Morning, Winqu Holiday Inn
Upon opening my eyes, I breathed a sigh of relief as I circulated my qi through my body one last time. I've managed to recover 5/8 of my Spiritual Energy and 9/10 of my Renqi just by meditating the whole night.
Oh by the way, I recently found out a bit more on this world. Apparently, the qi used here was divided into three levels called Renqi, Lingqi and Yuanqi. Renqi is basically outer strength normally used by Body Tempering realm Cultivators and Body Cultivators. Lingqi is Spirit Energy, commonly used by Spirit Refinement realm Cultivators and Soul Condensation realm Cultivators only. Lastly, yuanqi is an even purer form of lingqi, most often used by Core Formation Cultivators and Nascent Soul Masters. I've heard that there were even higher levels than Nascent Soul realm, but since I'm still too weak, let's not dive deeper yet.
Winqu Market
After having breakfast, I decided to go back to the market to find some more bargains I can rip people off for. Regarding the blue Sky Stone I previously bought, I forgot the mention I bought it, right? Well, you see...within Space, there's the space element. When the space elements condenses and solidifies, it will be compressed and transform into Space Essence. After Space Essence would be Space Essence Crystal. They are formed from compressing a huge amount of Space Essence into paste before it solidifies into a crystal and its blue in color. Of course, there's only a one in a billion chance of Space Essence Crystal forming and me finding one here in the market was purely by luck. Heck, in my one hundred lifetimes, I've only seen Space Essence Crystal once, and it was actually a whole mountain of it. Right, that was a restricted zone of True Star Island, my old Sect and home.
As I walked into the market, I heard my name being called before I was suddenly tackled by a guard? Shaking my head, I looked up to see a guard smiling at me? What's going on?
"Uhm sir, can you get off me?" I meekly asked. I always presumed that I was cute, but not to the point of getting chased nor tackled by people I have never met.
Upon hearing my request, the guard immediately sprang up away from me as more guards converged to me? There were 6 guards here, each one here was already at the peak of 9th stage Body Tempering realm and sported looks of relief when they saw me. Before I could deduce what had happened tho, a guard with a yellow volcano symbol stepped forward and bowed his head towards me.
"We are happy to find that Young Master Starfall is safe! When we heard that you've gotten in trouble with Sain Bumblebeast of the Bumblebeast Family and Biyu Baoyi of the Great Biyu Clan, all city guards were immediately dispatched to escort and protect you. But when we got to the scene, all we found were tens of cultivators in a vegetative state. Since we couldn't find you there, we spent the rest of the day to search for your whereabouts. Thank goodness you are safe! Now, if you'll let me escort you to your next destination, that'll be great!" After he finished his report, he stepped back to the row of guards while still bowing towards me.
"Uhm...alright? My next destination is this market tho, and I'm already here?"
"Then we will escort you through this market, young master!" the yellow crest guard replied.
"Yeah sure, but can you stop talking so loudly? Everyone's looking at us skeptically now."
"Fret not, young master." the yellow crest guard replied before he stood up and turned towards the crowd with the other 5 guards. "EVERYONE, MIND YOUR DAMN BUSINESS! HAVE YOU NEVER SEEN A CHILD HAVE CITY GUARDS PROTECTING HIM? IF NOT, ARE YOU BLIND! WE ARE CURRENTLY PROTECTING A VIP OF WINQU! IF ANYONE SO MUCH AS TAKE A PEEK WHEN WE WALK PAST YOU WILL HAVE THEIR EYES GOUGE OUT! THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR UDERSTANDING AND HAVE A NICE DAY!"
Did he just thanked them for listening after he threatened them? Alright, not gonna dwell on that anymore, I'm going to take look around now 6 city guards follow me.
2 hours later...
"Young master, what is it that you're looking for? Maybe we could help." Guard A inquired.
"To be honest, I'm not really sure what I'm looking for." I smiled awkwardly.
After going back and forth for a couple of hours, I've already bargained and struck deals after deals with the vendors here. My space ring was nearly full as I have gobbled up every herb and elixir found in this market. I could not only buy them in bulk, but their prices were cheap too! Now I'm wondering whether I should call it a day or do I just buy up everything else.....Oh I know, I'll go buy up all the stones of that frail old man Gong! I might struck it rich if I'm lucky too! And with that, we head off towards the Colorful Stone Shop of old man Gong.
Colorful Stone Shop
"Hey old man, I'm back!" I waved at the familiar figure sitting by a white mat. By the way, why did the guards around me have bewildered looks? Have they never seen an old man before?
As if bewildered by this voice, the frail old man sitting by a white mat with colorful stones sprang up before he turned to his head to see me. "Oh, it's you young lad! Good to see that you're safe and uh...What's with the guards around you? *Gasp* Are these guards sent by the Bumblebeast Family? Have they come to escort you to an alley before they meet out punishment for offending their young master?! No, you're a good and righteous kid, and you've bought one of my stones..." The old man then got into a battle stance and released his aura. Wow, middle Core Formation realm!! Old man, I'm sorry I've looked down on you. "If you want the child, you'll have to ask for my permission first."
Seeing that things have turned out this way, I playfully run over and hid behind the old man, trembling slightly as I peeked my head the guards cautiously. "Do not worry, child. As long as I'm here, no one can take you away."
I nodded in response.
The guards who were guarding me saw my actions and couldn't help but smile bitterly. 'This young master is really cheeky.'
Seeing as how the old man has misunderstood them, the yellow crest guard stepped forward, cupped his fist at the old man before he explained himself. "Good morning, Old Gong. It seems you've misunderstood some things here. First, we are guards from Winqu Town Order, not from any of the 8 clans of Winqu. Second, we have been dispatched by the Order's Commander to protect this kid behind you."
"The Town Order? Why were you dispatched to guard this boy?" Although lowered his arms, Old man Gong did not suppress his aura. His mid Core Formation realm aura was still blazing strong. Nice! It seemed that Old man Gong has battle experience.
"It seemed that Old man Gong does not know the true identity of this boy...This boy's name is Starfall Severlance, and he's the 8th young master of the Severlance Family. His visit to Winqu was asked to be kept a secret by one of his elders, therefore none of the 8 clans knows of this boy's origins." The yellow crest guard further explained.
"Huh? The Severlance Family?...This boy is the 8th...young master?" It seems Old man Gong has stopped functioning. Welp, guess the act has come to light now.