"It seems I need to buy a book specifically introducing the immortal city. Otherwise, being utterly ignorant about the cultivation world makes me too easy to scheme against by others."

  Leo thought this way. Having already suffered several losses due to ignorance—even the time he was discovered by the golden-robed youth, escaping unscathed was mostly luck. But Leo understood that good fortune wouldn't always favor him.

  "Selling demon cores! Second-rank spirit beast Crimson Blood Python demon core! Only eleven low-grade spirit stones!"

  "Selling techniques! Ancient inherited technique Fiery Cloud Art! Only six low-grade spirit stones!"

  Besides established shops, there were also cultivators setting up stalls along both sides of the street, with spiritual herbs and techniques available in abundance.

  "Esteemed fellow Daoist, come take a look! I have all kinds of techniques here. For cultivators, choosing a suitable cultivation technique is especially important. If the technique is poor, it'll be hard to reach profound realms later, perhaps even never reaching Foundation Establishment." A burly man with a face red like a date called out enthusiastically, seeing Leo.

  "I already have a cultivation technique," Leo shook his head.

  "Having one is fine, you can still look around. Your cultivation isn't high yet. If your current technique isn't suitable, it's better to change early. If you wait until later to switch, it might be too late," the red-faced man continued, unperturbed.

  "I heard The Primordial Chaos Scripture is pretty good. Do you have it here?" Leo had a sudden thought and asked. His The Primordial Chaos Scripture only allowed cultivation up to mid-stage Qi Refining. Over the past two years, he had also referred to several technique books obtained from the black-robed old man's storage pouch—fire attribute, water attribute, and earth attribute. Though he could cultivate with them, none felt as smooth as The Primordial Chaos Scripture.

  "The Primordial Chaos Scripture? What's that? Never heard of it. There are too many obscure, unheard-of techniques like that. I advise you to give it up early and switch to an ancient secret art from my collection here. Look at this one, Cold Water Art. Legend says a Foundation Establishment senior in our Moonwatch City loose cultivators alliance hundreds of years ago cultivated this technique. And this one..." The red-faced man talked on and on, introducing several techniques on his stall. However, most of what he said were legendary matters without solid evidence. After listening for a few sentences, Leo felt this guy was full of hot air. But the few technique books he had on him weren't much use. If he could trade them for some spirit stones, that would be good.

  Leo casually picked up a few technique books and skimmed through them, not finding identical ones. However, the techniques on the red-faced man's stall were basically for early and mid-stage Qi Refining. So he asked, "Why don't you have any late-stage Qi Refining techniques here?"

  The red-faced man said, "Esteemed Daoist, you jest. Those complete sets of techniques are far too expensive. My small business doesn't have that kind of capital. However, all my techniques have origins; their middle or final volumes can be found in specialized technique shops. Also, esteemed Daoist, you must not aim too high beyond your reach. You're still only at early Qi Refining. Reaching mid-stage may take over a decade. Going from mid to late stage takes even longer. Even if you buy a late-stage technique now, you might not actually need it in the future."

  So that's how it is, Leo thought. Then he asked, "Do you have any books about spiritual herbs, spirit beasts, or introducing some secrets of the cultivation world? Also, I need a map of the Moonwatch City vicinity."

  "Oh, so that's what you need. I have the immortal city map here, one low-grade spirit stone. As for books about spiritual herbs, demon beasts, and cultivation world secrets you mentioned, I suggest you go to a specialized shop. Compendium of Spiritual Herbs and Records of Demonic Beasts record common spiritual herbs' growth habits, and some demon beasts' activity patterns, strength classifications, etc. As for recordings of secret arts, those can only be found through cultivators' travelogues and accounts. After all, few cultivators would publicize the secret arts they cultivate; that would be very disadvantageous for future battles. So, most accounts are based on observations, hearsay, or personal battle experiences. Follow this street straight ahead, turn left at the intersection, the second shop is one run by the Nath family, specializing in these."

  The red-faced man hurriedly put down the technique in his hand and took out a scroll from his storage pouch, fearing Leo wouldn't buy from him. He was especially meticulous in introducing these.

  "Alright, thank you," Leo nodded. The shops probably also sold map scrolls. But after listening to the red-faced man for so long and asking questions, he felt a bit embarrassed not to buy. Also, stall vendors were usually a bit cheaper than formal shops.

  Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

  Taking the scroll, Leo followed the red-faced man's directions and came to the shop run by the Nath family. Inside, the array of techniques was indeed dazzling. The displayed books far surpassed the red-faced man's selection. Leo specifically asked but still didn't find The Primordial Chaos Scripture. However, the shopkeeper suggested he try the largest technique shop in the city run by the Niet family; they might have news.

  Leo thanked the shopkeeper. Buying Compendium of Spiritual Herbs and Records of Demonic Beasts cost him three spirit stones. The spirit stones in his storage pouch visibly diminished. It was truly heart-wrenching. Three spirit stones were enough for him to cast dozens of spells. It seemed spirit stones were the common currency for cultivators, like gold and silver for secular mortals, but spirit stones were far more useful than gold or silver.

