Chapter 3: A Devoted Admirer Should Know Their Place

"I agree, I agree, Fairy Lin, you jest! I simply wanted to stroll with you, nothing more. Here, take these ten spirit stones, keep them safe. If the outing goes well, I still have more—"

[Ding~ Warning: Items that have been cashed back cannot be gifted again!]

"Tsk~"

Cao Xuan curled his lip, still considering that if he never met Lin Miaoxuan again, he might as well treat this as a one-off deal and use the opportunity to collect more spirit stones. After all, she played both sides, accepting his ten low-grade spirit stones and then claiming they'd never meet again.

Even when he went on charity trips, the young ladies knew to add him on messaging apps, making future contact easier.

Ah, this generation of female cultivators is truly hard to manage; none of them value their clientele!

Before Cao Xuan could push the spirit stones over, Lin Miaoxuan had already withdrawn her hand and tucked the leather pouch back into her pocket.

Cao Xuan stared, dumbfounded at the scene, thinking, Good, good, I like greedy female cultivators.

He'd scouted the entire Green Mountain Market, and only Lin Miaoxuan offered tenfold cashback; the others at best offered fourfold. That was why he'd made up his mind to approach her.

With tenfold cashback, and exactly ten spirit stones on him, he naturally wanted to maximize his returns.

In his eyes, Lin Miaoxuan—Fairy Lin—was a sure bet, never a loss. As long as she had needs, he could keep investing and earn rebates. She seemed to profit, but he would always profit more.

‘Too bad, Lin Miaoxuan said that once she returned to the sect, she’d have nothing more to do with me.’

‘No, that won’t do. If we have no connection, how am I supposed to keep milking cultivation resources?’

‘Cultivation resources... Ah!'

Just as inspiration struck Cao Xuan, Lin Miaoxuan simply wanted to stroll casually, then use the ten spirit stones to cultivate well.

She was confident in her looks; so long as she advanced to the fourth level of Qi Refinement and became a formal outer disciple of the Azure Cloud Sect, she would have a chance to interact with some of the proud inner disciples or direct disciples. If she could become a Dao companion to one, perhaps building her foundation would be within reach.

Indeed, for cultivators at the bottom, becoming a Foundation Establishment expert in this life was the greatest dream.

Mortals were like ants, seldom living beyond a hundred years, many dying from famine and war, with birth, aging, sickness, and death the norm. Now that there was hope for cultivation, naturally, everyone aspired to become a Foundation Establishment cultivator and attain longevity.

Unfortunately, between life and death lies great terror. Most cultivators cared only for longevity. As for Dao companions, they mostly hoped for a match of equal status, and with cultivation, who would worry about failing to win beautiful women?

Lin Miaoxuan did not wish to end up empty-handed, merely played by others. Thus, her own cultivation was crucial.

At this moment, she touched the spirit stones in her bosom and thought, ‘If I gain nothing, not even an inner disciple can expect to take advantage of me for free.’

She did not know that, imperceptibly, Cao Xuan had already altered her.

"So, Senior Brother Cao, shall we visit the Spirit Herb Pavilion or the Spirit Artifact Pavilion?"

Lin Miaoxuan fondled the spirit stones, her mood lightened, her voice cheerful. In her view, since Cao Xuan had given her all ten spirit stones for the month, he certainly had none left.

If they wandered the roadside stalls like most cultivators, it could take all afternoon. But if they went to the Spirit Herb Pavilion, Spirit Talisman Pavilion, or Spirit Artifact Pavilion—three great halls of Green Mountain Market—watching other cultivators buy things while she herself bought nothing would be embarrassing. She’d hurry back to the sect.

Thus, she could end the outing early and seize the chance to buy two Qi Gathering Pills for cultivation.

She thought Cao Xuan would refuse, or suggest they stroll the market first.

Unexpectedly, Cao Xuan nodded and said directly, "Let’s visit the Spirit Herb Pavilion!"

Lin Miaoxuan shook her head inwardly, thinking, ‘He spent ten spirit stones; even if I have to keep him company all afternoon, I have nothing to complain about.’

‘He’ll want to go to the Spirit Herb Pavilion, but when he finds himself without spirit stones, he’ll slink away, gaining nothing. Such a person likely won’t go far on the path of cultivation.’

‘But this suits me well; I can save time.’

Her mood was good. She had only intended to buy some cosmetics, but unexpectedly, she’d "picked up" ten spirit stones—what a windfall.

Cao Xuan led Lin Miaoxuan to the Spirit Herb Pavilion. They did not even hold hands, simply appearing as ordinary sect siblings, drawing little attention.

Cao Xuan now wanted to test if his suspicions were correct.

Inside the Spirit Herb Pavilion—one of the three major halls of Green Mountain Market—the area was spacious, reminiscent of a small mall from his previous life. Sandalwood shelves were lined with porcelain bottles of various pills, each with wooden price tags below.

[1 Qi Gathering Pill – 5 spirit stones]

[1 bottle of Condensing Powder – 10 spirit stones]

[1 set of Bone Strengthening Powder – 10 spirit stones]

[…]

The dazzling array of pills excited not only Lin Miaoxuan, but even Cao Xuan himself. It was like women admiring jewelry or men ogling sports cars in his former world—these pills were the hard currency of the cultivation world.

Cultivators came and went, most with shallow pockets, casting quick glances before hastily buying a pill and leaving.

Lin Miaoxuan restrained her urge; if she bought two Qi Gathering Pills in front of Cao Xuan, what if he regretted it?

Even if he did, she would not return the spirit stones, but quarreling in public would put her at a disadvantage. If she gained a reputation as a shrew, how could she "fish" in the sect in the future?

Thinking this, Lin Miaoxuan smiled and said, "Is Senior Brother Cao just browsing, or do you wish to purchase some pills?"

"I see you’re at the third level of Qi Refinement. Why not buy some Qi Gathering Pills or Condensing Powder to break through to the fourth level and become a formal outer disciple?"

Her words were perfectly reasonable. If he truly had spirit stones, he would do so.

The clerk overheard and enthusiastically chimed in: "Are you here for Qi Gathering Pills and Condensing Powder?"

"Let me tell you a secret—our Spirit Herb Pavilion has just received a batch of Qi Gathering Pills, personally refined by Senior Sister Ye Caixuan from the Azure Cloud Sect’s Pill Peak. Quality is guaranteed!"

"How about two pills—one for yourself, and one for your junior sister?"

The clerk grinned broadly; customers accompanied by female cultivators were his favorite "big fish." Normally, he sold only one item, but now he could sell two.

Why not suggest more—a whole bottle or five or six pills? Because neither Cao Xuan nor Lin Miaoxuan was a formal outer disciple. If he pushed further, the man could easily claim poverty, and the sale would be lost.

Two pills, ten low-grade spirit stones—every cultivator understood they could afford this. Not buying would make one look stingy.

"Pfft~"

Lin Miaoxuan laughed softly. The clerk was truly a perfect accomplice.

She looked at Cao Xuan with amusement. Now, with the clerk’s prompt, if he couldn’t buy even two pills, he would lose face completely.

A sycophant must at least be self-aware; this fairy had no desire to serve him further.