Chapter 60: Baihua Valley Baibao Lou

"It's just that I don't know whether the Spirit Stones I have now are enough to buy the good thing I might find at the exchange meeting."

Xiao Zhangqing held the invitation in his hand and pondered silently.

After demonstrating a first‑tier middle‑grade talisman technique, Xiao Zhangqing became the Symbol Master with the second‑highest salary at Lingfu Pavilion, second only to the first‑tier upper‑grade Symbol Master Wu Qingquan.

On top of that, by 'working hard' each month, his monthly salary is about five hundred low‑grade Spirit Stones.

But because his everyday expenses are also large, the rent for a Yi‑level Cave Dwelling is relatively minor; most of the Spirit Stones Xiao Zhangqing spends are invested in himself to accelerate his cultivation speed.

So he doesn't have much savings now.

In total, he has only a little over 1,700 low‑grade Spirit Stones.

For the vast majority of lower‑ and even middle‑tier Scattered Cultivators in Nanshan Fang, this amount of Spirit Stones is an astronomical figure.

If one possessed that many Spirit Stones, they could just lounge around in Nanshan Fang! But for a cultivator aiming to break into the Foundation Establishment Realm, it amounts to nothing.

These Spirit Stones are enough to buy a first‑tier supreme magic treasure, or perhaps a reasonably sized storage pouch, some second‑tier materials, and so on.

As for second‑tier magic treasures, even the relatively cheapest and least useful ones like a second‑tier Talisman Pen cost around two thousand low‑grade Spirit Stones on the market.

So while Xiao Zhangqing feels happy, he also worries that if he encounters something he wants at the exchange meeting and can't afford it, he'll be upset.

"Unless I also take the second‑rank Talisman Script I have and trade it?"

A second‑rank low‑grade Talisman Script sells for at least nearly two hundred low‑grade Spirit Stones in the major magical cities.

If the type is rare and its effect strong, the price can more than double.

This is the price in most peaceful times, but it's a different price altogether during wartime.

In any case, in a remote place like Nanshan Fang, second‑rank Talisman Scripts are almost impossible to come by, so if Xiao Zhangqing dared to sell one, the price would certainly have room to rise.

"If forced into a corner, it's not impossible for me to trade a second‑rank Talisman Script. In all of Nanshan Fang, no one would think the script I present was drawn by me; they'd only guess I had some extraordinary encounter, or that it came from the former Symbol Master Lu Qiu, or perhaps was bestowed by Shopkeeper Hong."

"Who says I'm only a first‑tier middle‑grade Symbol Master now, still ten‑thousand‑eight‑hundred li away from becoming a second‑rank Symbol Master?"

"Even Zhou Changkong couldn't find fault with me, accusing me of lining my pockets…"

Xiao Zhangqing weighed that in his mind.

Of course.

If it's not necessary, not taking it out is best.

He doesn't want to expose the secret that he possesses second‑rank Talisman Scripts, and those few scripts also serve as his trump cards to boost his own sense of security.

Gathering new materials to craft second‑rank Talisman Scripts in Nanshan Fang isn't easy.

……

Seven days passed in the blink of an eye.

The day of the exchange gathering arrived.

Before Xiao Zhangqing left, Lin Ziyu, after helping him tidy his clothes and attire, suddenly produced a bulging pouch.

"Lord, this is the total savings of my humble self and my sister, amounting to 439 low‑grade Spirit Stones. If today you attend the exchange and lack enough Spirit Stones for a treasure you wish to buy, you may use these first…"

Lin Ziyu said with coquettish eyes, affectionately and gently.

"That much?"

Xiao Zhangqing was surprised that the sisters' savings were so large; even though Lin Zixi had collaborated with him for a year and run her own business, the two sisters still had expenses over the years, so 400‑plus Spirit Stones were likely given to him without reservation.

At the same time, Xiao Zhangqing silently admired Lin Ziyu's meticulous thoughtfulness in anticipating his need for Spirit Stones today.

"Of course, the happiest is that Lin Ziyu has this kind of heart."

"I might indeed need Spirit Stones today; I'll return them after a while," Xiao Zhangqing thought, and without pretense, accepted the stones. Though he feared trouble because of a woman, once taken, as long as she is sensible, Xiao Zhangqing would certainly not treat her poorly.

