Xiao Zhuang realized how little he knew about this world and decided he should chat more with these two—it was far more interesting than reading novels in his previous life.
While chatting, the trio didn’t forget their main tasks. Schnauzer found a decent inn for them to settle in first.
Bai Xiu hadn’t slept much last night, so he quickly took a nap to recharge.
The city appeared quite prosperous, so Schnauzer took Xiao Zhuang out to explore and sell the talismans along the way.
Selling the talismans went smoothly. Knowing that these two—one foolish and one young—weren’t very reliable, Bai Xiu had set the prices in advance: one low-grade spirit stone for two Strength Talismans. If any shop offered less, they were to walk away immediately.
Xiao Zhuang hadn’t paid much attention before, but during their stroll, he noticed there were quite a few shops selling talismans and elixirs.
Although talismans weren’t highly regarded, they actually sold quite well.
Disciples from major sects with strong abilities naturally looked down on them, but members of smaller affiliated sects or rogue cultivators were eager to buy them.
After all, with limited spiritual power themselves, they couldn’t miss the chance to enhance their skills through external means.
Take the Strength Talisman, for example. If two cultivators were fighting and one secretly used it, their strength would instantly increase tenfold—crushing the opponent would be a sure thing!
Xiao Zhuang had drawn 100 talismans this time and earned 50 low-grade spirit stones.
He initially wanted to repay Schnauzer for buying his clothes, but the husky stubbornly refused.
Schnauzer was quite loyal, insisting that he would cover all of Shisan’s expenses for food, clothing, and accommodation and wouldn’t take a single spirit stone.
Xiao Zhuang didn’t press further. This silly dog was worth keeping around—maybe when he established his own sect someday, he could appoint him as the guardian divine beast…
Wait, no… never mind. Making him an elder would be a disaster. Better to keep him as a mascot!
Xiao Zhuang specifically asked the shopkeeper and learned that the most expensive talisman sold here was the Lightning Attraction Talisman, usually priced at twenty low-grade spirit stones each.
The price could go even higher for higher-grade talismans.
Xiao Zhuang now had a clear goal. After mastering the Swift Movement Talisman, the next one he would learn was this money-making tool.
Besides, zapping people with lightning sounded pretty satisfying—it would be his first offensive skill.
By the time they returned for lunch, Bai Xiu had woken up. The three of them discussed how to get to the Cultivation World while eating.
There were many businesses in Qianyu City offering such services, so they needed to gather more information to avoid being scammed like they were with the carriage driver—spending a fortune only to end up in a shady establishment.
Given the husky’s unreliability, Xiao Zhuang thought it would be safer to let Bai Xiu handle the inquiries.
Fox spirits were synonymous with intelligence and cunning—surely he wouldn’t be fooled like the silly dog.
Bai Xiu didn’t refuse. Since Young Master Xue was covering the expenses, it was only right for him to contribute some effort.
The fox spirit was eloquent and handsome, so whether it was shop owners or street vendors selling green onions, everyone was willing to chat with him a bit longer.
He returned shortly with plenty of information.
The most reputable business for transportation services was the He family in the northern part of the city—a millennium-old brand worth trusting, guaranteeing safety, efficiency, and mission completion!
He also found out about the fees.
They offered high, medium, and low-tier options: large flying boats, swift flying baskets, and even a service where a delivery guy would carry you in their claws and fly directly.
The last option was fine for short distances, but for long trips, damage wasn’t covered, and it was generally used for transporting goods.
As for passengers… survival was a fifty-fifty chance. It wasn’t recommended for races that couldn’t fly on their own.
When it comes to safety and comfort, the Flying Boat is naturally more reliable. The Flying Basket, also known as the “Poor Monster’s Delight,” has a ten percent accident rate even for reputable brands like the He family, which has been in business for millennia.
It basically means “if you’re short on cash, bet with your life”—only those with tough fate should give it a try.
So, pretty much anyone who can scrape together the money opts for the Flying Boat. The wealthy take luxury class, those with decent finances go for business class, and the poor squeeze into economy class. Either way, they all reach their destination.
From Thousand Feathers City to the Inter-Realm Gate, a business class ticket costs one hundred low-grade Spirit Stones for adults and seventy for children like Xiao Zhuang.
There’s also a family room with a large bed, where a couple with one child only needs to pay two hundred and fifty.
Economy class crams four people into a room with bunk beds—just thinking about it is suffocating. Luxury class isn’t really necessary either, so the three of them unanimously decided on a family room.
