Chapter 476: Borrowing spirit stones

　　Translator: GodBrandy Editor: Kurisu

　　Stressed by a Mountain of Books: “Explore an ancient grave?”

　　Moreover, Song Shuhang paid great attention to what Northern River’s Loose Cultivator said earlier. The seniors of the group explored the grave of True Monarch Fifth Cultivator of True Virtue? If one were to add to the mix the grave of Venerable Sixth Cultivator of True Virtue and Venerable Seventh Cultivator of True Virtue… no one would believe that there wasn’t any relationship between these three!

　　Venerable Seventh Cultivator of True Virtue sent another message in the Nine Provinces Number One Group. “Immortal caves, ruins, and ancient graves are the right places to explore if cultivators wish for ‘fortuitous encounters’. Inside a lot of graves belonging to ancient cultivators, one can find the heritage that these cultivators left behind. Therefore, taking risks and exploring ancient graves is something that cultivators absolutely can’t miss. Little friend Shuhang, do you want to give it a try as well?”

　　“I would like to very much, but when are you going to explore the grave?” Song Shuhang asked. After all, he had a few matters to take care in the near future.

　　Before going into space, he wanted to go to the territory of the Chu Family together with Sima Jiang. His ghost spirit was still stuck inside the express delivery box and didn’t want to come out.

　　Venerable Seventh Cultivator of True Virtue: “As for the time… I’ve heard that little friend Song Shuhang is going to space for one month, is that correct?”

　　“Haha, haha…” Song Shuhang typed.

　　“In that case, I’ll contact you after you return from space. Right, isn’t there a cultivators’ street market going on next to you guys? Get a few items that are useful for exploring graves!” Venerable Seventh Cultivator of True Virtue said.

　　“Items that are useful to explore graves? For example?” Song Shuhang asked. They weren’t going to get shovels and so just as ordinary graverobbers, right?

　　“It’s up to you! However, ancient graves are usually dark, have layers upon layers of defensive mechanisms, and all sorts of deadly poisons. As long as you prepare a few things that can help you deal with unexpected matters, it’s all good,” Venerable Seventh Cultivator of True Virtue said.

　　Song Shuhang silently sent a nodding emoji.

　　“I’ll meet you in space when the time comes ?,” Venerable Seventh Cultivator of True Virtue said with a smile.

　　“Alright, Senior,” Song Shuhang replied.

　　Regardless of what relationship there was between Venerable Seventh Cultivator of True Virtue and ‘Venerable Sixth Cultivator of True Virtue’, he would find out at the time.

　　At the same time, he thought of another matter… in the memories of that disciple of the Thousand Hands Sect, She Lan, it didn’t seem as though the grave of Venerable Sixth Cultivator of True Virtue was in space…?

　　Although the whole graveyard was pixelated, that disciple of the Thousand Hands Sect didn’t have any special defense around his body and was breathing normally.

　　❄️❄️❄️

　　“Senior Song, we’re here.” Soft Feather stopped the water scooter.

　　This time, the cultivators’ street market was held on the water.

　　It wasn’t really on the surface of the water but on a huge… plank.

　　Song Shuhang estimated that the length and width of this plank were both 1000 meters.

　　Above this plank were engraved several magical runes and all kinds of formations.

　　Even though it was day, the light emitted from runes and formations was incomparably dazzling.

　　Song Shuhang jumped down from the water scooter and gently stepped on the plank, saying, “Is this some sort of treasure?”

　　“This is the floor of the immortal palace from Venerable Tornado’s sect,” Soft Feather replied.

　　“What?” Song Shuhang stared at the 1000 meters long and wide plank. This was a floor? Who would need such a floor? A giant that was 2000 meters tall?

　　Soft Feather smiled and explained, “Venerable Tornado’s sect, the Realm Crossing Sect, is specialized in space-type magical techniques. The Realm Crossing Sect has been building a colossal palace since 200 years ago. According to their plans, they would usually keep the immortal palace in a state where it’s shrunk by a thousand times through a magical technique. In times of need, they would remove the above-mentioned space-type magical technique and have its size suddenly increase by a thousand times, turning into a fortress.

　　However, the Realm Crossing Sect was only able to prepare the foundation up until now, and even the plank they have to place on the floor is only half-prepared. This time, the cultivators’ street market just happened to need a platform that could be positioned on the surface of the sea. Therefore, Venerable Tornado borrowed the floor from his sect and released its original form over here,” Soft Feather replied.

　　Just in this fashion, this gigantic floor that had a size of 1000×1000 meters became the platform on which the cultivators’ street market was held.

　　Afterward, these cultivators that had come from all sides set up their stalls on the huge plank according to the rules.

　　Some cultivators just sat on the ground and used a piece of cloth as their ‘stall’.

　　Others had prepared earlier and set up exquisite counters.

　　Some had even built small buildings.

　　The street market was finally open, and it was incredibly lively.

　　❄️❄️❄️

　　After stepping on the plank, Song Shuhang saw a stall on the side that was surrounded by several cultivators.

　　Song Shuhang curiously went over and shot a glance at the goods this stall was selling.

