With his curiosity, Zhu Dingxiang held Qiuyue's hand as they aimlessly roamed around the night market, buying a little bit of everything they come across.
'It has only been roughly thirty minutes, yet I already come across quite a few Qi Condensation realm cultivators.'
'Some even managed to give me an ominous feeling...'
Sensing the probing gazes from a few particular individuals, Zhu Dingxiang merely glances back at them for a moment then moves on.
"Qiuyue, do you know where we can buy a fishing rod? I didn't buy them yet." Zhu Dingxiang asked abruptly. Since his initial goal for tonight was going fishing, it just wouldn't do to go without a rod...
"Ah? Brother Dingxiang, it would be best if you had told me earlier; I have a few fishing rods back at home." Pondered for a moment, she continued, "Although I hadn't been here for a long time, a few popular stalls should remain the same. I could guide you there."
"That's great; let's go then."
The situation reverse, still holding hands. However, now Qiuyue walks in front while he is following behind.
After a while, the two arrived in front of a large stall.
The counter was made out of high-quality wood, on it displaying fishing rods of many different varieties.
"It's here!" Qiuyue said, pointed at the stall.
The stall manager, who was rambling and advertising the rods, walked over hurriedly upon seeing that the two of them were extraordinary.
Shortly after, with a few suggestions from the stall manager, Zhu Dingxiang bought two fishing rods and some bait. Since the Rainbow Auction House owned this stall, they weren't worried about the good's quality.
'Tsk!'
'I never know a fishing rod could be so costly.' Zhu Dingxiang though silently while paying the total of 2000 gold coins.
As they continued to stroll on the street, listening to the rhymed music of the performers in the background, something else quickly caught his attention.
...
Not far ahead
A few hundreds of cultivators gathered together and surrounded a stall that displayed many weirdly shaped stones. Everyone was in a heated discussion.
After one of the stones was cut open, the stall owner, who looks like a middle-aged man dressing in a yellow robe, exhibit the contents inside to everyone.
Instantly, many loud exclamations broke out from the crow.
"There is another ore inside!"
"So cold!"
"Could it be... If I'm guessing correctly, this could be a Frost Iron Ore which belongs to the Mid-Grade of the Mortal Rank material list."
"He did it again! Master Yi truly lives up to his reputation as a famous Ore Appraiser!"
The stall owner swiped the sweat on his head before looking at the said Master Yi with a long face; he then uttered with great pain, "Congratulation, Mater Yi, with the size of this Frost Iron Ore, the price is estimated to be around 4000 to 4500 gold coins."
"Hahaha, stall owner, I will just count it as 4000 gold coins and sell it back to you then." Master Yi said after letting out a burst of big-hearted laughter. He donned a black robe, looking like a dashing young chap.
With a face filled with surprise, the stall owner quickly replied, "Then I won't be counting the initial price of 100 gold coins from the initial price of the ore. Please wait here for a moment, and I will get the money ready for you."
Facing the crowd, Master Yi adjusted his cloth, then announcing out loud, "Everyone, this is my last day staying in this town. Since I won't be here next month, I have decided to help and give yall an opportunity this time."
"Based on my ample experience in this business, I can tell everyone that the ores displayed here are of high quality. If you are interested, you can give it a try, and if you are lucky, perhaps you might chance upon a fortuitous encounter."
"As for me, I can't disclose any more of heaven's secret." Finishing his words, Master Yi disappeared into the crowd with the demeanor of an expert, not even taking the gold coins with him.
Witnessing the whole event unfold, many of the onlookers hurried to purchase the ores one after another with the thought 'If I could get lucky, I could get rich overnight' in their minds.
"Wow! Master Yi, you are such a generous person; please let me hug your thighs!"
"Brothers, it's our time to get rich!"
"This one is mine, mine! Hey, you over there, give that back to me!"
"Master Yi! Please come back and choose an ore for me!"
...
As the ore gambling area's disturbance got louder and louder, Zhu Dingxiang paused and glanced over.
Looking at him, Qiuyue smiled knowingly. "They are gambling on ores. Brother Dingxiang, do you want to try your luck?"
Zhu Dingxiang thought for a while before he nodded his head and agreed. "Well, I'm interested indeed; let's go and give it a try."
While walking toward the ore gambling stall, Zhu Dingxiang's face was full of enthusiasm. He knew about ore gambling but never had a chance to try it before. Now that he was about to experience it for the first time, the expectations building up inside him were immense!
The surface of the ores was rough and unique as even with his Spirit Eyes, Zhu Dingxiang still unable to see through what's inside. Confirming that he couldn't cheat, he can only rely on luck and experience or some other means to determine the ore's value.
Joining in the excitement, Zhu Dingxiang and Qiuyue bought an ore each.
"Boss, I want this one."
Looking at the ore with confidence, he told the stall owner to proceeds and cut it open.
Yet...
Once the sharp blade removed the ore's outer crust, the inside contains nothing but a piece of waste!
"Ara?" At this moment, Qiuyue let expressed her surprise since the ore she chose contain a low-grade spirit stone. "It looks like I'm very fortunate today, huahaha~."
"Another one!" Zhu Dingxiang chooses another ore, not giving up. Since there are many gold coins in his storage ring, a few more ores wouldn't matter much.
Yet, there was only waste once again...
"Another one!"
This time, however, to Zhu Dingxiang surprise. There was nothing inside...
'This... my disappointment is immeasurable.' He thought while looking at the stall owner skeptically.