Schnauzer offered to book luxury class and cover all the expenses, but both of them refused.
Bai Xiu gave a charming smile and said, “Thank you for your generosity, Brother Xue, but this is enough for now. When I have money later, I’ll pay you back. If it’s too much, I might not be able to repay it!”
Schnauzer scratched his head and chuckled foolishly, “No need to repay, no need! You’re my future brother-in-law, after all. We’ll be family sooner or later!”
Xiao Zhuang rolled his eyes in exasperation. He hadn’t even seen what the sister looked like, and already he was claiming the brother-in-law title. Who said that siblings from the same litter would look similar?
He’d even seen cases where a dragon and phoenix gave birth to a mole cricket!
Take his childhood friend, for example. The friend’s father was a campus heartthrob, and his mother was a campus belle, yet they managed to produce a kid who looked like the school motto—everyone who saw him frowned.
He could only hope that Bai Xiu’s sister didn’t resemble a Tibetan fox, or else this Husky would start howling like a wolf again.
The Sect’s Apprentice Ceremony is held once every three years, and it’s just a few months away. So, there are quite a few monsters queuing up to go to the Inter-Realm Gate.
Among them, not all are those who’ve had sudden enlightenment and are going to seek masters; many are friends and relatives seeing them off for the selection.
Xiao Zhuang really couldn’t understand it—some monsters are already fifty or sixty years old, yet their whole families accompany them to the audition.
With that level of self-reliance, which Sect would want them? It’s not like they’re short on ancestors to worship.
Bai Xiu sneered, “This is nothing! I’ve seen even weirder ones!
Zhaodi, Yindi, Daidi, Pandi, Laidi, Songdi—six sisters tending thirty acres of orchard to support their family’s Yaozu. One monkey ended up fatter than a wild boar.
He’s eighty years old and still acts like a cub, pampered so much his limbs have atrophied.”
“Damn, does the Monster World favor sons over daughters too?” Xiao Zhuang asked in surprise, stroking his chin. “Aren’t females supposed to be more precious?”
Bai Xiu curled his lip, “Most species are like that, but monkeys and apes are exceptions. Rumor has it they learned it from humans.”
Schnauzer clicked his tongue in admiration, “Giving birth drains the mother’s cultivation. Even rabbits and mice don’t dare have that many kids. His mother must have been really determined!”
Xiao Zhuang felt they should change the subject. He suddenly realized something.
This world has reproductive isolation—as a skeleton, what is he supposed to do in the future?
Are there any other White Bone Spirits on the Two Realms Continent?
Or, because he’s exceptionally gifted, can he break reproductive barriers and mate with any species, like the legendary dragon brothers who could take anything as a wife?
“Host, stop daydreaming!”
The System cut off Xiao Zhuang’s wild thoughts just in time. “Reproductive isolation just means you can’t have children; it doesn’t mean you can’t take a wife.
If you don’t mind, you can engage in the dance of life with any species!
Lions, tigers, camels, horses—you can have your fun however you want!”
Xiao Zhuang immediately breathed a sigh of relief. “That’s good, that’s good! I was worried about reproductive incompatibility or something like that not matching up!”
“Though it’s a pity we can’t have children, hehehe, but what can I do when we’re a single species?”
The System chuckled. “How could there be nothing you can do? The reason you appear in male form is simply because your true form grew inside a male body.”
“Technically speaking, a single bone shouldn’t have a gender.”
“Since Zhuang Feibai could reproduce asexually to create you, of course you could also produce a Little Xiao Zhuang yourself.”
Xiao Zhuang choked on his words. “You’re not suggesting I remove one of my ribs to let it take form, are you?”
“My bones are just right as they are – twelve ribs on each side, no extras!”
“Is this really a proper way to reproduce?”
The System sincerely suggested, “How about you draw a pregnancy talisman and stick it on yourself? Maybe it’ll grow a bone spur!”
Xiao Zhuang’s eyes suddenly lit up. “That might actually work!”
This time, the System froze. It had just been teasing its host for fun, never expecting this guy would actually have no bottom line at all.
Xiao Zhuang wasn’t actually thinking about having a child – what occurred to him was bone hyperplasia.
If he could grow an extra piece of bone, couldn’t he forge it into a life-bound magical weapon?
He had been eyeing other people’s life-bound magical weapons with intense envy – weapons that could be stored inside the body, so convenient and practical!