One day later.
Outside Jiatai Market, south of the Primordial Yang Sect.
Beneath the hazy moonlight, the full view of the Market Ward came into view.
The Market Ward was enormous, occupying the entire mountainside.
Streets crisscrossed one another, lined with shops of every size, all neatly laid out.
Every building in sight had an air of antique elegance.
On the other side of the street lay a spacious square.
Scattered stalls surrounded the square, forming a small walkway shaped like a square within a square.
Cultivators came and went along the walkway in twos and threes, with stalls selling all manner of goods on either side. The scene had something of the bustle of commerce in the mortal world.
The sky had already grown dim, but the square was brightly lit.
In front of most stalls stood huge lamps of the same design, their lights joining into an unbroken expanse.
These lamps were made of bronze, antique in appearance from top to bottom, and stood about a meter tall.
Yet their trays held no lamp oil or other fuel. Instead, each supported a fist-sized luminous pearl that gave off a gentle glow.
The light from these pearls was far brighter than that of ordinary oil lamps.
It not only illuminated the stalls beneath them clearly, but also made the nearby paths plainly visible.
Although night had fallen, the crowds in the square had grown rather than dwindled compared with daytime.
Not only had more stalls appeared, but the number of cultivators browsing them had also surged.
Large numbers of cultivators poured into the square at this hour, making it extraordinarily lively.
Jiatai Market was a medium-sized Market Ward, nominally overseen by a Golden Core elder of the Primordial Yang Sect, with more than a dozen Foundation Establishment cultivators managing its daily affairs.
From time to time, squads of Qi Refining Period guards could be seen striding majestically through the Market Ward.
These patrol cultivators were all at least at middle Qi Refining, and there was no shortage of powerful late Qi Refining cultivators among them.
Clad in spiritual armor and carrying long spears, they were well trained and equipped with finer magical artifacts than ordinary cultivators.
At the slightest rustle of wind in the grass, they would react swiftly.
Dusk.
A cultivator wearing a bamboo hat, black gauze over his face, and gray robes slowly approached from the distance.
Cultivators who preferred to conceal their identities were everywhere in the Market Ward, so he attracted no attention.
This man was none other than Liu Yu!
After going to Clear Spring Peak and returning the mission token for the spiritual herb garden, Liu Yu had not gone straight back to his cave abode.
He knew full well that the rules of the cultivation world were vastly different from those of his previous life.
In this world, great power resided in the individual, and rules had very little binding force over cultivators!
His means of attack were weak, and his abilities to defend himself and preserve his life were sorely lacking.
If he ended up fighting someone, would he not be unable either to win or to escape, leaving him in an utterly helpless position?!
Liu Yu would never resign himself to drifting with the current and leaving his fate to heaven!
Although he did not intend to earn spirit stones by accelerating the growth of spiritual herbs, he had few spirit stones on hand. His "first pot of gold" would still have to come from the Immortal Mansion.
To abandon such a tremendous source of help over a little risk would be far too rigid.
If he stayed cautious and sold only small quantities, there should be no problems.
Once he established a positive cycle, he would no longer need to sell spiritual herbs directly.
I need to improve my alchemy skills quickly and establish a positive cycle.
After careful consideration, Liu Yu had accelerated the growth of several more spiritual herbs, all rare specimens around two hundred years old.
He planned to exchange these herbs for one or two powerful magical artifacts and prepare one or two means of preserving his life.
That way, if he encountered danger, he would at least have the strength to put up a fight!
Wandering around the square, Liu Yu saw quite a few novel objects and quietly took in the bustle of the crowd.
He did not linger, however, and headed straight for his destination-the Jade Orchid Tower.
I've visited this shop once before, so I'm relatively familiar with it.
Besides, the last transaction went very smoothly overall, and my identity wasn't exposed.
Rather than finding a new shop and facing unknown risks, I might as well come to this familiar one.
With that thought, Liu Yu stepped into the shop, and his eyes immediately brightened.
He had come and gone in a hurry last time and had not examined it closely.
This time, the moment he entered, the furnishings in the main hall gave him the impression that this shop possessed considerable resources.
Facing him was a row of counters made from precious sandalwood. Their polished crystal display cases refracted dazzling light, earning his silent approval.
The counters were divided into several sections, including materials, pills, talismans, magical artifacts, and more.
A vast assortment of items was displayed by category.
Clearly, this shop dealt in an extremely broad range of goods.
Although it had no particular specialty, the vast majority of cultivators could purchase what they needed here.
