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At this moment, the Tai Nan Small Gathering was just like a bustling market in the human world, with people coming and going. Many cultivators were even sitting at roadside stalls, openly hawking various talismans. Various shouts rose and fell, completely lacking the airs of legendary cultivators. However, considering that everyone here was a cultivator, it was understandable. Everyone was the same, so there was no need to be as formal as when facing ordinary people.
Among the throng of people coming and going, a young man of average appearance wandered around with a slightly excited air. He was a novice, which was quite common. Every time there was a small gathering in Tainan, many newcomers would enter. Most of them were the type who only looked and didn't buy, showing interest in everything.
This person was naturally Han Li. He had just learned from Wan Xiaoshan that the Tai Nan Small Gathering was a free trade gathering. However, since he didn't have anything of value, he naturally had no intention of trading.
However, he still had some needs. For example, as a cultivator with no foundation whatsoever, although he was at the eighth level of Qi Refining, he knew nothing of basic spells except for a few talismans. His most important task at the moment was to fill in the gaps in his basic knowledge of cultivation and learn some fundamental spells. Only in this way could he truly integrate into the cultivator community.
Han Li looked around and then discovered a problem that left him speechless. There were practically no basic spells for sale at these stalls. Everyone who came here assumed they already knew how to use these basic spells. After all, these things were readily available in the cultivation world. Anyone who embarked on this path was expected to know them.
But who would have thought that Han Li, this guy forced into cultivating immortality, would emerge? Aside from his magical power, he knew absolutely nothing else, which was quite strange.
Just as Han Li was feeling disappointed, he suddenly noticed a peculiar stall. There was no one around. The stall owner seemed completely indifferent, making no attempt to solicit business. He was simply reclining in a deck chair, soundly asleep.
Han Li squatted down and examined the stall closely. To his surprise, he discovered that the stall was filled with all sorts of basic cultivation techniques.
This book is a comprehensive collection of basic spells, encompassing over forty basic spells such as Quicksand, Freezing, Ascension, Entanglement, Telepathy, Concealment, Spark, Ground Spike, Palm Thunder, Fire Crow, Cloud and Rain Technique, Listening to the Wind, Spiritual Eye, and Mighty Strength.
Besides this fundamental book on magic, the stall also offers introductory explanations of alchemy, weapon crafting, talisman making, herbal identification, and more than a dozen other types of pill formulas.
All sorts of basic necessities, even essential ones, are available here for novice cultivators. Not only can you find them all, but you can even find a book called 'Secrets of the Cultivation World'. Upon opening it, however, it's far from being a secret; it simply introduces the cultivation families and sects surrounding the Yue Kingdom, along with some common customs and practices of cultivator gatherings.
In short, this stall is an encyclopedia for novice cultivators. Everything you need is here, and even things you don't need are also here...
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Chapter 474 The Hospitable Stall Owner
"Brother, how much are these things?"
Han Li asked the sleeping stall owner.
The stall owner opened his eyes and looked at Han Li. In that instant, Han Li felt as if something had pierced his soul. He instinctively tensed up, but then realized that it was just an illusion caused by the cultivator's much higher cultivation level.
"A newbie?" the other party asked bluntly.
"Uh, how do you know?" Han Li asked unwillingly.
"Only newcomers would be interested in this kind of thing. That's what I do for them. Look at all these things here; they're all things newcomers need. Whether it's the power structure of the cultivation world in our Yue Kingdom or a basic encyclopedia of spells, newcomers, especially independent cultivators, won't be very familiar with them. So, naturally, they need them."
Besides that, if you're skilled in alchemy, then this introduction to alchemy and herbal identification will be useful. If you're skilled in weapon crafting, this introduction to weapon crafting will be useful. The rest are pretty much the same. In short, I'm specifically here to provide the voice of newcomers like you. All of this information is verifiable and cannot be faked.
As for the price, I won't rip you off. I'll take anything you want, whether it's spirit stones, spirit herbs, spirit materials, or talismans and magical artifacts. You can consider what you have first.
