The three of them entered the market, and immediately a bustling scene appeared in front of Chu Ning.
"Top-quality talismans for sale, all kinds of attack and defense talismans available."
"High-quality Spirit Rice, Chen Clan, quality guaranteed."
...
After taking just a few steps into the market, Chu Ning heard a flurry of hawking, watching with interest and a bit of surprise.
He hadn't expected that the market in the cultivation realm was not much different from those in the mortal world.
Of course, the items for sale were all related to cultivation.
There were various talismans, spirit plants, magical artifacts, elixirs, all dazzling, making Chu Ning truly open his eyes.
And Qiu Shunyi, who had been here twice before, acted as their guide.
"The area near the outskirts of the market is mostly smaller shops owned by various minor cultivation clans, and the quality of the goods is relatively lower.
The closer to the center, the bigger the clan's influence, and the very center is where our Cyan Creek Sect and some other major merchants have their big shops."
Upon hearing this, Chu Ning asked with some surprise, "In Qinghe Square, isn't it only our Cyan Creek Sect's shop that's the largest?"
"No!" Qiu Shunyi shook his head.
"I've heard from Senior Brother Shang that the largest shop here is the Cloud Sea Pavilion.
Not just here, but in all the markets near the Cyan Gorge Mountain Range, the largest is Cloud Sea Pavilion.
After all, our major sects have many disciples, and many of the best resources are used internally within the sect.
But Cloud Sea Pavilion specializes in serving cultivators, selling many exotic treasures."
Chu Ning nodded upon hearing this, it was indeed easy to understand.
As they strolled around, Chu Ning quickly discovered that this market not only sold things but had plenty of requests to buy things as well.
Some shops directly advertised "Purchasing all kinds of spirit plant materials" or "Purchasing spirit beasts", and some shops even had recruitment signs.
The strange and quirky contents on those signs surprised Chu Ning even more.
"The Blood Moon Cow is about to produce milk, hiring a Spirit Beast Master to perform the Milk-Inducing Technique (requires instant cast), price negotiable."
"Spirit Breath Grass needs accelerating, hiring a Spirit Plant Master to perform the Accelerating Technique (requires instant cast), price negotiable."
......
Chu Ning pointed at the sign in the shop and asked Qiu Shunyi, "Would our sect's disciples do such things?"
Qiu Shunyi, recalling his own astonishment from the first time he saw such things, chuckled:
"Of course, these are actually meant for people like us to see.
There are many servant disciples in the Cyan Creek Sect, and everyone requires resources for cultivation, so the sect actually permits people to come out and earn some extra money.
However, I've heard from Senior Brother Shang that those who publish these recruitment tasks are mostly certain cultivation clans affiliated with the sect and a few major merchants that actually have collaboration with the sect.
Others are not allowed to casually publish such recruitment messages, as the sect doesn't want too many of its disciples working for other forces."
Chu Ning nodded again, and then asked with some confusion, "I wonder how many of our sect's disciples take on such recruitment tasks?"
"As far as I know, not many." This time it was Lv Xingyuan, who hadn't spoken much before, who responded.
"I heard from a senior brother I used to follow that actually, within these cultivation clans themselves, there are people who master various basic techniques, it's just because of special requirements that they come here to publish recruitment.
And the rewards these clans can offer are generally not high, sometimes only a few broken spirits.
For example, in the spirit plant category, perhaps only the disciples from Zone D are interested, whereas others wouldn't even consider it.
But the disciples from Zone D often can't meet the spell requirements of the other party anyway.
So, generally, it's when a senior from Zone C happens to come by, and they are really short of spirit stones, that they would accept such recruitment tasks."
Upon hearing this, Chu Ning suddenly realized, although it was his first time here at the market, he wasn't completely inexperienced, having been involved in cultivation for several months.
The so-called broken spirit is an incomplete spirit stone, with less abundant Spiritual Qi compared to a complete one, so it's less valuable than a whole piece.
For example, a complete lower grade spirit stone typically weighs about ten taels.
But if exchanged for broken spirits, it often takes twelve or even thirteen taels to trade for it, and generally, people wouldn't exchange.
Servant disciples from Zone C might indeed not have much regard for a few broken spirits.
Because the servant disciples at the Middle Stage of Qi Refining in Zone C, capable of instantaneous spellcasting, already have decent income from the sale of their cultivation produce.
