After Shopkeeper Dong and Xiaozhuozi left, Mo Tiange dismissed the maid, entered the cultivation chamber to set up her own arrays, and then went into the Xu Tian Realm to rest.
She had already instructed the maid Ayin that she would be resting for three to five days and should not be disturbed unless necessary. This maid was accustomed to serving cultivators and understood the rules well; without needing further instruction, she indicated she would only clean the courtyard and would never enter the rooms.
Mo Tiange was quite satisfied. The mortals of Beiji Island were all very sensible, perhaps because the people of Yunzhong had long been accustomed to living alongside cultivators and thus had a thorough understanding of cultivators' habits.
Over the next few days, Mo Tiange didn't do anything particularly important. Each day, she simply regulated her breathing, and when idle, she played with her spirit beasts or read Mo Yaoqing's cultivation insights.
More than half a month passed. During this time, Shopkeeper Dong came once, and she paid another few dozen spirit stones, indicating she wished to stay a while longer. Seeing her pay so readily, Shopkeeper Dong was delighted and told her many things about Beiji Island. He also informed her that if she needed anything, she could simply send Ayin to fetch him. For guests staying here, inquiring about information or purchasing items on their behalf incurred no additional fees.
Mo Tiange thanked him and unceremoniously asked him for a map.
The map of Beiji Island meticulously depicted the locations of various spirit veins and the distribution of demon beasts. Unfortunately, beyond that, other areas were only roughly outlined. As for the Yunzhong Continent, only the distribution of the three great kingdoms was shown, with no markings for the locations of any sects.
Additionally, Mo Tiange noted that Beiji Island was quite far from the Yunzhong Continent. If flying, it would likely take a very long time. So she asked the maid, Ayin, about the methods of traveling to Yunzhong. Ayin told her that Beiji Island had several locations with Teleportation Arrays, making departure very convenient.
Mo Tiange felt reassured. It seemed the array masters of Yunzhong were quite formidable. Teleportation Arrays were among the most complex arrays, requiring extremely intricate techniques and countless spirit stones. In the Tianji Region, there weren't many Teleportation Arrays, and those that existed were short-distance and all controlled by the major sects. Yet here in Yunzhong, on this small Beiji Island alone, there were several Teleportation Arrays. To use one, one simply needed to pay the spirit stones.
After resting for several days and recovering her energy, Mo Tiange finally left her temporary courtyard to stroll around the town.
Maid Ayin said that the market on Beiji Island was famous throughout Yunzhong; even Core Formation cultivators would come here to buy things.
Hearing this, Mo Tiange was somewhat surprised. After all, Kunzhong City, the most prosperous city for loose cultivators in the Tianji Region, was only about this level. Beiji Island was merely a small island at the northernmost edge of Yunzhong, far from matching the prosperity of Yunzhong's mainland.
"Immortal, this street is our liveliest one. On this street, you can buy anything you want, especially Demon Cores. If you can think of it, you can buy it," Ayin said, walking ahead and introducing the place with pride.
Mo Tiange had originally planned to wander alone, but Ayin said she was extremely familiar with Beiji Island's market. After some thought, Mo Tiange brought her along.
"Is that really true?" Mo Tiange merely smiled and asked in response to Ayin's claim. Of course, she knew it was an exaggeration, but since Ayin dared to say it, this market must have its commendable aspects.
"Of course," Ayin said. "Our Beiji Island, they say, was still quite desolate tens of thousands of years ago. Later, a cultivator came here, discovered spirit veins, and it gradually became lively. At first, it was just some cultivation families and minor sects establishing themselves here. Afterwards, others discovered there were many sea beasts here and came to hunt them. Slowly, today's Beiji Island came to be."
"I see."
"Not just that," Ayin laughed. "Originally, these cultivators would take the sea beasts they hunted to sell inland. But because more and more people came to hunt, many merchants simply set up branch shops here specifically to purchase sea beast Inner Cores. Gradually, Beiji Island became the largest Demon Core market in all of Yunzhong. Even the Inner Cores of land demon beasts are brought here to sell. It can be said that if you can't find a Demon Core on Beiji Island, then it's very difficult to find it anywhere in Yunzhong."
"Is that so?" Mo Tiange thought. Such a small island was actually Yunzhong's largest Demon Core market. In that case, she could see if there were any rare Demon Cores; if suitable, she could buy them.
Entering this so-called "Demon Core Street," her ears were immediately filled with a cacophony of calls of solicitation: "Fellow Daoist, buying Demon Cores? I have top-grade sea beast Inner Cores here. If damaged, double compensation!"
"Esteemed Seniors, our shop has just received a new batch of Demon Cores, freshly shipped from inland. Guaranteed each one is of superior quality. First come, first served, until sold out!"
"One Fifth-Rank Lieyun Beast Inner Core, starting at one thousand spirit stones. If interested, come inside for details!"
Mo Tiange watched with amazement. Markets in the Tianji Region were rarely this lively. Even when cultivators did business, they wouldn't hawk their wares like mortals; most would just silently set up their stalls and wait for customers. But in Yunzhong, it wasn't like this. Cultivators also hawked their goods and solicited customers like mortals. Perhaps it was because mortals in Yunzhong also cultivated? So here, the distinction between cultivators and mortals wasn't as vast as in the Tianji Region.
Just as she was thinking this, someone approached: "Esteemed Fellow Daoist, interested in a Fourth-Rank Thundercloud Treading Snow Beast Inner Core?"
Mo Tiange waved her hand at this cultivator soliciting business, indicating she wasn't interested, and continued strolling down the street with Ayin.
