Family Cultivation: I Become a Mirror-Chapter 51 Purchase

"Five spirit stones, five Baiguan fruits, and ninety catties of spirit rice,"

Li Tongya counted the belongings on him. The Baiguan fruit was an adjunct in most elixirs; since his family had no alchemy heritage, he could sell those first. Spirit rice, rich in spiritual energy, could be kept for consumption later.

"I still owe Xiao Yuansi ten spirit stones,"

Li Tongya suddenly felt a headache and muttered to himself:

"Xiao Yuansi looked like he knew he wouldn’t be getting it back anytime soon; the emissary has already returned. I’ll just owe it for now... Let’s talk about it in a few years."

He wandered around the streets, circling twice and saw various talismans and spiritual objects but failed to find any Immortal Cultivation arts inheritor.

Li Tongya squatted down and rummaged through a stall in front of him when the stall owner, her face veiled in black gauze, spoke:

"What are you looking for, Taoist Fellow?"

Her voice was soft and melodious, and surprisingly, she was a woman.

Li Tongya gave a wry smile and asked:

"Do you have any Immortal Cultivation arts inheritance?"

"This is your first time at the market, isn’t it?"

The woman said with a light chuckle.

"Indeed,"

"The talismans, elixirs, and formations for sale around Lixia County come from three sources: Green Pond Sect, noble families, and loose cultivators,"

The female cultivator smiled and stared at Li Tongya with bright eyes as she explained:

"The Green Pond Sect is the biggest supplier. To continuously harvest cheap materials and then sell the finished products back to us, the Green Pond Sect has always prohibited the sale of Immortal Cultivation arts inheritances at any market under their rule."

"And the noble families, who would sell the very tools that feed them? They collude silently with the Green Pond Sect to block the circulation of these Immortal Cultivation arts, all to share in the profits."

Li Tongya, listening, nodded silently, then glanced at the female cultivator, replying with some confusion:

"Are there that many loose cultivators in Lixia County?"

The female cultivator shook her head slightly, leaned in a bit, and explained:

"Yue Country has millions of people. Even just one county has six or seven hundred thousand. Under Green Pond’s rule are five prefectures. No matter how you calculate, there must be three to four thousand individuals with Spirit Apertures, not to mention those noble families with their long lineage; the number of cultivators must be upwards of five thousand."

"You do see things clearly, Taoist Fellow,"

Li Tongya looked over the items on the stall. Several talismans were not very useful; he was reluctant to buy them.

"Three talismans for one spirit stone,"

Hearing this, Li Tongya hurriedly shifted his gaze away from the talismans, resting it on the faint blue Dharma Sword in front of him.

"Made from Zhan Yan stone and smelted with the chill of the snowy lands, this sword is not only swift when unsheathed, but it also brings a frost chill upon striking the enemy,"

The female cultivator suddenly became much more enthusiastic, saying with a smile:

"This sword is very handy. If it weren’t for the fact I’ve recently acquired a new magic artifact, I wouldn’t be willing to sell it. Just ten spirit stones."

With his funds limited, Li Tongya looked over the stall reluctantly, seeing the sky darkening, he picked up a black-colored bow and arrow from the stand and asked:

"How about this bow."

"Ho, forged from Green Crow Wood and strung with the sinew of a Green Yuan beast. By infusing it with mana, you can endow the arrows with sharp qi. I’ll sell it to you for four spirit stones,"

Li Tongya chuckled lightly, responding:

"Two spirit stones."

"Not enough,"

The female cultivator shook her head.

Li Tongya pointed to the bowstring and spoke:

"This bow looks like it has been used for quite some time. Two spirit stones plus five Baiguan fruits—take it as two and a half spirit stones to sell it to me,"

The female cultivator gritted her teeth, glanced at the sky, and finally replied:

"Deal."

Li Tongya exchanged the Spirit Stones and Spirit Fruit with the female cultivator, rose to his feet clutching his bow, and tightened his grip on the three remaining Spirit Stones in his pocket. Seeing that the nearby stalls had begun to pack up their wares, he quickened his pace as he strolled through the market.

