Since this little mouse could bite through porcelain bowls and earthenware pots, this small iron cage might not be able to confine it either. Mu Jiuxiao, afraid it would escape, tied it up securely with ropes, especially binding its two teeth.
“Squeak, squeak, squeak~”
After waking up, the little mouse discovered it was tied up securely, instantly becoming extremely anxious. Seeing its appearance, Mu Jiuxiao laughed rather maliciously.
“Squeak, squeak, squeak~”
The little mouse cried for quite a while, discovering that Mu Jiuxiao ignored it and refused to untie it. It felt extremely wronged, its two small eyes seemingly welling up with tears, its voice also turning low and choked as it squeaked softly, looking very pitiful.
“Alright, stop looking at me so pitifully. I am not going to untie you.”
Mu Jiuxiao said, sitting cross-legged on the bed to cultivate.
While he was cultivating, the little mouse gradually grew quiet. Mu Jiuxiao did not notice that its breathing also became rhythmic, tending to synchronize with the spiritual energy flow during his cultivation.
The next day, Mu Jiuxiao woke up to a rustling sound. He abruptly sat up, gripping the Lightning Bolt Talisman in his robes!
The rustling sound paused for a moment, then continued ringing in his ears. He realized the sound was coming from the rice jar. Turning to look, the little mouse he had tied up securely yesterday had actually disappeared without a trace!
He stepped toward the rice jar, only to find that the spirit rice he had worked so hard to grow had been devoured by more than half by this damned little mouse!
Seemingly detecting the shadow overhead, the little mouse pricked up its ears, slowly turned its head, and looked up. Upon discovering Mu Jiuxiao, it let out a sharp cry and frantically scurried around inside the rice jar!
“You damned little mouse!”
Mu Jiuxiao reached out and grabbed it, scolding it fiercely, raising his hand as if to smash it to death!
However, when he raised it high up, he put it down again.
Do not get angry; anger harms only yourself, and no one will bear it for you. Let others rage while I remain calm!
He lowered his hand. “You ate so much of our spirit rice, I am going to sell you!”
This little mouse could eat porcelain and earthenware, and could even bite through iron cages. For its tiny body to swallow so much spirit rice, it had to possess extraordinary qualities. Taking it to the market, it might sell for a good number of Spirit Stones.
Having decided, Mu Jiuxiao used iron wire to wrap it tightly from head to tail, then lifted it by its tail. After casually tucking the Water Cloud Talisman he had drawn by the bedside into his robes, he headed toward the market.
Now was not the spring plowing season, so Water Cloud Talismans did not fetch high prices. He should have stockpiled them to sell when spring plowing arrived, but having experienced an assassination attempt, he had grown much more cautious. What if he sold Water Cloud Talismans in large quantities and drew unwanted attention again?
Although Water Cloud Talismans were not high-grade talismans, caution ensures longevity.
Upon arriving at the market, Mu Jiuxiao set up a small stall and laid out his Water Cloud Talismans at an affordable price: four talismans for one Spirit Stone. This chapter is updated first at novelping dot com.
The Hundred Tools Pavilion also sold Water Cloud Talismans at a rate of three for one Spirit Stone. Buying from him meant getting an extra talisman for the exact same price!
Yet, despite his affordable pricing, after setting up his stall for most of the day, hardly anyone even came over to ask.
What was going on? Could he be too shy?
Thinking this, Mu Jiuxiao stood up and began to hawk his wares, “Water Cloud Talismans for sale, four for one Spirit Stone!”
In the market, almost no one lowered themselves to hawk like this. After all, although most of the people coming and going along the streets were tenant farmers, they were still immortal sect tenant farmers!
At the very least, they were former Xiantian experts who had once commanded wind and rain in the mortal world. To make them hawk without regard for their pride like common street vendors? They simply could not bring themselves to do it.
Thus, when Mu Jiuxiao shouted out twice, quite a few people really did turn to look at him.
But… still no one came to inquire!
After a long while, a middle-aged man finally walked over. “Little brother, save your breath. Hawking like this is useless.”
“Why?”
Mu Jiuxiao was puzzled. His Water Cloud Talismans were affordably priced and of good quality; why wouldn’t they sell? He only wanted to earn some honest Spirit Stones!
“The price is too high!”
The man said earnestly, “It is not spring plowing right now. Who can afford four for a single Spirit Stone? With Spirit Stones like that, people would rather use them for cultivation. If they buy them and store them at home, what if the talismans lose their efficacy by the time spring plowing arrives? Wouldn’t that be wasting Spirit Stones?”
“That will not happen! My Water Cloud Talismans have excellent efficacy. Forget a few months, they will be fine even if stored for ten years!”
Mu Jiuxiao had Hard Work Makes Up for Clumsiness; the more diligently he practiced drawing talismans, the higher his success rate became, and the better their effects grew!
“Other people do not know that. Instead of spending Spirit Stones on this, they would rather use them to strengthen themselves. Once you are stronger, your means of earning will naturally increase!”
Mu Jiuxiao felt there was reason in those words. After all, this was the cultivation world, not the mortal world; every fraction of personal strength gained brought greater benefits. Stockpiling goods in the cultivation world might indeed be the most foolish approach.
“Thank you for the guidance, Senior. I shall pack up my stall at once!” This chapter is updated first at g.com.
Since no one was buying the Water Cloud Talismans, and no one was asking about the mouse, rather than wasting time here, he might as well return home to cultivate.
In any case, spring plowing was only a few months away, and plenty of people would need Water Cloud Talismans then. If he was careful enough when the time came, he might not necessarily draw unwanted attention.
“Wait…”
Seeing him pack up his belongings to leave, the man stopped him again. “Little brother, seeing that you are young and trying to make an honest living is not easy, how about this: I will buy some of these Water Cloud Talismans from you.”
“This… this is too much trouble for you.”
Mu Jiuxiao looked at the man before him. “Did Senior not just say that the cultivation world does not hoard goods? Would buying them not be a waste for you as well?”
“I have my own uses for them. Besides, I feel a certain affinity with you upon our first meeting. How about this: I will buy them from you at a rate of five talismans for one Spirit Stone, and if I have need of them in the future, I will look to you for a long-term supply!”
The man’s demeanor was free-spirited and generous, instantly inspiring goodwill.
“Very well.”
Mu Jiuxiao did not have a single Spirit Stone left to his name. He truly longed to experience the feeling of carrying Spirit Stones in his robes once more, so he agreed.
“How many do you have? I will take them all.”
The man’s words left Mu Jiuxiao momentarily dazed. He had not intended to sell so many!
The low-grade talisman paper used to draw Water Cloud Talismans cost one Spirit Stone for ten sheets, not to mention the brush and ink. If someone’s talisman success rate was slightly poor, they could easily run at a loss!
While Mu Jiuxiao would not lose money, selling them this cheaply left him with almost no profit margin.
“Little brother, hurry and count them out.”
Seeing Mu Jiuxiao standing there looking dumbfounded, the man chuckled instead.
“A total of sixty talismans.”
Without further hesitation, Mu Jiuxiao counted out the Water Cloud Talismans and handed them over. The man took them and recounted them, then swept his hand across his waist. Over a dozen Spirit Stones appeared in his palm, and he smilingly handed them to Mu Jiuxiao.
“Little brother, I am a tenant farmer from Golden Peak named Qi Tuohai. If you have more Water Cloud Talismans next time, you can come to Golden Peak to find me.”
The man cupped his fists toward Mu Jiuxiao, turned around, and strode off with a free and easy air.