3: Chapter 3: Choose a skill, head to collect money.

Wang He spoke again in silence: "The third one, and also the one most recommended by Baishitong, is our own family's, Wangs Smithy."

He stated the price first: "An apprentice only needs forty Spirit Stones for tuition; two years to learn materials, three years to forge shapes, five years to build artifacts, and you can graduate in ten years!"

"It's just that this trade requires you to endure hardship; it doesn't value talent as much as it values perseverance."

"The workshop owner is a High Grade Artifact Refiner himself, and he has trained many Medium Grade Artifact Refiners who have all gone to other markets to bring honor to their families."

Next, Wang He gave specific details about the temperaments and families of the three workshop owners.

Once everything was explained clearly, Wang He returned to the subject of money.

"Although your parents don't have any great skills, we are quite good at farming."

"As long as you two study the craft diligently, I can grit my teeth and come up with this tuition."

"Just now on the road, I met my old brother Zhang Cheng. He said a new Secret Realm was discovered outside the market, and I heard someone has already found a Foundation Establishment spiritual item and brought it back to the market."

"If it really comes to it, I will go to the Secret Realm. A Foundation Establishment spiritual item is rare and hard to come by."

Hearing the heartfelt words of Wang He, Chen Xuan and Wang Lingxue both subconsciously said: "That won't do."

Wang Lingxue said: "The Secret Realm is dangerous. I would rather not study than have Father take such a risk."

Chen Xuan also knew the dangers of the Secret Realm; a Second-Rank Great Demon is equivalent to a Foundation Establishment Cultivator.

Going there is just throwing one's life away.

Chen Xuan said: "Father, do not worry. We will also find a way. If it really comes to it, we can rent another spiritual field and gain more income."

He could go and pick up money right away, but how could he tell others about such a thing, even his own family?

Once leaked, it would mean the destruction of the family.

Chen Ling nodded: "Teng'er is right. We have taught our children since they were young that there are many rogue Cultivators outside the market, so how could we be the ones to take such risks?"

"If it really comes to it, just stop my medicine. It doesn't have much effect anyway."

Wang He immediately shook his head: "Wife, how can that be! I would rather suffer and be tired than let you be wronged."

"If it really comes to it, I will find another job, and my former brothers might be able to lend me some money."

"Alright, you two make your choices." Wang He looked at his children and thought to himself: Please don't both choose to learn Beast Taming; how can I afford one hundred and sixty Spirit Stones?

Wang Teng had the [Talisman Expert] trait, so naturally he wouldn't look far for what was near: "Let's go with the Chen Family Talisman Workshop. I have been interested in Talismans since I was a child."

In his memories, he had indeed loved drawing Talismans since he was a child in this life.

Even without a Legacy, what he drew looked somewhat similar, so he hadn't wasted this trait.

Wang He nodded: "I expected you to choose this. Once you go, study the craft well and don't worry about the family."

Chen Ling also smiled: "You can graduate in eight years. Teng'er, listen well to your Master, learn the real skills, and perhaps we will be able to enjoy your blessings in the future."

Having decided to send the two children to learn a trade and understanding the difficulties, the atmosphere gradually relaxed.

Chen Xuan nodded.

The three of them turned their gaze to their younger sister.

"I..." Wang Lingxue hesitated: "How about I just stay with Father and Mother? Later on, I can find a good family in the market and still come home often."

Wang He felt heartache at his daughter's sensibility, but as the head of the family, he still spoke:

"Do not say such things again. Xue'er, you choose."

Wang Lingxue did not hesitate: "Let's go with the workshop owner Wang. Artifact Refining doesn't look at talent, only perseverance."

In reality, what Wang Lingxue really loved was Beast Taming!

But how could a daughter learn Artifact Refining? Yet, the family had no money.

"Hmm." Wang He agreed; this choice was also expected.

Children of poor families mature early, and Xue'er was the same.

"You all rest first. I will go out and think of a way to prepare the tuition."

"Once it is prepared, I will take you to apprentice."

