40: Chapter 40 Transactions

On the third day after returning from the Cloud Mist Valley, before the morning mist had dissipated, Lin Xuan arrived at the market.

He did not go to the stall area where he had purchased Talismans and Medicinal Pills last time, but instead headed straight to a relatively quiet area deep within the market—here, there were several shops displaying wooden plaques that read "Directly Affiliated with the Pill Palace" or "Certified by the Medicine Peak." These shops specialized in buying and selling medium to high-end spiritual Materials, had good reputations, and offered fair prices, though the entry threshold was higher.

Lin Xuan walked into a shop named "Hundred Herb Pavilion."

The shop was small but elegantly decorated. Behind the counter sat an old man with gray hair and a beard, wearing the attire of a Medicine Peak deacon, who was leisurely flipping through an account book.

"Senior." Lin Xuan stepped forward and bowed.

The old man raised his eyelids and glanced at him: "What is it?"

"This Disciple has some spiritual Materials to sell." Lin Xuan's voice was steady.

The old man put down the account book: "Take them out and let me see. For ordinary cloud mist grass, water-condensing stones, and the like, go to the stalls outside."

Lin Xuan took an ordinary wooden box from his bosom and opened it.

Inside the box, lined with soft dried moss, lay two milky-white mist heart orchids with half-opened flowers. The roots of the orchids were carefully wrapped in moist spiritual soil, emitting a faint, cool fragrance.

The old man's eyes brightened slightly: "mist heart orchid? And it still has the mist orchid seeds... The quality is not bad. Where did you obtain these?"

"I was lucky enough to find them on the outskirts of the Cloud Mist Valley." Lin Xuan replied flawlessly.

The old man picked up one, examined it carefully, sniffed it, and nodded: "Preserved properly, the medicinal properties are intact. Two mist heart orchids with seeds are valued at four hundred contribution points. Are you willing to sell?"

Four hundred points! That was even higher than Lin Xuan had estimated.

But he kept a calm expression: "Agreed. However, this Disciple would like to exchange them for some Medicinal Pills."

"This shop has various Medicinal Pills produced by the Medicine Peak at fair prices." The old man pointed to the jade price board hanging on the wall.

Lin Xuan glanced at it, already having a plan in mind: "I would like three bottles of 'qi gathering pill (Premium)' and one bottle of 'Spirit Vitality Powder (Medium Grade)'."

Each bottle of qi gathering pill (Premium) cost fifty points and was over thirty percent more effective than ordinary qi gathering pills; the Spirit Vitality Powder (Medium Grade), used specifically for treating external and internal injuries from Yao Beasts, was also fifty points per bottle.

The old man calculated: "Three bottles of qi gathering pills are one hundred and fifty, and the Spirit Vitality Powder is fifty, totaling two hundred. Do you have your identity Jade Slip?"

Lin Xuan handed over his identity Jade Slip. The old man took out a square Formation Plate and operated it for a moment. The contribution point number on the Jade Slip jumped from 157 to 357—the contribution points for the mist heart orchids had been deducted, and the cost of the Medicinal Pills had been offset.

The old man took four jade bottles from behind the counter and pushed them over: "Keep your Medicinal Pills safe. If you have any more good goods, feel free to come again."

"Thank you, Senior." Lin Xuan put away the Medicinal Pills and turned to leave.

He did not return immediately, but wandered around the market before walking into another, slightly smaller shop called "Spirit Plant Workshop." This time, he took out three of the best-quality wind bell flowers that were nearing the "bell ringing" state.

Although wind bell flowers were not as rare as mist heart orchids, they were in high demand because they were a main ingredient for several common Medicinal Pills.

These three wind bell flowers, which were nearing their optimal harvesting time, were finally sold for thirty points each, totaling 90 points.

Lin Xuan exchanged again: he spent one hundred points on two bottles of qi gathering pills (Premium); he then used the remaining one hundred and sixty points to buy five First-Grade Medium Grade "Vajra Talismans" (which had stronger defensive power than the Golden Light Talisman and lasted longer), as well as some basic Materials for crafting Talismans—this was in preparation for learning Talisman crafting in the future.

After the trade was completed, the contribution points on his Jade Slip became 187.

