txolops Chapter 9 Selling Books
Chapter 9 Selling Books
Shen Gui picked up his brush and wrote the four large characters "The Secret Manual of Wheel Maintenance" on the linen cloth.
The appearance of cultivation techniques as a commodity instantly caught the attention of passing cultivators.
Every family and sect regards cultivation techniques as the foundation of their existence; otherwise, there wouldn't be so many clan cultivators and independent cultivators in the Northern Frontier who don't even have a decent cultivation technique.
He sat cross-legged behind the stall, with a long iron sword at his waist resting horizontally on his knees.
Having just toured the entire Lintianya Market, he had already thoroughly grasped the market conditions for martial arts techniques here.
The so-called cultivation techniques and secret manuals in the market, aside from some minor techniques that are not even up to grade level, are mostly rudimentary ancestral methods like Xie San's, which are not even up to grade one, yet they dare to openly price them at one spirit stone.
Even more extreme, some cultivation methods don't even fully record the six stages of fetal breathing, only going up to the fifth stage.
The "Cultivation Manual" in his hand is based on the "Notes on Observing Fetal Breathing Cultivation" passed down by Ming Tianzhong. It is improved by combining the common problems of the Northern Frontier Clan's cultivation methods being rudimentary and having mixed magical power. It can purify blockages and correct deficiencies in the Xuanjing Wheel. If one has enough talent, one can cultivate to the second level of fetal breathing.
According to the Canglan Sect's classification, it is more than a first-grade item but not quite a second-grade item. Placed in this low-level market, it can be called a treasure that can defy fate!
Moreover, even if they practice, they won't pose a threat to their own direct disciples.
Of course, Shen Gui was only short of money at the moment. If he had plenty of spirit stones, he wouldn't sell such good things again.
Before long, the cultivators had been sitting cross-legged for even half an incense stick's time, and the stall was surrounded by layers of cultivators, whispering and discussing among themselves, but no one dared to be the first to step forward and test the waters.
Just then, a cold, aged snort suddenly rang out, pushing through the crowd to reveal a hunched, elderly figure leaning on a cane, standing in front of the stall with a disdainful expression.
"Daling Village, I seem to remember that's the territory of the Soul-Driving Ancestor." Old Zhou slammed his cane on the ground, as if afraid others wouldn't hear him. "That old thing was injured by me, and his cultivation has been stagnant for decades, hasn't it?"
Upon hearing this, the surrounding cultivators immediately erupted in commotion.
"It was that crazy old man from Daling Village! He's just unlucky to have run into Old Zhou!"
"Looks unfamiliar, perhaps a descendant of the old madman?"
"If we weren't in the market town, there would probably have been another big battle."
A glint of light flashed in Shen Gui's eyes, his tone calm and even, "The Soul-Driving Ancestor? I've already killed him."
There's no need to keep something secret since everyone will know it anyway.
Shen Gui casually stroked the sword's edge with two fingers, a half-inch of sword light appearing and then quickly dissipating.
This move silenced most of the cultivators who recognized the sword's edge.
The previous Soul-Driving Ancestor was renowned for his whisk-wielding magic weapon, and the young man before them possessed swordsmanship. Everyone could only sigh inwardly that Daling Village was a place where there were both hungry tigers and poisonous wolves, neither of whom were easy to mess with.
Shen Gui said, "Senior, I'm here to do business. If you're interested, how about I take your pulse?"
Old Zhou seems to have some prestige; he'd be perfect as a scapegoat.
Old Zhou stretched out his wrist with some doubt, and Shen Gui gently tapped it, sending a wisp of magical power to probe it.
"Your Shaoyang meridian was blocked until you died. When you exhaled and inhaled, the flow of spiritual energy was obstructed, and for many years you were forced to reverse and collide with the meridians."
Shen Gui pointed to the spot where his breathing was labored, "I'm afraid this place has slowed down the flow of magic power over the years."
These words struck Old Zhou like a thunderbolt!
Old Zhou's eyes were wide open and his mouth was agape, but he couldn't utter a single word, only heavy breathing.
These hidden ailments were discovered just like that!
He had never told anyone, not even his closest relatives, that this seemingly young cultivator, barely twenty years old, had only explored his meridians and yet spoke of them with perfect accuracy!
"You, you..." Old Zhou's cane clattered to the ground. He bent down and grabbed Shen Gui's sleeve. "How...how did you know? You...you can cure him?"
Shen Gui gently pulled back his sleeve, lightly tapping the manual on the stall with his fingertip. "The incantations on pages three to nine of the manual are specifically for clearing blocked meridians. I dare not say that they will greatly improve your cultivation, but they can clear away your current ailments."
Old Zhou reluctantly took out a spirit stone from his sleeve.
Shen Gui smiled and said, "Senior, please wait a moment. I didn't say I was selling it."
These seasoned cultivators valued their cultivation level above all else. Old Zhou knelt down with a thud and kowtowed heavily to Shen Gui, "Immortal Master, save me! Immortal Master, you are the greatest benefactor of the Zhou family! I'll buy it! I'll offer an extra half a spirit stone!"
Shen Gui pondered for a moment, whetting the appetites of those around him, then stood up and helped Old Zhou up. "There's no need for such a grand gesture. I set clear prices in my business. If it's one spirit stone, I won't raise the price on the spot."
Old Zhou respectfully placed a lustrous spirit stone on the stall, cradled the manual in both hands as if it were a priceless treasure, and squatted down to eagerly peruse it. In just a few moments, he stood up, bowed deeply to Shen Gui, and quickly left.