What Wang He left the family with was only his slumped back, as if he had been struck by a heavy hammer, appearing exceptionally desolate.

"I'm going out for a walk."

Seeing that his father had left, Chen Xuan also found an excuse and prepared to go to the place in the heavenly secret jade slip to pick up Storage Pouches that others didn't want.

"Then come back early. We're having lotus seed porridge tonight," Chen Ling said.

Lotus seeds were produced in the spiritual pond.

Their family had a total of two spiritual fields and one spiritual pond.

The layout was roughly spiritual field, spiritual field, spiritual pond.

The spiritual plants grown in the spiritual fields varied by season, and they could harvest twice a year.

The spiritual pond was for raising spiritual fish and planting spiritual lotus roots.

A batch of spiritual fish matured every two years, while spiritual lotus roots matured once a year.

Furthermore, during spring and summer, the spiritual fish could eat pests and weeds in the spiritual fields. They were called Rice Fragrance Spiritual Fish and could sell for two or three fragmented Spirit Stones each.

It was a significant source of income for their family.

"I know." Chen Xuan paid no more mind to it and immediately set off, walking towards the center of the market.

Biyun Market was established relying on Fusheng Immortal City, serving as a place for protection, early warning, and supply.

Within a radius of a thousand miles, there was Fusheng Immortal City, the Fusheng Sect, and two or three scattered markets.

Beyond a thousand miles and within ten thousand miles was the territory of the Fusheng Sect; beyond that were the jurisdictions of other Sects.

And to the west lay the Ten Thousand Demon Mountain Range.

Biyun Market covered dozens of miles, a circle larger than an average small city.

The buildings in the market were antique and extremely magnificent.

Qingshi Lane was located on the west side of the market; to go south, one had to pass through the central area.

After showing his identity token, Chen Xuan took the eight dragon carriage and quickly arrived at the central area.

The eight dragon carriage was a commuting tool for the market provided by the Fusheng Sect, pulled by eight snow-white night dragons.

In the central area of the market, flying was not permitted; one had to either take the eight dragon carriage, ride a beast, or walk.

Every year, market residents could ride the eight dragon carriage twenty times for free. Exceeding twenty times, one fragmented Spirit Stone could purchase two full-journey commuting tokens.

In other words, one Spirit Stone could be exchanged for ten fragmented Spirit Stones, equivalent to twenty commuting tokens.

One of the benefits for market residents each year was commuting worth one Spirit Stone.

Usually, at the end of the year, the family of Wang He would spend these rare opportunities to visit the central area, buy New Year goods, and broaden their horizons.

The central area was filled with shops everywhere; it could be called an inch of land worth an inch of gold.

Various trades were going on, and it was very lively. Wang Teng saw the Chen Family Talisman Workshop he had chosen at a glance, with a huge Talisman drawn on the shop's plaque.

The gilded characters for "Chen Family Talisman Workshop" were written with vigorous, climbing strokes, truly possessing charm.

It looked profound and mysterious at a glance; it was qualified to be a signboard.

The security in the central area was even more reliable.

The Fusheng Sect arranged a permanent team of Qi Refining Mid-Stage Cultivators, a team of seven, who patrolled the central area three times a day—morning, noon, and evening.

Sitting on the eight dragon carriage, Chen Xuan did not get off at the station and continued to head south.

Adjacent to the central area was the residential district.

However, it was a residential area for the wealthy, with a Second-Rank Spiritual Vein underground. Many Qi Refining Mid-Stage or even Late Stage Cultivators lived here.

When he inhaled the Spiritual Qi here, Chen Xuan felt it go straight to his lungs.

The mana that had been drained by the heavenly secret jade slip in the morning recovered quite a bit with just one breath.

In normal times, Chen Xuan would choose to get off the eight dragon carriage in the central area to window shop and broaden his horizons.

Finding a corner to cultivate for a few hours might even allow him to achieve a Breakthrough in the first stage of Qi Refining.

But today, he was going to get rich!

He got off the eight dragon carriage on the south side of the market.

He stepped forward, and an old locust tree had already appeared in his eyes.