"That's enough for now." Lin Xuan calculated in his heart. He still had one mist heart orchid left for personal use, and there was still a stock of ordinary wind bell flowers, but he would leave the other precious Materials untouched for now. It was safer to sell them in batches.

He did not delay and headed straight to the Dharma Transmission Pavilion.

It was still the same quiet two-story bamboo building, and the One-armed Elder was still dozing in the bamboo chair at the entrance. Hearing footsteps, he didn't even lift his eyelids: "What is it?"

"This Disciple, Lin Xuan, has come to select a Spell." Lin Xuan said respectfully.

The old man finally opened his eyes, his murky gaze sweeping over Lin Xuan before pausing: "Qi Refining Level 2? I remember you came last time two months ago? You've been initiated for, what... just over a year?"

"Yes." Lin Xuan replied.

"Lightning Spiritual Root attribute of thirty, reaching Level 2 in one year..." The old man slowly sat upright, his one arm rubbing the armrest of the bamboo chair, "It's not fast, but it's definitely not slow either. It seems you have successfully practiced the 'Purple Heaven Divine Thunder Art'."

"I was lucky enough to gain some insight." Lin Xuan said modestly.

The old man stared at him for a few moments, then suddenly grinned, revealing a gap where a tooth was missing: "Being able to practice that Cultivation Technique is no stroke of luck. Alright, go in. First-Grade Spells are free, the rules remain the same."

"Thank you, Senior."

Lin Xuan walked into the pavilion and headed straight for the Spell area.

His goal was clear: he needed a stronger movement technique and a more efficient offensive Spell.

The "Wind Control Technique" was good, but it was more geared towards continuous movement and evasion, lacking explosive power. The "Lightning Strike Technique" had decent power, but its consumption was on the high side, and it felt slightly weak when facing targets with strong defenses.

He searched carefully in front of the shelves containing Thunder-attribute Spells.

Soon, two Jade Slips caught his attention.

"Thunder Flash Step," a First-Grade Medium Grade movement technique: a short-range explosive dash technique that consumes a significant amount of Thunder Spiritual Energy instantly. When moving, it leaves afterimages and creates weak lightning interference, requiring extremely high control over spiritual energy. It is suitable for Thunder Cultivators to launch surprise attacks or dodge fatal strikes.

"Palm Thunder," a First-Grade Medium Grade offensive Spell: releases Thunder Spiritual Energy that has been highly compressed in the palm. It has high single-target power and sufficient penetrating ability. The preparation time is slightly longer than the "Lightning Strike Technique," but it deals more damage per unit of spiritual energy and is more controllable.

"These are both Thunder-attribute Spells mentioned in the 'Purple Heaven Divine Thunder Art' Cultivation Technique that can be used in combination." Lin Xuan was satisfied. Medium Grade Spells were harder to learn than ordinary Spells, but their power was also greater, which was exactly suitable for his current quality of spiritual energy and control.

He took down the two Jade Slips and walked to the miscellaneous book area, finding the rubbings of "Illustrated Guide to Basic Formations" and "Introduction to Mineral Identification." These two were not Spells, but rather books of knowledge, and one could exchange contribution points for rubbings to take away.

"Illustrated Guide to Basic Formations" cost twenty contribution points, and "Introduction to Mineral Identification" cost ten contribution points.

Carrying the four items to the entrance, the old man glanced at them: "Two Medium Grade Thunder Spells, good eye. However, whether you can learn them or not depends on yourself. The two miscellaneous books cost thirty points in total."

Lin Xuan handed over his Jade Slip.

Thirty contribution points were deducted, leaving a balance of 57 points. The old man used a black stone tablet to remove the Restriction on the Spell Jade Slips, then handed him the two thin rubbings.

"The same old rules for the Spell Jade Slips: three times. Read the miscellaneous books yourself, and don't lose them." The old man waved his hand and curled back up into the bamboo chair.

"This Disciple understands."

When he walked out of the Dharma Transmission Pavilion, the sun was already approaching noon.

Lin Xuan touched the newly acquired Spell Jade Slips and books in his bosom, then felt the heavy weight of the Medicinal Pills and Talismans in his Storage Pouch, feeling much more at ease.

He still had 57 contribution points left, which was enough to manage for a while. The next step was to digest his gains and improve his strength.

He walked quickly towards his small courtyard on Emerald Bamboo Peak.