Walking along the streets of Yunping City's inner city with his fifth brother, Liu Changshun, Liu Changxu saw many rogue cultivators selling spiritual goods at roadside stalls.
Liu Changxu eagerly swept his divine sense over the goods on these stalls, hoping he might stumble upon a hidden treasure, just like in the legends!
Most of the spiritual goods on display were first-tier spirit herbs, spirit rice, spiritual materials, demonic beast materials, talismans, magical artifacts, Qi Refinement cultivation formulas, and the like. There were also some seemingly ancient magical artifacts and damaged ones.
Many of the rogue cultivators running the stalls were seasoned old hands. One glance told them Liu Changxu was a lineage disciple who had only just ventured out to gain experience, and they enthusiastically introduced their wares to him. Some even tried to sell him treasure maps!
Though Liu Changxu lacked experience, he was no fool. After carefully inspecting these so-called treasures with the Spirit Eye Technique, he shook his head and walked away.
Liu Changxu's main purpose in browsing the streets was to buy more talisman paper and talisman ink. The battles along the way had exhausted his supply of talismans, and he planned to make some during their few days of rest in Yunping City while also looking around and broadening his horizons.
His fifth brother, Liu Changshun, bought quite a bit of demonic beast meat, spirit rice, and spirit pills. Liu Changshun used up far too much.
When they reached a stall selling talisman paper and talisman ink, they discovered that its owner was a girl of about fourteen or fifteen. Though young, she was already an exceptionally lovely beauty, with a graceful figure, skin fairer than snow, and a face like a peach blossom. Coupled with her sweet smile, there was no telling how many young talents she would sweep off their feet!
At his first sight of the girl, Liu Changxu was so struck by her beauty that his heart and mind were briefly thrown into disarray! Settling his restless emotions, he asked, "May I ask, fellow cultivator, how much are these talisman papers and inks?"
Seeing this cultivator, who was about her own age, tall and straight-backed, with jade-like features and handsome looks, the girl blushed slightly and said sweetly, "Lower-grade first-tier talisman paper costs twenty low-grade spirit stones per hundred sheets, middle-grade first-tier paper costs thirty per hundred, and upper-grade first-tier paper costs fifty per hundred. Lower-grade first-tier talisman ink is ten spirit stones a bottle, middle-grade first-tier ink is twenty a bottle, and upper-grade first-tier ink is thirty a bottle."
Finding the prices fairly reasonable, Liu Changxu said, "Then I'll take two hundred sheets of middle-grade first-tier talisman paper, a hundred sheets of upper-grade first-tier paper, two bottles of middle-grade first-tier talisman ink, and one bottle of upper-grade first-tier ink."
Pleased by the size of Liu Changxu's purchase, the girl said, "That comes to a hundred and eighty spirit stones. To thank you for your patronage, fellow cultivator, I'll give you ten extra sheets of middle-grade first-tier talisman paper."
Since they were close in age and had taken a liking to each other, and now had this transaction between them, the girl and Liu Changxu soon fell into an easy conversation.
The girl's name was Wu Yunyue. She was fourteen that year, two years younger than Liu Changxu, and a fourth-level Qi Refinement cultivator from a collateral branch of the Yunping Wu Household. Since her father and grandfather were both mortals, she currently lived with her great-grandfather.
Her great-grandfather's cultivation was not high; he was only at the sixth level of Qi Refinement. But because she was his only descendant with spiritual roots, he doted on his great-granddaughter, Wu Yunyue.
Despite his advanced age, he traveled far and wide, working hard to earn cultivation resources for his great-granddaughter's Dao Path.
Wu Yunyue had been sensible from an early age. Not only did she cultivate diligently, but she had also helped her great-grandfather with his work since childhood. Young as she was, she already helped him tend the stall.
There was no helping it. Wu Yunyue only had three-element roots, and her aptitude did not stand out among the Wu Household's disciples of her generation. Her great-grandfather's low cultivation left him with little standing or influence in the lineage, so he could not secure enough cultivation resources for her. As a result, Wu Yunyue's circumstances were scarcely better than those of an ordinary rogue cultivator.
Young as Wu Yunyue was, she understood this too. Seeing this handsome young man, only two years older than her yet already so wealthy, she took quite a liking to him!
Liu Changxu also took quite a liking to this beautiful, clever girl!
Liu Changshun, who was rather ham-fisted when it came to matters of the heart, grew impatient when the two kept chatting without end and repeatedly urged Liu Changxu to head back.
Liu Changxu could only bid Wu Yunyue a reluctant farewell. They agreed to chat again when they had time!
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