Chapter 36: Another Three Hundred Bowls

As he walked through the native city, the first thing Xiao Ming felt was decay. Everywhere were broken tiles and collapsed walls, with many houses already half-collapsed, as if it were an abandoned city. This place was indeed an abandoned city. It was said that it was once under the protection of the Heavenly Will, but later, the Heavenly Will withdrew, and this place became an outer domain. Over time, it gradually turned into a wasteland.

The four major merchant houses were established in this wasteland. They were located at the four corners of the native city, which had no government or laws. The security was jointly maintained by the four major merchant houses.

However, the status and power of the four houses were determined by the "Annual Flower Competition" held each year. In the center of the city was a martial arts arena where the "Annual Flower Competition" took place. The merchant house that defeated others and won the title of "Flower King" would become the city lord and gain the management rights of the native city for one year. The other three houses would have to obey and follow the orders of the city lord during that year.

Ding Hao had read about the customs of the outer domain in the records. Even in the native city, only the central road was safe. If one ventured into the remote alleys or the ruins, they could be killed without any recourse for justice.

Ding Hao followed the merchant caravan and soon arrived in front of the Merchant House.

"Very impressive."

Compared to the decayed scene in the city, the four major merchant houses were all grand and magnificent, with flying eaves and arches that rose high like ivory. The black, towering buildings looked like a giant beast lying in the corner of the decaying earth city.

On the door of the grand building hung a large red character, "Shang" (商).

"This 'Shang' is both a surname and a term for merchants, excellent!" Ding Hao took off his raincoat and threw it into his storage bag, then entered the merchant house.

Upon entering, he saw that the interior was decorated in an ancient and elegant style. The spacious hall was so large that words spoken on one side could not be heard on the other. There were many scattered chairs and bodhi cushions for the guests to rest. The contrast with the outside was stark; there was no trace of decay here.

Ding Hao had been to the Merchant House in Wuzhou, but it could not compare to this place. No wonder the Merchant Boss was so happy to come here to manage.

He looked around and felt an invisible pressure that prevented him from using his spiritual energy for attacks. "There must be an array to suppress spiritual energy here to prevent theft or robbery!"

The floor was very clean and bright, but it was not made of marble. It felt clean and soft underfoot, and he did not know what material it was made of, but it was luxurious.

The hall was empty, and no one paid attention to Ding Hao when he entered. Many people were sitting and chatting, much like a hotel from his previous life.

Ding Hao did not see any goods until he reached the center of the hall, where a large array, a hundred steps long and wide, was set up. In the array, a towering tree was planted, and it was covered with fruits. These fruits glowed with a dark light, and their surfaces had vein-like patterns, making them look very mysterious.

Ding Hao looked down and saw a copper plate at the base of the tree, which read "Divine Essence Fruit." This was a powerful restricted drug, a plant from the Immortal Refinement World that could greatly enhance mental power. It was generally used for breaking through to the Qi Cultivation stage and for mental power cultivation during the Qi Cultivation stage.

Ding Hao then looked at the price, "My goodness, ten spirit stones per fruit!"

One ten thousand silver taels could be exchanged for one yuan stone, and one ten thousand yuan stones could be exchanged for one spirit stone!

Ten spirit stones were equivalent to one billion silver taels! Ten thousand yuan stones!

Ding Hao had over a thousand yuan stones in his pocket. He thought he was rich, but after coming here, he realized he was poor, truly poor!

This was not the most expensive item. There were also display cases formed by arrays, containing many souls and sealed beast eggs. Some labels read, "Fourth-layer Qi Cultivation ghost servant, good quality, two hundred spirit stones." Others read, "Upper Realm spirit beast, third rank, human-form crocodile, three hundred spirit stones."

"All of these are excellent!" Ding Hao drooled as he looked.

He instantly felt that he was really poor, very poor!

Just as he was wandering like Liu Laolao in the Grand View Garden, he saw a familiar figure approaching from a distance.

Ding Hao was about to find him and called out, "Merchant Boss."

The Merchant Boss was walking with a few people. He was surprised to see Ding Hao but recognized him from his voice.

"You go ahead and take care of things. I have a customer," the Merchant Boss said, dismissing the others. He then walked up to Ding Hao and whispered, "Young Master Ding?"

Ding Hao replied, "The real deal."

The Merchant Boss smiled bitterly, "Impressive, to venture into the outer domain at the Third-stage Innate. I never expected it. Come, let's talk in my office."

As they walked, Ding Hao asked, "Isn't it true that the righteous and the evil cannot coexist? Why are there ghost servants for sale here?"

The Merchant Boss explained, "The distinction between the righteous and the evil lies in their cultivation methods and means. Demon Dao and Ghost Dao Immortal Masters can have ghost servants, and so can Righteous Dao Immortal Masters. The difference is that Ghost Dao Immortal Masters kill to refine ghosts, while Righteous Dao Immortal Masters capture evil spirits. Also, Demon Dao Immortal Masters can control beasts and demons, but why can't Righteous Dao Immortal Masters?"

Ding Hao said, "I see."

The Merchant Boss added, "However, these abilities are only available after the Qi Cultivation stage, as only then can mental power be projected outward to communicate with them. If one tries to control ghosts or demons at the Innate stage, they might be seen as a monster."

"Oh, I see. Even if I had spirit stones, I couldn't control them. It seems that enhancing my strength is key."

