Thinking that he and Finn had survived on the three taels he was able to earn per month from selling the meat and skin of animals from the forest, Van couldn't help the sigh that escaped his lips.

Soon, the sound of voices and clanging bells filled the air.

Van had arrived in the inner-city shopping district.

The smell of smoke was strong, emitted by a shop in the far end of the street which was throwing slips of paper to the ground. There would be a m.u.f.fled bang as each paper hit the ground and smoke would spill out. The small audience gathered around clapped politely before some went up to the shopkeeper to enquire the price.

Van disembarked the cart and travelled slowly down the cobblestone path. He walked with his hands behind his back and gazed at the colourful shops that lined the streets.

Because of the declaration of a sect-wide rest day, the robes of Cedar Sect servants and disciples seemed especially numerous. They travelled in groups of two and three, making Van feel conspicuous for being completely on his own.

In his defence, Van had visited Ryan and asked him if he wanted to join Van's little excursion into the capital. However, the grey-eyed boy had shaken his head. Surprising Van, he pulled out the ten silvers they had just been awarded and put them into Van's hands.

"Please, take it. I can sense that I am about to break into 2nd level of Qi Distillation…"

"Thank you…I could never have come this far without your kindness."

At that point, Van had scratched his head awkwardly and felt guilty. He then pressed the coins back into Ryan's palm. Although he had helped Ryan come to Dragon City, he had been so busy with his own cultivation the last few weeks that he had not paid too much attention to Ryan's progress.

"Friends, do not talk about money."

Van had silently vowed that when he returned from his shopping trip, he would take a look at Ryan's condition. Making it to 2nd level Qi Distillation all on his own and using the basic cultivation manual meant that Ryan had some instinct for cultivation and was worth nurturing.

There was then a moment of silence.

Seeing Ryan's struggling-to-respond face, Van had laughed heartily and clapped him on the back.

"Yes, you k.n.o.b-head. Friends! Now get back to cultivating, I want to see you in the 2nd level of Qi Distillation by next week!"

Ryan had nodded hastily, like a hen pecking at rice.

"I won't disappoint you."

The grey-haired boy had not questioned Van's lofty words at all. He did not even ask Van what cultivation level he was at. In his mind, this was the boy who had rode a wolf down the mountains and broken the sect's thirty-year record! Asking Van would be throwing dirt in his face. So, Ryan had kept quiet and kept his happiness at being called a friend to himself.

Van had laughed once more, before waving good bye.

A sudden bark beside him startled Van out of his reminiscence.

"TWENTY-YEAR GINSENG FOR SALE! TWENTY-YEAR GINSENG FOR SALE!"

"NO ENERGY TO KEEP CULTIVATING? WORRY NO MORE, BUY SOME TWENTY-YEAR GINSENG NOW!"

Feeling that he was about to go deaf, Van covered one ear and hastily moved away. Unluckily, he caught the eye of the apothecary's sales a.s.sistant as he moved off. The sales a.s.sistant, who was shouting at the top of his lungs, turned to Van and continued loudly:

"LITTLE FRIEND. THIS TWENTY-YEAR GINSENG REJUVENATES THE BLOOD AND SHARPENS THE MIND. IT WILL ALSO HELP YOUR LITTLE FRIEND 'DOWN THERE' SO YOU STOP DISAPPOINTING YOUR WOMAN!"

The man's booming words caught the attention of some people in the street. Van's face turned red enough to drip blood. Quickly, he merged into the crowd and moved far away from that obnoxious sales a.s.sistant. He would not be visiting that apothecary, ever!

When he finally slowed down again, he was near the talisman shop that had been creating smoke with slips of paper. He learned they were called 'smoke-bomb talismans.'

A few of those would be useful for distracting opponents or escaping pursuit.

It seemed like he wasn't the only one to think so, for inside the shop was a long queue of people waiting to buy the smoke-bomb talismans. The shop owner's smile was so wide it split his face from side to side. He had been able to cut manufacturing costs to half and now the shop was dominating the market for smoke talismans.

He was making an absolute killing! The fat shop owner was giddy with his own success.

He nodded jollily at Van as he neared the shop-front.

"Five taels per talisman!" The shop owner said, holding five fingers up. Van nodded and handed over the money without hesitation. He bought five.

The owner's smile shone brightly.

"And may I be able to interest you in a life-saving talisman, young man?"

The owner pointed to the wall beside him.

"We have all sorts. These can block a killing blow from an expert! The more powerful the talisman, the higher the price! For example, this one. For the price of five hundred taels, you can block a blow from an 8th level Qi Distillation expert! Your life for the price of five hundred silver taels, it's extremely worth it!"

The shop owner's chin wagged so fast it was clear this was a speech he had practiced countless times. Because the price of the life-saving talismans wasn't particularly compet.i.tive, he spent pretty much half his day advertising it to his customers, regardless if they were rich or poor.

Although Van was interested, the price was simply outside of his capabilities now. He shook his head and left with his five smoke-bomb talismans.

He continued down the street, looking for an alternative apothecary and found a much larger and impressive shop further down. Built with green tiles of jade-like sheen and possessing three levels, the apothecary loomed over the shops below. It was an eye-catching sight.

'The Grand Botanica,' Van said, reading the sign.

Sliding his hands into his sleeves, Van walked in calmly. Used to all different types of clientele, the shop a.s.sistants did not stop him from entering. They saw that he wore the robes of a servant from the Cedar Sect, they believed he must be on an errand for an outer disciple. Still, he was largely ignored for the wealthy-looking patrons walking in.

A hopeful a.s.sistant saw that the pouch on Van's waist looked a bit full and walked over with a friendly smile.

"How may I help you, young man?"

Van looked around.

"I'm looking for items that strengthen the body."

Since activating the 99th meridian had allowed Van's cultivation to progress smoothly and quickly, he had felt that the cultivation of his body was now lagging. The biggest goal he had today was to find some items to improve his bodily cultivation.

The shop a.s.sistant felt he had wasted his time, but his smile did not fade. He suspected that the kid's pouch was full of copper taels - at twenty silver taels apiece, it was most likely that this kid couldn't buy it. At most, this kid might buy one bag.

"This way."

They walked towards a corner of the floor. Hidden behind a pillar was ten fist-sized parcels of 'Super-Strength Body Fortifying Powder.' They were coated with a thin layer of dust.

"This is the best body strengthening powder you will find for this price," the shop a.s.sistant a.s.serted confidently.

Van was not impressed.

"Please, find me if you need any help," the shop a.s.sistant said insincerely before quickly leaving. His speed was so fast it was as if he was being blown by the wind.

Van shook his head and turned to the display.

[Such a big store only has ten old bags of body strengthening powder? They might be growing mould and yet are being sold for twenty silvers apiece! What a rip-off!]

Despite it, Van still reached forwards and took all ten parcels from the shelf. If even a big and reputable store would only sell these ten old bags, it seemed it would be unlikely that a smaller apothecary would have anything at all for body cultivation.

Pealing laughter entered his ears. It clear and delicate, clearly from a young girl.

"Are you sure you want to take those?"

Despite the immature voice, the undertone of ridicule was obvious!