Chapter 197
Among Xiao Minghuang’s group, only she herself, Ye Ruoshui, and Lin Wanqiu were at the Spirit Seed Realm.
Therefore, when entering the city gate, they temporarily separated from the others.
In this past year, Xiao Minghuang had broken through from the third level of the Spirit Seed Realm to the fifth level.
Ye Ruoshui had broken through to the second level of the Spirit Seed Realm, while Lin Wanqiu was slightly behind at the first level.
This wasn’t because Lin Wanqiu wasn’t diligent enough, but because she had to handle state affairs on behalf of Xiao Minghuang, leaving her with much less time for cultivation. Additionally, after Ye Ruoshui merged with the Primordial Fire, her cultivation speed had advanced by leaps and bounds.
In this past year, Ye Ruoshui had received the help of the Primordial Pure Yang Fire Dragon Fruit Tree, fully merging with the Primordial Fire. Her own constitution had further transformed, becoming the Primordial Fire God Body.
This constitution was at a higher level than a spiritual body, and she had comprehended a talent divine ability and a life-bound spirit seed divine ability.
The former leaned towards combat, while the latter was a heterodox divine ability, aiding her in refining pills, magical tools, talismans, and more.
Innate divine abilities are the unique, inherent powers of each divine body. Even if they appear similar on the surface, their core essence is entirely different.
With the aid of unorthodox divine abilities and the Primordial Flame, Ye Ruoshui successfully refined Earth-grade pills and even crafted new Earth-grade magical treasures for the three of them.
For herself, she naturally forged a new alchemy furnace.
For Xiao Minghuang and Lin Wanqiu, she crafted a pair of swords.
All three treasures were of mid-grade Earth-tier.
Xiao Minghuang’s set of the Minor Heavenly Star Charts was originally just two fragmented diagrams pieced together. For her, who had already advanced to the Spirit Seed Realm, it was somewhat redundant.
However, under Ye Ruoshui’s refinement, it successfully ascended to high-grade Earth-tier. When fully activated, it could unleash the power of thirty-six stars.
After receiving a system compensation, this Minor Heavenly Star Chart, when fully activated, now possessed the power of seventy-two stars. When combined with the three stars of the Big Dipper, it could instantly elevate Xiao Minghuang’s cultivation to the peak of the Spirit Seed Realm!
Although Xiao Minghuang had also integrated the Primordial Flame, due to her transformation into a composite spiritual body, she only possessed the Primordial Flame without an equivalent Primordial Yang essence. Thus, she remained a spiritual body and could not transform into a divine body.
In addition, over the past year, Xiao Minghuang had generously imparted her sword techniques and taught Lin Wanqiu the 《Twin Swords Unification Technique》, which led to the latter’s rapid advancement in sword mastery.
Although only a year had passed, Lin Wanqiu had already reached the pinnacle of sword intent!
With Xiao Minghuang’s strength alone, she could contend with ordinary Nascent Soul Realm cultivators.
If Lin Wanqiu joined her, the two of them wielding their swords in unison would likely find few rivals within the Nascent Soul Realm.
However, Xiao Minghuang dared not be arrogant or careless, for the Hundred Saints Province was not like the Southern Region.
This land was teeming with prodigies, and it was hard to guarantee that there weren’t those capable of cross-realm challenges.
The saying “There is always someone better, and there are heavens beyond heavens” was something she understood well.
Not to mention others, even the tall man who had just been spouting nonsense was someone she couldn’t quite figure out.
Therefore, they still needed to proceed with caution.
Soon, Xiao Minghuang and her two companions entered the city gates.
Inside the city, the scene was still bustling, but what was different was that in the square, there were many temporary shops set up, offering a dazzling array of goods, everything one could imagine.
There were also some people who didn’t have shops but had set up stalls with various items for sale.
This place was like a small trading market.
“Fellow Daoists, is this your first time visiting the Outer Academy Market?”
At this moment, a cultivator dressed in black robes approached, smiling as he asked.
“Do you have any advice for us, Fellow Daoist?”
