"A repaired Medium-grade Magic Tool?"
Isn't that just a defective Magic Artifact?
Though Jia Ren was poor, he was not so desperate as to buy defective Magic Artifacts.
What if there was an accident while using a low-quality Magic Artifact because it was cheaper? The enemy will not give you a halftime break to switch Magic Artifacts. You only have one life, so you must be careful.
"It's not a defective Magic Artifact, but there's a problem with the repairs. Each use damages the Green Spirit Shield's structure, and after about a dozen uses, it will... break down."
A dozen uses and it breaks down? Isn't that a consumable Magic Artifact?
Using a consumable Magic Artifact is just like burning Spirit Stones with each use.
For a lower-class Loose Cultivator, a Medium-grade Magic Tool is like an 'heirloom' that could be sold in a pinch for Spirit Stones.
"It's named the Green Spirit Shield, a Middle-Grade Defense Magical Implement. When fully activated, even a Cultivator at the Sixth Layer of Qi Refinement wielding a Medium-grade Magic Tool could not break through it quickly."
"The Green Spirit Shield offers comprehensive and flawless defense against Magic Artifact attacks, undoubtedly a Supreme Grade item among Middle-Grade Defense Magical Implements."
"The price is only thirty Spirit Stones."
Encountering a Loose Cultivator interested in the Green Spirit Shield was rare, and he did not want to miss out.
The shop owner took out a palm-sized green shield that seemed to have a Spiritual Nature as it expanded upon activation, gathering a thick green spiritual light. The shield hovered beside the owner like an impregnable fortress.
"Fellow Daoist, you can try it out."
If it really achieved the effects as described by the shop owner and proved reliable, Jia Ren would not mind spending Spirit Stones to purchase it. A Middle-Grade Defense Magical Implement is always better than a low-grade Defense Magic Artifact, and the difference in quality could decide whether you live or die. Given his level of caution, it's possible that he might never use a consumable Magic Artifact ten times before he died...
Jia Ren activated the Black Fang Sword to attack, and Return to Origin Sword Qi burst forth.
The Sword Qi fell upon the dense green spiritual light without causing a single ripple, unable to shake it in the slightest.
The defense was indeed strong and incomparable to low-grade Defense Magic Artifacts. With the Green Spirit Shield, he would have a chance to protect himself against Cultivators stronger than him.
"Thirty Spirit Stones is too expensive for the Green Spirit Shield with its limited number of uses. No more than ten Spirit Stones."
"Fellow Daoist, you're cutting the price too steeply. I will give you a deal at twenty-five Spirit Stones."
The two haggled incessantly and finally settled for fifteen Spirit Stones.
The shop owner had no other choice; the Green Spirit Shield had collected dust in his shop for too long. Low-level Loose Cultivators were unwilling to spend Spirit Stones on it. Those in slightly better circumstances would buy a genuine Middle-Grade Defense Magical Implement, making suitable buyers hard to find.
Selling it and earning some Spirit Stones was better than letting it continue to gather dust.
Having purchased two Defense Magic Artifacts, Jia Ren left satisfied.
He spent ten Spirit Stones on the Evil Warding Talisman, thirty on the Breeze Robe, and fifteen on the Green Spirit Shield.
In the blink of an eye, he had spent fifty-five Spirit Stones, significantly depleting his stash to just thirty-five Spirit Stones.
Thirty-five Spirit Stones... I wonder if I can buy a satisfactory Cultivation Technique?
Jia Ren did not have high hopes; the price range for Cultivation Techniques varied greatly. The Eternal Spring Technique, Return to Origin Technique, and other basic Cultivation Techniques were too widely circulated to fetch a high price. More obscure and superior Cultivation Techniques were another matter entirely. A superior Qi Refinement Cultivation Technique could cost far more than thirty Spirit Stones, potentially hundreds. Top-notch Qi Refinement Cultivation Techniques were the heritage of Sects and clans, not lightly sold to outsiders.
Hopefully, luck is on my side, and I can find a suitable Cultivation Technique. If not, I will just have to change to cultivating the Eternal Spring Technique!
With an anxious heart, he walked into Tongfa Shop, which sold both Cultivation Techniques and Spells. Tongfa Shop had a wide range of Cultivation Techniques and Spells for sale, and Jia Ren had visited once before. Although he had never bought anything, the diversity of Cultivation Techniques had made a deep impression on him.
Dressed in a brand-new Robe and carrying himself with an impressive bearing, Jia Ren was no ordinary Cultivator. As soon as he entered Tongfa Shop, he was greeted warmly by a Maid.
"Fellow Daoist, what type of Cultivation Technique would you like?"
"Eternal Spring Technique!"
The Maid gave him a strange look but still produced the Eternal Spring Technique.
"Five Spirit Stones."
Tongfa Shop's prices were indeed steep. Elsewhere the Cultivation Technique was sold for three Spirit Stones, but Tongfa Shop wanted five.
As usual, asking for the price of the Eternal Spring Technique was just to get a sense of the pricing for Cultivation Techniques at Tongfa Shop. The prices indeed were not suitable for Loose Cultivators.
"Do you have any lifespan-extending Cultivation Techniques?"