The shops ahead all catered to those in the Qi Cultivation Stage, which Li Tongya could not afford, so he wasn’t interested in browsing and kept his head down, searching the stalls.

After just a few steps, Li Tongya came across a youth draped in hemp clothing and wearing a beast skin coat standing by the roadside, with a large iron cage nearby containing over a dozen fuzzy canine beasts.

"Would you like to take a look at these Shuttle Forest Beasts?"

The youth, who had been standing around with a worried frown, was overjoyed when he saw Li Tongya stop to look at the canine beasts, and hurriedly explained,

"These beasts are docile in nature, and upon reaching maturity, they possess a cultivation level equivalent to the second rotation of the Fetal Breathing Stage of Chengming. They have sharp teeth and move as swiftly as the wind, capable of overthrowing dozens of mortals with ease. Normally, they just need some Spirit Rice to eat..."

Upon hearing this, Li Tongya immediately realized the kid probably hadn’t made a single sale all day, and he spoke up with a stern voice,

"What use is there in overturning mortals?"

"Ah! This... These beasts are very clever, they can track by scent and distinguish Demonic Qi..."

"How much?"

"One Spirit Stone each..."

Li Tongya turned on his heel to walk away, alarming the youth, who turned red-faced and tugged at Li Tongya’s clothing, pleading,

"One Spirit Stone for two, two for one."

Li Tongya had no choice but to stop. He shook his head helplessly and explained,

"Your beasts look alright, but if they really encounter a cultivator, a few spells from afar would be enough to deal with them. Besides, raising these beasts requires Spirit Rice and demonic beast meat, doesn’t it? I barely have enough immortal cultivation provisions for myself, how could I use them to feed these animals..."

The youth was stunned for a moment, then nodded thoughtfully and mumbled,

"Taoist Fellow, please wait a moment. I have something else here."

He then took out a small silver box, looking somewhat hopeful as he said,

"This creature is called a Wu Ze Worm; it can produce Wu Ze Ling Silk. It only needs some spiritual chaff or similar spiritually-infused things for nourishment. These worms have sharp teeth and aren’t picky eaters; they eat Spirit Rice leaves or even straw, and if there are no spiritual objects, some essence of animal flesh will keep them alive without starving."

Upon hearing this, Li Tongya became interested and took the silver box. Inside were several greyish-green worms wriggling about, with a few mulberry leaves placed at the bottom.

"What use is this Wu Ze Ling Silk?"

"It can be used to weave Spirit Wear and silk fabrics, impervious to common blades and arrows. It can also fetch a good price if sold."

Thinking of the batches of Spirit Leaves and straw left at home, Li Tongya was tempted but expressed his reluctance,

"I’m afraid I might not be able to sustain them..."

"If Taoist Fellow is willing, I’ll throw in a Wooden Slip with care instructions for the worms, all the secrets of rearing are in it. I’ll sell these along with the few spirit worms for only two Spirit Stones to you,"

the youth said with determination and a hopeful look.

"Agreed."

Li Tongya pondered for a few moments before answering.

After securing the silver box and the Wooden Slip passed to him by the youth, and seeing that it had gotten dark, Li Tongya bade farewell to the youth and ambled over to the carriage. The carriage driver was napping on board. Li Tongya chuckled softly to himself and began to wait quietly.

Wan Yuankai arrived looking travel-worn, a hint of joy on his face. Seeing Li Tongya leaning against the carriage with his bow, he smiled and said,

"Brother Tongya, what treasure have you found?"

"Just a bow of the Fetal Breathing Level, hardly a treasure,"

Li Tongya laughed, climbed into the carriage with Wan and handed the bow and arrow to him. After trying the string, Wan asked,

"How is it?"

"It’s Green Crow Wood, with cow tendon."

Wan Yuankai tested the string, scrutinizing it with furrowed brows, and then replied, 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

"Worth no more than three Spirit Stones, any more would be a loss."

At that, Li Tongya smiled and nodded his head. The two exchanged a few more words, then each lost in their own thoughts, they soon fell asleep on the swaying carriage as night deepened.