Book 1- The Start of Cultivation Chapter 17: Was I Just Cheated Into Staying Here?

Xue San was astonished by this sudden development, but with no one to turn to for answers, he decided to figure it out latter

"I can't keep going like this. I need to get strong enough to protect myself. And that feeling... that rage..." Xue San's thoughts drifted to the book he had read about how people like him lost control and became more beast than human. But he couldn't do anything about it now, so, like any youth his age, he pushed it to the back of his mind, deciding to ignore it for now.

The remainder of the journey passed without incident, and at long last, they arrived at Darkwood City.

Nestled at the base of Sleeping Giant Mountain, Darkwood City was a bustling enclave teeming with life. Renowned for its abundance of magical plants, the city drew cultivators from all corners of the kingdom. Its most prized export was darkwood—a rare, mystical timber essential for crafting flying vessels and countless other magical artifacts. The air was suffused with the scent of enchanted herbs and freshly hewn darkwood, creating an atmosphere ripe with adventure and possibility.

They passed through the checkpoint with ease. Once inside, Ma Wei expressed his gratitude and his regret over the lost members, and then they parted ways.

"So, what will you do now?" Xue San asked Meng Xi.

"We'll be staying here for a while before returning to the sect," she replied. "We're going to try our luck at the medicine shops and the auction houses to see if we can find some medicinal pills to help Ren Xiang. You're welcome to join us if you like."

"No, I still have another mission to complete," Xue San said, his tone growing a bit colder without him even realizing it.

And who could blame him? Even though Meng Xi hadn't gone through with her plan to kill him, she would have done it if it hadn't been for the bandit attack and the subsequent chain of events.

Meng Xi smiled bitterly. "Well, I wish you luck. Oh, and here, take this." She tossed a small bag to him.

"What is it?" Xue San asked.

"I know this is nothing compared to the favor we owe you, but consider it a small compensation. If it weren't for you, we might not have survived." Then Meng Xi turned and left with the others.

Xue San briefly peeked inside the bag; there appeared to be a few bottles containing pills and some money. He closed the bag and began searching for a place to stay.

Suddenly, Xue San spun around and caught a small hand reaching for his bag.

"Ahhh!" came a startled yelp.

"What do you think you are doing?" he demanded.

It was a small boy. By his tattered attire, he looked like he lived in the slums; his face was smeared with dirt, his hair unkempt, and he emitted a nauseating odor.

"Please, Mister, I was just too hungry. I promise I won't do it again; I was just too hungry," the little boy pleaded.

Xue San looked him up and down. "I will give you two silver coins if you show me around the city."

The boy's eyes lit up. "Yes, Mister, of course! What would you like to see first, Mister? The medicinal shops, the auction house, or maybe the red district?" he asked with a grin that seemed out of place on someone his age.

"Show me a place where I can rest and have some food."

"Of course, Mister. Would you like to go to a place for cultivators or mortals?" the boy inquired.

"There are places only for cultivators?" Xue San asked, surprised.

"Yes! The inns for cultivators are amazing. They even have formations in each room so that you aren't disturbed during cultivation. They also have cultivators guarding the place. The big clans of Darkwood City usually run these inns, but the prices are very high.

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"Take me to the inns for cultivators," Xue San decided.

After walking for some time, the boy led Xue San to a three-story building. To be honest, compared to the other inns he had seen along the way, this one didn't seem to be among the best, but he followed the boy inside nonetheless.

The first floor of the inn featured a guest area and a reception desk; adjacent to it was what appeared to be a restaurant.

"Hello, Sir, how can I help you?" a middle-aged man behind the counter greeted him.

"How much is a room?" Xue San asked.

"For the regular rooms, it's 60 gold coins a day. If you wish, we also have our VIP room; it costs one Low-Grade Qi Replenishing Pill or materials of equivalent value. All our rooms include one meal a day."

Xue San was briefly stunned by the exorbitant price. He was no longer the naive youth he once was; he understood the value of money now, and 60 gold coins was an outrageous sum. Even so, he decided to pay. He needed a safe place to rest and contemplate his next move.

He fished the gold coins from the bag Meng Xi had given him and paid the man. He didn't forget about the little boy; he took out two silver coins and handed them to him.

"Here you go, Sir. Your room is on the second floor, room 212. This token opens the door," the man said, handing him a token etched with the number 212.

As Xue San ascended the stairs, he decided to survey the inn using that strange power he had acquired. Concentrating, everything within the inn became visible to him, except for some of the rooms; they seemed shrouded in a kind of fog.

But what surprised him the most was the sight of the middle-aged man behind the counter smiling and tossing a silver coin to the little boy.

"Was I just cheated into staying here?" Xue San thought to himself. "There are still many things I have to learn, apparently," he mused bitterly.

Back in his room, Xue San activated the formation using the key, sealing himself within its protective aura. He sat on the bed and emptied the contents of the bag. Ignoring the money for now, his gaze settled on the bottles of pills.

There were five bottles, but only two types of pills. One he recognized immediately—the Qi Replenishing Pill. The other was unfamiliar.

But Meng Xi predicted that Xue San might not know what it was, so she left a description on one of the bottles, these were Fasting Pills, used to replenish nutrients and serve as a substitute for food during long meditation sessions. One pill was enough to forgo food for two days, even mortals could consume them safely.

