Chapter 8: Cultivation Matters

Clad in a yellow robe, Lin Chuan woke up.

"This dream, in the dream it turned out to be over twenty years ago."

Time in the dream passed in jumps, many details were blurry and hard to recall.

The supporting characters in this dream left him with a very good impression.

It was a hundred times more enjoyable than being wildly tormented by Meng Jing Nü Mo Zun.

Especially Yun Zhi Yi, who won Lin Chuan's heart deeply.

By contrast, the Lin Chuan in the dream was rather disappointing; if not for subconscious influence, he might not have married Yun Zhi Yi, that princess.

【Ding! The host experienced an incomplete dream reincarnation, gaining 1000 points this time.】

【Heir's Jianghu】 The dream is not yet over; the rewards Lin Chuan can obtain are limited.

Stepping out of the room, he saw the maid Lü Ya pacing back and forth in the courtyard.

"Young Master, you finally came out; you scared the servant to death."

"What's wrong?"

Lin Chuan startled.

"Young Master, you haven't left the room for three days, you won't let the servant call you, and you haven't told the servant to bring you food—no wonder it's scary." Lü Ya said, aggrieved.

"Three days? I slept for three days?!"

Lin Chuan was surprised.

Before, he would naturally wake up after at most ten or so hours of sleep, never experiencing continuous day-and-night sleep.

"Could it be because of cultivation?"

If we talk about the major recent event in his life, it is that the dream reincarnation reflected reality, allowing him to obtain the Blazing Stillness Sword Technique he created in the dream and embark on the path of cultivation.

Lin Chuan had heard the legend of cultivators dreaming for a hundred years.

Compared to that, sleeping three straight days is nothing strange.

"I'm fine; go to the back kitchen and fix me something nourishing."

"Yes, Young Master."

Seeing Lin Chuan's ruddy complexion and no serious issue, Lü Ya stopped worrying, hurried to the back kitchen, and had the cooks prepare a big nourishing meal for the Young Master.

After eating, Lin Chuan resumed practicing the Blazing Stillness Sword Technique.

After three days without practice, he showed no sign of rust.

As long as he gripped the sword and circulated the technique, he felt as easeful as a fish in water, and his cultivation rose steadily.

There was even a strange pleasure of passive cultivation, like logging in to harvest.

"We need to quickly get a book explaining cultivation realms."

If demons truly caused chaos, Lin Chuan at least ought to know the gap between himself and them, otherwise he wouldn't even know how he died.

"In four days, my older sister will lead the caravan out; we must seize the time."

To access cultivation texts, official channels are useless; one must go through backdoors, for example, visiting the black market to find sellers.

Being in a merchant family, Lin Chuan naturally would not be ignorant of business affairs.

Many things strictly controlled or banned by the government can only be bought on the black market.

The black market is also called the ghost market.

Most people have never even heard of the ghost market, let alone accessed it.

The Lin Clan Merchant House is the largest merchant house in Youshui Xian, possessing vast information; if Lin Chuan sets his mind to find the ghost market, he can find it.

He thought of a person nicknamed Baoda Ting.

Lin Chuan often heard his older sister mention this person; this Baoda Ting is well-informed, and all external information of the merchant house comes from him.

Thinking of this, Lin Chuan stopped cultivating the sword technique and left the Lin Manor.

In a dilapidated alley, he found Baoda Ting.

This person was short in stature, only as tall as a seven- or eight-year-old child.

"Young Master Lin?"

Upon seeing Lin Chuan, Baoda Ting was greatly surprised.

The Lin Clan Merchant House is known throughout Youshui Xian; its manager, Lin Yangyang, is famous far and wide, praised as a heroine among women.

By contrast, the nominal Junior Head, Lin Chuan, is utterly ordinary.

Each day he ate, then slept, then ate again.

In most people's eyes, he was merely a good-for-nothing second-generation rich kid living off his parents' wealth.

"Baoda Ting, let me ask you something."

"Young Master Lin, please speak."

"Do you know where the ghost market is?"

"I know."

"Tell me."

Lin Chuan took out a money pouch and threw it to Baoda Ting.

Baoda Ting took the money pouch, weighed it in his hand, and grinned brightly: "Young Master Lin is generous; the ghost market's location changes daily."

"I can only obtain one slot to enter the ghost market each day."

"Today's and tomorrow's slots are already booked; if Young Master Lin wants to enter the ghost market, he must come the morning after next."

"This Young Master can't wait that long." Lin Chuan threw out another money pouch.

In four days, my older sister will lead the caravan out; going to the ghost market the day after tomorrow would be too rushed, so we must prepare in advance.

Baoda Ting looked embarrassed: "The ghost market has its own rules, Young Master Lin..."

Pa.

Another money bag was thrown out.

Lin Chuan teased, "Money can make ghosts push mills; the ghost market was created to make money—there's no reason to turn customers away at the door."

Young Master Lin, please wait; I'll go and return shortly.

Bao Dating took the money and handled the matter efficiently.

After an hour, Bao Dating hurried back, now holding a wooden token engraved with a ghost face, which also bore a route into the ghost market.

Young Master Lin, following the guidance above, you can enter the ghost market of Youshui Xian.

In the ghost market, fish and dragons mix; truth and falsehood are hard to tell. After you go, you must be careful to discern—best to wear a mask, lest you be taken for a sucker and ripped off.

Bao Dating gave two reminders.

Thank you.

Lin Chuan left with the wooden token.

Following the guidance on the wooden token, he detoured past many dilapidated roads, with a stretch in between where smoke and mist hung thick, like an illusion.

He walked for two full hours before reaching the ghost market of Youshui Xian.

The ghost market's overall tone is extremely dim; most people wear masks, and those without masks mostly have fierce, evil looks.

This place doesn't look like a business spot; it's more like a bandits' den.

Regarding the legends of the ghost market, Lin Chuan has heard some; many nobles and high officials come here to purchase, which is also why the ghost market can stand firm.

Certain things that cannot be shown openly are needed more by nobles and high officials than by ordinary folk.

Lin Chuan didn't think much and headed straight for his goal.

After strolling around, he found two damaged copies of cultivation manuals in the ghost market, their price outrageously high—requiring three thousand taels of silver.

Thus one can see how precious genuine cultivation manuals are.

They are completely monopolized by the upper class, and ordinary people cannot access them at all.

Lin Chuan didn't purchase the cultivation manuals; setting aside whether they're genuine, even if they were, they still couldn't compare to the Flame-Extinguishing Sword Manual.

If converted to wealth, tearing out just two pages of the Flame-Extinguishing Sword Manual could sell for ten thousand taels of gold.

After further searching, as the ghost market was about to close, Lin Chuan finally found a manual titled Detailed Explanation of Cultivation Realms.

He spent one thousand taels of silver to successfully buy it.

When he returned to the Lin Manor, it was already very late.

On a large tree outside the Lin Manor tree outside the Lin Manor, two black crows stood on the treetops, seeing Lin Chuan off to his bedroom.

Another Lin Chuan—note it down, note it down.

He seems to have the aura of a cultivator; could he be the person the master is looking for?

The two crows spoke in human voices, conversing with each other.

Da Ya, you're stupid; those with a cultivator's aura are actually unlikely to be the person the master is looking for.

Why?

The Golden-Winged Tiger King said it: that Lin Chuan is the master's husband, his strength won't be weaker than the master's; if he deliberately hides it, could we little lackeys sense his cultivation aura?

As expected of Second Crow, truly wise.

But we still need to keep watch—don't let any mistakes happen; the task of protecting this Lin Chuan is entrusted to you, Da Ya.