Chapter 8

"Stall 69 in District D… Where is it…"

Wu Tao weaved through the bustling market in District D, holding the stall rental voucher in his hand. He had spent sixty pieces of fragmented spirit stones to rent the stall for two days.

The market was vast, making it a bit difficult to find his way.

"Little Daoist friend, what are you looking for?"

At that moment, Wu Tao heard Han Tiezhu’s voice. He looked up and indeed saw Han Tiezhu standing at his spirit rice stall. It turned out he had unknowingly found the place.

Wu Tao approached and said, "Uncle Han, I’m looking for a stall, Stall 69 in District D. Look…"

As he spoke, he showed the stall rental voucher to Han Tiezhu.

Han Tiezhu leaned in to take a closer look and immediately smiled, saying, "Little Daoist friend, what a coincidence! Stall 69 in District D is right next to me. I’m Stall 70."

Wu Tao looked at the empty stall to Han Tiezhu’s left and indeed saw a small sign that read "Stall 69 in District D."

"This sign is too small, no wonder it was so hard to find…" Wu Tao complained, turning to thank Han Tiezhu, "Thank you, Uncle Han. Otherwise, I would have had a hard time finding it."

Han Tiezhu waved his hand with a hearty smile, "No need to be so polite. By the way, what are you selling?"

Wu Tao came to the stall, took off his backpack, laid out a cloth, and carefully placed the magic robe on it. He then took out a wooden sign he had prepared in advance and pointed to it, saying, "Uncle Han, take a look."

Han Tiezhu looked at the wooden sign and saw a line of crooked writing: "First-grade, second-level sprinting magic robe, price: fifteen pieces of low-grade spirit stones."

"You’re selling a magic robe, that’s quite something. It’s much more valuable than my spirit rice… Little Daoist friend, why don’t you sell it in District A or B? There are more people there."

Wu Tao replied, "Uncle Han, I’m a bit short on funds, and besides, I think this place is pretty good."

"Uncle, how much do you sell your spirit rice for?" Just as Han Tiezhu was about to continue talking to Wu Tao, a wandering cultivator came to ask about the price. Han Tiezhu quickly attended to the customer.

Wu Tao took out a mat, sat down cross-legged, and looked around the street. The street was full of miscellaneous goods stalls, and he was the only one selling a magic robe.

With no competition, it should sell quickly.

He watched the cultivators passing by, feeling happy in his heart.

"I have to sell it within two days."

In two days, it would be the day the real estate agent collected rent. If he didn’t sell it, he wouldn’t have the spirit stones to pay the rent and would have nowhere to stay.

The outskirts of the city were not safe.

It wasn’t because of wild beasts.

Sometimes, cultivators were more terrifying than wild beasts.

Wu Tao watched the wandering cultivators pass by. Some glanced at his stall, but when they saw the price on the wooden sign, they immediately turned away and left.

Fifteen pieces of low-grade spirit stones were indeed quite expensive for low-level wandering cultivators.

In the original owner’s time at Qingling Sect, he earned only three spirit stones a month from mining. This first-grade, second-level magic robe would require five months of living without food to buy.

Among the four arts of cultivation—magic weapons, elixirs, formations, and talismans—magic weapons, elixirs, and formations were the most expensive due to their high costs. Talismans were cheaper, with lower costs and mostly one-time use.

His magic robe took two attempts to successfully create, consuming six starfire stones and two pounds of demon silk, with a cost of five pieces of low-grade spirit stones. Selling it for fifteen pieces could be considered not expensive at all.

Moreover, there were stall fees and transaction taxes to consider.

This didn’t even include labor costs.

Han Tiezhu made a deal, earning a hundred pieces of fragmented spirit stones, his face beaming with joy. He turned to Wu Tao and said, "I don’t know your name, little Daoist friend?"

"Li Mo!" Wu Tao used a fake name.

Although Manager Wang didn’t care about him, if he ever heard that he was still alive, he might have the urge to silence him. It was better to be cautious.

Han Tiezhu smiled, "Li Mo, that’s a good name. I’ll call you Little Li. Little Li, your magic robe… I shouldn’t ask… I’m sorry… I shouldn’t pry…"

Han Tiezhu’s action was a major taboo in the cultivation world. One shouldn’t easily pry into others’ privacy. Even if Wu Tao’s magic robe was obtained improperly, it wasn’t something he could ask about.

If he encountered someone difficult to get along with, they might secretly resent him and find an opportunity to harm him, leading to regret.

This had happened before.

Wu Tao wasn’t angry, just said it was fine, and let it go.

As for saying he made it himself, he wasn’t that familiar with Han Tiezhu yet.

The day passed quickly. By sunset, the market closed, and Wu Tao had not successfully sold the magic robe, not even a single inquiry.

