Qingzhu Mountain's market square, named after 'Qingzhu,' consists mostly of tall buildings made of spiritual bamboo.
Despite being called a market square, in reality, the actual buildings number only a few dozen, barely forming a street. Along with the mobile stalls on the sides of the street and the square, they collectively make up the most bustling market for cultivators within hundreds of miles.
As Fang Xi arrived at the entrance of the market square, he saw a faint white mist, which was the protective array of the market square, rumored to withstand attacks from foundation-building cultivators for a long time.
He didn't dare to be negligent and took out a bamboo token containing the identity information of a spiritual farmer.
With a flash of light, the mist on both sides dispersed, revealing the originally blurry buildings in the middle.
'Drunken Immortal Tower,' 'Hundred Refineries Workshop,' 'Alchemy Pavilion,' 'Hundred Crafts Building,' 'Thousand Mechanisms Hall'...
Several major buildings suddenly came into view.
These were also the most important trading places in the market square, handling hundreds or even thousands of spirit stones daily.
Fang Xi's gaze swept over the 'Drunken Immortal Tower,' and he subtly adjusted his posture, then turned around without changing his expression, as if the seductive voices in his ears were nothing.
A mere charm technique, trying to disturb this young master's Dao heart!
If not for the lack of funds...
It must be said that the aura of a female cultivator is completely different from that of an ordinary maid.
It's like the difference between a regular version and a PROMAX version of a mobile phone in a past life.
On the main road, various cultivators passed by.
Scholars, monks, Taoists...
Elderly, women, children...
Carrying swords, carrying wine gourds, accompanied by spiritual birds, riding demonic beasts...
Diverse and numerous.
The former Fang Xi, upon seeing this scene, couldn't come back to his senses for a long time, being ridiculed as a country bumpkin.
Nowadays, his perspective on things has become deeper.
'Mid Foundation Establishment, Mid Foundation Establishment, Late Foundation Establishment...'
'Sure enough... even if there are a few early Foundation Establishment cultivators, they are just servants or juniors brought out to see the world...'
'The strength of these cultivators is respected, it's really not easy to get by.'
Fang Xi sneered.
If possible, he would certainly want to live comfortably in the Great Liang World.
Unfortunately, the Great Liang World... it's not long-lasting.
With the density of spiritual energy in that world, there's hardly any room for improvement in cultivation techniques, let alone breakthroughs to higher realms.
And the local Qi and Blood Martial Arts don't seem to lead to a long life either...
Fang Xi wouldn't consider settling in a small world unless he was forced to a dead end.
He glanced at the various stalls and began to exchange the stone dragon seeds and other materials he had accumulated during this period.
These items, if sold in large shops, would be a laughing stock and could only be digested in a place like this.
"Liu Ge, let me tell you, these stone dragon seeds in such good condition are really not expensive... and this spiritual herb of mine, I almost ran my legs off to find it..."
After a long time, Fang Xi almost ran out of saliva before finally receiving three spirit crystals.
He identified the location and arrived at a stall on a square.
This was a stall run by a couple, with a booth of less than half a meter filled with various spiritual talismans.
First-grade low-quality 'Protective Talisman,' 'Ice Talisman,' 'Fire Talisman'...
Even with just a glance, Fang Xi saw the 'Little Thunder Talisman' in the middle, shining like a group of stars surrounding the moon!
"Master Talisman, congratulations on successfully drawing a second-grade medium-quality talisman..."
He smiled and congratulated the stall owner.
The Master Talisman looked around thirty years old, tall and chubby, with two small mustaches, smiling very kindly, like a worldly businessman.
Fang Xi had also seen a fellow cultivator named Lu who brought him talisman paper and materials, and he had a deep impression of the woman's figure.
This couple handled the talisman paper, with the man drawing the talismans, living quite comfortably and prosperously with their affordable and good-quality products. However, recently, they seemed to be under a lot of pressure due to a shortage of spirit stones.
"Oh, it's Little Friend Fang..." The Master Talisman smiled and asked, "How did the Ice Talisman I recommended work against the demon insects?"
"Amazing, in this severe cold weather, the power of the Ice Talisman seems to have increased, making the stone dragon seeds unavoidable..."
Fang Xi nodded, "Give me a few more 'Protective Talismans'..."
'These talismans are only used for protection during seclusion, one talisman for one spirit crystal. I wonder why this kid needs so many...'
The Master Talisman shook his head, silently criticizing, but cultivators value privacy the most, so he didn't ask further.
After trading for several protective talismans, he asked again, "Do you still need the Ice Talisman? I can give you a discount, one talisman for three spirit crystals..."
"Master Talisman, another price drop?" Fang Xi's eyes lit up, resembling a person from his past life seeing a discount.
"Ah, it's just that... my family is expecting another child!"
The Master Talisman sighed.
Cultivators absorb spiritual energy from the heavens and earth through their spiritual roots, capable of performing various miraculous feats, but bearing offspring is quite challenging.
Even if born, they might turn out to be ordinary mortals without spiritual roots.
But the Master Talisman was an exception, already having three children, two of whom had spiritual roots.
Now it was the fourth child.
It was said that the Situ family was very interested in the Master Talisman and wanted to use his seed, but they were politely declined...
Fang Xi nodded, realizing that having two descendants of cultivators might even turn into three, the pressure... was like three mountains.