  Coming out, Leo wandered around the area and found a spirit talisman shop, buying the most ordinary Fireball Talisman.

  Spirit talismans were outrageously expensive! A single Fireball Talisman actually cost one low-grade spirit stone! After handing over the spirit stone, Leo held the Fireball Talisman, feeling the pain acutely. At this rate, the spirit stones on him would be used up soon. No wonder the blue-robed Taoist, after being tricked of a few spirit stones, wanted to fight that fatty man to the death.

  In Moonwatch City, spirit stones were needed everywhere. Without them, one would struggle. The annoying thing was that wages offered by various shops and workshops weren't high. Leo checked several places in a row and found that for low-level cultivators like him who knew nothing, the monthly wage was at most only four to five spirit stones.

  And renting the cheapest room in an inn—just a small room barely ten square meters—cost two spirit stones per month. However, Leo was eager to verify his idea and didn't continue searching for an alternative inn. He directly paid the spirit stones and settled in.

  Inside the room, apart from a bed and a chair, there was nothing else. It was as simple and crude as could be. Leo didn't have time to bother with this. He hurriedly sat upright on the bed, legs crossed in meditation. Simultaneously, he held the Fireball Talisman in one hand.

  Whoosh---

  In the void, a massive green sphere floated far away, its boundaries unseen. Inside the familiar Green fruit barrier, the black-robed old man's spirit had drifted off somewhere unknown. With a thought from Leo's consciousness, a Fireball Talisman instantly appeared beside him. Taking advantage of the old man's spirit being absent, Leo directly activated the Fireball Talisman.

  Boom! A huge fireball appeared, smashing against the barrier. Flames scattered in all directions. The barrier, as expected, remained completely unmoved.

  "As expected! Anything containing spiritual energy can be transported into this mysterious space. Spirit talismans are the same and can be directly used here too."

  Leo felt a wave of joy. The black-robed old man's spirit was inside the barrier. Though it couldn't threaten his safety for the time being, every time he took pills, the old man would take half the spiritual energy. How could he tolerate that? Moreover, the black-robed old man was like a poisonous snake hidden in the shadows, liable to bite him at any moment. He didn't know how long the Green fruit barrier could trap him. It was better to eliminate this hidden danger as soon as possible.

  Previously, the black-robed old man was too powerful; Leo was powerless. Now, he had finally found a solution. Though the black-robed old man was nearly at Qi Refining great perfection, inside this barrier, without spiritual energy replenishment, his cultivation would decrease after casting spells. Leo's eyes turned cold. As long as he prepared enough spirit talismans, it would be the black-robed old man's day of death soon.

  "Hmm? I clearly heard a noise here just now. Why isn't there even a shadow to be seen?"

  Not long after Leo left, the black-robed old man's gold-and-red small spirit sphere appeared not far from where Leo had been. With a suspicious look, he searched the area several times but found no clue. Around him were only mist, exposed sand grains on the ground, and that damned green barrier.

  Returning his consciousness to his body, seeing it was still early, Leo left the inn again. He squatted down beside a relatively bustling street with good foot traffic and took out the three technique books from his storage pouch to set up a stall. Though only three techniques, they were all complete enough to cultivate to late-stage Qi Refining. Compared to ordinary stall vendors, he had an advantage. Leo thought this way, squatting here and waiting for customers, while also flipping through Records of Demonic Beasts, learning about common demon beasts at the edge of the Moonwatch Mountains.

  "Second-rank demon beast Crimson Blood Python, first-rank demon boar, even third-rank Demon Boar King and fourth-rank Ironback Demon Lizard is actually the same level to a Foundation Establishment cultivator? That's formidable!"

  Leo read with great interest. Entering Moonwatch City, he was finally truly exposed to the cultivators' world, which turned out to be so kaleidoscopic and bizarre.

  "Selling things like this at a stall won't get you any sales." Suddenly, a clear, slightly immature voice sounded.

  Leo looked up and saw a young girl wearing a goose-yellow dress, with bright eyes and white teeth, delicate and beautiful features. She carried a small bundle and said with a gentle smile, then skillfully untied and spread out her bundle less than half a meter away from him. There was a small purple incense-burner-like furnace, a few pale red wooden blocks, and several writing brushes, all emitting faint spiritual energy.

  "Do you often set up stalls?" Leo asked, closing the demon beast records in his hand.

  "Yes, I've been setting up a stall here recently. See, this alchemy furnace has been for sale for over a month and hasn't sold," the girl shrugged, then quickly smiled optimistically again. "But I believe it will sell eventually. I'm Morana. What's your name?"

  "I'm Leo. Is this alchemy furnace good? How much?" Leo asked.

  "My alchemy furnace's quality is absolutely good. It's forged from Purple Mysterious Copper, can increase alchemy success rates. Even senior alchemists can use it. It's not comparable to ordinary red copper furnaces on other stalls. What, do you need an alchemy furnace? If you want it, I can reduce the price a little," Morana said, looking at Leo with a face full of expectation.