Translator: Cinder Translations
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"Who are you?" Song Wen asked coldly, staring at the young male cultivator.
"I am Chen Mang, a loose cultivator. I grew up in the Four Symbols City and am familiar with all the shops here. I know which ones have the best prices, and which ones sell high-quality treasures. With as your guide, you won't waste a single spirit stone," the young male cultivator said, bowing respectfully.
Song Wen nodded slightly.
So, he's a middleman.
However, Chen Mang's sharp gaze imdiately identified that he and Shan Yue were newcors to Four Symbols City. This showed that Chen Mang was indeed a competent middleman.
"Has anyone ever observed the stone sword and comprehended a cultivation thod?" Song Wen asked.
"It is said that soone has in the past. However, I have lived in this city for twenty years, and I have never witnessed it firsthand. Every year, many sword cultivators and loose cultivators who practice swordsmanship travel from distant lands to observe the stone sword, but none have gained any insights. However, many sword cultivators have been noticed by the Liangyi Sect and taken in as disciples," Chen Mang replied, his voice tinged with envy.
Song Wen gazed at the stone sword, a faint smile curling at the corners of his lips.
The claim that the stone sword contained a sword cultivation thod was likely false. The real intention seed to be gathering countless cultivators here to recruit talented sword cultivators, thus earning spirit stones.
"How much do you charge for a day's service?" Song Wen asked.
Shan Yue suddenly interjected, seemingly intrigued as it was her first ti dealing with a middleman.
"To answer Madam, it's only ten spirit stones," Chen Mang said respectfully.
Ten spirit stones wasn't a cheap price. Back when Song Wen first entered the Corpse Demon Sect, his monthly salary had been just ten spirit stones.
Upon hearing the word "Madam," Shan Yue instinctively glanced at Song Wen. Seeing that he didn't correct her, a smile appeared on her face, her eyes forming two crescent moons.
"Ha! Just you..."
Before Shan Yue could finish her words, a sixteen or seventeen-year-old girl rushed over.
The girl was thin and frail, likely a new cultivator, with only the first level of Qi Condensation.
"Madam, let guide you. I only need two spirit stones... no, just one," the girl said in a soft, bright voice.
"Little girl, do you know what 'first co, first served' ans?" Chen Mang scolded.
The girl's expression turned fearful as she looked at Chen Mang, but she didn't leave.
"Chen Mang, the two seniors haven't agreed to hire you yet. I can still offer my services," the girl said, completely ignoring Chen Mang and looking at Shan Yue.
"Madam, my father was injured by a rogue cultivator, and he is close to death. We urgently need spirit stones to buy healing pills. Please, let guide you," the girl added.
Perhaps the girl's plight stirred the sympathy deep within Shan Yue, who responded softly, "Alright, you can guide us."
"Thank you, Madam, thank you so much..." The girl expressed her gratitude, bowing repeatedly to Shan Yue.
"Madam, this little girl is deceiving you. She..." Seeing his business disrupted, Chen Mang tried to salvage the situation.
However, what greeted him was Shan Yue's cold rebuke.
"Leave!"
Chen Mang could only leave in disgrace.
Shan Yue turned to look at Song Wen and spoke gently, "Ji Yin, let her guide us. If you're not satisfied, I'll give her a spirit stone and send her away."
Song Wen didn't respond to Shan Yue but instead turned to the girl and asked, "What is your na?"
"Senior, my na is Xiao Ling," the girl replied.
"Have you not considered that you might anger Chen Mang by ruining his business? Aren't you worried about his revenge?" Song Wen asked.
A hint of panic flashed in Xiao Ling's eyes. "I... I'm not afraid. As long as my father's injuries are healed, I can easily teach Chen Mang a lesson."
Song Wen didn't comnt on her sowhat flawed response.
"Lead the way, take us to the largest spirit herb shop in the city," Song Wen instructed.
Xiao Ling replied, "The largest spirit herb shop in the city is the Liangyi Sect's Lingxiu Pavilion. It's just ahead, not far from here. Please follow ."
Under the girl's lead, Song Wen and Shan Yue quickly arrived at a spirit herb store.
As Xiao Ling had said, the store, nad 'Lingxiu Pavilion,' was indeed large, occupying several acres. Inside, there was a wide variety of spirit herbs on display.
When the trio entered, a beautiful servant girl imdiately approached them.
"Senior, what can I assist you with today?" she asked, imdiately noticing that Xiao Ling was rely a guide, and thus ignored her entirely.
"Do you have any Qingming Flowers?" Song Wen inquired.
The Qingming Flower was a third-tier spirit herb, not a rare treasure, but still quite uncommon. Its uses were limited, only being included in a few alchemical recipes as an auxiliary ingredient.
Qingming Flowers were hard to find elsewhere, but the Liangyi Sect had cultivated many of them, making it one of their unique spirit herbs. It was also needed to refine the Nascent Spirit Pills.
Song Wen had co to Four Symbols City specifically to buy this herb.
"Xiao Qing, you may leave. I'll take over for this friend,".
Before she could reply to Song Wen, a voice interrupted her.
A mid-stage Foundation Establishnt male cultivator entered and spoke to Song Wen.
"Friend, I am Wang Chao, the manager of Lingxiu Pavilion. Unfortunately, we do not have any Qingming Flowers in stock. In fact, no shop in Four Symbols City has them."
Song Wen furrowed his brows. "But it's rumored that the Liangyi Sect cultivates Qingming Flowers, and since your shop is owned by the Liangyi Sect, how could you not have any?"
Wang Chao replied, "What you may not know is that Qingming Flowers have very strict growing conditions, and their yield is extrely low. Every year, the sect has to trade a portion with other large forces. The remaining Qingming Flowers are barely enough to supply the sect's own needs, let alone sell them."
Song Wen asked, "So, you don't have a single one?"
Wang Chao smiled wryly. "Are you suggesting that we needlessly refuse custors? This store truly has no Qingming Flowers."
"Since that's the case, I'll take my leave."
Song Wen said, sounding disappointed as he turned to leave the store.
After exiting Lingxiu Pavilion, Song Wen visited several more herb shops, and just as expected, none had Qingming Flowers for sale.
"Senior, I know where there are Qingming Flowers," Xiao Ling suddenly spoke up.
"Oh? All the spirit herb shops in the market have none, but you know where to find so?" Song Wen asked, looking down at the frail girl with a skeptical expression.
Xiao Ling was a bit startled by Song Wen's cold gaze. She felt as if she were being eyed by a fierce beast and instinctively took a small step back.
"Ji Yin, you're just being too cautious. How could you doubt a young girl who's just started cultivating?" Shan Yue suddenly spoke up, breaking the tense atmosphere.
Song Wen withdrew his gaze and coldly said, "Since you know where to find the Qingming Flowers, take us there. If we manage to buy so, I'll reward you."
"Alright... alright, Senior. Please follow ," Xiao Ling stamred nervously.
(End of the Chapter)
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