Cultivation begins with ice harvesters

Chapter 2: Dabanya

Half an hour later, Tong Bingfeng entered a small courtyard where spiritual energy was scarce, which was basically located on the outermost edge of all the rooms. This was the place where he had rented his residence.

These remote rooms, which are only available for a limited time and in limited quantities with spiritual power equivalent to the entry-level first-grade low-grade, cost a full low-grade spirit stone per month.

For ice harvesters like Tong Bingfeng, who struggle to survive under the ice all year round, this is naturally a considerable expense.

"If this Ice Sea Market weren't protected by the Foundation Establishment stage Chen family, and didn't have to worry about being coveted by sea monsters or greedy cultivators, how could it be worth a low-grade spirit stone?"

Tong Bingfeng only stepped into the courtyard after confirming that her long hair, which was tied to the gate by special means, had not changed.

This world is not safe; all safety is relative. Even a Foundation Establishment cultivator might perish during a major overhaul, let alone a small rented courtyard on the edge of a market town.

As the saying goes, "Better safe than sorry," and one should always be wary of others. As a cultivator at the bottom of the cultivation world, it is never too much to be cautious.

Ice Sea Market is located on the edge of the second-tier low-grade Ice Spirit Island. It was developed by the Chen family, the owners of this place.

The Chen family has a history of over a thousand years and has two Foundation Establishment stage cultivators in charge, making them a renowned powerhouse within a thousand miles of the surrounding sea.

Aside from this second-tier low-grade Ice Spirit Island, there are more than ten first-tier spirit islands under its jurisdiction, distributed within a hundred miles of Ice Spirit Island, like satellite islands, serving as an outer defensive perimeter.

It was precisely because of this sense of security that Tong Bingfeng spared no expense to rent this small courtyard six months ago.

After all, the ten first-tier spirit islands on the outskirts only require a monthly fee of ten spirit crystals for long-term residence, so the difference between the two is obvious.

The Chen family intended to use this method to treat many independent cultivators as the first line of defense, so that they would become the first wave of victims if they encountered danger.

This is not a conspiracy, but a perfectly legitimate scheme. Not only the Chen family, the owners of this place, but also all the large and small sects and families that occupy different levels of spiritual islands in the entire Northern Frontier Sea are doing the same thing.

In the eyes of these powerful families, the rogue cultivators were not placed on an equal footing, but rather regarded as waves of leeks to be harvested and consumed.

"I've saved up four spirit stones over these three months, enough to buy a bottle of Qi Refining Powder to aid my cultivation. I'll strive to advance my cultivation to the fourth level of Qi Refining as soon as possible, stepping into the mid-stage of Qi Refining. Only then will I have some power to protect myself."

In a sparsely furnished room with only a bed, a table, and a straw mat, Tong Bingfeng counted the four spirit stones he had painstakingly collected over the past few months of ice harvesting. His face, which looked much older than his age due to the long exposure to the cold wind and low temperatures, finally showed a genuine smile.

Qi Refining Powder is the most widely applicable and cheapest entry-level first-grade low-grade elixir, specifically designed to assist cultivators in the early stages of Qi Refining in their daily practice. It can be described as the most widely distributed elixir in the entire Northern Frontier Sea.

A bottle of low-grade first-level Qi Refining Powder costs five spirit stones, but in Old Zhang's shop, it can be bought for four spirit stones, making it a great value for money.

Fifteen minutes later, Tong Bingfeng appeared at the door of a small shop that was also dilapidated and only covered by two blackened door panels.

Looking from the outside in, there wasn't a single light on; it was the epitome of a shady establishment. No one who wasn't a regular customer would dare to step into such a place.

"Old Zhang, why are you so disrespectful to your elders, so dishonest, and so deceitful of your old customers? Last time we were harvesting ice, it almost turned into an ice sculpture by the wind and snow. Aren't you going to offer any compensation?"

Tong Bingfeng, unlike his usual cautious self, spoke loudly and boldly, kicking open the dark door and stepping into this "black shop" with a tone full of questioning and dissatisfaction.

"Big Teeth, five spirit stones for a door panel, pay if you break it, honest and fair."

An old but still powerful voice also opened its mouth wide without any politeness.

Big Teeth was Tong Bingfeng's nickname, because his two pairs of front teeth protruded exceptionally, making his entire face appear somewhat distorted.

In the past, he had felt a deep-seated disgust for this fitting nickname, but recently, every time he went to the Northern Frontier Sea to collect ice, he could detect the movement and content of ice-attribute spiritual energy through his two pairs of large teeth, thus discovering traces of high-quality spiritual ice and earning more spirit crystals. Therefore, he felt an unprecedented joy in the face of these two pairs of large teeth.

"Old Zhang, stop with the sweet talk. The last batch of winter-protecting talismans had genuine defects, and compensation must be made today."

Tong Bingfeng completely disregarded the extortion attempt from the old man reclining in the rocking chair in the darkness, changing the subject directly and making no attempt to hide anything.

"I've just acquired several bottles of high-quality Qi-refining powder. I'll sell you one bottle for three spirit stones and fifty spirit crystals. In the future, if you purchase four winter-resistant talismans for one spirit crystal, and buy forty talismans, I'll give you two extra. How about it?"

Old Zhang was quite adept at handling so-called compensation, and it was clear that Tong Bingfeng was not the first cultivator to come and demand an explanation.

Although the ice harvesters were just low-level cultivators in the cultivation world and their combat strength was not outstanding, they were the main buyers of the various low-quality spiritual items in the small shop in front of them.

If a shop owner wants to truly continue operating the business, they certainly can't be foolish enough to drive customers out indiscriminately with sticks.

"Give me a bottle of Qi-refining powder and 120 cold-resistant talismans."

After receiving a satisfactory answer, Tong Bingfeng did not press the matter further. After some thought, he immediately chose the spiritual item he was prepared to purchase.

"Thank you for your patronage. Three spirit stones and eighty spirit crystals."

Old Zhang was like a greedy and stingy miser who only took and never gave, and he readily announced the number of spirit stones needed for the transaction.

After a cup of tea, Tong Bingfeng left the dilapidated shop with a satisfied smile, clearly pleased with the outcome of the transaction.

Every crystal harvested by ice collectors is painstakingly and diligently accumulated little by little from the ice surface, enduring the erosion of biting cold and snow.

This transaction saved Tong Bingfeng a full half-spirit stone and also yielded six cold-resistant talismans, which was already a considerable opportunity for him.

"I wonder if, in the future, as their cultivation level improves, these two pairs of large teeth will have a clearer control over the purity of ice-attribute spiritual power?"

Tong Bingfeng knew his own situation perfectly well. If he wanted to achieve something on the path of cultivation and break through his current predicament, all his hopes rested on his two pairs of big teeth.

He didn't know exactly how this change came about, but as a Qi Refining Level 3 cultivator who had struggled at the very bottom of the cultivation world, he had a clear understanding of the importance of Big Teeth, who could sense the direction of ice-attribute spiritual power in the Northern Frontier.