The sun hung high, signaling the approach of noon.
The poster who had added Xu Mu as a friend sent over a localized coordinate.
"I’ve booked a private room here; how about we eat while we talk?"
Xu Mu typed back a simple reply: "Sure."
Seeing Xu Mu agree, the man messaged again: "Room 666. I’ll be there in forty minutes."
Xu Mu clicked the location. It was situated far from the cramped residential blocks, deep within the city center. However, by taking the High-Speed Train followed by a taxi, forty minutes would be more than enough to reach the destination.
"Wanyue Tower—this is a renowned high-end establishment in River City. Most of the clientele are Cultivators, and it is the kind of place where one pays exclusively in Spirit Stones."
Xu Mu clicked his tongue. After boarding the High-Speed Train and hailing a taxi, it took him exactly forty-two minutes to reach his goal.
Stepping into Wanyue Tower, Xu Mu was immediately met by a unique, delicate fragrance. It was refreshing, cutting through the midday heat and settling his mind.
"This smells like Spirit Concentration Incense."
Spirit Concentration Incense was a high-grade Cultivation consumable. Lighting it during a session helped steady the mind and sharpen the spirit.
"I’d only heard my classmates mention this stuff before; I didn't expect the effects to be so potent. I’ll buy some later to light while I’m Cultivating or researching Formations."
This was the luxury of wealth—as long as it served his Cultivation, he would buy it all!
A tall, striking waitress stepped forward to greet him.
"Hello, sir. Do you have a reservation?"
"Room 666," Xu Mu replied.
The waitress checked her list. "Mr. Xu, correct? This way, please."
Xu Mu and his contact had already exchanged names; the man was called Liao Kai, and it seemed he had already arrived.
Upon reaching the door of the private room, the waitress gave a polite knock.
"Come in."
A flat, level voice drifted from inside. The waitress pushed the door open.
"Mr. Xu, please enter."
Once Xu Mu stepped inside, she quietly closed the door behind him.
Only Liao Kai occupied the room. He appeared to be in his twenties, dressed in well-fitting casual attire with a gentle, refined smile that gave him the air of a scholar. At first glance, he didn't resemble a fierce Cultivator so much as a well-read academic.
Xu Mu understood the reason for this immediately: the man’s Realm was likely significantly higher than his own.
"Sorry, I live quite a distance away."
"No matter, I’ve only just arrived myself. Please, sit," Liao Kai said, a flicker of curiosity crossing his eyes.
He had originally expected the seller to be middle-aged or perhaps an elder—at the very least, a Mid-to-Late Stage Qi Refining Cultivator. He hadn't expected to meet someone so young, still at the Early Stage of Qi Refining.
After all, a high-quality Foundation Establishment Cultivation Method was worth a king's ransom.
Just then, another knock sounded. The waitress returned, bearing several dishes.
In a restaurant where one paid with Spirit Stones, the menu consisted entirely of Spirit Plants and Spirit Beast meat. Even the chefs were Cultivators who had unlocked the Spirit Chef profession.
Before the plates even touched the table, Xu Mu was hit by a wave of complex aromas. He hadn't been particularly hungry, but the scent alone caused his appetite to surge violently.
Alongside the food sat a pot of wine. Unsurprisingly, it was Spirit Wine crafted by a professional Brewer.
Xu Mu had long heard of Spirit Wine and Spirit Tea; they were said to contain massive amounts of Spiritual Qi, capable of directly augmenting one's Realm. Certain rare vintages could even induce an Epiphany or loosen a stubborn Bottleneck, allowing a Cultivator to Breakthrough to the next Realm with ease.
Once the table was fully set...
Liao Kai spoke. "I am also a native of River City. Before I departed for Guchuan Academy, I spent my time here. Back then, I used to frequent this tower. It’s been several years since my last visit; I wonder if the flavors have endured."
"Let’s not rush into business. First, we must taste these delicacies."
Hearing this, Xu Mu realized that Liao Kai possessed either immense talent or a powerful background. Otherwise, he wouldn't have the capital to dine regularly at a place where the average bill was ten Spirit Stones per person.
After sampling the first few dishes, Xu Mu made a silent vow: once he moved into a better home, he would eat food prepared by a Spirit Chef every single day.
