https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-22-Breakthrough-to-the-Second-Realm/12581277/
Chapter 21: Qinglin City
Chapter 21: Qinglin City
At dawn, a thin mist veiled the surroundings in a hazy blur.
Qinglin City was nestled atop a verdant peak, surrounded by towering evergreen trees that lent their hue to the mountain. Though the peak was shrouded in fog, at its base lay rows of shabby shanties, crudely constructed from thick logs, giving the place a cramped and secluded feel. The absence of drainage ditches allowed sewage to flow freely, adding to the dismal atmosphere.
"So this is Qinglin City? It's not as impressive as its reputation suggests."
Fang Xing, clad in a green robe with his hair tied back, carried a bamboo basket on his back. His features had been altered, giving him the appearance of a local youth with a simple and honest face.
He let out a sigh and remotely controlled a simulated yellow sparrow to descend from the sky and slip into his basket. Fang had gone to great lengths to prepare for today's exploration. He had meticulously planned multiple escape routes and donned a nano-protective suit under his robe. A stun gun hung at his waist, ensuring he was well-equipped for any eventuality.
On his way here, simulated bird-shaped drones had kept a constant watch, allowing him to avoid several unsavory characters.
"Is this a city for cultivators or a slum?"
As he entered the shantytown, a putrid odor assailed his nostrils, causing him to fan the air in front of his nose. The road was muddy and overgrown with wild grass, occasionally revealing patches of stark white bones... They seemed to be human leg bones.
"Well, well..."
Fang peered toward a corner ahead where a fresh corpse lay, stripped bare by whoever had killed it.
The few passersby hurried along, their faces tense. Occasionally, curious eyes peered through gaps in the wooden boards and windows.
Everyone seemed accustomed to the presence of the corpse.
'Chaotic and lawless... Death could lurk around every corner.'
'The mental pressure of surviving in such an environment must be immense!'
Fang inwardly criticized the state of the city, his eyes narrowing as a tall, thin middle-aged man approached. The man wore a gray robe, and his expression was cold and gloomy.
More importantly, as the man walked, his gray robe seemed to shimmer with faint strands of spiritual light!
"A robe of a cultivator's sect? A cultivator?"
Fang's heart stirred, and he quickly mimicked the actions of nearby warriors, stepping aside to yield the path.
Some of the warriors even deeply bowed, their faces bearing respectful and ingratiating smiles.
Everything seemed so natural, as if it were an unspoken rule.
'Etiquette and hierarchy... Survival of the fittest.'
'If I hadn't stepped aside and shown respect, would I have been killed for it? A pointless death?'
With a heavy heart, Fang continued on his way out of the shantytown and up the mountain path.
The mountain trail was paved with green flagstones, some of which were already covered in moss, creating a unique landscape.
At the halfway point, he could make out large clusters of buildings that appeared more orderly. The ground was paved with stone slabs, giving the area a cleaner feel.
Several warriors were sweeping and tidying up nearby, some carrying buckets as if they were servants.
After walking for a few more minutes, Fang came across a stone archway inscribed with the words 'Qinglin City'.
Upon entering the city, the crowd noticeably thickened. Along the roadsides were vendors selling a variety of peculiar goods.
Rare flowers and plants, dew-kissed fruits and vegetables, animal hides, bones, and meat, as well as bags of rice...
There were also stalls selling strange weapons, odd talismans, and all manner of bottled concoctions.
Many people browsed the stalls, either intently examining the goods or haggling over prices.
Fang observed the scene with a detached air, noting that most transactions were barter-based. Aside from direct exchanges, the most commonly used currency was a substance called 'spirit sand'—the tiny crystal grains he had acquired earlier.
In addition to the stalls, there were also many shops in the city.
Qingdan Studio, Hundred Treasures Pavilion, Fire Refining Studio, Little Talisman Hall, and Rain Listening Tower...
Some shop names clearly indicated their wares, while others required a bit of guesswork.
Fang paused briefly in front of the Rain Listening Tower, and his ears were greeted by the sounds of seduction. He quickly deduced the nature of the establishment.
"Hey there, young man, care to have some fun? It's just one spirit stone!"
A busty young woman with a revealing outfit beckoned to him, her eyes half-lidded and her voice dripping with allure.
'Spirit stone? Seems like a higher denomination of the spirit sand.'
Fang's interest was piqued, but he feigned a shy blush and quickly walked away, eliciting a peal of silvery laughter from behind.
Half an hour later...
"How much for this 'Zhu Long Cao'?"
After browsing for a while, Fang stopped at a stall and pointed to a crimson herb with thick leaves that resembled jade.
The stall owner was an elderly farmer smoking a brass-tipped pipe. He took his time, leisurely enjoying his smoke before gently tapping the pipe against the nearby flagstone pavement.
There was a noticeable indentation in the stone, likely formed from the farmer's long-standing habit.
"Two pieces of spirit sand per stem... But if you're selling it to me, I'll give you one piece per stem." The old man finally spoke, his voice calm and measured.
"How did you know?" Fang asked, his face betraying a hint of panic, as if he were an inexperienced youth.