Since he was there, he could not just leave dejectedly. As long as the Cultivation Technique was good enough, he would not mind paying a premium.
Lifespan-extending Cultivation Technique? The Maid looked skeptical. Why was this guy always asking about 'weird' Cultivation Techniques? An elderly Cultivator asking to change his Cultivation Technique would be understandable, but it always seemed odd for someone in the prime of their life. Peers of his age should be interested in combat-enhancing Cultivation Techniques, which are the most favored among Loose Cultivators. The Great Wilderness Market was not a peaceful place. Duels were commonplace, and few Loose Cultivators lived out their natural lifespan. Without the power to protect oneself, how could one possibly hope to live a long life?
"Fellow Daoist has come to the right place. The Tongfa Shop has a complete collection of Cultivation Techniques, and we just happen to have a lifespan-extending Cultivation Technique."
"The Turtle Spirit Technique, created by a Foundation Establishment Cultivator."
"Not only does the Turtle Spirit Technique have a strong life-extending effect, but when combined with Turtle Spirit Ointment, it can even make up for lost years of life."
"The version containing the cultivation experiences and insights of a Foundation Establishment Cultivator is priced at only One Hundred Spirit Stones."
Make up for lost years of life?! How does the Turtle Spirit Technique compare with the Eternal Spring Technique in terms of prolonging life?
Perhaps guessing Jia Ren's thoughts, the Maid hastily added, "The life-extending effect of the Eternal Spring Technique is not strong; at most, it adds five to ten years."
"The Turtle Spirit Technique was specifically created to extend life, and adding more than twenty years is not a problem."
A Cultivation Technique that extends life by twenty years and can make up for lost years is too tempting. It's just that the price… is too expensive. I always feel like there's a catch...
Jia Ren looked down at his Breeze Robe. As if he had thought of something, he found an excuse to leave the Tongfa Shop.
It's said that many shops size up their customers. Time to test another.
He found a secluded spot, intending to discard the ordinary Taoist Robe he had been planning to throw away, and changed out of his Breeze Robe, disguising himself simply.
Having lingered among the lowest ranks of Loose Cultivators for years, how could he not have one or two tricks for changing his appearance? The disguise was not a Spell, but a minor adjustment of facial features and additional decorations. It would be difficult to fool someone familiar, but not so hard to deceive a stranger.
Once again looking like a destitute, bottom-tier Loose Cultivator, the treatment he received from the newly assigned Maid was cold, a stark contrast to the previous enthusiasm.
"The Eternal Spring Technique, Five Spirit Stones."
"The Turtle Spirit Technique comes in a regular and a refined edition."
"The refined edition contains the cultivation experiences and insights of High-Order Cultivators to avoid taking detours in cultivation, selling for One Hundred Spirit Stones."
"The regular edition, twenty Spirit Stones."
A regular edition? For only twenty Spirit Stones? The difference between the refined and regular editions is not significant; the only difference lies in whether or not it includes the cultivation experiences of a Foundation Establishment Cultivator. The regular edition you get for twenty Spirit Stones is like the common version you would find at a street stall. Earlier, only the refined edition was mentioned, not the regular one. Such a trap! Luckily, he was clever enough.
Jia Ren visited many stalls. Apart from the Eternal Spring Technique, there were no other lifespan-extending Cultivation Techniques available, with the Turtle Spirit Technique being an exception. He could afford the twenty Spirit Stones. To avoid falling into a trap, he finally learned the differences amidst the Maid's impatience.
The Turtle Spirit Technique was specifically created by a Foundation Establishment Cultivator on the brink of his life's end, wanting to make up for the years lost in his youth. It indeed had a life-extending effect, increasing the longevity of Cultivators at the same Cultivation Level. The Turtle Spirit Technique was not perfect, though, as its cultivation speed was slightly slow. If one wants to speed up cultivation, one must pair it with the specially made Turtle Spirit Ointment. For older Cultivators who do not mind the slower cultivation, as long as it ensures the life-extending effect, practicing the Cultivation Technique simultaneously is a viable option. Unfortunately, practicing the Turtle Spirit Technique concurrently offers no life-extending benefits; it must be the primary Cultivation Technique practiced.
The Turtle Spirit Technique is not well-suited for combat; it specializes in defense. The main Cultivation Technique of the turtle? How can one compete for cultivation resources with fellow Cultivators? Another important point is that after reaching Foundation Establishment, changing to primarily practice the Turtle Spirit Technique is useless; it has to be from the start of the Qi Refinement Realm. The lower one's Cultivation Level, the better the life-extending effects of practicing the Turtle Spirit Technique, and vice versa. With so many restrictions, aside from a specific group of people, no one else is interested.
"I am buying the Turtle Spirit Technique!"
Making up for lost years of life is the greatest value of the Turtle Spirit Technique. Thinking of the thirty years he had lost, Jia Ren felt a pang of pain in his heart.
After changing his Cultivation Technique to the Turtle Spirit Technique, his maximum lifespan increased by fifty years, rising more than just one level. He possessed a Proficiency Panel, making his progress in practicing Cultivation Techniques far outstrip those of ordinary Cultivators, most certainly far above average. The shortcomings can be compensated for.