Cultivator's Night Market

Upon reaching the snake eggs, Luo Mu didn't waste a second before stowing them into his storage bag, only then turning his attention to the carcass of the Plum Blossom Snake. Gazing at the massive corpse, Luo Mu let out a long, heavy sigh.

I nearly handed my life over to this beast just now!

Sighing was one thing, but he couldn't leave behind the treasures he had just secured. When it came to the Plum Blossom Snake's remains, Luo Mu wouldn't be soft-hearted. He sheathed his dagger, wiped the sweat from his palms, and began to dismantle the creature.

First, he extracted the poison sac; the toxic mist the snake had sprayed all originated from there. To Luo Mu, this highly poisonous organ was a precious commodity. Next, he used his dagger to pry out the snake's two fangs. They were already large, but once Luo Mu dug them out from the roots, he was shocked to find they were a full foot long. It gave him a genuine fright—if those fangs had bitten him just moments ago...

At the thought, a chill ran down Luo Mu's spine.

After tucking the fangs into his storage bag, Luo Mu used his dagger to peel the snake's skin. After the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, the three-zhang-long hide had been removed perfectly intact. Aside from the incision he had made in the belly when he first arrived, there wasn't a single blemish on it.

Finally, Luo Mu didn't even spare the meat, stowing it away as well. Since the flesh was also highly toxic, it would be a shame to waste such a treasure; he planned to braise it once he got home.

With that finished, Luo Mu began to survey the cave, his eyes scanning every corner with anticipation to see if anything else remained. The cave wasn't large, and he finished his search in moments. Ultimately, he shook his head in disappointment and stepped out.

Once outside, Luo Mu immediately hurried toward the Snake Eye Fruit Tree. He took a wooden box from his storage bag and plucked every single fruit, placing them into the box neatly and with the utmost care, as if terrified of bruising even one.

"Ninety-six!" Only after picking the final fruit did Luo Mu place the box into his storage bag with an excited expression. He tucked the bag into his robes and patted it contentedly before finally departing.

This time, Luo Mu didn't dare venture deeper into the mountains. Having stood on the brink of death, he understood a simple truth: without formidable strength, one must remain cautious and keep a low profile.

Luo Mu was a man who knew when to advance and when to retreat, and he understood the value of quitting while ahead. Having gained so much in just a single day, he was satisfied; excessive greed would only lead to an unnecessary death.

Over the next four days, Luo Mu traveled to Jinxiu City without pause. Since he avoided the deep mountains, he encountered only a few wild beasts and three non-aggressive, low-level rank-one spirit beasts along the way.

Whether it was a wild beast or a low-level spirit beast, Luo Mu didn't let a single one go. He slaughtered them and tossed them into his storage bag; the spirit beasts would be traded for spirit stones later, and the wild beasts would be taken home for food, saving him a few spirit stones he would have otherwise spent on provisions.

Though the savings were meager, Luo Mu didn't mind.

On the evening of the fifth day after leaving Dragon Gate Town, Luo Mu finally arrived at his destination: Jinxiu City!

Jinxiu City was a major metropolis under the jurisdiction of the Wanfa Sect. It occupied a vast area and boasted a massive population, serving as a place where ordinary mortals and cultivators coexisted. Because of this, the city authorities had strict regulations: cultivators were forbidden from harming mortals. Any offender would be hunted down and executed by the city's official forces!

Of course, mortals were not permitted to be disrespectful to cultivators either; if they were, the cultivators were allowed to teach them a lesson on the spot. However, cultivators were figures of admiration for mortals, and no mortal would be tired of living enough to offend one—they were far more likely to curry favor.

The official power in Jinxiu City came directly from the Wanfa Sect. Any cultivator who stirred up trouble would be blacklisted by the sect and hunted for the rest of their life.

Luo Mu stood far outside the city, gazing at the towering walls and feeling the majestic aura they radiated, which stirred a thousand emotions in his heart. Although this wasn't his first time seeing these walls, he still couldn't suppress his feelings.

Composing himself, Luo Mu walked toward the city gate. Even though it was night, the brightly lit Jinxiu City remained bustling, a place that the small town of Dragon Gate could never hope to compare to.

Before he even entered the gate, Luo Mu heard the lively sounds of the city: laughter, arguments, the haggling of merchants, and the cries of hawkers. The cacophony drew him in, and he couldn't help but quicken his pace.

Stepping inside, the streets were packed with people, the atmosphere vibrant and lively. Lining the streets were rows of shops—Lü's Herb Shop, Guandong General Store, Mortal Provisions Shop, and many others, a dazzling array of everything one could imagine.

