Chapter 177

The shopkeeper looked young, a female cultivator around thirty or forty years of age.

Seeing He Pingsheng arrive, she couldn't help but scan him with her spiritual sense, then stepped out from behind the counter in shock, bowing deeply with utmost reverence: "Elder, this shop only sells items needed by Qi Refining disciples—you, Elder…"

The female shopkeeper was at the peak of Qi Refining Level Twelve, just one step away from Foundation Establishment; since she could not perceive He Pingsheng's cultivation, she knew exactly what that meant.

He was at least a Foundation Establishment cultivator.

Calling him "Elder" was definitely safe.

"Heh…" He Pingsheng smiled and said, "Don't be nervous—I'm not here to buy anything."

"I just came to ask you a question."

The woman exhaled in relief and said, "Of course… Elder, please ask. Anything I know, I will answer fully and without reservation!"

Before speaking, He Pingsheng placed twenty spirit stones on the counter and said, "These are my fees for asking."

Only after receiving a benefit would someone answer fully and without reservation—otherwise, how could that be expected?

"This…," the shopkeeper said, "I dare not accept your gift, Elder!"

He Pingsheng made no move to take them back. "I've just arrived from afar and know nothing of Dingxiang City. If my questions please me, these spirit stones are rightfully yours."

"Good!" Hearing he was from outside the city, the woman lowered her guard another notch.

Outsiders had no ties to local factions; his questions wouldn't touch anyone's interests.

She could answer freely.

He Pingsheng asked, "Tell me about the city's merchant guilds and resource trading venues."

"Of course!" The shopkeeper lowered her voice. "Our cultivators' trading venues are nothing but guilds and shops."

"If you're buying, it doesn't matter much—the largest guild is the Imperial Guild, the best is the Coral Guild, and the most expensive is our own Dingxiang Guild…"

He Pingsheng's face darkened: So the shop I just walked into was the most expensive one?

He felt like cursing.

"Each of these guilds has its strengths, but if you want to buy cheaply, avoid them entirely—ask around at street-side shops instead!"

"Our small shops are generally cheaper."

"Of course, the quality isn't as good, and the selection isn't as complete—finding what you need depends entirely on luck."

He Pingsheng nodded.

Quality doesn't matter—I can strengthen anything in my Treasure Basin.

"If you're selling…" the shopkeeper chuckled, "you must go to one of these three major guilds—our street shops can't recognize goods or afford to buy them."

"Among the three, the Coral Guild is the fairest."

"That's about it."

He Pingsheng nodded, gaining a basic understanding of the city's guilds.

"One more thing," He Pingsheng said. "I plan to stay here for a while and have no residence. Where do I go to buy or rent a home?"

"Where are they sold?"

She ran a shop—she'd know.

Sure enough, the shopkeeper replied, "Easy. To buy or sell a house, you must go through the City Lord's Mansion. You should visit and choose."

"The City Lord's Mansion is quite far from here—follow this road, then turn south…"

The woman sketched him a map.

She didn't need to—he already knew, for he carried the detailed map he'd just bought, which marked every major building in Dingxiang City.

After asking a few more questions, he rose to leave.

Following the road straight ahead, he turned onto Zhuque Avenue, then headed south, and soon saw the grand, imposing City Lord's Mansion.

At the mansion's entrance stood rows of soldiers guarding it—all of low cultivation, merely Qi Refining Levels Five to Six, yet they made no effort to inspect those entering or leaving.

In short: free access.

Only someone with a powerful elder inside could afford such laxity—unafraid of any petty thieves.

He Pingsheng walked with the bustling crowd into the City Lord's Mansion and, after some winding paths, reached the office handling property transactions.

In Dingxiang City, private property sales were forbidden.

You could buy—but only through the City Lord's Mansion.

You could sell—but only to the City Lord's Mansion.

Such was its arrogance.

In a grand hall, over seventy to eighty clerks served cultivators buying or selling homes.

He Pingsheng picked one at random and approached.

"Elder, welcome!" Behind the counter was a sweet-faced woman, only Qi Refining Level Seven. "Elder, are you buying, selling, or renting?"

He Pingsheng said, "I wish to buy a residence."

"Of course!" The woman smiled, pulling out a jade slip. "Elder, please review—our mansion's residences are divided into nine grades. Choose carefully."

Nine grades?

He Pingsheng was surprised.

He picked up the jade slip and immediately understood.

Ninth grade: a courtyard ten zhang long and wide, no spiritual energy.

Eighth grade: a courtyard thirty zhang long and wide, no spiritual energy.

Seventh grade: a large courtyard fifty zhang long and wide, no spiritual energy.

Sixth grade: a massive estate one hundred fifty zhang long and wide, no spiritual energy.

The bottom four grades had no spiritual energy.

Prices varied by size alone.

The top five grades had spiritual energy, differing in size and concentration, with over a dozen styles grouped into five tiers.

The highest was First grade.

First-grade residences were three-thousand-zhang mansions built atop a top-grade spiritual vein.

These were rarely bought by individuals—they were seized by groups.

For example, a powerful clan or a strong sect.

Indeed, a three-thousand-zhang mansion atop a top-grade spiritual vein, though not as vast as a sect's main grounds, could fully support a sizable sect.

Dingxiang City did have sects.

And many of them.

"Eighth grade," He Pingsheng set down the jade slip. "A thirty-zhang courtyard without spiritual energy is enough."

For one person, thirty zhang was more than spacious.

As for spiritual energy?

I don't need it for my cultivation, and I have no spiritual plants to grow.

A spiritual residence would be a waste of resources for him.

As for size, thirty zhang was sufficient.

The thirty-zhang courtyard included a three-story pavilion, a garden, a pond, and more.

More than enough space to set up arrays.

Much larger than the small courtyard he'd had on Xiuzhu Peak.