17: How dare a penniless novice who has only been in business for three years covet this thing?

The sensation of being watched vanished without a trace, so quickly that Gu Changsheng thought it was his own illusion.

He immediately spread his Divine Sense, turning it into a fine spiderweb that swept inch by inch through the surrounding mist and vegetation.

However, he found nothing.

It was as if that gaze had never existed.

Gu Changsheng's heart slowly sank.

This was definitely no illusion.

At the fifth level of the Fetal Breathing Realm, with the Yujing Pass already broken, how keen his Divine Sense perception was.

This Hundred Herbs Peak was indeed not a safe place.

He etched this matter deep into his heart, while his face returned to its usual expressionless calm.

He didn't change his original plan, but he became several degrees more cautious in his actions.

After all, today's intelligence hadn't mentioned any danger.

Gu Changsheng activated the Restriction token. With a flicker of his body, he silently passed through the medicinal garden's Restriction barrier, then quickened his pace, heading toward the Sect market at the foot of the mountain.

The Sect market was located in a vast valley between the Taiqing Sect's Main Peak and several secondary peaks, perpetually shrouded by a massive defensive Formation.

Before he even drew near, the clamor of voices rushed toward him through the mountain forest.

The moment Gu Changsheng stepped into the market, it was as if he had stepped from the cold, deep mountains into the bustling Mortal World.

People came and went on the wide bluestone street, rubbing shoulders in the crowd.

Shops lined both sides of the street, with buildings featuring upturned eaves and fluttering banners.

"Freshly made Inedia Pills! Only three Low-Grade Spirit Stones a bottle!"

"Top-quality Refined Iron Magic Sword, sharp enough to cut a hair! Comes with a Sharp Gold rune! Don't miss out as you pass by!"

"Buying the pelt of a second-rank Yao Beast, the Iron-Backed Azure Wolf! Prices are negotiable!"

The cries of street vendors, the sounds of haggling, and the hum of clashing Magical Artifacts rose and fell, weaving into a noisy symphony unique to the Cultivation World.

For the first time, a hint of genuine curiosity appeared in Gu Changsheng's deep black eyes.

This scene was a thousand times more vivid and real than the period-drama markets he had seen on television in his previous life.

But he didn't linger for a second. With a clear goal, he headed straight through the crowded throng and soon found a three-story pavilion built entirely of precious Phoebe zhennan wood at the end of the street.

Three large characters were written on the pavilion's signboard in a bold, flowing script.

Bizarre Treasures Pavilion.

Gu Changsheng straightened his clothes and stepped inside.

The interior of the pavilion was brightly lit and much larger than it appeared from the outside, clearly utilizing a spatial Formation like the Sumeru Mustard Seed.

An old man dressed in silk with a goatee was leaning behind the counter, resting with his eyes closed, seemingly oblivious to the customers moving around him.

Gu Changsheng walked to the counter and lightly tapped the tabletop.

"Shopkeeper."

The goateed old man didn't even lift his eyelids, merely humming a syllable lazily from his nose.

"Hmm?"

"I heard your pavilion has received a new batch of qi-gathering jade bottles. This Disciple would like to purchase one," Gu Changsheng said, getting straight to the point.

Only then did the old man slowly open a slit of his eyes. His cloudy pupils looked Gu Changsheng up and down. Seeing he was just an Outer Sect Disciple in the Fetal Breathing Realm, that sliver of interest instantly vanished.

He reached under the counter and pulled out a palm-sized jade bottle, tossing it carelessly onto the table.

"Here."

The jade bottle was pure white, warm to the touch, and without a single blemish. A faint spiritual light flowed over the bottle's surface, restrained and subtle. It was indeed made of Northern Plain Cold Jade, as the intelligence had stated.

Good stuff.

"What is the price of this?" Gu Changsheng asked.

The old man held up two fingers, returning to his half-dead state.

"Twenty Low-Grade Spirit Stones. No haggling."

This price made Gu Changsheng's heart skip a beat.

Twenty Low-Grade Spirit Stones was nearly a quarter of his net worth.

An auxiliary Magical Artifact that could only be used for storage was priced so high; it was practically robbery.

But he simply couldn't afford not to buy it.

"Wither and Flourish Vitality" was hard to come by. Once missed, there was no telling when he would encounter it again.

Just as he was weighing the pros and cons and preparing to grit his teeth and buy it, a malicious and arrogant voice suddenly came from behind him.

"Yo, isn't this Junior Brother Gu?"

Gu Changsheng didn't look back, but he would recognize this voice even if it turned to ash.

Ma Tong.

"What, a poor wretch who just joined the Sect can actually afford this kind of treasure?"

Ma Tong swaggered over, followed by two lackeys. The three of them formed a triangle, faintly surrounding Gu Changsheng in the middle.

His gaze fell upon the qi-gathering jade bottle on the counter, and a flash of undisguised greed instantly emerged.

"A poor wretch who's only been here for three years dares to covet this?" Ma Tong sneered, reaching out to grab the jade bottle. "Get lost!"

The goateed shopkeeper still had his eyes closed, ignoring the conflict as if nothing concerned him as long as they didn't start a fight.

However, at the very moment Ma Tong's hand was about to touch the jade bottle, Gu Changsheng moved even faster.

But he didn't go for the jade bottle, nor did he try to stop Ma Tong.

Without even looking at Ma Tong, he suddenly turned his head, pointed at a shelf not far behind Ma Tong, and shouted to the shopkeeper in a voice filled with profound shock and even a hint of ecstasy.

"Shopkeeper! Is... is that the legendary spirit-calming incense that can help one break through the Qi Refining Bottleneck?!"

His voice wasn't loud, but in the relatively quiet first floor of the pavilion, it clearly reached everyone's ears.

spirit-calming incense!

Helping to break through the Qi Refining Bottleneck!

These words were like five thunderclaps, crashing violently into Ma Tong's mind!

He had been stuck at the Perfection of the sixth level of the Fetal Breathing Realm for a whole year!

He had failed to break through to the Qi Refining Realm twice, leaving his Foundation somewhat unstable. He was worrying himself gray over this very matter!

At this moment, the qi-gathering jade bottle and Gu Changsheng were both cast to the back of his mind!

His body reacted faster than his brain. Almost instinctively, he jerked his head around and looked in the direction Gu Changsheng was pointing.

He saw a box of ancient-looking incense sticks sitting on that shelf.

Now was the time!

The instant Ma Tong turned his head, Gu Changsheng moved!

Without the slightest hesitation, his left hand snatched the qi-gathering jade bottle from the counter like a flash of lightning. With a wave of his right hand, a heavy bag of Spirit Stones slammed onto the counter with a crisp clatter!

"Twenty! I'm buying it!"

Gu Changsheng grabbed the jade bottle and turned to leave. The entire sequence of movements was as smooth as flowing water, completed in one go without the slightest delay!

The goateed shopkeeper's eyes finally opened fully. He glanced at the bag of Spirit Stones and then at Gu Changsheng's departing back, a strange light flashing in his cloudy eyes.

On the other side, Ma Tong stared intently at the box of incense, his breathing becoming rapid.

He rushed to the shelf in two or three steps, grabbed it in his hand, and asked the shopkeeper excitedly.

"Shopkeeper! How... how much for this spirit-calming incense?!"

The goateed shopkeeper glanced at him, returned to his lazy state, and slowly spat out a few words.

"Oh, that? Just ordinary Calming Incense. Three Spirit Stones a box."

The ecstasy on Ma Tong's face instantly froze.