Chapter 54: Shopping

Wang Mingzhan suddenly remembered something and asked, "Oh, right, you haven't told Changxue and the others that you're learning artifact refining with Seventh Uncle, have you?"

"No, they just think I got lucky. However, Third Brother seems to have guessed something."

Wang Changsheng replied truthfully. Aware of the matter's importance, he dared not conceal anything.

"It's fine if he guessed. I'll tell him not to spread it around. Don't easily tell others, especially outsiders, that you can refine spirit artifacts. Understand?" Wang Mingzhan earnestly advised.

Wang Changsheng nodded in agreement. After Wang Mingzhan's analysis, he understood the potential downsides of the matter and naturally wouldn't speak carelessly.

Wang Mingzhan's expression softened, and a smile appeared on his face. He instructed, "Alright, go back to your room and refine artifacts! Stop after you've finished refining all forty sets of materials."

Wang Changsheng agreed and walked towards his room.

Wang Changsheng spent four days using all forty sets of materials, refining twenty-eight Azure Cloud Shields, which he then handed over to Wang Mingzhan.

Wang Mingzhan paid Wang Changsheng 1,344 spirit stones, at a price of forty-eight spirit stones per shield, and reminded Wang Changsheng not to spend the spirit stones recklessly.

The Azure Cloud Shields in Wang Changxing's possession were also difficult to sell; he only sold one in four days, which was normal since many had already been sold. He kept four, one for each of them, and handed the rest to Wang Mingzhan, who purchased them at forty-eight spirit stones each.

Wang Mingzhan fabricated a reason, claiming that Wang Changsheng possessed an artifact refining talent and the family would cultivate him well. He instructed Wang Changxing and the other two not to spread this news to avoid harm from hostile forces.

Wang Changxing and the other two were somewhat disappointed to learn that Wang Changsheng could no longer freely refine artifacts.

Wang Changxing vaguely guessed something but didn't explicitly say it.

That evening, after dinner, the four of them gathered to divide the spirit stones.

After deducting costs, they earned a total of 1,280 spirit stones. Including the 120 spirit stones Wang Changsheng spent on ancient texts, their total earnings amounted to 1,400 spirit stones.

Wang Changsheng was supposed to receive 560 spirit stones, leaving him with 440 after deducting the 120. Wang Changxing and the other two each received 280 spirit stones.

Of course, their substantial earnings were primarily due to the Sky River Minor Gathering attracting a large number of cultivators, especially with the Lin family offering spirit items for Foundation Establishment at the auction. This drew the highest number of participants ever to the Sky River Minor Gathering. Combined with selling their items at slightly below market price, they were able to earn so many spirit stones.

In reality, Azure Cloud Shields weren't particularly easy to sell. As low-grade defensive spirit artifacts, they were primarily used by cultivators below the seventh level of Qi Refining. Cultivators at or above the seventh level generally used mid-grade or higher defensive spirit artifacts, and some wealthy cultivators even carried second-tier talismans for self-defense.

"I can't believe we earned so many spirit stones this time! How about we go for a beef noodle meal tomorrow? Let's celebrate properly." Wang Changxing said, picking up a low-grade spirit stone, wiping it on his clothes, his eyes full of joy.

"We've earned so many spirit stones; wouldn't beef noodles be too cheap? Since we're here, let's go to Food Immortal for a good meal! Maybe we won't get another chance." Wang Changyu excitedly suggested. Food Immortal was the best restaurant in Sky River City, and its dishes were prepared using ingredients infused with spiritual energy.

Wang Changxue's willow-like eyebrows furrowed slightly as she chided, "No more chances? Changyu, what nonsense are you spouting!"

Wang Changyu shook her head and seriously replied, "Second Sister, I'm not spouting nonsense. The Sky River Minor Gathering is held once every five years. The mourning period is over. Within five years, you should be getting married. I'm not like you; I've decided to stay with the family, bringing in a live-in son-in-law. Grandfather passed away, Changping is still young, and Mother isn't well, so I need to stay and take care of them."

"You little girl, what are you talking about?" Wang Changxue, still an unmarried maiden, blushed, a faint flush rising to her fair, jade-like cheeks upon hearing this.

Wang Changyu chuckled, saying, "I'm not spouting nonsense. I saw that Young Master Lin seems quite interested in you. He's the son of the Lin family patriarch, so you wouldn't be wronged by marrying him. With the Lin family as in-laws, our Wang family might develop even better."

Wang Changsheng and Wang Changxing exchanged glances, both seeing concern in the other's eyes.

"The Lin family patriarch's son? Second Sister, Seventh Sister, you're not talking about Lin Yuting, are you?"

"How do you know? What? Ninth Brother, do you know Fellow Daoist Lin?" Wang Changyu blinked, a little curious.

Wang Changsheng hesitated slightly before recounting his encounter with Lin Yuting. Lin Yuting, who had previously been pursuing Zhao Ningxiang, was now bothering Wang Changxue, solidifying his reputation as a playboy. It seemed what Ye Zhanling said was true: Lin Yuting truly was a playboy. Lin Yuting was handsome, the son of the Lin family patriarch, and generous with his money. He usually presented himself as refined and gentle, which made him very popular with girls.

Wang Changxue had never imagined that Lin Yuting, who had been so solicitous towards her these past few days, was actually a playboy. If someone else had said it, Wang Changxue might not have believed it, but since Wang Changsheng said it, and Wang Changxing corroborated it, Wang Changxue had no choice but to believe.

"I can't believe this Lin Yuting is such a dissolute young master! It's a good thing we found out early. Second Sister, you should stay away from him from now on! Don't be fooled by his sweet talk. Didn't Ninth Brother say he's deceived many girls? As the saying goes, 'men fear entering the wrong profession, women fear marrying the wrong man.' Second Sister, you need to keep your eyes open. If you marry the wrong person, your life will be ruined." Wang Changyu earnestly warned.

Wang Changxue gave a wry smile and nodded, saying, "I never expected him to be such a person. He never mentioned Cousin Ningxiang to me, nor did he mention Third Brother or Ninth Brother. It seems he deliberately concealed it. Don't worry! I won't have anything to do with him anymore."

"Alright, let's not talk about this anymore. How about we go to Tianxiang Restaurant for a meal tomorrow? Food Immortal's prices are too high; a bowl of beef noodles costs two spirit stones. Although we've earned a lot of spirit stones, we have a long future ahead, so we need to be frugal. Especially you, Second Sister, you need to save up for your dowry. And Ninth Brother, you'll need spirit stones to buy materials for artifact refining, so save wherever you can. You haven't started your own families yet, so you don't know the cost of living. Don't spend spirit stones carelessly." Wang Changxing changed the topic and suggested.

Wang Changsheng and the other two had no objections to this.

After chatting for a while, Wang Changxue and Wang Changyu took their leave.

Early the next morning, after breakfast, the four of them happily set out.

Wang Changyu wanted to buy spirit robes, with Wang Changxue accompanying her. Wang Changsheng and Wang Changxing, having nothing else to do, went along with them.

At the spirit robe shop, Wang Changyu carefully browsed but didn't buy a spirit robe for herself. Instead, she bought one for her younger brother, Wang Changping, and a jade bracelet for her mother.

Wang Changxing bought a jade hairpin for his wife, Liu Leyun, and after bargaining for a long time, the shopkeeper finally agreed to lower the price by three spirit stones.

Wang Changxue bought a few catties of first-tier, mid-grade spirit grains, while Wang Changsheng bought nothing.

By the time they finished shopping, it was already noon, a good time for a meal, so the four of them headed to Tianxiang Restaurant.