Volume One: The First Steps on the Path Chapter Thirty-Nine: Spirit Stones

The two of them passed through the archway and stepped onto the main street, and Ye Junze felt, even more deeply, the bustling liveliness of the place. The market before his eyes seemed to possess a world of its own, with shops lined side by side and people of all kinds weaving constantly through the streets. Some vendors without shops stood before their stalls, energetically hawking their wares and attracting the crowds to stop and take a look. Ye Junze was so dazzled by the vibrant scene that he couldn't help but pause and observe everything carefully.

Lin Xin watched Ye Junze, whose attention seemed thoroughly captivated, and couldn't help but laugh. She recalled her own arrival here, realizing she had acted much the same as her junior. Seeing him so enthralled, she felt reluctant to interrupt, quietly thinking to herself.

Fortunately, Ye Junze soon came back to his senses. He glanced at Lin Xin apologetically and said, "Sorry for keeping you waiting, Senior Sister."

Lin Xin waved her hand, unconcerned. "It's fine. This is your first time here, it's only natural to be overwhelmed."

"Thank you for understanding," Ye Junze said, his gratitude evident.

"Come now, there's no need for such formality between us," Lin Xin replied with a smile. "Let's go. I'll take you to get your permit first, then we can look around some more."

"Alright, thank you for your trouble," Ye Junze responded.

With that, the two fell silent. Lin Xin led the way, and Ye Junze followed slowly behind. This time, their destination was quite close; after only a short walk, Lin Xin stopped in front of a house. The door was wide open, and from outside, only a few scattered people could be seen inside, giving the place a quiet, deserted air. Lin Xin came to a halt and said, "Here we are. Let's go in."

She stepped inside first, and Ye Junze immediately followed without hesitation.

Upon entering, Lin Xin addressed the person seated inside, "Hello, I'd like to request a market permit."

"Certainly, please wait a moment," came the reply.

Hearing this, Lin Xin beckoned Ye Junze over, "Come here, Junior."

Ye Junze obediently went to her side.

The staff member, now ready, said, "Please provide your name."

"Ye Junze," he answered promptly.

After entering Ye Junze’s name, the staff member took out a token identical to the one Lin Xin carried and handed it to Ye Junze, instructing, "Please press your palm onto it."

Ye Junze complied, pressing his hand as directed. Once he finished, the staff member took the token and busied himself with some unknown task.

After a short while, as if finally finished, he handed the token back to Ye Junze and said, "All done. This is your permit. To use it, just infuse it with your spiritual energy."

"Thank you," Ye Junze said politely as he received it.

"You're welcome. Please keep it safe," the staff member urged once more.

Seeing the permit completed, Lin Xin spoke briskly, "That’s settled. Next time, you can come here by yourself."

"Understood. Thank you, Senior Sister," Ye Junze replied.

"There you go again, being so polite," Lin Xin feigned annoyance.

"My mistake, I'll remember next time," Ye Junze apologized quickly.

"Alright, let’s head out and see if there’s anything you want to buy," Lin Xin said, her smile returning.

"Sure," Ye Junze responded at once.

After they left the house, Lin Xin asked, "Is there anything you want to buy? You mentioned wanting a spatial artifact earlier, right?"

Ye Junze didn’t actually need a spatial artifact, but to avoid suspicion, he replied, "Yes. Are you going to help me find one?"

"Of course. Let's browse around and see if anything suits you."

"Alright, I'll follow your lead," Ye Junze answered obediently.

Seeing him so agreeable, Lin Xin said no more and set off down the street, with Ye Junze close behind.

After visiting several shops, Ye Junze looked as though he’d discovered something. Turning to Lin Xin, he said with confusion, "Senior Sister, I noticed something I don’t quite understand. Could you explain it to me?"

"Hmm? What is it?" Lin Xin asked, her gaze gentle and attentive.

"I’ve noticed that in all the shops we visited, the prices are listed in something called 'spirit stones.' What exactly are spirit stones?" Ye Junze voiced his question.

Lin Xin, hearing this, slapped her forehead in frustration. "Look at my memory—I forgot such an important detail!"

Ye Junze immediately reassured her, "Don’t blame yourself. You’ve helped me so much today, it’s only natural to forget something."

"You really know how to comfort people," Lin Xin teased with a smile. Then she grew serious. "What I forgot to mention is that spirit stones are the currency used in this market. As you spend more time cultivating, you’ll find that in the cultivation world, many things can only be bought or traded with spirit stones."

"How do we get spirit stones?" Ye Junze asked, curiosity piqued.

"Most spirit stones come from spirit stone mines, so they’re extracted by people," Lin Xin explained. "For us students, the main way to obtain them right now is by completing tasks issued by different departments of the school. Once you finish a task, you’ll receive spirit stones as a reward—the amount depends on the difficulty of the task. Besides that—" Lin Xin drew out her words, but didn’t continue.

Her suspense reignited Ye Junze’s curiosity, and he asked urgently, "What else? Please don’t keep me guessing, Senior Sister!"

Lin Xin, clearly pleased by his eagerness, continued, "Apart from task rewards, students at our school also receive a monthly allocation of spirit stones. The amount depends on your cultivation level and your regular performance."

Ye Junze nodded in sudden understanding. Internally, he thought with some dismay that barely into university, he already needed to prepare for the business of earning a living.

"Any other questions?" Lin Xin asked with concern.

"No, thank you," Ye Junze replied gratefully.

"Good. I just remembered a shop that might have a spatial artifact suitable for you. Shall we take a look?" Lin Xin suggested.

"Sure, I have no objections," Ye Junze agreed with a smile.

"Then let’s go." With that, the two headed together to the next shop.