What's essential when strolling around? Of course, it's shopping!
Gu Yao was like a cheerful mouse that had fallen into a rice jar, eager to bring back all the spiritual herbs he fancied.
If the market in Yuan Yang Town could be compared to a stream, then the market in Ten Directions City was an expansive ocean. The dazzling array of various items overwhelmed Gu Yao's eyes.
Gu Yao's appearance clearly marked him as a newcomer from the countryside. A shop assistant enthusiastically explained, "Ten Directions City is the largest cultivation city on the Tianlin Continent. The variety of items here is the most comprehensive. Anything that exists elsewhere on the Tianlin Continent can be found here. Even if it's not currently available, as long as you can afford enough spirit stones, we can find a way to get it for you."
While this boasting tone might impress newcomers like Gu Yao, don't forget that he had a formidable character residing in his sea of consciousness. Moreover, Chi Changye also came from a place with a higher level of cultivation. If they wanted to make things difficult for the shops here, it was entirely possible.
Nevertheless, the shop assistant's words were sufficient to awe cultivators who came from smaller places. Many people listened with gleaming eyes, full of longing.
In reality, no matter how good the items were, Gu Yao couldn't afford them at the moment. Although he had saved quite a few spirit stones and spiritual pearls before coming out, after strolling for a while, he realized they were still poor. There were too many things he wanted to buy, so he could only pick and choose.
Chi Changye had no intention of buying anything. He acted as a wallet, following behind Gu Yao. Initially, Gu Yao managed the finances, but gradually, it became common for him to take money from Chi Changye. The remaining spiritual pearls around Gu Yao were only used for cultivation.
This shift happened subtly, and Gu Yao didn't feel that anything was amiss. However, the two brothers from the Tian family, especially Tian Fei Rong, followed along, using a fan to cover his lips, constantly observing the two of them.
Although the public facade presents them as a married couple, Tian Fei Rong is well aware that the two of them haven't actually lived together. Except for the incident where they were manipulated initially, they haven't shared much time together. However, despite not being overtly romantic, their interactions are enough to fuel gossip.
"Bro, look at these two. They're starting to look more like a couple, aren't they?" Tian Fei Rong whispered, indulging in some gossip with his brother.
Tian Fei Yang shifted his gaze from a top-grade magical tool and, with an unkind look, glanced at his gossiping younger brother. He replied, "Hmm, quite fitting."
Tian Fei Rong sighed, "I never thought that Ge Yao would save up so much money in just half a year. He seems even wealthier than me, Tian Er Shao. Look at how many spiritual pearls he's spending now."
When he was in Yuan Yang Town, he never felt like a poor man. However, witnessing the expenditure level here, Tian Fei Rong, for the first time, felt that his purse was quite empty.
Tian Fei Yang, rarely agreeing with his second brother, nodded and said, "They have no burdens, and each has their own strengths. Even after spending all this, they can earn it back. As for you and me leaving the family..."
Tian Fei Yang sighed and shook his head. They couldn't survive for long after leaving the family for a short time. People like them had to either find employment or go out of the city to search for spiritual herbs and hunt monsters. There was a chance they might not return alive.
Not only did the Tian brothers envy them, but also the junior members of the Gu family sitting in a nearby tavern. One of them, Gu Yang, a collateral member of the Gu family, said sarcastically, "This guy is so lucky. He has someone paying for everything he wants. In this short time, he has probably spent thousands of spiritual pearls." He initially thought that coming to participate in the Ascension Ceremony this time would be enough to stand out in the family. However, compared to Gu Yao, his triumphant mood was considerably diminished. "But even with good luck, it's still not as good as Big Brother Gu Yan. Big Brother Gu Yan is going to join the Sect."
Gu Yu, the eldest daughter of the Gu family, also felt envy but remarked, "Those are the spiritual pearls Gu Yao earned himself. On the way here, he made quite a bit just by selling elixirs."
Not to mention the secret transactions they made with the Tian family before leaving the town. Their wealth was much higher than that of these family members. Although Chi Changye could draw symbols, the speed at which Gu Yao sold elixirs brought in money faster than Chi Changye could with his symbols. Gu Yu couldn't help but feel a twinge of envy.
Gu Yang wasn't about to argue with Gu Yu from the main branch. However, he still felt dissatisfied. People who used to be looked down upon were now reveling in their success, and it was impossible for them to be pleasing to the eye.
As a group of people passed by downstairs, pedestrians actively made way, casting envious and admiring glances at them.
"Big Brother, who are these people down there? They seem to be of great importance." Gu Yu observed the people below, who either seemed indifferent or extremely arrogant, paying no attention to the onlookers. Gu Yu felt that they were treating others the same way Gu family members treated common people and wandering cultivators back in Yuan Yang Town. Now that they were being disregarded by others, the feeling was... strangely satisfying.
Gu Yan, seeing the insignia on their clothing, calmly remarked, "They are disciples of the Northern Star Sect. The leading few are inner disciples. The Northern Star Sect holds a high position on our Tianlin Continent. If possible, try to join this sect."
"Money."
"There are two options," Tian Fei Yang smiled. With them joining, his second brother would definitely be willing to stay. "One is to participate in the assessment of the Tianfu Academy. The cost for this is relatively low, ten spiritual stones. If the aptitude is exceptional, these ten spiritual stones can be exempted. The second option is to pay without assessment. For that, you need to shell out one hundred spiritual stones."
Gu Yao took a sharp breath, feeling a cold sensation, his molars aching. One hundred spiritual stones?! And this was just the entrance fee; there would be additional expenses once inside.
Ten spiritual stones were equivalent to one thousand spiritual pearls. One hundred spiritual stones amounted to one hundred thousand spiritual pearls. Even though Gu Yao's current wealth couldn't be compared to before, it still wasn't enough to consider this enrollment fee lightly. It's no wonder he hadn't heard of any family members from ordinary households in Yuan Yang Town joining the Tianfu Academy; it was not something an average family could afford.