38: Three spirit crystals, simple and unadorned in the immortal market.

Beside Yunliao Prefecture City, the Yunliao Mountain Range stretched for ten thousand miles like a dormant azure dragon.

Rumors said that Tier 3 Yao Beasts once roamed the mountains, but as the grade of the Spiritual Vein slowly declined, the Spiritual Qi was no longer as abundant as before.

Traces of those powerful Yao Beasts became increasingly hard to find, though low-level Cultivators still occasionally ventured deep inside to try their luck, despite the extremely high risks.

At the foot of the mountain, the light and shadow distorted slightly as two groups of seemingly unrelated people walked out.

One group consisted of a sallow-faced, short-bearded middle-aged man with slightly cloudy eyes. His aura fluctuated around the Qi Refining Fourth Layer; this was none other than Qi Yuan, who had changed his appearance.

The other group appeared a bit further away. One was a plain-looking but capable-looking woman in grey clothes, and the other was a slightly dark-complexioned youth whose eyes held a mix of curiosity and caution.

The two groups' gazes met inadvertently before quickly parting, heading one after the other toward a valley where the mist seemed slightly unusual.

The valley entrance was shrouded in a thin layer of flowing greyish-white mist. This was the barrier of Yunliao Market—a simple mist Formation, primarily used to prevent stray Mortals and wild beasts from intruding.

Guarding the Formation were two Cultivators dressed in uniform brown short-coats with arrogant expressions, both possessing Qi Refining Third Layer cultivation.

At this moment, several Loose Cultivators with shabby clothes and cultivation no higher than the first or second layer of Qi Refining were gathered at the entrance, smiling as they spoke to one of the guards.

The guarded Cultivator was a man with triangular eyes. Enjoying the flattery of the crowd, his chin was tilted high, yet he refused to budge.

“Go away, go away! I said no, and I mean no!”

“You bunch of paupers, wanting to sponge off the escaping Spiritual Qi from the Tier 2 Spiritual Vein inside the market for your cultivation?”

“Not a chance! Three Spirit Crystals—three per person. Don't even think about coming in if you're short by even one!”

Qi Yuan watched this scene from the side, unable to help but sigh inwardly.

The smaller the place, the more of these trivial rules and thresholds there were.

His thoughts turned to Nanyue Market. Although they didn't charge an entrance fee, they had their own invisible barriers.

Unless one was a registered resident or a disciple of the Zhao Family, the duration of one's stay was limited.

It wasn't that Nanyue Market was stingy with that bit of Spiritual Qi, but rather they feared that an excessive gathering of low-level Cultivators would create a chaotic environment that was unsightly and difficult to manage.

The crux of it was simply the difference between 'decency' and 'practicality.'

He stopped watching and walked straight forward.

When the triangular-eyed Cultivator saw someone else approaching, he was about to bark a reprimand out of habit. However, when he glimpsed the Storage Pouch at Qi Yuan's waist, the words were forced back down his throat, and a stiff smile squeezed onto his face.

A Storage Pouch itself was an item worth over twenty Spirit Stones; anyone who could carry one possessed some wealth.

Qi Yuan didn't say much. With a swipe of his hand at his waist, three shiny Spirit Crystals appeared between his fingers. He flicked them into a nearby wooden box for collecting payments, producing a crisp clinking sound.

Then, under the complicated gazes of several low-level Loose Cultivators, his figure vanished into the mist.

Passing through the mist Formation, the scene before him suddenly opened up.

Yunliao Market was not large, far from being able to compare with the scale of Nanyue Market.

Most of the buildings within were low and ancient, some even appearing old and dilapidated, with the surfaces of the bricks and stones bearing the marks of wind and rain.

There weren't many Cultivators walking the streets, and most of their auras were at the Early or Middle Stage of Qi Refining.

Qi Yuan had expected this. His gaze swept around and soon landed on a restaurant not far from the entrance.

He stepped inside and chose an elegant window seat on the second floor, a spot that happened to provide a clear view of the market entrance.

Ordering a pot of locally produced 'Cloud Mist Tea' and two plates of light side dishes watered with spiritual spring water, he began to drink and eat alone, his gaze seemingly drifting casually toward the window.

Not long after, he saw the grey-clad woman leading the dark-faced youth. They also paid their Spirit Crystals and passed through the mist into the market.

Seeing them enter smoothly, the hand Qi Yuan used to hold his cup relaxed almost imperceptibly.

Bringing Qi Xuanjin out to gain experience was something that had long been decided.

As the child grew older, he needed to know what the outside world looked like. Although Yunliao Market was small, it was well-equipped, making it perfect for a first excursion.

Since Su Wantang reached the Middle Stage of Qi Refining, she frequently came here to buy and sell, gaining rich experience. With her leading him, Qi Yuan felt at ease.

As for the matter of paying the Family tribute, he could handle that alone... Stepping into the market, the 'Immortal scenery' before his eyes left Xuan Jin deeply disappointed.

In terms of neatness and luster, these streets and houses were probably not even as good as Cuiyun Town at the foot of the mountain!

And for this, the entrance fee was three Spirit Crystals?

That was enough for Concubine Su to draw several basic Talismans.

He couldn't help but whisper to the grey-clad woman beside him, “This place... is an Immortal market?”

The face Su Wantang had disguised herself with was plain and ordinary. Hearing this, the corners of her mouth curved slightly, revealing a knowing smile.

Her voice was lowered a few notches, carrying a hint of reminiscence:

“Do you find it shabby? When I first came with your... your father, I had the same expression.”

As she led Xuan Jin further into the somewhat quiet street, she explained via voice transmission:

“It's not that the houses here cannot be repaired to look magnificent, but rather it is intentional.”

“Firstly, Seniors with profound cultivation mostly pursue clarity of mind and dislike external luxuries disturbing their hearts.”

“If low-level Cultivators like us make our residences too grand and ornate, it would instead easily draw attention, or even incur displeasure.”

“Secondly, it is to hide one's light under a bushel.”

“Yunliao Market is located in a remote area, and Foundation Establishment or Golden Core figures rarely visit, but they are not non-existent.”

“If the market were decorated too well, there's no guarantee it wouldn't cause a passing powerhouse's heart to stir with greed.”

“Being as simple as it is now, others see it and only think of it as a small market in a backwater place with little profit, which actually saves us from many unnecessary entanglements and extortions.”

“In the cultivation world, this is also a way of survival.”

Xuan Jin listened silently, and the original fantasy he had of 'Immortals being beyond worldly affairs' faded quite a bit.

It turned out that between Cultivators, besides Dharmic powers and Divine Abilities, there were also many worldly wisdoms and principles of keeping a low profile.

The two walked to the middle section of the market. One of Su Wantang's main purposes for this trip was to sell the Talismans she had drawn in recent years.

Although she didn't lack Spirit Stones for her expenses and Qi Yuan treated her generously, as her cultivation grew and the Family's offspring began to practice one after another, expenses increased daily. She always wanted to use her Talisman-making skills to share some of the burden for the Family and her husband.

Furthermore, the Qi Family was now gradually gaining scale, unlike the casualness of the past.

As the person with the highest cultivation in the Family besides Qi Yuan, she felt she should also set some rules and lead by example.

They stopped in front of a shop that looked quite old. A plaque with gold characters on a black background hung over the door. On it was written 'Wu Clan Talisman Pavilion,' with a small Family emblem in the corner.

This shop had been operating in Yunliao Market for over two hundred years, specializing in Talisman Materials and finished products, and had an excellent reputation.