Surprise Shopping !

After Alex arrived at the illustrious Hundred Treasures Hall, he found Sam patiently waiting for him. 

The place's grandeur didn't fail to impress Alex, who couldn't help but express his awe. 

"Brother Sam, what sort of treasures do you intend to acquire today? And did you manage to sell those three symbolic papers?"

"Haha!" 

A faint smile graced Sam's lips as he responded, "Fortune favored me, and I managed to sell them all."

Alex, in mock despair, exclaimed melodramatically,

  "Nooooooo! Have you unwittingly cheated someone? This could be an ill omen! What if those who bought the symbols come after us, seeking retribution for their perceived loss?"

Sam retorted with a hint of indignation, "Do you truly believe I resorted to trickery, creating counterfeit inscriptions?"

Alex, concerned about ringing his voice, replied, 

"I'm not suggesting you intentionally deceived anyone. I'm merely worried about what might happen if those inscriptions fail to function as promised. We've spent a considerable sum today, and if they don't deliver, we might find ourselves in trouble."

Sam reassured him with a smile and a shake of his head. 

"Fear not, my friend, there's no cause for concern. Let's proceed with our shopping."

This declaration came as Sam stepped boldly into the opulent entrance of the Hundred Treasures Hall, much to Alex's surprise. 

He had expected a mere rendezvous and perhaps a venture to the city square or a smaller shop. 

He had never considered approaching the Hundred Treasures Hall, a renowned place known for selling artifacts for hundreds or even thousands of gold.

Alex, flabbergasted, questioned, "Brother Sam, are we really going to shop here?"

Sam confirmed, "Indeed, we are."

The storekeeper, upon seeing Sam's unassuming attire and youthful appearance, recalled him as the young man who had attempted to sell inscription symbols not long ago. 

Frustration tugged at the edges of the storekeeper's demeanor as he addressed Sam impatiently, 

"You again? I've already told you that I'm not interested in your inscription symbols."

Unperturbed, Sam revealed, "I have come today not to sell, but to purchase."

The storekeeper, underestimating Sam's newfound financial capacity, couldn't help but display a hint of disdain. 

In his experience, those inscription symbols held little to no value. 

Given their production cost, they might fetch a few dozen gold at best.

To him, Sam was a naive rustic who overestimated the worth of his merchandise.

Sam, undeterred, voiced his intent, "My inscription symbols are sold, and I have come to shop."

With skepticism lingering, the storekeeper conceded but maintained an air of irritation. 

"Very well, but I won't entertain your inscriptions again."

Sam, eyes glinting with appreciation for the hall's dazzling wares, turned to Alex. "Alex, is there anything you desire?"

Alex, still taken aback by their unexpected visit, forced a smile. 

"Brother Sam, your choice of shopping locale caught me off guard. Although browsing is free, did you notice the way the storekeeper looked at us, as if we were country bumpkins? It made me feel rather uncomfortable."

Sam, unfazed by the storekeeper's attitude, suggested, "Ignore his narrow-mindedness. If you don't have something in mind, I'll help you choose. How about flexible armor?"

Alex shook his head emphatically. 

"Brother Sam, let us not waste time here. If we choose something from the Hundred Treasures Hall, we may not be able to afford it. Imagine that when that day comes, you'll avoid them, but I'll be the one left to bear the weight of their wrath."

Sam struggled to find a response to Alex's skepticism and lamented, 

" Did I ever waste your time?"

"When have you not hatched some grand scheme?" Alex chuckled. Look at me; I'm a straightforward, good-natured individual. Please feel sorry for me..."

"Haha Haha ! " 

Sam couldn't help but laugh as he revealed a stack of golden banknotes peeking from his chest pocket. 

"Well, what do you say to this?"

Alex, rendered momentarily speechless by the sight of the golden banknotes in a red envelope, blinked in disbelief. 

His mind went blank, and his eyes glazed over.

Sam explained, "These are 1,000 gold banknotes."

The realization hit Alex like a bolt of lightning. 

