Not even five days had passed since his conversation with Jang Hu-am. A strange guest came to visit the island. This guest had revealed his presence long before arriving at the island, so Jaekyung was able to go outside the cave in advance to await his visit.
Thud!
Jaekyung quickly sized up the guest who had descended as if dropping from the sky. He was riding a large bird with multi-colored feathers, and Jaekyung could tell at a glance that the bird was not a living creature. This was because the bird lacked any of the vitality that should be present in a living being.
The cultivator who came on the bird was a young man who looked to be about thirty. Of course, a cultivator's age cannot be judged by appearance alone, but the very disposition he gave off was as vibrant as a freshly sprouted plant.
“A pleasure to meet you for the first time. I am Gwak Jeong-shin. You must be Dao Friend Jaekyung? Forgive my forwardness on our first meeting, but you have a truly magnificent presence.”
“Yes. I am Jaekyung. By the way, is the bird you rode in on a puppet?”
“Ah! That is correct. If you are interested, please take a look at the puppet section in the Prosperous Treasure Guild's sales catalog. Various forms of puppet beasts await their masters.”
“Thank you. I will take a look later.”
Puppets.
Simply put, they are marionettes crafted by cultivators. Being items made by cultivators, they possess various abilities, and I hear they are quite expensive? I've heard that among the puppets created by high-level puppet masters, there are combat-type puppets even more powerful than cultivators.
“In any case, it is an honor to meet you. If you felt I was being too frivolous, I apologize. I have heard much about you, but this is the first time I have personally met a cultivator of Remembrance, so I am quite excited.”
“Hmm? Then with Dao Friend Jang…”
“I know of him by name, but I have never actually met him. We are quite far apart from each other.”
When Jang Hu-am had asked for Jaekyung's address, he had mentioned that he lived in the Central Heaven Divine Continent. Naturally, Jaekyung did not know where that was, but from Gwak Jeong-shin's words, it seemed to be a place quite far from the Western Twin Lake.
“If it were up to me, I would like to chat over a cup of tea, but I imagine you would prefer to get business done first, Dao Friend?”
“Yes, well.”
“Then shall we check the item first?”
“Very well.”
Jaekyung took out the spiritual soil from the storage pouch he had prepared in front of the cave. The amount was about a tenth less than the original quantity, as that tenth was now serving as Mook-soo's bed inside the cave.
‘I'm not sure if this was the right thing to do.’
When he had been gathering the spiritual soil, Mook-soo had spun around in circles in front of him, as if in protest. It was a vehement reaction he had never shown before, and Jaekyung, finding it both amusing and concerning, had set aside a tenth of the spiritual soil for him.
It was a sufficient amount to serve as Mook-soo's bed.
“Oho.”
Gwak Jeong-shin meticulously inspected the spiritual soil, nodding his head repeatedly. He touched it with something like a small glass vial, and also dabbed a bit of the soil onto a glowing stone that looked similar to a spirit stone. Jaekyung didn't know the meaning behind such actions, but it somehow looked very professional.
“The quantity and quality of spiritual energy it generates are ordinary, but its regenerative power is considerable. With this, there will certainly be a demand. Powers at the Foundation Establishment level would likely stretch their means to acquire it.”
“Is that so? Then what about the price…?”
“First, would you care to examine this?”
An elongated, cylindrical crystal appeared in Gwak Jeong-shin's hand. It flew toward Jaekyung, neither too fast nor too slow. Jaekyung, who had not let down his guard, relaxed and touched the crystal only after identifying it as something similar to a jade slip.
‘Ugh!’
It was the same as when he had used the jade slip before. All sorts of knowledge was engraved into his mind. However, the knowledge engraved this time was… very unique.
It was like a shopping catalog commonly seen in his past life's world…
‘What is this?’
Jaekyung felt surprise, and an even greater sense of bewilderment. Brief information and price tags for all kinds of spiritual objects stretched out in his mind, and no matter how quickly he scanned through them, there seemed to be no end.
“Ah! There is no need to search through it one by one. You can find the relevant information just by thinking of your spiritual soil, Dao Friend.”
Following Gwak Jeong-shin's words, Jaekyung thought of the spiritual soil, and the endlessly stretching list of spiritual objects disappeared, replaced by information on several types of 'soil'. A clear image of its form, its general effects, and even its price appeared in his mind.
