Isn't This a Game? Why Are You All Cultivating for Real!

Chapter 76: Chapter 76: Have You No Shame?

This Spiritual Wine might not be a novelty in the future, but it will sell extremely well in a market that currently lacks it.

The merchant caravan traveled between several Sects and wanted to place an order with Fan Guzhou.

The caravan’s leader was named Tang Lingxiao.

Early-stage Foundation Establishment.

The only reason Cultivators became merchants was because their talent was mediocre, making it nearly impossible for them to advance any further in their lifetime. By contrast, being a merchant allowed them to constantly travel through dangerous places, where they could hunt demon beasts and earn huge profits in Spirit Stones.

The more daring ones were still willing to take the risk.

High-level cultivators always exert a form of spiritual pressure on those of a lower Realm. When Tang Lingxiao first met Fan Guzhou, he noticed that while Fan Guzhou was clearly uncomfortable under this pressure, his expression showed little fear. He even seemed quite relaxed.

This was a rare sight among Cultivators.

Of course, Tang Lingxiao didn’t take offense. He was here as a customer. Acting too high and mighty would only offend the local Cultivators, who, after all, had a Sect backing them.

As a Loose Cultivator, there was nothing to be gained from that.

Since this was a business transaction, Fan Guzhou didn’t beat around the bush.

"We stumbled upon this method by chance, so it’s quite difficult to make. We can offer them to you at a cost price of four low-grade spirit stones per bottle. There are multiple flavors to choose from. We can only produce twenty bottles a day. How many do you want?"

Tang Lingxiao sized Fan Guzhou up and said, "We’ll be staying for five days. We’ll take a hundred bottles to start, just to try them out. Five flavors will be fine, twenty bottles of each."

Fan Guzhou agreed without hesitation. "Alright. Pay half as a deposit, and we’ll make the exchange right here when the time comes."

As he spoke, he noticed a Cultivator who had come with Tang Lingxiao catching Little Flower Beasts.

Those Little Flower Beasts were just ordinary First Rank spiritual beasts, lacking even basic intelligence.

A blue Little Flower Beast tried to burrow into the ground, but it was powerless to resist. The Foundation Establishment Cultivator grabbed the flower petals on its head and yanked it out like a radish.

Then he casually tossed it into a cage used for display and sale, his actions rough.

To Cultivators, such unintelligent creatures were like mortals—not worth a second thought.

The small blue Little Flower Beast squeaked in pain as it was slammed into the cage. It pitifully hugged the leaves on its head with its paws, shrinking into a corner and trembling nonstop.

The other Little Flower Beasts reacted much the same.

There were seventeen of them in total.

Fan Guzhou’s gaze fell upon these Little Flower Beasts.

Tang Lingxiao glanced over. "You want to buy them?"

Fan Guzhou pointed at them. "Let’s use them to cover part of the cost. I’ll take them all."

Tang Lingxiao raised an eyebrow. "Fine."

He was planning to transport the spiritual beasts to sell them anyway. Fan Guzhou taking them all just saved him the trouble.

Fan Guzhou added, "Throw in the cage for free."

The cage had a small Array on it, specifically for trapping spiritual beasts and preventing their escape.

Tang Lingxiao: "You’re quite the businessman."

Fan Guzhou: "I’d say I’m solving a problem for you."

Tang Lingxiao found this man rather interesting. He then said meaningfully, "As a Cultivator, being too compassionate isn’t good for your Cultivation."

’These disciples raised by Sects are always too naive.’

’Once they’ve been out gaining experience for a while, they’ll learn just how treacherous this world is.’

’Cultivators need to abandon their seven emotions and six desires to reach the great Dao. Why bother showing compassion over such trivial matters?’

Fan Guzhou just smiled.

He silently added a thought.

’Because I want to.’

If he weren’t wary of Tang Lingxiao being a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, he would have said it out loud.

In the end, Fan Guzhou returned to the Sect on Feique Mountain with a deposit of thirty low-grade spirit stones and the cage containing seventeen Little Flower Beasts.

When Fan Guzhou got back to the mountain, he saw Su Daqiang.

Su Daqiang, now a Blue Elf, wasn’t suited for going down the mountain and scaring people, so he could only miserably hole up in the Sect and watch over the Spirit Field.

