20: Arrival at Qingyun City and a preliminary exploration of the market

The closer they got to Qingyun City, the more pedestrians there were on the road.

There were Loose Cultivators with their packs, merchant caravans with their horse-drawn carriages, Sect Disciples in uniform, and hunters leading Yao Beasts… All sorts of people gathered, heading in the same direction, making it exceptionally lively.

The Liu Family group blended in, not particularly noticeable.

Mo Chu, coiled on Liu Shan’s shoulder, operated his Spirit Vision at full power, curiously observing everything around him. He could see the Spiritual Qi fluctuations emanating from different people: some violent, some gentle, some muddled, some pure… This was a world far richer and more colorful than the Qingmang Mountain Range.

“That’s Qingyun City!” Liu Zhi pointed ahead, shouting excitedly.

Everyone looked in the direction he pointed and was immediately awestruck by the sight.

A massive city stood on the plain, its walls dozens of zhang high, built from grey-green boulders, inscribed with faintly glowing runes, exuding a heavy and majestic aura. The city gate was bustling with people, guarded by Cultivators in armor, who were checking those entering the city.

“How magnificent!” a young clan member couldn’t help but exclaim.

This was their first time seeing such a massive city, hundreds of times larger than Black Wind Stronghold and Black Stone Town combined.

“Let’s enter the city.” Liu Shan took a deep breath, leading his clan members to the city gate with the flow of people.

Upon reaching the city gate, the guards stopped them.

“Each person must pay one Low-Grade Spirit Stone, or equivalent Materials,” the guard said expressionlessly.

Liu Shan was prepared, taking out over a dozen Low-Grade Spirit Stones from hisin my arms and handing them to the guard.

The guard counted them and let them pass.

Entering Qingyun City, everyone was even more stunned by the sight before them.

Along the wide streets stood tall buildings: shops selling Magical Artifacts, trading houses buying Spiritual Plants, martial arts halls teaching Cultivation Techniques, and pavilions with “Alchemy” and “Artifact Refining” signs… A dazzling array of goods, people dressed in various outfits, and the air filled with rich Spiritual Qi and the scent of various spices.

“This is Qingyun City…” Liu Zhi murmured, his eyes wide with wonder.

Wang Lan and the female family members also carefully protected the children, curiously looking around, afraid of accidentally bumping into someone.

Mo Chu’s Spirit Vision swept across the entire city, revealing that the Spiritual Qi flow inside the city was much denser than outside, especially in the central area, where the Spiritual Qi was almost condensed into mist, clearly indicating a powerful Juling Array. Cultivators were also everywhere in the city, their Cultivation ranging from the first or second layer to the seventh or eighth layer of Qi Refining Stage, and even a few auras reached the threshold of Foundation Establishment Stage!

Foundation Establishment Stage! That was a Realm a major stage higher than Qi Refinement Stage, and in the Qingmang Mountain Range, they were legendary figures.

“Let’s find a place to stay first.” Liu Shan quickly calmed down. “Liu Zhi, go inquire about a suitable inn for us, one that’s not too expensive.”

“Alright!” Liu Zhi immediately responded, running towards a small stall selling miscellaneous goods by the roadside.

Soon, Liu Zhi returned: “Father, there’s an inn called ‘Yingkelai’ not far ahead. The prices are fair, and they allow Yao Beasts.”

The group followed Liu Zhi to the Yingkelai Inn.

The inn owner was a shrewd middle-aged man. Seeing Liu Shan’s group, though dressed plainly, he could tell they were Cultivators and immediately greeted them warmly: “Honored guests, looking for a room?”

“Three superior rooms, and prepare some food,” Liu Shan said.

“Coming right up!” The owner quickly instructed a waiter to lead the way.

After settling in, everyone had a simple meal. Liu Shan then decided to first go to the market to check the situation and sell some Spiritual Plants.

“Father, I’ll go with you!” Liu Zhi immediately said.

“I’ll go too.” Wang Lan put down her chopsticks. “I’m more familiar with Spiritual Plants, so maybe I can get a good price.”

Liu Shan thought for a moment and nodded: “Alright. Mo Chu, you come with us. The others stay at the inn to rest and watch our luggage.”

Mo Chu nodded, coiled on Liu Shan’s shoulder, and followed them out of the inn.

Qingyun City’s market was located in the central area of the city, a wide street lined with stalls, displaying a dazzling array of items needed by Cultivators: Spiritual Plants, Ore, Magical Artifacts, Medicinal Pills, Talismans, Cultivation Techniques… Shouts of vendors and bargaining voices rose and fell, making it a hundred times livelier than Black Stone Town.

Liu Shan’s trio walked along, observing the goods and prices at the stalls.