Among the few types of soil, Jaekyung found the one he possessed, and saw the price written next to it.
“Eight mid-grade spirit stones?”
He couldn't get a sense of whether that was a lot or a little. Considering the spirit stones he possessed, it seemed like a considerable amount.
“That is the selling price. Our purchase price is five mid-grade spirit stones. As you may know, even this amount is quite a fortune. It is equivalent to five thousand low-grade spirit stones. It's a sum not easily handled even by Foundation Establishment cultivators.”
Gwak Jeong-shin continued speaking without even glancing at Jaekyung's reaction.
“However! Since Dao Friend Jang has given you a precious gift, I cannot simply stand by. The amount of spiritual soil is more than the standard unit listed in the price catalog, so I will give you an additional ten percent. On top of that, I will add another ten percent at my own discretion. This is to commemorate our first meeting and in the hope that we can continue to have good dealings in the future. What do you say?”
He was offering to add a total of twenty percent, which was certainly a generous proposal. That is, if he could trust the price list in his head.
‘Well, it's not that I have a choice but to trust it. It's not because I trust the name or credibility of the Prosperous Treasure True Lord, but because there are no other options.’
Trade the spiritual soil directly with Woo Do-baek? That's a method, if you can call it that, but in that case, it would be a one-sided transaction where I'm at his mercy. I would have to rely solely on Woo Do-baek's goodwill, without properly knowing the value of the spiritual soil or the Transformation Secret Art.
I don't want to doubt Woo Do-baek's character, but it's better not to create a situation that invites doubt in the first place than to simply not doubt someone. Besides, it's not like I'm completely standing Woo Do-baek up. I'm just settling the payment in spirit stones.
‘Come to think of it… the Transformation Secret Art might be in the catalog too?’
As his thoughts of Woo Do-baek naturally led him to the Transformation Secret Art, Jaekyung tried to recall it just as he had done with the spiritual soil. But unlike a moment ago, nothing came to mind. Just then, Gwak Jeong-shin spoke as if he had forgotten something.
“As you can see if you check, what I have given you, Dao Friend, is a catalog of the spiritual objects sold by our Prosperous Treasure Guild. It records their general appearance, main characteristics, effects, price, and so on. It should be helpful for identifying any ownerless spiritual objects you may acquire in the future.”
A catalog of spiritual objects. So that means things like secret arts or cultivation techniques, such as the Transformation Secret Art, are not recorded in it.
‘Is this his way of promoting their guild, asking me to sell them spiritual objects in the future?’
If he was going to be generous, it would have been nice if he had been a little more generous. Jaekyung swallowed his disappointment.
“You just said Dao Friend Jang gave me a gift. Is this catalog of spiritual objects that gift?”
“That is correct. This item is originally sold for ten low-grade spirit stones. It seems Dao Friend Jang thinks very highly of you.”
Jaekyung recalled Jang Hu-am, whose spirit had flashed with excitement. He hadn't said it out loud, but he seemed to regard him as some kind of living golden calf, which was very burdensome.
But now that he had received this gift, worth ten low-grade spirit stones whether he believed it or not, it seemed he would have to properly thank him the next time they met.
“Dao Friend Gwak. Does your guild perhaps also sell the Transformation Secret Art?”
“The Transformation Secret Art? Of course. However, I'm not sure if our branch has any in stock. The demand for it is quite low, and it's an item that often leads to complaints even after being sold, so we don't tend to stock it.”
“I understand the demand is low, but what do you mean it's hard to hear good things after selling it?”
“The Transformation Secret Art is a secret art that allows other races to change into a human body, but as you know, not all other races are the same, are they? Take the demon races, for instance, and spirit beasts as well. As the characteristics and conditions of each race are different, the difficulties involved in transformation also differ. Therefore, even if one diligently cultivates a Transformation Secret Art, it is often the case that some secret arts are effective while others are not.”
Hearing Gwak Jeong-shin's explanation, Jaekyung frowned. Woo Do-baek had never mentioned anything like this. Did he not know, or did he know and chose not to say?
