Chapter 4

"Primal Array? What is it used for?" Jiang Chenxing stared in surprise at the circular, intricate pattern and the star-like highlights.

"Huff, huff, inhale... inhale, inhale, huff, huff..." As he followed the breathing technique, Jiang Chenxing saw the circular pattern spreading from his mind outward. As the pattern spread, the star-like highlights grew brighter, and a buzzing sound filled his head.

His breathing quickened, and the Primal Array continued to spread. Jiang Chenxing felt the pattern reach his neck, and the highlights in his mind began to vibrate slightly.

Suddenly, a flash of insight struck him: "I get it, those highlights are the Yuan Quan. The purpose of the Primal Array must be to activate the Yuan Quan!"

This thought made Jiang Chenxing focus entirely on the highlights. Since last night, he had been curious about the Yuan Quan.

However, when he observed closely, he noticed that the dense highlights formed the shape of a brain.

"The Yuan Quan must be referring to neurons... Yes, neurons! Otherwise, how would the highlights form the shape of a brain? I've seen it on educational channels before... Neurons are the source of brain waves. So, activating the Yuan Quan might stimulate the neurons to control the release of brain waves... to draw in primordial energy... Right, resonance! Brain waves affect the vibration frequency of external primordial energy..."

After a series of deductions, Jiang Chenxing was amazed. He had heard that activating the Yuan Quan was difficult, but now he realized just how challenging it was. Although he didn't know how people in this world cultivated, controlling brain waves seemed incredible.

After his surprise, he became excited. The effect of the array was clear. If he could activate the Yuan Quan, he would regain his noble status. Although the production and lifestyle in this world were relatively backward and simple, he was confident he could earn money. However, in such a rigidly hierarchical environment, lacking the appropriate status would leave him vulnerable to predators.

After a short while, Jiang Chenxing's unique breathing rhythm paused, and he returned to normal. The mist, highlights, and Primal Array all faded. However, this time, he didn't feel the usual hunger.

"Huh!" Jiang Chenxing was puzzled: "Why don't I feel hungry? Is the energy not used up?"

As he thought, he instinctively tried the breathing technique again. Instantly, a warm current surged from his stomach, and he saw the Primal Array spreading downward.

"I can control it myself, I see!" Jiang Chenxing understood. Previously, he was guided by the imprint of the breathing technique, but now he could control it himself. What surprised him was how naturally he could use the breathing technique, as if it had become instinctive.

After a moment, the hunger returned, and he had to stop the breathing technique. The imprint of the Primal Array seemed to have grown larger.

"Will the array spread throughout my body, and when it does, will the Yuan Quan be activated?" Jiang Chenxing thought.

"Brother, brother!" Mie'er's voice suddenly called out.

"Ah!" Jiang Chenxing snapped out of his trance and looked at Mie'er.

"Brother, you were spacing out again. Are you feeling unwell?" Mie'er touched his forehead, worried.

"I'm fine!" Jiang Chenxing smiled, his eyes sparkling. He removed Mie'er's hand and gently rubbed her head.

Mie'er was momentarily stunned, staring at Jiang Chenxing's face. A thought involuntarily crossed her mind: "Brother looks so handsome when he smiles!"

Jiang Chenxing's facial features were distinct, with a deep philtrum, combining elegance and masculinity. His radiant smile made his features even more striking, and Mie'er felt it was as dazzling as the sun.

"What's wrong, little girl?" Jiang Chenxing waved his hand in front of Mie'er's face.

"Nothing!" Mie'er's face flushed, and she swatted away his hand, scolding him: "You say you're better, but you space out while eating. You're such a worry!"

As she scolded, Mie'er wrapped the remaining white flour cake in the leaves used to buy it.

"Mie'er, can I have the remaining white flour cake..." Jiang Chenxing watched her hands, swallowing hard. The energy from the two cakes had been completely absorbed.