Han Li was somewhat bewildered as he had never seen anyone conduct business this way before. However, after thinking about it, he realized that besides some Yellow Dragon Pills and Golden Marrow Pills, he had nothing else to exchange.
He thought for a moment, then took out a bottle of Huanglong Dan and handed it to the stall owner.
The stall owner casually opened the bottle cap and took a sniff.
"A Yellow Dragon Pill of decent quality. Apart from this complete manual of cultivation techniques, you can choose any of the others."
Han Li was immediately embarrassed, because what he wanted most was that complete manual of cultivation techniques.
"Why is this the only one that won't work? These are the most common spells; even if we don't get them from you, we can find them elsewhere."
"Is that so? I'd like to know what price you're willing to pay to collect such a comprehensive collection of beginner cultivation techniques? You must understand, in our world of cultivators, there's no such thing as a free gift. You have to pay an equivalent price for what you want. This collection of cultivation techniques will be exchanged for five bottles of Yellow Dragon Pills, and I'll also throw in a copy of 'Secret Tales of the Cultivation World: Yue Kingdom Chapter'."
Five bottles of Yellow Dragon Pills were nothing to Han Li. As someone who was practically a walking pharmacy, he had countless pills to enhance his basic magical power. His only worry was whether showing off so many Yellow Dragon Pills would attract the covetous eyes of others.
The stall owner seemed to see right through Han Li's thoughts.
"Haha, not bad, you're a fairly alert newcomer. I'll give you a free piece of advice: although Yellow Dragon Pills are considered low-grade worldly ammunition, high-grade Yellow Dragon Pills are quite effective for those in the Qi Refining stage. So, if you carry a large number of Yellow Dragon Pills, you'll definitely attract covetous eyes, so it's best not to flaunt your wealth carelessly."
Han Li was speechless upon hearing this. The other party's words clearly showed they had seen through his possession of a large quantity of Yellow Dragon Pills. If this business deal didn't continue, it was likely that everyone would find out he carried a large amount of Yellow Dragon Pills.
Thinking of this, Han Li was speechless. His skills were still lacking. His weakness had been seen through so easily. After a moment's thought, he composed himself. Then he took out six bottles of Yellow Dragon Pills and placed them in front of the stall owner.
"I want the complete cultivation manual, the basics of talismans, and the secret texts of the cultivation world. I also have two bottles of Golden Marrow Pills; I'll exchange them for the basics of alchemy and herbal identification."
"make a deal."
Han Li left the stall with his basic books. The stall owner then took out brand new books, including a complete guide to cultivation techniques, and replenished the stall. He then closed his eyes to rest.
A full quarter of an hour later, Han Li returned. This guy hadn't actually gone far. Instead, he'd secretly hidden in the crowd, observing the somewhat strange stall owner. He only breathed a sigh of relief when he saw the owner had displayed a bunch of the same cultivation techniques again.
In his previous encounter with the stall owner, he was completely outmaneuvered and had a feeling that he had been tricked. Now it seemed that he was simply inexperienced, while the other party was a seasoned veteran.
The stall owner opened one eye and glanced at Han Li.
"What's wrong? Regretting it? All transactions here are voluntary. Once you've sold something, you can't take it back."
"I don't want my things back. I just have some questions to ask."
"Haha, you're not convinced? Fine, I'll give you some face since I've done your business. What do you want to ask?"
Han Li paused for a moment and asked.
“Your cultivation level is very high, higher than most people here. The things you exchanged are of no use to you at all. So why do this deal? It's meaningless to you.”
The stall owner sat up straight, just like when he first met Han Li.
"There's been some progress. Indeed, just as you said. But all of this doesn't mean much to me. It's just a small business venture. This Tai Nan meeting isn't the main point. The main point is the Tianwutai Ascension Ceremony coming up soon."
This isn't a secret for most cultivators who come here. But for a newbie like you who has to pay for even a complete guide to basic cultivation techniques, you probably don't know this either. I'm giving you this information for free.