Chapter 49 – First Attempt at Cultivation

One spirit pearl for ten thousand taels, or even one hundred thousand taels — whenever the shop assistant quoted such exchange rates, those hearing it for the first time would inevitably gasp in disbelief. From the assistants’ perspective, such reactions were rather amusing.

The exchange rate was high simply because one side held little value. In a world where cultivators were everywhere and even poultry and farm crops were imbued with spiritual energy, what was a tiny spirit pearl even worth?

Of course, the shop assistant could never say such a thing aloud — how would they sell spirit pearls otherwise? Their pawnshop was still counting on silver and gold to open new branches in the mortal world.

But this young master seemed a bit too sharp, seeing right through the value problem with a single glance. Business was going to be tricky.

“Young master, are you exchanging or not?” the shop assistant asked, unbothered — a big establishment had no need to fear losing one customer.

“I’ll exchange for ten spirit pearls first.”

For now, gold and silver were worth even less than mountain ginseng or spirit mushrooms, and once they reached Cangyun Ravine they would likely devalue further. Better to spend what was on hand.

“Right away!” The shop assistant beamed and counted out ten spirit pearls, placing them in a small pouch. “We’ll throw in a coin purse for free.”

Zhan Changfeng completed the transaction and continued searching for a bookshop, eventually finding one. The storefront looked rather grand, so the selection inside ought to be fairly comprehensive.

“Shopkeeper, do you have any books on cultivation and herbology?”

“Plenty — what area specifically are you looking for?”

“May I browse for myself?”

“Go ahead.” The shopkeeper pointed to two bookshelves. “Have a look over there, but you cannot open any books with a sealed strip — you may only read the summary on the cover.”

Zhan Changfeng glanced around casually. The books on the other shelves were still priced in taels of silver, one or three taels apiece, but on these two shelves the prices jumped straight to one spirit pearl or three spirit pearls — incomparable by any measure.

The shelf labeled as cultivation-related held titles like 《The Importance of Finding a Good Master》, 《An Overview of All Sects》, and 《Inspirational Tales of Rogue Cultivators》 — all dubious reference works that sounded vaguely related but weren’t quite there. Zhan Changfeng reached directly for the most expensive one, whose title also seemed the most reliable: 《A Detailed Explanation of Basic Cultivation Knowledge》.

“Good eye, young friend! That’s our best-selling title — guaranteed authentic. We just brought it back from Cangyun Ravine last year. Many cultivators use it to enlighten their younger generations. Extremely practical!” the shopkeeper said with a smile.

“Does it cover cultivation realms?”

“Yes, yes it does — all the fundamental knowledge about cultivation is in there. And if young friend adds one more spirit pearl, I’ll throw in a fist technique manual for free.”

“Hmm, I’ll think about that later.” Zhan Changfeng then asked, “Do you have anything like a medical scripture?”

The shopkeeper shook his head. “Even in the mortal world, no one sells secret medical arts openly — cultivators certainly wouldn’t. Medical scriptures and medicinal classics are closely guarded secrets of sects and clans, kept at the same level of secrecy as cultivation techniques.”

“That’s fair,” Zhan Changfeng said, picking up a copy of 《Herbal Identification》. “I have long yearned for the world of cultivation. I’ve heard talk of reviving the dead and restoring flesh to bare bones — I wonder if there’s any truth to it.”

The shopkeeper grew animated. “Young friend had best not believe such things too readily.”

“So there’s nothing like that?”

“Oh, there is,” the shopkeeper said, pointing upward. “I’ve heard of a pill that can revive the dead, and of a pool of water that can restore flesh to bone — but those are all matters of the Upper Realm. Best to keep our feet on the ground and not chase after things without substance, lest the mind grow clouded.”

“What is the Upper Realm?”

“Everything beyond Cangyun Ravine.”

“And what pill is this? What water?”

The shopkeeper thought to himself that the young indeed had heavy curiosity, and reached up to pull out a copy of 《A Collection of Heaven-Gifted Earthly Treasures》. “Things that can revive the dead and restore flesh to bone — there are no fewer than ten kinds listed in here. Pity though, of the two hundred and thirty thousand types of things recorded within, I haven’t laid eyes on a single one. Take it home and broaden your horizons — that’s worth something at least.”

Zhan Changfeng took 《A Detailed Explanation of Basic Cultivation Knowledge》 and 《A Collection of Heaven-Gifted Earthly Treasures》. “Oh, by the way — do you have any books introducing the customs and geography of Cangyun Ravine?”

