The marketplace was a place where lower-level cultivators traded for cultivation items. The variety was vast, with all sorts of goods such as pills, formations, and spiritual tools, but their grades were generally not high, and their quality varies.
With the New Year approaching, many cultivators were present in the marketplace, bustling with activity and noise.
Heading straight to the end of the street, Mo Hua approached a small stall. The stall owner was an old man surnamed Sun, known to acquaintances as Old Man Sun. His son worked as a minor manager at the Wondrous Pavilion. Occasionally, when there were some substandard goods that the Wondrous Pavilion didn't want, his son would acquire them at a low price and sell them at the street stall.
Old Man Sun was shouting his wares when he noticed Mo Hua running toward him, panting and with a flushed face. He couldn't help but jest, "Little brother, what spiritual tool are you here to look at today? Are you just going to look again without buying, like the other day?"
Mo Hua waved his hand, "I'm buying!"
Old Man Sun was puzzled, "There are still a few days left until the New Year, did your family give you your New Year's money so early?"
Mo Hua replied displeasedly, "What New Year's money? I earned this myself!" and patted the pocket at his waist.
Hearing the crisp sound of spiritual stones clinking in the pocket, Old Man Sun's spirits lifted, and he quickly said, "Alchemy pills, formations, and artifacts, I have everything here, reasonably priced and of excellent quality, suitable for both young and old. These are all items from the Wondrous Pavilion, top-quality goods. What would you like to buy, young friend?"
If they were truly top-quality goods, the Wondrous Pavilion would sell them themselves; how could they end up in the marketplace? But Mo Hua didn't care. He couldn't afford the items from the Wondrous Pavilion anyway.
"Do you have any fire-repelling spiritual tools?" Mo Hua asked.
Old Man Sun revealed a knowing expression, took out a linen package, and laid it out in front of Mo Hua.
"A few days ago, young friend, you mentioned this, so I paid attention and specifically found a few items. They are all excellent fire-repelling spiritual tools, convenient to carry, and beautifully crafted. Have a look, young friend."
Mo Hua glanced at Old Man Sun with surprise. He thought to himself that it was no wonder Old Man Sun had been running a stall in the marketplace for decades; he was always prepared for opportunities like this.
Displayed in front of Mo Hua were various spiritual tools: rings, jade pendants, lampstands, and even a hood and scarf... The variety already made it the most comprehensive collection in the marketplace.
Mo Hua carefully examined them all and then picked up a hairpin with an ancient yet delicate design. He asked, "What is this hairpin?"
Old Man Sun replied, "This is a fire-repelling hairpin, a standard spiritual tool with uniform materials and craftsmanship. It is engraved with a basic fire-repelling formation. It needs to be charged with spiritual stones. When activated, it can isolate heat and keep the wearer cool. Although it consumes spiritual stones, one stone can last for three months, making it quite economical..."
Mo Hua was skeptical, "If this is a standard Wondrous Pavilion spiritual tool, why is it sold here by you? It must have defects..."
Old Man Sun smiled, "You know quite a bit. I won't hide it from you. If there were no defects, it would be sold at the Wondrous Pavilion for at least twice the price I'm asking. But to say it has defects might be an overstatement..."
Pointing to the peony pattern on the hairpin, Old Man Sun continued, "When the craftsman engraved this peony, he made a few extra strokes, which deviates from the standard. Therefore, this hairpin was classified as a substandard item. However, the formation inside is intact, and its effectiveness remains the same."
Mo Hua nodded. He also felt that this hairpin was the most suitable. He then asked, "How much for it?"
Old Man Sun stroked his beard, "Fixed price, fifteen spiritual stones!"
Mo Hua shook his head, "Five stones!"
Old Man Sun widened his eyes, "Who taught you to haggle like this?"
Mo Hua felt a bit embarrassed, "I heard it from other stalls. They all bargain like this..."
Old Man Sun sighed, "The morals of today's world are declining. Even good kids like you are being led astray!" Then he said, "Fourteen stones, and that's my final offer!"
Mo Hua tried adding a bit more tentatively, "Six stones?"
...
After some back and forth, they settled on a final price of ten stones.
Old Man Sun felt he couldn't go any lower, not even a single stone less. Mo Hua had also checked the prices of other spiritual tools at different stalls earlier and found that there were hardly any cheaper options, so he agreed.
Taking the spiritual stones from Mo Hua, Old Man Sun carefully wrapped the hairpin in a cheap yet exquisite paper box and handed it over. He kept muttering to himself, "If my grandson had half your wit, I'd have him help me at the stall. Unfortunately, my grandson is quite dull; he's too shy to talk to strangers."
Mo Hua took the hairpin contentedly, waved goodbye to Old Man Sun, and then walked away briskly.
The vendor at the nearby stall chuckled, "Old Man Sun, you're taking a loss this time!"
