Chapter 1027: Chapter 1027: Penniless and Empty-handed! Chapter 1027: Chapter 1027: Penniless and Empty-handed! Huang Xiaolong volunteered to accompany them to the marketplace, which gave the six loose cultivators a sense of relief.

The marketplace was still some distance away. The loose cultivators were too weak and feared encountering malevolent thieves on the road who might rob them. Now, with a powerful protector like Huang Xiaolong escorting them, they wouldn’t have to worry about any unexpected trouble.

Immediately, the six loose cultivators led the way, and the group headed towards the marketplace.

The loose cultivators were indeed in a sorry state, all riding disposable flying talismans.

Huang Xiaolong and the others continued on cranes.

Along the way, Huang Xiaolong engaged in constant conversation with the loose cultivators in order to better understand this mysterious world of overseas cultivators.

However, these loose cultivators held too lowly positions and knew very little.

But some information is better than none!

It turned out that “spirit stones” were the currency circulated in the overseas world.

“Spirit stones” were equivalent to Huaxia’s RMB.

Using spirit stones, one could purchase almost anything they desired in the world of overseas cultivators.

The so-called spirit stones were crystals formed from the condensation of nature’s spiritual energy. They could also be used directly for cultivation.

They varied in quality.

For example, different qualities of spirit stones corresponded to different denominations of RMB.

Interestingly, in the world of overseas cultivators, the “denomination” of spirit stones and their purchasing power were about the same as Huaxia’s RMB!

Inferior spirit stones were like the small change in RMB–coins worth half a yuan, one yuan, five yuan, ten yuan, etc.

A low-grade spirit stone was roughly equivalent to 1000 RMB.

A mid-grade spirit stone was about equal to 10,000 RMB!

A high-grade spirit stone, then, corresponded to 100,000 RMB.

The highest quality were the top-grade spirit stones, with a small piece worth about 1,000,000 RMB.

This was quite fascinating.

For instance, the three sea snakes that the six loose cultivators had killed could be exchanged for about 5 to 8 mid-grade spirit stones, which meant they were roughly worth 50,000 to 80,000 RMB in Huaxia.

Considering the cost of living and average income in Huaxia, this was no small sum. However, these loose cultivators had risked their lives for this money, and if it hadn’t been for Huang Xiaolong’s timely intervention, they would have been annihilated.

‘Damn, it’s all hard-earned money! How pitiable!’ Huang Xiaolong shook his head.

After flying for several hours, finally, an island appeared below them.

With a sweep of his divine sense, Huang Xiaolong discovered that the island was bustling with people–at least several thousand!

Moreover, all of them were cultivators! The entire island was permeated with fluctuations of mana, varying in strength!

The vast majority were Mana Realm cultivators, with a small portion in the Divine Skills Realm.

In the deepest part of the island, in a palace, a subtle oppressive force was emanating, controlling the entire island. This force belonged to a powerful being. With just a slight touch of his divine sense, Huang Xiaolong knew that this powerful being controlling the island was at least in the late stages of the Divine Skills Realm, possibly even in the early stages of the Tribulation Realm!

Besides cultivators, the island was lush with exotic flowers and plants and was dotted with various brick and wood buildings.

The architecture was ancient, styled like the lofts and palaces of ancient Huaxia.

There were also extremely lively shops and street stalls.

“So this is what they call a marketplace, huh?” Huang Xiaolong asked with a smile.

“Wow, it feels so lively here~~” Song Yuru also looked down. “Little Long, we’ve finally found an inhabited island.”

“Senior, this is ‘Guan Shan Island Marketplace.’ This marketplace is open not only to disciples of sects but also to us loose cultivators. There are often some quite good items here, and a large auction is held regularly each month, attracting a lot of people. We loose cultivators like trading here. The most important thing is that the covert owner of Guan Shan Island Marketplace is an early-stage Tribulation Realm powerhouse!”

At this, expressions of awe and fear appeared on the faces of the six loose cultivators.

From their point of view, an early-stage Tribulation Realm indeed represented an almighty crocodile!

“With such a powerhouse in charge, security within the marketplace is guaranteed, ensuring the fairness of all transactions, with no incidents of coercion, robbery, or murder ever occurring. Even sect disciples dare not cause trouble here. It is said that this early-stage Tribulation Realm powerhouse has some connections with the Qingcheng Sect, and they provide some protection,” explained a cultivator earnestly.

“Qingcheng Sect?” Huang Xiaolong smiled enigmatically.

Having absorbed the divine sense of a Qingcheng Sect expert, Dugu Hong, he was, in fact, equivalent to a super-expert of the Qingcheng Sect.

“Senior, you know of the Qingcheng Sect?”

“Hahaha~~ I don’t. But what rank does the Qingcheng Sect hold in the world of overseas cultivators?” Huang Xiaolong asked with interest.

“It’s hard to define their rank exactly, but they are definitely one of the larger sects with many disciples, countless geniuses, supremely powerful beings, and unfathomable depths,” a cultivator replied cautiously. “Senior, the Qingcheng Sect is only slightly inferior to the Shushan Sect, Emei Sect, Shaolin Sect, Wudang Sect~~ and is on par with the Huasan Sect, Songshan Sect, and so on.”

“Understood. This is too interesting. Let’s hurry down!” Huang Xiaolong said eagerly.