It was damn delicious!
"Come, try the signature Spirit Wine here: Hundred Flowers Brew," Liao Kai said, lifting his glass.
Xu Mu recognized the name. This was a First Rank Mid-Grade Spirit Wine, costing 5 Spirit Stones per Catty.
To put that in perspective, the First Rank Mid-Grade Purple Bamboo Rice that Xu Mu usually ate cost only 1 Spirit Stone per Catty. Clearly, high-quality Spirit Wine was a far more expensive luxury than even premium Spirit Rice.
Before the liquid even touched his lips, Xu Mu caught the scent of a dozen different spiritual blossoms.
When the wine entered his mouth, the fragrances intensified. They didn't overwhelm him all at once but unfolded in layers—from the initial sip to the final swallow.
After a single draft of the Hundred Flowers Brew, it felt as though he were drifting through a vast, endless sea of petals. The aftertaste was sweet, the texture perfect.
Xu Mu decided once more: he was buying some of this wine for his return journey.
It wasn't that he was greedy; it was all for the sake of his Cultivation!
Liao Kai praised the vintage. "The food and drink still hold that same classic taste."
He was enjoying the moment, but Xu Mu knew that the Spirit Stones spent on this single meal likely exceeded what most Early Stage Qi Refining Cultivators earned in months.
Once they had eaten and drunk their fill...
The atmosphere shifted. They finally got down to business.
Liao Kai asked, "Could you let me examine that Cultivation Technique?"
"Of course." Xu Mu produced the Jade Slip and handed it over.
Liao Kai casually performed a Cleansing Art to purify his hands before taking the Jade Slip. He probed the contents with his Divine Sense for about thirty seconds before returning the item to Xu Mu.
A look of genuine, pleasant surprise now masked his scholarly face. He was clearly very satisfied with the Blazing Sun Departing Fire Art.
"I didn't expect this technique to be so exquisite; it is undoubtedly a top-tier method among Foundation Establishment ranks. Let’s discuss the price."
"I wonder if you’d prefer to trade for Spirit Stones or other items, little brother?"
Xu Mu replied, "Ideally, other Spiritual Items."
He wasn't lacking in currency. A Pill, Artifact, Formation, Talisman, Cultivation Technique, or even Secret Arts would serve his purposes.
Liao Kai fell into thought for a moment.
"A few days ago, I obtained a Spirit Beast cub that has not yet recognized a master. It is a Thunder Cloud Leopard with a Mid-Grade Bloodline."
"I wonder if that interests you?"
Xu Mu was secretly delighted, but his expression remained as cold and calm as a frozen lake.
"While the training period might be extensive, a Mid-Grade Bloodline is certainly respectable."
Spirit Beasts were simply tamed Yao Beasts. Many Beast Tamers relied on raising them for a steady, stable income.
A Yao Beast’s Bloodline was identical to a Cultivator’s Spiritual Root—the higher the grade, the higher the ceiling for growth. With a Mid-Grade Bloodline, reaching the Late Stage of Qi Refining was guaranteed, and there was even a legitimate hope of reaching Foundation Establishment.
Thus, such a cub was extremely valuable. Aside from the long growth cycle and the heavy resource investment required to feed it, it had no drawbacks. If listed on a trading platform, it would be snatched up in seconds.
In truth, a Spirit Beast of this caliber was better suited for factions with a long Legacy. Such organizations had the time and resources to nurture the beast until it reached adulthood or Foundation Establishment, at which point it would become a devastating asset.
Liao Kai nodded in agreement. "The more powerful a Spirit Beast, the longer it takes to mature. However, if you can consistently provide it with high-tier resources, that timeline can be significantly compressed."
Xu Mu took another slow sip of the Hundred Flowers Brew.
"This Thunder Cloud Leopard cub is a decent start," he said, "but it is not quite enough."
A high-quality Foundation Establishment Cultivation Method, if put to auction, would command a starting price of at least 1,000 Low-Grade Spirit Stones.
A Spirit Beast cub with a Mid-Grade Bloodline fell slightly short of that value because the buyer still had to sink years of time and a fortune in resources into its growth. If it were an adult beast of the same grade, it would be a different story—the kind of treasure Beast Tamers would bankrupt themselves to acquire.