Qin Sang was in no hurry to enter the shops. His destination lay ahead, in an area set aside by the cultivation market's master for cultivators to trade freely.
A gentle breeze carried a thin mist, accompanied by the twitter of swallows.
The square, bordered by a winding stream, was bustling with noise. Most cultivators were dressed like ordinary people, though a few eccentric figures stood out. Wearing odd garments was the least of it; some had pythons coiled around their bodies, while others rode atop tigers, leopards, or hawks and falcons.
Others were shrouded from head to toe in black mist, exuding a chilling yin aura—as if terrified that passersby might fail to recognize them as members of the demonic sects.
To all appearances, the orthodox and demonic cultivators were not particularly at each other's throats, though whether this was out of respect for the market's rules remained unclear.
These cultivators behaved much like mortal street vendors. Each claimed a patch of ground for a stall, laid out their goods before them, and waited as customers squatted down to pick through the wares and haggle over prices.
Qin Sang was utterly dumbfounded. He had never imagined that the much-vaunted trade of cultivators could look so mundane.
Even so, these stallkeepers differed greatly from mortals. Most sat cross-legged, clearly seizing every spare moment to cultivate, opening their eyes to speak only when a customer inquired about a price.
Intending to get the lay of the land first, Qin Sang stepped into the square and blended into the crowd.
"Divine Striding Talisman: five low-grade spirit stones."
"Wood-Igniting Talisman: two low-grade spirit stones."
"Five Elements Incantation: trading only for array methods."
"Medium-grade magic tool, Cold Li Ruyi Ring: trading only for a defensive magic tool of the same grade."
"Nine-Return Pill: strengthens the foundation and cultivates the vital source. Price negotiable."
...
Qin Sang made a point of browsing only the stalls displaying signboards. Going from one to the next greatly broadened his horizons. The strange talismans, curious magic tools, and esoteric cultivation manuals left him salivating with envy.
Most of the signs quoted prices in low-grade spirit stones. It seemed spirit stones were likely the universal currency of the cultivation world. Could the eight stones in his seven-colored brocade pouch be spirit stones?
At the thought, Qin Sang began observing his surroundings more closely. Taking just two paces forward, he spotted a person in a black cloak standing before a nearby stall, holding a magic tool and bargaining with the vendor.
Qin Sang slowed his steps. Taking note of the cloaked figure's attire, he reflected that he ought to adopt the trick himself in the future. Cultivators seemed liable to fight to the death at the drop of a hat; learning to hide oneself and keep a low profile might just help him live a longer life.
"Brother, could you let this Ice Bee Needle go for a bit less?" The cloaked figure spoke in a pinched, high-pitched voice that sounded deeply bizarre.
Qin Sang focused his gaze on the magic tool pinched between the cloaked figure's fingers. It turned out to be a transparent needle about the length of a finger and even thinner than an ordinary sewing needle. Its material resembled glacial ice, crystal-clear and coated in a faint fluorescent sheen that emitted wisps of frigid chill. Even standing a short distance away, Qin Sang could faintly feel the coolness.
Looking down at the sign on the stall, he read: *Low-grade magic tool, Ice Bee Needle: thirty spirit stones.*
The vendor was an old man with a face full of wrinkles. Hearing the inquiry, he barely lifted his eyelids and said flatly, "How much were you thinking of offering, Brother?"
The cloaked figure said, "Ordinary low-grade magic tools are rarely of much use, especially in a duel. A single slip and your opponent's incantation could destroy it. Anything over a dozen spirit stones is already steep. This Ice Bee Needle is no different. If it weren't for the wisp of cold qi it carries that happens to be useful to me, I wouldn't even consider it. How about thirteen spirit stones?"
The vendor chuckled. "It seems you know your wares, Brother, though your words aren't very fair. The reason this old man dares to ask thirty spirit stones is precisely that wisp of cold qi. Who doesn't know that this needle was refined from the tail stinger of a Jade Ice Bee? Not only does it possess innate cold qi, but it also carries the cold venom of the Jade Ice Bee. Thirty spirit stones is already a bargain."
