"Fellow Daoist Pei, I'll give you one last month. If you still can't pay, there might be blood…"
Rain poured down incessantly!
Yunluo Immortal Market, Yanhuo Alley!
Next to the muddy path was a dilapidated talisman shop.
Pei Liang forced a smile as he saw off his creditor, then leaned against the counter, resting his chin in his hand, lost in thought.
The rainy weather made the already sparse business of the small shop even more dismal.
Having run the shop for over a decade, Pei Liang had long grown accustomed to it.
It had been about two hundred years since he was brought to this world by a twinkling star stone, right?
He was still a Cultivator at the Early Stage of Qi Refining.
The only gratifying thing was that Qi Refining Cultivators generally died of old age around one hundred and twenty.
Yet, he had lived for two hundred years and was still in the prime of his youth. Perhaps this was the benefit of a Transmigration, his Golden Finger?
Longevity!
However, the Heavenly Dao maintained balance. While it granted him a long lifespan, it gave him spiritual roots worse than garbage. After two hundred years of cultivation, he still lingered in the Early Stage of Qi Refining!
So, he gave up!
He found a stable Immortal Market and, relying on the talisman crafting techniques he had painstakingly studied for over a hundred years, opened this talisman shop.
Life was uneventful for over a decade.
Still unwilling to give up, he had boldly borrowed some high-interest loans a few days ago to buy a few bottles of low-grade realm-breaking pills.
After an entire bottle, he remained firmly at the third level of Qi Refining.
There is no greater sorrow than a heart that has died!
His cultivation path was bleak, and heavy debt weighed him down.
Pei Liang felt a profound sense of "The Great Dao is like the azure sky, yet I alone cannot emerge!"
He wasn't afraid of the creditor's threats; in two hundred years, he might not have had other skills, but his ability to escape was absolutely unrivaled.
He just felt a bit reluctant to abandon the talisman shop he had managed to establish with such difficulty.
...
"Pat, pat!"
Heavy footsteps in the rain grew closer and closer until they entered the small shop.
Pei Liang looked up in surprise, then quickly furrowed his brow.
"Fellow Daoist Wu, long time no see. Have you made a fortune recently? The Spirit Talismans you bought on credit last time haven't…"
The newcomer paid him no mind, walked to the counter, and unceremoniously tossed an object down. "I won't waste words with you. Take this item as payment for the debt, and give me back ten Golden Light Talismans!"
Pei Liang's eyebrows twitched slightly. He picked up the item on the counter and examined it.
It was a naturally formed piece of unpolished jade, exquisite in texture, but completely devoid of spiritual Qi, clearly a mundane object.
This fellow owed him three Spirit Stones, and now he wanted to exchange this broken item for ten more Spirit Talismans?
Did he really think he was a fool?
"Fellow Daoist, are you joking with me? This jade doesn't look like it's worth five Spirit Stones!" Pei Liang's tone was somewhat displeased.
Ten Golden Light Talismans were worth two Spirit Stones. His talent was ordinary, and each Spirit Talisman took him a great deal of effort.
"Don't be anxious, Fellow Daoist. Take a closer look. This was dug up from An Yi Ridge!"
Upon hearing this, Pei Liang couldn't help but become serious.
An Yi Ridge was located a hundred miles from the Yunluo Immortal Market where he resided.
He had heard that two Foundation Establishment Cultivators had battled there for three days and three nights, and during their chaotic Spells, a cluster of tombs had been unearthed.
This had attracted many Loose Cultivators from the surrounding area to search for treasures.
And this fellow in front of him, named Wu Pan, was an experienced tomb raider.
He often frequented his small shop in the past to buy Golden Light Talismans and Evil-Dispelling Talismans.
He was a regular customer, but he had a habit of delaying payments.
"Since it came from An Yi Ridge, I can accept it. However, I can only give you three Spirit Talismans in return!"
"Good, it's a deal! Give me the talismans!"
Pei Liang was stunned. This decisive manner made him even more suspicious that he had been scammed.
However, it was difficult to go back on his word!
With a grim expression, he took out three Golden Light Talismans and handed them over.
Wu Pan chuckled, took the Spirit Talismans, and hurried away.
Pei Liang's fingers caressed the jade pendant as he watched the figure disappear into the rain, silent.