　　This stall was selling things of the size of a pigeon’s egg. One could also faintly see shadows moving within them.

　　These things that resembled the eggs of a pigeon were divided into several types. Some of them could be bought with spirit stones of the Second Stage, others with spirit stones of the Third Stage, etc., until reaching the Fifth Stage.

　　Song Shuhang asked out of curiosity, “Eh? What are these things?”

　　Soft Feather likewise squeezed through the crowd and shot a glance at the goods, saying, “This is a characteristic stall that would appear every year in the cultivators’ street market. These things are called ‘spirit pearls’ and are treasures related to ‘spirit beasts’.

　　After getting their hands on spirit pearls, cultivators don’t need to refine them and can eat them directly. The effects will be different according to the quality of the spirit pearl. It’s an item that can increase a cultivator’s true qi or spiritual energy, and just like medicinal pills, it’s a treasure that can assist in one’s practice. A few sects specialized in raising spirit beasts can obtain a lot of these spirit pearls every year.

　　However, spirit pearls are marvelous objects… spirit pearls of the same rank are perfectly identical when seen from the outside and there isn’t any difference amongst them. Only after a cultivator eats them will they know by how much their true qi or spiritual energy increased.”

　　“In other words, the effects these things would have to completely depend on one’s luck… it’s just like drawing lots.” Song Shuhang understood.

　　If one’s luck was good, they could spend a spirit stone and obtain an increase in spiritual energy several times, if not tens of times, higher than the original amount stored within the spirit stone. But if one’s luck wasn’t good, they would surely suffer a loss.

　　“Yes, that’s it… however, these things aren’t too expensive. Therefore, there will be a lot of people at each year’s street market that will buy them and join in the fun. Moreover, they taste really good. I like the flavor a lot, ” Soft Feather said with a smile. Then, she arrived next to the stall and used ten spirit stones of the Fourth Stage to buy ten spirit pearls of the fourth rank, and four spirit stones of the Second Stage to buy four spirit pearls of the second rank.

　　She delivered the four spirit pearls of the second rank to Song Shuhang and said, “Senior Song, come and have a taste. Their flavor is pretty good.”

　　Song Shuhang took the spirit pearl and bit it.

　　The flavor was indeed good. It felt as though one was eating chocolate. After he swallowed it down, the interior of his dantian became hot, and the quantity of true qi increased.

　　Song Shuhang had never used spirit stones to practice. Therefore, he had no idea if the increase in true qi was higher or lower than that of a spirit stone.

　　“Now then, this is a stall where one can only rely on their luck… so if Senior White were to come here and choose a few spirit pearls, he would surely get the good ones, right?” Song Shuhang said with a smile.

　　“Hmm… but I don’t really like the taste of spirit pearls. I find it somewhat bitter. But if you want to buy them, I can choose some for you. How about it, Shuhang?” Venerable White appeared beside Song Shuhang out of nowhere and said as he held his chin.

　　“Eh? Senior White, you finished so quickly?” Song Shuhang said.

　　“I just had to show my face at the inauguration of the cultivators’ street market. I’m not in charge of the other matters,” Venerable White said as he squatted beside the stall and waved at Song Shuhang, saying, “How many spirit stones do you have with you?”

　　Song Shuhang checked his whole property… Senior White decided to give him three spirit stones as a consolation prize after the seniors of the Nine Provinces Number One Group killed the blood demon. Then, he found two ugly things that resembled spirit stones on the bodies of the sea urchin warriors. Afterward, he found another ten spirit stones while he was exploring She Lan’s underground smelted cave.

　　“That’s it? Don’t you have more?” Venerable White held the spirit stones and stared at Song Shuhang.

　　“I don’t.” Song Shuhang shook his head.

　　“Shuhang, you are really poor, aren’t you,” Venerable White said.

　　Forgive me for being poor! Song Shuhang had tears streaming down his face. Moreover, he had obtained all these spirit stones in the past two days. Before that, Song Shuhang didn’t even know what spirit stones were!

　　After all, it hadn’t been long since he had become a cultivator.

　　“Three spirit stones of the Fourth Stage, ten spirit stones of the Third Stage, two spirit stones of the Second Stage… just enough to buy 402 spirit pearls of the second rank,” Venerable White said as he handed the spirit stones to the stall vendor.

　　“Eh? You’re spending all of them?” Song Shuhang asked. This was the cultivators’ street market, and he had come here to join in the fun and broaden his horizon. But now, he was going to spend all this property as soon as he set foot in this place?

　　“There is no use in keeping these spirit stones… moreover, it’s rather troublesome to use spirit stones to practice while in the Second Stage. It’s better if you just eat spirit pearls. The taste is not that bad, and you can fill your belly as well. After you go into space and become sick of eating fasting pills, you can eat spirit pearls for a change in menu,” Venerable White said.

　　Senior White was very thoughtful. He had already thought of what would happen after he was in space… for some reason, Song Shuhang’s eyes started to tear up. How nice would it be if Senior White could change this one-month trip in space into a mere half-a-month trip?

　　Venerable White picked a small basket and grabbed the spirit pearls of the second rank, starting to throw them inside the basket.

