Chapter 29: The Lin Sisters

Any Golden Core cultivator in the Da Yu Cultivation World is an absolute upper‑tier figure.

If a sect can produce a Golden Core cultivator, it can join the ranks of first‑rate sects; if a clan can produce Golden Core members, it can rank among the top ten cultivation families in the Da Yu Cultivation World!

One can imagine how high the value of a Golden Core Real Person is.

Even in top sects or great cultivation cities, a Golden Core Real Person can walk around with impunity.

Needless to say, in a small place like Nanshan Fang, Foundation Establishment families already dominate the market, with several major Foundation Establishment families controlling every aspect of the town.

There isn't even a single mid‑stage Foundation Establishment cultivator!

At least on the surface, Nanshan Fang's major Foundation Establishment realms are all at the Foundation Establishment Initial Stage.

And now the jade mat in Xiao Zhangqing's hand actually belonged to a Golden Core Real Person, moreover a senior Golden Core cultivator in the late stage, used from the Qi Refining Realm to ascension.

It can certainly be considered a personal item.

So it's no surprise that the equipment shows two affix effects.

If the jade mat's material weren't so poor—just made of icy white jade—it would, strictly speaking, not be a Cultivation World artifact but a Mortal World item. For example, some martial artists sitting on cold jade to practice can gain considerable benefit to their inner breath cultivation.

But for cultivators the help is limited, at most a bit more comfortable, allowing one to settle the mind a little faster.

If this Enlightenment mat's material were extraordinary—a treasure of the Cultivation World—then seeing three or four affixes appear after equipping would not surprise Xiao Zhangqing at all.

However, in that case the mat's own value would double, making it impossible for it to end up in Nanshan Fang, sold by a Scattered Cultivator at a street stall.

After taking several deep breaths, Xiao Zhangqing barely suppressed his excitement, lifted his head, looked at the seemingly familiar female cultivator before him, and asked calmly, "Dao Companion, how much for this mat?"

"Dao Companion, you have a keen eye, truly a good connoisseur! Don't be fooled by the mat's ordinary material—it's just Mortal World jade—but see the marks of age and weather on it, it has a great provenance! To be frank, this mat came from the relic grotto of a senior late‑stage Foundation Establishment cultivator from several hundred years ago!" The female cultivator looked about twenty, with an attractive appearance, eyes very lively and alert. She also seemed thick‑skinned, eloquent, speaking in a torrent, very good at coaxing people.

It seems she has nothing to do with the one I know.

The two have quite different personalities.

Xiao Zhangqing thought to himself.

The female stall owner continued talking nonstop, "To be fair, if you judge the mat solely by its material, it might be worth only a few Spirit Sand grains. But since it was once a commonly used item of a senior late‑stage Foundation Establishment cultivator, its price can't be calculated by cost alone."

"Dao Companion, if you can produce five Low‑grade Spirit Stones, I'll reluctantly part with this mat."

Xiao Zhangqing of course knew the female stall owner was bragging.

The claim that it came from a relic grotto of a senior late‑stage Foundation Establishment cultivator from several hundred years ago was entirely her own fabrication, gilding her goods.

But she couldn't realize that her bragging was still short‑sighted.

"Flat price, three Low‑grade Spirit Stones, I'll take it." Xiao Zhangqing said with a stern face and firm tone.

He of course knew his offer was still too high; if he had to be patient and haggle slowly with this female boss, he'd probably not even get a single Spirit Stone.

However, Xiao Zhangqing was now burning with impatience, eager to equip the Enlightenment mat immediately to test its effect, and had no mood to bargain with the boss here.

To him, it was practically a 'miraculous' piece of equipment; three Low‑grade Spirit Stones were not expensive at all!

Even if it were ten times more expensive, he would still take it without hesitation.

"Three… three Low‑grade Spirit Stones?" A flash of surprise crossed the young female boss's eyes, clearly feeling struck by an unreal stroke of luck, and her mouth stuttered.

She instinctively was about to agree.

But she changed her expression very quickly, far steadier than Xiao Zhangqing, and instantly altered her tone, "Dao Companion, your haggling is too harsh, you've cut the price by almost half in one go. Add a bit more…"

Three Spirit Stones are already a blood‑profit for her.

But if she could earn a bit more, why not?