Old Man Sun stroked his beard, "I'm not really taking a loss; I'm just making a little less profit."
The vendor was curious, "Ten stones isn't a small amount. I wonder who the kid bought the hairpin for."
"A fire-repelling hairpin is meant to repel the heat from stoves. Who else would he give it to?"
Watching Mo Hua's figure gradually disappear into the distance, Old Man Sun sighed softly, "He's a good kid."
Mo Hua's home was on a remote street on the outskirts of Tongxian City. The house was old and modest, just enough for a family of three. Nearby lived wandering cultivators of the Qi Refining stage who made a living doing odd jobs and short-term work. They weren't wealthy, but the area was bustling with activity.
In the evening, smoke rose from every household, and dim yellow lights flickered on.
Mo Hua ran in and called out, "Mom, I'm back!"
A woman in plain cloth walked out from inside. Her face was gentle and pleased to see Mo Hua. She couldn't help but pull him closer, touching his head and pinching his face, and after a moment she said, "Have you been working too hard in your cultivation? You've lost weight."
Mo Hua replied, "I haven't. " Then he took out the box, "Mom, this is for you!"
The woman was stunned, took the box and opened it, finding a hairpin inside.
"This is a fire-repelling hairpin. Mom, you work in the kitchen of a small restaurant, enduring the heat from cooking, which is harmful to your health. This hairpin can ward off the heat, keeping you cool."
The woman, named Liu Ruhua, was Mo Hua's mother, a wandering cultivator in the Qi Refining stage within Tongxian City.
Life as a wandering cultivator was tough. There weren't many good jobs to earn spiritual stones, and if they had children, raising them was even more difficult. Everyday expenses, especially materials for cultivation and the various expenses for practice within a sect, were costly for ordinary cultivators.
Liu Ruhua was skilled in cooking, working in the kitchen of a small restaurant in the city.
Large restaurants generally used furnaces refined by craftsmen, with formations that consumed spiritual stones to convert spiritual energy into fire power.
In order to save costs, small restaurants didn't use spiritual stones for fire; instead, they would let cultivators with fire spiritual roots consume spiritual power to condense cooking firepower. Over time, the body was inevitably invaded by the heat, and the meridians dried up, accompanied by symptoms of lung pain and dry cough.
When Liu Ruhua worked in the restaurant's kitchen, she had to consume spiritual power to provide fire, earning about thirty spiritual stones a month. Although it was harmful to her health, it was still considered a good job for wandering cultivators. Many Qi Refining cultivators would want it but not yet have the opportunity.
Looking at the hairpin in her hand, Liu Ruhua pursed her lips and said nothing.
Mo Hua quickly said, "The spiritual stones I used to buy this hairpin were earned by helping fellow disciples. I didn't cheat or steal, I swear!"
Liu Ruhua couldn't help but smile warmly, feeling both touched and a little sour in her heart. "I can't accept this hairpin, you're still young, and in the future, your cultivation will require a lot of spiritual stones. We need to save where we can, and I can take care of myself without you worrying..."
Mo Hua confidently said, "We'll talk about the future later. Who knows, maybe I'll become a great cultivator in the Golden Core or Nascent Soul stage. I'll have as many spiritual stones as I need."
Liu Ruhua laughed and pointed at Mo Hua's forehead, "At such a young age, you've already learned to boast."
"Mom, just take it. I bargained for a long time to buy it, and if you don't take it, then I wasted my effort."
After saying that, Mo Hua took the hairpin and inserted it into Liu Ruhua's hair bun, then ran into the room to get a mirror.
"Look, isn't it beautiful!"
Seeing the woman in the mirror adorned with the elegant hairpin, she looked dignified and graceful. Seeing her son's sparkling eyes, Liu Ruhua softened and said softly, "I'll accept this hairpin. But next time, I won't accept anything else."
"Okay, okay," Mo Hua replied repeatedly. "Mom, is dinner ready? I'm hungry."
"It's ready, and it's your favorite. Eat more!"
Liu Ruhua's cooking skills were excellent. Although they were simple vegetarian dishes without spiritual energy, they were exquisite and delicious. After Mo Hua finished eating and chatting with his mother, he went back to his room to study.
After midnight, Mo Hua entered his sea of consciousness and practiced formations on the stone tablet all night. When he woke up, it was already early morning.
Mo Hua closed his eyes and meditated, holding a spiritual stone in his hand, continuing his regular cultivation.
When he opened his eyes again, the sky was already bright, with the sunlight streaming into the room. Mo Hua stretched lazily and prepared to get up. Suddenly, he heard heavy footsteps outside.
Turning over and lying on the bed, Mo Hua peeked through the door crack and saw a man covered in blood and dust entering the house. This man was Mo Hua's father—Mo Shan.
(End of the Chapter)