Second Day
News spread throughout Zhaoyang City simultaneously about Wan Bao Pavilion’s herb auction fetching a sky-high price and Divine Doctor Xie Qingxian driving up prices, only to buy back the expensive herb himself, igniting heated discussions.
“Is it true?”
“Divine Doctor Xie just left after the herb auction yesterday, I was wondering how it happened so coincidentally.”
“He’s already so rich, and he’s doing things like this?”
“You got it wrong, he’s rich because he often does things like this. Wan Bao Pavilion isn’t good for allowing Xie Qingxian to do this.”
…
In just one day,
The reputation of the Divine Doctor plummeted sharply as the public, with their sharp eyes, began to uncover all sorts of shady deeds he had done before.
Wan Bao Pavilion’s reputation was also affected.
But none of that concerned Shang Yanting now.
Shang Yanting had already healed his limbs and obtained a Radiant Gold Grade weapon.
There was nothing more he needed in Zhaoyang City, so it was time to set off for the next destination—Holy Capital Academy.
Although he had acquired the Source Cultivation Technique by chance, it only contained the cultivation heart method and lacked the secret techniques.
Currently, he had to use the martial arts of the Shang Mou Family, which made him… feel disgusted!
The higher a martial artist’s cultivation, the more restrictive factors arise during upgrades.
Getting stronger without a teacher is absolutely impossible.
As Dongxu Country’s top martial cultivation academy, Holy Capital Academy has the country’s best martial cultivation teachers and the most comprehensive martial cultivation books.
No matter before or now, it was necessary to go.
Before leaving, he specifically re-purchased his travel luggage.
“Dear Host, I want 50,000 sheets of vermillion paper, 1,000 sheets of Anjianxuan grass paper, and five taels of each of the four types of ink.”
Jia Xitong took the opportunity to start stockpiling supplies for herself.
After the auction, Shang Yanting only had 200 silver taels on him.
Later, Liang Ting gave a deposit of 1000 silver taels for 20 talismans, totaling 1200 silver taels.
Jia Xitong knew that 99% of this was her own little money, so she began to shop without any reservations.
She spotted little porcelain bottles at a roadside stall—beautiful, not too expensive, and bought them.
A giant raincoat—quirky, collectible, and bought.
Exquisitely pretty cakes—look nice, a bit pricey, and bought.
Five roasted ducks for 100 wen—special offer price, bought! Get faster updates on g.com.
A complete White Tiger Beast Skin…
“You don’t even need these.”
Shang Yanting rubbed his brow.
“Didn’t you notice our little wagon has nothing but wooden boards? A tiger skin inside would be so grand.”
Jia Xitong recalled the skinny horse they had when they arrived, “I also want to buy some good quality forage for Little Grey. It seemed a bit constipated on our way here.”
Shang Yanting: …
In the end, he bought not only the tiger skin and horse feed but even horse laxatives.
Only when the two Mixu Talismans were nearly full of these useless little things did he finally reach his destination—the weapon shop.
This weapon shop was quite large.
Various weapons were displayed abundantly, even the walls were full of them.
The shop assistant saw him enter and quickly greeted him warmly, “What would you like to see, young master?”
Shang Yanting: “A longsword and a set of armor.”
“Dear Host, don’t you already have a sword?”
A Radiant Gold Magical Artifact not enough for him?
“Holding something beyond your abilities without careful hiding is asking for it to be taken away.”
He spoke, glancing at the puppet Little Raccoon in his arms.
“Oh! You’re just a middle-stage martial apprentice. Carrying a Radiant Gold Magical Artifact makes you an easy target.”
Jia Xitong nodded, “Our dear Host sure thinks ahead.”
Fantasy protagonists on the path of leveling up tend to pretend to be weak while actually being strong and undercover, low-key face-slapping.
Among the numerous weapons, Shang Yanting picked out a set of fine steel longsword and armor.
“The young master has a great eye.”
The shop assistant carefully took down the weapons, “These are the best weapons in our shop, worth a total of 800 silver taels.”
Being a wealthy gentleman for over twenty years, his eyesight surely isn’t bad.
However, the wealthy gentleman remained stationary without any response.
Moments later, he settled on a slightly poorer quality set that required only 600 silver taels.
The wealthy gentleman actually conceded to the price.
“Dear Host, we have 1200 silver taels, don’t we?”
Jia Xitong reminded him.
“Guess how much we’ve spent on the road?”
“Did we spend a lot?”
She recalled the little things she bought, “…How much silver do we still need? Maybe we should return them all.”
After all, they couldn’t let the child suffer.
“No worries.”
Shang Yanting patted Little Raccoon’s head, “I promised to give you everything you want.”
As long as you don’t betray me.
##
Exams for entry into Holy Capital Academy in various major cities have long ended, but Holy Capital Academy hosts traditional entrance tests that last all year, allowing cultivators under 25 to participate.
Every time after Holy Capital Academy’s admissions, traditional testing sees a surge in registrations—those who failed the city entrance exams but are still confident in themselves choose to attempt the traditional test again.
Although not intentional, everyone naturally grouped together to move and stay the night.
It’s about a three-day journey to Holy Capital Academy.
Thinking about the ever-nearing sacred place for learning, everyone’s excitement was uncontrollable.
Many even forewent buying supplies in nearby towns to save time and reach Holy Capital Academy sooner.
##
Late night
The outside temperature dropped suddenly.
Cold winds gusted into the wagon or ox cart, waking the weary students who traveled all day.
“What kind of weather is this!”
A student trembling as he walked out, bundled up like a ball, “I’ve put on all the clothes I have, and it’s still so cold.”
“I thought I was the only one afraid of the cold.”
Another student emerged from inside the wagon.
Lured out by the cold, many people emerged one after another.
These people spontaneously collected wood around to light a fire.
Soon, sounds of cultivation techniques discussions, mutual flattery, and clashing of weapons echoed outside, lively and bustling.
But such liveliness lasted only half an hour before it started raining outside.
Winter always brought incessant drizzle.
Not heavy, but increasingly cold and enough to soak wood and clothes.
Originally warmed-up by the campfire, everyone had to retreat back into their wagons, some with wagons, ox carts without roofs, braving the rain in raincoats.
Everyone hoped for the rain to stop, yet it rained all night long.
By noon, there was still no sign of it lessening.
With the air increasingly humid and the wooden carriage and fabric curtain soaked and icy from absorbing water, the remaining journey had no towns or villages; the martial artists seeking knowledge trudged along in the rain, all enduring.
And it was at this moment that Shang Yanting appeared.
He brought out the extra-large giant raincoat bought by Jia Xitong for its quirky appeal.
The raincoat spread effortlessly covered the cart’s roof, while the protruding parts acted like an eave, shielding the area where he drove the horse.
From a nearby wagon came a soft “Whoa.”
In just a few short minutes, Shang Yanting had garnered numerous envious stares.