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After some time, Jiang Cheng finally arrived at the market. Though a sense of unease lingered—this was no longer Earth, but a new world—he tried to suppress the nerves bubbling in his chest. Everything he knew about this place came from the memories of the original owner and the novels he had read.
He walked through the bustling market with a calm demeanor, though his mind raced. The streets were crowded with cultivators and mortals, all hurrying to their various destinations. Stalls selling spirit herbs, low-grade spirit tools, and cultivation manuals filled every corner. The smell of medicinal herbs and sizzling skewers filled the air, mixing with the faint hum of voices.
“Hey, fresh herbs! Only a few left!” one vendor shouted as a group of cultivators crowded around his stall, their robes flowing in the wind as they haggled for the best price. Nearby, a group of casual cultivators muttered to each other about the latest breakthrough in cultivation methods, boasting loudly about their own progress. Their voices blended with the hum of the market, but Jiang kept his distance.
He didn’t waste his time with the casual cultivators or their subpar goods. The fragmented memories of the original owner told him the Qinglin Sect’s stores were reliable, offering decent quality. He found the shop soon enough, its entrance marked with the Qinglin Sect’s insignia. The shop was orderly and professional, a sharp contrast to the chaotic street outside.
As he stepped inside, the scent of sandalwood and soft light from spirit stones greeted him. To his surprise, a young girl greeted him warmly. She was probably no older than sixteen or seventeen, her bright eyes and soft smile giving her an aura of kindness. Her blue robe bore the Qinglin Sect’s emblem, and Jiang immediately sensed she was at the Early Stage of Qi Refining, just like him.
"Welcome, esteemed customer," she said with a polite bow, her voice sweet. "Please, take your time. Let me know if you need anything.".
Jiang couldn’t help but blink in mild surprise. In all the novels he had read, shop assistants always seemed to have a knack for looking down on protagonists, especially when they wore cheap robes and looked like losers. He glanced down at his own simple, plain robes and the battered straw hat resting on his head. “Wait, shouldn’t she be sneering at me by now? Maybe calling me ‘trash’ or saying something like, ‘With your appearance, can you even afford to shop here?’”
His gaze shifted back to the girl, who continued smiling politely without a trace of disdain. “Huh. No mocking? No humiliation? Maybe she missed her script…”
Suppressing the urge to laugh at his own thoughts, Jiang cleared his throat and returned her smile.
“Thank you. I’m looking for a middle-grade robe—preferably white ” Jiang said, his tone calm.
The girl nodded and immediately walked over to a shelf, selecting several robes. “This one is ten low-grade spirit stones. It’s a simple white robe with self-cleaning properties, reducing damage by 10%.” She picked up a blue robe with silver embroidery. “This one is fifteen spirit stones. It offers 15% damage reduction and resists minor elemental attacks.” Finally, she picked a dark gray robe. “This one costs twenty spirit stones. It’s a stealth robe—absorbs light to make you harder to detect and offers 10% damage reduction.”
Jiang’s eyes lingered on the gray robe. It was simple yet practical, perfect for his needs.
“I’ll take the dark gray one,” he said. The girl wrapped it up and handed it over with a smile.
“That will be twenty spirit stones, please.”
Jiang handed over the stones. “How much for a small storage pouch?”
“Fifty spirit stones,” the girl replied, her tone still polite.
Jiang hesitated for a moment but then shrugged. *It’s a bit much, but I don’t have a choice.* “I’ll take it,” he said, handing over the required amount.
He continued, “What about detoxification pills?”
She smiled again. “A basic-grade bottle costs 30 spirit stones, or 50 for a middle-grade one.”
Jiang raised an eyebrow. “Do you sell them individually?”
She nodded. “Yes, a single basic-grade Detoxification Pill is 5 spirit stones, and a middle-grade one is 10 spirit stones.”
Jiang thought for a moment. “I’ll take one middle-grade Detoxification Pill,” he said, handing over the spirit stones.
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“And a middle-grade Healing Pill?” he added.
“That’s 15 spirit stones,” she replied, taking out a small bottle and handing it to him.
He nodded. “I’ll take it.”
Then Jiang’s gaze shifted. “Give me a low-grade Spirit Pen for talismans and twenty sheets of paper. The paper is three sheets for one spirit stone, correct?”
“That’s right,” the girl confirmed, “and the pen is 7 spirit stones.”
Jiang paid for both items, then added, “And five kilos of rice.”
“Of course, that’ll be 5 spirit stones,” she said.
After finishing the transaction, Jiang gathered his items and prepared to leave.
“Goodbye, and thank you,” he said as the girl smiled and wished him well.
“Come back again!” she called after him.
As he stepped back into the busy market, Jiang’s mind wandered. He still had a few things to do. His stomach rumbled slightly, so he moved toward the butcher’s stall. After a quick exchange, he purchased some spirit beast blood to use as ink for talismans, then made his way to a mortal vendor, where he bought the night clothes he’d requested.
