chsdbacks Chapter 20 The Toiler? The Treasure Box.
Chapter 20 The Toiler? The Treasure Box.
There aren't many spirit stones, only 60. Please don't think it's too little.
Chen Chunan quickly declined, saying, "I can't accept this. How could I possibly take your private savings?"
The elder sighed, "Take it if it's given to you. I know the clan misjudged your talent before, which caused you to be neglected all these years. Don't hold a grudge. Resources are too scarce for a low-level clan like ours. We can only give priority to those with talent. Consider this part of the compensation to you."
Chen Chunan said solemnly, "I don't blame the family, nor do I harbor any resentment. The elder is overthinking it."
The elder shook his head and forcefully handed it over: "Whether you hold a grudge or not, this old man feels a little sorry for you. Take it; consider it compensation from the clan. Go out and stroll around whenever you have time. Didn't you want to buy Hongxian a gift? You can't buy it without spirit stones. Go on, go on, and don't get in my way."
As he spoke, the elder of the clan forcefully pushed Chen Chunan out.
Chen Chunan weighed the spirit stone bag in his hand, feeling a mix of emotions.
He did harbor resentment at one point, feeling that the clan should give someone like him a chance.
However, as he came to understand the resources required for cultivating the five spiritual roots, he was able to comprehend the family's choice.
That bit of resentment has long since disappeared.
To put the elder's mind at ease, he thought about it and decided to accept the spirit stones.
However, he didn't really want to go shopping; he was more concerned about the Five Elements Spiritual Manual in the elder's storage ring.
"Oh well, I've already been kicked out, I might as well just wander around."
Chen Chunan shook his head and walked towards the Wanfang Chamber of Commerce.
Sixty spirit stones isn't much; you can't expect to buy a magic weapon, but it's not difficult to buy some spirit beast meat or spirit fruit.
Hongxian is a little foodie, so I just need to feed her myself.
Red Line is a carnivore and doesn't really like eating Spirit Fruit.
I remember there was someone selling spirit pork in the southwest corner. Hongxian had never eaten braised pork, let alone braised pork hock.
Why not buy a few pounds of pork belly and a pork hock? It probably won't cost more than a few spirit stones.
We can return the rest to the clan elder when we have the chance.
After making up his mind, Chen Chunan headed straight for the southwest corner of the first floor of the Wanfang Chamber of Commerce.
"Top-grade spirit meat is made from pigs fed with the finest grasses and spirit spring water. The meat is tender and has absolutely no unpleasant odor. If you don't like it, you don't have to pay!"
Chen Chunan could hear the vendor's calls for selling spirit pork from afar.
However, this kind of spirit pork doesn't seem to be very popular. No matter how hard he tried to sell it, not a single customer stopped.
"Boss, how much is your spirit meat?"
"Greetings, esteemed guest. My spirit pork is raised on grass irrigated with spirit spring water and fed with spirit spring water. Ten catties are sold for only one spirit stone. How many would you like to buy?"
Ten catties for one spirit stone?
Is that all the spiritual energy you've got?
No wonder you have no customers, your prices are outrageously high!
Chen Chunan shook his head: "Too expensive. The spiritual energy content of your spirit pork is so low. It's not worth it. Forget it, I don't want it."
"Hey, hey, don't go!"
The stall owner quickly grabbed Chen Chunan.
Chen Chunan, pulled back, looked displeased: "Are you trying to force me to buy or sell?"
The stall owner quickly whispered, "Honorable guest, you're too kind. It's like this, I can see you're genuinely interested in buying. How about I give you 1 spirit stone for 15 catties? Although this spirit pig has a slightly lower spiritual energy content, the taste is absolutely amazing!"
Chen Chunan felt that 15 jin of spirit stones seemed reasonable, and just as he was about to agree, the stall owner's mocking voice came from the side.
"Hou Sanli, you're ripping people off again! I told you long ago, even an ignorant rogue cultivator wouldn't buy from this price!"
Hou Sanli's face fell when he heard the sarcasm: "Qiang Gui, no one will think you're mute if you don't speak! The spiritual pork may have a lower spiritual energy content, but the taste of my carefully raised spiritual pigs is legendary! How is that cheating people?"
The stall owner, named Qianggui, sneered, "What's the use of something delicious? We cultivators don't indulge in such petty gluttony. What matters is helping our cultivation. I advise you, stop raising pigs and come with me to the underground pit. Wouldn't that be a much faster way to make money?"
Hou Sanli sneered, "I wouldn't dare earn your despicable money. I'm afraid I'll get struck by lightning one day. So forget about trying to drag me down with you!"
Chen Chunan was completely confused, as if Qiang Gui was doing something shady and was trying to drag Hou Sanli down with him.
