Cultivation Starting from Choosing Augments-Chapter 114 - 111: When Doing Business Here, It’s Best Not to Be Too Curious

Chapter 114: Chapter 111: When Doing Business Here, It’s Best Not to Be Too Curious

As he ventured deeper, the faint scent of blood drifted to him.

Xiao Chen turned to look and saw a simple bamboo building. Hanging by the entrance was a blood-red greatsword with a broken tip.

Above the sword was a sign: Bat Tower.

The same couplet was on either side: We ask not of your origins, nor of your path. We have everything you could want, and our dealings are honest.

This time, perhaps because he had seen it once before, because of his Divine Protection Veil, or perhaps because his cultivation was different, in any case, he saw no bloody vision when he encountered the greatsword.

’There’s a Bat Tower here too? It couldn’t be the same one, could it?’

Since such a place existed, Xiao Chen no longer hesitated. He would sell off his unwanted items here.

He also planned to ask if they sold any Tier Two Wood Element Spiritual Objects or Spiritual Liquids.

After inspecting four types of Spiritual Liquid and being unsatisfied with all of them, the Shopkeeper of the Bat Tower took out a Flower-Mouthed Melon Bottle. "Sir, if you want the highest-grade Spiritual Liquid, then perhaps only the Five-Colored Profound Water will meet your requirements."

"However, the price of the Five-Colored Profound Water is certainly a bit steeper."

Xiao Chen took it for a look. Inside the bottle, five halos of different colors swirled within the profound water, sometimes intertwining, sometimes separating, in a ceaseless flow.

It faintly evoked the imagery of the Five Elements Mutual Generation.

Clearly, this bottle of Divine Water was an extremely precious Universal Spirit Liquid for cultivators with a Five Elements Spirit Root.

In terms of both quantity and quality, it was far superior to the Six Harmonies Divine Water he had seen before.

He asked the price directly, "How many Spirit Stones?"

The Shopkeeper held up two fingers. "Two thousand Spirit Stones. The price is firm."

Xiao Chen could easily accept this price. "How many more do you have? I’ll take them all."

The Shopkeeper was startled at first, then shook his head in regret. "Apologies, we only have this one."

Disappointed, Xiao Chen took out four hundred and twenty Spirit Stones to make up the difference for the two-thousand-stone price, then put the Five-Colored Profound Water away.

After leaving the Bat Tower, he continued to wander the area, searching for top-grade, Tier Two Wood Element Spiritual Objects.

He hadn’t expected to find a Spiritual Object yet, but he came across a late-stage Foundation Establishment Cultivator, an old man who had set up a stall selling pearls of various grades.

"Top-grade Spirit Pearls from the Eastern Domain! All sizes, all types! Don’t miss out, folks, step right up!"

"Fellow cultivators, this is a limited opportunity! Miss it this time, and you’ll have to wait another fifty years!"

Hearing the man’s cries, Xiao Chen’s curiosity was piqued, and he moved closer for a better look.

He saw that every single pearl was indeed perfectly round, lustrous as jade, and utterly flawless.

The Tier Two Spirit Pearls on the top two rows were especially stunning. Each was the size of a fist, crystalline and translucent, with a dazzling luster.

Each one emanated a dense Spiritual Qi; a single glance told him they were high-quality items.

What was even more unusual was that while most of the pearls contained Water Spiritual Power, a few also held other attributes.

The two on the far left, for instance, contained pure Wood Spiritual Power.

"Fellow cultivator, feel free to pick one up if you like. This old man’s wares are all genuine. They can stand up to any inspection."

Hearing this, Xiao Chen didn’t stand on ceremony. He picked one up and weighed it in his hand.

The moment he did, he noticed something strange. The pearl in his hand felt as if it weighed over a hundred pounds.

If he hadn’t just completed the Refinement of a trace of the Metal Attribute, he truly wouldn’t have been able to lift it so easily.

Holding it, he could clearly feel its fine, smooth texture. Wisps of Wood Spiritual Power seemed to overflow from it, burrowing into his palm.