"All that belongs to you, my lord," Lin Ziyu said softly. After a pause she added, "Actually it was Zixi's idea; she guessed you might need Spirit Stones today and asked me to prepare them for you."

"Is that so?" Xiao Zhangqing said without confirming.

Lin Ziyu nodded, coquettishly saying, "Actually Zixi has long been devoted to you completely…"

……

……

The exchange meeting is held at Yi‑level Cave Dwelling No. 1, as has been the rule for years.

Currently residing in Yi‑level Cave Dwelling No. 1 is the cultivator who serves as Baibao Lou's shopkeeper, a female cultivator of ninth‑layer refined Qi and great perfection, named Ruan Qingzhu.

She, like Zhou Changkong, was dispatched from the Jie Dan Sect's Baihua Valley behind Baibao Lou.

Unlike Luoxia Sect, the cultivators of Baihua Valley are almost all female and are especially skilled at crafting magic robes.

The magic robes produced by Baihua Valley may not be the strongest or highest quality, but they are certainly the most beautiful, with styles that best suit the aesthetic of the majority of cultivators.

Thus, Baihua Valley's magic robes are hugely popular throughout the entire Da Yu Cultivation World.

Female cultivators love to wear them, and male cultivators also love seeing female cultivators wear them…

Originally, Zhou Yun'e repeatedly asked Xiao Zhangqing to find a way to buy her an authentic Baihua Valley magic robe.

As Baibao Lou is a Baihua Valley‑owned branch, its main business is naturally magic robes. Yet, since its name is 'Baibao Lou', it isn't limited to robes and also sells various other items.

Besides not wanting to compete with Lingfu Pavilion and therefore not selling Talisman Scripts, it sells other pills, puppets, beast eggs, spirit medicines, materials… and so on.

Zhu Dan Shi of Yi‑nine Cave Dwelling has reached a first‑tier upper‑grade alchemy skill, making him Nanshan Fang's top alchemist, and now he leans on Baibao Lou.

He can be considered Baibao Lou's 'guest minister'; most of the pills he refines are sold through Baibao Lou.

Of course, unlike Lingfu Pavilion which can restrain Symbol Masters, Zhu Dan Shi's pills also have autonomous disposition rights.

Yi‑nine and Yi‑ten are adjacent; Zhu Dan Shi is very enthusiastic and even came to Xiao Zhangqing's dwelling to arrange to go to the exchange together.

"Symbol Master Xiao, I have long admired your name! In the past two years, your legend has spread throughout Nanshan Fang, becoming a model for countless Scattered Cultivators."

Zhu Dan Shi appeared to be around forty, a plump middle‑aged man with a somewhat simple‑hearted, easy‑going demeanor.

But his true nature remains unknown.

In the Cultivation World, one must not judge people by appearances.

"Just some empty fame," Xiao Zhangqing replied modestly. "Zhu Dan Shi is indeed Nanshan Fang's top alchemist; his alchemy is unmatched. Please continue to look after me in the future." Xiao Zhangqing, of course, was airtight and very self‑effacing.

Zhu Dan Shi shook his head: "In this lifetime, I have no hope of advancing to Second‑rank Pill Master; otherwise I wouldn't be holed up in this tiny Nanshan Fang. Xiao Symbol Master, you are different—young, with astonishing talent; perhaps in a few years you'll be promoted to Second‑rank Symbol Master and soar to the heavens!"

Xiao Zhangqing was about to say a few more humble words.

Zhu Dan Shi suddenly let out a chuckle, his small eyes narrowing, showing a look only men understand, and whispered, "The most enviable thing is still Xiao Symbol Master's two concubines… tsk tsk, a sister pair, truly enjoying the blessings of a harmonious household!"

"……"

Xiao Zhangqing had forgotten that this Zhu Dan Shi was an old lecher.

As the chief Pill Master of Nanshan Fang, why, after arriving at Nanshan Fang, did he partner exclusively with Baibao Lou? Was Baibao Lou offering the highest terms?

It isn't.

Back then, the four great Foundation Establishment families' terms were no lower than Baibao Lou's.

The main reason is that Zhu Dan Shi fell at first sight for Ruan Qingzhu, who hails from Baihua Valley, and has been courting her all these years.

(End of chapter)