Jiang Lu led Gu Chengming, weaving through the bustling crowd.
“Senior Brother Gu, most of the stalls here are set up by Outer Sect disciples. The items are varied, but they're affordable. Those few more refined sheds over there are the Inner Sect senior brothers' territory; the items are good, but the prices are also higher.”
As Jiang Lu walked, he skillfully introduced the layout of the market.
Gu Chengming nodded slightly, his gaze seemingly casually sweeping over the stalls on both sides.
To be honest, there were actually quite a few body refining resources here.
Things like tiger bone powder, bear gallbladder wine, and even the essence blood of some low-tier demonic beasts could be seen being hawked.
But his true intention for coming here today was not the wine itself.
Buying things was secondary; gaining favorability with Hundred Bones Resonating was the real business.
Since he was a protagonist, what plot point could appeal more to Hundred Bones Resonating than “finding a hidden gem in the market”?
Thinking of this, Gu Chengming wasn't in a hurry to act. Instead, like a true connoisseur, he stopped and started at various stalls, sometimes picking up an ore to examine, sometimes leaning in to sniff a spirit herb.
However, reality was often much harsher than novels.
Most of the items sold at these stalls in the disciple market were ordinary, and almost all had clear prices.
Everyone was a fellow disciple, seeing each other often; no one wanted to ruin their reputation through trickery or deceit.
Foolish stall owners who sold divine artifacts as scrap metal, or unscrupulous merchants who hyped scrap metal as divine artifacts, were virtually non-existent here.
But this didn't prevent Gu Chengming from “creating” miracles.
He stopped in front of a stall specializing in herbs.
The stall owner was a seemingly honest young man. Seeing Gu Chengming stop, he immediately greeted him warmly:
“Senior Brother, you have good eyesight! Come and take a look, these are all fresh herbs just picked from the Back Mountain. This is hemostasis vine, this is spirit condensing flower, and this...”
He pointed to a pile of green plants in the corner of the stall that looked no different from weeds, and said:
“This is blood activating grass, a basic ingredient for refining low-tier healing elixirs. There's plenty of it, and the price is affordable.”
Gu Chengming's eyes flickered slightly.
He didn't look at the spirit herbs displayed in prominent positions; instead, he reached out directly and picked up that inconspicuous bundle of blood activating grass.
His movements were swift and decisive, as if he had already locked onto his target.
“How much is this bundle?”
The stall owner was stunned for a moment, then made a gesture: “Two spirit stones.”
This price was very fair, even a bit cheap.
After all, while blood activating grass was common, collecting it was quite time-consuming.
Without a word, Gu Chengming directly pulled out two spirit stones and tossed them to the stall owner, then put the bundle of herbs into his storage bag and turned to leave.
The entire process was smooth and unhesitating.
【Hundred Bones Resonating was a bit puzzled.】
【It looked at the bundle of green grass in the storage bag, thinking, what did Gu Chengming buy this low-grade herb for?】
【The stall owner just said it was the most basic blood activating grass, the kind found all over the mountains. Although it didn't understand herbology, from the cabbage price of two spirit stones, it could tell this was definitely not some precious heavenly treasure.】
Gu Chengming ignored the doubts in his mind.
He quickly moved through the crowd until he reached a relatively quiet corner. Only after confirming no one was paying attention to him did he stop.
He looked around, then lowered his head, gazed at the storage bag in his hand, and a hint of irrepressible joy curved his lips. In a trembling voice only he could hear, he muttered to himself:
“I hit the jackpot...”
“I can't believe I actually stumbled upon it.”
“It's actually an immature dragon blood grass... Although its appearance is identical to blood activating grass, that faint golden pattern subtly visible in its leaf veins cannot be faked.”
“This is a third-tier herb, the main ingredient for refining Dragon Blood Body Forging Pill. In an external auction house, it could sell for at least several hundred spirit stones... and I bought it for the price of two spirit stones.”
【Hundred Bones Resonating was dumbfounded.】
【It subconsciously wanted to refute, to say this was impossible. After all, it had personally watched the stall owner sell this grass with a look of disdain.】
【But seeing Gu Chengming so excited that his hands were trembling, yet desperately suppressing himself from making a sound】
【And then recalling its own “Child of Destiny” setting, it inexplicably gained a few more points of trust.】
【Did he really find a hidden gem?】
At the same time, Gu Chengming's previous series of seemingly inexplicable actions were now explained in Hundred Bones Resonating's eyes.
【No wonder he didn't even look at those flashy spirit herbs just now, and went straight for this bundle of weeds!】
【No wonder he paid so readily, without even haggling, just picked up the item and left!】
【So this kid not only knows how to recognize rare treasures but also deeply understands the principle of not flaunting wealth and knowing how to hide his capabilities!】
【As expected of its cheat, he truly possesses great opportunities, great karma, and great wisdom!】
【Hundred Bones Resonating Favorability +5】
Listening to the system prompt, Gu Chengming chuckled inwardly.
In reality, this was the heartland of Wenjian Sect, orderly and with strict laws.
Let alone that he merely bought a bundle of blood activating grass for two spirit stones; even if he truly paraded through the market with a top-grade spirit stone, at most he'd be admired by onlookers. Absolutely no one would dare to openly rob him.
The so-called “dangers lurking everywhere” was entirely the cultivation method's own paranoid delusion.
But this didn't stop Gu Chengming from continuing the act.
He matched Hundred Bones Resonating's nervous mood, solemnly put away the storage bag close to his body, then tugged at Jiang Lu beside him, and whispered:
“Junior Brother, this place is not suitable for staying long; we should leave quickly.”
