Chapter 8, Market District
Certainly, the most important and captivating aspect is the auction held within the marketplace. Rare or exceptional treasures and spiritual herbs are generally not sold directly in the market; they are all auctioned through auction houses, with the highest bidder winning. Therefore, to acquire quality items, one must participate in the auction, which is the highlight of any marketplace. The scale and reputation of a marketplace are determined by the rarity of the auctioned items; the more rare and exceptional treasures there are, the more it can attract influential individuals. Thus, to buy good items, participation in the auction is essential, as it is the focal point of any marketplace. The scale and reputation of a marketplace are determined by the rarity of the auctioned items; the more rare and exceptional treasures there are, the more it can attract influential individuals.
Xiao Yao, lacking funds, naturally would not attend any auction. Her main activity consists of browsing the stalls of wandering cultivators in the market, hoping to find some good items.
As I walked along, I suddenly heard someone not far away calling out: "Come and take a look! In addition to various exceptional cultivation techniques, spells, alchemy, foundational talismans, and formations, our store also offers insights into the cultivation experiences of great masters, as well as essays and biographies from renowned authors. You might even achieve enlightenment. Fellow cultivators passing by should not miss this opportunity!"
One could see that a particular stall occupied quite a large area. The stall was piled high with jade slips and a few paper books or beast skins. The stall owner was an old Taoist with gray-white hair, over fifty years of age, possessing only the cultivation level of the initial stage of Foundation Establishment. The most striking feature on his face was his ruddy, wine-stained nose, resembling that of a *picture* book. He wore a loose Taoist robe, which was also gray and stained with unknown substances, giving him a somewhat disheveled appearance
She weaved through the various stalls with the crowd, the sounds of vendors calling out and haggling incessantly in her ears. At some stalls, as soon as she approached, the vendors would enthusiastically recommend the items at their booths.
It is said that only when one is at the very bottom of this world can one see things clearly. Therefore, Xiao Yao is currently weak and impoverished, with only a pitiful few low-grade spirit stones in her storage bag, along with a single treasured artifact, while the rest of the space is left empty and wasted
She did not choose to go to the large market established by the local sect, but instead opted for the outskirts of Yongzhou City, several thousand miles away from Wanhua Mountain. There, she found a small market run by cultivators. Although this market was not large in scale, it offered a variety of goods. What intrigued Xiao Yao was that this place had once been the foundation of a famous cultivation sect in ancient times, leaving behind numerous books compiled by ancient great beings, containing their insights and experiences.
It can only be said that we are currently in a restless era of cultivation. The scarcity of cultivation resources has led to an increasingly fierce struggle for resource plunder. From sects to cultivators, all adhere to the principle of power. Although the act of killing and robbing treasures is prohibited within the sects, it is frequently observed in the outside world. Sects even encourage their disciples to engage in small-scale skirmishes and plundering with other factions, euphemistically termed as "external training." The competition and comparison between sects are numerous.
Unable to afford magical treasures and spells, and lacking effective techniques, only the insights contained in the ancient sages' jade slips can greatly benefit oneself, allowing for a deeper understanding of the Dao.
Upon hearing about the insights and reflections of a cultivator, Xiao Yao immediately became interested and leaned closer.
In the marketplace of cultivators, ordinary mortals cannot use coins made of gold or silver, as the cultivation world exclusively employs spirit stones infused with spiritual energy as currency. Generally, low-grade and mid-grade spirit stones are quite common, while high-grade spirit stones are primarily utilized by powerful beings who have reached the Nascent Soul stage. As for top-grade spirit stones, it is likely that none have ever been seen throughout the entire Taiji Realm.
Fortunately, she does not consume spirit stones much, as she cannot absorb the spiritual energy within them, nor does she need to replenish her mana. Elixirs and spiritual herbs are of no use to her, and she does not need to purchase any cultivation techniques, which saves her a great deal.
If one were to cultivate within the sect as usual, it would be acceptable, as local sects provide resources. Techniques and manuals can be borrowed within the sect using contribution points. However, once outside, the spirit stones allocated by the sect are far from sufficient. Whether it is elixirs, magical treasures, or techniques, all require spirit stones, and the higher the grade, the more exorbitant the price. Therefore, apart from the few core disciples, many fellow disciples seek ways to earn spirit stones both within the sect and externally.