"Hehe..." The old man chuckled, his eyes gleaming with satisfaction. "Even from a zhang away, I can smell the herbs in your basket. Is that Zhu Long Cao? Planning to sell it for a high price, huh? Well, let me give you a tip..."
"You truly have an eye for these things," Fang Xing replied with an earnest smile.
He had prepared diligently for this trip to the market, and the main item on his agenda was 'Zhu Long Cao'! After all, there was an abundance of this herb on the wild boar yaoshou's territory.
Harvesting it with drones hadn't been much of a risk, either.
For this trip, Fang Xing had brought twenty freshly picked Zhu Long Cao stems, intending to gauge the market.
"To be honest, Zhu Long Cao is only useful for qi-refining cultivators... Us warriors just earn a meager living from it. The buying price has gone up recently, otherwise, you'd only get one spirit sand for two or three stems in normal times!"
The old man didn't seem to have much business, so he chatted casually with Fang Xing. "Young man... I won't cheat you. This Zhu Long Cao will fetch the same price at any shop, but I can offer you a deal. I'll give you eleven spirit sand for ten stems..."
"I don't have that many. I had to go through a lot just to get these few," Fang Xing shook his head, a hesitant expression on his face. "I'll look around some more..."
Without another word, he turned and blended back into the stream of people.
"Damn, the people in this world have such low standards. I really can't trust them..."
"Compared to individuals, shops at least have a reputation to uphold..."
"This small profit probably isn't worth a shop flipping out and ruining its own name... But an individual might not care as much."
After careful consideration, Fang Xing decided to transact with a shop even if the buying price was slightly lower.
"Selling talismans! Freshly drawn talismans... Wind-walking talisman, fire rain talisman, golden bell talisman, spirit-sensing talisman... Come and have a look, everyone!"
At that moment, Fang Xing was drawn to a stall by the enthusiastic hawking and found himself facing a middle-aged man, his eyes narrowing in surprise.
The stall owner was dressed in a robe that shimmered with spiritual light, marking him as a cultivator!
"Wind-walking talisman, stick it to your leg and it'll make you swift as the wind. A must-have for traveling. Selling cheap, just one spirit sand for one talisman..."
"Fire rain talisman, a first-tier low-grade offensive talisman. Five spirit sand..."
"Spirit-sensing talisman, able to detect spiritual roots. As everyone knows, mortals without spiritual roots cannot cultivate immortality. You might have been misdiagnosed as a child, so here's your second chance to change your fate and ascend to immortality! Only eight spirit sand!"
Hearing this, Fang Xing's interest was piqued, and he glanced at the final item, the 'Golden Bell Talisman'.
This talisman was displayed prominently in the center of the stall, clearly a high-grade item.
"First-tier, mid-grade—Golden Bell Talisman. Capable of withstanding multiple attacks from a mid-stage qi-refining cultivator. It's a top-quality product, and I'm selling it at a loss for just three spirit stones..."
After browsing for so long, Fang Xing already knew that ten spirit sand was equivalent to one low-grade spirit stone, and he found the stall owner's pricing rather amusing.
He squeezed out of the crowd and compared prices at several shops before finally stepping into the 'Qingdan Studio'!
He chose this shop for two reasons. First, it seemed to specialize in pills and would likely have a demand for herbs.
Second, the green leaf emblem on its signboard was identical to the mark on the bottom of the Qi Blood Pill bottle, which left a favorable impression on Fang Xing.
"Welcome, esteemed customer. What kind of pill are you looking for?"
As Fang Xing entered the shop, he was greeted by a young girl with bright eyes and pearly teeth.
Even though he appeared to be an ordinary young warrior, she showed no hint of disdain.
'While this is standard service in Eagle Star, it's a rare treat in Qinglin City...'
Fang Xing marveled inwardly before speaking up. "I want to sell some herbs... Do you buy Zhu Long Cao?"
"Of course. One spirit sand per stem. How many do you have?" The girl paused briefly, then replied.
"Just these..."
Fang Xing took off his basket and presented the twenty stems of Zhu Long Cao.
"Hmm, freshly picked. Although the harvesting technique is a bit rough, the medicinal properties are mostly intact... Twenty spirit sand in total. What do you think?" The girl inspected each stem carefully before quoting a price.
"Deal!"
Fang Xing was concise in his reply, and soon, the girl had taken the Zhu Long Cao and handed him two spirit stones.
"Low-grade spirit stones?" Fang Xing's eyes lit up as he took the stones, turning them over in his palm.
Each stone was no bigger than a fingernail, crystal clear and translucent, with a dense mist within that made them feel cool to the touch.
"Is there anything else I can help you with?" The girl seemed eager to make another deal.
"Qi Blood Pill..."
Fang Xing thought for a moment before asking, "How much do they cost?"
"The Qi Blood Pill is for mortal warriors. It's very affordable, just one spirit stone per bottle." The girl replied with a light laugh, her tone casual yet naturally carrying an air of superiority.
"I'll take one!"
Fang Xing handed over the spirit stone he had just acquired, still warm from his palm, and received a jade bottle identical to the one taken from the female warrior.
After leaving the Qingdan Studio, he glanced back at the stall and then entered another building thoughtfully—the 'Little Talisman Hall'.
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
