The Market

The External Affairs Hall, located on Emerging Clouds Peak, handled the Giant Sword Sect's dealings with the outside world. Its primary duties included receiving visiting guests and dispatching envoys to other organizations. It also oversaw matters concerning low-ranking disciples leaving the sect.

Riding his flying sword artifact, Xiao Yu reached the mountainside of Emerging Clouds Peak, then landed and entered a tall pavilion.

Quite a few people came and went, attending to various matters at five or six service windows. The place looked rather bustling.

Xiao Yu waited a while. When he saw an empty window, he immediately approached and cupped his hands toward the black-robed disciple inside, whose cultivation was at the thirteenth level.

"Greetings, senior brother. My name is Xiao Yu. I would like to go home to visit my parents. Sorry for the trouble, but could you help me complete the formalities for leaving the sect?"

The black-robed disciple gave him a practiced smile. "You're too polite, junior brother. Serving the sect's disciples is my duty, so it's no trouble at all. You wish to leave the sect? How long will you be away? Of course, you don't have to say if it's inconvenient. This is merely a routine question."

"There's nothing I can't tell you. I'm only going home for a visit. If all goes quickly, I'll be back in ten days or so, and even at the slowest, it should take only about half a month," Xiao Yu said with a smile.

"Very well. Please wait a moment, junior brother. I'll register you now." The black-robed disciple took out a brush and ink and began writing, then produced a token and cast a series of spell seals into it.

A short while later, the black-robed disciple handed the token to Xiao Yu. "All done. Keep this safe, junior brother. This is your permit to leave the sect. With it, you can pass through the restrictions at the mountain gate without difficulty. Have a smooth journey!"

Xiao Yu accepted the token. "Thank you, senior brother! May your kind words come true. I'll take my leave."

The Giant Sword Sect's market lay in the southeastern Cangliang Mountains, at the junction of the territories controlled by the Giant Sword Sect, the Covering Moon Sect, and Spirit Beast Mountain. Many cultivators passed through here on their way to and from the three sects' domains. The predecessors who had established the market here had done so mainly to attract more cultivators to trade.

Since it was not particularly far from any of the three sects, the market usually saw a considerable flow of visitors.

After departing the sect, Xiao Yu flew for three days before reaching a point five li from the market. He then descended and continued toward it on foot.

There was an unwritten rule in the cultivation world: flight restrictions were placed within five li of a market, and flying was generally forbidden. Of course, this rule did not apply to cultivators at the Core Formation stage or above. With their vast powers, they were all figures capable of founding sects and becoming patriarchs.

Dressed in black with a large sword strapped to his back, Xiao Yu looked every inch the standard Giant Sword Sect disciple. He felt that when traveling beyond the sect, wearing the identity of a disciple from a renowned major sect could deter quite a few petty villains.

After entering the market, he first strolled around and soon grasped its basic layout. There was only one street, running east to west. Several dozen buildings of various sizes stood at its western end, their heights uneven. To the east lay a large open area for setting up stalls, with a dozen or so stalls scattered across it.

Xiao Yu wandered among the buildings for a while, passing shops such as the Spirit Talisman Pavilion, the Hundred Crafts Tower, the Immortal Herb Pavilion, and the Myriad Treasures Pavilion. In the end, he chose the Spirit Talisman Pavilion, which clearly specialized in the talisman trade, and stepped inside.

The shop was not large, with only four rows of counters arranged around its perimeter. Almost everything it sold was related to talismans. It was divided into three sections: finished spirit talismans, raw materials, and miscellaneous goods. The finished spirit talisman section was the largest, occupying two rows of counters.

At that moment, a man and a woman were selecting talismans inside, with an attendant beside them explaining something. The man had his back to Xiao Yu, so his face was hidden, but the woman had lovely features and was strikingly beautiful. When she noticed Xiao Yu looking her way, she gave him a radiant smile.

Xiao Yu paid her no attention and turned to look elsewhere. Just then, another attendant in the shop noticed him.

