Chapter 012: Cultivators and Immortal Practitioners

Four hundred spirit coins!

Xu Xuan’s brows lifted involuntarily, a surge of excitement stirring in his heart. The sum laid out before him was a fortune he had never possessed in his life.

“Our shop is just a modest business,” the middle-aged spirit materialist quickly explained. “We purchase materials to resell, so the price is naturally... a bit lower. However, four hundred spirit coins is by no means a small offer.”

At this point, any trace of disdain had vanished from the man’s demeanor. He understood that anyone with such keen insight and knowledge was no ordinary youth—certainly someone with an uncommon background.

“Yes, that’s about the same price my master quoted,” Xu Xuan replied calmly, pushing the basket of Ziyang Grass back onto the counter.

Master?

The middle-aged spirit materialist felt a cold sweat on his back. The master behind this boy was likely a cultivator of considerable power.

Although he himself possessed the sense for qi that only Immortals typically had, it did not mean he was a true member of their ranks. Spirit materialists were a special profession—one only needed the ability to sense qi to qualify. For example, this materialist had only reached the fourth stage of body refinement, not yet an Immortal in the Qi Refining realm. But because he could sense qi and was sensitive to its fluctuations, he was well-suited to the role.

From then on, the middle-aged spirit materialist treated Xu Xuan with utmost caution and respect, carefully storing away the materials.

“Would you like your payment in spirit stones or spirit coins?” he asked.

“One hundred in spirit coins, the remainder in inferior-grade spirit stones,” Xu Xuan replied, well-versed in the conversion.

In this world, the spirit coin was the basic currency, with the next tier being inferior-grade spirit stones. One hundred spirit coins equaled one inferior-grade spirit stone.

“Very well.” The middle-aged spirit materialist deftly handed over three inferior-grade spirit stones and one hundred spirit coins to Xu Xuan.

Clutching the weighty little pouch of coins, Xu Xuan’s heart raced with excitement, barely restraining himself from shouting in joy.

Four hundred spirit coins!

He had never had so much money in his life.

And those three inferior-grade spirit stones—when his fingers brushed across their cool, lustrous surfaces, the texture and clarity were unmistakable. Ordinary spirit coins were alloyed from several common metals of the cultivation world, with a small amount of spirit stone mixed in—making them the smallest unit of currency. The inferior-grade stones he now possessed, however, contained a much higher concentration of spiritual essence. Qi Refining Immortals could directly draw on their energy for cultivation. Even those not yet at the Immortal level could soak in a solution made from these stones to improve their body refinement.

“My family owes the Xu Clan over six hundred spirit coins, and now I’ve nearly made up the whole sum,” Xu Xuan thought, a hint of satisfaction and accomplishment in his heart as he stepped out of the Zhang Family Spirit Materials Shop.

He had just reached the threshold of the shop when he ran into two familiar faces.

“Oh? Little Xuan, you came to the Spirit Materials Shop?” Little Hong’s freckled face was filled with astonishment.

Beside her stood the graceful Yang Xiaoqian, whose beautiful, moon-bright face also showed surprise; her clear eyes lingered on Xu Xuan a moment longer.

Little Hong did not mean to belittle Xu Xuan, but a place as lavish as the Spirit Materials Shop was not somewhere a low-ranked commoner would usually set foot in. Moreover, she was well aware of Xu Xuan’s impoverished circumstances.

Even powerful clans like the Yangs or the Xus would think carefully before shopping at such a prestigious establishment.

“Heh, you must have just wandered in for a look,” Little Hong said, answering herself.

Xu Xuan smiled faintly, choosing not to explain. Inwardly, he wondered what business Yang Xiaoqian had at the shop.

Xu Xuan’s silence seemed to confirm their assumptions. The girl he had once regarded with a vague, distant affection, Yang Xiaoqian, let her expression return to normal and thought privately, “That must be it.”

Both girls were certain Xu Xuan had only wandered in by accident.

“Young man, wait a moment.”

The middle-aged spirit materialist hurried over.

“What is it?” Xu Xuan turned to him.

“Ah, young man, about earlier—please be generous...” The man wore a flattering smile and drew Xu Xuan to one side.

Xu Xuan paused, then suddenly felt a small money pouch pressed into his palm—judging by the weight, several dozen spirit coins. He immediately understood.

The Zhang Family Spirit Materials Shop was a highly reputable establishment in Pinghua Town, with a history spanning two or three centuries—a name people trusted. The spirit materialist, having seen Xu Xuan’s knowledge and bearing, realized he was no ordinary youth. If Xu Xuan were to speak of the earlier incident, it might not affect the shop much, but the materialist himself could well face punishment, perhaps even dismissal.

