The shopkeeper looked quite young, a female cultivator around thirty or forty years old.
When she saw He Pingsheng arrive, she could not help sweeping her divine sense over him. Shocked, she stepped out from behind the counter and bowed respectfully, looking deeply apprehensive. "Senior, this junior only sells items needed by Qi Refining Stage disciples. Senior, you..."
The shopkeeper was at the perfected twelfth layer of the Qi Refining Stage, only one step away from entering the Foundation Establishment Realm. Since she could not discern He Pingsheng's cultivation, she knew what that meant.
He was at least in the Foundation Establishment Realm.
Calling him Senior could not go wrong.
"Heh..." He Pingsheng chuckled. "Don't be nervous. I'm not here to buy anything!"
"I only came to ask you about something!"
The woman breathed a sigh of relief. "Of course... please ask, Senior. Whatever this junior knows, I'll tell you without holding anything back!"
Before asking his question, He Pingsheng took out twenty spirit stones and tossed them onto the counter. "This is my payment for your advice."
Only after receiving a benefit would she be likely to tell him everything without reservation. Otherwise, why would she?
"This..." The shopkeeper said, "This junior wouldn't dare accept anything from Senior!"
He Pingsheng showed no intention of taking them back. "I've just arrived from elsewhere and know nothing about Dingxiang City. I have a few questions for you. If your answers satisfy me, you'll have earned these spirit stones!"
"All right!" Upon hearing that He Pingsheng was from out of town, the woman lowered her guard a little further.
An outsider had no ties to the local powers, and his questions would not touch upon anyone's interests.
She could simply answer them.
He Pingsheng asked, "Could you tell me about the trading