"No way! We'll save this for dinner!" Mie'er shook her head firmly, carefully placing the wrapped cake in her chest. "Let's go, we need to find a place to stay. There are still many places we haven't explored, and we might find a house like Uncle Huang's!"

Jiang Chenxing grabbed Mie'er's arm, displeased. "I said I'll find a place to stay!"

"What can you do... Fine, you've eaten the white flour cake, stop being silly. Let go and hurry up, or it will get cold!"

Jiang Chenxing's face turned black, and he almost fell over. His lips twitched: "This girl, treating me like a child!"

He suddenly turned and dragged Mie'er onto the wide street. "Little girl, remember, I'm the brother! If I say I have a plan, I have a plan!"

Mie'er stumbled along, slightly resisting but following him. Her eyes sparkled with excitement. In her memory, apart from activating the Yuan Quan, Jiang Chenxing had never taken the initiative to do anything. She was also curious about what his plan was.

As the sun began to set, outside a ready-made clothing shop in the middle of the street, Mie'er's face darkened, and she pouted at Jiang Chenxing. "Is this your plan?"

"What's wrong with this plan? If you wear hemp clothes, I can't wear silk!" Jiang Chenxing had already changed into typical peasant hemp clothes and shoes.

Mie'er was taken aback, feeling a warmth in her heart. She couldn't help but smile, and her words of blame died on her lips.

"Little girl, no need to worry about where we'll stay!" Jiang Chenxing smiled smugly.

Jiang Chenxing's appearance reignited Mie'er's dissatisfaction. Her smile vanished, and she said with a pained expression: "This clothes was made for you by Uncle three years ago, using the best silk, costing ten yellow crystal coins per meter, which is a thousand copper coins! It took more than two meters of silk to make this! You sold it for just six yellow crystal coins, along with the cotton undergarment and leather shoes..."

"Ah!" Jiang Chenxing was stunned, pursing his lips. He muttered, "But it was old, and they only offered four yellow crystal coins at first!"

"What do you mean old? We only wore it when we came to Hongyuan City. It was clean and ironed, and with a few adjustments, it could be sold as new! When I tried to speak, you stopped me! Didn't you see how that shopkeeper was grinning? I wanted to stomp on his face..." Mie'er said angrily.

"Um!" Jiang Chenxing laughed awkwardly. "But they gave us a set of hemp clothes, right?"

He smiled, but inside, he was lamenting: "I didn't know silk was so expensive! More expensive than in my time!"

He had roughly calculated that a black flour cake cost one copper coin, equivalent to about 50 cents. A yellow crystal coin was worth 100 copper coins, or 50 yuan. He thought that in this relatively backward society, a set of clothes for 300 yuan would be enough, but he didn't expect silk to be so expensive, costing 500 yuan per meter.

"A set of hemp clothes isn't worth much, maybe ten copper coins at most!" Mie'er was still angry, glaring at him and saying, "Wasteful man!"

"Ahem!" Jiang Chenxing stumbled, coughing violently, his face disheveled.

"Alright! Let's find a place to stay!" Mie'er stepped forward, patting his back. Although she was still upset, it was too late to change things.

Jiang Chenxing caught his breath and straightened up. "No rush to find a place. Let's buy you a new pair of shoes first... Hmm!" He suddenly changed his expression.

"It's only early November, and it's not very cold during the day. I don't need... Brother, what's wrong?" Mie'er noticed Jiang Chenxing's grim face and felt a knot in her stomach.

"Let's go, there are a few people watching us!" Jiang Chenxing grabbed Mie'er and quickly walked in the opposite direction of the peasant district.

Although he knew it was an orderly society and they had been safe for most of the day, Jiang Chenxing remained cautious of the new environment, always paying attention to his surroundings. He knew that even in the so-called equal society he came from, there were dark sides, and he had only seen a small part of this society.

When he noticed a few burly men watching them, he realized that their shabby hemp clothes made them stand out in front of the clothing shop.

"Ah!" M