The people from the Little Moon Sect, Golden Bell Sect, and Jade Mountain Sect stayed at the Suiyang Immortal Market for seven or eight days before leaving one after another.
Before leaving, the people from all three sects gifted Chen Qing and Chen Ganliu, the "siblings," a stick of incense that could summon them. Whenever trouble arose, they only needed to light it and pray to the sect that had given it to them. That sect would then learn of the matter and send someone to resolve their difficulties.
Although Chen Qing and Chen Ganliu had become the representatives of the three sects at the Suiyang Immortal Market, their status had not changed much. In the past, the three sects had also allowed the market's cultivators to trade freely, without imposing taxes or other worldly miscellany. The so-called temporary management merely involved occasionally settling disputes and informing the three sects whenever something happened.
Since this position came with no real authority, the dozen or so newly arrived cultivators had no intention of fighting over it. They had already been taught a lesson by people from the three sects and no longer caused trouble. The Suiyang Immortal Market gradually returned to its usual peace.
Although Chen Ganliu knew that person would soon go to the Immortal Encounter Sect, how could a tiny first-layer Qi Refining cultivator like him possibly change the great tide of the cultivation world?
He could not even enter the Immortal Encounter Sect's mountain gate, much less find someone from the Immortal Encounter Sect to tell them about this matter. Even if he managed to find someone, they might not believe him. They might even suspect him of colluding with Demonic Cult cultivators and drag him into the mire.
During this period, apart from cultivating, he drew talismans. He devoted himself to practicing the "Three Soul Stirring Talismans: Capture, Bewilder, Confound!" and quietly refined that Soul Stirring Banner as well.
However, with the ability of a first-layer Qi Refining cultivator, he could not possibly refine the Soul Stirring Banner into the Cloud and Mist Banner. He could only wait until his cultivation deepened before attempting to merge and refine the treasures.
Chen Qing also breathed a slight sigh of relief during this time.
She had stayed here long enough to yearn for a stable life like this. She did not want to experience drifting from place to place again. Besides, if she left, she could not take this meditation lodge with her, which would be a terrible waste.
The cultivators who had been staying at the Immortal Market that day might not all have met with disaster, but once they learned this place was dangerous, it was only human nature that they would hide for a while.
The reason Chen Qing had returned so early was mostly this meditation lodge. After all, it had cost her five spirit stones, and she still had some debts she had not managed to repay.
Although Chen Ganliu and Chen Qing lived together, each of them had their own matters to attend to.
Chen Ganliu spent most of his time cultivating. To gain more time for cultivation, he even entrusted the talismans he had drawn to Chen Qing for sale, rarely leaving the meditation lodge himself.
When there was no market, the Suiyang Immortal Market was not lively. Chen Qing also spent most of her time refining magic treasures in the meditation lodge, setting up her stall only once every three to five days. Business remained quiet and uneventful.
Judging by the date, the next small market was approaching. Chen Qing gradually grew busy, but when she saw Chen Ganliu still advancing fiercely in his cultivation, caring only about cultivating, she did not try to dissuade him. She simply made her own preparations.
One day, after cultivating the Azure Emperor Jia Yi Art, Chen Ganliu emerged from meditation. Seeing that Chen Qing was absent, he knew she had surely gone to set up her stall. Suddenly, after being still for too long, he felt the urge to move and left the meditation lodge as well.
He was startled to see the Suiyang Immortal Market bustling with activity. More than a hundred cultivators came and went, and there were ten times as many stalls. Only then did he realize, thinking, So it's time for the small market again.
Chen Qing's stall was not far away, but he did not go over to look. Instead, he wandered around the small market, secretly thinking, That Green Jade Stone is either in the hands of cultivators who have been staying here, or in the hands of cultivators traveling here for the market.