“The price of Spiritual Plants here is much higher than in the Qingmang Mountain Range!” Wang Lan exclaimed, looking at the Qi Condensation Grass on a stall. “The ones we brought can at least fetch a good price.”

“Be careful, there are many eyes here, don’t show off your wealth,” Liu Shan reminded.

They found an inconspicuous corner and displayed the best-looking Spiritual Plants they had brought: three mature Qi Condensation Grass, one “Green Vein Grass” nourished by Accompanied Spiritual Silk, and a few Low Grade Spiritual Plants found in the Immortal Cave.

Soon, people came to inquire.

“How much for the Green Vein Grass?” A woman in green knelt down, picking up the Green Vein Grass to examine it.

Wang Lan stepped forward and said: “This Green Vein Grass has absorbed the Spiritual Vein’s Qi, its quality is excellent. Fixed price, twenty Low-Grade Spirit Stones.”

The woman in green raised an eyebrow: “Too expensive, fifteen.”

“Eighteen, not a single coin less,” Wang Lan said neither humbly nor arrogantly. She was very clear about the value of Spiritual Plants.

The woman in green hesitated for a moment, then finally nodded: “Deal.”

She took out eighteen Low-Grade Spirit Stones, handed them to Wang Lan, picked up the Green Vein Grass, and turned to leave.

A good start!

Next, the Qi Condensation Grass and other Spiritual Plants were also sold one after another, bringing in a total of over one hundred Low-Grade Spirit Stones, nearly half more than they would have gotten in the Qingmang Mountain Range.

“Excellent!” Liu Zhi excitedly counted the Spirit Stones. “These Spirit Stones are enough for us to stay at the inn for a long time!”

Liu Shan also nodded in satisfaction: “Let’s go see if there are any Cultivation Techniques and resources suitable for us.”

They slowly browsed the stalls. Wang Lan was very interested in the Spiritual Plant stalls, occasionally stopping to chat with the vendors and learn from their experience; Liu Zhi was full of curiosity about various Magical Artifacts and Talismans, his eyes wide with wonder; Liu Shan focused on Cultivation Technique and Medicinal Pill stalls.

Mo Chu’s Spirit Vision, meanwhile, scanned everywhere, searching for potentially hidden treasures or dangers.

Suddenly, his gaze stopped at an inconspicuous small stall.

On the stall were some Ore and broken Magical Artifacts that looked like scrap, and the vendor was a dozing old man. But Mo Chu’s Spirit Vision could see that in the corner of the stall, a black stone covered in mud contained a trace of extremely pure metallic Spiritual Qi—it was “Profound Iron Essence”! A core Materials for refining mid-grade Magical Artifacts!

And the old man obviously didn’t recognize it as Profound Iron Essence, simply displaying it as ordinary scrap stone.

Mo Chu gently nudged Liu Shan’s neck with his tail, then pointed to that small stall.

Liu Shan immediately understood and subtly led the others over.

He pretended to be interested in other items, picking up a piece of scrap iron to look at, then casually picked up the black stone: “Boss, how much for this stone?”

The old man lazily raised his head: “Just give whatever you want, they’re all just scrap.”

“One Low-Grade Spirit Stone,” Liu Shan said.

“Sure, take it,” the old man waved his hand, continuing to doze.

Liu Shan paid the Spirit Stone, put the black stone into hisin my arms, and subtly led the others away.

When they reached a secluded spot, Liu Shan took out the black stone and asked doubtfully: “Mo Chu, what’s special about this stone?”

Mo Chu pointed to the stone with his tail, then pointed to a nearby stall selling Magical Artifacts.

Liu Shan, Wang Lan, and Liu Zhi exchanged glances, all showing curious expressions.

Wang Lan took out a small knife she carried, scraped off the mud from the stone’s surface, revealing the dark, shiny texture within, faintly gleaming with a metallic luster.

“This is… Profound Iron Essence?!” Wang Lan exclaimed in surprise. “It’s excellent Materials for refining mid-grade Magical Artifacts! It’s worth at least one hundred Low-Grade Spirit Stones!”

Liu Shan and Liu Zhi both widened their eyes in pleasant surprise.

They exchanged one Spirit Stone for a treasure worth one hundred Spirit Stones!

【Ding! Obtained rare Materials Profound Iron Essence x1, Contribution Points +100.】

Mo Chu’s Spirit Vision had once again rendered great service!

“This is great!” Liu Zhi said excitedly. “With this Profound Iron Essence, we can ask someone to refine a mid-grade Magical Artifact for us!”

Liu Shan also smiled: “It seems bringing Mo Chu along was the most correct decision.”

He carefully put away the Profound Iron Essence, his confidence growing even stronger.

Qingyun City was indeed a place full of opportunities.