Haha, my focus on the Wind Control Skill has not been in vain!
The Wind Control Skill is almost at the Master Level; by that time, I will be even faster.
Jia Ren easily shook off his pursuer, relishing the overwhelming advantage in speed. The hard work of day and night cultivation was not wasted.
He wasn't in a hurry to return home. After losing his tail, he headed to the Southern District Market.
As a lowly Loose Cultivator, he was somewhat known among the bait-selling Loose Cultivators in the West District, but he was nobody in the Southern District Market.
I hope I can buy the Four Arts of Cultivation; the bait business won't last forever. I need to prepare in advance.
In the past, he didn't dare to even think about it because he didn't have enough Spirit Stones. Ninety Spirit Stones weren't much, but it was just enough to afford an entry-level First Order Cultivation art.
Filled with longing for the Four Arts of Cultivation, Jia Ren began his search at stalls and shops.
Is it bad luck, or some other reason, that I can't find a single seller?
"It's been a long time since I've seen someone selling pills, Magic Artifacts, Talismans, or arrays."
"If the inheritance quality is decent, small families and Sects will buy them."
"If the inheritance quality is poor, Loose Cultivators will buy them."
"When it comes to buying an inheritance for the Four Arts of Cultivation, the most important thing is luck!"
The old Cultivator running a stall was quite amiable and explained the reasons to Jia Ren in detail.
The Four Arts of Cultivation are like the bread and butter for cultivators; their inheritances are rarely leaked, and unless absolutely necessary, no one would be willing to sell them.
Competitors are adversaries. Those who master the Four Arts of Cultivation wish nothing more than to hinder their fellow cultivators. Who would want to create competitors for no good reason?
Jia Ren was visibly disappointed. With no hope of obtaining the Four Arts of Cultivation for the time being, he could only consider ensuring his own safety.
He wandered the Southern District Market in search of suitable Defense Magic Artifacts.
"Please be kind, sell this poor Daoist an Evil Warding Talisman for three Spirit Stones. I only have three Spirit Stones on me..."
A plea came from afar, drawing Jia Ren's attention.
Following the sound, he saw many Loose Cultivators gathered around a Talisman stall, creating a spectacle. What happened? There shouldn't be any danger in the Market...
Driven by curiosity, Jia Ren moved closer.
An old cultivator, disheveled and dirty, was kneeling before the Talisman stall owner, repeatedly kowtowing and pleading for an Evil Warding Talisman to be sold to him cheaply.
The stall owner was unmoved, his gaze cold.
"Evil Warding Talismans cost ten Spirit Stones. You expect to buy one for three? Are you dreaming?"
"Get lost! Stay away from me! Don't let your noxious aura infect me!"
Seeing the old cultivator attempting to approach again, the stall owner instinctively moved away, his body lighting up with a red glow as he activated some unknown Talisman.
Evil Warding Talisman? It's only used when evil energy enters the body or when encountering Bizarre Demons; it's useless in combat.
This world has not only demons but also Bizarre Demons.
The methods of Bizarre Demons are strange; ordinary spells and techniques cannot harm them in the slightest. Once encountered, few ordinary cultivators survive. Even a mere brush with them can result in evil energy entering the body, and a truly dire fate befalls those affected.
Did the old cultivator encounter a Bizarre Demon or some evil entity? Has evil energy entered his body, forcing him to buy an Evil Warding Talisman? Where are these Bizarre Demons? Knowing their location would allow one to avoid them in advance.
"Who can lend this poor Daoist some Spirit Stones to buy an Evil Warding Talisman?"
Seeing that pleading with the Talisman stall owner was futile, the old cultivator cast his hopeful gaze upon the onlooking Loose Cultivators.
A person can be brought to their knees by the lack of a single penny; he wouldn't be begging so humbly if he weren't out of options.
The old cultivator's eyes were bloodshot, and an indescribable aura coiled around his face. Just looking at him for a moment made one's hair stand on end.
The onlookers quickly stepped aside, not daring to come close.
Nobody reached out to help.
Just give someone seven Spirit Stones for free? What kind of great philanthropist would do that?
Loose Cultivators struggled to make a living at the bottom; Spirit Stones are hard to earn. Even if they had extra, they wouldn't throw them away on a lost cause.
What the old cultivator saw were looks of fear and avoidance, as if they were treating him like a jinx, staying as far away as possible.
With no way to survive, his hope shattered, and the old cultivator let out a sorrowful laugh.
"Haha, a bunch of heartless people!"
"I curse you all to meet unfortunate ends!"
His voice, filled with resentment, echoed in the ears of all the cultivators.
The Loose Cultivators felt as if they had come to watch a show but ended up smeared with filth themselves, and they quickly distanced themselves. "What bad luck!" one muttered.
The stall owners in the market all packed up their wares, leaving only the old cultivator slumped on the ground, his gaze filled with bitterness and despair.
Jia Ren followed the crowd away, feeling a vague discomfort in his heart.
It was not out of pity for the man, nor was he considering giving away Spirit Stones for free.
