Xu Changqing casually found a spot and set up his stall.
But what he sold was not Spirit Rice Grain, but Spirit Rice Wine.
This left quite a few Farmer's Heart Society members watching from the shadows unconcerned.
"Fellow Daoist, how much is your Spirit Rice Wine?"
"Ten Low-Grade Spirit Stones per jin!"
"Damn, was this made from Second-Grade Spirit Rice or Third-Grade Spirit Rice?"
"Take a look... it's definitely different from what's on the market!"
"Can I have a taste?"
"Sure!"
Xu Changqing sized up the male disciple across from him.
The man wore white robes, with a white crane embroidered over his chest.
His head was shaved clean, and a centipede-like scar ran across his face.
He also carried a rather heavy-looking linked saber on his back.
By the look of it, he was a Multiple Spiritual Roots disciple, and one skilled in combat.
The man reached out and took a small cup of Spirit Rice Wine, sniffing it first.
Only after confirming that there was nothing wrong with the scent did he press his lips to the rim and take a small sip.
The cool liquor slid into his mouth, spreading a rich fragrance of rice and wine.
In an instant, the suspicious look on the man's face vanished.
In its place shone bright eyes.
He even smacked his lips, savoring the lingering flavor.
Xu Changqing asked with a smile, "How is it?"
"Good wine!" the male disciple roared, instantly drawing glances from everyone nearby.
"Isn't that Pei Mo, the saber madman with Dual Spiritual Roots?"
"He came to the market looking for a drink again?"
"Get away from him! Once this bastard gets drunk, he goes on a drunken rampage and hacks at anyone he sees!"
"I heard his Spiritual Roots conflict with each other, which is why he has such a strange temperament?"
"Fire overcomes metal. This fellow's future is already set!"
Quite a few people recognized him and immediately kept as far away as possible.
As though they had seen a god of plague.
Xu Changqing took in everyone's reactions, then asked him, "Are you buying or not?"
"Buying." Pei Mo drained the remaining Spirit Rice Wine in one gulp, then nodded forcefully.
"How much?" Xu Changqing prepared to portion it out.
Who would have thought that Pei Mo would sweep out a hand and say, "All of it!"
Xu Changqing paused. "Ten jin costs a hundred Low-Grade Spirit Stones. Are you sure?"
Pei Mo stared at him without blinking and asked in return, "Do I look like I'm joking?"
Xu Changqing said no more and handed over all ten jin of Spirit Rice Wine.
Pei Mo was equally straightforward, taking out a hundred Low-Grade Spirit Stones.
Once the transaction was complete, Xu Changqing was just about to leave.
But Pei Mo suddenly stopped him and chuckled. "Brother, this is my Communication Talisman. If you have more good wine of this quality in the future, give me a shout!"
"Uh—sure." Xu Changqing accepted it.
"Good wine, good wine!" Pei Mo swayed away while drinking.
"I've traded away almost everything. It's time to shop," Xu Changqing mused.
His daily necessities and spirit artifact tools all needed replacing.
For one thing, what he had truly was not enough.
For another, a new year called for a new look.
After that, he followed the trading street farther in.
Although the vast majority of resources were monopolized by the five major lower-tier factions.
There were still quite a few independent cultivators selling things, though their goods were of poor quality.
Before long, Xu Changqing saw a familiar face.
A familiar Spirit Beast Camel.
Familiar bells.
Who was it?
Naturally, it was Hu Bugui, the traveling peddler!
"Spirit beasts for sale! All juvenile spirit beasts, and they're cheap!" Hu Bugui kept shouting.
"You really are here." Xu Changqing stepped forward.
"Oh—isn't this Fellow Daoist Xu?" Hu Bugui's eyes lit up.
"What?" Xu Changqing teased. "Not selling dung this time?"
Hu Bugui said somewhat awkwardly, "Times have changed. Want to pick out a spirit beast?"
At those words, Xu Changqing's gaze wandered over the strange-looking juvenile spirit beasts, but no matter how long he looked, he could not find one he liked.
Seeing this, Hu Bugui immediately began recommending one. "You're a Wood Spirit Root disciple and need to stay at the Spirit Fields long-term. In that case, buy a spirit ox."
First, spirit oxen had relatively long lifespans.
Second, they could be used to plow fields.
Thus, they were the first choice of many Wood Spirit Root disciples.
"I don't want to ride Old Ancestor Chen's popularity." Xu Changqing shook his head.
"Huh? What popularity?" Hu Bugui looked utterly bewildered.
"Nothing. I'll look around some more." Xu Changqing could not be bothered to explain.
Woof, woof!
Just then, a dog bark sounded.
It instantly caught Xu Changqing's attention, and he hurriedly looked over.
In the corner was a juvenile Little Yellow Dog.
Yellow fur, white face.
Bright, lively eyes.
Its little tail stood high in the air.
It was wary of anyone who approached.
This Little Yellow Dog could not help pulling Xu Changqing into his memories.
In his previous life, he had been born in the countryside.
His family had kept many cats and dogs.
Among them had been a dog named Big Yellow, an exceptionally clever one.