Immediately, everyone slowly descended onto an island onto a vast square paved with jade.

As soon as they landed, Huang Xiaolong saw that some cultivators in a hurry were heading towards the market outside of the square.

Just then,
“Are you selling this crane or not?” A man’s indifferent voice rang out, infused with an overbearing sharpness.

Huang Xiaolong looked in the direction of the voice and saw a young man in brocade robes, estimated to be an early Divine Skills practitioner, with two old men with piercing gazes behind him, looking like servants.

“Ah~~” Huang Xiaolong was taken aback.

“These five cranes have been trained quite well. Here’s what, two high-grade spirit stones for all, and we can complete the transaction right here,” the young man in brocade said arrogantly.

Huang Xiaolong thought for a moment; two high-grade spirit stones amounted to 200,000 yuan.

‘This guy must be trying to trick me. Damn, the purchasing power of two high-grade spirit stones in the overseas cultivators’ world is equivalent to 200,000 yuan in the Huaxia Central Plains. My five cranes should definitely be worth more than 200,000 yuan.’
“Um…this… Young Master, two high-grade spirit stones… this… this seems a bit off… The last time I was at the market, I personally saw someone selling cranes of inferior quality compared to the one you’re riding, and they sold for ten high-grade spirit stones each…” A loose cultivator, plucking up his courage, stepped forward. Huang Xiaolong had saved their lives, and they didn’t want to watch him get cheated.

Hearing this, Huang Xiaolong was infuriated.

According to the loose cultivator, one crane was worth ten high-grade spirit stones, that is, one million yuan. Five cranes would then be worth five million yuan in the market, but this guy had the audacity to offer only 200,000 yuan…

This wasn’t just cheating; it was outright robbery!

“Shut up!” The young man in the brocade robes, his eyes flashing with a sinister and disdainful light, glanced at the loose cultivators. His fingers twitched as if he was about to kill someone.

Under the pressure of his aura, the six loose cultivators quickly backed away, their faces as pale as paper.

“If it weren’t for the fact that we can’t fight here, you all would have been slaughtered by me already!” the young man in brocade snickered, then looked at Huang Xiaolong. “So what do you say, consider it. I am a disciple of the Kongtong Sect. Looking at your attire, you’re definitely a loose cultivator. Why not make a good connection with me? Later on, if you run into danger while wandering around, you might be able to save your life by mentioning my name.”

“Kongtong Sect?” Huang Xiaolong laughed. “Forget it, I’m not selling.”

Having said that, Huang Xiaolong walked away from the square with his companions, and within a few steps, he had stored the five cranes in the bronze token.

“If you don’t drink the toast, you’ll drink the punishment! When did loose cultivators become so impudent? They deserve a beating!” The young man in the brocade, with a malicious gaze, watched the retreating figure of Huang Xiaolong, and it seemed he was also brewing something in his eyes.

“Young Master, we shouldn’t cause trouble here. Let’s go,” the two old servants behind him advised.

…

“Senior, I think we should stay in the market for a few more days~~ Wait until the Kongtong Sect disciples leave, then we can move on.” A loose cultivator, anxious and nervous, said to Huang Xiaolong. “The Kongtong Sect is comparable to the Qingcheng Sect, a major sect with arrogant disciples; they are not to be trifled with. If we leave now, that guy might follow us, rob us, and seek revenge.”

Huang Xiaolong smiled and said nothing.

The loose cultivators thought Huang Xiaolong was agreeing, and they all breathed a sigh of relief.

There was no choice; without strength, in this cruel, bloody world of overseas cultivators, they had to keep a low profile, or else they wouldn’t survive long.

Immediately, the loose cultivators went to check into a hotel. They planned to settle down for now.

They picked an average inn.

In Huang Xiaolong’s eyes, this so-called inn was just a six-story wooden tower.

“Senior, how many rooms do you want?” a loose cultivator asked respectfully.

Huang Xiaolong thought for a moment, then said, “One or two is fine. How much are the rooms here, oh, I mean, how many spirit stones?”

“Senior, it’s one low-grade spirit stone per room per day.”

“Oh,” Huang Xiaolong nodded. That’s equivalent to one thousand yuan a night in the Huaxia Central Plains. Cheaper than a budget hotel but not by much.

“I don’t have any spirit stones on me right now, could you front me?” Huang Xiaolong felt a little embarrassed to have others pay for him. “I will pay you back double.”

“Senior, you are too polite! We should do this! It’s just that this inn is a bit too simple, and I’m afraid it’s not up to your standards,” the Loose Cultivator said apologetically.

“You all earn some spirit stones by risking your lives; how can I simply take advantage of you? Don’t worry, I’ll repay you with interest,” Huang Xiaolong laughed.

Song Yuru tugged at Huang Xiaolong’s sleeve and whispered, “Little Long, now that we’re here, we’re penniless; not even a single low-grade spirit stone. How will you repay them?”

“Wife, aren’t you being silly? If we don’t have money, can’t we make some?” Huang Xiaolong laughed dumbly. “This place is a market, a trading spot. Later, I’ll just sell something casually and make quite a lot of spirit stones.”

Now, Huang Xiaolong was not embarrassed about being strapped for cash; instead, he was full of interest.

He really enjoyed this feeling of starting from scratch!

So invigorating!

…