Seeing someone approaching, the old Taoist quickly put on a smile and said: "Esteemed friend, is there anything you need? Although I cannot claim that this is the most comprehensive book stall in the entire Taigu Continent, it is undoubtedly the most complete in this market. Even the larger commercial establishments here cannot compare to the variety of books I have. Please feel free to browse at your leisure"
Powerful individuals can rely on seizing resources from the weaker ones. Those with specialized skills, particularly masters in alchemy and artifact forging, can make a living through their craftsmanship. Beyond this, earning spirit stones through any other means is exceedingly difficult. The insufficiency of spiritual energy and the sharp decline in the reserves of spirit stones are the fundamental causes of this situation. The current world of cultivation is no longer as restrained and gentle as in ancient times, where the sole pursuit was for quiet cultivation. Instead, it leans towards being ostentatious and revealing, with everyone showcasing their abilities and doing their utmost, where the law of the jungle prevails. The insufficiency of spiritual energy and the sharp decline in the reserves of spirit stones are the fundamental causes of this situation. The current world of cultivation is no longer as restrained and gentle as in ancient times, where the sole pursuit was for quiet cultivation. Instead, it leans towards being ostentatious and revealing, with everyone showcasing their abilities and doing their utmost, where the law of the jungle prevails
After flying for less than an hour, Xiao Yao arrived at a desolate area on the outskirts of Yongzhou City. She landed in front of an inconspicuous dirt mound. To the eyes of ordinary mortals and scholars, this was merely an ordinary wasteland, an unremarkable pile of earth. However, this was actually the entrance to the market, concealed by some simple illusions and restrictions. Even if mortals approached, they would be misled and would not stray in, only cultivators could discern its true nature.
In most sects, the distribution of spiritual stones is based on the contributions made by the disciples to the sect. Generally, priority is given to outstanding disciples with good aptitude and potential, followed by ordinary inner disciples, and finally outer disciples. For instance, in the Xianyu Sect, it is stipulated that those inner disciples who perform exceptionally well and rank highly among the Foundation Establishment stage disciples can receive five medium-grade spiritual stones per month, while ordinary disciples receive three, and outer disciples can only receive six low-grade spiritual stones.
The market for cultivators was originally established for practitioners to exchange items with one another. As history progressed and the market expanded, exchanges became only a small part of its activities. Today, all markets on the Taigu Continent have developed into significant hubs, primarily dominated by major businesses that have long-term establishments in these markets, attracting a group of itinerant cultivators to sell or exchange various items.
However, these principles were things that Xiao Yao could not see when she was once the pride of her sect. At that time, she was merely a delicate flower, well-protected by her master, oblivious to worldly affairs, concerned only with the advancement of her cultivation, and had never possessed the perspective she has now.
As she observed those peculiar techniques and elixirs, Xiao Yao always shook her head with a smile, passing them by. Even if she did not make a purchase, she thoroughly enjoyed wandering through the market, listening to the calls of the vendors and watching the various cultivators of all shapes and colors.
Xiao Yao walked towards the earthen slope without hesitation. After passing through a barrier as thin as air, a city appeared before her. Through the tall city gate, the bustling marketplace unfolded in front of Xiao Yao, and she naturally quickened her pace to blend into the crowd
After leaving the Immortal Feather Gate, Xiao Yao found a secluded spot, put away the token of the inner disciple of the Immortal Feather Gate from her waist, changed her attire, and then flew southwest on her sword.
Even so, when she saw some practical magical artifacts, she still found herself financially constrained, resulting in her not having purchased a single artifact in the past two hundred years. Most of the few she had before were nearly exhausted in various battles, and the only remaining flying sword, "Qingfeng," was a mid-grade treasure given to her by her master after she successfully formed her core.
Auction events are typically categorized into various levels. For instance, there are auctions for the Foundation Establishment stage, and there are auctions for the Core Formation stage, and so on. Generally, participants are not allowed to cross levels to attend auctions; however, there are some exceptions. For example, individuals from prominent backgrounds may gain access through special channels.