Hundreds of people formed a huge crowd, which was headed toward the Sky Spirit Pavilion. Soon, its size increased as other onlookers interested joined them halfway.
When they reached the Sky Spirit Pavilion, the street was almost flooded with people.
Shopkeeper Song and his son heard that the street was bustling with noise, so they hurriedly went outside. They only saw that the person leading the crowd was actually Shen Tian, who was wearing a robe and holding his banner.
"Father, it's really him!"
Although Shen Tian had changed his clothes and pasted a fake mustache, it was unable to conceal his handsomeness, which allowed Young Shopkeeper Song to immediately recognize him.
Alright, it was mainly because Shen Tian had disguised himself too carelessly.
Did he think that the art of disguising was just changing a set of clothes and pasting a fake mustache?
He must think everyone was blind!
Shopkeeper Song's face was solemn as he whispered, "If it's really him, then just pretend you didn't recognize him. He's too unfathomable, and we can't afford to provoke him!"
As Shen Tian stepped into the Sky Spirit Pavilion, Shopkeeper Song was observing him.
Unexpectedly, he could not see through Shen Tian. He was unable to feel the slightest iota of Shen Tian's Spirit Qi!
Normally, there were only two possibilities for such a situation.
Firstly, Shen Tian's cultivation level was much higher than his. Secondly, Shen Tian's cultivation technique completely overwhelmed Shopkeeper Song's cultivation technique, and not by just a grade.
No matter which possibility it was, it meant that Shen Tian had a mighty background. He was definitely not someone his Song Family could afford to offend.
Then, recalling that Shen Tian discovered a Seven-Treasure Fairy Calabash Seed, Shopkeeper Song instantly put on a bright smile.
"Forgive my disrespect for not welcoming you in time. I did not know that Master Celestial Aotian would come to my shop."
Shen Tian was stunned, as Shopkeeper Song was overly polite!
Shen Tian glanced at Young Shopkeeper Song, who was forcibly squeezing out a smile and fell deep in thoughts.
So this foolish guy did not recognize me?
Hmm… I just need to change my clothes and paste a mustache for a successful disguise.
Looks like such a disguise is universal in alternate worlds.
…
Shen Tian snapped out of it and heaved a sigh of relief. "Shopkeeper Song, you're too polite."
Shopkeeper Song kept flattering him. "I've heard that not only Master Celestial Aotian's techniques are astonishing, but even your appearance is elegant and refined. It's as if a heavenly immortal has descended. Now that I've seen it for myself, such a description is indeed well-deserved."
Shopkeeper Song was so polite that Shen Tian felt embarrassed. He had beaten up the man's son up the previous, yet Shopkeeper Song was praising him in such a way today.
This script is not following the cultivation novels' norm!
Due to Shopkeeper Song's attitude, Shen Tian did not bear to say anything bad. "Shopkeeper Song, you're overpraising me. I see that your son's appearance is extraordinary. There are protruding lumps on his head, which means he has outstanding talents. In the future, he will definitely turn into a genius cultivator. His future is limitless!"
Naturally, Young Shopkeeper Song, who was at the side, heard everything. Thus, Shen Tian's phrasing put Young Shopkeeper Song's nose out of joint!
What the f*ck!? My 'extraordinary' appearance is all due to being beaten up by you!
F*ck protruding lumps on my head! Your hits caused them all!
You just beat me up yesterday, and today you appear here wIth that half-hearted disguise? Damn, you only changed a shirt and pasted on a mustache! You've come to ridicule me! Shen Ao, you're going too far!
Shopkeeper Son pulled his son, who was about to pounce at Shen Tian to get revenge, without batting an eye.
"May I know why Master Celestial is here today?"
Before Shen Tian could speak, the other four fated people behind him replied simultaneously, "Master Celestial is here to help us look for and assess our ores!"
Look for ores and assess them? Is this an advertising scheme? No!
Shopkeeper Song frowned slightly. If that really were the case, then wouldn't he have received a notification or something?
Since Shopkeeper Song had not prepared a special Spirit Ore beforehand, the advertising scheme would fail.
Is it possible that he really has the ability to search for and assess ores?
