Chapter 25

Using the purchase of spirit rice and martial arts secret manuals as a pretext, Fang Xing and Ding Hongxiu chatted happily.

"So Miss Hongxiu is actually a cultivator; I have truly been disrespectful..."

Hearing the other party's identity as a cultivator, Fang Xing couldn't help but pretend to be solemn and bowed first.

"Not at all, not at all. My aptitude is low, and I've only just reached the second layer of Qi Condensation... My grandfather won't even let me leave the marketplace to make a living..."

Ding Hongxiu waved her hand: "He's afraid I'll be slaughtered by some martial arts expert..."

"Oh? I wonder how the outcome is when a Primordial Realm expert fights a Qi Condensation stage cultivator?" Fang Xing became interested.

"I'm not too sure, but I heard my grandfather say that if it's an early-stage Qi Condensation cultivator who hasn't timely deployed defensive talismans or magical artifacts, it's very dangerous to be approached by a Primordial Realm expert..."

Ding Hongxiu said: "Of course, this situation is much better when reaching the mid-stage of Qi Condensation. Once they open up the distance and are well-prepared, mid-stage Qi Condensation cultivators can easily slaughter Primordial Realm warriors... Those great experts in the late stage of Qi Condensation are even less comparable to any peak Primordial Realm warrior."

"So that's how it is..."

Fang Xing nodded; this was an evaluation from a cultivator and should be quite reasonable.

'So Unpolished Jade Realm warriors can pose a threat to early and mid-stage Qi Condensation cultivators? What if it's an Unpolished Jade Realm warrior who has learned an A-grade martial art?'

'What if it's a martial artist of the Courage and Resolve Realm?'

He felt that after he was promoted to the third or fourth Martial Way realm in the future, he would probably be able to gain some sense of security.

"I wonder what major forces are in this marketplace?"

Thinking for a moment, Fang Xing felt it was better to clarify this point.

"In the marketplace, naturally the 'Qingxuan Sect' is supreme. This sect is the pioneer of the Green Forest Marketplace, and there is always a Foundation Establishment elder sitting in town. More than sixty percent of the shops in the marketplace are closely related to it..."

"Besides that, the Zheng family has produced a Foundation Establishment Zheng family ancestor, who can be second..."

"The Heihu Gang is formed by several loose cultivators at the perfection of Qi Condensation, and its leader, 'Master Heihu,' is elusive; it is said that he is secretly preparing for Foundation Establishment, and can be the third largest force in the marketplace!"

An old voice sounded, inserting itself into the conversation between Fang Xing and Ding Hongxiu.

Fang Xing looked over and saw an old man with a white beard, wearing a somewhat ill-fitting Daoist robe, which already had many defects but still carried traces of spiritual light.

Getting slightly closer, one could feel a sense of coolness.

This was the 'cold and heat immunity' effect that came with the magic robe.

'This magic robe must have been used for I don't know how many years... It's probably around Rank 1 Low Grade...'

Fang Xing looked at the old man in the Daoist robe and saw that he had dark skin, a lean physique, and a large yellow-skinned gourd tucked at his waist, slightly emitting the fragrance of wine; what was most impressive was the old man's red, bulbous nose.

'Growing spirit rice and learning to brew wine... it's very suitable.'

Fang Xing's heart moved, feeling the old man's somewhat terrifying energy, and he knew that the other party should not be an early-stage Qi Condensation cultivator, but a mid-stage Qi Condensation cultivator!

"Grandfather... you're back?"

Seeing the old man in the Daoist robe, Ding Hongxiu happily stepped forward, then looked at the wine gourd at the old man's waist with disgust: "Did you go drinking again?"

"Good Hongxiu, you don't know, the 'Drunken Immortal Technique' your grandfather cultivates requires drinking wine; it's the so-called 'drink three stones a day, become an immortal in a hundred days'!"

The old man in the Daoist robe hiccuped and bowed to Fang Xing: "This little brother, I am Ding Bushan. I heard you talking with Hongxiu earlier and couldn't help but interject a few words; please don't take offense."

"Not at all, not at all. The old gentleman has extensive knowledge, and I have truly benefited a lot."

Fang Xing smiled and bowed, then said to Ding Hongxiu: "Pack me thirty catties of Lotus Fragrance Spirit Rice... give me a discount..."

"Eh, alright. It would have been three spirit stones, how about I give you a discount of three spirit sands?"

Hearing that business had arrived, Ding Hongxiu's eyes lit up, feeling that after spending half a day chatting, it was finally not a loss.

Fang Xing took out a low-grade spirit stone from today's stall harvest, accompanied by seventeen spirit sands, counted them for Ding Hongxiu, carried the basket, waved his hand backward, and walked toward the outside of the marketplace.

In the sound of the wind, it seemed that the conversation between the grandfather and granddaughter could be vaguely heard.

"Grandfather, you're being too meddlesome..."

"My good granddaughter, do you know what kind of person this is? Someone who doesn't even rent a shack in the marketplace is either a desperate outlaw or a pauper. Do you think he looks like a pauper? Don't associate with this kind of person in the future..."

The sound gradually faded and finally disappeared.

Fang Xing heard it and just smiled it off: "Sure enough, old people are cunning, but they are also worried about their granddaughter..."

This is human nature, and he wouldn't hold a grudge for it.

Returning to the temporary camp, everything began to get back on track.

"In this world, what is most useful to me at present is this environment suitable for cultivation, as well as various pills and spirit rice..."

"Or those low-grade talismans and blood-refined magical artifacts..."

Inside the cave, Fang Xing practiced the Great Dragon Stake while letting his thoughts wander.

