After listening to the introduction from the proprietor of the artifact shop, Xiao Fei had a general understanding and specifically browsed the area where wood-attribute artifacts were displayed.
This shop was perhaps truly professional; there were many styles of wood-attribute artifacts alone, covering all eighteen types of weapons.
Each artifact had its own focus. Some were for combat and killing, while others were for assisting, trapping, obstructing, or defending.
Xiao Fei recalled hearing someone say before that the stranger the weapon, the faster one dies. Especially when one's strength was insufficient, it was best to honestly buy a flying sword.
There were over ten wood-attribute flying swords on the shelves.
"Artifacts are divided into three grades: upper, middle, and lower. With your current cultivation, Daoist friend, you can only wield lower-grade artifacts."
"Daoist friend, look at this flying sword. It's refined from 80-year-old ironwood. Its quality is hard, and it can slice through iron like mud."
"The original price was 80 spirit stones, but now it's on discount for only 50 spirit stones."
The shopkeeper picked up a black flying sword artifact and enthusiastically introduced it to Xiao Fei.
As a business owner, this artifact shop proprietor was much more enthusiastic than the one with the small, beady eyes.
Seeing that Xiao Fei seemed uninterested, the shopkeeper picked up a light yellow flying sword.
"Daoist friend, look at this flying sword. It's refined from the main trunk of a 100-year-old spirit peach wood, after forty-nine days of seventy-seven cycles. This sword not only has astonishing lethality but also possesses the function of warding off evil."
The shopkeeper wiped the white foam from the corner of his mouth, took a sip of tea to moisten his throat, and continued his introduction.
"The original price of this sword was 150 spirit stones, but now that we have fate, Daoist friend, I won't ask for 150, nor 100. For just 60 spirit stones, you can take this hundred-year spirit peach wood artifact home."
Xiao Fei saw that this artifact was a bit more expensive, but its material and function seemed more powerful.
Thinking that he still had a large pile of profound iron ore in his spatial dimension that hadn't been sold, he paid 60 spirit stones at that moment and bought the peach wood flying sword.
Carrying his first artifact in his life, Xiao Fei walked out of the artifact shop with 200 spirit stones remaining.
He found a deserted corner, pulled off the mask from his face, and returned to his original appearance before heading towards Spirit Spring Mountain.
He found Lin Dagou, gave him 5 spirit stones, and Lin Dagou readily helped him find Young Master Lin Xiang.
A moment later, Lin Dagou walked out with a smile.
"Your luck is quite good, kid. Young Master Xiang is free today and will let you in to see him."
"Thank you, Brother Dagou. I'm not familiar with the manor, so I'll ask Brother Dagou to lead the way for me."
Xiao Fei quickly cupped his fists in thanks and gave Lin Dagou another 5 spirit stones.
"Follow me!"
Xiao Fei followed behind Lin Dagou and entered the Lin family manor for the first time, truly witnessing the prosperity and luxury of the cultivation world.
Upon entering the manor, he saw a flower bed with a patch of purple irises, a ten-year-old spirit herb, with each plant costing at least four spirit stones. There were at least several hundred plants in this large patch.
Major families were indeed different, so extravagant!
After passing several courtyards, Xiao Fei saw another spirit orchard. Dozens of spirit peach trees were laden with spirit peaches, all red and ripe, yet no one had picked them. Any single spirit peach here could sell for dozens of spirit stones.
Lin Dagou, seeing Xiao Fei's astonished look as if he had never seen the world, felt very proud and gave him a disdainful smile.
"We can't finish eating all these spirit peaches every time they ripen. The manor will pick them and brew them into spirit wine. Have you ever drunk spirit wine? You rogue cultivators certainly don't have the chance. The last time Young Master bestowed half a pot of spirit wine upon me, it was truly fragrant."
Lin Dagou licked his lips, recalling three years ago when a young master of the Lin family had rewarded him with the leftover wine from his wine pot. There were only half a cup's worth when poured out, but he had carefully savored it for a month.
Little did he know that Xiao Fei was thinking about planting a spirit peach tree in his own spatial dimension in the future.
After making several turns in the manor, Xiao Fei finally found Young Master Lin Xiang under a small tree by a pond.
"Greetings, Young Master Xiang!"
Lin Xiang was lying on a lounge chair, his eyes slightly narrowed, while two women were carefully massaging his body.
"Enough with the nonsense, did you bring the spirit stones?"
As a descendant of a prominent family, Xiao Fei was merely a rogue cultivator. Their statuses were vastly different, and Lin Xiang had no interest in wasting his breath with Xiao Fei.
"Brought them! Brought them!"
Xiao Fei quickly took out a wooden box and opened its lid. Inside, 150 spirit stones were neatly arranged.
Lin Xiang's divine sense swept over it, confirming the quantity, and he casually put away the wooden box.
"Come to the entrance tomorrow morning to wait, and someone will bring you that that…"
"Xiao Lan!"
Lin Xiang paused for a long time, unable to recall the name. Xiao Fei quickly supplemented.
"Oh, right! Xiao Lan. Someone will deliver her to you tomorrow morning."
"Alright, you may leave now!"
Lin Xiang narrowed his eyes, not wanting to speak further, and focused on enjoying the massage from the two women.
"Young Master Lin! Can I take Xiao Lan with me today?"
Although he could tell Lin Xiang didn't want to deal with him anymore, Xiao Fei still inquired.
"Scram! I don't have time to deal with your trivial matters today!"
Lin Xiang's expression turned cold, and he shouted.
At the same time, Lin Dagou grabbed Xiao Fei's arm and said sternly.
"Let's go. Young Master Xiang has already agreed to your request, so don't pester him any further. If you keep babbling and anger Young Master Xiang, you'll face consequences."
Lin Dagou pulled Xiao Fei away. Lin Dagou, with his sixth level of Qi Refining, was stronger than Xiao Fei. Xiao Fei couldn't break free from his grasp. Moreover, Xiao Fei didn't dare to truly anger Lin Xiang at this moment. If he took the spirit stones and went back on his word, Xiao Fei would have no recourse.
On the way out, Lin Dagou continued to reprimand Xiao Fei.
"You, a mere rogue cultivator, what right do you have to negotiate terms with Young Master Xiang?"
"Young Master Xiang is such an important figure, would he go back on his word about what he promised you?"
"Let me tell you, you were fortunate enough to enter the Lin family manor today and successfully meet Young Master Xiang. That's enough for you to brag about among rogue cultivators for a lifetime."
"You rogue cultivators need to know your place, be well-behaved, and only then can you live longer."
As Lin Dagou lectured Xiao Fei, Xiao Fei felt a sense of superiority. Even if he were a watchdog for the Lin family, it would be better than being a rogue cultivator.
"However, you are quite good at earning spirit stones. If you have any ways to get rich, be sure to bring me along."
Lin Dagou remembered the 150 spirit stones that had dazzled his eyes when the wooden box was opened earlier. Even with the "oil and water" from guarding the gate, it would be difficult for him to save so many spirit stones in a short period. Considering it, Xiao Fei had already spent tens of spirit stones on him. This made him pay attention to Xiao Fei's financial channels.
"Brother Dagou is too kind. I am untalented, but I operate some risk-free businesses outside the city, such as killing and plundering, and I have some experience."
Xiao Fei had already considered it. It seemed that only by killing and plundering could his wealth be explained. After all, morality was corrupt in this world, and those who committed evil deeds were often proud of it.
"Hahaha... Are you trying to make me die laughing?"
"With your scrawny physique, killing and plundering!"