Chapter 9

"Uncle Han, farewell!"

"Eh, Li Xiaoyou, aren't you going to buy some spirit rice?" Han Tiezhu was not giving up, "A man is iron, but food is steel, Li Xiaoyou..."

"Next time, definitely next time!"

Wu Tao bowed, slung his bag over his shoulder, and left District D. He calculated that the few spirit stones he had earned were not enough to indulge in spirit rice.

He could just buy some ordinary rice; it was just a matter of having to pour more night soil.

Now he had to go to the market office to pay taxes.

Whenever a transaction was successful in the market, a transaction certificate had to be issued, and taxes had to be paid. If taxes were evaded, the consequences would be unimaginable if caught by the market authorities.

Wu Tao, in both his past and present lives, was a good citizen who paid taxes.

Besides, for a ten percent tax, if he was really caught by the market, it wouldn't be worth it.

The transaction amount was fourteen low-grade spirit stones, a ten percent tax, which was one low-grade spirit stone plus forty spirit fragments. He carefully took out one low-grade spirit stone and the remaining spirit fragments that Zhang Li had lent him, which was just enough.

"Here is your tax receipt. Keep it well. At the end of the year, you can bring it for a summary. If you reach a certain amount, there will be other benefits," the official who collected the transaction tax reminded Wu Tao.

Wu Tao took it and thanked him, "Thank you for the reminder."

After coming out, he carefully put the tax receipt close to his body and calculated again:

"Still thirteen low-grade spirit stones and six spirit fragments left. Rent is six low-grade spirit stones and fifteen spirit fragments, so that leaves six low-grade spirit stones and ninety-one spirit fragments. Paying Zhang Li one, I still need to buy demon silk and starfire stones, hmm..."

"Isn't it that..."

The joy of selling the magic robe immediately disappeared, and his face turned bitter.

"Ah!"

Heaving a long sigh, he came to a shop selling refining materials and asked, "Daoist friend, how much are starfire stones and demon silk?"

The shop assistant replied, "Starfire stones are two spirit fragments per piece, and demon silk is one low-grade spirit stone per pound. How much do you need?"

"Give me six starfire stones and two pounds of demon silk."

It felt like the words "-5 spirit stones" were floating above his head, and Wu Tao felt as if his heart was being cut by a knife, it hurt so much.

Carrying the bag with the starfire stones and demon silk, Wu Tao did not dare to stay in the market for long. He took several twists and turns, walked through several alleys, and only entered Xinde Lane after making sure no one was following him.

He was now carrying a great fortune, so it was better to be cautious.

Although the Western Outer City was nominally under the jurisdiction of the Five Springs Mountain disciples, who protected the safety of the scattered cultivators, there were still some desperate people.

Just as he returned to his place, he saw a plump figure standing at the door, like a wealthy man. Seeing Wu Tao, he immediately snorted, "I thought you were going to skip the rent..."

Wu Tao hurriedly approached, a flattering smile on his face, and even bent a little as he spoke, "Manager Zhou, how could I dare to..."

Manager Zhou's expression softened, "I don't think you would. Alright, no more talk. Pay this month's rent. The rent is two low-grade spirit stones, plus the four low-grade spirit stones deposit you owe, and other fees, totaling six low-grade spirit stones and fifteen spirit fragments."

Wu Tao immediately took out his spirit stone bag, poured out all six low-grade spirit stones into his palm, and counted out fifteen spirit fragments, handing them over, "Manager Zhou, I've prepared it. Please check."

Manager Zhou counted them, took out a storage bag with his left hand, and the spirit stones in his right hand disappeared into the storage bag.

Wu Tao looked at him enviously. This was a storage bag. I wonder when I can have one? I wonder if I can ask Manager Zhou to let me touch it...

Seeing his envious look, Manager Zhou did not mind and said, "Alright, I'll go to the next house to collect rent."

"Manager Zhou, wait a moment..." Wu Tao called out to Manager Zhou, took out ten spirit fragments from his storage bag, and offered them with both hands, "I just came to the Western Outer City, and I'm short on funds. Thanks to Manager Zhou for being willing to lend me the deposit. This is a small token of my appreciation, please have a cup of tea."

Manager Zhou looked at Wu Tao, laughed, and took the spirit fragments from Wu Tao, "You're a smart kid, it's worth the risk I took to lend you the deposit."

Seeing that he accepted it, Wu Tao was overjoyed and nodded, "Yes, yes, Manager Zhou is a good person."

Manager Zhou put away the spirit fragments and waved his hand, "Alright, I know the difficulties of scattered cultivators. You should get rid of the evil aura on your body. The longer you stay, the longer I can collect rent."

"Ah..." Wu Tao's face changed, "Manager Zhou, you... you know I'm possessed, why are you still willing to rent to me? Aren't you afraid..."

Manager Zhou chuckled, "Afraid it will become a haunted house? What's there to be afraid of? If you die, everything you have will be mine. Besides, the previous tenant of the room you're staying in died in there."

Seeing Wu Tao's frightened expression, he laughed, "The path of cultivation is full of tribulations. Whether a house is haunted or not doesn't matter. In the Western Outer City, many scattered cultivators die in their rooms after exhausting their lifespan while breaking through a realm..."

"Alright, I still have several streets of rent to collect, I won't chat with you anymore."

Watching Manager Zhou's fat back disappear, Wu Tao stood there for a while before coming to his senses. He patted his numb cheeks and muttered, "Manager Zhou is right. Why should a cultivator care about these things? Besides, Manager Zhou saw that I was possessed but still rented to me and lent me the deposit, which is a favor to me."

"Even if I die, Manager Zhou taking my possessions would be... like a burial fee..."

Wu Tao muttered and came to Zhang Li's door, knocking.

Clang!

Zhang Li opened the door, and her face, with the charm of a young woman, appeared. He took out a low-grade spirit stone from his pocket and handed it to her, smiling, "Daoist Zhang, here's the spirit stone I owe you."

Zhang Li glanced at it, took the spirit stone, and said, "You're a man of your word, you said you'd pay in two days, and you did."

"Of course, Daoist Zhang trusts me, so I won't let you down. But overall, I must thank Daoist Zhang for lending me the spirit stone. Lending me the spirit stone is like saving my life..."

Zhang Li replied, "It's just one spirit stone, not as serious as you make it sound. Alright, I need to cultivate."

"Then... Daoist Zhang, farewell!" Wu Tao bowed and watched Zhang Li close the door.

Wu Tao returned to his room, took out his spirit stone bag, and counted. Eighty-one spirit fragments. He couldn't help but sigh again. How could spirit stones be so hard to come by? In just one day, they were all gone.

"Life is too hard!"

Sighing, he thought about becoming a first-level初级炼器师, and couldn't help but feel happy. He took out the starfire stones and demon silk and started calculating.

"I have two sets of refining materials. If I refine one magic robe, I'll earn fourteen low-grade spirit stones. If I use all of it to buy more refining materials and refine two more magic robes, I'll earn twenty-eight low-grade spirit stones..."

"Ha ha ha, the spirit stones will only accumulate more, and life will become more promising..."

"I can buy the Evil-Breaking Talisman soon..."

"Right, after getting rid of the evil aura, I'll go to the Five Springs Mountain Refining Hall to take the refining master certification exam. With the certification, people won't have an excuse to haggle, and the stall fees and transaction taxes can be reduced..."

"I wonder how difficult the exam will be..."

Calculating, Wu Tao felt that his future life would only get better. He was so excited that his mouth was almost split to his ears.

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