Innocence

"Uncle Han, goodbye!"

"Hey, I say, Li, are you really not buying any Spirit Rice?" Han Tiezhu asked persistently, "Man needs food, Li..."

"Next time, definitely, next time!"

Wu Tao cupped his fists and left the Ding District with his pack. He calculated that he had only sold a small amount of Spirit Stones, not enough to enjoy Spirit Rice yet.

Buying some Common Rice would be fine. It would just mean disposing of more night soil.

Now he had to go to the Market Rental Office to pay taxes.

Any successful transaction in the market required a Transaction Voucher to be issued, followed by tax payment. If caught evading taxes, the consequences from the market would be dire.

Wu Tao had been a law-abiding taxpayer in both his lives.

Besides, it wasn't worth it to be caught by the market for a mere ten percent tax.

The transaction amount was fourteen Low-Grade Spirit Stones. Ten percent tax meant one Low-Grade Spirit Stone and forty Fragmented Spirit Stones. He carefully took out one Low-Grade Spirit Stone, then the remaining Fragmented Spirit Stones Zhang Li had lent him. It was just enough.

"Here is your tax voucher. Keep it safe. You can bring it for statistics at the end of the year. If it reaches a certain amount, there are other benefits," the clerk collecting the transaction tax advised Wu Tao.

Wu Tao took it and quickly thanked him, "Thank you for the advice."

After coming out, he carefully tucked the tax voucher inside his clothes and began calculating again:

"Remaining thirteen Low-Grade Spirit Stones and six Fragmented Spirit Stones. Rent is six and fifteen Fragmented Spirit Stones, so that leaves six and ninety-one Fragmented Spirit Stones. I owe Zhang Li one, and I still need to buy Demon Silkworm Silk and Starfire Stone. Hmm..."

"Doesn't that mean..."

The joy from just selling the Magic Robe vanished completely, and his face turned into a bitter gourd.

"Sigh!"

With a long sigh, he went to a shop selling refining materials and asked, "Fellow Daoist, how much are Starfire Stone and Demon Silkworm Silk?"

The shop assistant replied, "Starfire Stone is two per Low-Grade Spirit Stone, and Demon Silkworm Silk is one Low-Grade Spirit Stone per jin. How much do you want, Fellow Daoist?"

"Give me six Starfire Stones and two jin of Demon Silkworm Silk."

As if seeing "-5 Spirit Stones" floating above his head, Wu Tao felt his heart being twisted. It hurt so much.

Carrying the pack with the Starfire Stone and Demon Silkworm Silk, Wu Tao didn't dare to linger in the market. He took many twists and turns, going through several alleys, and only entered New Virtue Alley after confirming he wasn't being followed.

He was carrying "immense wealth" now, and it was always wise to be cautious.

Although the West Outer City was nominally under the jurisdiction of the Wuquan Mountain disciples, who provided protection for the Loose Cultivators residing there, there were still some desperate individuals.

As soon as he returned to his residence, he saw a plump figure standing at the door, like a wealthy merchant. Seeing Wu Tao, he immediately snorted and said, "I thought you were going to skip out on the rent..."

Wu Tao quickly stepped forward, a fawning smile on his face, his posture involuntarily bending slightly as he spoke, "Manager Zhou, what are you saying? How would I dare..."

Manager Zhou's expression softened. "I know you wouldn't dare. Alright, enough nonsense. Pay this month's rent. The rent is two Low-Grade Spirit Stones, plus the four Low-Grade Spirit Stones you owed for the deposit, and other fees. It's a total of six Low-Grade Spirit Stones and fifteen Fragmented Spirit Stones."

Wu Tao immediately took out his Spirit Stone Bag and poured all six Low-Grade Spirit Stones into his palm. He then picked out fifteen Fragmented Spirit Stones and handed them over, saying, "Manager Zhou, I've been ready for a while. Please count them."

Manager Zhou counted them. With his left hand, he took out a Storage Bag. With a movement of his right hand, the spirit stones instantly disappeared, entering the Storage Bag.

Wu Tao watched enviously. This was a Storage Bag. I wonder when I'll be able to own one? I wonder if I can ask Manager Zhou to let me touch it...

Manager Zhou saw his envious gaze and didn't mind. "Alright, I need to go collect rent from the next household."

