelain bowl and said to Li Yanshan and Elder Yun, "Uncle Li, Elder Yun, thank you for taking care of me. I'll toast you with this bowl!"

"Good!"

Li Yanshan and Elder Yun couldn't help but smile. They raised their wine bowls, clinked them with Fang Chen's, and then tilted their heads back, drinking the wine in one gulp.

After a few rounds of drinks, Fang Chen spoke to Li Yanshan. "Uncle Li, I want to find a place to train. Preferably somewhere with many Demonic Beasts. I want to see if I can break through in that high-intensity environment under the tempering of life and death!"

"A place with many Demonic Beasts?"

Li Yanshan's eyes narrowed slightly. He hadn't expected Fang Chen to have such an idea.

"Yes!"

Fang Chen nodded. "You both know my situation. I don't have a Spiritual Root. My previous two breakthroughs happened when I was in great danger, which stimulated my body's potential, allowing me to break through successfully. So, I want to try again and see if this cultivation method can help me break through again!"

Li Yanshan stared into Fang Chen's eyes. He saw that Fang Chen was very serious and not joking. Elder Yun had also speculated that Fang Chen's physique was the legendary Battle Saint Body, and breaking through amidst slaughter and battle was the best cultivation method for the Battle Saint Body.

He said to Fang Chen, "Fang Chen, I suggest you don't rush for now. The path you've chosen is simply too dangerous!"

Elder Yun nodded slightly. "Yes, Fang Chen, you've only just become an Outer Sect Disciple. Don't be too eager for success in your cultivation. If you trust me, listen to my advice. For the time being, you should first focus on learning some basic knowledge for cultivators, such as recognizing Spirit Medicine and various Demonic Beasts, and enhancing your knowledge reserves in all aspects. These knowledge reserves can save your life at critical moments!"

Li Yanshan nodded in agreement. "Fang Chen, Elder Yun is right. You don't understand anything yet. I don't object to the cultivation method you mentioned, but there's no need to rush. It's best to start by learning. After all, learning more knowledge can only be beneficial and harmless."

Elder Yun continued, "Sharpening the axe does not delay the chopping of wood. It won't be too late to go for training after you've learned. After all, Cultivation also requires a step-by-step approach; you can't be reckless!"

"Alright!"

Fang Chen nodded. He also felt that he was being a bit too hasty. Elder Yun was right; his knowledge reserves were indeed lacking, and he didn't know many basic common sense facts for cultivators.

Seeing Fang Chen nod, Li Yanshan's face showed a hint of a smile.

Half an hour later, Fang Chen and the others, having eaten and drunk their fill, left Heavenly Fragrance Pavilion together.

A doorman immediately led the small donkey to Elder Yun. Elder Yun mounted it with a leap.

Looking at the bustling street before them, Fang Chen said to Li Yanshan, "Uncle Li, take me to buy some books!"

Earlier, while they were eating, Elder Yun and Li Yanshan had already pointed Fang Chen in a direction, advising him to diligently catch up on his basic cultivation knowledge. Therefore, Fang Chen also wanted to spend his time chopping wood to cultivate during the day and then return to his lodging to study late into the night.

Arriving at the bookstore, Fang Chen began selecting books with Li Yanshan's assistance.

When he reached the shelves dedicated to various medicinal pills and gazed at the dazzling array of books, he was immediately captivated.

Alchemists have always held a very high status in the cultivation world; almost every cultivator cannot do without pills.

If one could become an alchemist, their status and position would undoubtedly rise.

The cultivation world has many professions, and alchemy is one of them. Others include artifact refining, formation mastery, talisman crafting, spirit planting, beast taming, and so on.

Frankly speaking, Fang Chen also wanted to become a master in these specialized skills. After all, once one becomes a master, they will be respected wherever they go.

But he also knew that professions like alchemy, artifact refining, and talisman crafting weren't things you could just decide to do. The most crucial element for entering these fields was talent.

For example, those alchemists and artifact refiners generally required cultivators with a Fire Spiritual Root.

Talisman masters and spirit planters typically required cultivators with a Wood Spiritual Root or an Earth Spiritual Root. Those with dual Earth and Wood Spiritual Roots, a Mixed Spiritual Root, were almost naturally suited to be spirit planters.

However, due to the limitations of a Mixed Spiritual Root, their cultivation advancement was very slow, making it difficult to become a high-level spirit planter.

Some beast tamers with a Water Spiritual Root had a huge advantage in raising aquatic spiritual creatures.

Seeing Fang Chen engrossed in the alchemy books, Li Yanshan smiled slightly and asked, "What? You want to practice alchemy too?"

Fang Chen reached up and scratched his head, giving a shy smile. "Alchemists are so sought after, who wouldn't want to become one?"

Li Yanshan looked at Fang Chen, intending to say that since Fang Chen didn't even have a Spiritual Root, he shouldn't be thinking about alchemy. However, he couldn't bring himself to discourage Fang Chen and said, "If you want to practice alchemy, find Elder Yun. He's a genuine alchemist, and he can help you get the books for free, so you won't have to waste your money buying them yourself!"

Elder Yun, standing beside Fang Chen, nodded slightly and said, "What Little Li said is right. If you truly want to learn alchemy, I'll help you get a set of books then!"

"Okay, thank you, Elder Yun!"

Fang Chen nodded slightly to Elder Yun and then continued to browse other books.