Lin Feng had never visited the East City Free Market before. Though it catered primarily to Qi Refining stage cultivators selling low-grade materials, magic tools, and cultivation manuals, even this was beyond the means of a "pauper" like him - his spirit stones barely covered basic cultivation needs, let alone discretionary purchases.
When Lin Feng finally arrived, the market's bustle struck him like a physical force. Resembling Earth's flea markets, the area teemed with makeshift stalls rather than proper shops. The sea of bobbing heads and cacophony of haggling voices made him realize just how many low-level cultivators populated Azure Cloud City...
With only two inferior spirit stones jingling in his pouch, most "treasures" remained financially out of reach. Ignoring eager vendors' calls, Lin Feng wandered through the stalls like a specter, hunting specific items.
First-grade refined iron and wind-attuned ore proved easy finds, but fire scorpion blood posed challenges. This reagent required hunting first-grade demonic beasts outside city walls - a death sentence for average Qi Refining cultivators.
After half an hour's search, Lin Feng finally haggled for a fist-sized clay jar of the crimson liquid at a stall, parting with one spirit stone. The remaining materials cost him his last stone at another vendor. Years working at the Treasures Pavilion had taught him fair market values - not that he possessed extra stones to be swindled from anyway.
Now utterly destitute after spending two months' wages, Lin Feng felt no regret. Clutching his purchases, he hurried home...
...
Elsewhere in Azure Cloud City...
In a cluttered room reeking of sweat and metal, a muscular man sat cross-legged on a straw mattress. Han Tie - nicknamed "Iron Boss" by城南's underworld - concluded his cultivation cycle with an exhalation of turbid qi.
"Heh. Breaking through to seventh layer Qi Refining soon... late-stage cultivation within reach."
The cultivation hierarchy spanned nine realms: Qi Refining, Foundation Building, Golden Core, Nascent Soul, Spirit Severing, Void Refining, Body Unity, Mahayana, and Heavenly Tribulation. Each realm's nine layers divided into early, middle, and late stages. Legends spoke of ascension after Heavenly Tribulation, but none had succeeded in 20,000 years.
For a mediocre rogue cultivator like Han Tie, even Foundation Building seemed ambitious. Yet this imminent breakthrough to late-stage Qi Refining filled him with rare optimism.
Producing an obsidian ring from his robes, Han Tie's grin widened. "A spatial ring! Who'd have thought? Though its seal requires Foundation Building strength to break..." He licked cracked lips. "No matter. Whatever's inside will be mine alone."
Footsteps interrupted his reverie. A gaunt man burst in without knocking.
"Fourth Brother! What emergency -"
"Big Brother! Cao Yang reports that kid from yesterday's alive! He's been buying mid-grade artifacts and spell talismans all morning!"
"Alive?!" Han Tie's face contorted. "Dares seek revenge? Then we'll kill him properly this time! Gather Second and Third Brothers. We raid his hovel at once!"
...
Lin Feng returned past noon, nibbling steamed buns as he entered his decaying courtyard. Once a respectable neighborhood, the area now housed mostly mortals - making him the sole cultivator for blocks.
In his bedroom, Lin Feng arranged purchases with ritual care. Placing the fireball talisman over the scorpion blood jar, he murmured: "Repair..."
Qi drained from his dantian as crimson light enveloped both items. Seconds stretched into eternities until...
"Repair successful."
"Equipment damage: 0%."
"No further repairs needed."
The talisman's previously faded runes now glowed like fresh ink. "Unbelievable..." Lin Feng breathed. Though clueless about talisman-crafting's complexities, his restoration skill bypassed all requirements. The blood jar retained enough for 3-4 more repairs.
Next, his Returning Gauntlet consumed the wind-attuned ore during repairs, emerging pristine. The dagger followed suit.
"Three repairs emptied my qi reserves... too weak still." Sitting cross-legged, Lin Feng cycled his cultivation technique. Half an hour later, his eyes snapped open with revelation.
"My cultivation advanced?! Could restoration practice boost cultivation speed?" Elation surged - his perpetually sluggish progress might finally accelerate.
"First recover the ring, then monetize this skill. No more resource shortages..."
CRASH!
The courtyard gate's destruction shattered his plans. Four familiar figures swaggered in as Lin Feng stormed outside, fury igniting his veins.
Han Tie's gang had come to finish the job.