Chapter 8: Second Piece of Equipment!

"How could he become a Formal Member of Lingfu Ge?!"

Watching Xiao Zhangqing turn and walk away, Hu Yuan grew angry and embarrassed, feeling as if he had been slapped in the face.

If Xiao Zhangqing hadn't produced the Lingfu Pavilion Token first and dared to insult him like this, he would have, without hesitation, beaten him like Hu Youquan does a drowned dog.

But now…

Hu Yuan, though only slightly known in Nanshan Fang and of modest family background, does not fear the Formal Members of Lingfu Pavilion, yet he also cannot arbitrarily bully or oppress them.

Lingfu Pavilion has no Foundation Establishment cultivator stationed, but the sect behind it is a colossal entity! If one can become a dedicated Symbol Master of Lingfu Pavilion, even a Foundation Establishment cultivator must show respect.

"Ziyu, you already knew he had become a Formal Member of Lingfu Pavilion?" Hu Yuan suddenly turned back, for the first time looking at Lin Ziyu with fiery eyes, posing the question.

Lin Ziyu hurriedly explained: "I didn't know before this either. I only know that after the last blow that almost cost him his life, he turned misfortune into fortune, grasped a hint of Talisman Path technique, and can barely draw a Cleanse Talisman… but as far as I know, being able to draw a Cleanse Talisman doesn't make it easy to become a Formal Member of Lingfu Pavilion…"

Hu Yuan's complexion brightened a few shades upon hearing that.

At least Lin Ziyu wasn't deliberately hiding it to mock him.

It's just that I don't know what kind of terrible luck Xiao Zhangqing had—being able to accidentally draw a Cleanse Talisman, let alone become a Formal Member of Lingfu Pavilion so quickly.

Lin Ziyu fell silent for a moment, then gently reassured: "Dao Companion Hu, you needn't dwell on this. Xiao… that Xiao Zhangqing, even if he becomes a Formal Member of Lingfu Pavilion, how could he compare to you? He lacks any Symbol Master Talent; being able to draw a few more Basic Symbol Talismans might be his limit. And you, Dao Companion Hu, you have the prospect of reaching Foundation Establishment! In the Cultivation World, cultivation techniques are important, but cultivation level and strength are the foundation of everything!"

Listening to Lin Ziyu's praise and flattery, Hu Yuan finally regained some composure, snorting coldly: "Ziyu, you're right. Strength and cultivation level are the foundation of everything. Symbol Masters, Pill Masters—before absolute cultivation and strength, they can only be used as tools! My sole goal is to reach Foundation Establishment; I disdain squabbling with these low‑level Scattered Cultivators."

Seeing Hu Yuan's anger subside, Lin Ziyu also breathed a sigh of relief.

She spoke the truth; comparatively, Hu Yuan's future is far brighter than Xiao Zhangqing's, and the gap between them isn't something a bit of Symbol Master Talent or becoming a Formal Member of Lingfu Pavilion can bridge.

But…

Let's suppose.

If three days ago, Zhou Yun'e had betrayed Xiao Zhangqing and left, and Xiao Zhangqing still succeeded in becoming a Formal Member, would she develop other thoughts? A Formal Member of Lingfu Pavilion, though not necessarily having a very bright future, barely meets her mate‑selection standards.

Hu Yuan is certainly the higher‑quality prospect, but Lin Ziyu can clearly sense a huge gulf and inequality between them, just like treating someone to a meal.

She would need to tread carefully to maintain balance, which feels very uncomfortable.

Moreover, she doesn't really like Hu Yuan's lofty, disdainful attitude toward low‑level Scattered Cultivators.

In comparison, Xiao Zhangqing's future may be less grand, but he suits her better.

If they were together, she wouldn't be so exhausted and would have more initiative.

Unfortunately, there's no "if"…

Moreover, she indeed needs to seek a partner with greater potential and family background.

She must hold onto Hu Yuan tightly.

As for Xiao Zhangqing, treat him as an ordinary neighbor.

……

……

"When I have money, I'll definitely get a Flying Sword too!"

Thinking back to Hu Yuan pulling a wind‑blown pose off the Flying Sword with Lin Ziyu, whether to say it or not, it was truly cool!

It felt like in a past life seeing a rich second‑generation kid cruising in a multi‑million‑dollar sports car, a beauty stepping out of the vehicle.

But in his past life Xiao Zhangqing never had a chance to drive a sports car and pick up girls.

In this life, with the golden‑finger inventory, achieving Sword Flight isn't difficult for him.

"Step by step!"

"First, find the second piece of equipment!"

The market isn't like high‑end shops such as Baibao Lou or Lingfu Pavilion; Magic Treasures and Talisman Scripts are all locked behind high shelves, most of them restrained by small arrays, and customers can only view them from afar, not touch them.