If it's the former, it's hard to say whether it has already fallen into my hands, hidden in one of those Storage Magic Treasures that cannot be opened, or whether it has yet to enter the Suiyang Immortal Market. If it's the latter, the cultivators who have come to this small market today certainly won't have it. I'll have to wait several years for the opportunity.
I have quite a few Talisman Coins now, as well as spirit stones, but even if there were some peerless treasure, what use would buying it be?
Chen Ganliu really did see someone selling a Flying Sword. If he bankrupted himself, he might be able to buy one, but what use would it be after that? His aptitude was insufficient, and he could not master sword arts.
Unless there's some spiritual object that can help increase cultivation.
What a pity that cultivation-boosting spiritual objects are truly rare. I've obtained plenty of Spirit Medicine and spirit pills, but not one of them can increase cultivation.
Chen Ganliu wandered aimlessly while his thoughts ran wild. Suddenly, his eyes lit up when he saw two familiar faces. They were the two young women who had bought two Blazing Fire Jade Talismans from him, along with his chairs, tables, and cushions.
The two women were strolling around without finding anything they fancied. When they saw Chen Ganliu, they were slightly surprised. The junior sister who had bought things from him gave a light laugh and asked, "Why aren't you doing business today?"
Chen Ganliu laughed and said, "I usually only sell a few talismans. Whenever I open for business, I sell everything in one go. My goods are cleared out now, so there's no business left to do."
The senior sister sized Chen Ganliu up a few times and said, "Could the shopkeeper sell us another batch of those chairs from last time?"
Chen Ganliu gave a bitter smile, spread out both hands, and replied, "Not for the time being."
The senior sister said, "We can place a custom order."
Chen Ganliu asked, "How many chairs do you need, and when do you need them?"
"However, there's something I have to say beforehand. Ordinary mortal objects are truly worth very little. That Wind Bead from last time is still a hot potato in our hands."
Both women laughed. The senior sister said, "Those chairs, table mats, and cushions are genuinely comfortable to sit on. We distributed them among our fellow disciples, but we bought too few and could not possibly divide them among everyone. So we'd like to order ten more."
"I'll charge you twenty Talisman Coins."
Chen Ganliu said, "That's too expensive. They're not worth that much!"
The junior sister was rather fond of him. After all, Chen Ganliu had the appearance of a child, which naturally made people feel close to him. She said, "Both my senior sister and I are at the Seventh Layer of Qi Condensation. Twenty Talisman Coins are only a few breaths' work for us. There's no need to haggle like this."
"We still have some matters to attend to. We'll come collect them in five days."
Although Chen Ganliu did not lack those twenty Talisman Coins, earning money through his own labor put him in a better mood. Besides, that price would require him to spend several months painstakingly drawing talismans. He immediately agreed.
Talisman Coins were similar in nature to spirit stones and could also be used to replenish true qi.
Many cultivators who temporarily lacked spirit stones would carry a batch of Talisman Coins with them. When their true qi ran low during Magical Combat, they would crush a few to replenish their magical power.
A single Talisman Coin could only completely replenish the true qi of a first-layer Qi Refining cultivator once. After being used, it was discarded, making it a one-use item. It could not compare with spirit stones, which could replenish true qi repeatedly.
For that reason, earning Talisman Coins was incomparably difficult for cultivators like Chen Ganliu at the first layer of Qi Refining, while for high-level cultivators, Talisman Coins came as easily as reaching out a hand.
Chen Ganliu accepted the job, but since delivery was not due for another five days, he was in no hurry. After parting from the two young women, he continued wandering around the Suiyang Immortal Market.
Quite a few people had died in the demonic calamity at the last small market. As a result, fewer people had come to this one than the previous time, and there were also many unfamiliar faces.
Chen Ganliu wandered for half a day before accidentally spotting a stall displaying seven or eight items. Among them was a sheathed short saber no more than a few feet long. It was unusually thick and heavy, black and utterly inconspicuous. He could not help feeling surprised, because he recognized that short saber.
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