Lin Wanqiu cupped her hands in a polite gesture as she spoke.
“Advice is not something I dare to offer. I am Chen Ming, just a small guide in the Outer Academy Market. If you are unfamiliar with this place, I can serve as your guide.”
Chen Ming also cupped his hands as he spoke.
Lin Wanqiu looked at Xiao Minghuang.
Xiao Minghuang nodded.
Chen Ming, who had been mingling in the market, naturally recognized that Xiao Minghuang was the one who truly made the decisions among the three. He smiled and said, “If you would honor me, it will only cost ten mid-grade spirit stones.”
Ten mid-grade spirit stones, while not a low price, was nothing significant for Xiao Minghuang.
Lin Wanqiu took out five mid-grade spirit stones from her storage bag and handed them over.
“Here are five mid-grade spirit stones. Take them, and we’ll give you the rest after we’ve toured half of the market.”
Chen Ming didn’t say much about this and readily agreed, “Alright!”
“Since you are not familiar with the Outer Academy Market, I presume you are here for the Holy Academy’s admissions.”
Chen Ming led Xiao Minghuang and her companions through the streets, chatting as they walked.
“What do you mean by that?”
Ye Ruoshui looked at the strange and varied small goods along the street, her eyes filled with curiosity.
Chen Ming smiled, “If you weren’t from other regions, how could you not know about the Outer Academy Market?”
“The Outer Academy Market is the closest external market to the Holy Academy. Although it’s called a market, it’s practically no different from a large city!”
“Although it’s not directly under the jurisdiction of the Holy Academy, because the Holy Academy’s admissions are held here, over time, a large amount of trade from the Eastern Pole has gathered here. No matter what your cultivation level, you can find the treasures you desire here!”
“Moreover, because of the presence of the Holy Academy, no matter how high one’s cultivation is, no one is allowed to make a move here. Anyone who wants to break this rule, even the most powerful saint, would have to consider whether they have the courage to challenge the Holy Academy!”
Lin Wanqiu said, “As you say, the Outer Academy Market is indeed a paradise for cultivators. Even if one commits murder outside, they can seek refuge here without worrying about being pursued by enemies.”
Chen Ming shook his head, “That’s definitely not the case. The Holy Academy would not harbor filth. The Holy Academy only maintains peace here during the admissions ceremony. As for other times, it’s the responsibility of the market’s owner.”
“During periods when the Holy Academy is not holding the admissions ceremony, the longer one stays in the market, the more spirit stones they have to pay. If one stays for several years, the amount of spirit stones required would be a terrifying figure, something no cultivator could afford.”
“Therefore, once you enter the outer market, you must abide by its rules and must not harm others.”
Lin Wanqiu nodded slightly, “Understood.”
Next, Chen Ming led them around several major locations in the market.
Within the market, there were establishments like the Dan Ding Pavilion, the Treasure Pavilion, the Cloud Script Pavilion, and the Hundred News Pavilion, primarily dealing in elixirs, magical artifacts, talismans, and auctions, all managed by the market owner.
As for all other shops and stalls, they were independently operated by various cultivators, who only needed to pay rent.
With ten days left until the deadline for the Holy Academy’s admissions, Xiao Minghuang and her companions spent several days exploring the market thoroughly.
During this time, they purchased quite a few items.
In the Great Xia, transactions among cultivators only required low-grade spirit stones, with medium-grade spirit stones being extremely rare, and high-grade spirit stones scarcely seen once a year.
However, in the outer market, the starting price for transactions was medium-grade spirit stones; low-grade spirit stones were not accepted and had to be exchanged for medium-grade ones at the Hundred News Pavilion before any transaction could occur.
Moreover, exchanging for medium-grade spirit stones came with a 20% discount!
This meant that to obtain one medium-grade spirit stone, besides ten low-grade spirit stones, an additional two had to be added.
This was euphemistically called: service fee.
Translator: Glariosa
Editor: Ruu
Please support us on Ko-Fi.
What did you think of this chapter?
0 reactions
Discussion
0 comments
No comments yet.