“Of course, just ten taels. Add one more tael and I’ll throw in a complete map.” Recently, demand for Cangyun Ravine maps had been extremely high; the shopkeeper’s tall stack of maps was almost gone, and he was already calculating how to print another hundred copies.

“We’ll take them.”

The Coachman settled the bill. The ten spirit pearls exchanged earlier were spent to the last one. He cradled the purchased items in his arms and bowed his head, murmuring quietly, “Your Highness, we have fifty taels left.”

“Mm.”

“…” The Coachman pulled a long face and hinted carefully, “The most ordinary room in a regular inn costs two taels.”

The Coachman also thought the books at the bookshop were outrageously expensive — practically highway robbery — but since he knew nothing about the prices in the cultivation world, he had kept quiet.

What he did know, however, was that fifty taels would absolutely not be enough to lodge them both in this place for half a month.

Zhan Changfeng had a loose relationship with money. When it came to spending, she only asked whether something was worth it. As for running out of money — they would simply earn more. “Let’s find somewhere to stay first.”

She was unhurried; the Coachman could do nothing but follow along, figuring that at worst he could go hunt in the mountains for something to sell. They would get by.

After touring the town and taking in much of its daily life, they walked into an inn.

“Innkeeper, do you have any vacant rooms?”

“We do.” The innkeeper clicked his abacus beads and looked up with a smile.

“Two rooms,” said the Coachman.

“Two rooms, two spirit pearls.”

“…”

No wonder the place was so empty.

The Coachman was indignant. “Innkeeper, what kind of rooms do you have that cost so much?”

“There are cheaper options — go outside town and lay your own bedroll,” the innkeeper said, lowering his head back to his accounts, clearly disinclined to continue the conversation.

“Young master, this person’s attitude is terrible. Let’s try somewhere else.”

But the second inn had the same price. “If you don’t want to stay, plenty of others will. You should know that the envoys from Cangyun Ravine stayed with us in previous years — one spirit pearl gives you the chance to see an envoy in person. That’s a bargain!”

Zhan Changfeng asked humbly, “What do the envoys from Cangyun Ravine come here for?”

The innkeeper glanced at the books the Coachman was holding in his arms and smiled. “This year happens to fall on a yin year, yin hour, and yin calendar — on the fifteenth of the seventh month, a Ghost City will manifest. There are many opportunities within the Ghost City, and cultivators both from here and from Cangyun Ravine will come for it.”

“Where is the Ghost City?”

“Follow the Hundred Ghosts and you’ll find it,” the innkeeper said vaguely.

“Many thanks.”

Zhan Changfeng could see she would get no more useful information and simply led the Coachman away.

“Your Highness, shall I go hunt something to exchange for money?”

“No need. Let’s go outside town.”

“Surely you don’t actually intend to sleep in the open,” the Coachman said, blaming himself greatly.

She felt the cool, damp mountain breeze and shook her head. “Go to Wuhe Village and buy some house-building tools. Find a carpenter while you’re at it.”

Outside town there were quite a few tents. Some belonged to those who couldn’t afford lodging; most belonged to people who had come seeking immortality but, being ordinary mortals, could not even see the small town — they were huddled together one against the next.

When Zhan Changfeng walked out of the town, she drew quite a bit of attention. To those outside, it appeared as if a person had suddenly materialized out of thin air, and it was rare for anyone to come out.

Even those who did come out wore an aloof expression and would not exchange a single word with the outsiders.

They assumed Zhan Changfeng would be the same — but to their surprise, she simply sat down on a clean, flat rock, spread out two books and a map side by side, and began reading a volume she held in hand with visible enjoyment.

A fierce and menacing large man stood guard nearby with a blade, deterring anyone from approaching.

“What’s she doing? Could this be a little immortal child coming out to test people?”

“Did you see that, did you see that — there’s a real immortal!”

Of course, there were those who scoffed as well. “Just a pauper who can’t afford an inn room, putting on airs — what’s there to look at?”

“That’s not right — look at the book in her hand. I saw it in the bookshop. It costs seven spirit pearls. If she has the money to buy books like that, surely she can afford an inn. Could this really be some senior deliberately coming to test people?”

“Maybe she’s an envoy from Cangyun Ravine, looking to select a few disciples early.”

Those who desperately yearned for the path of cultivation felt no small ripple stir in their hearts. On the road to seeking immortality, not a single possibility could be overlooked.