The tragic experiences of middle-aged men from his past life were vividly reflected in the Master Talisman, even making him feel like the man's hair was prematurely balding.
However, that was none of his concern.
"My Ice Talisman and Fire Talisman are excellent for both defense and offense, whether against enemies or pests..."
The Master Talisman was preoccupied with the small divine beasts in his family that consumed spirit stones, but suddenly heard Fang Xi ask, "I wonder how much this 'Little Thunder Talisman' is priced at?"
If a low-grade first-grade talisman is equivalent to a spell attack in the early Foundation Establishment stage, then a medium-grade talisman undoubtedly reaches the mid Foundation Establishment level!
The Master Talisman was momentarily stunned, then showed a pained and reluctant expression, "This medium-grade talisman was painstakingly drawn by me. It wasted countless talisman papers. If you truly want it... take it for one and a half spirit stones..."
"One and a half?"
Fang Xi's face showed embarrassment, "Could it be a bit cheaper?"
"You want it cheaper?" The Master Talisman glared, but then seemed to be bent over by the weight of life, his expression softening, "Unless you buy a few more low-grade talismans."
"In that case, add one more low-grade 'Golden Light Shield Talisman.'"
Fang Xi replied with a similar pained expression.
...
In the end, he successfully obtained the 'Little Thunder Talisman,' which could rival a strike from a mid Foundation Establishment expert, along with several low-grade talismans.
For this, not only did he exhaust the money from the materials he came to sell at the market square, but he also spent a considerable amount of savings.
Fortunately, feeling the Golden Light Shield Talisman in his arms, Fang Xi felt much safer.
Although this talisman could only withstand one or two spell attacks from early Foundation Establishment cultivators in the Southern Wasteland cultivation world, it wasn't as simple in the Great Liang World.
"Let's go, let's go. Continuing to look will only add to the sorrow..."
Standing in front of a stall selling elixirs, Fang Xi's steps seemed rooted.
He was currently in a phase of vigorous advancement. With the help of elixirs, he might be able to break through to the fourth level of Foundation Establishment, entering the mid Foundation Establishment stage!
Unfortunately, elixirs were generally more expensive than talismans!
"It's a pity... other transmigrators are profiting from both worlds, living in comfort. How did I end up like this?"
Fang Xi was always cautious in his approach to trading between the two worlds.
Because he was sure of having the strength to protect himself in the Great Liang World, he was somewhat relieved to reveal some things from the cultivation world.
But in the cultivation world, he didn't dare to reveal anything extraordinary.
After all, his cultivation level was too low, and cultivators were versatile and skilled. There might be some unique methods of investigation!
"At least... I have to wait until I reach the late Foundation Establishment stage, no, at least the mid Foundation Establishment stage..."
Fang Xi always acted cautiously, especially after gaining extraordinary opportunities.
Being able to avoid conflicts, cultivate smoothly, and advance to Foundation Establishment, Core Formation... who would want to engage in life-and-death battles?
Just as he was about to leave Qingzhu Mountain's market square, a commotion suddenly erupted on the street.
Soon, the commotion seemed to spread like a contagion, expanding in all directions.
Faintly, voices about 'relics,' 'treasures,' 'cultivation techniques,' and more could be heard.
Fang Xi's steps slightly paused, and he immediately heard a piece of news from a nearby cultivator.
"What? A small secret realm was discovered in the Purple Phantom Mountain, suspected to be the remains of a cultivator? Some cultivators have already brought out ancient cultivation techniques and Foundation Establishment spiritual treasures from it?"
This news was like a spark that ignited the desire in the hearts of all cultivators!
Ancient cultivation techniques!
Foundation Establishment spiritual treasures!
These were things they might not obtain in their entire lives.
The cultivation world was like this, with low-level wandering cultivators toiling aimlessly, not even touching the edge of Foundation Establishment.
But if one were to obtain immortal luck, gain ancient treasures, and miraculous elixirs, they could soar like a great roc in a day, becoming a celestial being!
Just like Fang Xi!
His spiritual roots were not outstanding, just a low-grade wood attribute. He cultivated the ordinary Changchun Technique, and even after sixty years, he might not reach the complete Foundation Establishment stage, let alone break through the Foundation Establishment bottleneck.
Moreover, it was widely circulated in the cultivation world that after sixty years, the chances of a cultivator breaking through to Foundation Establishment would significantly decrease!
But with top-tier cultivation techniques, coupled with the power of elixirs, breaking through to Foundation Establishment within five or ten years was highly possible!
This was the opportunity countless cultivators desperately sought!
"What Foundation Establishment spiritual treasure is it?"
A female cultivator's eyes reddened as she grabbed a male cultivator who knew the news, asking loudly.
"It's a bottle of 'Earthfire Evil Qi'! It's very useful for breaking through the Qi and Blood realm."
The male cultivator spoke with longing and admiration.
"It's a pity it's not a Foundation Establishment pill." A nearby elderly cultivator lamented.
"Where in ancient times would you find a Foundation Establishment pill?" A scholar nearby chuckled, "Today's cultivators may not be inferior to ancient ones. This Foundation Establishment pill is the first-class spiritual pill personally refined by the master alchemist Shu Tong in nearly a thousand years. It harmonizes the three stages of Foundation Establishment, breaking through with ease... it can increase the success rate of Foundation Establishment by thirty percent!"
(End of Chapter)