"Grrr... grrr..."
At that moment, Alex's stomach growled loudly, impossible to ignore.
"I have to find something to eat first," he muttered to himself, scanning his surroundings.
Soon, his eyes landed on a modest stall a short distance away that appeared to be selling food. He quickened his pace and approached, realizing it was a humble wonton stand.
What struck him as odd, however, was the complete absence of any menu or posted prices.
In the world he came from, a setup like this would have been unthinkable. Without transparent pricing, customers would steer clear out of fear of being ripped off, and the business would probably fold within months due to lack of patronage.
While Alex puzzled over this, the stall owner, a man named Zhang Ergou, caught his hesitant expression. He broke into a wide, welcoming grin and called out cheerfully, "Young friend, a bowl of wontons here costs just ten copper coins!"
"Ten copper coins?" Alex repeated inwardly, doing some quick mental math.
Out of habit, he reached into his pocket and felt the familiar shape of his phone. He fished it out to check, only to remember there was no signal or internet. Modern payment apps like PayPal were utterly useless here. At least he still had his iPhone 17 Pro Max with him, which felt like a small miracle. "Great, I don't have to pay those 2 year installments. But how on earth was he supposed to charge it?" He certainly wasn't the protagonist of that anime "In Another World with My Smartphone," that motherfucker used his smartphone to charm girls left and right.
"Boss, could I possibly get it on credit?" Alex asked, sounding a little embarrassed.
Zhang Ergou sized him up carefully. The young man's clothing was bizarre, yet clean and without patches, hardly the look of someone destitute. Suspicion flickered in his mind: was this kid planning to dine and dash? Still, something about Alex didn't quite fit that mold. Curious, he asked, "Boss? What's that supposed to mean?"
Alex blinked in surprise, thinking, "He doesn't even know the word 'boss'?" But he kept his composure and explained politely, "It means the owner of the shop, the proprietor."
Zhang Ergou nodded as understanding dawned. So this stranger was clearly from far away, which explained the unusual clothes. Still, he wasn't thrilled with the term. "I'm no boss," he said gruffly. "Name's Zhang Ergou. You can call me Brother Zhang if you like."
Then Zhang Ergou asked whether he had any Spirit Stones for payment.
Spirit Stones? Those must be the currency used by cultivators, Alex figured.
He shook his head awkwardly. "I don't have Spirit Stones or copper coins right now. Would it be possible to pay you later?"
Alex's eyes bulged at the suggestion. "This kid wants a free meal!" he thought indignantly. Without ceremony, he snapped, "You think I'm running a soup kitchen? No money, no wontons!"
Alex hastened to clarify that he wasn't trying to eat for nothing. He just lacked funds at the moment and promised to settle the bill once he earned some.
Zhang Ergou remained firm, waving him off and telling him to move along before he scared away paying customers.
Left with no choice, Alex walked away from the stall. He moved cautiously through the crowded streets, careful to avoid brushing against any cultivators. In this world, they were exalted figures, while he was merely an ordinary mortal who could be crushed with a flick of a finger.
As he wandered, Alex kept an eye out for work opportunities. Though the market town was small, it offered plenty of jobs suited to mortals: serving in inns, carrying loads, and other manual labor. The wages looked decent enough.
He felt a spark of optimism. With hard work, he could surely support himself. First priority was securing food and shelter; after that, he could start thinking about his longer-term goal of marrying a beautiful wife.
Still, he decided to shop around for the best option. His search eventually brought him to a building called Wangxian Tower. A recruitment notice outside caught his attention: the inn was hiring cultivators as shop assistants, offering monthly wages in Spirit Stones plus a supply of qi refining powder as a benefit.
Alex's pulse quickened. "I've got Five-Spirit Root aptitude," he reminded himself. "This might actually work." Without further hesitation, he stepped inside to apply.
Behind the counter sat a smiling shopkeeper with a neatly trimmed goatee. Alex approached and said respectfully, "Shopkeeper, I'm here about the shop assistant position."
The shopkeeper, Xu Fu, studied the applicant with a trace of skepticism. He subtly activated his Heavenly Eye Technique to scan Alex and detected no spiritual energy whatsoever. His brow furrowed. "This young man shows no signs of cultivation," he thought. "Just a plain mortal. Does he take me for a fool?"
His voice cooled noticeably. "You don't appear to be a cultivator. There's not even a hint of spiritual energy about you. Are you an ordinary mortal trying to waste my time? Hmph, don't think you can mock this old man so easily."
Alex felt his stomach twist at being seen through, but he refused to retreat. If he wanted any chance of marrying a beautiful wife soon, he needed to seize opportunities like this.
Despite the shopkeeper's sharp tone, Alex drew a steadying breath and replied earnestly, "I would never dare mock a cultivator. I do possess a spirit root, but I've never obtained a cultivation method. Please give me a chance, Shopkeeper. I won't demand much."
Xu Fu's expression softened into thoughtfulness. Perhaps qualified cultivators were truly hard to find these days, or perhaps the young man's obvious sincerity moved him. After a brief silence, he decided to offer a trial.
He rose from his seat and beckoned Alex to follow him toward a Spirit Testing Device. With practiced motions, Xu Fu formed seals, uttered a short incantation, and sent a pulse of energy into the artifact. It responded with a soft, ethereal glow.
"Place your hand upon it," Xu Fu directed.
Alex nodded and carefully rested his palm on the cool surface. It felt like smooth, chilled jade, and the sensation heightened his nerves, though he did his best to stay calm.
The moment contact was made, five distinct beams of spiritual light burst forth from the device. They twisted and mingled in the air, creating a vivid, multicolored display.
"A mixed spiritual root," Xu Fu observed, eyeing the lights with evident disappointment. "And the least desirable kind at that: a Five-Spirit Root." He shook his head slightly but did not dismiss the applicant outright. Instead, he continued, "Very well. You may start today. The wage is one Spirit Stone per month. It may not sound like much, but never underestimate its value. A single Spirit Stone can be exchanged for a hundred taels of silver. Work diligently, and in a few years you'll have enough to live comfortably in any mortal city."