Even if a customer shows interest and wants to buy, the shopkeeper usually only explains; they won't let you handle the items.

But the street‑stall market is different.

Every item is displayed openly, and any customer can pick up and feel a few, whether they buy or not.

This greatly facilitated Xiao Zhangqing's screening, searching for items that could trigger the inventory system.

However.

Street‑stall goods are indeed hit‑or‑miss. Xiao Zhangqing wandered for over an hour, the sky darkening, and he had handled at least a hundred objects.

Only two of them actually triggered a response in the inventory.

The first was a Jade Pendant Treasure that protects the Soul Transformation; when equipped it grants the Perception Enhancement effect, extremely useful in the wild, even possibly foreseeing danger in advance—a must‑have skill for traveling.

Unfortunately.

The stall owner, very discerning, priced the Jade Pendant Treasure at as much as eighty Low‑grade Spirit Stones.

Even at half price it would still cost forty Low‑grade Spirit Stones, which Xiao Zhangqing simply cannot afford.

So he could only reluctantly leave it with the stall owner for now, leaving his contact information.

If, after a few months, this Jade Pendant remains unsold, the owner can come to Xiao Zhangqing, and Xiao Zhangqing will be willing to purchase it at a reasonable price.

The second item is a defensive Magic Treasure; when equipped it grants a Body Cultivation Manual Great Achievement.

Xiao Zhangqing touched it and then gave up.

It is a green, embroidered lotus‑flower women's bellyband…

It's a proper magical instrument; using it merely as equipment would be a waste.

If worn on the body for defense, it feels a bit odd, doesn't it?

Of course, the main issue is the price is too high.

In the short term, Xiao Zhangqing still isn't worthy of buying it…

As dusk approaches, the market thins, and many stall owners begin to pack up.

Xiao Zhangqing also plans to browse a bit more before heading home.

But unexpectedly, a turn in the road revealed another village.

When he came to a stall that specialized in selling cultivation technique manuals, he casually flipped through it, and unexpectedly there was a pleasant surprise! "Boss, how much for this Longevity Technique?"

Xiao Zhangqing held a jade tablet in his hand and asked.

In the Cultivation World, some cultivators record cultivation technique manuals in book form.

But more often, or rather cultivators with slightly higher cultivation, choose to record them on jade tablets.

Jade tablets are somewhat like the USB drives or storage cards of Xiao Zhangqing's previous life, making them much more convenient for both the recorder and the recipient.

Of course, the transmission jade tablets on the stall have all been sealed by the boss with a restriction; customers can only view a small front portion before purchasing.

Only after paying with Spirit Stones will the boss lift the restriction.

Seeing a customer approach, the boss immediately stood up enthusiastically and introduced: "This jade tablet is not simple; it is a transmission from a Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator to his descendants. Inside, it not only contains the Longevity Technique, but also includes many insights from Foundation Establishment cultivators on this technique! Buying this jade tablet is equivalent to buying a Foundation Establishment cultivator as your master—how profitable is that?"

"These days, I've been selling this jade tablet for 10 Low-grade Spirit Stones each. But I see you, Dao Companion, have good karma, and I'm about to pack up soon, so I'll be generous and give you a 50% discount. How about that—is the discount big enough?"

"But let me say this upfront: since I'm giving you such a big discount, you can't haggle. Five is five—I won't lower it even by a single Spirit Sand grain."

Xiao Zhangqing's mouth twitched.

Stores like Baibao Lou and Lingfu Pavilion, although their prices are generally higher than street stalls, offer only high-quality goods, and their prices are universally recognized—fair to all, young and old.

Unlike the market stalls, where the bosses' quality varies greatly.

A damaged transmission jade tablet, and he dares to ask five Low-grade Spirit Stones? He's treating me like a sucker, a newbie who just entered the Cultivation World and knows nothing.

A transmission jade tablet recording cultivation techniques, if placed in the Mortal World, would indeed be a priceless treasure, its value beyond measure in gold, capable of making all factions and martial arts masters fight over it, stirring up a bloody storm.

As someone who has been there, Xiao Zhangqing and Zhou Yun'e both experienced this when they first sought traces of immortals.

But once one truly enters the Cultivation World, one discovers that cultivation technique manuals are worth less than pills, talismans, magic treasures, formations, puppets… especially something as ordinary and widespread as the Longevity Technique.

In the Mortal World, it is worth ten thousand gold.

But in the Cultivation World, even ten thousand gold cannot buy a single Spirit Stone.

"Five Spirit Sands—will you sell?"

Xiao Zhangqing began to haggle.

(End of chapter)