Every time he came home from school, he could always see it waiting for him at the entrance to the village.
Before he had even gotten close, its tail would already be wagging madly.
It was not exactly identical to the one before him.
But the feeling was strangely familiar.
"You like it?" Hu Bugui reacted quickly and waved a hand. "Take it. It's yours!"
"No, I'll buy it." Xu Changqing did not accept this kindness.
Hu Bugui said indifferently, "A Little Yellow Dog isn't worth much."
"In your eyes, it may be dirty, shabby, and worthless, but in mine, it's different." As Xu Changqing spoke, he took five Low-Grade Spirit Stones from his Small Storage Bag and handed them over without allowing any argument.
Hu Bugui did not accept them. Instead, he asked with a dry laugh, "Can you trade Spirit Rice Grain instead?"
"You don't have rice?" Xu Changqing asked in surprise.
Hu Bugui said helplessly, "Rice is too expensive now. Forget Second-Grade Spirit Rice—even First-Grade Spirit Rice is becoming something I can't afford."
"Fine." Xu Changqing exchanged the Low-Grade Spirit Stones for ten jin of Second-Grade Spirit Rice and handed it over.
"Wow!" Hu Bugui was stunned.
He had thought the other man would only give him a token amount.
He had never expected so much.
For just one Little Yellow Dog, ten jin of Second-Grade Spirit Rice was far too much.
Clearly, Xu Changqing truly regarded him as a friend.
His heart was immensely moved.
After giving him the Spirit Rice Grain, Xu Changqing slowly approached the Little Yellow Dog.
Strangely enough.
It was extremely wary whenever anyone else approached.
It would even bark "Woof, woof!", wearing the look of a stranger who should not come near.
Yet when it was Xu Changqing's turn.
Not only did it not get angry, it started wagging its tail instead.
"Perhaps this is fate." Xu Changqing's gaze softened.
He reached out and cradled the Little Yellow Dog in his palm.
Slurp, slurp!
The little thing immediately stretched out its soft black-and-pink tongue and began licking him with practiced ease.
Hu Bugui asked curiously, "Have you decided what to name it?"
"Not yet. I'll leave it to the readers!" Xu Changqing shook his head.
"You're saying things I don't understand again." Hu Bugui rolled his eyes.
"It's nothing. I still need to buy daily necessities, so I'll be going." Xu Changqing turned to leave.
"Wait!" Hu Bugui hurriedly took out a metal ring. "This is a Spirit Beast Pouch. It can hold one spirit beast no more than five meters tall and ten meters long."
This thing was quite expensive.
Hu Bugui normally could not bear to take it out for an ordinary spirit beast.
But since Xu Changqing had been so sincere, he could not be stingy either.
"It's so small. It feels like there's no difference whether I put it in or not." Xu Changqing took it and examined it closely.
"Keep it for now. What if you get another spirit beast in the future?" Hu Bugui grinned.
Xu Changqing tried infusing spiritual power into the Spirit Beast Pouch.
The branded words [Owned] immediately appeared on it.
Then, the Little Yellow Dog in his other hand was sucked inside with a whoosh.
At the same time, an image surfaced in Xu Changqing's mind.
It was a three-dimensional space similar to a Small Storage Bag.
Inside, a Little Yellow Dog that had lost its owner was looking around blankly.
Xu Changqing's heart stirred, and in the next moment, it reappeared in his palm.
"Woof, woof!" Seeing its owner again, the little fellow barked excitedly twice.
"Don't worry, I won't abandon you!" Xu Changqing gently stroked it.
Then he put it back into the Spirit Beast Pouch.
Afterward, he bid Hu Bugui farewell and continued browsing the street.
Not long after, he had bought some daily necessities.
He soon arrived at the Spirit Artifact Workshop trading point, only to find the prices far too high.
Any random everyday spirit artifact actually cost more than ten Low-Grade Spirit Stones.
Clearly, this Spirit Artifact Workshop was just like the Farmer's Heart Society.
They all wanted to harvest leeks while the chance lasted.
As a result, even everyday spirit artifacts had risen in price.
But there was no helping it. Xu Changqing currently had no other purchasing channels.
He could only be a sucker and pay the price.
In the end, he spent forty Low-Grade Spirit Stones.
And bought four household spirit artifacts.
They were: a sickle, a hoe, a shovel, and a kitchen knife.
Since he had already bought all the daily necessities and the like.
And there was still time, Xu Changqing planned to look for some spells.
After making several rounds, however, he could not find a single one.
Only after asking did he learn that spells either had to be exchanged with points.
Or acquired privately from someone else.
If he truly wanted to buy them, he would have to go to the Rogue Cultivator Market outside.
But most of the spells there varied wildly in quality, and some were even incomplete.
Truly complete spells were almost entirely monopolized by Immortal Sects, cultivation lineages, and the like.
"Without Foundation Establishment Realm strength, I won't go outside." Xu Changqing raised an eyebrow.
Inside an Immortal Sect, he did not need to worry about danger.
But it was different once he went outside.
He had to stay on guard everywhere!
Before you continue