PDLP Chapter 7 The Status of Cultivation Arts
Chapter 7 The Status of Cultivation Arts
Just now, the golden ancient tree imprint within my sea of consciousness reacted to the outside world for the first time, proving that this object is definitely extraordinary.
However, he only had four spirit stones at the moment, and he was not familiar with the shopkeeper. If he asked rashly, he might be discovered. So he could only make a note of it for now and deal with it later.
After leaving Baicaoge, Yang Changsheng visited several other shops.
In the shop selling magical artifacts, the cheapest item is a green bamboo sword, priced at fifteen spirit stones. It comes with a slight armor-piercing effect and is suitable for cultivators in the early stages of Qi Refining.
However, the annual income of a low-level fisherman is only a little over one spirit stone, which is far from enough. Without anyone to support or help them, it often takes about ten years for a rogue cultivator to buy a magic weapon.
The disciples of sects and immortal cultivation families are different; they are given a low-grade spiritual weapon as soon as they reach the first level of Qi Refining, which is an incredibly good treatment.
At the talisman stalls, the first-grade low-level fireball talismans made by the blue-robed talisman masters cost eighty spirit beads each, while the mid-grade golden light protective talismans cost five spirit stones each, and their effects only lasted for a few breaths.
As consumables for magical battles, talismans offer the best value for money. Of course, without a substantial fortune, one cannot afford them and can only buy a few as backups.
Although he was tempted, he held back, because he didn't plan to take any risks outside and there was no need to stockpile supplies.
The most outrageous thing I saw while walking around was the puppet shop. A tiny wooden bird, no bigger than the palm of my hand, cost 150 spirit stones, which was extremely expensive.
It is said to be able to scout enemy positions and launch surprise attacks, but Yang Changsheng felt it was not worth the price no matter how he looked at it.
As for second-hand shops, although they have relatively cheap, low-quality, worn-out magical artifacts, talisman pens, and talismans whose spiritual energy is about to be lost, they can still sell these items.
However, most of them are close to being scrapped, can't be used many times, or are too weak and not cost-effective.
Along the way, one can also see the status of the various crafts. Among alchemy, talisman making, artifact making, and array making, only talisman masters set up stalls by the roadside and often accept bargaining, which shows that they are not doing very well.
If he has the opportunity to learn about the inheritance of various arts in the future, this kind of craft will be given lower priority. After all, they are all cultivators, and who doesn't want to live a more dignified life?
"As expected... a Qi Refining stage cultivator who wants to buy something useful simply needs at least a few dozen spirit stones."
Yang Changsheng shook his head and smiled bitterly, increasingly feeling the importance of wealth, companions, methods, and location in the cultivation world. Without any of these four elements, the path to immortality would be extremely difficult.
Fortunately, he had a long lifespan, which allowed him to accumulate experience step by step; otherwise, he would never have had a chance to succeed.
When he reached the end of the market, he found an inconspicuous little shop with a crooked sign that read "Wanfa Bookstore" and a yellowed piece of paper pasted on the door.
Basic spells and body-refining techniques for sale at low prices. Fair prices, honest dealings!
Yang Changsheng went inside and found that the shop was cramped and dimly lit, with dust covering the books on the wooden shelves, indicating that business was very slow.
The shopkeeper, a middle-aged man, was dozing off at the counter when he heard footsteps and lazily looked up.
"What do you want?" He yawned, his eyes puffy, looking like he was completely exhausted.
"Do you have any inexpensive body-refining techniques?" Yang Changsheng asked.
His immortal body has amazing regenerative abilities, and with the Golden Ancient Tree imprint providing vital energy, his talent in this area is definitely better than his talent in spiritual energy cultivation.
Although this cultivation system has long been obscure and forgotten, it can still be very powerful if one achieves some success.
Many cultivators who have reached the ninth level of Qi Refining, when given the opportunity, will often use elixirs and rare and precious materials to practice those quick-fix body-refining techniques in order to increase their chances of breaking through to the Foundation Establishment stage.
The shopkeeper's eyes lit up. He immediately pulled a tattered, dark booklet from under the counter, slapped it on the table, and smiled, "The Qi Refining Chapter of the Nine Revolutions of the Sun and Moon Forging Scripture, all nine levels, originally fifty spirit stones, now you can take it for only four spirit stones!"
"It's so cheap, there won't be any problems, right?" Yang Changsheng was stunned, his face showing disbelief.
Although the Body Refining Technique is an unpopular method, it is still a legitimate cultivation technique with considerable power, and it could never be so cheap.
The water-based basic cultivation technique that the Lu family taught him, the Xuan Yuan Jue, has nine levels and comes with several minor spells. Its market price is twelve spirit stones.
The shopkeeper chuckled and said, "This ancient body-refining technique has been passed down for countless years. All the major cultivation families have copied it, so it's practically worthless now. The later Foundation Establishment chapter is even more expensive, priced at five hundred spirit stones, but I don't have any here. Besides, what era are we living in? Who would buy that stuff?"
Yang Changsheng flipped through it casually and found that it was indeed the complete Qi Refining Chapter of the Body Refining Technique. Although the paper was yellowed, the content was clear and there were no omissions.
"Deal." He readily pulled out four spirit stones, displaying a generous spirit that seemed to spend a fortune.
The shopkeeper beamed with joy; today was finally the day he made his first sale!
This cultivation technique, copied on ordinary paper and costing less than a single spirit bead, was sold for four spirit stones—a truly lucrative deal.
Sure enough, the young man who thought he was very clever when he first entered the path of immortality was the real money tree.
"Haha, great luck! I can go to the Hundred Flowers Pavilion for some fun again tonight."
He rubbed his lower back. In the open cabinet at his feet, there were dozens of copies of this ancient body-refining manual, including both hardcover and paperback versions.
The contents are all the same, but they are used to deal with those picky and difficult little devils.
As he left the market, Yang Changsheng weighed the "Nine Revolutions of the Sun and Moon Forging Scripture" in his hand, thinking to himself, "I can't afford pills or magic weapons, but this body-refining technique is cheap. Although the cultivation is painful, it doesn't consume resources, so it's perfect for strengthening my physique and making up for the slow cultivation of my low-grade spiritual root."
He stood by the lake, gazing at the shimmering water and the passing boats, his expression calm, yet a small thrill stirred within him.
I just carefully examined the contents of this Body Refining Manual and discovered why it's so cheap.
The "Nine Revolutions of the Sun and Moon Forging Scripture" has no qualification requirements for cultivation. It does not rely on elixirs or external objects, but only uses the essence of the sun and moon to temper one's body. However, it has a huge flaw.
Not only is the cultivation process incredibly painful, but the cultivation cycle is also incredibly long, doubling with each level. The first level only takes about a month, the second level takes nearly two months, the third level takes more than a year... and the ninth level takes two hundred years.
It takes nearly three hundred years to go from beginner to mastery, which is enough to kill a Foundation Establishment cultivator. No one can withstand it.
But he is different. He has a lifespan of over 480 years during the Qi Refining stage, which he can afford to endure. Moreover, he has the mark of the Golden Ancient Tree, so he may not really need that long.
With a sway of his bamboo pole, Yang Changsheng steered his small boat back to the Yisi District, to the 9527 waterway.
After feeding the crystal shrimp and casting a minor cloud and rain spell, his morning work was coming to an end. He then sat cross-legged at the bow of the boat, took out the dark booklet, and prepared to begin his cultivation.