After a long while, Captain Xiong Lie put down the Storage Pouch and nodded to Qian Fu: “Shopkeeper, the Materials are numerous, but their grades are all between Low Grade and Medium Grade, and the processing method is experienced with minimal loss. The Spirit Rice is rich in Spiritual Qi and of excellent quality. The total value… is about one thousand eight hundred Spirit Stones. Plus the Spiritual Plants…”
He picked up the Storage Pouch from Lin Feng’s waist again and looked at it, “The quality is slightly inferior to the Spirit Rice, but the quantity is large… totaling about two thousand Low-Grade Spirit Stones.”
Two thousand!
Lin Feng’s heart skipped a beat. This was much higher than his estimation! It seemed the Golden Scale Merchant Guild’s acquisition price was quite fair, or perhaps, his skill in processing Materials had been recognized. But his face remained calm: “Shopkeeper Qian, this price…”
Qian Fu chuckled, stroking his beardless chin: “Lin Daoyou’s skill in processing Materials, this old man admires. This price is fair. What do you think, Lin Daoyou?”
“Deal,” Lin Feng said decisively.
“Straightforward!” Qian Fu clapped his hands and immediately ordered someone to bring a heavy small leather bag, which contained neatly arranged Spirit Stones shimmering with a soft white light. Lin Feng’s Divine Sense swept over it, confirming the count of two thousand, and put them into his original Storage Pouch.
Carrying a huge sum!
Two thousand Spirit Stones! For Lin Feng, who had only twenty-odd Spirit Stones a little over a month ago, this was an astronomical figure! A great sense of security welled up, making even Qian Fu’s chubby face seem much more pleasing to the eye.
“Lin Daoyou, do you have any other needs? Perhaps you would like to browse the goods on this ship?” Qian Fu timely handed over a Jade Slip, which contained a list of items available for sale on the ship, complete with illustrations and text.
Lin Feng took the Jade Slip and immersed his Divine Sense. A dazzling array of item information flooded his mind: various Medicinal Pills, Magical Artifacts, Formation Plates, Talismans, Spiritual Plant seeds, Cultivation Technique Jade Slips… The prices also made him secretly gasp.
Magical Artifacts costing hundreds of Spirit Stones at every turn, and Medicinal Pills costing thousands of Spirit Stones, were simply not something a “nouveau riche” like him could squander freely.
He quickly browsed, his goal clear.
“Elementary Talisman Compendium (Essentials Edition)”: A cyan Jade Slip, priced at one hundred fifty Spirit Stones. Introduction: Contains complete drawing methods for five first-tier Elementary Talismans (Fireball Talisman, Ice Spike Talisman, Light Body Talisman, Vajra Talisman, Cleansing Talisman), a partial scroll for one first-tier Intermediate Talisman (Earth Prison Talisman), with detailed instructions for basic Talisman paper and Talisman fluid production.
“This is it!” Lin Feng rejoiced inwardly. This was precisely the key to solving his “paper but no Talisman” predicament! Without hesitation, he bought it!
“Green Bamboo” Talisman Brush: A first-tier High Grade Magical Artifact. The brush handle is made from hundred-year-old green jade spirit bamboo, and the brush bristles are taken from the soft tip of a first-tier wind-attribute Yao Beast, the “Wind Chasing Mink,” offering excellent Spiritual Qi conductivity. Priced at three hundred Spirit Stones. A basic tool for drawing Talismans, cannot be scrimped on, buy!
His gaze swept over the Magical Artifact area. The bone blade in his hand was sufficient for dealing with low-tier sea Yao Beasts, but when encountering tough opponents or needing to use a Flying Sword, it fell short.
“Water Divider” Sword: A first-tier Advanced water-element Flying Sword, entirely dark blue, with a slender and light blade, inscribed with “Wave-Breaking” and “Sharpness” runes, and comes with a slight water-escape acceleration effect, priced at six hundred Spirit Stones! The price was not low, but a first-tier Advanced Magical Artifact was already top-tier equipment usable by Qi Condensation cultivators, and its attribute matched his water Spiritual Root among his four Spiritual Roots. Gritting his teeth, he bought it!
Large Storage Pouch: Its space was more than five times that of his previous broken pouch, priced at two hundred Spirit Stones. The fundamental solution to his inventory overflow problem! Must buy!
