43: buy

This is definitely the key item!

He suppressed his excitement, a difficult expression appearing on his face: "This item is indeed unusual, but the quantity is too small, and its specific use is unknown... One thousand Spirit Stones, that's too expensive. How about eight hundred?"

After a fierce negotiation, the final price was nine hundred Low-Grade Spirit Stones. Lin Feng almost emptied his newly replenished Spirit Stone bag to acquire that small, precious piece of star pattern iron.

As he left the dilapidated boat dock, he could feel the old cripple's meaningful gaze following his back.

...

He headed towards a marketplace.

A wave of noise assaulted him.

The streets seemed even more crowded than two years ago, and in addition to the familiar mixed scent of medicinal herbs, metal, and fish, there was also a subtle, almost imperceptible tension in the air.

Rumors of the "Great Beast Tide of the West Sea" hung like an invisible cloud, causing many Cultivators to rush about, their conversations filled with words like "defense," "stockpiling," and "ten years."

Located in the middle section of "Spiritual Plant Lane," Lin Feng observed "Hundred Herb Pavilion" for a moment before stepping inside.

The shop was filled with the rich, clean scent of earth and plants. Behind the counter stood an old shopkeeper with white hair and a crystal monocle, carefully sorting a tray of tiny seeds.

"Shopkeeper, business is booming," Lin Feng said in a slightly hoarse voice, cupping his hands in greeting.

The old shopkeeper looked up, adjusted his monocle, and smiled amiably: "Fellow Daoist, please come in. What do you need? Our shop has a complete range of spiritual plant seeds and seedlings, with guaranteed quality."

Lin Feng's gaze swept over the dazzling array of seed bags and jade boxes on the counter, then he went straight to the point: "Shopkeeper, do you have any spiritual plant seeds that are cold-resistant, barren-tolerant, and preferably have some water-earth or thunder attributes? I need something with strong vitality, for outdoor transplantation."

This requirement was for the special environment of Eastern Sea Island.

"Oh? Fellow Daoist, are you planning to open up new land?" The old shopkeeper became interested and took out several jade boxes from under the counter. "For cold and barren tolerance... 'Cold Star Grass' seeds are good. First-grade Low Grade, ice attribute, can grow in rock crevices, and its developed root system can stabilize soil. Fifty Spirit Stones per packet, containing a hundred seeds."

He opened a jade box, revealing tiny seeds with icy blue speckles.

Lin Feng picked up a few, his spiritual sense probing them slightly, and nodded: "Not bad. Do you have anything else? Preferably something with a special use."

"Special use..." The old shopkeeper pondered for a moment, then took out a more exquisite jade box, which contained several dark, shiny seeds with a faint metallic luster. "'Ironthread Vine' seeds! First-grade Medium Grade, wood and metal dual-attributed. Its vines are as tough as iron and grow quickly, making it excellent for setting up simple defensive traps or stabilizing steep slopes! It's just... a bit expensive. One hundred twenty Spirit Stones per packet, thirty seeds."

Lin Feng frowned slightly: "One hundred twenty? Shopkeeper, while this 'Ironthread Vine' is good, it's just seeds. It's not easy to cultivate, and the survival rate isn't 100%, is it? Eighty Spirit Stones, I'll take two packets."

The old shopkeeper stroked his beard and shook his head with a smile: "Fellow Daoist, you jest. These 'Ironthread Vine' seeds are not easy to cultivate, and our shop went to great lengths to acquire them.

Seeing that Fellow Daoist is sincere, one hundred Spirit Stones per packet is the lowest. I'll also give you a small packet of 'Fluorescent Moss' spores; they emit a faint glow at night, perfect for decorating an Immortal Cave."

Lin Feng feigned contemplation for a moment, then nodded: "Done! As the shopkeeper says. Also, please give me three more packets of 'Cold Star Grass' seeds. Shopkeeper, do you have a detailed sea region map here? Especially for the east... well, the areas around the frequent storm zones."

"Sea region map?" The old shopkeeper deftly wrapped the seeds while pulling out a thick beast-skin scroll from the bookshelf behind him.

"'West Flow - Eastern Sea Region Detailed Map,' the latest revised edition! Compiled by several old sea dogs from the 'Sea Map Association,' it marks known islands, reefs, ocean currents, dangerous sea beast habitats, and... vague observation records of storm zone edges. This is a life-saving tool for traveling the seas, three hundred Spirit Stones."

