On the morning of the fifth day after leaving, Li Tui finally caught sight of Green Bamboo Market.
However, Li Tui was in no hurry to enter. He first squatted by the edge of the woods and sorted through his belongings again. He rolled up the Ironback Wolf hide and stuffed it into his cloth bag, then carefully placed the newly refined, rice-grain-sized yinsha stone at the very bottom.
As for the two he had fished up from the bottom of the pool, he tore off a piece of his inner shirt, wrapped them tightly, and kept them against his chest.
Once he was done, he grabbed a handful of dirt and rubbed it over his face before getting up and heading for the market.
At the end of the dirt road stood the market gate, guarded by two gray-robed cultivators. When it was Li Tui's turn, one of them held out a hand. "One spirit stone to enter. If you don't have one, hand over something in its place."
Li Tui took out two wolf fangs and gave them over.
The cultivator weighed them in his hand. "Average quality, but barely enough." He casually tossed them to his companion to record. "Go on in. Private fighting is forbidden in the market; violators will be severely punished. Go to the East Market for buying and selling."
Li Tui nodded in acknowledgment and passed through the gate.
The instant he stepped inside, the clamor crashed over him like thunder.
"Qi-boosting pills! Four spirit stones a bottle!"
"Fragment of the Wind Control Art, twenty spirit stones!"
"Three protective talismans for three spirit stones!"
He touched the cloth bag in his robes. Two wolf fangs had paid the entrance fee, leaving him with one hide and two fangs.
Without stopping, he continued toward