Crow Immortal
Chapter 22: Zhu Lao San

Han Yu frowned slightly at the bare-chested fat man who approached him on his own. "May I ask, fellow cultivator, what do you sell?"

"I sell everything. Just name your request, and I'll do my best to find something satisfactory for you. Magical tools, talismans, elixirs, cultivation techniques, secret arts, spells... Whatever you desire, just speak up."

The fat man spoke with a smile, but his sharp eyes scrutinized Han Yu's gray outer disciple uniform, his overall attire, even the details of his hands and feet, estimating the highest value he might extract.

Hearing this, Han Yu wasn't inclined to engage with this fat man.

This fat man also wore gray robes, clearly another outer disciple of Wangu Valley.

A mere outer disciple who hadn't even qualified for the inner disciple's green robes, soliciting customers by the roadside in the bamboo stall area—at best at the Qi Refining Third Layer—what decent goods could he possibly have access to?

His claim of selling everything was obviously empty boasting.

Especially since he actively approached to initiate conversation—this clearly indicated he had ulterior motives and was overly eager. If he truly had capabilities, people should be seeking him out instead.

Having figured this out, Han Yu ignored the fat man and turned to browse other stalls.

"Eh? Fellow cultivator, why leave? Whatever you need, just say it!"

"Just tell me your needs, and I'll find a way! Hey, fellow cultivator..."

The surprised fat man followed behind, calling out repeatedly.

Han Yu waved his hand to indicate he wasn't buying and stopped before a stall run by a girl in crimson robes.

The crimson-robed girl released the white spirit dog in her arms, her crescent-moon eyes sparkling as she let out a string of bell-like laughter: "Hehe, Zhu Lao San, exposed again, weren't you? With the meager goods you have, how dare you boast about having everything?"

She wasn't speaking to Han Yu before her but to the bare-chested fat man called "Zhu Lao San."

The fat man "Zhu Lao San" didn't seem angered: "These people judge by appearances. Who I, Zhu San, am—they don't even bother to inquire. An outer disciple from the Alchemy Hall, how could I be compared to others?"

"If senior brothers and sisters let even a crumb slip through their fingers, these people wouldn't be able to obtain it even if they kowtowed until their foreheads bled!"

After saying this, "Zhu Lao San" lifted his chin, assuming an expression that blamed Han Yu for failing to recognize quality goods, then returned to his original spot to stand, still in that same slovenly manner, cheerfully hailing passing cultivators.

The crimson-robed girl giggled, clearly unconvinced by "Zhu Lao San's" words.

However, she didn't explain to Han Yu, a stranger, merely extending her fingers to scratch her spirit dog under the chin, making it squint contentedly.

"Want to buy some Moonlight Grass?"

"What use does this spirit grass have?" Han Yu asked.

The crimson-robed girl shook her head with a smile: "If you don't even know what Moonlight Grass is for, you're clearly neither an alchemist nor from the herb gardens. There's no point in you buying this spirit grass, so no need to ask further."

Having said this, she ignored Han Yu, focusing on playing with her white spirit dog.

Seeing her attitude, Han Yu had no choice but to browse other stalls again.

This time he understood something—if he himself didn't know the uses of spirit herbs, talismans, magical tools, or elixirs, stall owners wouldn't bother with him or offer explanations, let alone discuss transactions.

"Spirit rice for spirit stones, four jin six liang for one piece," read one stall sign.

Han Yu glanced at it—this was likely an outer disciple from the Spirit Fields exchanging spirit stones. Such exchange rates weren't fixed; the actual conversion between spirit rice and spirit stones depended entirely on individual needs.

Outer disciples didn't obtain spirit rice easily, hence they haggled over every fraction, carefully weighing each measure.

Further ahead under the bamboo canopy was another wooden sign reading: "Spirit rice for Qi Condensing Pills."

Han Yu paused slightly: Qi Condensing Pills—he'd heard of them but never seen one.

These were pills that helped condense spiritual energy and increase cultivation at the Qi Refining stage. He'd heard some inner disciples of Wangu Valley regularly took such pills; some outer disciples with good fortune or family members who were cultivators might occasionally take them too.

After touring the entire bamboo stall area, Han Yu had a basic understanding of "pricing." All prices were fluid—sellers wanted higher prices, buyers wanted lower prices, with actual transactions requiring personal negotiation.

Four to five jin of spirit rice exchanged for one spirit stone—this was roughly equivalent to one Qi Condensing Pill, three Wind Riding Talismans, or one Wind Blade Talisman.

The bamboo stall area mostly traded goods of this general level.

Water Control Talismans, Cleaning Talismans, Strength Pills, and such were all in this category. Higher-grade pills and talismans were bought and sold directly at shops in the market center.

The same went for spirit herbs—Han Yu only saw people selling Spirit Blood Vines and other herbs priced at one or two spirit stones. He didn't see anyone selling Mystic Heart Fruits, suggesting the crimson-robed girl's Moonlight Grass wasn't valuable either.

As for spells, magical tools, and cultivation techniques—they were either inferior or incomplete, practically useless, the kind that would waste spirit rice and leave buyers full of regret.

Even without making any purchases, Han Yu felt his horizons had broadened, gaining clearer understanding of the cultivation resources accessible to him.

"So? Didn't find what you wanted to buy? Tell me what you're looking for?"

Fatty "Zhu Lao San," having seen Han Yu tour the bamboo stall area, approached again with a smile.

Not intending to buy from him, Han Yu simply said: "I want cultivation pills, talismans and magical tools for protection, cultivation techniques, powerful spells. Do you have all these?"

Hearing this, "Zhu Lao San" not only didn't take offense but chuckled: "What a coincidence! I actually do have what you mentioned!"

"Cultivation pills—want some Qi Condensing Pills? Three jin of spirit rice per pill, or two pills for one spirit stone."

Han Yu was stunned: "What? Why so cheap?"

"Minor flaws—practice pieces from some senior brothers, but doesn't affect efficacy—at least not before Qi Refining Sixth Layer." "Zhu Lao San" grinned, winking. "Fellow cultivator, think about what we outer disciples seek—isn't it entering the inner sect and gaining respect?"

"These affordable, practical pills are truly essential for cultivation!"

So that's what these pills were... Stuff that could hinder one's cultivation path—how was this different from eating dirt to fill today's belly only to be killed by it tomorrow?

"By that logic, the talismans too?" Han Yu asked.

"Affordable and practical—guaranteed thirty percent effectiveness is already good!" "Zhu Lao San's" smile was both sincere and lewd.

"The magical tools too?"

"Two uses out of them—isn't that great?"

"The techniques?"

"Can cultivate up to Qi Refining Fifth Layer, then you'll need to change techniques—you'll have to find the subsequent parts yourself."

Han Yu was left speechless: "Fellow cultivator, where did you dig up all this junk? You've really worked hard!"

"Not hard at all, not hard at all—it's my duty," "Zhu Lao San" hurriedly replied.

Wait—did he think I was complimenting him?

The crimson-robed girl not far away giggled: "Zhu Lao San, stop holding back—bring out that secret technique you've been keeping as your trump card and show this fellow cultivator!"