Although Hou Sanli sells his goods at high prices, he is actually like an honest pig farmer.
A thought struck him: "Alright, I'll buy five spirit stones worth of meat and see if it's really as delicious as you say."
As he spoke, he took out two spirit stones.
Hou Sanli's eyes lit up when he saw the spirit stone. He quickly took it and showed it to Qianggui as if to show off before putting it in his pocket.
Qianggui's expression changed slightly, and he snorted coldly before falling silent.
Hou Sanli, beaming with pride as if he had won a battle, introduced the meat to Chen Chunan: "Honorable guest, please come this way. Which piece of meat would you like? The meat near the spine is the most tender and perfect for grilling. And this hind leg..."
Chen Chunan had already made up his mind, so he directly ordered a large piece of pork belly, a large piece of spare rib, and a hind leg.
When Hou Sanli weighed it, it was a full 82 jin (41 catties).
"Consider these extra few pounds a gift for you, my esteemed guest. If you enjoy them, please feel free to visit again."
"Okay, thank you, boss. But I'm a little curious, that stall owner seemed to have a more lucrative job, why didn't you do it?"
Hou San's expression changed slightly, and he lowered his voice to a whisper: "He's a tomb raider, specializing in grave robbing. This kind of business will be dealt with sooner or later. I haven't lived enough yet, why would I get involved in his mess? I advise you to stay away from him, or you might get caught in the crossfire one day."
Hou Sanli saw that Chen Chunan was young and was afraid that he would not know the importance of things, so he kindly reminded him.
Of course, this was also because of the five spirit stones.
Chen Chunan understood. It was normal for a tomb raider to be disliked; no wonder the surrounding stalls were all spaced far apart from him.
After receiving the 82 jin of pork, Chen Chunan had to use the bamboo basket given to him by Hou Sanli because he didn't have a storage bag.
It looks rather comical.
Chen Chunan didn't care about the mocking looks and calmly prepared to continue shopping.
Just as he turned around, Chen Chunan noticed a small box on the tomb raider Qiang Gui's stall out of the corner of his eye.
Chen Chunan vaguely sensed that there seemed to be a fairly strong spiritual energy of the earth within.
The step that was about to move to the left was abruptly reversed.
"Hey, it's you, kid? What's that piece you've got your eye on?"
Qiang Gui's tone was somewhat impolite, probably because he felt that Chen Chunan's actions had embarrassed him.
Chen Chunan didn't seem to mind his form of address: "This little box looks like it's made of some kind of mechanical contraption. Have you seen what's inside?"
Qiang Gui scoffed, "If I'd seen it before, I wouldn't have put it up for sale! This was left behind by a Foundation Establishment cultivator. It might contain valuable items, or it might contain nothing. Whether you get anything good from this treasure box depends entirely on luck. I doubt you'd understand!"
Chen Chunan smiled and said, "I really don't understand. I only saw mechanical contraptions for the first time today on the second floor of the Chamber of Commerce. I'm quite curious about this. How many spirit stones would you sell this box for?"
Qiang Gui narrowed his eyes, as if trying to see if Chen Chunan was telling the truth.
He paused for a moment before saying, "20 spirit stones, no bargaining!"
"Huh? So expensive? I only spent 5 spirit stones to buy 82 catties of spirit pork. Forget it, it's too expensive. I only have a few spirit stones left. I can't afford it."
Chen Chunan looked like he thought it was too expensive, and waved his hands repeatedly, preparing to turn away.
Qiang Gui said with a strange expression, "You had spirit stones in your pocket, and you even took them out just now. Do you think I'm stupid? You still have at least forty or fifty spirit stones. Are you playing hard to get with me?"
Chen Chunan was instantly embarrassed.
I was careless; I didn't realize that this guy was actually quite observant.
Although he botched the performance, Chen Chunan remained completely calm and composed.
"Ahem, give me a fair price. I've saved up these spirit stones for a long time. No matter how curious I am about mechanisms, I would never spend 20 spirit stones to buy them."
Qiang Gui sized Chen Chunan up and down, and seeing that he didn't seem like a rich man, he finally relented and said, "Fifteen at the very least! No bargaining this time. If you can't afford it, someone else can."
Fifteen spirit stones?
This way, I still have 40 spirit stones left for the clan elder.
Fine.
"Alright, fifteen spirit stones it is, please count them."
Chen Chunan took out a spirit stone and handed it to Qiang Gui.
Qiang Gui scanned it with his divine sense and, finding no problems, handed over the mechanical treasure box.
"It's yours now!"
No sooner had Qiang Gui finished speaking than a clear voice rang out: "Wait!"