"Three hundred?" Lin Feng picked up the map and looked through it. It was indeed much more detailed than the one his Family had, especially the markings for the edge of the Eastern Sea Region, which, though vague, were valuable. "Shopkeeper, the map is a good map, but this price... Two hundred fifty, plus a common copy of 'Compendium of Hundred Herbs,' how about it?"

The old shopkeeper smiled wryly: "Fellow Daoist, your bargaining... Alas, never mind, never mind. For the sake of you buying seeds, the map will be two hundred eighty, and 'Compendium of Hundred Herbs' will be a free bonus! Let's be friends."

As he spoke, he handed over a thick, yellowed book.

Lin Feng readily paid the Spirit Stones for the seeds and map, accepting the two packets of Ironthread Vine, three packets of Cold Star Grass, and the map for 280. He put the items away: "Thank you, shopkeeper, a pleasure doing business with you."

After leaving Hundred Herb Pavilion, Lin Feng turned into an alley specializing in Ore and spiritual jade, entering a shop called "Metal and Stone Workshop." The interior was roughly furnished, filled with the earthy smell of Ore and the coldness of metal. A brawny man with broad shoulders, a thick waist, and dark skin was polishing a raw Ore.

"Shopkeeper, I'd like to look at some jade," Lin Feng said directly.

The brawny man looked up, his voice like a booming bell: "Fellow Daoist, feel free to look! We have raw Ore, blanks, and finished products! Which kind do you need?"

Lin Feng's gaze swept over the counter, pointing to several pieces of warm-colored, either green or white, jade blanks containing faint Spiritual Qi: "How much are these basic spiritual jade blanks? Also, do you have anything suitable for a Formation base, capable of bearing spiritual power, and preferably with some natural patterns?"

"Hey, Fellow Daoist knows his stuff!" The brawny man's spirits lifted. He picked up a palm-sized piece of jade, interwoven with green and white, with cloud-like patterns inside. "'Cloud Mist Azure Jade' blank! The texture is uniform, and its spiritual power conductivity is medium to high. The natural cloud patterns can slightly enhance the effect of water-mist type Formations! It's suitable for both Formation bases and Formation Plate blanks! This piece is quite large, I'll give it to you for... one hundred fifty Spirit Stones!"

Lin Feng picked up another piece of dark, black jade with tiny golden speckles: "What about this one?"

"Oh, good eye! 'Ink Star Jade'! Primarily earth-attributed, with a faint metallic Qi. It's extremely hard and stable, with first-rate bearing capacity and interference isolation! It's a top-grade Materials for the core Formation base of a defensive Formation! It's just... expensive. This piece is two hundred eighty Spirit Stones!"

Lin Feng compared the demand for setting up a Formation in his Eastern Sea Island Spiritual Spring Immortal Cave. The Cloud Mist Azure Jade was suitable for the outer maze, and the Ink Star Jade for core protection.

He picked up the Cloud Mist Azure Jade and weighed it: "Shopkeeper, this green jade, the cloud patterns are there, but not smooth enough, and there's a fine stone pattern in the middle... One hundred Spirit Stones."

Then he picked up the Ink Star Jade: "This Ink Star Jade is good, but the golden speckles are unevenly distributed, and there's a small indentation at the spiritual power node in the bottom right corner... Two hundred Spirit Stones, I'll take both."

The brawny man's eyes widened: "Fellow Daoist! You're bargaining too hard! How are these green jade patterns not smooth? That's natural charm! The golden speckles on the Ink Star Jade are embellishments! An indentation? That's a natural cavity, perfect for inlaying auxiliary Materials! Both together, four hundred Spirit Stones! No less!"

Lin Feng shook his head, put down the jade, and made to leave: "Then forget it, I'll look elsewhere. These flaws are potential hidden dangers for setting up a Formation. What if the spiritual power isn't smooth at a critical moment..."

"Hey, hey, hey! Don't leave, Fellow Daoist!" The brawny man quickly stopped him. "How about this! Both together, three hundred sixty Spirit Stones! And I'll give you a small piece of 'Warm Sun Jade' scrap. You can hold it in your hand in winter to warm yourself, or carve a small protective amulet!" He took out a small, orange-red jade stone, egg-sized, emitting a gentle warmth.

Lin Feng knew this was the bottom line. Although the Warm Sun Jade was small, it was worth a dozen Spirit Stones. He nodded: "Deal." He paid the Spirit Stones and carefully put away the three jade blanks.

After coming out, Lin Feng noticed someone probing him from behind, knowing that he had already been targeted. However, Lin Feng was preparing for ten years of secluded cultivation, so he naturally bought everything in one go.