His eyes lit up, and he immediately approached Xiao Yu with an enthusiastic greeting. "Welcome to the Spirit Talisman Pavilion, fellow Daoist. How may I help you? Our shop carries spirit talismans of excellent quality in a wide variety. You're sure to find something to your satisfaction here."

Xiao Yu glanced at the attendant. He looked to be in his forties, with cultivation at the fourth level of Qi Refining. His aptitude must have been extremely poor; otherwise, he would not have had such meager cultivation at his age.

Still, Xiao Yu showed no trace of disdain on his face and merely said calmly:

"I'd like to look at supplies for making talismans first. Please introduce them to me, fellow Daoist."

The attendant's face brightened. "Certainly. Please follow me, fellow Daoist." He led Xiao Yu to the row of counters displaying raw materials.

As he approached, Xiao Yu saw blank talisman paper, cinnabar, talisman brushes, and other supplies arranged on the counter.

Then the attendant's voice reached Xiao Yu's ears:

"Blank talisman paper costs one spirit stone per dozen, with twelve sheets in each bundle. Cinnabar costs five spirit stones per box, enough to draw several hundred talismans. We only have low- and mid-grade talisman brushes here, priced between twenty and eighty spirit stones. If you require a better brush, you'll need to speak to the shopkeeper."

After examining the supplies for a while, Xiao Yu said nothing and moved to the counter displaying finished spirit talismans.

The attendant followed and explained:

"This section sells finished spirit talismans. Most are basic low-grade talismans, such as the Fireball Talisman, the Ice Arrow Talisman, and the Wooden Thorn Talisman. They cost one or two spirit stones each.

"We also have some basic mid-grade spirit talismans, such as the Fire Serpent Talisman, the Diamond Talisman, and the Water Shield Talisman. Their prices range from seven to eleven spirit stones each. Generally speaking, defensive ones cost a little more than offensive ones.

"As for basic high-grade spirit talismans, today's allotment has already sold out. If you need them, fellow Daoist, you can come earlier next time."

After a moment of silence, Xiao Yu said to the attendant, "Do you have somewhere quieter here? I'd like to speak with your shopkeeper."

Far from being disappointed, the attendant looked delighted. Such a request usually heralded a substantial transaction. He replied happily, "Yes, of course! Please follow me, fellow Daoist!"

Following the attendant through a curtained doorway, Xiao Yu entered a private room at the back of the shop. The attendant brewed him some spirit tea, then left.

Before long, a potbellied middle-aged man with a short mustache entered. Upon recognizing Xiao Yu's unmistakable Giant Sword Sect attire, he greeted him warmly:

"Sorry for the wait, fellow Daoist. I am Du Bishu, humbly serving as shopkeeper of the Spirit Talisman Pavilion. You truly are young and accomplished! To have reached the eleventh level at such a tender age-you certainly live up to your standing as a disciple of a major sect! May I ask your name?"

Xiao Yu swept his gaze over the newcomer, noting his cultivation at the peak of the thirteenth level. He rose and cupped his hands. "You're too kind, Shopkeeper Du. My surname is Yan. I came to purchase a fine talisman brush and some high-grade talismans. Does your shop have anything suitable?"

"Haha, so it's Fellow Daoist Yan. Our shop specializes in talisman-making supplies, so naturally we have both brushes and spirit talismans. Since you've chosen to patronize us, I'll certainly see that you leave satisfied today," Shopkeeper Du said with a cheerful smile.

He then patted his storage pouch and took out a talisman brush half a foot long, with a blue shaft and brown bristles, introducing it to Xiao Yu:

"This Blue Bristle Brush was made from fine birch wood and the neck hairs of a second-rank demonic beast, the Golden-Eyed Beast. It conducts spiritual power extremely well and is very suitable for beginners. Moreover, using it to make talismans can improve your success rate to some extent. It's the best talisman brush I currently have!

"As for basic high-grade spirit talismans, I do have a little private stock, though I can't supply you with too many, Fellow Daoist Yan."