Shopkeeper Song was astonished at that thought.
Anyone who had the ability to do so was a renowned personage in the cultivation world. Not to mention that all major cultivation sects would fight to recruit such a person.
Were that the case, then Shen Tian's importance in the eye of the Li Family would be extremely high!
Shopkeeper Song decided to observe first to figure out his real ability.
As such, Shopkeeper Song revealed a smile. "Welcome, welcome. We welcome Master Celestial Shen's guidance. All the Spirit Ores that Master Celestial Aotian picks will have a 4% discount."
Although Shopkeeper Song had said nothing wrong, the various fans behind Shen Tian were unhappy.
"Shopkeeper Song, your attitude is wrong!"
"When Little Spirit Fairy visits, your face is bitter and ugly. So, how come you're smiling happily now?"
"4% discount? Do you think that Brother Celestial is unable to cut open the good stuff!?"
"Only a 4% discount? 31% discount, at least! Who are you looking down on!?"
"That's right! We don't need such a discount, just go according to the original price, original price!"
…
Upon hearing Shen Tian's die-hard fans' comments, the fated women remained indifferent, while the fated men felt it was a shame.
Why did these busybodies have to spout such nonsense? Although a 4% discount was not much, it was still a discount!
If the ore's price was 10 Spirit Stones, then they would save almost half a Spirit Stone. By that convention, it was 400 taels of silver! Wouldn't it be better to use that amount to go eat, drink, play, or gamble?
Nevertheless, the current situation didn't allow them to voice their opinions. Should they voice them, they would be unable to endure the female cultivators' rage!
Fortunately, Shen Tian did not reject Shopkeeper Song's proposal.
"Since Shopkeeper Song is being so generous, it won't be good for me to reject it. I'll trouble you to cut open the ores I choose then!
"What do you think, Shopkeeper Song?"
The Sky Spirit Pavilion charged a 10% commission fee for slicing open ores. After deducting the 4% discount, the Sky Spirit Pavilion could still earn quite the amount of money.
Thus, even if Shen Tian did earn a lot of Spirit Stones from cutting open the ores, the Song Family would not be too upset.
A win-win situation could be achieved for all three sides. After all, Shen Tian also did not wish to incur hate of the major Spirit Shops in the Myriad Spirit Garden. It was better to have a friend than an enemy.
"Then, I'll thank Master Celestial Aotian!"
Shopkeeper Song's evaluation of Shen Tian increased by another grade because of what he said.
Since ancient times, the cultivation world had seen its fair share of talented loners. Most of them were very arrogant and haughty.
Unfortunately, destruction pursued the great, and such once-in-a-century geniuses had met untimely deaths and turned into dried piles of bones.
On the other hand, families and talented individuals—who were courteous to the talented and humbled oneself before the learned, helped others, and made friends—were the last ones standing at the peak.
One should know that fighting and killing did not reign supreme in the world—how one treated others also mattered.
…
Under the guidance of four fated people's images, Shen Tian swiftly picked the Spirit Ores that contained their fortuitous opportunities.
Those Spirit Ores' prices were not that high, ranging between 10 to 200 Spirit Stones. At the same time, the four fated people were able to buy them.
After the four of them paid, they stared at their respective Spirit Ores nervously as they waited for the ore-cutter to start slicing.
The ore-cutter started cutting according to the descending order of price, so the first ore was the most expensive.
The selling price was as high as 188 Spirit Stones, and if it was converted to taels of silver, then it would be 188,000 taels.
That was enough to buy a large manor in the Country of Fire with plenty to spare!
"Master Celestial, are you-you really sure?"
Lucky Man A seemed extremely nervous as the money he had spent was half of his whole fortune. If he made a loss when he returned home, he would most likely not even be able to sleep on the same bed with his cultivation partner for half a year.
He would die from trying to keep it in!
Shen Tian smiled. "Absolutely!"
Just as Shen Tian finished speaking, the ore-cutter had already used his spirit knife to start cutting the ore's outer layer.
An azure green ray of light shot out from within the ore's crack, covering the ore-cutter's face in green.
"He did it again!"