Chapter Three: "The Spiritual Energy"

Holding the crystal, Xian Yu used his "Bound Spirit" skill. He felt something different, a strange yet familiar sensation with a hint of biting coldness. As he closed his eyes and concentrated, he realized that he had successfully harnessed elemental power.

"I didn't expect it to be successful... elemental power! I truly didn't expect to acquire it under these circumstances," he mused.

He examined the crystal more closely. While he had a newfound ability to use elemental power, he wasn't particularly attached to the crystal itself. The realization of the successful contract was more about his fondness for the Crystalfly, not the crystal.

After making the contract, Xian Yu could put the Crystalfly away at any time, but he chose to keep it out for now. His intention was to compensate the seller for his assistance, even if he had the option to retract the skill.

Despite his newfound elemental ability, Xian Yu remained calm during the transaction. He addressed the seller in a straightforward manner. "The crystal is indeed nice, but its price isn't particularly high. I believe you also recognize that the real value lies in the Crystalfly it contains."

He proposed a deal, "I'll give you a thousand mora, and you can sell it to me."

Xian Yu's words were devoid of sentiment and were meant to convey a business-like approach. This emotion was both genuine and a façade.

The negotiation process was unlikely to be completed in a single step, but Xian Yu wouldn't offer any more money. A thousand mora was a fair and friendly price, and if the seller chose not to sell, he wouldn't press further. It would be the seller's loss.

Upon hearing Xian Yu's offer, the seller seemed disappointed and attempted to negotiate. "A thousand? No, no, that's too low! It's worth at least eight thousand!"

As Xian Yu expected, haggling was inevitable, but he had no intention of increasing his offer. The initial thousand mora was a friendly gesture, and he had no qualms if the seller chose not to sell.

When the seller continued to counteroffer, Xian Yu remained silent and observed. Several onlookers, including those who had previously criticized the seller, began to gather around again.

Seeing the crowd gather, including the individuals who had disrupted the previous sale, Xian Yu grew concerned that these people might interfere again. He hoped they wouldn't ruin the deal this time.

The seller, now under pressure, tried to negotiate. "Five thousand! How about five thousand? Brother, if you really like it, this is my final minimum price. Otherwise, I'll have to take it elsewhere."

Although five thousand mora wasn't a significant amount, Xian Yu was willing to pay it to support someone who had been helpful to him. It wasn't about the value of the item; it was a matter of principle.

The idea was to help those who helped him, and it didn't matter if it was just a friendly gesture.

Before the seller's offer of five thousand could be addressed, someone suddenly made a higher bid. "I'll give you ten thousand!"

Xian Yu was taken aback. He had been about to speak, but an unexpected bid interrupted him. Moreover, the voice sounded like it belonged to a woman.

He couldn't help but wonder who this person was and why they had suddenly offered such a high amount.

The seller was pragmatic, immediately considering whether the person making the offer was genuinely interested in purchasing the item.

The woman who had made the bid explained, "I'm not buying it for myself, but for our lady. She likes it, so she asked me to get it. If it were for me, I wouldn't care about your 'broken stone,' huh~"

Xian Yu could only show an awkward expression and signal that he had no intention of continuing the bidding war. The unexpected competition hadn't been his intention, and it was clear the other party had their reasons for offering ten thousand mora.

He allowed the matter to resolve without further involvement and retreated without wasting more words.

As The seller, saw Xian Yu step aside, he didn't waste any time and approached the woman who had offered ten thousand mora for the crystal.

The crowd that had gathered around the seller began to disperse, and the deal concluded with the item sold for ten thousand mora, ten times the original asking price.

As the seller and the maid departed, the maid cast a strange look in Xian Yu's direction. He couldn't help but wonder, "Does she know me?" This thought was a natural reaction, but no matter how he contemplated it, it didn't make sense, leaving him even more puzzled.

One possibility that crossed his mind was that the maid might have recognized his predecessor, as he had little memory of that individual and wasn't particularly concerned about the past.

However, despite these thoughts and potential realizations, Xian Yu didn't invest much attention in them. The past was like drifting clouds, and he had no intention of chasing after it.

What concerned him more was the future, as he had now truly acquired extraordinary power through his contract with the Cryo Crystalfly. This contract enabled him to master elemental power.

As he tested the new power, Xian Yu also discovered an additional ability within him—something he decided to call "spiritual energy." This energy was akin to the concept of "qi" in Taoism and the power cultivated by immortal practitioners.

It wasn't the elemental power found in the Liyue Immortals. This spiritual energy was unique to Xian Yu and, to his surprise, could coexist with elemental power.

"I finally understand why I couldn't gain strength through the Breathing Technique. It turns out the power produced by this technique isn't elemental power at all—it's spiritual energy!" he realized.

His earlier lack of strength was due to his limited understanding and short practice time. Now, through his contract with the Cryo Crystalfly, he grasped this vital distinction.

In essence, the Cryo Crystalfly allowed him not only to master elemental power but also indirectly granted him "spiritual energy." The coexistence of these two powers was an incredible development for Xian Yu.

"Power... I never expected that just moments ago, I was pondering how to attain it, and now it seems so simple. It feels almost unreal," he mused.

The newfound power gave him a unique experience. As Xian Yu tested it, the temperature around him suddenly dropped, forcing everyone nearby to retreat several meters. This anomaly was short-lived, as he quickly regained control, and the surrounding temperature returned to normal.

Bystanders were somewhat perplexed by the brief chill, but they attributed it to a passing elemental flow, as elemental events weren't uncommon in the world of Teyvat. They didn't connect it to the Vision, as no one present had seen anyone with that unique ability.

Xian Yu's quick recovery and the return to normal conditions further convinced them that it had been an incidental occurrence.

Xian Yu, on the other hand, considered himself fortunate for his self-control. He realized that had he not practiced the breathing method regularly and developed self-control, he might have caused unnecessary trouble by accidentally demonstrating his ability to use elemental power without the Vision.

He mused, "It's a good thing I practiced the breathing method and can control myself, or this could have led to some real trouble." It was only his restraint that prevented the bystanders from becoming more curious and inquisitive.