Buying a Cauldron

"It's not that exaggerated." Seeing Shen Mo's hesitant expression, Gu Qingshan hurriedly said, "The Lingyun Sect has only a few hundred disciples, and even fewer are traveling abroad."

"If you learn this Lightness Talisman technique, just don't flaunt it, and no one will recognize it."

"The risk is too great."

Shen Mo shook his head decisively.

"This immortal technique is one of the best movement arts of the Lingyun Sect. Although it is only a low-grade Profound rank, if cultivated to Great Success, it can absolutely rival a mid-grade Profound rank lightness technique!"

Seeing Shen Mo shake his head in refusal, Gu Qingshan spoke up, "All I need is a hundred Lightness Talismans."

"Thirty." Shen Mo pondered for a long time before finally holding up his hand and waving his fingers in front of him. "I can give you thirty Lightness Talismans at most for the trade."

"If you are willing, we can strike a deal; if not, then forget it."

"Fine!"

Gu Qingshan gritted his teeth. Even though what Shen Mo was willing to offer was far less than his expectations, he could not afford to worry about such things at this moment.

"This technique is recorded in its entirety within this jade slip. You may inspect it."

Shen Mo took the jade slip, carefully examined it, and after confirming that it was indeed an immortal technique, he handed over thirty Lightness Talismans.

Gu Qingshan took the talismans and hurriedly vanished into the crowd.

As for Shen Mo, who watched him leave, a smile finally blossomed on his face!

Thirty Lightness Talismans traded for an immortal movement technique.

He had to admit, he had made a killing!

Shen Mo tucked the jade slip into his robes, his heart filled with joy.

In truth, he was quite satisfied with this transaction.

The heavy concerns he had displayed earlier were merely to better drive down the price.

As for the risks associated with practicing the secret techniques of other sects, they were indeed real, but how could one expect to pick up a bargain without taking any risks?

Shen Mo was not a timid person; as long as the benefits were sufficient, he was willing to brave a few risks.

[Thunderbolt Quickstep]

[Rank: Low-grade Profound]

[Type: Movement Art]

[Brief Description: Created by Master Lingxu when he broke through to the Origin Core Realm, inspired by the phenomenon of a thunderbolt. When cultivated to Great Success, one's movement is as sudden as wind and thunder, like a thunderbolt in the long night.]

He focused his divine sense on the jade slip, and while tending to his stall, he began to comprehend the first immortal technique he had obtained in his life.

High above the firmament, the sun gradually shifted westward.

The hour had reached the afternoon.

During this time, over a dozen customers had come one after another, buying up all the talismans Shen Mo had for sale.

"Time to pack up!"

Shen Mo cleared his stall and carefully tallied his earnings.

Forty-one low-grade spirit stones.

This was the total price for all the talismans sold.

"Everything is sold, it's time to go for a stroll."

Carefully stowing away the heavy pouch of spirit stones, Shen Mo stood up and walked into the depths of Treasure Vase Alley, wandering along the street.

"So many treasures, it's dizzying."

As he walked, the dazzling array of various precious items left Shen Mo overwhelmed.

"It's a pity that this 'Keen Eye' destiny seems to have no effect. Perhaps the rank is too low."

He had been looking around this whole time, harboring some thoughts of finding a hidden gem.

But he discovered that even with the blessing of a special destiny, he still couldn't discern anything of value.

"Forget it, I'd better go buy a cauldron."

After some attempts, Shen Mo abandoned the idea of picking up bargains through his special destiny and quickened his pace, heading toward the area that specialized in selling alchemy equipment.

In the Treasure Vase Alley market, there were not only cultivators setting up temporary stalls but also shops that had rented storefronts and were stationed there long-term.

After looking around the stall area for a while and finding no opportunity to pick up a bargain, Shen Mo arrived at a shop named Treasure Pill Pavilion, located by the Mandarin Duck Pavilion.

Since he couldn't find any hidden gems, buying a cauldron from a formal shop was naturally the first choice.

After all, cultivators at temporary stalls came and went like shadows; if something went wrong with the purchase, it would be hard to find them.

But with a formal shop, if a problem really arose, at least there would be someone to hold accountable.

"Oh, what does the guest need?"

As soon as he stepped into the Treasure Pill Pavilion, the shopkeeper hurried over to greet him.

The shopkeeper was short and stout, giving off an air of simple-minded amiability. "My humble shop specializes in the sale of alchemy supplies."

"I would like to purchase an alchemy cauldron, an entry-level one will suffice."

Shen Mo stated his requirements.

"Buying a cauldron?" Upon hearing this, the shopkeeper led him to a room dedicated to alchemy cauldrons.

"There you go. The cauldrons here are all entry-level, each priced at forty low-grade spirit stones. You may choose whichever you like."

Hearing the shopkeeper's introduction, Shen Mo nodded and began to examine them closely.

There were about twenty cauldrons displayed in the room.

Although they varied in shape, color, and style, their grade was identical; they were all entry-level alchemy cauldrons.

Such cauldrons could satisfy a cultivator's basic alchemy needs, but that was all—they possessed no special enhancements.

High-grade cauldrons, on the other hand, offered more than just basic functionality; they came with various miraculous effects that allowed an alchemist to achieve twice the result with half the effort.

Of course, such cauldrons were prohibitively expensive and not something Shen Mo was in a position to consider at the moment.

"Which one should I choose?" Shen Mo felt his indecisiveness acting up again.

Even though all the cauldrons had the same effects, he compared them for quite a while and still couldn't make up his mind.

"Hm? This cauldron?"

Just as Shen Mo was pondering, his gaze drifted casually toward a cauldron on the right with a rustic style and a body of vibrant red, and he paused.

A moment ago, he had seemingly caught a glimpse of an inexplicable radiance upon this cauldron, which had flashed and vanished in an instant.

"Was it an illusion?" Shen Mo hesitated.

"Or is it the Keen Eye special destiny giving me a hint?"

He had experimented for a long time earlier, but he hadn't felt that the special destiny he drew last night had brought about any distinct changes.

Now, it seemed this special destiny had finally taken effect and reacted?

"This is the one!"

Thinking of this possibility, Shen Mo's heart skipped a beat, and he decided on this cauldron immediately.

"Ah, the Red Cloud Cauldron. That will be forty low-grade spirit stones."

The shopkeeper clicked his abacus beads and spoke.

"No rush, let me look at other things first." After selecting the cauldron, Shen Mo did not rush to pay, but continued to browse through the Treasure Pill Pavilion.

Besides the cauldron, if he wanted to officially begin alchemy, he also needed to purchase some medicinal ingredients.

After some selection, he took one hundred portions of ingredients for Vitality Strengthening Powder and one hundred portions for Qi Recovery Pills.

In addition to these, he also took a fancy to an alchemy recipe.

The Lesser Foundation Establishment Pill, a first-grade spirit pill, had the effect of increasing cultivation and consolidating one's foundation; it was a commonly used pill for practitioners in the Qi Gathering Realm.

"How much for the recipe for this Lesser Foundation Establishment Pill?"

Shen Mo asked.

"Ten spirit stones. If you buy it, I can throw in ten portions of ingredients for refining the Lesser Foundation Establishment Pill as well," the shopkeeper said generously.

"Very well, I'll take it."

Shen Mo calculated the number of spirit stones he had on hand and decided to purchase it.

"You have spent a total of sixty-one low-grade spirit stones. Here is your receipt, please keep it safe."

The shopkeeper's abacus clicked, and in a few swift motions, he settled the account and handed him a written receipt.