Fan Guzhou waved him over. "Qiangzi, come here."

Su Daqiang rolled his eyes. "What do you want?"

Fan Guzhou showed him the Little Flower Beast in the cage. "Look at this blue one. Doesn’t it look like your son?"

Su Daqiang’s eyes went wide. "Holy shit, you bought so many! Did you buy out all the spiritual beasts down below? Damn, it must be nice to be rich."

Su Daqiang was genuinely jealous.

Fan Guzhou scooped up the blue Little Flower Beast to show him. "Go on, tell me. Doesn’t it look like your son?"

Su Daqiang was still tempted by the spiritual beast. "Are you planning to give it to me?"

"Eleven low-grade spirit stones."

Su Daqiang’s face filled with horror. "Are you an animal? Don’t think I don’t know they sell for ten low-grade spirit stones down the mountain. I just logged off! You just made a trip up here and you’re already hiking the price?!"

Fan Guzhou’s expression was unchanged. "I am an animal."

Su Daqiang: "..."

’F*ck.’

’The venom of a capitalist!’

Su Daqiang hesitated. He didn’t have the money, but just tending the Spirit Field on the mountain was indeed boring. Plus, he didn’t dare go out before his skin returned to normal, afraid he’d be slaughtered as a demon beast himself.

’It would be so nice to have a spiritual beast to keep him company.’

Just then, Fan Guzhou suddenly smiled and clapped him on the shoulder. "I’m just kidding."

Su Daqiang thought his conscience had finally kicked in. "I knew it! So you’re giving it to me?"

Fan Guzhou said, "Come back with ten low-grade spirit stones to ransom your son when you have them."

And then he left.

Su Daqiang: "..."

***

Song Jiulai was currently wearing a mask and browsing the black market.

The Immortal Sacrifice Ceremony would be held on the last day, and everyone had to leave after it ended.

The seven days prior served as a buffer period for the Major Sects. During this time, Cultivators of every Level had their own activities, and the black market was one of the must-visit places.

This mask was provided by Liu Xian City. When worn, it didn’t just change your face, but your entire physical form.

For example, in the eyes of others, Song Jiulai now appeared as a plain-looking male cultivator. The mask also blurred her aura.

After arriving in Liu Xian City, she learned that this so-called black market was located in the mortal underground market in the northwest of the city. It was a place to trade things not commonly found on the open market, though common items were also available.

But all these items likely had one thing in common.

Their origins were probably not clean.

Who knew how many people here were Cultivators who had committed murder and robbery.

Of course, there were normal Cultivators as well, but here, one didn’t need to reveal their identity. They could also hide their faces, unafraid of being discovered.

This place was a marketplace for fenced goods.

For example, Song Jiulai still had Jin Shu’s Jiezidai on her person.

But she wouldn’t dare take it out.

Song Jiulai then saw someone selling the Blood Prison Sect’s Early-stage Qi Refining Heart Method.

This was an internal mental method of the Sect, something almost never passed to outsiders. The fact that it was being sold meant it was stolen.

’The sheer audacity!’

’The Blood Prison Sect is arriving tomorrow!’

Song Jiulai herself didn’t have much to sell. Rummaging through her bag, she found only a pile of Demon Beast Materials and junk she’d picked up.

It would be too embarrassing to even take them out.

Then she saw someone selling Vajra Silk.

Vajra Silk was a Second-Order Spiritual Material, the main ingredient for crafting a Second Order Mustard Seed Bag.

It was also exactly what Song Jiulai needed right now.

Vajra Silk was relatively rare, just like the Earth Spirit Mushroom she had obtained before. Its standard price was fifty low-grade spirit stones.

She still had Mid-grade Spirit Stones left after paying her taxes, so she wasn’t too worried.

She squatted in front of the stall owner. The person looked like a female cultivator, but with the masks, they might not have been.

Song Jiulai asked, "How much for the Vajra Silk?"

’Since we’re here, the price is bound to be different.’

The other person replied, "One Mid-grade Spirit Stone."

Most people would turn and walk away upon hearing that price.

Song Jiulai calmly stated, "Forty-nine low-grade spirit stones. Call it a friendly gesture."

The female cultivator looked up, appearing stunned.

She leaned close to Song Jiulai and whispered.

"Have you no shame?"