This street was located in the western part of Jinxiu City and was designated for mortals; the goods sold in these shops were all for mortal use. Since Dragon Gate Town was closest to this gate, Luo Mu wasn't foolish enough to circle around to enter through another.

Knowing full well that this street didn't have what he needed, Luo Mu didn't linger and quickly moved on.

An hour later, Luo Mu finally reached his ideal destination: the night market in the western district of Jinxiu City! This night market was also a street, but it differed slightly from the others.

On other streets, only the shops lining the sides could sell goods, but the night market was different. While there were shops on the sides, the center of the street was packed with dense rows of temporary stalls selling all manner of items!

Luo Mu had originally intended to go to a formal shop to buy some poisonous herbs and process the spirit beast carcasses he had on hand for spirit stones. But then he realized that since it was night, the market was open. Buying things there was not only much cheaper than in formal shops, but the variety was also far greater, making it more likely he would find exactly what he needed.

Formal shops had high rent, whereas night market stall fees were relatively cheap. You only paid for the night you rented the space. For a Rogue Cultivator like him, who lacked a powerful backing and was short on cash, the night market was the best place to trade or purchase goods.

For the current Luo Mu, who had neither influence nor wealth, coming to the night market to buy or trade was the most practical choice. Plus, the market sold such a wide variety of items that browsing for treasures and broadening his horizons was a nice bonus.

"Come take a look! Low-grade fire talismans for only three low-grade spirit stones!"

"A mid-grade rank-one spirit herb for five low-grade spirit stones! Don't miss out while you're passing by!"

Standing at the entrance of the night market, listening to the cries of the vendors, Luo Mu didn't hesitate. He stepped into the rows of stalls and began to examine them one by one.

"Fellow Daoist, can you make this mid-grade artifact a bit cheaper? Ten low-grade spirit stones is just too expensive." At a stall Luo Mu was passing, a middle-aged cultivator stared intently at a palm-sized shield artifact, speaking to the stall owner without looking up.

"This is a defensive artifact, a life-saving treasure! You think ten low-grade spirit stones is expensive? I think I'm selling it too cheap!" The stall owner's expression darkened.

If he weren't strapped for cash and in desperate need of spirit stones, he would never have sold this shield. He hadn't expected someone to haggle when he was only asking for ten spirit stones, which naturally infuriated him.

Seeming to sense the owner's irritation, the middle-aged man looked up, his face showing a hint of embarrassment as he quickly explained, "Don't be angry, Fellow Daoist. I truly have my eye on this artifact, but I'm a bit tight on funds lately. How about this—we both take a step back. How about seven spirit stones?"

"No!" The stall owner refused without a second thought.

"Eight! Fine, I'll take a loss—how about eight spirit stones?" The middle-aged man increased his offer by one.

"No!"

"Eight isn't enough? Isn't that a bit excessive, Fellow Daoist? How about nine? Nine spirit stones at most, I really don't have any more than that..."

Scenes like this played out countless times every night in the market. Luo Mu only watched as he passed by, and seeing that the stall had nothing he wanted, he moved on, having no interest in listening to their haggling.

In truth, Luo Mu also coveted that shield. It was common knowledge that defensive artifacts were the most expensive of their tier because they were the foundation of survival. Who wouldn't want to carry a few extra life-saving artifacts to ensure their safety in times of danger?

How many people in this world didn't fear death? Very few! Cultivators were no exception. It was precisely because so many feared death that defensive artifacts were far more expensive than others.

Luo Mu could afford ten low-grade spirit stones, but he wasn't ready to buy just yet. He planned to browse more to see if he could find something cheaper or better suited to him before making a decision.

Luo Mu was also a man who feared death, so he had already made up his mind to equip himself with a defensive artifact!

"Refining artifacts! I'm refining for fellow Daoists for free! No service fees, just bring your own materials! I just finished refining a mid-grade artifact for a fellow Daoist!" Just as Luo Mu was considering what kind of defensive artifact to buy, a loud shout interrupted his thoughts.

He looked up toward the source of the voice and saw a youth who appeared to be eighteen or nineteen, roughly the same age as himself.

"Refining artifacts for free? And he just refined a mid-grade one?" Luo Mu's eyebrows arched. He subconsciously touched the storage bag at his chest and walked toward the stall.

The youth's shout reminded Luo Mu of the Plum Blossom Snake's skin and teeth—excellent materials for refining artifacts. However, Luo Mu wasn't foolish enough to hand over his materials immediately; he intended to check the situation first before making a decision.