Cultivation Kill

Inside the residence of the Sixth Inspector, the inspector suddenly remembered something, slapped his desk, and stood up.

"A concealment technique?" he said. "But can a concealment technique really reduce a person's presence?"

He, a Core Formation Realm inspector, actually ignored a Spirit Condensation Realm disciple he had summoned in his study. It was as if he remembered the person as soon as he saw them, but forgot about them as soon as he turned away. Fortunately, he had given the person the title of deputy captain, so that he could carefully observe the area where the patrol team was located.

At the peak of Miscellaneous Learning City, Shen Zige and Shi Yuan are strolling around the commercial district.

The City of Miscellaneous Learning is much more lively than other cities. The commercial district and trading streets are filled with all sorts of strange and wonderful treasures, which is a major factor that attracts people to come here.

Another important factor is the trading of sect points and spirit stones.

"A poison-avoiding talisman?"

Shen Zige saw a female cultivator's stall displaying an old talisman. The talisman's edges were slightly curled, and it was covered with many dirty fingerprints, indicating that it had been sitting there for a long time without being sold.

"Fellow Daoist, would you like to buy one?" The female stall owner observed his expression. "The last one is only ten spirit stones."

"Will it work?" Shen Zige asked.

"It's guaranteed to work. If it doesn't, come find me and I'll refund the full price!" the female stall owner said. "It's activated with spiritual power and forms a protective shield around the body that lasts for the time it takes for an incense stick to burn."

Shen Zige handed over ten spirit stones to buy the poison-avoiding talisman.

The female stall owner was secretly delighted. Although this poison-avoiding talisman could ward off poison, it was only a simple one and could not ward off slightly more potent poisons, which was why it was sold so cheaply.

Shen Zige continued wandering around and bought some rare treasures and talismans.

A man wearing a leather jacket walked towards Shen Zige.

"Fellow Daoist, would you like to purchase a stall?"

"No need." Shen Zige didn't have time to set up a stall.

After browsing through about half of the market, Shen Zige arrived at the north gate of the market.

"Let's go, we'll shop around later. Let's go to the exchange to exchange for points first." Shi Yuan also bought quite a few things.

"How many points are needed for the Foundation Establishment Pill?" Shen Zige asked.

"Ten thousand points," Shi Yuan said. "Moreover, the sect only releases three per month, which are auctioned by the Miscellaneous Learning City Auction House. You need to use points to bid, and you also have to compete with other people."

“Then go and exchange it. Hopefully you can get one,” Shen Zige said. “I’ll continue browsing in this market.”

The two separated.

Shen Zige continued browsing the market, glancing at each stall.

"You boss, you shortchanged us on the materials for spiritual artifacts!" the two female cultivators shouted, pointing at a middle-aged man behind a stall. "Pay us back now!"

"Nonsense, my scales are very accurate, this couldn't possibly happen," the stall owner snapped. "Besides, the goods have been sold for three days already. If you come to me saying the weight is insufficient, who knows if you two have hidden some ingredients and are trying to extort me?"

"You, you've earned these few dozen taels of silver from us, consider it money to buy your coffin!" The two female cultivators stomped their feet angrily and left!

"A damaged upgrade stone?"

Shen Zige saw a sign on the middle-aged man's stall, which explained the uses of the upgrade stone: it can be melted with spiritual power and combined with magical artifacts to advance their level.

"Boss, how much do you sell your upgrade stones? Can they really upgrade a magic weapon to a spirit weapon?" Shen Zige asked.

“A spiritual artifact? Heh.” The stall owner chuckled. “Young man, have you finished speaking? To upgrade a magic artifact to a spiritual artifact, you’ll need at least five upgrade stones.”

“Oh, I need five,” Shen Zige said. “Then you can give me a reasonable price for this incomplete upgrade stone, since you need five complete ones to advance, and yours is still incomplete.”

The stall owner thought to himself, "I should have known better than to talk so much with this young man. He really knows how to bargain!"

"Ten thousand spirit stones will do," the stall owner said, holding up one finger.

“A low-grade spiritual artifact sells for 100,000, and five upgrade stones can upgrade a magic artifact to a spiritual artifact, which is 20,000 each. So, your incomplete upgrade stone looks like it's only half full, so you charge 10,000, right?” Shen Zige analyzed.

“That’s right,” the stall owner said.

"No wonder you haven't sold anything after so long," Shen Zige said. "If I break a bowl in half, can I sell the broken half for half the price of the original bowl? If I cut a pair of pants in half and put one on one foot, can I sell it for half the price of a new pair?"

The stall owner thought Shen Zige's words seemed to make sense, so he asked, "How much do you want?"

"It's broken and worthless now." Shen Zige held up two fingers. "This is the most I can give you."

"Two thousand spirit stones? That's a bit low!" the stall owner said.

“No, you’re mistaken, it’s two hundred,” Shen Zige said. “Anyway, you can’t sell it here, so why not sell it to me for two hundred? Every little bit helps.”

"I'd rather let it sit here and stink than sell it for such a low price!" the stall owner roared.

"Stones don't smell bad, don't get upset with yourself." Shen Zige said calmly, "Here's the deal, one thousand spirit stones for a storage bag. If you can sell it, I'll buy it. If you try to negotiate, I'll leave immediately. You can keep it as a family heirloom!"

After a moment's hesitation, the stall owner agreed to Shen Zige's request.

Upon receiving the broken upgrade stone, Shen Zige immediately put it into his storage ring. Currently, his storage ring is tied inside his clothes with a sturdy rope, as he is still in the Spirit Condensation stage and cannot flaunt his wealth.

Half an hour after Shen Zige left.

A man who looked hurried walked up to the stall.

"Boss, what happened to the broken upgrade stone I saw at the stall a year ago?" the man asked after glancing at the stall.

"Sold," the shop owner said.

“Hey, you really sold it for 10,000? That’s a bit of a loss.” The man said, “I saw this upgrade stone a year ago. You said it was 10,000. I was short of spirit stones at the time, so I left. I only managed to gather enough now. I was thinking of buying it before anyone else found out.”

"What do you mean?" The boss's breathing became rapid.

"If I'm not mistaken, that upgrade stone is mid-grade, meaning five of them are enough to upgrade a magic weapon to mid-grade spirit weapon, not low-grade spirit weapon," the man said. "Even if it's damaged, it can still sell for 50,000 spirit stones."

"Fifty...fifty thousand!"

The stall owner collapsed to the ground like a deflated balloon.

Shen Zige was leaving the trading market at this moment, planning to rent a cave to upgrade his guiding sword. This guiding sword, which was used by the new disciples of the Heavenly Sword Palace for practice, was very comfortable in his hand, so he had not bought a higher-level sword to replace it.

He went into the nearest inn.

"Sir, are you looking for lodging or food?" A woman in a professional short skirt approached.

"Accommodation," Shen Zige said before she could finish her question.

"Standard guest room or cave dwelling?" the woman asked.

"Cave."

"We have four types of cave dwellings here: A, B, C, and D, for both short-term and long-term stays. Which one do you need?"

“Ding, short-term,” Shen Zige said.

The smile on the woman's face vanished quickly. A level D cave dwelling and a short-term trip would cost the least, but that would also mean she would receive less reward money.

"Okay, come with me to complete the formalities." Her voice was dismissive.