“That is why one must learn a Transformation Secret Art that is suitable for the cultivator. For instance, if one's vital energy is strong, one should learn a secret art effective at suppressing it; if one's spiritual nature is fierce, one should learn a secret art that can calm that fierceness.”
“Just hearing about it, I can tell it is not simple.”
“Haha. How could it be simple? Even if it is a simplified version, it is a secret art that imitates the Transformation Tribulation.”
Jaekyung felt uneasy at the thought that the transformation he had assumed would not be difficult might be harder than expected. If he could not cultivate human cultivation techniques through transformation, his future cultivation path would surely be a thorny one.
“I see. For now, let's make the trade.”
“Excellent. A wise decision.”
Jaekyung handed over the spiritual soil and received six mid-grade spirit stones. In the midst of this, Gwak Jeong-shin surprisingly took the spirit stones out of a storage pouch at his waist. When Jaekyung asked if it was alright to carry such a large sum so carelessly, he laughed heartily as if he had heard a very funny joke.
“Haha. There are few cultivators bold enough to dare touch someone from the Prosperous Treasure Guild. Especially in human territories. And though it feels a bit odd to say it myself, I am capable of protecting myself.”
Jaekyung sold the spiritual soil for six mid-grade spirit stones, and while he was at it, he decided to sell the two cultivation techniques he had obtained from the water bandits.
“Hmm… these are low-level cultivation techniques. One can only cultivate up to the Qi Refining Stage with them. At this level, they might as well be called basic cultivation techniques. We don't normally deal in such things… but if you wish to dispose of them, Dao Friend, I can offer about one low-grade spirit stone.”
One low-grade spirit stone. Perhaps because he had just gotten his hands on six mid-grade spirit stones, it barely felt like a spirit stone at all.
“I'll sell them.”
Gwak Jeong-shin mentioned that he might get more if he took these cultivation techniques to a market square, but when would he ever have the time to go to a human market square to sell cultivation techniques? Jaekyung decided to just sell them, and another low-grade spirit stone was added to his storage pouch.
“It was a profitable transaction.”
Having concluded their business, Jaekyung and Gwak Jeong-shin chatted for a little longer before bidding farewell.
“This is my transmission talisman. If you have business with the guild, or a personal matter for me, please do not hesitate to contact me.”
“Thank you.”
“Don't mention it.”
Before leaving on his puppet bird, Gwak Jeong-shin smiled and left one last remark.
“Somehow, I feel that we will be able to continue this good connection in the future, Dao Friend. I hope we have many occasions to meet again.”
* “Jaekyung.
That human left, right?”
“Yes.”
Cheong-o did not ask how he knew the human cultivator. The fellow had always clearly distinguished between what he could ask and what he shouldn't. It was the same this time.
‘The Transformation Secret Art.’
It's not some kind of lottery, but I won't know if it's effective or not until I try to learn it. It was absurd, but since that was the reality of it, he had no choice. It would be great to win on the first try, but if not, he would just have to keep trying.
Fortunately, he currently possessed a decent amount of spirit stones, so he could afford a few attempts without much trouble.
‘If I can get it from Senior Woo, that would be for the best.’
If he couldn't obtain the secret art from Woo Do-baek, or if the one he did obtain proved ineffective… then he would have to acquire one through the Prosperous Treasure Guild.
‘Fortunately, the Full Wing Day is not far off, so I won't have to wait long.’
Until then, he could just continue his treasure hunting with that turtle fellow. If he could find more decent spiritual objects like this time, he could soon become a valued customer of the Prosperous Treasure Guild. Then, wouldn't it be not so difficult to obtain a Transformation Secret Art suited for him?
‘In fact, I don't necessarily have to be fixated on the Transformation Secret Art.’
Jaekyung looked for fire-element spiritual objects in the Prosperous Treasure Guild's catalog. Crimson Jade Branch… Flaming Ten Thousand Spirit Ginseng…
Crimson Spine Heart Root… Starting with the familiar Fire Crystal, all sorts of various spiritual objects he had never heard of or seen before appeared one after another. After glancing over their prices, Jaekyung's eyes widened without him realizing.
“Jaekyung. What's wrong? Why are your eyes open so wide? Did something sad happen?”
“No. It's nothing.”
The six mid-grade spirit stones that had felt as heavy as a thousand pounds just moments ago now felt incredibly light.