Crow Immortal
Chapter 21: Green Sprout Market

After their routine inspection of the spirit fields, Han Yu and Old Li headed toward the Green Sprout Market.

Walking past acre after acre of spirit fields along a winding path, Old Li shared his market experience with Han Yu in his hoarse voice.

If visiting shops owned by Wangu Valley, even if not buying anything, as outer disciples of the sect they could generally feel safe without worrying about malicious intentions.

However, Old Li's cultivation level wasn't high enough to use items meant for true cultivators. His main business involved trading with some mortals and unidentified rogue cultivators in the market.

Under such circumstances, Old Li had to conceal his appearance to prevent others from discerning his true background. This was to avoid repeating past incidents where he'd been ambushed by rogue cultivators over just a few pounds of spirit rice, forcing him to fight desperately for survival.

"They say one's cultivation should also be concealed. Otherwise, those a full major realm above can see through it. Even interacting with other cultivators might reveal clues... But such matters remain distant concerns for us."

Old Li spoke these words with melancholy in his raspy voice before suddenly asking, "Youngster, after three months in the sect, how's your cultivation progressing? Almost reached Qi Refining first layer?"

Han Yu fell silent.

"Go on, tell me. About how much longer? I know you have four spiritual roots - better aptitude than mine." Seeing his reaction, Old Li grew curious and pressed further.

Han Yu finally gave a timeframe.

Old Li immediately showed astonishment and envy: "That's remarkably fast! Truly shows the advantage of better aptitude!"

"If I followed the standard path with diligent cultivation, it'd still take me over a year. The Green Sprout Qi Cultivation Technique progresses so slowly."

He patted Han Yu's shoulder: "You've been working hard, youngster. Worthy of being Wan'er's grandson."

Han Yu sighed internally: Old Li was decent in all aspects except constantly reminiscing about his grandmother from decades past, as if all Han Yu's efforts were naturally expected simply because he was "Wan'er's grandson."

As the market came into distant view, Old Li retrieved two wide-brimmed hats with cloth veils from his bamboo basket, giving one to Han Yu.

Their gray outer disciple robes needed no changing - having rogue cultivators, servants and mortals show some respect because of them wasn't necessarily bad.

They'd started early, arriving as morning mist just cleared, with dew still glistening on the bluestone pavement before the market.

At the entrance stood two ancient thousand-year locust trees, their branches cascading with spiritual energy like silk tassels. Between the boughs hung vermilion-lacquered wooden plaques inscribed with "Green Sprout" in calligraphy as sharp as chiseled stone, faintly patterned with intricate designs.

Beyond the entrance lay not shops but first a large area of reed-mat stalls, followed by orderly bamboo sheds lining the streets, with actual shops only appearing further in.

Naturally there were hierarchies here.

Those brazenly displaying wares on open reed mats lacked all dignity - few cultivators would stoop so low. Even rogue cultivators avoided sitting exposed under the sun like this. Most were mortals or Wangu Valley servants incapable of cultivation. Their traded goods rarely contained spiritual energy, mostly exchanged for gold/silver or through barter.

Following Old Li past the mortal trading area, they reached the bamboo shed section.

Not a single mortal could be seen here - mostly Wangu Valley outer disciples and unaffiliated rogue cultivators, with all passersby being Qi Refining cultivators.

Everything here contained spiritual energy, with no mundane items exchanged.

To the inexperienced Han Yu, the dazzling variety of goods here seemed overwhelming.

A gray-robed outer disciple clutched a cloth bag tightly while whispering negotiations with a veiled stall owner. When the bag opened slightly, snow-white Green Sprout Spirit Rice gleamed within, its fragrance mixing with earthy scents.

A crimson-clad girl leaned against a bamboo basket holding spirit herbs with silver-veined leaves, light condensing along their stems. At her feet dozed a white spiritual dog whose snoring breaths sounded rather endearing.

A big-bellied man with open robes cheerfully hawked to passing cultivators by the sheds: "Spells! Secret techniques! Pills! Talismans! Everything available! Anything you need?" Though few stopped to engage.

A green-robed Wangu Valley inner disciple passed by hurriedly, drawing envious looks.

Han Yu and Old Li stood aside watching this inner disciple proceed from shed area to shop district.

"Let's see the innermost area," Old Li said quietly, "then we'll return."

The central shop district had orderly storefronts with occasional multi-story buildings.

Here green-robed inner disciples appeared more frequently, though outer disciples remained numerous. The rare mortals present were all obedient servants running errands, not the free-moving types from the reed-mat area.

Han Yu saw Wangu Valley's talisman shops, artifact stores, pill houses and others, plus some shops not affiliated with the sect.

The market even had a tavern with an antique sign reading "Green Sprout Brew," though its taste remained beyond Han Yu and Old Li's current means.

A golden flash passed overhead as a blue-robed inner disciple with gold trimmings descended by sword from above.

The tavern attendant rushed out smiling to greet him, while drinking inner disciples stood up respectfully.

With a slight nod, the inner disciple entered the tavern.

"That's an inner disciple - Qi Refining seventh layer or above, having passed examinations with suitable spiritual roots... They may advance to Foundation Building and become sect stewards." Old Li whispered in awe.

Han Yu nodded, thinking inner sect requirements seemed stricter than outer sect.

"Youngster, we should—" Old Li began, then abruptly changed expression and topic mid-sentence, "You've seen the market now. Look around yourself - I've other matters."

Head lowered and hat pressed down, he hurried away without finishing.

"Uh... Elder Li?"

Han Yu called out in surprise, but seeing him already gone, could only wander the market alone.

Carrying four pounds of spirit rice from selling Spirit-Stealing Mice, he couldn't afford shop district items nor needed mortal goods from reed mats - the shed area suited his needs best.

Returning there, the open-robed man still hawked loudly, the crimson girl played with her white dog, and the rice-selling disciple had completed his trade and left.

Surveying the area, Han Yu realized much here remained unfamiliar.

As he pondered, the big-bellied man approached grinning: "Fellow Daoist, anything you need?"