With that, Shopkeeper Du set the Blue Bristle Brush on the table and fixed an intent gaze on Xiao Yu.

Xiao Yu smiled faintly, took out an exquisite wooden box, and pushed it toward Shopkeeper Du. "Shopkeeper Du, how much would you value this at?" Having spoken, he watched the shopkeeper with unruffled composure.

Somewhat surprised, Shopkeeper Du opened the wooden box. Inside lay a medicinal herb shaped like ginseng, except that its stem and roots were fiery red.

"Hmm, firecloud ginseng! A fine medicinal herb, quite effective for refining fire-attribute pills." As he spoke, Shopkeeper Du glanced at Xiao Yu. Seeing that he remained in the same position without reacting, he looked more closely into the wooden box.

"Oh? This is..." Shopkeeper Du picked up the firecloud ginseng and examined it repeatedly for a while. Delight spread across his face as he muttered to himself, "There's no mistake. Eight-hundred-year-old firecloud ginseng. An exceptional specimen!"

He then realized that he had lost his composure in front of a customer. Bargaining the price down would probably be difficult now, even if he wanted to. Still, he had already resolved to acquire it. If he presented it to the shop's owner, he was certain to receive a generous reward.

"You are truly blessed with profound good fortune, Fellow Daoist Yan, to have found such an old medicinal herb. How about this? I'll tell you our bottom line directly. Our shop is willing to purchase this herb for one thousand spirit stones. Brother Yan, what do you think...?" Shopkeeper Du first offered Xiao Yu a few words of praise, then gritted his teeth and named a price before watching him nervously.

Xiao Yu almost admired the shopkeeper's ability to produce such a rich assortment of expressions in so short a time.

One thousand spirit stones was acceptable. For medicinal herbs, a thousand years of age was a major threshold. An ordinary thousand-year-old herb could fetch two thousand spirit stones, while a rare variety would be even more valuable. Below a thousand years, however, their value fell sharply. The shopkeeper's offer was close to what he had expected.

With these thoughts in mind, he said to Shopkeeper Du:

"Agreed. We'll use the price you offered. But I need a few high-grade talismans, so I hope you'll be willing to part with them."

"Hahaha, certainly, certainly! Have a look, Brother Yan. This is all my stock. Take your pick!" Delighted, Shopkeeper Du took out a dozen or so spirit talismans.

Xiao Yu picked up the spirit talismans and examined them, finding three varieties among them: the Flight Talisman, the Firecloud Talisman, and the Earth Prison Talisman.

After considering for a while, Xiao Yu selected three Firecloud Talismans, three Earth Prison Talismans, one Flight Talisman, and the talisman brush, then said to Shopkeeper Du:

"I'll take all of these. Also, please bring me one hundred dozen sheets of blank talisman paper and twenty boxes of cinnabar. Please calculate the total, Shopkeeper."

Shopkeeper Du grew even happier. He hurriedly summoned the attendant and told him to fetch the requested supplies, then began chatting warmly with Xiao Yu. Every so often, he tried to draw out information about Xiao Yu's master and background.

Xiao Yu handled his questions cautiously, offering vague pleasantries while changing the subject, and gave nothing away.

Shopkeeper Du felt rather frustrated. Although this ordinary-looking Giant Sword Sect disciple appeared young, he spoke with a polished answer for everything, like a seasoned veteran of the world. The shopkeeper could not pry anything out of him.

Before long, the attendant brought a large pile of supplies, placed them on the table, and withdrew from the private room.

"Brother Yan, here is everything you requested. The talisman brush costs three hundred spirit stones, and I'll charge you two hundred and seventy for the seven spirit talismans. The talisman paper and cinnabar come to two hundred altogether. That means that in exchange for your medicinal herb, our shop still owes you two hundred and thirty spirit stones. Are you satisfied, Brother Yan?" Shopkeeper Du asked after totaling the bill.

"Agreed!" Xiao Yu accepted without hesitation, and the two completed their transaction in a cheerful atmosphere.