After all, the low‑tier Scattered Cultivators in the Cultivation World are each shrewd; it's hard to get even one extra Spirit Sand from them.

Such a big client doesn't appear often; she must hold onto it tightly!

"Zixi."

At that moment, a female cultivator came from afar, calling the stall owner's name.

"Sister, you wait a moment, I have a customer here." The female stall owner, unable to pause, stared with shining eyes and continued, "I can give you a little less; let's each concede a step—how about four Spirit Stones?" Xiao Zhangqing held the Enlightenment mat without letting go, but his gaze was drawn by the familiar voice.

Looking toward the voice, he was slightly surprised.

What a coincidence? The newcomer was Lin Ziyu, Xiao Zhangqing's next‑door neighbor from the Peng Hu Qu, where he had lived for many years.

Since Xiao Zhangqing moved out of Peng Hu Qu, the two had not seen each other again.

After all, Nanshan Fang isn't small; there are tens of thousands of cultivators, living in different grotto districts and strata, making encounters truly rare.

Moreover, the night before Xiao Zhangqing left, the two had a bizarre argument that ended very unpleasantly.

"You?"

Lin Ziyu naturally recognized Xiao Zhangqing at a glance, froze for a moment, then a hint of awkwardness appeared in her expression.

One night she got drunk and proactively invited Xiao Zhangqing into her house to sit, having an improper thought in her heart, subconsciously wanting to flirt. Xiao Zhangqing's offhand remark then infuriated her, leading her to scold him harshly.

The next morning, sobered up and realizing her fault, not knowing how to face Xiao Zhangqing, she left early without saying goodbye or apologizing.

Now, with time passed, she has moved beyond the anger and loss of then, her mindset changed, and she no longer pursues such unrealistic dreams.

Hu Yuan is now completely in the past; recalling it no longer makes her feel embarrassed or ashamed.

Facing Xiao Zhangqing, after a brief awkwardness, she quickly regained composure.

"Xiao Dao Companion, long time no see." Lin Ziyu greeted proactively.

"Long time no see." Xiao Zhangqing nodded.

In his mind he thought, he hadn't been mistaken; this female stall owner truly is connected to Lin Ziyu, indeed a sister.

Seems they're blood‑related, otherwise they wouldn't look so alike.

From certain angles, they're almost like twins.

But the two personalities differ quite a bit.

Yet Xiao Zhangqing couldn't concern himself with the sisters now; his mind held only one thought—to quickly purchase the Enlightenment mat!

"Then four Spirit Stones."

After the greeting, Xiao Zhangqing didn't want to bargain further.

Because in his view, Lin Ziyu, although her personality is not very similar to her sister's, she speaks much less, and her temperament is much more intellectual.

But she is an extremely stingy woman; it's very hard to make even a tiny profit from her.

When she arrives, it becomes even harder for me to press the price down.

A few low-grade spirit stones are not many for him now.

"What is worth four spirit stones? This jade cushion?" Lin Ziyu interjected, looking at the cushion in Xiao Zhangqing's hand and asked.

Lin Zixi's face was full of delight, she frantically gave her sister meaningful looks, appearing as if she had suffered a loss, and said: "Yes. Sister, this jade cushion was indeed passed down from the legacy of a late Foundation Establishment cultivator's cave dwelling. Our purchase price back then was definitely more than four spirit stones…… Sister, you know this Dao Companion, right? Is he your friend? If so, then let's just accept a loss."

Lin Ziyu naturally understood the meaning behind her sister's words.

She glanced at Xiao Zhangqing again, her eyes filled with hesitation and turmoil.

She hadn't expected that, after not seeing each other for just a short year, Xiao Zhangqing would actually become a gullible fool, being duped by her sister into willing to spend four spirit stones on a useless jade cushion.

It seems that after becoming a Symbol Master of the Lingfu Pavilion, his status and position have indeed completely changed, breaking free from the ranks of those lowly scattered cultivators.

In her heart, she naturally wanted to cooperate with her sister in putting on an act to get those four spirit stones into her hands.

But thinking back to that night a year ago……

Lin Ziyu finally made a decision, suppressing her heartache and said: "You don't need four spirit stones. Xiao Dao Companion, if you want it, then give…… one low-grade spirit stone, take it and go."

(End of chapter)