A life of leisure is worse than a life of flowers and splendour

The group finally arrived at the market, but Grandpa didn't come with them. Those who weren't practicing stayed in the tent, as did my second uncle and cousin. All of this was to ensure everyone's safety. Du Shuangshuang had a jade pendant given by Master Yunshang, which could conceal her special physique, but my second uncle and cousin had no such protection.

After all, this place is packed with powerful cultivators. If they ventured out, they'd likely become targets. After all, those born with the innate furnace-like physiques would attract considerable attention, and their benefits would be coveted by many. Therefore, only Du Shuangshuang, Second Aunt, and Du Yunyan ultimately decided to leave, and they even deliberately altered their appearances and figures. Who could be sure if anyone noticed them en route to the sect? If they were truly being targeted, their original appearances would undoubtedly be unusable.

Their worries were well-founded. As soon as they left the tent, someone arrived to visit Master Xuancheng. Needless to say, there was a flurry of attempts and offers, but Master Xuancheng flatly denied any of their claims, stating only that they were two mixed water spiritual roots, previously hidden, and that all of their roots had been activated. Hidden spiritual roots, left untouched, would ultimately sow the seeds of trouble for future cultivation. Therefore, those discovered were to be stimulated as soon as possible, preferably before foundation building. Waiting until after would hinder future cultivation. Newly stimulated roots, uncultivated, would hinder previous ones, hindering progress for extended periods and severely impacting both the practitioner's body and mind. It was better to start with a more dedicated group. Therefore, those who could activate their newcomers' hidden spiritual roots did so early, leaving no one to comment.

But even this story needed to be believed. Luckily, the people who came had two plans. Those above them were responsible for wrangling inside, while those below them found excuses to wander around the camp and investigate. Of course, these Dao Sect members had already made all the necessary arrangements, with their tents set up with formations. Even if you entered the camp, if the people didn't come out, you wouldn't be able to detect anything. Expecting to dig something out of their mouths was a fool's errand.

Even if someone is born with a furnace-cauldron constitution, not just anyone can detect it. One must be at least one major level higher in cultivation than the person, and one must also use spiritual sense to probe the person's body. Not to mention inside the enemy's camp, even outside, unless there are no high-level cultivators guarding them, one dares not use spiritual sense to probe them. Once detected, it would be considered a provocation, and the person could directly retaliate with spiritual sense, which is very dangerous, and those with weak spiritual senses will definitely be injured. Once spiritual sense is damaged, it is fatal. Currently, there is no effective elixir for spiritual sense damage in the world of immortal cultivation, and spiritual sense damage is difficult to heal on its own. Unless one does not practice, once practicing, it is easy to go astray, cultivation stagnates, and the pain of spiritual sense damage will be tormented for a long time.

Therefore, not many people in Dao Zong’s camp knew about it, and even those who knew kept it a secret. It was a joke. If I told this to others, not to mention how the sect would deal with me, I would probably be ostracized by everyone in Dao Zong in the future. How would I survive in the sect then?

So this journey is destined to be in vain, but Dao Zong’s disciples will definitely be given special care in the future.

Putting aside the campsite, the three of them, after arriving at the market, were completely amazed and excited by everything around them. They looked around curiously, their eyes filled with curiosity and anticipation.

When they spotted a young man setting up a stall on the roadside, they were immediately drawn to the talismans he displayed. These talismans were all first-tier, yet they proved extremely useful. However, the selection was limited: Fireball Talisman, Golden Shield Talisman, and Earth Spike Talisman. Despite this, each of them selected a few. While they were unsure of their specific power, considering their potential use and their financial resources, they ultimately decided to purchase them.

Only those in the Foundation Establishment Stage can use second-level talismans. Only second-level talismans can cause damage to those in the Foundation Establishment Stage. For now, Du Shuangshuang finds it very difficult to use them. A single talisman might use up most of her spiritual power. But once she reaches the secret realm, she'll likely reach the Foundation Establishment Stage, making them much easier to use. Du Shuangshuang planned to buy some, but they didn't have any. However, she'd go to the shop called Duobao Pavilion later; they should have some. She could buy some more and also make some for her second uncle.

Nearby were some spiritual plants. They had all seen these before, in the jade slip called "Encyclopedia of Spiritual Plants." It was just a video-like image, and while it looked very real and three-dimensional, it wasn't as real as seeing the real thing. These were all first-level spiritual plants for medicinal elixirs, not worth much. One spirit stone could buy several, but there were almost no herbs left for the Soul-Replenishing and Rejuvenating Pills. The ones they did buy had long since been bought up by the big merchants. They only bought spiritual plants for the Nourishing Spirit and Fortifying Essence Pills. After wandering around the market stalls, they managed to gather two recipes.

They even sell formations here! Although Du Shuangshuang had some knowledge of formations and had learned a few basic ones, she could only set them up, not create the formation plates and flags. These ready-made formations were incredibly easy to use; simply follow the instructions on the jade slips, insert the flags into the corresponding positions, and place spirit stones on the formation plates to activate them. Even those unfamiliar with formations could use them easily.

However, even the most basic first-level Five Elements formations cost one or two hundred spirit stones, a price that was far from cheap and beyond the reach of the average person. Furthermore, using the formations consumed spirit stones, further increasing the cost. Although Du Shuangshuang had no shortage of spirit stones, she still felt the need to carefully consider any purchases. She pondered whether she truly needed to purchase these formations, or whether she should choose only a few. After all, these were only first-level formations, and if they encountered a cultivator in the Foundation Establishment stage, they might not be of much use. With this thought, Du Shuangshuang shook her head and decided not to waste spirit stones on these formations.