For an ordinary Qi Refining cultivator, holding such a pearl would be no less effective than cultivating with a Spirit Stone.

If they could actively absorb the Spiritual Power within, the effect would be even greater.

Xiao Chen’s Spirit-Nurturing Technique could also absorb Spiritual Objects; it didn’t strictly require Spiritual Liquid.

He was immediately interested. "Senior, how much are these Wood Spirit Pearls?"

The old man pointed downward. "Fellow cultivator, look here. The prices are clearly marked. Fair to all."

Only then did Xiao Chen notice the small slips of paper under each pearl, each marked with a price.

Although they were both Wood Spirit Pearls, the one in his hand was priced at two hundred Spirit Stones, while a similarly sized one next to it cost a steep six hundred Spirit Stones.

"Oh? Is there a difference between them?"

He picked up the other one to weigh it and found that the two pearls were about the same weight.

The old man explained with a smile, "Of course there’s a difference. It depends on whether you’re using the Spirit Pearl for general cultivation or for enhancement."

Not understanding, Xiao Chen asked, "What do you mean by that? I hope Senior will enlighten me."

The old man didn’t seem to mind explaining. "All of my Spirit Pearls are genuine treasures brought back from the Eastern Domain."

"Eastern Domain Spirit Pearls have one characteristic that sets them apart from those of the Southern Domain: they can enhance the practice of Magic."

"Any Spirit Pearl over three hundred years old can double the cultivation speed of its corresponding Tier Two Five Elements Magic."

"Imagine how much time that could save."

"The one in your right hand was harvested at only two hundred and ninety-one years, so it can only be sold as a defective item."

Xiao Chen understood at once. For those who weren’t short on money, time was indeed precious.

He, for one, was tempted.

"In that case, I’ll take these four Wood Spirit Pearls, these five Fire Spirit Pearls in the middle, and that Water Spirit Pearl on the far right."

In one fell swoop, Xiao Chen bought all the Wood and Fire Spirit Pearls on the stall, spending another six thousand Spirit Stones.

It was a good thing he was wealthy; otherwise, he truly couldn’t have afforded them.

Seeing the large purchase, the old man threw in the underage Wood Spirit Pearl for free as a bonus.

"Fellow cultivator, I’ve bought a shop in Qianzhu Market. I’m usually there."

"In a few years, once the trade routes open up, you’re welcome to visit me again. I guarantee I’ll give you the best price."

Xiao Chen gladly accepted. "Excellent. If I need more Spirit Pearls in a few years, I’ll be sure to look for you."

「It was only just Noon.」

On the principle of ’might as well, since I’m already here,’ he continued to browse the remaining stalls.

Afterward, he found a spot in the shade of a tree and sat cross-legged to meditate.

He managed to cultivate for two Grand Circulations.

When afternoon came, he went out again to look for newly arrived vendors.

Sure enough, many cultivators had arrived late for various reasons, so quite a few new vendors had appeared in the afternoon.

Xiao Chen searched around carefully.

He found a newly arrived, masked cultivator selling a Twin Cyan Lotus.

The twin lotuses appeared to be two separate flowers, but they actually grew from a single stalk.

This was a true, top-grade, Tier Two Wood Element Spiritual Object—his most important reason for coming to Yellow Wind Valley today.

’Good thing I didn’t leave right away.’

Xiao Chen hurried to the stall, gave the item a brief inspection, and immediately asked, "Fellow cultivator, how much for this Cyan Lotus?"

The person wore a veil, revealing only a pair of eyes that scanned him up and down.

The Spirit Patterns on his Stealth Cloak immediately lit up, warning him that an unfamiliar Divine Sense was approaching.

He quickly extended his own Divine Sense outside the Cloak and discovered an unfamiliar Divine Sense circling it, searching for a gap to silently invade.

Xiao Chen swept the other’s probe away with his own Divine Sense and warned, "Fellow cultivator, when you’re here to do business, it’s best not to be too curious."

Realizing he was a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, the other person reined themself in.

They unhurriedly held up three fingers. "I want three thousand Spirit Stones."