"In reality, this kind of talisman and magical artifact is of no use to me at all... After all, when I have money in the future, I'll just buy a laser gun, which is more useful than any blood-refined magical artifact... It's just that some low-grade talismans can be prepared as a surprise trump card."

"In this world, what helps me the most at present is just this..."

"Cultivate well, and when the Tendon and Bone Realm is perfected, immediately go buy a 'Primordial Pill'!"

Regarding the 'Primordial Pill,' Fang Xing had inquired clearly; it was sold at the Qingdan Workshop, but the price was not very beautiful, requiring a full fifty low-grade spirit stones!

In terms of value, it was comparable to a low-grade magical artifact.

It is said that this is because refining 'Primordial Pills' requires consuming some spirit herbs used for Qi Condensation stage pills.

And there are not many cultivators willing to buy 'Primordial Pills' as rewards for their subordinates, so the market is too small.

However, for Fang Xing.

"Fifty low-grade spirit stones are not difficult... As long as there is subsequent drone support, slowly picking spirit herbs to cash out, I will always be able to obtain them."

Time passed unconsciously to July.

Chick Star.

Happy Home Residential District.

Feeling the somewhat hot temperature outside the house, as well as the chirping of cicadas and birds, Fang Xing felt somewhat emotional.

"Calculating it, 'my' birthday is also coming soon, right?"

The birthday of the cyborg Fang Xing is naturally based on the time he left the cultivation chamber, which is July 17th.

Therefore, although he really wanted to keep cultivating in the other world until school started, he still had to come back at this time to handle some matters, so as not to be thought of as missing and cause some twists and turns.

??????? Co

Fang Xing glanced at the attribute panel:

【Name: Fang Xing】

【Age: 16】

【Profession: Warrior】

【Second Realm: Tendons and Bones (Tendon Tempering: 16/100)】

【Military Physical Boxing Twelve Styles: 44/100 (Proficient)】

【Great Dragon Stake: 6/200 (Mastery)】

【Gate of Heavens (Charging)】

"Since taking spirit rice, the progress of tendon tempering has basically been about one point a day. Although it is much slower than pills, there is a very steady feeling, without the slightest sense of floating blood-Qi, one step at a time, very solid..."

"If this continues, before school starts, I should be able to increase the progress of tendon tempering by more than half... This is already very brave and diligent. Improving too fast all at once without a teacher's guidance is not very good either..."

Thinking of a master's guidance, Fang Xing sighed a little.

Losing Xia Long's guidance during the holidays is indeed a bit troublesome.

Not to mention anything else, after breaking through to the Second Realm, he didn't know who to go to to learn profound martial arts.

"Should I call Teacher Xia Long? Or... hire a private tutor? But I have no money..."

"Some videos on the internet can be used as a reference, but if you really believe them all, you won't even know how you died..."

"Martial Way instruction still requires face-to-face personal teaching to be the most secure..."

After all, everyone's physical fitness is different, and it requires teaching according to their aptitude.

Not to mention, things like Martial Way will are mysterious and profound, and the internet cannot reflect them at all.

He opened his phone, replied to some text messages, and his gaze shifted, stopping on Liu Wei's number, feeling somewhat silent.

Over the past few years, Fang Xing's birthdays were never without this bad friend.

Now...

"Sigh... the past cannot be chased."

Fang Xing sighed, then saw a message, and his eyes suddenly narrowed.

After pondering for a moment, he called back.

*Whoosh! *

A 3D projection appeared; Gu Yun, still in the appearance of a little girl, looked much colder and looked around: "So you live in this kind of environment..."

"Miss Gu..."

Fang Xing nodded to greet her, then realized his language was somewhat inappropriate, probably influenced by the language style of the other world.

"Miss, what an ancient form of address; you can call me Ms. Gu..."

Gu Yun said without giving any face: "I need a sparring partner. Star Yuan is easy to talk about; are you coming or not?"

"Coming!"

Brilliant River Mansion.

Practice field.

Gu Yun had a cold little face, wearing a practice suit, and in her hand was still that wooden blade.

No!

In Fang Xing's view, after her father Gu Renwang died in battle, this little girl's temperament had changed a lot.

Looking at her temperament now, she was simply like a block of ice!

"This time, I hope you will go all out and wear your protective suit."

Gu Yun stood with the blade horizontally and said coldly: "If I hurt you, I will compensate you for the medical expenses."

"I didn't bring the nano-suit..."

Fang Xing smiled: "But I have confidence..."

The nano-suit and electric baton had been left by him in the other world, and he didn't intend to take them back.

The only things he wanted to bring back were some things from the other world.

He was currently calculating how to go to the black market to get some money.

'The spirit rice and talismans of the other world... are incompatible with the specialties of Chick Star, and even the black market is not very easy to sell them in... but there is gold and silver there!'

In the interstellar era, gold is not considered a precious metal, and the price has fallen quite a bit, but it is still relatively valuable.

And in the Qinglin Marketplace, gold is a material for refining artifacts, requiring thousands of catties to extract a few taels of 'Gold Essence.'

Raw gold is not very expensive, and one spirit sand can buy quite a lot.

After discovering the same metal in both worlds, Fang Xing immediately had the idea of reselling it.

'Sell it once, and the money will be enough to spend...'

'At least, I need to buy a real self-defense weapon...'

'My current strength is too weak; if I encounter a well-prepared mid-stage Qi Condensation cultivator, or a great expert in the late stage of Qi Condensation, it will be very dangerous.'

'And my progress is rapid, so I need an excuse, need to make money, and even launder money... to be able to use it openly and purchase nutrient solution to invest in myself...'

"You dare to be distracted while sparring with me?"

Suddenly, a clear shout came, interrupting Fang Xing's deep thought.

*Swish! *

The blade light was brilliant, directly landing on the top of his head!