It wasn't that he was willing to be taken advantage of.
It was because the star stone, which had accompanied him to this world and remained motionless for two hundred years, had subtly flickered the moment he touched the jade pendant.
...
In the evening, the rain began to subside!
Seeing that no more business would come today, Pei Liang decided to go out and buy some wine and meat to reward his "hard-working" self.
Walking along the bumpy road, he passed through two or three winding alleys and arrived at a relatively wide bluestone slab road.
Compared to the quietness of the alleys, it was much livelier here. Rows of stalls lined both sides of the road, and even in the evening after the rain, countless people were still gathered around.
Thinking of the desertedness of his own shop, a hint of envy flashed through Pei Liang's mind.
Shaking his head, he continued along the bluestone slab road and soon entered a tavern named "Feixing."
"Oh, Shopkeeper Pei, you're early today?" The waiter enthusiastically welcomed him in.
"A pot of Huadiao wine, three catties of yellow beef, and a plate of peanuts!" Pei Liang skillfully stated his order. "Put it on my tab; I'll settle it at the end of the month!"
"Alright, please wait a moment!"
Not long after, Pei Liang carried the wine pot and food package and walked back along the bluestone slab road.
Feixing Tavern mainly sold Spirit Wine and Spirit Beast meat.
But the poor Pei Liang couldn't afford them, so he could only buy some ordinary wine and common beef to satisfy his cravings.
As for settling the bill at the end of the month?
He would worry about that later…
Back at the talisman shop, Pei Liang locked the door tightly.
He opened the wooden door behind the counter and entered the backyard.
His small shop was located on the outskirts of Yunluo Immortal Market, in an alley complex resembling an urban village.
Although it was within the Immortal Market's formation's coverage, to save Spirit Stones, the defensive formation was only partially activated.
It protected the main commercial area of Yunluo Immortal Market, while the safety of these secluded alleys relied entirely on the Patrol Team of the Immortal Market.
However, incidents of Cultivators committing robberies were still unavoidable.
The small shop Pei Liang rented was not large, but it had been converted into a three-section suite: front, middle, and back.
The front was used for the shop, the middle section was a courtyard—though it was actually just a four-meter-square patio where he grew some flowers, dug a small fish pond, and kept a few small fish for self-cultivation and peace of mind!
The back was his bedroom, with a simple bed and a set of tables and chairs!
After happily finishing his wine and meat, Pei Liang sat on the chair, his ears perked up, quietly listening to the sounds around him!
On the night after the rain had just stopped, the silence was interspersed with the dripping of water from the eaves.
His neighbors on both sides were silent, seemingly not at home.
Only then did Pei Liang take out the jade pendant Wu Pan had given him.
He carefully examined it again. With his two hundred years of cultivation experience, Pei Liang was certain that this jade pendant was just an ordinary object!
There was absolutely nothing special about it!
'But why did the star stone flicker?'
He couldn't figure it out. After that one flicker, the star stone showed no further reaction.
'Did I sense it wrong?'
Pei Liang was full of doubts.
He continuously rubbed the jade pendant with his hand, as if trying to rub out its hidden secrets!
He rubbed the jade pendant until it turned into powder, but still saw no change.
"Perhaps this jade pendant was contaminated with some aura?"
A flash of inspiration struck him.
"The item that could cause the star stone to react should be in the An Yi Ridge tomb cluster!"
The more he thought about it, the more plausible it seemed. His heart pounded with excitement, and he wished he could go investigate immediately.
'No! An Yi Ridge is currently crowded with Cultivators of all kinds; it's too risky!'
Amidst his excitement, he poured a bucket of cold water over himself.
After a moment of calm, a look of struggle appeared on Pei Liang's face.
He had cultivated for two hundred years, always being cautious and never daring to take risks.
He had neither family wealth nor ability. If he continued like this, even if he cultivated for a thousand years, he wouldn't be able to reach Foundation Establishment!
Now, with debt looming, if he didn't take a gamble, he wouldn't even be able to keep his shop!
But I am destined for longevity; living is the only hope. If I cannot preserve my life, what use is Foundation Establishment?
No matter if they reach Foundation Establishment or Golden Core, in a thousand years, they will all be but a handful of yellow earth, while I will still be carefree and at ease!
"But, that's a treasure that can make the star stone react…"