Next was the Spiritual Plant seed area. With the Rain Prayer Divine Ability in hand, how could he waste it?
“fire pattern pepper” (first-tier spirit pepper, spicy, contains faint fire Spiritual Qi, can be used in Alchemy or for making special Talisman ink), “jade marrow mushroom” (first-tier spirit fungus, for strengthening the foundation and cultivating vitality), “chill smoke grass,” a first-tier yin-attribute Spiritual Plant, can be used to make special Talisman paper or ice-attribute Talismans, one small packet of each seed, totaling one hundred Spirit Stones.
The hope for diverse development of his future Spiritual Field, buy!
Finally, the Cultivation Technique area. Cultivation was fundamental, but self-preservation and concealment were equally important.
“Turtle Breath Qi Concealment Art” (incomplete): A first-tier Qi concealment secret art, which can greatly reduce one’s Spiritual Qi fluctuations and aura. When cultivated to a profound level, it can simulate a tortoise’s breath and a state of suspended animation. Priced at two hundred Spirit Stones. Essential for the Way of the Coward! Buy!
“Rock Body Tempering Art” (Basic Chapter): A first-tier Body Refining Cultivation Technique, which tempers muscles, bones, and skin through external beating, medicinal baths, and special breathing methods, enhancing Physical Body strength and defense.
Priced at two hundred Spirit Stones. The energy feedback from Demon Slayer seemed to have a slight strengthening effect on the Physical Body as well. This Cultivation Technique might accelerate this process, improving close-quarters combat and survival ability! Buy!
Lin Feng almost gritted his teeth as he reported each selected item. With each item he reported, the smile on Qian Fu’s face grew brighter.
“Elementary Talisman Compendium,” one hundred fifty Spirit Stones; “Green Bamboo” Talisman Brush, three hundred Spirit Stones; “Water Divider” Sword, six hundred Spirit Stones; Large Storage Pouch, two hundred Spirit Stones; three packets of Spiritual Plant seeds, one hundred Spirit Stones; “Turtle Breath Qi Concealment Art” (incomplete), two hundred Spirit Stones; “Rock Body Tempering Art” (Basic Chapter), two hundred Spirit Stones…” Qian Fu quickly calculated on an jade abacus Magical Artifact, the beads clinking with crisp sounds, “Lin Daoyou, a total of one thousand seven hundred fifty Spirit Stones.”
Lin Feng silently handed over the two thousand Spirit Stones in the leather bag that had just arrived and hadn’t even warmed up yet.
Qian Fu smilingly deducted one thousand seven hundred fifty Spirit Stones, and put the remaining two hundred fifty Spirit Stones, along with all the purchased items, into the brand new, spacious Large Storage Pouch, and handed it back to Lin Feng.
It felt heavy in his hand, but his heart felt empty. Two thousand Spirit Stones, in the blink of an eye, only two hundred fifty remained! Money in this Immortal Realm truly didn’t last long! But looking at the new Jade Slips, Talisman Brush, and Flying Sword in the Storage Pouch… Lin Feng felt incredibly fulfilled. These were all cornerstones on the path to becoming stronger!
“Shopkeeper Qian, Captain Xiong Lie, the transaction is complete. I will take my leave.” Lin Feng did not wish to stay long and cupped his fists in farewell.
“Lin Daoyou, take care! Welcome back to Golden Scale Merchant Guild next time!” Qian Fu enthusiastically saw him off.
Captain Xiong Lie also cupped his fists in return, but his sharp gaze lingered for a moment longer on the new, obviously capacious Storage Pouch at Lin Feng’s waist.
Lin Feng, accompanied by Qian Fu, once again arrived at the gangway on the deck. He summoned his dilapidated small flying boat, inserted Spirit Stones, and prepared to return.
Just as he leaped onto the flying boat and controlled it to wobble into the air, from behind an inconspicuous porthole on the second deck, a pair of sinister, greedy eyes stared intently at his departing back, and at the bulging new Storage Pouch at his waist.
It was a one-eyed man dressed in ordinary sailor clothes, his face hidden in shadow, a cold arc on his lips, silently licking them.
Lin Feng was completely unaware of this.