The Return of Stars to the Jianghu

Chapter 151 Purchasing Flying Magical Artifacts at the Wanghe City Market

Within the territory of Qingzhou on the continent of Huanchen.

Soon after, the group, weary from their journey, finally arrived at Wanghe City, the most prized city of the Cai Kingdom. Located on Cai's northern border, this city stood like a towering giant, guarding Cai's territory, impregnable. Beyond this city, further north lay no longer Cai's land, but a completely new and unknown world.

Specifically, beyond the border lies a realm no longer solely inhabited by humans. It is a mysterious and unpredictable place, where wild beasts roar, elves dance gracefully, orcs roar with earth-shattering battle cries, immortals are ethereal and otherworldly, demons are enigmatic and mysterious, and the alluring and seductive are enchanting. There are also industrious dwarves and mighty giants. Each occupies its own territory, thriving and multiplying, forming a delicate balance with human society. However, for Qi Yuan and his group, they are currently completely unaware of all this, stepping onto this unfamiliar land only with curiosity and anticipation for the unknown world.

They decided to rest briefly in Wanghe City. Afterward, some of them would continue their journey north, traversing five different human kingdoms—Chen, Dai, Cao, Guo, and Nie—before reaching their destination—Wuzhong Kingdom—as stated in the letter. Although the journey was long and arduous, Qi Yuan and Bi Li had no intention of turning back. They knew that only by constantly honing themselves on the journey could they truly grow into powerful cultivators.

Qi Yuan, Bi Li, Dugu Xin, Chu Ji, He Shihui, Ji Mi, Song Han, and their companions, along with twelve Tang Clan swordsmen and three rogue cultivators, entered Wanghe City. This city was both an important node in their journey and a new starting point on their path of cultivation. Here, they would witness for the first time the true splendor and cruelty of the cultivation world. They would face various challenges and opportunities, constantly improving their cultivation and strength. All of this would become invaluable assets on their path of cultivation.

When the group arrived at the magnificent city gate, the guards solemnly informed them of an important rule: the use of flying artifacts was strictly prohibited within the city. Although they knew they weren't carrying any flying artifacts, this rule made them realize how strict the city's control over flying objects was.

They began to ponder that since such a ban existed, there was likely a way to sell flying artifacts within the city. After all, in such a bustling place, there must be some unique goods and services to satisfy the needs of different people. However, they also realized that obtaining flying artifacts within this city would be no easy task.

First, they need to find reliable merchants or channels, which in itself requires considerable time and effort. In this unfamiliar city, they need to act cautiously to avoid being scammed by unscrupulous individuals. Second, even if they find such a merchant, they need to be prepared to pay a sufficient price to exchange for this precious item. And this price might be something they never imagined before. It could be a huge sum of gold and silver, a rare treasure, or even a task or challenge that requires them to exert tremendous effort to complete.

However, once they actually entered the city, their previous assumptions were completely overturned. They found the city to be exceptionally prosperous, with countless shops lining the streets. These shops displayed goods they had never seen before, including many rare cultivation materials and magical artifacts. Flying magical artifacts, on the other hand, were commonplace here. They could easily acquire a suitable flying magical artifact simply by paying a certain price. This made them marvel at the undeniable prosperity of the cultivation world.

After arriving at their destination, the group first chose a clean and tidy-looking inn to settle in. After resting for a while, they couldn't wait to go to the bustling market, hoping to find the items they needed.

Among the dazzling array of stalls, Bili's gaze was drawn to an exquisitely crafted little boat. Pointing to the magical artifact that seemed capable of flight, he asked curiously, "Boss, how much is this little boat?"

The owner behind the stall, a kind-faced middle-aged man, looked up at the small boat Bili was pointing to upon hearing the voice, and replied with a smile, "Young man, you have a good eye. This is our best-selling 'Flowing Cloud Boat.' Look at its exquisite appearance and smooth lines, as if it were transformed from clouds in the sky. Moreover, its performance is also extremely outstanding. Whether it's a short or long flight, it can easily handle it, providing you with a comfortable travel experience."

Upon hearing this, a hint of joy flashed in Bi Li's eyes. He turned to Qi Yuan beside him, seeking his opinion: "Brother, what do you think of this Flowing Cloud Boat? Should we buy it?"

Qi Yuan nodded slightly in agreement. He stepped forward and carefully examined the Flowing Cloud Boat. It emitted a faint light, as if containing boundless power. He secretly admired it; it was indeed a rare and precious treasure.

So Qi Yuan turned to the shopkeeper and said, "Sir, we'll take this Flowing Cloud Boat. How many spirit stones will it cost?"

The shopkeeper held up five fingers and replied with a smile, "Five hundred spirit stones, no bargaining."

Qi Yuan frowned slightly. Although they had prepared some spirit stones for this trip, the price of five hundred spirit stones was indeed beyond their expectations. They exchanged a glance, both seeing the helplessness in each other's eyes.

However, just then, a clear voice came from the side: "Boss, I want this Flowing Cloud Boat. Will you sell it for ten spirit stones?"

They turned to look and saw a young man in a blue robe standing beside them. His gaze was firm and confident, as if he was determined to get his hands on the Flowing Cloud Boat. The young man took out a bag of spirit stones that shimmered with a faint light from his robe and handed it to the shopkeeper.

Seeing this, Qi Yuan felt a pang of regret. He realized that he had been intimidated by the shopkeeper's words and hadn't carefully considered whether the price was reasonable. This young man, on the other hand, had made such a decisive offer, clearly demonstrating a clear understanding of the Flowing Cloud Boat's value.

The shopkeeper took the spirit stone bag, glanced at the number of spirit stones inside, and then said indifferently, "Young friend, do you know that this Flowing Cloud Boat is one of the best-selling items in my shop? The price of five hundred spirit stones is already very fair."

The young man smiled slightly and said, "Boss, of course I know the value of this Flowing Cloud Boat. However, I only have ten spirit stones right now. If you are willing to sell it to me, I would be extremely grateful. If you are not willing, then I will have to look elsewhere."

The shopkeeper was silent for a moment, seemingly weighing the pros and cons. Finally, he sighed and said, "Alright, seeing how sincere you are, I'll sell it to you for ten spirit stones."

The boy was overjoyed upon hearing this and quickly handed the spirit stone bag to the shopkeeper. The shopkeeper took the bag, counted the number of spirit stones inside, and after confirming that everything was correct, handed the Flowing Cloud Boat to the boy.

Qi Yuan and Bi Li were somewhat surprised to see this. They hadn't expected that this young man would obtain the Flowing Cloud Boat they had been dreaming of so easily. However, they didn't say anything more, after all, it was the young man's own ability.

After receiving the Flowing Cloud Boat, the young man nodded to Qi Yuan and Bi Li as a greeting. Then he turned and left the shop, disappearing into the bustling market.