My ancestors were spiritual plant growers, so it's not surprising that I hunt demons every day,

As dawn broke, Cui Ying, who had just finished her night of cultivation, slowly opened her eyes. She felt refreshed and invigorated, and her Qi Refining Level 3 cultivation was now completely consolidated.

Last night, Cui Yue and Cui Yan took Qi Gathering Pills and, under their father's guidance, officially began to guide Qi into their bodies. As for Cui Cong and his wife, as well as Cui Lin, they have all made progress and are now up.

In high spirits, she went to the backyard and cast the Spring Breeze and Rain Technique on the Heavenly Star Grass and Blood Spirit Grass she had planted the night before. She happened to run into Wang Shi, who had already finished refining the pills and was getting up early as usual to prepare breakfast for her family.

"Third girl, why don't you sleep a little longer?"

Cui Ying casually tossed her long hair behind her shoulder and smiled sweetly: "Didn't Father say he was going to the Gu family to propose marriage? I was thinking of going to Songlin Market nearby to buy some things. I can't just go to the matchmaker's house empty-handed and make a fool of myself."

The cultivation world is not the mortal world after all. Logically speaking, when the Cui family sends a matchmaker to visit for the first time, they don't need to bring anything.

After all, Cui Ying is a cultivator; if it were an ordinary person, they would have happily agreed. But the marriage proposal comes from the Gu family. Whether Gu Qinghong agrees or not is another matter, but Gu's mother, Liu, will definitely cause trouble.

Cui Ying also remembered that the last time Miss Wu asked a matchmaker to propose marriage to the Gu family, she brought a lot of things, including elixirs and some precious materials.

Gu Shiyin's mother already had a problem with their family, and if they didn't show proper etiquette, the matchmaker probably wouldn't even be able to get into the Gu family's house.

After thinking for a moment, Wang turned around and went into the inner room.

When she came out again, she directly stuffed a purse filled with a large handful of spirit stones and a green sickle into Cui Ying's arms:

“Since we’re going to Songlin Market, your father won’t be accompanying you today. Take the Green Sickle with you, have breakfast and then go, buy some good things to bring back and make our Cui family proud.”

The Cui family parents had gone to great lengths to arrange this marriage. Originally, they hoped their daughter would marry a high-level cultivator so that her future life would be easier, at least not as impoverished as theirs.

However, their daughter's heart wasn't in this field, and they wouldn't force her. They had practically watched the Gu family boy grow up; aside from lacking spiritual bones, his character and appearance were top-notch.

Since their daughter's original intention remains unchanged, the parents have no choice but to give her their full support.

Gu Qinghong is alright, but his mother, Liu, is notoriously proud and difficult to deal with.

Cui Ying shook her head, took the green sickle and tucked it behind her waist, then stuffed the spirit stones back into her mother's hand, advising, "Mother, I have spirit stones. Keep these for the family."

"How many spirit stones do you have?!"

Wang glared at her, then suddenly raised her hand and pinched Cui Ying's ear, scolding her:

"At such a young age, you already know how to hide spirit stones like your father? You're not even married yet, and you already know how to save money on the side. Have I ever starved you or left you without food or drink?"

Cui Ying clung to her mother's arm in a flattering manner, while also freeing her own ear: "Mother, when I'm out and about, I always need to keep some spirit stones on hand for emergencies."

"You, you, I can't argue with you anymore. Hurry up and welcome the Gu family boy into the house, it'll be good for him to keep an eye on you."

Thinking that Cui Ying's words did indeed make sense, Wang smiled and shook her head, then suddenly seemed to remember something and said:

"We need to find a way to tie up that Snowwalker you brought back. After all, it's a demon, and it has animalistic instincts in its bones. If it gets into trouble when you go out and no one is watching you, it'll be difficult to handle."

Cui Ying nodded, thinking that there was no special demon-binding rope at home, and it was too late to buy one now. So she found an iron chain about two fingers thick and went to the yard to tie Taxue to the jacaranda tree. She saw Taxue trembling all over and taking a few steps back in full resistance.

Noticing Ta Xue's mood, Cui Ying's heart softened and she gave up the idea. She bent down and rubbed the round dog's head, then casually tossed the iron chain into a corner.

