Chapter 15: An Unexpected Encounter on the Road to the Market

On the path to the market… Four kirin horses stride forward with steady and powerful steps, each carrying a rider, among them is Li Xuanji. For those new to the world of cultivation or without flying artifacts, the affordable and practical kirin horses from the station are the preferred choice for travel… Moreover, to prevent encounters with strong bandits on the road, the station thoughtfully asks customers their destination and arranges for a few people heading in the same direction to travel together, reducing the risk along the way. Recently, there were four people heading to the No. 4 Bibo Pond Market, so the station naturally arranged them to travel together. One is a body cultivator with a beard at the fourth level of Qi Refining, named Zhu Yuanzhong; Another is his nephew, Zhu Shaohong, said to be a prodigy in their family, reaching the second level of Qi Refining before coming of age, showing his talent; Originally, their family intended for Zhu Shaohong to go to the No. 4 market to seek development with relatives, but they were not at ease with him traveling alone, so the uncle and nephew set off together. There is also a female cultivator at the third level of Qi Refining, named Meng Lingyun, with a pleasant appearance, an independent cultivator. At this moment, Li Xuanji, looking at the two medium-grade spirit stones added to his storage bag, couldn't help but feel that relying on friends to fund his cultivation journey, he might be the first of his kind… Indeed, after discussing the itinerary with Mother Liang, whether she had enjoyed it enough or remembered their old affection, she insisted on giving him two medium-grade spirit stones. She also said things like 'this is the dowry I've saved up', 'I can't get married now anyway', 'you're getting a bargain, you scoundrel', which were somewhat confusing. After Li Xuanji left with her heartfelt gift, she jumped with anger, cursing 'heartless scoundrel', 'wretched bad seed'… Incomprehensible, incomprehensible… "Li Daoist friend…" Meng Lingyun smiled with pursed lips, asking with implied meaning: "May I ask what business Li Daoist friend has at the No. 4 market?" "Me?" Li Xuanji glanced at her and said, "Li is tired of living alone and thought of finding a Dao companion in the market to cultivate together." "Tsk tsk, that will be difficult…" Meng Lingyun clicked her tongue and said, "Female cultivators have the unique advantage of being able to bear offspring. As long as they possess a spiritual root and are not ugly, many people will pursue them." "Yes…" Li Xuanji nodded in agreement and said, "Li has heard that female cultivators in the Qi Refining period are very realistic, seeking Dao companions like a three-stage trial: first, cultivation level; second, family background; third, cave dwelling." By inquiring about cultivation levels, one can roughly gauge the strength of one's cultivation talent, and the root bone quality largely determines the upper limit of a cultivator's potential. By inquiring about family background, one can roughly gauge the depth of support, which determines a cultivator's lower limit. After examining cultivation level and family background, one can roughly judge the other party's upper and lower limits. To prevent 'slipping through the net', female cultivators often also inquire about whether there are fixed residences such as cave dwellings or courtyards in the market. Because markets are generally built near spiritual veins or places where certain types of spiritual energy gather, the residences there are not cheap. Li Xuanji deeply understands this; even after more than twenty years of his parents' late-stage Qi Refining cultivation, they could only rent, not afford to buy, and now the housing prices are probably even more expensive. If one can afford to buy a fixed residence such as a cave dwelling or courtyard in the market, it is enough to prove that the person is wealthy, and the little fairies are still willing to give it a try. "That's not being realistic, that's being responsible for oneself." Meng Lingyun, as a female cultivator, naturally views the issue from the perspective of female cultivators and retorted, "A lifetime is too long, so one must be cautious when becoming Dao companions. If one hastily becomes Dao companions without asking anything, and later worries about pills, spirit stones, defensive artifacts and talismans, and even the rent in the market, what's the point of being Dao companions?" "I beg to differ…" Li Xuanji just shook his head and said, "Li believes that Dao companions should be a mutual pursuit between two people, not one-sided taking." "Li Daoist friend is too naive…" Meng Lingyun smiled and asked with implied meaning, "If not childhood sweethearts, how many female cultivators are willing to pursue mutually with you?" "…" Li Xuanji fell silent, then smiled and asked, "Thank you, Daoist friend, for seeing so clearly. Do you have a Dao companion?" "No…" "Then are you waiting for a willing mutual pursuer, or another object to take from?" "…" Meng Lingyun hesitated for a moment and said, "I hope for the former." "Hm?" Li Xuanji's eyes brightened upon hearing this, and he straightened his back, then lowered his voice to a magnetic middle-aged male tone and said, "Li is not only mature and steady but also devoted and responsible. I should be the one you're waiting for." "…" Meng Lingyun looked at him with difficulty and said, "Li Daoist friend, I'm trying to enlighten you, so don't repay kindness with enmity…" "Pfft, hahaha~~" Zhu Yuanzhong and Zhu Shaohong, the uncle and nephew from the Zhu family, laughed heartily upon hearing this. Zhu Yuanzhong, with more experience, knew it was inappropriate to laugh like this and coughed twice to stop. "Li Daoist friend, I'm truly sorry." He said with a suppressed smile, "Just now, my nephew and I thought of a happy event at home, not intending to mock Li Daoist friend. Please forgive us." "Yes, indeed." Zhu Shaohong also stopped laughing and nodded in agreement, "Li Daoist friend is not only mature and steady but also devoted and responsible. You are indeed a rare good man." "No worries." Li Xuanji, who had been through many romantic encounters, had long developed a thick skin and knew that the Zhu family's uncle and nephew were just unable to contain their laughter and meant no harm, so he waved it off… He had thought that after meeting Zhao Yuehua, his situation would change, but after taking a detour, he realized he still had to worry about finding a Dao companion. After all, having a Dao companion means seeking immortality together, obtaining immortal energy, refining immortal energy, and essentially having a stable path to improve one's talent. But now, even the female cultivators he encountered on the road were so shrewd, how much more realistic would the ones in the market be? Thinking of this, his worries deepened. Meanwhile, on the other side of the road… Two middle-aged cultivators with sinister faces hid in a corner, their bodies covered with talismans that concealed their aura. One was burly, holding a ghost-headed great saber, seemingly a body cultivator; the other was thin, holding talismans, seemingly a talisman master. "Big brother, the highest cultivation among these people is that bearded man, but he's only a fourth-level Qi Refining body cultivator. The other three are all early-stage Qi Refining weaklings. Should we make a move?" "Wait a bit longer, test the waters." The thin talisman master said, "After all, they are four people. If someone is hiding their cultivation, we might be in trouble." "Big brother, you're too cautious…" The burly body cultivator scoffed, "Without even a flying artifact and relying on kirin horses for travel, what cultivation could these small cultivators hide?" "Better safe than sorry…" The talisman master glanced at him and warned, "Two years ago, Zhang Mazizi's group, with the lowest being seventh-level Qi Refining, targeted a Foundation Establishment female cultivator hiding her cultivation. Now, the grass on their graves must be a foot tall." "That's different!" The body cultivator argued, "They were around the market, dealing with lucrative business, naturally more dangerous. Our small ventures are just for pocket money." "Even a mosquito's leg is meat!" The talisman master seemed to see through the travelers' true strength and waved his hand, assigning tasks, "I'll take the fourth-level Qi Refining body cultivator and the second-level youngster. You handle the two third-level ones." "Got it~~"