"They are growing well" Xiù Feng said looking at the twenty acres of spirit rice in front of the old courtyard and a small patch of medicinal field in the distance.
Above the spirit field, countless water vapors gathered with strands of spiritual qi, forming a water cloud that just covered the entire spirit field.
The gentle rain nourished the rice making it grow taller.
"Relaxing at home truly brings peace of mind." Xiù Feng sighed feeling the pure and rich spiritual energy within.
This was her old courtyard before the sect was established. Of course, the old mansion being a part of the sect was repurposed as the main sect hall so she had to build a new hut.
One of the unexpected side effects of the upgrade was a minor earthquake which alongside the fact that a evil spirit invaded the sect made for a hectic night.
'I had to spend an hour convincing them that we were not under attack by the demonic sect,' Xiù Feng thought. 'Guess a holiday is good for calming down nerves.'
'The disciples are getting a free day,' she mused. 'Unlike Elder Lin. She's probably cultivating without a break.'
'And Chu Xingchen is supposed to be "visiting and bringing back the new ship",' she added internally. 'Really, it's a ruse for him to secretly earn rewards for the sect, recruit new disciples and elders if he can. Hope the four days pass fast. I'll reap a massive point bonus when he returns.'
XXXX-XXXX
(400 li away from sect)
Meanwhile, in the unknown parts of an unknown town a known figure moved with practiced grace.
Although the black market was close to the center of the market, its surroundings were desolate. There were no courtyards or residences; only a few cultivators hurried along the streets, watchful of each other.
The entire area was enveloped in thick black mist. When Chu Xingchen's spiritual sense probed into the mist, it seemed obstructed, hindering any progress.
Wearing a makeshift mask, Chu Xingchen approached the cultivator guarding the entrance to the black market. Observing that nearly all the cultivators dressed similarly to him, most concealing their faces with masks or cloths, a few used special artifacts for concealment, while some didn't bother, revealing their true faces, although Chu Xingchen couldn't ascertain if they were their actual identities.
He watched the movements of the cultivators ahead, then showed his token a metal trinket inscribed with black runes and a faintly moving black arrow to the shrouded figure at the entrance
Entering the mist, a blurry scene unfolded before him. The faintly shimmering black arrow continuously adjusted its direction within the mist, guiding Chu Xingchen forward. After a while, he passed through the mist and arrived inside the black market.
The black market was as described – spacious, a low murmur of voices, shrouded figures, and goods of dubious origin laid out on cloths or rough tables. Chu Xingchen kept his mask on, his spiritual sense spread subtly, observing. He wasn't here to browse idly. He had a mission. Several missions, actually
He spotted a stall piled high with various low to mid-grade spirit herbs. The owner was haggling aggressively with a cultivator over a small bundle of White Moon Grass.
The owner, a wiry man with sharp cheekbones and tired eyes, crouched low over his goods while a frustrated cultivator jabbed a finger at a bunch of stalks.
"That's a unfair price," the buyer snapped.
"Then walk away," the man replied flatly, not even looking up"I don't sell to poor beggers"
"I could buy it for half in the northern district!"
"Then go...good luck finding one of superior quality among those trash"
"Tch" the cultivator scoffed and stormed off,
The vendor exhaled, stood up slowly, and rubbed his wrists.
Chu Xingchen stepped forward, eyeing the arrangement.only few second and third grade herbs but the consistency of quality was impressive. The dirt still smelled fresh. His gaze paused at a stalk of Seven Needle Orchid—rare, typically grown under restricted licenses.
"Plant cultivator?" Chu Xingchen asked.
"I refused to work for those Jin basterds " The man gave a short nod. "My courtyard was dissolved by the Jin family forcing me to sell here now...Ha those assholes didn't expect that I secretly bought another piece of land outside this town"
"True the Jin family don't allow this herb on the open market." Chu Xingchen agreed, his voice neutral. "All of them. How much?"
"All of them, esteemed one? You mean the whole lot?"The stall owner blinked
"That should solve your worries." Chu Xingchen dropped two spirit stones on the wooden table
The spirit stones he used were high-grade stones given by the sect leader, each one shining with a soft brilliance and large enough to fit fully in one's palm.
To give a better understanding high-grade spirit stone was equivalent to 200 medium-grade spirit stones, which in turn were worth 500 low-grade stones,
The herbs here equaled between a hundred low-grade stone to one or two medium grade stones
Chu Xingchen had just paid more than a few hundred times the amount for the herbs with those two stones
The owner's jaw dropped. He fumbled for words, then bagged the herbs frantically. "A million thanks, esteemed one! I am truly grateful! I—I will even plant a full patch of Moonstalk in your honour! If you ever need spirit grass, just send word! I'll deliver it personally! My whole garden is yours!"
[Generosity Recognized!]
[You have generously purchased a large quantity of spirit herbs for the sect]
[Feedback 5X!]
[23 good Quality Seven Needle Orchid,15 good quality Stone Bark Amur cork root, 15 batches of superior quality Moonflower ,20 batches of good quality white moon grass]
"I will gladly call you if I have need friend"
He moved on, looking for other bulk goods. Minerals, common alchemical ingredients, stacks of low-level formation flags anything that will provide more feedback, more sect points.
Near the corner of the walkway, he found a square cloth pinned down with stones. On it were four basic vials of green and blue pills and a single thin manual with a faded green cover. Behind it sat two girls — both around sixteen or seventeen , in faded sect robes.
