Chapter 5 Spirit Gra.s.s Hall
The market is located at the center of Falling Stone City, only a mile away from the Ling Family residence or about a quarter-hour of walking.
This is the first time Ling Xiao saw this kind of strange marketplace and became immediately engrossed as he roamed around at random. He saw peddlers hawking their goods in the big streets and small alleys, as well as stalls with glittering jewels and other dazzling lineup of exotic goods. Ling Xiao finally felt that this world is truly amusing, like returning to ancient times.
Ling Xiao’s heart swept away the gloom in his heart. He had decided he will properly relax today. Although continuously cultivating for half a month hadn’t exactly been boring, but bitterly cultivating without time to loosen up has never been the most productive way for him to cultivate. Ling Xiao had always been a firm believer that he is most productive when he balances work and play.
Ling Xiao was looking left and right like an unsophisticated country b.u.mpkin’s first time in the city. Everything he saw had a strange and ineffable appearance that made people feel utterly amused.
Ling Xiao’s sightseeing eventually brought him to stand in front of a magnificent ancient building, on the signboard above the entrance are three large characters engraved with simple yet forceful strokes, “Spirit Gra.s.s Hall.”
Ling Xiao searched through his memory and became aware that it was the only place in Falling Stone City to purchase spirit gra.s.s.
In Xuan Spirit Continent, spirit gra.s.s is divided into ten different grades; the higher the grade, the higher the quality of spirit gra.s.s. The value of a first-grade spirit gra.s.s is roughly ten gold coins, second-grade spirit gra.s.s roughly a thousand gold coins, third-grade spirit gra.s.s roughly ten thousand gold coins, and fourth-grade gold coins roughly a hundred thousand gold coins. Any higher grade spirit gra.s.s generally has no market price, as the value of fifth-grade to tenth-grade spirit gra.s.s is beyond measure.
Spirit Gra.s.s Hall usually only have first and second grade spirit gra.s.s for sale. Third and fourth grade spirit gra.s.s can only be acquired through auctions; this is the best way to drive up the price as much as possible.
In Falling Stone City, there are quite a few army corps and adventurers traveling to the nearby Desolate Chaparral Mountains to find spirit gra.s.s and then sell them to Spirit Gra.s.s Hall for gold coins. If someone’s luck is good and find a third-grade or even fourth-grade spirit gra.s.s, then they would get rich. However, there are a lot of spirit beasts that reside in the Desolate Chaparral Mountains. There are usually only low level spirit beasts in the outer regions that don’t pose too much of a threat. Encountering one of the high level spirit beasts in the depths of the mountain range will usually result in death. Therefore, even though everyone dream of finding high-level spirit gra.s.s, it’s not realistic since one will most likely be ripped apart by a power spirit beast before they find the spirit gra.s.s.
Ling Xiao hesitated for a moment before proceeding into the Spirit Gra.s.s Hall.
In front of the entrance, two attractive maids bowed and respectfully said, “Welcome.”
Ling Xiao glanced at these two maids and silently praised, “These two girls are better looking than high-cla.s.s escorts.”
Stepping into the Spirit Gra.s.s Hall, a rich spirit gra.s.s aroma filled the s.p.a.cious and bright interior. Just breathing the air seems to reinvigorate the mind and spirit.
Ling Xiao looked at the counter to his right and saw a strange spirit gra.s.s he had never seen before placed in the middle of the display. Overwhelmed by the sights, he went around the entire first-grade spiritual gra.s.s section before running over to the second-grade section.
Ling Xiao’s vision landed on a matte gray spirit gra.s.s and then read the note at the front.
“Second-grade, low-level spirit gra.s.s: Cold Star Gra.s.s. Value: 1500 gold coins. Water attributed spirit gra.s.s; can be used in medicine dan, promote water attribute warrior a.s.similation, increase xuan strength, supplement healing…”
“d.a.m.n, such a rotten-looking herb cost so much?” Ling Xiao said in his heart.
As he continued to look at other spirit gra.s.ses, he set his eyes on a familiar-looking spirit gra.s.s.