　　Very soon, the small basket was full.

　　“A total of 402 spirit pearls.” Venerable White gave the small basket to Song Shuhang and said, “Eat them when you have free time. After you finish the contents of the basket, the quantity of true inside your second dantian would increase by almost 1%.”

　　“After eating so many spirit pearls, it will increase by only 1%?” Song Shuhang muttered.

　　Venerable White said, “You should be happy. If you were to directly use spirit stones to cultivate, all those spirit stones wouldn’t have increased the true qi inside your dantian by even 0.1%.”

　　After saying this much, Venerable White stretched himself and followed behind Soft Feather who had gone toward the depths of the street market.

　　“Such being the case, did I just profit ten times?” Song Shuhang stored the small basket inside the size-reducing purse and quickly followed after Venerable White.

　　In the rear, the corner of the stall vendor’s mouth twitched.

　　In other words, Venerable White had made a profit of more than ten times just by casually grabbing things at his stall?

　　❄️❄️❄️

　　Venerable White carried Song Shuhang along and proceeded toward the depths of the ‘cultivators’ street market’ and introduced to him the various goods they saw along the way.

　　There were lifelike medicinal pills, and some spirit herbs could even roar like wild beasts to confuse other living creatures. For example, Song Shuhang saw a herb called ‘Tiger King Herb’ that could continuously roar like a tiger.

　　Also, there were all types of godly weapons and medicinal pills.

　　There were also several types of armors and talismans.

　　After seeing all these things, Song Shuhang was dazzled.

　　Sometimes, Venerable White would also squat beside some of the stalls and briefly stare at some of the treasures displayed. But he would ultimately shake his head. He wasn’t interested in buying these treasures.

　　But right at that time… the rich Miss Soft Feather, who was following behind Venerable White, would wave the bank cheque… no wait, would wave her spirit stones and buy all the treasures that Senior White had taken a liking to.

　　As long as the stall vendor didn’t increase the price of the item by more than 20% after Venerable White stared at it, Soft Feather would buy it.

　　❄️❄️❄️

　　While the three of them were shopping, Song Shuhang saw a stall that was selling shining white rice.

　　“They sell rice as well here?” Song Shuhang asked in puzzlement.

　　“That’s spirit rice… actually, it’s ordinary rice that was cultivated with the water from a spiritual spring. The ashes of spirit beasts were used as fertilizer and so on until it changed into spirit rice. It’s very useful to strengthen the qi and blood of the disciples of the First Stage. Even ordinary people can eat it a bit. However, the stall here only sells the ordered goods wholesale,” Venerable White said. “If you want, you can order some spirit rice for your family members.”

　　This sentence hit Song Shuhang’s soft spot.

　　Since he stepped on the road of cultivation, he was trying his best to give some advantages to his family members as well. But up until now, he was able to give them only a little bit of Spirit Green Tea.

　　“In that case, I’ll go over and ask.” Song Shuhang arrived next to the stall.

　　“Boss, how much is the spirit rice here?”

　　“The price is the same all over the world. A spirit stone of the First Stage for one packet of spirit rice. However, we sell wholesale here. Therefore, you have to order at least 100,000 packets of spirit rice.” The owner of the stall was a middle-aged man wearing white clothes. His smile was simple and honest.

　　“What… 100,000 packets?” Song Shuhang took a deep breath through his nose.

　　However, he immediately understood the reason. The man before his eyes was used to doing business with sects and schools, and the quantity of spirit rice a small sect could consume probably numbered in tens of thousands of packets. Cultivators of the First Stage needed to accumulate a lot of qi and blood, and their appetite was especially big.

　　Venerable White arrived next to Song Shuhang and said with a laugh, “Shuhang, do you lack spirit stones?”

　　“Senior, don’t you know this already?” Song Shuhang said. All the spirit stones he had were used to buy spirit pearls. But even if he hadn’t used them, the total number of spirit stones he would have after the conversion was… four spirit stones of the Fourth Stage. They were nowhere near enough to buy 100,000 packets of spirit rice.

　　“Forget it. I’ll look around and see if there is a retail stall that sells spirit rice,” Song Shuhang said.

　　“No one in the cultivators’ street market sells spirit rice retail,” Venerable White said with a smile. “If you want to buy retail, you would have to go to a loose cultivator. But the price will be high.”

　　“…” Song Shuhang.

　　“It’s fine. I’ll lend you some money. After the conversion, the price is a spirit stone of the Sixth Stage,” Venerable White said.

　　“If one only considers the debt to be of one spirit stone of the Sixth Stage, it doesn’t seem too big.”

　　After all, a spirit stone of the Sixth Stage and 100,000 spirit stones of the First Stage were two completely different concepts!

　　“However… it still won’t do.” Song Shuhang shook his head and said, “100,000 packets of spirit rice are too much. You simply can’t finish eating them!”

　　He only wanted to give some of this spirit rice to Papa Song and Mama Song. At most, he would give another share to his relatives and friends he was on good terms with, as well as to his friends in the dormitory.

　　But 100,000 packets were just too much!

　　Therefore, he felt that it was better to purchase it from a loose cultivator at this point…