The one who had spoken to her was a Foundation Establishment Cultivator. If this were in the Tianji Region, would a Foundation Establishment Cultivator ever conduct business like this? They probably wouldn't even be willing to set up a stall. The customs of Yunzhong were indeed vastly different from those of the Tianji Region.
"Immortal, are you just looking? Nothing you want?" Ayin asked eagerly.
Mo Tiange glanced at her and asked with a smile, "Do you have any shops to recommend?"
Ayin twisted the handkerchief in her hands sheepishly. "Our boss also has a shop here. If I introduce a customer, you can get a ten percent discount, and I also get a commission."
Based on her initial experiences on Beiji Island and what she had seen and heard during this time, Mo Tiange already knew this was the custom in Yunzhong. Their mercantile practices were far more developed than in the Tianji Region, so she merely smiled.
Seeing Mo Tiange didn't seem interested, Ayin said no more and began introducing the shops before them.
"Immortal, look. This Yulin Pavilion is the shop of the Tianyan Sect, the largest sect on Beiji Island. They have an enormous variety of goods; you can even find Sixth or Seventh-Rank Demon Cores here. I've heard the treasure of Yulin Pavilion is an Eighth-Rank demon beast's Inner Core!"
"An Eighth-Rank Inner Core? Does the Tianyan Sect have Nascent Soul Cultivators?"
"Yes," Ayin nodded. "The Tianyan Sect has two Nascent Soul Cultivators. Besides them, the Wuwei Sect also has one. Our Beiji Island is very small; we only have these three Nascent Soul Cultivators."
Beiji Island was indeed very small. Mo Tiange had seen the map; compared to the Yunzhong Continent, Beiji Island was just a small dot in the north, roughly equivalent to a city in one of the three great kingdoms. Yet such a small island actually had three Nascent Soul Cultivators. She truly wondered how many Nascent Soul Cultivators the entire Yunzhong might have. Perhaps double that of the two poles?
"Immortal, would you like to go into Yulin Pavilion and look?"
Mo Tiange nodded indifferently. "Alright." She was idle anyway; might as well browse.
Upon entering Yulin Pavilion, a cultivator immediately came forward to greet her. "Esteemed Senior, please come in, come in." Even the shop of Beiji Island's number one sect was extremely enthusiastic in welcoming customers. Mo Tiange had heard that although Beiji Island had decent spirit veins, it didn't have many spirit stone mines. Therefore, they heavily relied on trade with visiting cultivators. Only this way could they obtain enough spirit stones to supply their own cultivation.
"What does the Senior need? Our shop's Demon Cores are the most abundant on Beiji Island. Whatever Demon Core you want, as long as you can name it, there's an eighty percent chance you'll find it in our shop. Also, we have spirit herbs, magic tools, and the like." The one who rushed up to enthusiastically greet was a mortal who cultivated, his face beaming with smiles.
Ayin glanced at Mo Tiange's expression, then curtsied to this person. "Brother, we'll just look around first. If we need anything, we'll call for you."
"Alright, please take your time looking, you two." This attendant was enthusiastic but not overbearing. After greeting her, he politely retreated.
Mo Tiange thought to herself, the people of Yunzhong really knew how to do business. They made one feel well-attended to without being clingy like sticky candy. Their perfectly measured enthusiasm made one feel quite comfortable. She couldn't help but think that if the goods were decent, buying an item or two wouldn't be bad.
Looking around, she saw Yulin Pavilion was enormous, filled with densely packed counters. People came and went, all low-level cultivators, conversing softly with the attendants.
"Immortal, the first floor sells only low-level Demon Cores. They probably aren't very interesting to you. The second floor sells mid-level Demon Cores. If you want high-level Demon Cores, you can directly request to see the shopkeeper here. However, if the Immortal is just here to browse, you might as well go to the underground hall. That's the most distinctive place in Yulin Pavilion."
"Underground hall?" Mo Tiange asked with interest. "How is it distinctive?"
Ayin smiled. "The Immortal will know once you see it."
Mo Tiange thought for a moment and didn't object, nodding. "Lead the way."
Ayin curtsied and led her, familiar with the route, around the counters, through a carved stone door, and down the stone steps behind it.
Mo Tiange could already sense many people below. When she reached the bottom and entered another open door, she couldn't help but have her eyes light up.
Before her was an extremely spacious hall, almost worthy of being called a plaza. It was filled with densely packed stalls, with countless cultivators and mortals weaving ing through. The sound of conversation buzzed in her ears.
"This is..."
Ayin smiled. "This underground hall is Yulin Pavilion's flagship feature. It's a free market. There are no shopkeepers here, only customers. Regardless of cultivation level, whether you want to buy or sell, you can come here to look. Yulin Pavilion doesn't charge a fee."
Mo Tiange slowly swept her gaze across the hall. "If that's the case, how is it different from the small stalls outside?"
"The difference is that Yulin Pavilion stations treasure appraisers here. If a buyer and seller reach an agreement, they can find an appraiser here to verify authenticity and quality. If a deal is made, Yulin Pavilion takes a ten percent fee. If the goods don't match the seller's description and the transaction cannot be completed, then no fee is charged."
"Ah," Mo Tiange understood. "So trading here is safer, is that it?"
"Yes. If the appraiser makes a mistake, Yulin Pavilion will compensate according to the price. Many cultivators coming to Beiji Island to buy Demon Cores fear most getting inferior goods passed off as superior. So they're willing to spend a little extra money for peace of mind."