“Second-grade, low-level spirit gra.s.s: Crow King Ginseng. Value: 1800 gold coins. Non-attributed spirit gra.s.s; can be used in medicine dan, increase xuan strength, supplement healing…”
“This ginseng is at least five hundred years old and is unexpectedly still a second-grade, low-level spirit gra.s.s. Then is second-grade, intermediate-level spirit gra.s.s more than a thousand years old?” Ling Xiao can’t help being speechless.
In fact, Ling Xiao guess is only partly correct. In addition to the age of the spirit gra.s.s, the most important factor are its efficacy and its effects—the greater the effects, the higher the the product’s grade.
After Ling Xiao walked around the entire section, an old man in front of the counter smiled and asked, “Does the young master have a particular spirit gra.s.s in mind?”
“Haha, I’m just looking around.” Ling Xiao said, slightly embarra.s.sed.
“It’s no bother.” The old man nodded slightly, not the least bit of displeasure appeared on his face.
After walking one more round, Ling Xiao felt embarra.s.sed for looking but not buying, decided that it was time to leave.
The old man pulled a book out of nowhere and placed it in front of Ling Xiao. “This Spirit Gra.s.s Record is a gift from the shop, free of charge. Please take it back with you to look over, young master. If there is any spirit gra.s.s that catches your eye, you can come here to purchase from us. You may also come to us if you have any quality spirit gra.s.s for sale. Our Spirit Gra.s.s Hall’s prices are absolutely fair and reasonable.”
Ling Xiao’s eyes brightened up as he happily took the Spirit Gra.s.s Record, expressing his thanks before taking his leave from the Spirit Gra.s.s Hall.
With the Spirit Gra.s.s Record, Ling Xiao can learn about the species, efficacy, as well as appearances of the spirit gra.s.ses on the continent. Once he breaks through all twelve primary meridians, it is important for him to find some spirit gra.s.s to nurse his body, increase xuan strength, make it easier to advance ranks, or could even be sold. It’s really been inconvenient not having money on his body and looking for spirit gra.s.s is undoubtedly the fastest way to get rich.
Ling Xiao happily embraced the Spirit Gra.s.s Record in his bosom. Just as he was ready to go back, he discovered a bunch of people crowding the street in front of him. Curious, Ling Xiao squeezed his way into the crowd.
He saw a long-haired woman dressed in plain clothes kneeling on the road ahead. The long hair covered up her face, but it’s apparent from her figure that she could be no older than fifteen or sixteen. A sign hung over her chest, and a few bright red characters could be seen, “Selling body to bury mother.”
In Falling Stone City, apart from major family clans and a small number of business-minded merchants, it is already considered quite fortunate for ordinary commoners to be able eat every day. It is not uncommon for members of the more impoverished families to starve to death. Therefore, seeing this girl selling her body to bury her mother is unfortunately all too common in Falling Stone City.
“tsk tsk…this girls’ figure isn’t bad. Bringing her back as a personal servant girl is not a bad idea.” A wealthy merchant, with a big protruding belly, closely scrutinized the girl kneeling on the ground.
“That’s correct, though the dead person is unfortunate. Doesn’t it feel like bad luck? It would be inconvenient if bringing her back will affect the flow of fortune at my home.” Another thin and short middle-aged man dressed in gorgeous gown said skeptically.
“Who doesn’t know that you are scare of that tigress of a wife at home. If she ever finds out you purchased a servant girl, she’d probably will break your legs.” The big-bellied merchant disdainfully said to the thin and short middle-aged man. He then turned to the girl and said, “Hey, lift up your head and let this uncle have a good look. If you look pretty enough, uncle will pay for you.”
The girl’s body trembled slightly before slowly raising her head, and then gently brushed aside the long hair covering her face.
A clean white face emerged in front of everyone’s eyes; the lack of makeup only served to emphasize her natural beauty. She had long, shapely eyebrows that framed a pair of stunning autumn-brown eyes, eyes that revealed untold hardship and pulled on people’s heartstrings. Her beautiful nose was straight and upturned at the tip and her red lips full and alluring, causing people to have an impulse to immediately go up and kiss her.