Han Tiezhu, on the other hand, sold ninety pounds of spirit rice, earning three pieces of low-grade spirit stones, and was very happy.

Wu Tao envied him greatly!

After a day of manning the stall, he was both physically and mentally exhausted. He packed up his stall, said goodbye to Han Tiezhu, and returned to his residence. Once back, he fell asleep immediately, not even in the mood for dinner.

The next morning, Wu Tao splashed cold water on his face. Looking at his reflection in the basin, he saw a dark spot on his forehead, which was quite noticeable.

Could it be that my dark forehead is the reason I haven’t attracted any customers? Thinking this, he took out a long black cloth and covered his forehead before heading to the market to set up his stall.

"Phew!"

He took a deep breath, mentally encouraging himself to dispel his gloomy mood. If the stall owner looked grumpy, no one would come to ask.

"Little Li, don’t worry. Business is like this. I once went three or four days without selling a single pound of spirit rice…" Han Tiezhu heard Wu Tao sigh and tried to comfort him.

"Thank you for your concern, Uncle Han."

However, Han Tiezhu didn’t know his difficulties.

The morning passed quickly. A vendor came by with a small wooden cart selling lunch. Wu Tao, feeling hungry, spent a piece of fragmented spirit stone to buy a lunch, one meat dish and one vegetable dish. He inwardly exclaimed how expensive it was, reminiscent of buying boxed meals on a train in his previous life.

After lunch, Wu Tao mustered his strength and observed the passersby. Whenever someone looked at his sign for a bit longer, he would ask if they needed a magic robe.

Hard work pays off.

After asking about ten people, a middle-aged wandering cultivator finally approached and said, "Your magic robe, fifteen pieces of low-grade spirit stones, is too expensive. Can you lower the price?"

Wu Tao smiled, "Daoist friend, this is a first-grade, second-level sprinting magic robe. I can’t lower the price any further, or I’ll be at a loss."

The middle-aged cultivator said, "A lightness talisman costs only four pieces of low-grade spirit stones and is even faster than this sprinting magic robe."

Wu Tao’s face froze, and he patiently explained, "Daoist friend, a lightness talisman is a one-time use item. Fifteen pieces of spirit stones can’t even buy four. Although it’s faster than my magic robe, my magic robe isn’t a one-time use item and can last for a long time."

The middle-aged cultivator said, "Where did you get this magic robe? If it’s not properly obtained, what if the original owner comes looking for it? That could cost you your life…"

Wu Tao took the magic robe and whispered, "Daoist friend, rest assured. Look, this magic robe is brand new and definitely not improperly obtained. I made it myself."

"You made it?" The middle-aged cultivator’s face showed a flash of surprise, but he quickly hid it. Surprise wasn’t suitable for haggling. "Can you show me your certification as a weapon maker from Wushan’s Weaponry Hall?"

"Uh…" This stumped Wu Tao; he really didn’t have one.

Seeing this, the middle-aged cultivator immediately said, "You don’t have a certification. How can I believe you made it? How can I trust the quality? I see you’re sincere in selling, and I’m sincere in buying. I’ll offer you thirteen pieces of low-grade spirit stones. If you agree, we’ll make a deal."

Thirteen pieces, six for rent, one to repay Zhang Li, one for the transaction tax, which is thirty pieces of fragmented spirit stones, leaving… Wu Tao quickly calculated in his mind and shook his head, "Daoist friend, I really can’t do it."

"Alright, if you’re not sincere in selling, then goodbye!" The middle-aged cultivator walked away without hesitation.

He was being taken advantage of. There was a time when he had done the same to others… Wu Tao quickly grabbed his hand and said, "Alright, if you really want to buy, let’s not talk about thirteen pieces of low-grade spirit stones. Fourteen pieces of low-grade spirit stones, and I’ll offer a warranty for a month. How about that?"

This was his final bottom line.

The middle-aged cultivator thought for a moment and nodded, "Deal!"

Wu Tao breathed a sigh of relief, fearing the man might change his mind, and quickly wrote out a transaction voucher. They exchanged money and goods.

Watching the man leave with the magic robe, Wu Tao felt as if the man’s back was glowing. It was so hard, but finally, it was sold.

Wu Tao almost shed tears of joy.

"Congratulations, Little Li, for selling the magic robe. Selling magic robes is good; the spirit stones just flow in. By the way, didn’t you want to buy spirit rice? I’ll weigh it for you…" Han Tiezhu looked at the fourteen pieces of white spirit stones in Wu Tao’s hand, feeling envious.

Wu Tao, hearing this, immediately put the spirit stones in a safe place and bowed, "Uncle Han, next time, definitely next time."

Now wasn’t the time to indulge.

…