They both were cultivators in the third stage of Qi gathering realm which was understandable considering their age
The one on the left was quieter, seated straight, arms crossed over her knees. She wore her hair pinned with a simple reed stick, and her robes hung too loosely over her small frame. She glanced at passersby but didn't call out. Her fingers occasionally moved as if counting invisible stones.
The girl on the right was perched on her heels, more alert. She watched the crowd and nudged her friend with her elbow when someone slowed.
"Qi recovery, minor healing, and one basic internal manual," the second girl said as Chu Xingchen stepped up.
Chu Xingchen crouched down. His hand tapped the thin manual.
Chu Xingchen looked at the few pills – basic Qi replenishing, minor healing. Then he looked at the manual. Faded title, 'nine Herb Pill Concoction .'
"You're selling internal sect recipes?" Chu Xingchen asked "Your sect allows that?"
The quiet girl looked up at him briefly. "That's why we're here."
"I will buy everything you have" He took out a pouch and dropped two high-grade spirit stone in front of them.
Her friend froze, then let out a sharp breath. "You're… buying the whole stall?"
He nodded once.
She laughed once in disbelief. "We've been here all day and got one haggle over a Qi pill. Senior, thank you—really. This pays for everything we need. Even the cauldron!"
"Hmmm don't mention it" Chu Xingchen stored the manual and vials and left
[Generosity Recognized!]
[You have assisted a low-talent alchemist attempting to stay in her sect]
[You have provided cultivation resources to a struggling disciple pair]
[Feedback 10X!]
[ Twelve herbs harmony pill recipe,2 Mended Flesh Recovery Pellet (Mid-Tier),3 Refined Qi Recovery pills (Low-Tier)]
'Good deed done,' Chu Xingchen thought, feeling satisfied 'Truly happiness is best when shared with others'
Like that he continued to buy talisman,monster parts and monster meat, more herbs and pills
Until he navigated towards a less public corner of the market, near a darkened alley. He was looking for a specific kind of merchant
"Alams good sir please " the merchant begged
His disguise and makeup was so overly dramatic that it must have cost him a fortune to just become a beggar
In fact the dirt on him was high quality Spirit soil (they have standards)
Only the sharp, darting eyes gave him away. He was a member of the hidden information network, rumored to be group similar to the old Beggar's Sect, with ears everywhere.
Chu Xingchen approached the figure dropping a spirit stone
"You are truly generous young master" The figure didn't move, but the darting eyes settled on him
"So have you done as I asked yesterday " Chu Xingchen said. "About talented individuals. Cultivators, young, who were recently… cast out. From sects, clans, powerful families. For any reason. Kicked out, disowned, branded as trash. Anyone with a reason to resent the place that threw them away."
The figure was silent for a moment. "Ah, that request specific and very odd too. Not many ask for damaged goods."
"I have use for them," Chu Xingchen said simply.
"Information on true talent, even fallen, is valuable I see."
"Three names," the begger answered handing a plain paper "Promising talents, all recently discarded for varying reasons. We can provide a guide to one. The closest one"
Chu Xingchen took the paper. It was plain, unremarkable. "The guide?"
"Waiting near the South Gate," the figure said. "Show them the paper. They will know where to take you. Our part is done."
"Good thank you" Chu Xingchen thanked tucking the paper away. This was much more efficient than random searching. Information networks were valuable assets.
If one thing old brother Lu Bu[1] did right he knew the best parts of the underworld
XXXX-XXXX
...
Throw this trash out! How dare he defile our Saintess!"
"A toad wanting to eat swan meat, kill him! Kill him!"
"That trash has gone too far this time!"
...
the painful memory caused Sun Qi to involuntarily curl up...
He slowly opened his eyes looking at the shabby wooden ceiling
"I am Sun Qi, a true disciple of the Flying Crane Sect who was expelled from the sect."
"My father was originally an outer elder of the Flying Crane Sect, a person of noble status. He died mysteriously a month ago."
"Immediately after, my cultivation was crippled, my dantian was shattered, and I was even expelled from the Flying crane Sect on the charge of molesting the Saintess, becoming a despised trash"
"Heh heh... The so-called Saintess is just a b*tch who used to grovel at my feet..."
When my father was alive, she was obedient and extremely respectful towards me. After my father died, she soared to prominence and became the Saintess of the Flying Crane Sect...
She even tricked me over and slandered me for defiling her, heh heh..."
"... That's rather sad follow daoist " a voice answered
"Huh ?" Sun Qi rose his head slightly 'who listened to his backstory monologue ?'
A handsome prince entered his view he was tall, defined, with bright black eyes like the void,clear jade like skin
He looked a lot like one of those poster boys in those weird Yaoi magazine his sister reads in his past life
Not that Sun Qi has anything against them obviously it's not his business if someone wants to fuck up that way also he personally likes and owes a lot of lesbian magazines
"who are you ?" Sun Qi asked half hopefully
"I am Chu Xingchen an elder of the Iron mountain turtle sect and I am here to invite you to become my disciple "
"Thank you" Sun Qi cried manly tears of gratitude
His golden finger was finally here
XXXX-XXXXXXXX-XXXX
[1] Chu Xingchen is referring to the previous owner of his body who had a habit of having many fathers and killing all of them like Lu Bu