Yang Xiaoqian, with her elegant and slender figure, halted in surprise. Her bright, clear eyes looked at Xu Xuan in astonishment. As the daughter of the prestigious Yang family, she naturally recognized the background of the Zhang family’s shop. Any spirit materialist’s status far surpassed that of commoners; even the Yang family treated them with respect.

Yet now, the spirit materialist, a figure she had always regarded as lofty, seemed almost eager to please the young Xu of the Xu family.

Xu Xuan, his back to the two girls, pocketed the coins and said with a smile, “Even my master greatly esteems the Zhang Family Spirit Materials Shop’s reputation.”

The middle-aged man heaved a sigh of relief and watched Xu Xuan depart.

“Little Xuan, did you know that spirit materialist?” asked Little Hong, who had just come over, her expression stupefied.

Yang Xiaoqian’s beautiful eyes brimmed with curiosity as she studied the farm boy, who seemed so different from before. With her intelligence, she could not fail to notice the calm confidence with which Xu Xuan now addressed her.

In truth, the maid’s question was half inspired by Yang Xiaoqian herself. But as the young lady of a grand family, she maintained her proper reserve—especially in front of someone of lower status.

“We only met once,” Xu Xuan said lightly, his gaze steady as he looked upon the girl he had long admired from afar, the one who had always seemed gentle, noble, and unreachable.

For the first time in his life, Xu Xuan dared to look directly at her, appreciating her beauty with open admiration, rather than the furtive glances of his shy, younger self.

Even now, Xu Xuan could not help but admit to himself that Yang Xiaoqian was a rare beauty, her appearance and bearing equally outstanding—a delight to behold.

With just those few words, Xu Xuan passed by the two girls.

Little Hong stared in disbelief, unable to reconcile the poised youth before her with the shy, self-effacing boy she remembered.

Even Yang Xiaoqian’s luminous eyes flickered with surprise; for the first time, her manner showed a hint of unease.

As Xu Xuan passed the two girls and left the shop, a commotion erupted on the street outside.

“Look! The Immortals are coming...”

“Heavens, they’re cultivators!”

The crowds lining the street gazed skyward in awe.

Xu Xuan looked up and was stunned.

Above the rooftops of Pinghua Town, at a height of over a hundred meters, a white-feathered sailboat hovered in midair, its sails gleaming with azure light that shimmered in harmony with the clouds.

The vessel, some twenty meters long, was suspended by powerful, mysterious array magic.

From that soaring ship, a pair—a young man and woman, as dazzling as celestial beings—slowly drifted down from the sky.

The young man, elegant and handsome, looked barely a year or two older than Xu Xuan. He wore fine robes and exuded an air of refinement, descending on a two-meter-long, blue-glowing sword, bathed in an ethereal radiance.

Beside him, a beautiful young woman, her face as exquisitely delicate as porcelain, wore a flowing blue robe. Silken sashes fluttered around her as she stepped onto a broad, jade-green ribbon, descending in a haze of colored light.

“Immortals...” Xu Xuan breathed, shaken to his core, his eyes filled with longing.

To soar through the sky upon objects—this was far beyond the reach of ordinary cultivators.

“I never expected cultivators of such level to visit Pinghua Town. To ride the wind, they must at least be at the fourth level of the Immortal rank...” Yang Xiaoqian’s eyes glowed with awe and reverence.

The street, after its initial uproar, quickly fell silent, broken only by hushed whispers.

Xu Xuan noticed that the two celestial visitors were descending toward the Zhang Family Spirit Materials Shop.

“I didn’t expect the young master to personally inspect the place—I should have prepared a grander welcome!”

An elder in fine robes, accompanied by stewards, materialists, and servants, hurried out to greet them.

The group, led by the elder, were all high-ranking figures in Pinghua Town, yet they now appeared anxious and deferential.

“Welcome, young master and young lady,” they chorused, ushering the pair inside.

“They say the Zhang Family’s business is owned by the illustrious Zhang clan of Yellow Dragon City. That must be the young master himself,” someone murmured.

“It’s said the young master’s name is Zhang Feng—he’s a prodigy known throughout two thousand miles of Yellow Dragon City. Seeing him today, the rumors are true...”

“And the young lady—she’s as pure and ethereal as a fairy!”

Whispers of awe rippled through the crowd.

“It’s just a routine inspection—no need for such ceremony,” the dashing young master replied with a smile, as he was swept into the inner hall.

Yang Xiaoqian watched him go, her radiant eyes momentarily dazed.

Utterly shaken, Xu Xuan left the Zhang Family Spirit Materials Shop. He needed to hurry home, lest he be stranded outside after dark.

Yet his heart was far from calm; the sight of the young master soaring through the air, commanding the admiration of all, lingered in his mind.

“If only I could wield such power and magic—then I would truly stand above the rest.”

Xu Xuan drew a deep breath, his eyes shining with newfound determination. His ambitions shifted, his path in life growing ever clearer.

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