With everything gathered, Jiang Cheng returned home.
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Once inside, Jiang closed the door behind him with a quiet sigh of relief. The familiar scent of his small, humble abode greeted him. His hands ached slightly from the bags, but he ignored the discomfort. He placed the items down beside him as he sat cross-legged on the floor of his room.
*Time to meditate.*
He closed his eyes for a moment, breathing in deeply. *I’ve done everything I can for now. No need to rush this. It’s better to progress slowly, make sure I’m solid in this stage before pushing forward. One wrong move could undo all my efforts.*
He took another deep breath, his body relaxing with each inhale. " I can’t afford to make mistakes. This world… it’s dangerous. Too many unknowns, too many people who’d try to take advantage of me."
He reached into his bag and retrieved the Detoxification Pill, swallowing it with a practiced motion. Almost immediately, warmth spread through his body, and the lingering traces of the poison in his system began to dissipate. The cool sensation of the pill worked quickly, and his Qi felt smoother, more refined.
The healing pill followed soon after, further repairing any hidden injuries or strains. He allowed the sensation of rejuvenation to wash over him as he felt his body returning to its optimal state.
His thoughts shifted to his cultivation. " I’m at the peak of the third level, just a step away from breaking through to the middle stage of Qi Refining. The pills have helped, but now... it’s up to me."
With a quiet exhale, Jiang focused his mind entirely on his dantian, picturing the swirling vortex of Qi within. He visualized the Qi gathering, circulating through his meridians in perfect rhythm. The pressure built, but Jiang remained steady, feeling the flow of energy with increasing clarity.
With a deep breath, he focused on pushing through the barrier.
The moment the pressure reached its peak, Jiang’s body trembled slightly as the surge of Qi broke through, pushing him into the middle stage of Qi Refining.
A satisfied smile tugged at his lips. I’ve done it. This is just the beginning.
Jiang Cheng stood up, stretching his limbs with a satisfied sigh. The breakthrough had been successful, and a small smile tugged at the corners of his lips. It was a modest step, but it was the beginning of something much greater. His heart felt lighter as he looked out of the small window, the evening sky painted in soft shades of orange and pink.
He glanced at his surroundings, the simplicity of his humble home serving as a reminder of how far he had come—and how far he still had to go.
Making his way to the small kitchen area, he opened a wooden cupboard, pulling out the rice, It wasn’t a grand feast, but it would do. He carefully measured out the rice, rinsing it and setting it to cook. The small pot hissed softly as he cast a small spell called flowing water technique to Summons a small stream of water to flow in a controlled manner with the rice.
While the food simmered, Jiang leaned against the counter, his thoughts wandering. The steady rhythm of his breathing calmed his mind. This was the first time since arriving in this new world that he could relax without worry.
"Not a bad start," he muttered, his fingers tapping on the wooden counter. "The road ahead won’t be easy, but at least now I know I can walk it."
The food began to take on a rich, savory scent, and Jiang smiled, satisfied with the progress he was making—not just in cultivation, but in adapting to this new life. His destiny had changed, and now, with each passing moment, he was shaping it into something entirely his own.
Once the spirit rice had cooked, its rich aroma filling the small room, Jiang Cheng took the pot off the stove and carefully dished out a generous serving. He carried the steaming bowl to his simple wooden table, settling down to eat. The rice had a satisfying, earthy taste, and he ate his fill, savoring the warmth and satisfaction that came with a small victory in his cultivation journey.
As he finished, Jiang leaned back in his chair, his stomach content. A small grin tugged at the corner of his lips. Despite the simplicity of the meal, it felt like a celebration. A quiet one, but a celebration nonetheless.
Finishing his meal, Jiang stood up, stretching and wiping his hands on his robes. The room, while cozy, had accumulated some dust over the past few days. With a quick wave of his hand, he muttered the incantation for a Dust Vanishing Spell.
A faint shimmer of energy pulsed from his fingers, and the room instantly seemed fresher. Dust and grime lifted from the wooden floors and furniture, swirling in a delicate dance before vanishing into the air. The spell was simple, but effective, and the small space now felt cleaner, more welcoming.
The faint light from the outside dimmed as the evening approached, casting long shadows across the room. The last traces of daylight faded, leaving the room bathed in soft moonlight that filtered through the small window. Jiang Cheng walked over to his bed, a thin mat on the floor, and lay down. He pulled the covers over himself, his thoughts quieting as his body sank into the warmth of the bedding.
The events of the day played through his mind—his purchases, the breakthrough, and the simple meal. It wasn’t much, but it was enough.
"Tomorrow," Jiang murmured softly, his eyes drifting shut. "I’ll prepare for the next step."
With that, the exhaustion from the day’s efforts overtook him, and he quickly fell into a peaceful sleep, the promise of the future lingering in his dreams.