Jiang Lu looked bewildered:
“Huh? Senior Brother Gu, we just arrived not long ago... why isn't it suitable to stay long?”
Gu Chengming didn't explain, just gave him a look that said, “You wouldn't understand, but this is serious.”
【For some reason, Hundred Bones Resonating began to get nervous.】
【It strongly agreed with your statement.】
【As the saying goes, 'An innocent man is guilty only for possessing a treasure!' Although you found a hidden gem discreetly just now, it's hard to guarantee that no sharp-eyed master saw it.】
【This place is crowded and chaotic; there might be danger to your life!】
.....................................................................
Meanwhile.
On the other side of the bustling market.
Two female cultivators, dressed in Daoning Gate attire, were idly lingering in front of several cosmetics stalls.
“Senior Sister, look at this...”
One of the round-faced female cultivators was about to pick up a box of Snail Shell Pigment, but her gaze inadvertently swept over the crowd not far away.
The next moment, her movement paused, and her gaze fixed firmly on a certain spot.
“What's wrong?”
The tall senior sister beside her followed her gaze.
They saw a young man in a green shirt hurrying through the crowd.
The young man had sword-like brows and starry eyes, a tall and straight figure. Although his expression was solemn, it couldn't hide the naturally refined and handsome aura between his brows.
With a charm value as high as twenty-five points, it was hard to ignore him.
“Isn't that... Gu Chengming?”
The round-faced female cultivator exclaimed softly, her tone carrying a hint of surprise and a touch of inexplicable complexity.
Hearing that name, the tall senior sister's expression instantly darkened, and her originally admiring gaze towards the handsome man became a bit sharper.
“Is that the madman who just confessed to dao seed Junior Sister and was rejected, and then rumors spread that he defeated Senior Sister You Yuyao?”
Gu Chengming.
This name had recently become widely spread in Daoning Gate as well.
Of course, regarding the latter rumor of “challenging You Yuyao with a sword,” both of them completely disbelieved it, even scoffed at it.
What a joke?
Who was Senior Sister You? A genius Dao cultivator at First Realm, Ninth Level, just half a step away from second realm!
And this Gu Chengming?
A good-for-nothing who had been in the Outer Sect for three years and whose cultivation was only First Realm, Third Level.
With such a huge gap in strength, let alone a sword fight, even if Senior Sister You stood still and let him strike, she could probably shatter the sword in his hand.
“Hmph, who knows where such absurd rumors came from.”
Logically, the person who benefits most from a rumor is often its originator.
In her opinion, Gu Chengming must have failed in his courtship and then tried to climb up by stepping on Senior Sister You, using this to gain attention and save his pathetic face.
“Exactly!” the round-faced female cultivator also said indignantly: “Senior Sister You usually takes great care of us junior sisters; how can we tolerate such a shameless scoundrel ruining her reputation?”
The two exchanged glances and instantly reached a consensus.
Since they ran into him here, there was no time like the present.
They absolutely had to confront this kid and make him understand that while he could eat whatever he wanted, he couldn't just say anything!
...................................................................
On the other side.
Gu Chengming was leading Jiang Lu, quickening his pace towards the market exit under Hundred Bones Resonating's “Fatal Continuous Urging.”
Gu Chengming mentally humored Hundred Bones Resonating while maintaining a highly vigilant expression, moving swiftly.
However, just as they were about to turn a corner and leave the market's core area.
Two graceful figures suddenly flashed out from the side, one on the left and one on the right, blocking their path like two door gods.
“Stop!”
A sharp cry rang out.
Gu Chengming's steps halted, and Jiang Lu almost bumped into his back.
They saw that the two female cultivators before them had frosty expressions, hands on their sword hilts, glaring unkindly at Gu Chengming, exuding an aura of demanding an explanation.
Jiang Lu, seeing their attire, recognized them as senior sisters from Daoning Gate. He quickly stepped forward, cupped his hands, and said with a conciliatory smile:
“Two Senior Sisters, may I ask why you've stopped us? I am Jiang Lu, and this is Senior Brother Gu. We are about to return...”
“It's none of your business, move aside.”
The tall senior sister didn't even glance at Jiang Lu, her gaze locked firmly on Gu Chengming as she coldly said:
“Gu Chengming, after what you've done, do you think you can just walk away?”
Jiang Lu was startled, his heart racing.
Oh no! Did Senior Brother Gu's previous rumor cause trouble? Had these Daoning Gate people come looking for him?
He was about to speak up to explain for Gu Chengming and ease the atmosphere.
However, before he could open his mouth.
Gu Chengming, who had been silent, upon seeing these two aggressive female cultivators with hands on their sword hilts, not only showed no trace of panic or guilt.
On the contrary, his two eyes instantly lit up!
What kind of look was that?
It was like a wolf, hungry for three days, seeing a fat sheep, or like a screenwriter finally finding the perfect actor.
That uncontrollable, heartfelt gleam of excitement made the two female cultivators opposite him feel a shiver down their spines.
The next moment.
Gu Chengming suddenly took a step back, one hand protecting the storage bag in his arms, the other on his sword hilt, and loudly exclaimed:
“Bold thieving cultivators! Do you dare to murder for treasure?!”
Huge question marks simultaneously appeared on both their faces.
“??”
Thieving cultivators? Murder for treasure?
This is Wenjian Sect! We're wearing sect robes! Are you blind?
However, he gave them no time to react at all.
The next moment.
Words fell, sword emerged!
.......................................................................
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