Chapter 204: Shopping

The three of them walked down from the peak, chatting idly until they found a small, clean shop tucked neatly between two larger establishments. The aroma wafting from inside was enough to draw them in without discussion.Their breakfast was simple but exquisite, dewed buns served with steaming tea.

The buns were the shop’s specialty. After baking, the delicate dough would absorb morning dew, which left a faint glisten across the golden crust. When paired with tea, the dew’s essence was somehow captured and sealed onto the bun’s surface. So, every time someone took a bite, nomp — a faint echo of tea flavor bloomed across the tongue.

It was a strange sensation, like eating and drinking at the same time. Yu Xuan was instantly hooked.

"This is amazing," he said, leaning back with a blissful expression.

Curious, he waved over the disciple working in the shop.

"What kind of tea do you use? The flavor is too perfect to be ordinary."

The young man smirked slyly, as if he had been waiting for that very question.

"Apologies, honored guests. That’s a trade secret of our establishment."

Yu Xuan’s smile twitched. Inwardly, he snorted.

’Five stars for flavor. Zero stars for service. Hmph, I hate businesses that expect bribes for free.’

Still, he begrudgingly took another bite of the bun.

Lingluo and Tianmei both laughed quietly at his expression, sipping their tea with far more grace.

After they finished, the three paid their bill and departed once again, stepping into the lively streets to roam the peak.

Just around the corner, Lingluo’s eyes lit up.

"Ooh! Look, look! A gadget shop!" Without hesitation, she grabbed Yu Xuan and Ming Tianmei by the sleeves and practically dragged them inside.

The shop was small, cluttered, and packed to the brim with curious trinkets, glowing stones, odd jars, and tools. Behind the counter sat a young woman, short and muscular, her round glasses sliding down her nose. Her hair stuck out in all directions, giving her a perpetually disheveled appearance.

The sign above read [Odd Gadgets of Cultivator].

The moment they stepped inside, the young woman snapped upright. It was as if she had been sleeping with her eyes open all along with some sort of radar for detecting potential buyers.

Her sleepy demeanor vanished instantly.

"Hello, hello! Welcome, welcome!" she said, practically bouncing. Her glasses caught the light as if she were in an anime.

Yu Xuan couldn’t help but notice how her gaze flicked over the two women first, lingering in a way that screamed pure entrepreneurial calculation.

’Ah... beauty sells, of course,’ he thought wryly.

Lingluo, unfazed, twirled a finger and gestured at every shiny contraption.

"Yes, yes, show us everything! Don’t hide a single thing!"

Ming Tianmei adjusted her robes and tilted her head, surveying the shop with curiosity.

"Everything? Are you sure you want to see everything?" she asked Lingluo with a faint smirk.

"Of course! How else will I find the ultimate gadgets?" Lingluo replied, practically bouncing with excitement.

Yu Xuan groaned inwardly.

’I feel like I have been forcefully bought to a shopping spree.’

The shopkeeper clapped her hands.

"Excellent! Take a look! You are about to witness things you never imagined a cultivator could need! Scrolls, vials, talismans, tools... all guaranteed to make your cultivation life infinitely more... easy!"

Her sparkling eyes darted from Lingluo to Tianmei to Yu Xuan, clearly calculating how much money she could extract from the trio. The shop practically hummed with energy, every gadget and talisman seeming to vibrate in anticipation of their new owners.

Yu Xuan muttered under his breath, "I have a bad feeling about this..."

Lingluo, however, had already fixated on a small black brick resting on the shelf. She held it up, turning it in her hands with curiosity.

"What is this thing?" she asked the shopkeeper.

"Ah! That’s a Discipline Brick," the shopkeeper said, striking a dramatic pose. "Infuse it with your Qi, and its weight and hardness increase. Perfect for teaching your juniors a lesson. It’s quite a famous item among cultivators, you know."

Lingluo’s eyes gleamed mischievously. She infused her Qi into the brick, and immediately, its mass seemed to multiply. She laughed wickedly, turning her gaze toward Yu Xuan.

A shiver ran down his spine. Somehow, even in this chaotic little shop, she managed to radiate an ominous sense of menace.

Yu Xuan’s attention then wandered around the shop, where dozens of oddities were labeled with names, descriptions, and sometimes bizarre warnings.

’Pill of Courage’ (Side effect: Emotional trauma — after its effect subsides, the user recalls every failure and embarrassment in vivid detail).