Rather, the old cultivator's bitter gaze continued to haunt him, impossible to dispel.
I haven't been cursed, have I? Please don't let me be afflicted by evil!
It's better to be safe than sorry. Stability above all; I should buy an Evil Warding Talisman, just in case.
Jia Ren found a Talisman stall and, with a pang of regret, spent ten Spirit Stones to purchase an Evil Warding Talisman.
He carefully placed the Evil Warding Talisman over his heart.
Whether it was psychological or genuinely effective, the gloom that had hung over his heart dispersed like smoke.
I should acquire a Defense Magic Artifact. Safety first, cultivation second. The Spirit Stones I have should first be used to increase my chances of survival.
As Jia Ren's gaze swept over the various Magic Artifact stalls, there were plenty of Low-Quality Defense Magic Artifacts, but none that met his desires.
Before he knew it, he had wandered into the shop area of the Southern District Market.
A little shop?
A shop situated in a quiet corner caught Jia Ren's attention. It mainly dealt in Magic Artifacts, displaying various fine Magic Artifacts on its shelves.
"Fellow Daoist, are you looking to customize a Magic Artifact, or purchase a premium one?"
Unlike the street stalls that sold ready-made Magic Artifacts or 'booty' from ambushes, this shop offered a much wider range of services. They could even custom-make Magic Artifacts tailored to a client's needs.
"Let's look at the ready-made Magic Artifacts first."
Jia Ren wasn't a newcomer to the Cultivation World; he knew that 'custom-made' meant 'expensive.' Even for a Low-Quality Magical Artifact, the custom-making price was more than fifty percent higher than that of a regular ready-made one.
With the Spirit Stones needed to order a custom Low-Quality Magical Artifact, it was better to save up a bit more and grit his teeth to buy a Medium-grade Magic Tool.
"May I ask what type of Magic Artifact you are looking for, friend?"
The shopkeeper led the way and began to introduce his wares.
Swords, knives, jade beads, compasses, gourds, mirrors...
They had a complete range of types; all conceivable items were available.
The shop's main business was Low-Quality Magical Artifacts and Medium-grade Magic Tools, with both quality and prices significantly higher than those found at roadside stalls.
The cheapest Medium-grade Magic Tool started at over sixty Spirit Stones, most of them being offensive Magic Tools. The prices for Medium-grade Defense Magic Tools were exorbitant; a cursory glance revealed that each could cost upward of one hundred Spirit Stones.
"Defensive Magic Artifacts, Low-Quality Magical Artifacts."
Seeing the shopkeeper leading him to look at Medium-grade Magic Tools, Jia Ren helplessly added this clarification.
"Silken Armor, made from Black Silkworm Thread with a special Secret Technique, effectively defends against spell attacks, but its defense against piercing-type Magic Artifacts is lackluster."
"Breeze Robe, naturally carries a breeze and dust-repelling effect, keeping it spotless. It's warm in winter and cool in summer, defends against magical attacks excluding fire, and slightly enhances the speed of the Wind Control Skill."
"Flying Horn Shield, a Magic Artifact crafted from the skulls of three Flying Lizards, excellent in defense, flexible in control..."
The quality of the Magic Artifacts in the shop far exceeded those on the roadside stalls. There were many types to choose from, including Under Armor, Robes, and shields.
The only downside was that the overall price was higher than at the roadside stalls.
The effectiveness of a Defense Magic Artifact could be a matter of life and death. One couldn't skimp on Magic Artifacts; the higher the quality, the better.
Jia Ren favored the Breeze Robe the most. The breeze and dust-repelling effect made it impeccable, not to mention its ability to increase the speed of his Wind Control Skill.
Specializing in the Wind Control Skill, the Breeze Robe is perfect for me.
"I'll take the Breeze Robe."
"That will be thirty-two Spirit Stones."
Jia Ren only haggled for two Spirit Stones. Having just earned a sum, he paid the Spirit Stones readily.
He couldn't wait to change into the Breeze Robe. He felt its silky texture, so different from ordinary robes, and it always maintained a constant temperature, dispelling all stifling heat.
Clothes make the man, just as a saddle makes the horse. Wearing the Breeze Robe, Jia Ren looked handsome and refined, exuding an extraordinary demeanor. He now had much more the temperament of a true cultivator, unlike the look of a struggling Loose Cultivator.
The Breeze Robe is nice, and I look sharp in it, but its defensive performance is average, far inferior to proper Defense Magic Artifacts.
One Defense Magic Artifact isn't enough; I could add another specialized in defense at most.
Flying Horn Shield? It offers good agility but is slightly lacking in defense. Against Loose Cultivators weaker than myself, it would be fine. But against stronger opponents, its defensive capability wouldn't be very reliable.
He glanced sideways at the display case of Medium-grade Defense Magic Tools and then retracted his gaze with a resigned air. He wanted to buy a Medium-grade Defense Magic Tool, but he lacked the funds.
The shopkeeper, who had been watching Jia Ren, noticed this.
"Friend, our shop also has a repaired Medium-grade Magic Tool. Would you be interested?"