The Merchant Boss said, "Exactly, cultivation and realm are the most important!"

As they chatted, they went up the stairs to the second floor of the merchant house, where the Merchant Boss managed the Spirit Rice counter.

Inside, there was a large warehouse filled with spirit rice, an astonishing amount. The spirit rice was crystal clear and plump, and one could feel the spiritual energy from a distance. Ding Hao was overjoyed.

"I didn't expect you to be in charge of the Spirit Rice counter. What a coincidence."

The Merchant Boss smiled, "I was originally in charge of the fur counter, but I thought you needed it, so I switched with someone."

Ding Hao was deeply moved. The Merchant Boss was his first friend in this world.

"Merchant Boss, I can't thank you enough. If you need anything in the future, I will do my best to help."

"You have done a great favor for my family," the Merchant Boss smiled. "Moreover, as you said, giving others opportunities means you will have opportunities. My son Xiaohai can barely enter the Nine Provinces Academy, but once he's in, with his quality, he will likely only be a miscellaneous disciple. You, Young Master Ding, will surely rise to prominence. When you enter the Inner Academy or even the Immortal Refinement World, you can give him a hand!"

A parent's love is boundless. The Merchant Boss was so supportive because he wanted to pave the way for his son Xiaohai.

Ding Hao smiled, "You flatter me, Merchant Boss. Others say my immortal root is a growth type, not that good. I'm not sure if I can enter the Inner Academy, let alone the Immortal Refinement World!"

The Merchant Boss shook his head, "Young Master Ding, don't underestimate yourself. I am very good at judging people. Regardless of your quality, your abilities are outstanding. You, Young Master Ding, are a dragon among men. To venture into the outer domain at the Third-stage Innate and arrive safely, your courage, quick thinking, and abilities are unmatched."

Ding Hao felt pleased and said, "If that's the case, then give me some spirit rice."

He had spent three bowls of spirit rice to reach the Second-stage Innate, six bowls for the Third-stage, and the next stages would require twelve, twenty-four, and forty-eight bowls. To avoid drawing too much attention, he decided to get enough for the Sixth-stage Innate, "Give me eighty-four bowls."

The spirit rice here was much cheaper than in the border village. Eighty-four bowls cost 168 yuan stones, a great deal!

The Merchant Boss scooped the spirit rice while smiling bitterly, "I really don't know how you cultivate. Eighty-four bowls of spirit rice cooked into rice wouldn't improve you much."

Ding Hao's heart skipped a beat when he received the eighty-four bowls of spirit rice.

Although he trusted the Merchant Boss, some things were his greatest secrets, and he had to be cautious!

Imagine: normal people cook spirit rice and eat it, with average effects. Who would think he could directly absorb the spiritual energy from the spirit rice? If this secret got out, who knows how crazy people would become! Such cultivation was too easy, and the Merchant Boss might have thoughts about it!

Even if the Merchant Boss was a good friend, would he tell others? Would he talk when drunk? Would he tell his best friend?

Ding Hao might be paranoid, but he would not entrust his fate to anyone, not even a friend!

Some secrets must be kept to oneself!

Ding Hao decided that after buying from the Merchant Boss this time, he would not buy spirit rice from him again.

Thinking this, Ding Hao decided to buy more since it was the last time.

He poured the eighty-four bowls into his storage bag and said, "Give me another three hundred bowls."

"Three hundred bowls!" The Merchant Boss almost spat out a mouthful of old blood. Eighty-four bowls already seemed like a lot, and now three hundred more. A normal person couldn't finish that in a month!

Ding Hao thought, at this rate, it would only be enough for him to reach the Eighth-stage Innate!

The Merchant Boss, who had seen this guy's crazy buying of elixirs, scooped another three hundred bowls. However, Ding Hao's storage bag, which also contained Dahuang, was not enough. So he took another medium-grade storage bag, filled it with spirit rice, and wore it under his clothes, making it invisible to others.

Three hundred and eighty-four bowls of spirit rice cost 768 yuan stones. Ding Hao still had about a thousand yuan stones, but now he realized that money was not enough.

The Merchant Boss, after filling the spirit rice, asked, "Young Master Ding, what do you plan to do next? Do you want to stay in the native city to cultivate?"

"Stay in the native city to cultivate?"

"Exactly. With so much spirit rice, you can't return to the Heavenly Will. Our merchant house has dedicated dormitories for our staff, not open to outsiders. They are very safe."

Ding Hao hesitated and declined.

Living with the merchant house staff would inevitably lead to gossip. If they discovered that Ding Hao reached the Fourth-stage Innate overnight, then the Fifth-stage, Sixth-stage, and even jumped three stages in a few days, it would be too shocking and could bring disaster!

Ding Hao said, "No, I want to return as soon as possible after buying the goods."

The Merchant Boss was shocked, "Really? With so much spirit rice, you can't enter the Heavenly Will..."

He suddenly thought of something and asked, "Are you planning to sell it?"

Ding Hao, who was at a loss for words, quickly replied, "Yes, yes, to sell. Otherwise, how could I eat so much?"

"I see." The Merchant Boss, though he didn't ask, was still puzzled. Now his doubts were gone, and he added, "Selling it is very dangerous. Your cultivation is low. Do you want to buy some weapons?"

Ding Hao said, "Exactly what I was thinking!"

---

The page flip ad begins.

The page flip ad ends.