One stone caused a thousand waves!
After reading it, Old Zhou immediately left to cultivate, not even bothering to close the market, which naturally means that the cultivation method is most likely genuine.
The onlookers surged forward, shouting excitedly:
"I'll buy it! Give me one!"
"Immortal Master, I want one! I'll give you spirit stones!"
The stall was extremely popular, but Shen Gui remained calm and composed, handing out manuals one by one and collecting spirit stones.
"Only twelve copies available, while supplies last."
The two monks worked together to force their way through the crowded throng.
"Get out of my way!"
Upon hearing the voice, everyone's expression changed drastically, and they all fell silent and made way, not daring to look directly at the newcomer.
A young cultivator in a brocade robe with a belt and a jade pendant at his waist walked proudly in front of the stall, his head held high. Behind him were two attendants, both at the first level of the Nascent Soul stage, exuding an imposing aura.
This person is a member of the Zhao family!
The Zhao family's influence in Fuxing County is well-known, and their reputation as a foundation-building family has been passed down through generations.
Zhao Hu glanced sideways at Shen Gui's shabby stall. "Shen Gui from Daling Village? I've never even heard of that run-down little village. You've managed to buy all the cultivation techniques here. Let me take a look."
The attendant behind him immediately said obsequiously, "Young Master, your cultivation has progressed so rapidly, why are you looking at this?"
"Although I don't need it, it's still a good thing to gain some wisdom by studying it."
The onlookers all lowered their heads, not daring to breathe.
If Xie San were here, he would be terrified, but Shen Gui merely raised his eyes and glanced at Zhao Hu indifferently.
Zhao Hu didn't get any flattery from Shen Gui, so he picked up a manual and flipped through a few pages.
"Compared to my Zhao family's martial arts, this is nothing." After putting on this show, Zhao Hu led his men away triumphantly.
As dusk approached, Shen Gui noticed a cultivator wandering aimlessly among the nearby stalls without buying anything.
When only two manuals remained on the stall, and the second to last one sold out, Shen Gui put the last one away.
A moment later, a furtive figure ran up to the stall, looked around to make sure the crowd had dispersed, then immediately took out a spirit stone and asked in a low voice.
"Immortal Master! Immortal Master! Sold out? There were just two left!"
This person had been pacing back and forth ever since Zhao Hu left.
Shen Gui found it amusing in his heart, but he didn't say a word. He picked up the last manual and handed it over, taking the spirit stones without uttering a single unnecessary word.
The person in front of the stall left an extra spirit stone on it and whispered, "Thank you on behalf of Young Master Zhao Hu, young brother."
The servant, clutching the secret manual, ran off without looking back.
A day passes in the blink of an eye.
As the sun sets, its afterglow spills across the cliffs of Lintianya. The market gradually comes to an end, and Shen Gui packs up his stall and tallies his day's earnings.
All twelve copies of "The Secret Manual of Wheel Maintenance" were sold out. Including the extra one given by Zhao Hu, he put a total of thirteen lustrous low stones into his close-fitting cloth bag.
This was his first pot of gold in establishing his sect, enough to solve the urgent problems of Daling Village.
After the cultivators from Tingfeng Pavilion finished clearing the area, Shen Gui led his donkey to a sheltered cave under a cliff. After tidying up briefly, he sat down cross-legged to meditate.
Alone and far from home, he dared not slacken his vigilance in the slightest, keeping watch throughout the night and passing it safely.
The next morning, shrouded in mist, the market reopened.
Shen Gui walked straight to the herbal medicine stall he had his eye on yesterday.
The stall owner was an elderly man with white hair, and his stall had a far wider variety of products than the other stalls, clearly indicating that he had some experience and expertise.
"Senior" Shen Gui stood in front of the stall, his tone calm, "I'll take both the Spirit Dew Grass and the Moistening Vein."
Shen Gui swiftly traded two spirit stones and accepted the herbs.
After exchanging a few words, Shen Gui casually asked, "Senior, you have so many precious medicines. Are you an alchemist? I wonder if you have an alchemy furnace at home that you could sell? The price is negotiable."
The old cultivator was arranging herbs when he looked Shen Gui up and down. "Young friend, you...you want a pill-refining furnace? You...you're a pill cultivator?"
Alchemists are extremely rare, requiring countless resources, something ordinary cultivators wouldn't even dare to dream of.
Shen Gui smiled faintly, not directly mentioning Ahe's talent in alchemy: "Just asking."
The old cultivator's expression was solemn. After pondering for a moment, he slowly spoke: "I do indeed have a pill-refining furnace, which I obtained by chance in my early years. But I don't just want spirit stones. I also heard a lot about your extensive knowledge yesterday."
He continued, "I have a junior who is practicing an ancestral technique, but he's encountered a minor problem. I've sought solutions everywhere, but nothing has worked. Young friend, your secret manual is wondrous, and you can see through the problem at a glance. If you can help him solve this problem, I'll offer you the alchemy furnace with both hands, for just three spirit stones!"
Three spirit stones, an extremely generous sum.
Moreover, alchemy furnaces are practically impossible to find in this small market. If this news is true, it's definitely worth a try.
He nodded slightly: "This matter is worth discussing. How would you like to make arrangements, senior?"
The old cultivator said, "My name is Wang Liu, and I have lived in Wotugou for generations. Daling Village is close to my Wotugou. Please come over in a month or two... My grandson is unable to travel, so I would be grateful if you could help me. If you can resolve my grandson's hidden ailment, I will gladly offer you the alchemy furnace."