Immortal of the Nine Realms

Chapter 40: Thievery

Seeing that Fang Chen wasnt falling for his scam, the vendor quickly rose up and exclaimed, Wait, brother! The prices are negotiable.

Fang Chen ignored the vendor. He disliked dealing with unconscientious merchants, not to mention there was no lack of vendors selling cinnabar, talisman papers, and brush anyway.

Soon, Fang Chen arrived in the vicinity of the old woman and sat down. He took out ten Strength Talismans, Flitting Talismans, and Protection Talismans, and laid them out.

The old woman was not seeing a lot of customers at her store. Shock flickered across her eyes when she saw the talismans laid out before Fang Chen, and she remarked, It must have taken a lot of time to draw those talismans!

It took me a year to collect them, Fang Chen replied with a nod.

A year? Thats a waste of time. You could have spent it on furthering your cultivation instead. The old woman shook her head, but her gaze remained fixated on the talismans. There was a hint of greed in her eyes.

Those talismans were worth a considerable sum, comparable to the value of a three daosoul imprint artifact.

It didnt take long for customers to come looking around his store.

He had set his prices to 2 low-grade ki stones per talisman. It was more difficult to draw the Flitting Talisman and Protection Talisman, but the market price for talismans of his quality was around there.

Some of them shook their heads and left after enquiring about the prices, seemingly short on money.

Some of them didnt hesitate to buy multiple talismans in a single breath.

In less than half a day, Fang Chen sold all of the talismans in front of him. Clearly, talismans were a popular consumable for cultivators.

The Purple Lightning Talisman is probably worth several times more, Fang Chen thought.

However, he didnt see anyone selling Purple Lightning Talismans in this market, which showed just how rare and valuable they were. Out of prudence, it would be best for him not to sell them, lest he catch unwanted attention.

In contrast, the old womans business was not doing well. She had only earned three low-grade ki stones in half a days time, but she had spent 25 low-grade ki stones earlier. Seeing how well Fang Chens business did only further stoked her greed.

Time to pack up. Fang Chen flashed a smile at the old woman as he got up and took his leave.

The old woman looked at her poor business and empty pockets before glancing at Fang Chen. Slowly, her eyes turned cold.

Fang Chen didnt leave straight away. He strolled around Dragonback Lane and bought a brush, some cinnabar, and a few stacks of talisman papers. All in all, he spent 5 low-grade ki stones.

He did a rough count and confirmed that he had 68 low-grade ki stones with him. That made him one of the wealthier cultivators here.

Ten Bone Tempering Pills for just one low-grade ki stone! These pills might be cheap, but they are rare goods! Make sure not to miss this opportunity! a vendor shouted.

A passer-by glanced over and laughed. Well, its indeed rare to come by Bone Tempering Pills. What kind of alchemist forges Bone Tempering Pills? That thing does nothing other than to reinforce ones muscles and bones. Its useful to martial artists, but cultivators like us dont need it.

It was rare for cultivators to engage in close-quarter combat with others, and spirit ki had the effect of reinforcing ones muscles and bones. Due to that, Bone Tempering Pills were of little use to cultivators.

Cultivators wouldnt have spared it a glance even if it was twenty Bone Tempering Pills for one low-grade ki stone instead of ten, unless they were buying it for their subordinates. But again, cultivators saw martial artists as mere menial servants. They didnt need martial artists to deal with enemies, so they were only good for chores.

Due to that, there were hardly any buyers for the Bone Tempering Pills. Ki stones were valuable, after all. How could they squander it on someone useless?

Brother, how many Bone Tempering Pills do you have? Fang Chen casually asked.

Not many. Are you interested?

The vendor looked up and saw Fang Chen didnt have any martial artists with him. That brought a frown to his face, as he thought Fang Chen was another time waster.

Yes, I have a few martial artists in my cavern, so this would make a good reward for them, Fang Chen replied.

Cavern?

A few people in the surroundings were stunned. Cultivators who had caverns tended to be from exceptional backgrounds. The old woman, who had been following Fang Chen from a distance, became hesitant.

There is no better reward than this for a martial artist! Its a low-grade ki stone for ten Bone Tempering Pills, and I have a hundred of them. Do you want it all? The vendors eyes lit up.

He had bought all of his Bone Tempering Pills for 5 low-grade ki stones. If he could sell all of it at the current rate, he would have earned 5 low-grade ki stones!

I dont need that many. Fang Chen frowned.

Ill offer you a discount. You can have my Bone Tempering Pills for just 9 low-grade ki stones, the vendor quickly offered. He didnt want to lose this rare customer.

Ill take it all for 8 lot-grade ki stones though I think I only need ten Bone Tempering Pills, Fang Chen murmured.

Is that fellow dumb? Why is he buying so many Bone Tempering Pills for his martial artists? Isnt it better for him to use them for his cultivation instead?

He could have spent that money on a one daosoul imprint artifact instead

Such murmurs could be heard from the crowd.

The vendor hesitated before he clenched his jaws and said, Fine, Ill make a loss here to make a friend! Brother, Ill sell all my Bone Tempering Pills to you for 8 low-grade ki stones!

He was worried Fang Chen would only buy ten Bone Tempering Pills, and he would end up with a stockpile that he couldnt sell. He would rather make a bit less profit instead. It was not as if he spent a lot of time making this trade anyway.

The trade concluded on a happy note.

After purchasing a hundred Bone Tempering Pills, Fang Chen turned around and left. Such pills were indeed useless for cultivators, but they were invaluable for martial artists.

Most cultivators wouldnt have been willing to spend their ki stones on a martial artist, but it was different for Fang Chen. Tie Ma and the others were more important to him than mere ki stones.

Fang Chen returned to his carriage and instructed, Well return to the capital.

Tie Ma nodded before driving the carriage away.

Fang Chen drew out his soul. From the sky, he spotted the old woman and three other cultivators following his carriage.

The old woman was at fourth stage Ki Refinement, whereas of the other three cultivators, one was at third stage Ki Refinement and the other two were at second stage Ki Refinement. Those three cultivators were a group, and they clearly harbored the same intention as the old woman.

The old woman and the three cultivators were aware of each others existence, but they didnt make contact with each other.

After the carriage traveled 150 kilometers away, the old woman and three cultivators flitted forth to encircle them.

Who are you? Why are you blocking our young masters path? The masked Tie Ma grimly eyed the figures in front of him. Fang Chen had instructed him to address him as young master lest they spark other peoples suspicion.

Im not a greedy one. Give me 40 low-grade ki stones, and Ill leave right away, the old woman said with a vile smile.

Its you? Fang Chen pried open the curtains and revealed a shock expression. Granny, you wish to borrow 40 low-grade ki stones from me?

Im taking them from you, not borrowing, the old woman replied with a cackle.

As for us, we just need 20 low-grade ki stones, the three masked cultivators demanded.

Fang Chen nodded in realization. So youre here to rob me.