The girl turned out to be a beauty-in-the-making, as her face still retains some child-like quality, that hint of youth and inexperience. However, her exquisite figure has already developed a womanly charm. It’s not difficult to imagine if she’s given two years to mature, she’d certainly become a devastating beauty capable of causing the downfall of cities and states.
All the surrounding men collectively swallowed their saliva, their eyes exposing the color of greed.
“I’ll offer ten gold coins. I want you.” The big-bellied merchant could not wait to bid. Ten gold coins are enough for the general commoner to live a year and a common servant usually only sells for five gold coins. One has to understand that there is no lack of people in Xuan Spirit Continent; there are roughly three hundred million people in Falling Stone City alone. One can imagine the just how many people live in the vast expanse of the continent.
“I’ll offer twenty gold coins.” The thin and short middle-aged man said. He thought in his hard: d.a.m.n, I’ll purchase this girl even at the risk of losing my life to that tigress at home. She’s just too beautiful.
“Humph! I’ll offer thirty gold coins.” The big-bellied merchant sneered.
“I’ll offer fifty gold coins.” Another wealthy merchant joined the bid this time.
“I’ll offer fifty-five gold coins.”
“I’ll offer sixty gold coins.”
……
As the bids continue to rise, the surrounding commoners became speechless. They have never seen a servant bought for such a high price; they’d die happy if they could just be pelted by these gold coins.
The girl’s long hair covered her face once again, kneeling on the ground motionless, as if disinterested in the bids of these merchants.
Finally, the big-bellied merchant’s fat body shook as he loudly shouted, “I’ll offer two hundred gold coins. If anyone goes higher, I’ll concede.”
“Wow!” The surrounding crowd went up in an uproar at this time.
These two hundred gold coins is enough to buy a lot of servants, which obviously includes any number of beautiful women.
Quite a few merchants had closed their mouths; it’s not that they don’t have the money to bid, but offering two hundred gold coins for a servant girl is too expensive.
“He…if no one else bids, then you are mine.” The big-bellied merchant greedily looked at the girl kneeling on the ground and said.
At this time, there was a stir in the crowd, and people have opened up a path.
An arrogant little servant boy arrived in front of the big-bellied merchant, pointed at the girl on the ground and said. “My Young Master wants this woman. All of you don’t even think about it.”
“What is this? I offered two hundred gold coins. Is your family’s young master placing a higher bid?” The big-bellied merchant reluctantly retorted.
The little servant boy sneered, “Do you know who is my family’s young master?”
“I don’t care who he is. If he wants to take this woman from me, he will have to place a higher bid.” The big-bellied merchant could be considered a minor personage in Falling Stone; he did not fear anyone outside of the several major family clans.
“Is that so? It seems that my Li Family’s reputation doesn’t amount to much in Falling Stone City.” The crowd opened up a path once again as a youth of approximately twenty years of age slowly came out followed by several stout servants.
This young man’s looks are unremarkable with a thin frame and a sickly pale complexion. His footsteps were unsteady; it’s obvious from a glance that he’s the kind of person to excessively indulge in wine and women. He is the direct descendant of Falling Stone City’s influential Li Family, Li Guang Yin. He is infamous in Falling Stone City as a malicious young thug, always relying on Li Family’s people to oppress the public with impunity. Together with Ling Family’s Ling Rui and Lou Family’s Luo Biao, they are known as Falling Stone City’s “Three Big Young Thugs.”
The big-bellied merchant raised his eyebrows in shock, his expression changed, and a cold sweat immediately seeped from his forehead as he respectfully said to Li Guang Yin. “So…so it was Young Master Li. I would not dare to compete with Young Master Li over this woman. I’ll just take my leave…just take my leave.”
The big-bellied merchant bowed respectfully as he kept backing away.
“Humph! Want to leave? If I don’t make an example out of you, everyone will really look down on my Li Family! Break one of his legs.” Li Guan Ying coldly said.
When the big-bellied merchant heard this, he quickly knelt down to beg for mercy. “Young Master Li, please show mercy! Please let me go!”