’Jade of Handsomeness’ (Apparently enhances your beauty... by slightly swelling the face).

Yu Xuan paused, reading the description of the Jade of Handsomeness. He imagined a pompous young master strolling around, face puffed up like a plum, trying to maintain dignity. A faint smirk crossed his lips.

He continued scanning the shelves, eyes widening at the odd assortment of gadgets:

’Portable Pocket Cauldron’ (One-time use only — explodes after use).

’108 Knives in One — Kitchen Edition’ (Inject Qi to unlock 108 different modes).

Yu Xuan, despite not being a pill master thought the Portable Pocket Cauldron was a nice item.

And as a small time kitchen enthusiast, he was intrigued by the knives.

He picked up the "108 Knives in One", studying the silvery sheen of the blades. The craftsmanship was exquisite, clearly something forged with care.

Curiosity getting the better of him, he injected a bit of his Qi into it. Immediately, the knife responded, humming softly, shifting shape. Yu Xuan felt the distinct sensation of 108 internal levels. The first level, the basic knife mode, transformed into the second level, a harmless butter knife.

Yu Xuan blinked, mildly confused.

"Why am I testing a butter knife...?" he muttered, though secretly, he found the magic of a shape-shifting weapon fascinating. Each level promised a new configuration.

Lingluo, meanwhile, was still grinning like a mischievous cat, rolling the now-solid black brick in her hands and plotting countless ways to ’test’ Yu Xuan’s reflexes.

Ming Tianmei, not one to be left behind, wandered through the shelves with a curious eye. Though she was more composed, her interest was piqued by a few of the shop’s more... eccentric offerings.

’True Earth Oil’ — (Always keeps hair shiny, glossy, and smooth. Sometimes hair flutters unknowingly, creating a subtle aura of charm).

’Powder of Truth’ — (Want to know your friend’s secrets? Just add this to their tea).

Though these items teetered on the edge of absurdity or outright scams, their appeal was undeniable. She made a mental note to purchase them later, intrigued by their uniqueness.

Meanwhile, Lingluo had struck up a lively conversation with the shopkeeper. They were discussing the various ingenious uses of the Discipline Brick, ranging from training tools to mischievous pranks.

"Haha, Junior Sister, you are so fun to talk to! On this note, I’ll let you view some of my secret items," the shopkeeper said enthusiastically.

In what felt like no time at all, Lingluo had transitioned from a mere customer to being treated like a junior sister by the shopkeeper.

Her posture shifted subtly, shoulders squared, chin lifted, and an air of noble confidence surrounding her.

"Haha, Senior, show me," she said, her voice carrying the arrogance of a young lady with both wealth and influence.

Yu Xuan, watching from the side, tested various modes of the knife, and then muttered under his breath, "Why do I feel like everything is wrong with this shop?"

Ming Tianmei merely raised an eyebrow, her lips curving into a faint smile.

"Here we go! These are items even most cultivators wouldn’t dare touch," the shopkeeper said, gesturing dramatically.

Lingluo picked up a small, glittering vial labeled "Liquid Mischief".

"What does this do?" she asked innocently.

"Ah, a favorite of pranksters!" the shopkeeper replied.

"One drop in a target’s water, and their hair will change color every hour. Red to blue, blue to green, and so on, unpredictable as you wish. Perfect for a chaotic morning."

Lingluo giggled, then tapped her chin, already plotting.

Then she picked up an ornate fan. Labeled "Fan of Sudden Breeze". It was red and yellow-bluish in color giving out quite a strong presence.

"It says it creates gusts that can knock enemies off their feet?" Lingluo asked.

"Exactly! But the stronger the user’s Qi, the more chaotic the wind patterns become. Sometimes it spins your enemies, even generating mini tornadoes, and most importantly, it has two inherent attributes: fire and lightning!" the shopkeeper said, laughing heartily.

Yu Xuan listened closely, intrigued. His sister would almost certainly want to purchase that one.

He twirled a knife in his hand idly as his eyes scanned the shop. If this had been a mortal’s store, there would’ve been chaos for carrying a knife in shop but cultivators were cultivators, and this was just another normal day here.

’Should I buy them some gifts?’ he thought, already imagining the look on Lingluo’s and Tianmei’s face if he picked something that would please them.

Without hesitation, he began scouring the shelves, searching for items that might suit them perfectly.