Liu Yu did not have to wait long before a female cultivator in a long purple dress approached. She was Steward Liu, whom he had met last time.
Liu Xueqin approached at an unhurried pace, her graceful figure swaying.
Her gaze flickered slightly as she recognized Liu Yu from his aura.
This mysterious, cautious cultivator, who had dealt so generously, had left a deep impression on her.
Once she drew close, Liu Xueqin parted her red lips and said with a smile:
"Fellow Daoist Hong, have you been well?"
"Welcome back to our shop. Whatever you need, just say the word, and I will arrange it immediately."
Liu Yu remained unmoved. Glancing around the hall, he said coolly:
"There are indeed a few things I wish to purchase, but discussing them here would hardly be appropriate, would it?"
"Quite right, fellow Daoist. Please follow me to a private room."
Liu Xueqin's voice remained gentle. With a turn of her slender waist, she led Liu Yu toward one side of the hall.
Their figures soon disappeared from view.
At one of the counters in the hall, a pockmarked cultivator watched the scene, an odd gleam flashing briefly through his eyes.
It was the same room as before.
Liu Xueqin invited Liu Yu to sit, poured him a cup of Spirit Tea, and took the seat opposite him before beginning to chat.
They discussed a few subjects, though she did most of the talking while Liu Yu merely offered a few perfunctory replies.
Seeing that she continued to make small talk without getting to the point, Liu Yu frowned slightly.
He had come to buy magical artifacts, not to chat.
"Steward Liu, we can talk later. Let us finish our business first!"
With that thought, Liu Yu raised an arm and spoke bluntly.
"Very well. I am all ears."
"Just tell me what you need, Fellow Daoist Hong. Our shop will do everything in its power to satisfy you. We certainly will not disappoint!"
Liu Xueqin set down her teacup, her face wreathed in smiles.
Liu Yu nodded lightly, considered for a moment, and said:
"Hong wants to buy one or two powerful offensive and defensive magical artifacts, along with life-saving talismans that will allow me to escape swiftly."
Upon hearing this, Liu Xueqin immediately perked up and said with a charming laugh:
"Our shop received a new batch of magical artifacts and talismans just a few days ago. Your timing could not be better!"
For a Qi Refining Period cultivator, purchasing magical artifacts was a "major undertaking."
Hearing how ambitious his request was, she immediately attached much greater importance to him.
"Bring them out for me to see. As for spirit stones, Hong will not be stingy."
Liu Yu spoke coolly.
At his words, Liu Xueqin looked at Liu Yu with a slightly curious gaze and nodded gently.
"Very well. You certainly speak your mind, Fellow Daoist Hong. Please wait a moment. I will be right back."
With that, she stepped lightly and hurried out, leaving a waft of fragrance in her wake.
Clearly, she took this "big deal" very seriously.
Creak~
In less than half the time it took to drink a cup of tea, Liu Xueqin pushed the door open and returned.
She walked to the table and touched her Storage Bag. Several brocade boxes of varying sizes appeared on the tabletop.
"I personally selected all of these. They are fine-quality magical artifacts and talismans. Please take a look, Fellow Daoist Hong."
"I hope they will meet your discerning eye!"
Liu Xueqin gently stroked the brocade boxes. As she spoke, she opened three of them and began introducing the treasures inside.
"This Superior-grade Magical Artifact, the Golden Dragon Sword, was forged from Iron Essence and refined gold by a Foundation Establishment Realm expert, who tempered it with true fire for three days and three nights."
"In terms of offensive power, it slightly surpasses ordinary Superior-grade Magical Artifacts..."
"The entire blade is inscribed with offensive formations. It is incomparably sharp, making it difficult for enemy cultivators to defend against."
As she spoke, she pointed to a small golden sword three inches long inside one of the brocade boxes.
Liu Yu's interest stirred. He picked up the small golden sword and examined it closely.
A few breaths later, he put it back without betraying any emotion.
He merely nodded lightly without giving any indication of his intentions, making his thoughts difficult to fathom.
Thanks to the readers Reading Cultivation Novels Together, Readers Under Heaven 160, Waveless Sage, Love Left and the Wind Stopped, Roll Away Roundly, Buddha Lord, lokkp, and the great One Thought ＾_＾ Disrupts Heaven's Secrets, among others, for their recommendation votes.
Every vote motivates the author to keep updating. If you enjoy this book, please cast a vote!
PS: I feel the last two chapters were rather average. There will only be one update today while I sort out the outline.