"1,000 gold banknotes! And there are several of them, perhaps totaling 10,000 gold !"

Sam quipped, "Indeed, up to 10,000 gold ."

Overwhelmed, Alex stammered, "Brother Sam, did you rob someone? It can't be right, even with your martial arts skills, stealing so much..."

Sam, slightly exasperated, countered, "I earned this money by selling inscriptions. I'll explain everything, but promise me you won't divulge a word."

Alex eagerly consented, "I promise!"

With Alex's assurance, Sam began his tale. 

"Well, you see, I have a secret. When I was twelve, my master appeared, recognizing my exceptional talent and destiny. He trained me to maintain world peace and taught me inscription techniques."

Alex, skeptical of the fantastical story, interjected, "Are you being serious, Brother Sam?"

Sam affirmed, "I'm not lying. I truly have a master."

Alex scoffed, "Come on, if you've had a master and years of inscription training, why did you ask me what inscription techniques were?"

Sam admitted, "My master focused on skills but didn't provide any money. As for inscription techniques, I had studied them, but I wasn't sure of their value until you enlightened me. That's when I realized I could turn them into a source of income."

Amused by Sam's narrative, Alex marveled, "You've truly underestimated my intelligence! You practiced for only a month and created inscriptions worth thousands of gold ?"

Sam nodded, affirming the astonishing truth. 

Alex, bewildered, exclaimed, "You sold them for 3,000 gold ?"

Sam confirmed, "Exactly, 3,000 gold ."

Alex's mind raced to absorb the shocking revelation. "3... 3,000!?"

As reality settled in, Alex's plump face quivered with disbelief. 

He lowered his voice, fearing eavesdroppers, "You mean you spent just a month practicing inscription, and you can produce symbols worth 3,000 gold ?"

Sam clarified, "The facts speak for themselves. If you doubt me, there's little more I can say."

Alex, dazed and impressed, marveled, "Brother Sam, this is astounding! You've  turned a skill into a treasure trove!"

Sam chuckled, "Indeed, now let's continue shopping."

Alex, far from being ambitious or martially inclined, was content with maintaining his status as a their Family scion. 

Sam, considering a flexible armor as a form of life insurance for his friend, inquired about its material.

The storekeeper, still irked by Sam's previous visit, glanced at him impatiently and responded, "It's a high-quality treasure, detailed descriptions can be found on the notes behind the counter. Read them yourself."

This response carried a thinly veiled mockery, underscoring Sam's presumed naivety for visiting such an upscale establishment.

Sam moved toward the flexible armor and read the description. 

It was created using over twenty advanced procedures and 10,000 six-foot strands of Day Ruler Hemp combined with many thousand threads of Golden Wood Root Silkworm Silk. 

The price, 392 gold, attested to its superiority, withstanding attacks up to the fourth level of body transformation.

However, Sam didn't require such an item, and he saw it as a more suitable choice for Alex. 

Sam then spotted something that caught his attention: Golden Deer Pills and Soul Gathering Pellets. 

Until now, he had refrained from purchasing pills due to their exorbitant cost.

Golden Deer Pills were a rarity, comprising the essence of a hundred-year-old golden deer embryo, combined with various herbs. Obtaining a golden deer embryo was a daunting task, as these creatures were elusive and typically found in remote, untamed regions. 

The pills, small as grains of yellow rice, were valued at 200 gold  each.

Soul Gathering Pellets, equally precious, were made from the essence of a hundred-year-old Blood Fungus. 

These pellets enhanced soul force absorption, expediting a martial artist's cultivation. 

Priced similarly at 200 gold  each, even aristocratic family scions had to dip into their savings to afford them.

Having made his choice, Sam turned to the storekeeper and declared,

"I'll take the Golden Wood Root Silkworm Armor and wrap it up. Additionally, give me six Golden Deer Pills and ten Soul Gathering Pellets, along with the materials listed on this parchment. Ensure nothing is omitted."

Sam produced a list of materials, all essential for inscription work.