"Manager Zhou, please wait..." Wu Tao called out to Manager Zhou and took out ten Fragmented Spirit Stones from his Storage Bag, offering them with both hands. "I've just arrived in the West Outer City and am a bit short on funds. It's thanks to Manager Zhou's willingness to let me defer the deposit. This small token of my appreciation, please have a cup of tea, Manager Zhou."

Manager Zhou looked at Wu Tao, and after a moment, he let out a sigh and chuckled, taking the Fragmented Spirit Stones from Wu Tao's hand. "You're a sensible kid. It wasn't for nothing that I took such a big risk to let you defer the deposit."

Seeing that he had accepted, Wu Tao was overjoyed and nodded repeatedly. "Yes, yes, yes, Manager Zhou is a great person."

Manager Zhou put away the Fragmented Spirit Stones and waved his hand. "Alright, I know the hardships of Loose Cultivators. First, you need to get rid of the Evil Aura on your body. If you live here long-term, I can collect rent long-term."

"Ah..." Wu Tao's face stiffened. "Manager Zhou, you... you know I'm suffering from Evil Possession, yet you were willing to rent me a place? Aren't you afraid..."

Manager Zhou chuckled. "Afraid it'll become a Haunted House? What's there to be afraid of? If you die, everything on you will be mine. Besides, the previous tenant of the room you're staying in died inside."

Seeing Wu Tao's fearful expression, he smiled. "The path of Cultivation is full of tribulations, isn't it normal? Don't worry about whether it's a Haunted House or not. In the West Outer City, countless Loose Cultivators die in their rooms from running out of lifespan while trying to break through..."

"Alright, I still have several streets' worth of rent to collect. I won't chat with you anymore."

Watching Manager Zhou's plump figure disappear, Wu Tao stood in place, stunned for a long time before coming back to his senses. He patted his numb cheek and muttered to himself, "Manager Zhou is right. As cultivators, why should we care about such things? Besides, Manager Zhou saw that I was suffering from Evil Possession and was still willing to rent me a place and let me defer payment. That's already a kindness."

"Even if I die, and Manager Zhou takes my possessions, that will be... consider it funeral expenses..."

Wu Tao mumbled and arrived at Zhang Li's door, knocking.

Clang!

The door opened, and Zhang Li's face, full of mature charm, appeared before him. He took out a Low-Grade Spirit Stone from his embrace and handed it over, smiling. "Fellow Daoist Zhang, the spirit stone I owe you, I'm returning it."

Zhang Li glanced at it, took the spirit stone, and said, "You're quite a trustworthy person. You said two days, and you returned it in two days."

"Of course. Fellow Daoist Zhang trusts me, so I naturally won't betray your trust. However, overall, I must thank Fellow Daoist Zhang for being willing to lend me spirit stones. Lending me spirit stones is equivalent to saving my life..."

Zhang Li heard this and said, "It's just one spirit stone, it's not as serious as you say. Alright, I won't talk anymore. I need to cultivate."

"Then... Fellow Daoist Zhang, farewell!" Wu Tao cupped his fists and watched Zhang Li close the door.

Wu Tao returned to his room and took out his Spirit Stone Bag. He counted them: eighty-one Fragmented Spirit Stones. He couldn't help but sigh again. Why are these spirit stones so inconvenient? In just one day, they're all gone again.

"Life is too difficult!"

With a sigh, he thought to himself that he had become a First-Rank Junior Artifact Refiner, and couldn't help but feel happy. He took out the Starfire Stone and Demon Silkworm Silk, calculating in his mind.

"Here are two sets of refining materials. As long as I refine one Magic Robe, I'll earn fourteen Low-Grade Spirit Stones. If I use all of that to buy refining materials and refine two more Magic Robes, that's twenty-eight Low-Grade Spirit Stones..."

"Hahaha, the Spirit Stones will only pile up, and life will get better and better..."

"Evil-Breaking Talismans, I'll be able to buy them soon..."

"Right, after I get rid of the Evil Aura on me, I'll go to the Five Spring Artifact Refining Hall to get an Artifact Refiner Certificate. With the certificate, those who want to haggle won't have an excuse, and stall fees and transaction taxes can also be reduced..."

"I just don't know if the test is difficult..."

As he calculated, Wu Tao felt that his future life would only get better and better. He was so excited that his mouth was almost splitting to his ears.