Chapter Seven: The Grand Southern Valley Marketplace

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Lin Yang arrived at the deepest part of Tai Nan Valley, the place where it truly existed. He ceaselessly searched inch by inch with his spiritual sense. He noticed traces of footprints and followed them forward.

After searching for more than half an hour, he finally discovered a place his spiritual sense could not penetrate. This, he knew, was the outer barrier of the grand formation.

“How am I supposed to get in? I’ve never entered before.” Lin Yang pondered for a moment, then decided to try entering directly.

He attempted to walk through the formation, only for his forehead to smack against an invisible wall as though he’d hit a pane of glass, leaving it bright red.

Left with no choice, Lin Yang tossed a fireball talisman at the place his spiritual sense could not pass through.

The fireball talisman struck the barrier, sending out ripples like pebbles on water, followed by a thunderous sound.

After a while, a cultivator emerged from within. His face was pale, shadowed with gloom, and his beard was unkempt, but his cultivation was far higher than Lin Yang’s.

“Kid, are you looking for trouble? You got a death wish? A mere fourth-level Qi Refiner dares to act so bold.” The man’s hand was already raised, looking as though he might strike at any moment.

“Senior, I—I’ve never been to Tai Nan Valley before. I didn’t know how to enter the marketplace, so I had no choice but to try this foolish method.” Lin Yang approached naturally, slipping a spirit stone into the man’s hand.

“That’s better. Watch closely, boy.” The man turned, formed a hand seal, and walked through the barrier.

Imitating him, Lin Yang followed inside. Only after entering did the surroundings blend seamlessly with the outside world. He gazed at Tai Nan Valley.

Tai Nan Valley truly sat nestled in a gorge. In fact, it was more like a gap between two mountains than a valley.

He passed through dense forest until the presence of people became more frequent. Mist hung in the air, and the abundant spiritual energy made this place feel like an immortal’s abode.

Lin Yang’s body rejoiced at the richness of the spiritual energy, making him want to breathe it in deeply. But he suppressed the urge, knowing now was not the time.

“Boy, keep yourself in line. If I hear you’ve caused trouble in here, I’ll skin you alive,” the man threatened before striding off and leaving Lin Yang behind.

“All that for one spirit stone just to bring me in,” Lin Yang muttered, spitting on the ground. “Hmph, what kind of person is that? Might as well have fed it to a dog.” Lin Yang was somewhat annoyed—he only had seven spirit stones left, and he’d wasted one just to hire a guide inside.

He glanced toward the bustling crowd ahead and walked over unhurriedly, using his spiritual sense to observe his surroundings. As he reached the crowded area, he saw the ground covered with all manner of stalls.

Though there were many vendors, each had their allotted spot within the marketplace.

The air was noisy with the shouts of stall owners and the haggling of customers. The place was filled with the lively scent of the human world.

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Lin Yang wandered the street, trying to glean useful information from the conversations around him.

Looking at the various goods on display, his wallet felt painfully thin—he wanted everything, yet could afford nothing.

“My first priority is to buy a talisman brush.”

“I’ll draw some talismans and sell them,” he muttered as he walked to the nearest stall.

“Brother, how much for these fireball talismans?” Lin Yang squatted in front of a vendor.

“One spirit stone each.”

“What, do you think I’m a fool? Don’t take me for a sucker.” Lin Yang stood up to leave.

“Wait, wait! Three stones for four, or five stones for five!” the vendor called after him.

After an hour wandering the market, Lin Yang had a good sense of prices. First-grade low-tier talismans sold for about two per spirit stone, while defensive ones were pricier—one spirit stone each. A pill to aid cultivation cost at least two spirit stones, not to mention all the various odds and ends.

In the end, Lin Yang could only spend five spirit stones on a first-grade low-tier talisman brush. With the one he’d used to enter Tai Nan Valley, he was left with just one spirit stone.

He wandered for a good while before finally finding a tavern. With his last spirit stone, he rented a room.

“There must be a spirit gathering array here. No wonder the price is so high.” Lin Yang tested it with his cultivation technique.

“Here, I only need an hour to circulate my technique once. That’s eight experience points a day, but it’d still take over 250 days to reach the next level.” Lin Yang shook his head in frustration.

“Better earn some spirit stones, settle down in the marketplace, and buy some pills first.”

“If I reach the tenth level of Qi Refinement, I’ll have a good chance at the Ascension Tournament.”

“I wonder how long until the next Ascension Tournament.”

Lin Yang tried to make plans for his future, organizing them by timeframe. After some thought, he decided to participate in the Ascension Tournament to enter Yellow Maple Valley.

But before that, he needed to survive. He took out talisman paper and brush, dipped them in ink, and began drawing spirit talismans…

Knock, knock, knock.

“Sir, would you like breakfast?” It was already the next morning. A server was standing outside his door.

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“No need, I’ll come down myself,” Lin Yang replied, rubbing his plump little face.

After tidying up, he put the sixty fireball talismans and forty barrier talismans he’d drawn the night before into his storage pouch and set out.

Now that he’d improved his skills, his success rate for first-grade low-tier talismans was one hundred percent. If he couldn’t make money with these odds, he’d only have himself to blame.

After greeting the innkeeper, he left, conveniently taking a wooden plank with him.

As he walked, Lin Yang carved words into the plank:

Fireball Talismans: Two for one spirit stone, buy four get one free.
Barrier Talismans: One for one spirit stone, buy two get one free.

“With discounts like these, I should sell out quickly,” he thought. “Although I’ll lose a little, time is more valuable to me now. I can always draw more; why waste time selling?”

He bought two buns from a breakfast shop along the way, spending two taels of silver. “Two taels could support a family of four for two months, and here it only buys two buns,” he complained.

“It’s sickening. It’s unbearable. Even with money, it shouldn’t be wasted like this.” The more he thought about it, the more it hurt, so he decided not to dwell on it.

“As for whether my actions will attract attention—so what if they do? I’ve decided to stay in the marketplace; I don’t believe anyone would dare to target me here…”

When Lin Yang reached the place where vendors set up, all the good spots were already taken, leaving only the corners and edges. Unconcerned, he found a spacious spot, sat down, spread out a cloth from his storage pouch, and propped up his sign.

“Don’t miss out! Fireball talismans, two for one spirit stone, buy two get one free! Barrier talismans, one for one spirit stone, buy four get one free! Don’t miss out!” Lin Yang shouted at the top of his lungs.

Immediately, all eyes turned to him. Most were just curious, but someone finally stepped forward.

“Young man, is what you’re saying true? What if your talismans don’t work?” asked a plump man with a face full of meat.

“I’ll show everyone. I’ll demonstrate a fireball talisman for you all,” Lin Yang said, handing one to the man.

“Really?” The fat man flipped the talisman over in his hand, then hurled it forward…