The cloaked figure replied dismissively, "Jade Ice Bee venom isn't some incurable poison. Talk like that might fool others, but let's speak frankly between discerning people. I'll add two more—fifteen spirit stones..."
"Deal!"
The vendor agreed without hesitation. The cloaked figure let out a faint grunt, as though unsure whether he had gotten a bad deal, then retrieved fifteen stones of various colors from a mustard seed bag. Tossing them to the vendor, he turned on his heel and strode away without looking back.
Watching the stones the cloaked figure had handed over, Qin Sang, who had been secretly watching from the side, felt his eyes light up. Those spirit stones were identical to the eight stones in his seven-colored brocade pouch!
It turned out he possessed a modest fortune of his own. Eight spirit stones were enough to buy several talismans.
First, however, he had to learn the Object Manipulation Technique.
Just then, the vendor finished counting the spirit stones and suddenly looked up. Squinting at Qin Sang, he asked in an inscrutable tone, "Young brother, you've been watching for quite a while. Did you take a fancy to something?"
Qin Sang felt a jolt of alarm. Even after disguising his intentions so carefully, he had still been noticed.
Qin Sang said respectfully, "This humble one simply found the Ice Bee Needle fascinating and couldn't help taking a longer look. Forgive the intrusion, Senior."
The vendor gave an "oh," closed his eyes, and resumed cultivating on his own.
Qin Sang wiped the cold sweat from his brow and stepped aside, cautioning himself to be far more careful in the future. At the same time, he quietly made some mental calculations. A low-grade magic tool could sell for more than a dozen spirit stones, yet the Purple Soul Bell on his wrist was a high-grade magic tool; both in power and value, it was bound to be extraordinary.
After browsing for so long, he had seen only a handful of medium-grade magic tools, all offered strictly for barter, and not a single high-grade magic tool.
He wondered what grade the Ice Silkworm Armor given to him by the youth surnamed Han might be.
Tightening his sleeve to conceal the Purple Soul Bell more thoroughly, Qin Sang continued on, stopping and observing as he went.
Quite a few stalls sold cultivation methods and incantations, yet strangely enough, even after covering nearly half the square, he had not seen a single one offering the *Nether Scripture* or the Object Manipulation Technique.
Just as his patience was beginning to wear thin, an item caught his eye on a stall up ahead.
*Spirit Talisman: Water-Congealing Barrier, eight low-grade spirit stones.*
The several sheets of talisman paper displayed beneath the sign were identical to the one Qin Sang had obtained from Xuanji Temple. It turned out to be worth quite a sum.
Could this Water-Congealing Barrier be the very water curtain that cultivator had conjured before dying? It was almost certainly a defensive talisman. Pretending to be interested, Qin Sang squatted down to bargain with the stallkeeper for a bit and confirmed that his suspicion was correct.
Qin Sang considered the matter. Since this Water-Congealing Barrier talisman was meant for defense, its function overlapped with the Ice Silkworm Armor. It was hardly an urgent necessity for him, meaning he could offer it in trade rather than parting with his magic tools.
With that in mind, Qin Sang quickened his pace, sweeping his gaze across the stalls. Yet he still failed to find what he wanted. Just as he reached the far end of the square, his eyes suddenly locked onto something, and he breathed a quiet sigh of relief. He had finally found the *Nether Scripture*.
It was a thick book, its black cover bearing several large characters: *Complete Nether Scripture*.
Judging by its appearance alone, it was more than twice as thick as the volume Qin Sang had taken from the black-robed fiend. It seemed his copy of the *Nether Scripture* truly was incomplete.
Maintaining a calm expression, Qin Sang strolled over casually, crouched before the stall, and picked up the *Complete Nether Scripture*.
Chapter 54