Thinking of this, Chu Ning's heart stirred, these people might not care for it, but he certainly did.
He hadn't learned the Milk-Inducing Technique, but he did know the Accelerating Technique!
He was now at the Fourth Layer of Qi Refining, proficient in the Accelerating Technique, Clearing Technique, Cyan Wood Spring Blossom Skill, and other techniques, able to instantly cast Accelerating Technique and Clearing Technique.
If he were to take on these recruitment tasks himself, he might be able to earn some broken spirits.
Moreover, performing such supporting techniques wouldn't easily expose his cultivation.
Despite being just broken spirits, for Chu Ning, who was quite penniless, it was certainly enough to tempt him.
Thinking all this, Chu Ning outwardly remained calm, continuing to wander with the two of them.
They even went to the center of the market to check out the shops of the Cyan Creek Sect, Cloud Sea Pavilion, and others, which indeed were much more imposing.
After strolling for about half an hour, Chu Ning suddenly slapped his forehead and said:
"Oh dear, I forgot a senior brother had asked me to take care of something earlier, you guys take your time wandering, I'll be back shortly."
Qiu Shunyi and Lv Xingyuan were a bit surprised upon hearing this but didn't say much, simply agreeing to meet an hour later at the market gate.
Chu Ning, considering his own uncertain schedule and knowing that he could walk faster than the two of them, said:
"If I'm not there in an hour, you guys go ahead, I'm faster, don't wait for me."
Qiu Shunyi and Lv Xingyuan, recalling that Chu Ning was already at the "Second Layer of Qi Refining," definitely faster than the two of them, didn't say much more.
Chu Ning bid farewell to the two and turned onto an alley they'd passed earlier, quickly arriving at the shop where he'd just seen the notice about needing to accelerate the Spirit Breath Grass.
Entering the shop, there was a middle-aged man in a cloth robe inside, with a bit of a beard, looking quite amicably business-minded.
Chu Ning slightly sensed the man, finding he seemed to be at the Second Layer of Qi Refining.
The middle-aged man noticed Chu Ning entering as well.
He realized he couldn't perceive Chu Ning's level of cultivation, indicating Chu Ning had a higher realm than him, and his smile broadened as he went to greet him at the counter.
"What would this customer like? My humble name is Song, the shopkeeper here."
It was normal that Shopkeeper Song couldn't see through Chu Ning's depth.
That was because Chu Ning had subtly adjusted his cultivation aura, making it appear like he was at the Third Layer of Qi Refining.
Chu Ning knew that if he showed himself as having the Second Layer of Qi Refining, these shops would probably be less willing to entertain him taking on these recruitment tasks, whereas the Third Layer was different.
The Cyan Creek Sect indeed had many servant disciples with good proficiency in Third Layer Qi Refining techniques.
Chu Ning straightforwardly pointed to the sign outside and asked:
"Shopkeeper, I saw the sign outside, the Spirit Breath Grass needs accelerating?"
"That's right!" Shopkeeper Song's eyes lit up when he heard Chu Ning asking about accelerating the Spirit Breath Grass.
"Could it be that the fellow cultivator is proficient in this Accelerating Technique?"
Chu Ning nodded slightly, "Instant cast of the Accelerating Technique, if that's the requirement, I should be able to manage it."
Shopkeeper Song immediately came out from behind the counter upon hearing this, then handed a seed to Chu Ning:
"This is an Iron Wire Vine seed, may I trouble the fellow cultivator to demonstrate first."
Seeing the man offering an Iron Wire Vine seed, Chu Ning chuckled inwardly; he was quite familiar with this item.
But after a moment's thought, it made sense, as the Iron Wire Vine was very common, perfectly suitable for testing.
Chu Ning even speculated that the display tests for spirit plant techniques in this market might all involve the Iron Wire Vine.
Thinking of this, Chu Ning didn't reach out to take the seed; instead, he activated his magical power and pointed, instantly casting the Accelerating Technique on the Iron Wire Vine seed in Shopkeeper Song's hand.
The Iron Wire Vine seed quickly sprouted a thin green vine, resembling what an Iron Wire Vine looks like just as it begins to grow.
Having done all this, Chu Ning looked at Shopkeeper Song.
"Shall we discuss the matter of compensation now?"