“Mother, Ta Xue has been at our house for a whole day. Even when Xiao Wu teases it, it doesn’t mean to hurt anyone. I don’t think there’s any need to tie it up.”

"How about that?"

Seeing her mother hesitate, Cui Ying patted Taxue's head, signaling it to squat down. She reached out and pried open its big mouth to touch its two-inch-long fangs, while tugging hard on its ears.

Seeing that Taxue was still docile despite grimacing in pain, Wang waved her hand and gave up on the idea.

"If you don't want to tie it up, then don't."

Cui Ying smiled, hugged Taxue, and said to Madam Wang in a coquettish tone, "Mother, you haven't made hand-pulled noodles in a long time. Make some today, I'm craving them."

"Okay, okay, I'll make it for you right away."

After Cui Ying finished eating a bowl of hand-pulled noodles that she had been longing for, she picked up her bamboo basket and prepared to go out.

"Third sister, wait for me."

Cui Yue quickly put down her rice bowl, slung her schoolbag over her shoulder, and prepared to follow.

Today, Cui Ying is going to Songlin Market, which is ten miles outside the village. Cui Lin learns to make talismans and Cui Yue and Cui Yan go to school at the Qi Refining Hall.

She thought for a moment, then stopped and said, "Take your time, no rush. Let's eat together after Second Sister and Little Five finish."

"Third sister, I'm full too."

As soon as Cui Ying finished speaking, the fifth brother, Cui Yan, patted his round belly, let out a burp, and stood up.

"Let's go, it's getting late."

At this moment, Cui Lin put down her bowl and finished tidying up before coming out. The four siblings hadn't gone far from the courtyard gate when Cui Lin suddenly said, "Third sister, Ta Xue seems to be following us."

Cui Ying turned around and saw a dark figure following them at a distance.

"Treading through the snow, let's go back."

Upon hearing this, Ta Xue did not retreat; instead, she took steps closer to Cui Ying and the others.

"Third sister, let Taxue come along."

"Yes, Third Sister, it's so much fun having Taxue along the way."

Listening to her younger siblings singing in unison, Cui Ying nodded helplessly, having finally discerned Ta Xue's temperament.

Just like the Cui family: very stubborn.

"Come on, keep up."

Cui Ying waved her hand, and Ta Xue immediately wagged its tail and ran over.

It was half an hour later when the four siblings entered Songlin Market and stepped into the Qi Refining Academy.

Before parting, Cui Ying took out a few more spirit stones and said:

"You can't go out without spirit stones. Remember, if you run out of spirit stones, just tell me. Don't tell your mother, or she'll nag you."

"Third sister/third sister, thank you so much, you're so kind!"

The family only gave them a little bit of spirit stones during festivals, so when Cui Ying took out more than ten spirit stones, not only were Cui Yue and Cui Yan very excited, but even the older Cui Lin was both surprised and delighted.

"Hehe, hurry up and go in."

Those who earn spirit stones through their own abilities are happy to pamper their sisters.

Cui Ying pinched the soft flesh of Cui Yue's cheek, then tugged at Cui Yan's ear, and finally waved to her second sister before turning and walking into the depths of the market.

Songlin Market was founded by the Gongsun family, a Qi-refining family under the Lei family. Although it is not as prosperous and vast as Leiyun City, it is small but complete, and the management of the market is relatively lax.

Especially in the underground trading market inside the workshop, there were no concealing magic arrays, and no cultivators blocking the way to buy spirit stones.

The underground trading market in Songlin Market is not mysterious. It is located in a dark alley at the northernmost part of the market. It is chaotic inside, and there are still many bird droppings left on the ground.

Cui Ying sighed softly. Taking advantage of the fact that no one was paying attention, she first put the green sickle blade at her waist into her storage bag. Then, she covered herself with a veil and strolled around, thinking about what to buy to give to the Gu family.

Suddenly, she stopped in front of a stall belonging to a burly man dressed in yellow.

She narrowed her eyes, her gaze falling on a bluish-green rock at the burly man's feet, and asked, "How much does this cost?"

"Young friend, you have a good eye. This is top-quality iron crystal ore."

The burly man looked up and glanced at Cui Ying, then suddenly became enthusiastic, gesturing with his hand.