Throughout those seven days, disciples from other peaks visited Seven Stars Peak every day. The formation kept them out of the courtyard.
“It’s been seven days. Why haven’t Martial Uncle Qin and Senior Sister Yun Man come out yet?”
“You brat, why are you here gawking every day instead of cultivating?”
“Then why are you also coming every day, Senior Brother?”
“I’m already at Foundation Establishment. I’m consolidating my cultivation. You’re just a young Qi Condensation brat. Why are you hanging around here instead of hurrying back to cultivate?”
The disciples outside the courtyard were still chatting, while Qin Xiao had already arrived in the courtyard.
“Seven days is still too short. I’ve made some progress, but Body Refinement is so slow, and it consumes so much. My own cultivation is using almost as much as I produce. I really underestimated it.”
With progress so slow and consumption so high, Qin Xiao had little interest in continuing for now. More importantly, he was going to Tianyuan City today to look around and see if the auction house had anything good.
Before long, Yun Man came out too. Knowing they were going to Tianyuan City today, she had planned her cultivation around it.
“Disciple, have you made any progress in these seven days?”
Qin Xiao asked out of habit.
“Master, I’ve made progress, but it’s been slow. My Dantian seems rather large, and I use up resources rather quickly.”
Yun Man was a little embarrassed. She had already used up all the Spirit Liquid Qin Xiao had rewarded her.
“That’s all right. I’m not worried about how much you use, only that you won’t be able to use enough. As long as it helps you advance, you have my full support.”
Seeing Yun Man’s somewhat troubled expression, Qin Xiao knew she must have used up the Spirit Liquid again.
“Thank you, Master.”
Yun Man had thought she understood her Dantian well. Now even she was puzzled. After all that Spirit Liquid, she still hadn’t reached the peak of Golden Core. She remained in its late stage.
“No talk of cultivation today. We’re going shopping. I’ll give you more Spirit Liquid when we come back.”
With nothing else to prepare, Qin Xiao was ready to take Yun Man out.
“Greetings, Martial Uncle Qin, Senior Sister Yun Man.”
As soon as Qin Xiao opened the courtyard gate, the group of disciples outside quickly stepped forward to greet them.
“Goodness, do none of you need to cultivate?”
Qin Xiao never imagined that these disciples would actually guard outside every day.
“Of course we need to cultivate, Martial Uncle Qin. But cultivation needs a balance between work and rest.”
The leader quickly fawned over him.
“Fine. Cultivate or don’t, as you please. My disciple and I are going out. Go back and cultivate, and stop coming to Seven Stars Peak every day.”
Qin Xiao was already speechless about these disciples. Holding the token, he directly activated the formation, then headed down the mountain.
“Wait for us, Martial Uncle Qin! We’re going down the mountain too, to go back and cultivate.”
Qin Xiao couldn’t be bothered with them. Since reaching the Body Refinement Second Layer, his physique and speed had improved enormously. He sped up and left them behind.
“Disciple, stay away from these brats in the future. Do not let vanity blind your eyes.”
Arriving outside the Sect, Qin Xiao reminded Yun Man.
“Master, rest assured, I have my own goals.”
Yun Man made it clear that she wouldn’t be distracted. She had things she needed to do.
“Well, disciple… you know I can’t cultivate, so I can’t fly. I’ll need you to give me a lift. It’s rather far to walk.”
After thinking for a moment, Qin Xiao somewhat embarrassedly made his request.
Foundation Establishment cultivators could fly on swords, but with little Spiritual Qi, they could only manage short flights. Golden Core cultivators had enough spiritual power to fly much farther.
Flight was forbidden within the sect, so everyone walked there. Outside it, of course they would fly on swords. What was the point of cultivating if you didn’t fly?
“That’s easy, Master. I’ll fly you there.”
After saying this, Yun Man took out her own Low Grade Dharma Treasure sword. Then with a casual burst of Spiritual Qi, the sword rapidly enlarged, with more than enough space for two people to stand.
“Master, step on first.”
Instead of jumping on first, Yun Man gestured for Qin Xiao to go ahead.
“Then I will not stand on ceremony.”
It was Qin Xiao’s first time on a flying sword. He was curious, but a little nervous too.
The sword wobbled as he stepped onto it, then steadied once he found his footing. Yun Man jumped on after him.
With a flick of her finger, Yun Man sent Spiritual Qi into the sword, and it shot down the mountain. The scenery rushed past on both sides, almost making Qin Xiao swordsick.
Fortunately, Yun Man had already raised a protective shield in advance, so Qin Xiao was not blown off by the whistling wind.
In just about ten minutes, the flying sword arrived outside Tianyuan City.
“Disciple, go slower next time. I’m feeling a little swordsick.”
Even after stepping off the sword, Qin Xiao was still shaken. He knew he wouldn’t fall off, but he couldn’t help being nervous. After all, he wasn’t the one holding the steering wheel.
“Ah? Master, this is already the slowest.”
To accommodate Qin Xiao, Yun Man was already using the slowest speed. Otherwise, coming down from the mountain would not have taken this long.
“Alright then, I will slowly adapt.”
Tianyuan City was the largest city under Tianyuan Sect and the main city within a thousand li. The immortal sects had rules: cultivators could not fly inside the city, bully mortals at will, or, worse still, torture them to death. Violators would be punished.
After paying the city entry fee, the two entered Tianyuan City.
This was Qin Xiao’s first time coming down the mountain, his first contact with the mortal world of the cultivation realm.
Looking at the shops and people along the streets, Qin Xiao felt a little more at ease. Everything resembled his image of ancient times. Finding something familiar in this other world gave him a small sense of security.
“Master, we need silver here in the mortal world. I had some before, but spent it all on the way to the sect.”
Yun Man reminded him when she saw him still standing there.
“Oh, right. They don’t use Spirit Stones in the mortal world. They have their own currency. Come on, let’s exchange some silver.”
Yun Man’s words broke Qin Xiao out of his daze. Yes, they needed silver, and he wanted to buy some things from the mortal world. He was a mortal himself. With Spirit Liquid to sustain him, he hadn’t eaten for over a month. His body wasn’t hungry, but he was desperate for a taste of food.
Coincidentally, right at the city gate there was a currency exchange shop. Qin Xiao brought Yun Man inside.
“Honored guests, would you like to exchange for silver or Spirit Stones?”
A shop assistant greeted the pair as soon as they entered, his manner very respectful.
“Silver. What’s your exchange rate?”
Qin Xiao did not beat around the bush, directly saying he wanted to exchange silver.
“Honored immortals, one Low Grade Spirit Stone will buy you a thousand taels of silver here. If you want to buy Spirit Stones with silver, it costs twelve hundred taels for each stone.”
Hearing they wanted to exchange Spirit Stones for silver, the assistant understood their identities and became even more humble.
“Disciple, is this rate correct? Are they cheating us?”
Qin Xiao naturally did not understand, so he quietly asked Yun Man beside him.
“Master, no problem. The exchange rates in other cities are all similar.”
Yun Man quickly answered.
“All right. How much should we exchange? Let’s keep it small—start with ten thousand Spirit Stones.”
After thinking for a moment, Qin Xiao decided to exchange a bit less. Exchanging too much might make others think he was showing off.
“Ho-how, how many?”
At Qin Xiao’s words, the assistant began stammering and could hardly speak.
“Ten thousand, what is wrong? Is there a problem?”
Qin Xiao asked somewhat puzzled.
“N-no problem. I’ll get the shopkeeper. Please wait a moment, honored immortal.”
After confirming he had not misheard, the assistant quickly went to the back hall to find the shopkeeper.