Interesting.

Very interesting.

I reiterated my intent to take them all and extended my hand. However, Master Liang quickly covered the papers with his as he smiled and stated: “Five spiritual stones each, dear customer”

Oh.

Right.

I had forgotten.

You had to pay for things when you wanted to buy them at a market.

Wait.

I did not pay for the robe earlier...

I heard a sigh behind me and understood everything: Rongxia had paid for me earlier and thought that she would need to pay again.

I had money. I had simply forgotten I had to use money.

I turned to Rongxia and told her: “Show me one of those spiritual stones”

She took out a small pebble the size of a nail. It contained a very small amount of mana within.

As a matter of fact, while I owned many treasures and a lot of money. It was not the money of this world. And pebbles like those...I had none.

I gave it back to Rongxia and turned back towards Master Liang as I stated: “I do not have any”

He frowned as he took back the scrolls. Rongxia seemed like she was ready to pay for me again but I stopped her.

I took out a mana crystal instead. It was the size of a fist. And I placed them on the counter.

Master Liang's eyes opened wide.

Rongxia's eyes opened wide.

I stated: “How about this instead? It should have even more value than your spiritual pebbles”

And it was a fact.

Considering the amount of energy in one spiritual stone, a single mana crystal should be the equivalent of a hundred of them.

I had nothing of smaller value and I had billions of these stones. They were created naturally and consistantly in my world and used as a small energy source for all kinds of magical engineering products.

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Master Liang trembled as he pushed the five scrolls towards me and firmly grabbed the mana crystal as if his life depended on it.

I was quite please with myself. I earned quite a lot from this trade.

I believed Master Liang believed the same.

Meanwhile, Rongxia was still looking at me with her mouth gaping open in surprise as if unable to comprehend what happened.

I looked back at Master Liang as I realized that I drifted off-topic all this time and asked him: “Master Liang, in fact, I came here to ask you about Formations”

He pointed at two red books on a nearby shelf and, without lifting his eyes from the mana crystal, said: “Take them, they contain all the knowledge of Formations I could have”

I walked to the shelf and grabbed the books and asked: “How much do they cost?”

“Take them, take them, this is enough, more than enough!” he hurriedly mumbled while tightly grasping the mana crystal.

I was not going to reject a gift so I nodded and bid him farewell while he remained engrossed on the crystal.

Rongxia followed silently behhind me.

After only a few steps outside the shop, its door was violently slammed shut and I could hear some loud laughter from inside.

I smiled.

A happy trade like this where both parties are satisfied is always the best.

I then turned to Rongxia and took out another mana crystal to give her. She stood there motionless in incredulity as she held it in her palm.

I told her: “For the robe. It is not that I could not pay but I forgot I needed to”

She nodded absent-mindedly before pocketing the crystal in her space ring. She still looked at me in awe and curiosity.

I told her to guide me to a place where I could read without being disturbed. I had two books and five scrolls to research.

She walked next to me as she took me towards what seemed to be a restaurant.

The edifice itself appears unassuming at first, a two-story structure made of dark wood with curved tile roofs that evoke the image of a traditional pavilion. Its architecture reflects a blend of elegance and practicality.

Upon closer inspection, I notice that the building radiates an unusual energy—faint but unmistakable to someone attuned to magic- It is something akin to a smaller concentration of mana, like a mini-whirlpool. At the very least, there is more energy being attracted to this place compared to others.

The building’s entrance is framed by intricately carved beams adorned with symbols representing harmony and longevity, subtly glowing with faint spiritual energy. At its center, a large wooden sign hangs from the eaves, inscribed in elegant calligraphy, reading "The Tranquil Hearth." Soft lanterns bathe the entrance in warm light, their glow just enough to invite weary travelers inside but not too bright to disturb the peaceful atmosphere of the surrounding streets.

The windows are wide but covered with delicate paper screens, and the faint aroma of medicinal herbs mingles with the scent of freshly prepared food that wafts through the air. It gives the impression of both a place to rest and recover.

The wooden door slides open silently as we approach, revealing an interior filled with soft murmurs of conversation. The first floor features an open dining hall with low tables surrounded by cushions, where cultivators, traders, and travelers share meals. In the back corner, a staircase leads upstairs, where rooms for rest are tucked away. The ceiling is high, allowing for an intricate display of hanging lanterns that sway slightly as spiritual energy flows through the air, creating a calm and restful atmosphere.