There was one bottle containing ten Poor-Grade Qi Replenishing Pills, another with five Low-Grade Qi Replenishing Pills, and the rest contained Fasting Pills, each bottle holding six pills each, whose quality he couldn't ascertain.

As for the gold coins, after paying for the room, he still had twenty gold coins, along with two gold banknotes issued by the kingdom, each worth 500 gold coins.

From Jin Fu, Xue San had learned that the best way to carry wealth was through these banknotes or even a jade card, which could be used to withdraw funds when needed or to make large transactions.

Most of the major clans used only notes and cards for their dealings.

Xue San was astonished at his newfound wealth. He had a total of 1,020 gold coins, plus some silver ones, 11 Poor-Grade Qi Replenishing Pills, 5 Low-Grade pills, and 11 Mid-Grade ones. There were also the 18 Fasting Pills, though he wasn't certain of their quality.

He decided that tomorrow he would visit the medicine shops in Darkwood City to see if he could find out about it.

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In a dimly lit chamber, Ma Wei knelt on one knee. Before him loomed a figure seemingly woven from shadows.

"So, you believe these two could be useful to us?" the shadowy figure inquired.

"Yes, Master Shadow. I have witnessed their skills, especially that of the youth named Xue San. I believe they have the potential to become prominent members of the Soaring Sword Sect in the future. It would be prudent to invest in them now and bring them in as Surface Level members," Ma Wei responded confidently.

"Very well. Investigate their backgrounds thoroughly. If nothing is amiss, you may extend an invitation, if they prove useful, you will also get your compensation" the shadowy figure decreed.

"Yes, thank you, Sir," Ma Wei replied, bowing deeply.

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The next morning, Xue San awoke feeling refreshed and rejuvenated. Despite appearances, he hadn't truly rested during the journey; lingering doubts about Meng Xi and the others had weighed heavily on him, making the trip exceedingly taxing.

After a hearty breakfast, he decided to explore the city.

Stepping outside the inn, he noticed the little boy from before lingering nearby, as if waiting for someone. Upon spotting Xue San, the boy's eyes lit up, and he hurried over.

"Good morning, Mister! Do you need a guide for today too?" he asked eagerly.

"Yes. But instead of taking me to the places you're paid to steer me toward, how about showing me the best ones? And instead of two silver coins, I'll give you two gold ones," Xue San proposed.

The boy's eyes widened in disbelief. "Are... are you serious? Two gold coins?"

"Yes," Xue San affirmed.

"Then what would you like to see first?"

"Medicinal shops."

"Yes! If you want the best one, then it has to be the Azure Cloud Alchemy Pavilion. It's run by the City Governor, a member of the Ling Royal Clan. There's also the shop owned by the Bluemoon Merchant Guild, but I think the Azure Cloud Alchemy Pavilion is superior."

"Lead the way," said Xue San.

They walked for about twenty minutes before arriving at their destination.

The Azure Cloud Alchemy Pavilion was a magnificent three-story structure crafted from gleaming white stone. Its sweeping, curved roofs were adorned with azure tiles that mirrored flowing clouds. Intricate carvings of mythical creatures and swirling vapors embellished the wooden pillars and doorways. Large crystal windows displayed shelves lined with rare herbs and pills, casting a soft, ethereal light onto the bustling street. A grand double-door entrance beckoned customers into its serene, fragrant interior.

"I'll wait for you outside, Sir. You can go in," the boy said.

"You're not coming?" Xue San asked.

"People like me aren't allowed in places like this," he replied quietly.

Xue San paused for a moment, contemplating, but then nodded and entered.

As he stepped inside, his senses were immediately enveloped by a delicate yet potent blend of aromas from the myriad plants and pills.

Before he could fully take in his surroundings, a female attendant approached him.

"Good morning, Sir. How may I assist you?" she asked, her smile professional yet warm.

"Oh, nothing in particular. I'm just browsing," Xue San replied.

"Of course. If you need anything, please don't hesitate to ask."

He wandered among the displays, examining the various plants. He recognized all of them, realizing they weren't particularly rare. Unfortunately, while he knew the herbs, he lacked any recipes or knowledge of pill concoction.

Moving to the pills section, Xue San found himself astounded—not just by the variety of pills but also by their prices.

There was the Fair Complexion Pill, designed to maintain one's youthful appearance, priced at 200 gold coins, and the Mindstream Pill, used to keep one's mind calm and focused during critical moments like meditation or pill concoction, costing 350 gold coins—all of them Poor-Grade.

He noted the Fasting Pill priced at 30 gold coins and the Qi Replenishing Pill at 50 gold coins. But unlike the others, these two pills were available up to the Mid-Grade.

A Low-Grade Fasting Pill was priced at 90 gold coins, while a Mid-Grade one soared to 240 gold coins. As for the Qi Replenishing Pill, a Low-Grade version was 150 gold coins, and a Mid-Grade cost was a staggering 400 gold coins.

Taking this opportunity, Xue San compared the Fasting Pills on display with those he had. After some time he concluded that those in his possession were Low-Grade. The ones displayed were a tad bigger and their color was also a little washed, compared to his—a discovery that pleased him greatly.