Second aunt and cousin were even more discouraged when they saw the price tag. They seemed to have a lot of spirit stones in their hands, but cultivation really consumes a lot of spirit stones, and they haven't been willing to use them recently.

Seeing several people shaking their heads, the old man thought they didn't want to buy it because they couldn't afford it. So he took out a worn and ancient formation plate and formation flags from his storage bag. The formation flags inside were both new and old. The new formation flags were obviously replacements. "I found this formation set in an ancient cave. Although it's badly damaged, it can still be used."

Upon closer inspection, she discovered faint cracks on two of the old formation flags, revealing them to be in serious disrepair. Du Shuangshuang's initial glance at the dilapidated formation immediately lost interest. However, at that moment, she was suddenly captivated by the ancient, unadorned aura emanating from the entire plate. This ancient and mysterious aura piqued her curiosity and a desire to explore. Despite its shabby appearance, the formation seemed to hold some unknown secret or power, a compelling urge to delve deeper.

"What kind of formation is this? Can it really be used?" Du Shuangshuang asked doubtfully.

"It can be used, it definitely can be used. I named it the Invisibility Array. This array was used to protect the caves of ancient cultivators before. It originally had more functions than this. Now it's broken, but its invisibility is definitely better than any first-level array. Because it's damaged, you can't tell its grade. And if you meet someone capable enough to repair it for you in the future, it definitely has more functions than this one. I estimate its grade is not low either." Unfortunately, his ability was limited. He tried to restore it, but he could only recover less than 10% of it, with only the invisibility function.

He also demonstrated it to make sure it really works.

This formation is indeed very ancient. What the old man said is very likely to be true. Du Shuangshuang is very interested.

"The formations I sell here are very cheap. Look at the Duobao Pavilion over there, they sell them for even more. Any Five Elements formation will cost no less than two hundred spirit stones, which is twice as much as usual! If you don't want to use spirit stones, you can exchange them for spirit-replenishing pills. I'll give you two bottles of first-grade, low-grade spirit-replenishing pills in exchange for this formation. A low-grade spirit-replenishing pill can only be sold for two low-grade spirit stones outside, so you're making a profit. However, the situation this time is special. The major sects haven't had time to allocate resources, so the spirit-replenishing pills are particularly valuable."

This is a really good account calculation. Those who don’t know would think that they have made a great bargain. Don’t think that they don’t know. Someone has told them a long time ago that a first-grade low-grade spiritual nourishing pill can be sold for six low-grade spirit stones in Duobao Pavilion.

"Then... I'll give you forty low-grade spirit stones?" Du Shuangshuang asked tentatively.

The old man glared angrily, "Young man, are you trying to tease me?"

"Didn't you say that a low-grade spirit-replenishing pill could be sold for two low-grade spirit stones?"

"That's what you sold to the shop. If you want to buy it, you have to pay three spirit stones. Besides, you can't buy it for three spirit stones here now. In Duobao Pavilion, one piece costs six spirit stones. If you want to pay spirit stones, then give me one hundred and twenty spirit stones." He just wanted this little girl to feel that she had gotten a great deal, but he didn't want to let himself suffer any loss.

"It's broken into pieces like this, it's too expensive." Du Shuangshuang frowned and said, "Sixty spirit stones, maybe? Your formation is not complete yet, and I don't know how effective it is. I'm just interested and want to buy it back to see. It's better to spend more spirit stones to buy a five-element formation than to rely on it to save your life." Come up and cut it in half. If you can cut it off, you'll make a profit. If you can't cut it off, it's not unacceptable.

"One hundred, no less. I spent a lot of money repairing it." If he kept it, it would just gather dust. This formation plate has been in his hands for many years, and no one has bought it. He was ready to sell it. If he sells it now, he can at least make back his investment and earn some spirit stones. However, a businessman cannot reveal his bottom line easily. There will always be some negotiation.

However, Du Shuangshuang didn't want to waste time. "The price is eighty. If you agree, I'll buy it. If not, I'm leaving." She turned around and pulled her second aunt and cousin away. They were also confused. They were leaving now? They were once noble ladies in the capital. Even after escaping the capital, they were served by maids all the way. When had they ever bought anything on their own, let alone bargaining? The two of them were looking at it as if it were a new curiosity, and Du Shuangshuang was pulling them away. Was she really not going to buy this formation?

"Oh, oh, oh, don't go. I'll sell it to you, I'll sell it to you. When I met you, I was really...ah." The old woman looked miserable. Du Yunyan wanted to say: "Sister, why don't you give her more?" But she didn't dare! The eldest sister looked okay now, but she was still very scary when she was angry. Although she hadn't been angry with anyone for a long time, the shadow left by the past was very deep. Deep down, she was still very afraid of her.

Du Shuangshuang accepted the formation plates without a second thought. What a joke! He was a craftsman. Look at the formation plates on the stall. The total value was quite high. Besides, who said that was all he had? He might have more in his storage bag. The main thing was that he had a craft; he couldn't be poor, right? He had a lot of spirit stones, but hadn't he heard what Master Xuancheng said? Cultivation requires a lot of resources. How many resources could he exchange for those spirit stones? He even had a little girl with hidden spirit roots and a single fire spirit root to raise! He hadn't learned any useful skills yet, and the spirit stones he had were dwindling. So he had to save whenever he could.

After a stroll, they bought some spiritual fruits. They were all first-grade spiritual fruits, the kind you could buy with a single spiritual stone. They could both satisfy hunger and replenish spiritual energy. However, since they were only first-grade spiritual fruits, their spiritual energy content wasn't high enough, so relying on them to replenish spiritual energy wasn't going to be a quick fix. But something was better than nothing. Du Shuangshuang was simply curious and wanted to try a few. After all, she'd only ever eaten fruits from the mortal world, not spiritual fruits.