Chapter 138: Chapter 138: Sights and Sounds of the Marketplace

"Buddy, are you crazy? Why’d you go in there and waste your Spirit Stones!"

"If you had just waited for me a second, you could’ve saved five Broken Spirits!"

"A whole month of hard labor in the mines only gets you eight Broken Spirits!"

Chu Mu had only taken a few steps when Wang Mazi, the same guy who’d just been getting chewed out like a dog, came scurrying over. He completely lacked the superior air of a Cultivator.

"Look, I’ve also got Cultivation Methods I can sell you for cheap. A single layer of a Basic Cultivation Technique goes for three Spirit Stones on the market. I’ll sell it to you for two..."

As he spoke, Wang Mazi threw open his overcoat. The inside was lined with books, and as he spread the coat, a dizzying array of Cultivation Technique titles came into Chu Mu’s view.

Chu Mu’s expression turned a bit strange. ’This whole setup feels... familiar, somehow.’

Chu Mu shook his head. "When it comes to Cultivation Techniques, I’d rather buy from a proper shop. It’s more reliable."

"My good man, you’re overthinking this! These techniques of mine are exactly the same as the ones they sell in the shops. Original prints, not a single word is off!"

"If you don’t believe me..."

Chu Mu paid him no mind. According to the man from before, even the shops were full of fakes and shoddy goods, to say nothing of a channel like this.

Losing a few Spirit Stones was a small matter. Ruining his Immortal Path, however, would be a true disaster.

Seeing Chu Mu’s stubborn disbelief, Wang Mazi grew anxious. He hurried to keep up with Chu Mu, desperately trying to persuade him.

It wasn’t until a squad of Law Enforcers passed by that Wang Mazi was forced to back away.

"This business with Cultivation Techniques is tough!"

"Every single person is so damn guarded!"

Wang Mazi sighed and sat down by the side of the road.

"Alright, Wang Mazi. Cut the act. Don’t pretend you’re hard up!"

"I hear you’ve been selling ’class time’ recently. That business is way more profitable than what we poor saps make selling Cultivation Techniques!"

A man nearby, who was clearly in the same line of work, said irritably,

"If you’re going to earn all the Spirit Stones, what’s left for the rest of us...?"

"The class-selling business is no walk in the park. Cultivators are a suspicious bunch, and the Sun Family cracks down way too hard. Selling a few techniques, appraising some Spirit Root Talent... that’s small-time stuff. It’s not a big deal. Worst case, you pay a fine in Spirit Stones and that’s the end of it."

"But setting up a private class? If the Sun Family’s Law Enforcement Team catches you, they’ll extract your soul and use it to light a lamp..."

The two conversed, their expressions shifting, yet not a single sound could be heard. It was an undeniably strange sight.

The passing Cultivators, however, were clearly used to it, each one ignoring the scene as if it were perfectly normal.

Of course, Chu Mu was unaware of what transpired after he left. He had already stepped into a streetside shop that sold Cultivation Techniques.

The shop was named "Learning Hall." It was the largest establishment in all of Jade Emperor Valley that dealt in knowledge of Cultivation Techniques.

As a newcomer, his only real option was a place that looked as grand and reputable as this one.

’After all, an establishment this large wouldn’t possibly rip off a nobody like me for a mere three Spirit Stones, right?’

"Are you here to purchase a Cultivation Technique, sir?"

The moment Chu Mu stepped into the Learning Pavilion, a young man in a standard long robe came to greet him.

Chu Mu glanced around the shop and asked cautiously, "What are the most common Five Elements Cultivation Techniques?"

"The most common Five Elements Cultivation Techniques? There are quite a few. For the Gold Attribute, there’s the Golden Blade Technique... for the Wood Attribute, the Wood Spirit Technique and the Spring Wood Skill... for the Water Attribute, the Water Profound Technique... for the Fire Attribute, the Fire Spirit Skill and the Blazing Fire Technique... and for the Earth Attribute..."

"We have all of these techniques in stock!"

Chu Mu asked again, "What about the less common ones?"

"The less common ones..."

The man smiled. "Our shop has plenty of those as well."

"It all depends on what you’re looking for, sir."

"The Basic Cultivation Techniques I just mentioned have been practiced by countless individuals in the Cultivation Immortal Realm. They’re quite ordinary, with no major advantages, but no major disadvantages either."

"The less common Basic Cultivation Techniques, on the other hand, tend to have significant advantages, but also considerable flaws. Some allow for extremely fast cultivation, while others grant immense power to their attribute..."

Chu Mu probed, "Basic Cultivation Techniques have a total of thirteen layers. After the thirteenth layer, is the next stage related to the basic technique?"

"For the vast majority, there is no connection."

"Only a very small number of advanced cultivation techniques are developed as part of a complete system."

Chu Mu nodded and stated the name: Blazing Fire Technique. The man walked briskly to a counter at the back and placed a paper booklet, about half a finger thick, on the surface.

Chu Mu took out the Spirit Stones and presented them at the counter.

The man didn’t take the Spirit Stones. Instead, he asked,

"Sir, are you aware of the rules for purchasing Cultivation Techniques and Magic?"

"Rules?"

Chu Mu was puzzled. ’There are rules for just buying something?’

"Correct. When buying or selling a Cultivation Technique, you must swear a Dao Heart Oath to guarantee that the technique and its associated Magic will not be leaked."

Chu Mu frowned. "Is that mandatory?"

"It is required for everyone."

The man nodded. "It’s not just here in Jade Emperor Valley. In every Marketplace, Sect, and Clan across the Chu Kingdom, this has been the rule since ancient times for anything related to Cultivation Techniques or Magic."

Chu Mu asked, "What are the consequences of breaking a Dao Heart Oath?"

"A Dao Heart Oath stems from one’s will to seek the Dao. To violate it will surely tarnish your Dao heart and give rise to a Heart Demon..."

Listening to this metaphysical explanation, Chu Mu felt he more or less understood.

In the terms of his past life, it was probably similar to a psychological trauma—a negative association with a specific event or object triggered by a certain stimulus. It was an issue of mindset, a problem on the mental and spiritual level.

It was just that in this Cultivation Immortal Realm, the phenomenon likely had a more mystical quality to it.

Chu Mu pursed his lips. It seemed another of his earlier suspicions had just been confirmed.

The way knowledge was so jealously guarded in the secular world... that custom truly did originate from the Cultivation Immortal Realm.

A single layer of a basic cultivation technique cost several months of hard labor, and on top of that, you had to swear an oath not to share it.

"Fine."

Chu Mu nodded in agreement.

The man nodded, then took out a metal plate. After a few light taps of his finger, an image materialized in front of Chu Mu.

"Sir, please watch. Just swear the oath exactly as the person in this projection does."

Chu Mu was surprised, but this clearly wasn’t the time for it. In just a moment, the projection vanished, and the palm-sized metal plate in the man’s hand dimmed.

Following the motions of the man in the projection, Chu Mu swore the oath.

The oath was basically a declaration that he, Chu Mu, had purchased a certain cultivation technique from the Learning Hall and guaranteed he would not divulge its contents.

He’d made countless similar promises to his girlfriends in his past life, so it didn’t feel like a big deal.

But this time, as soon as he finished, Chu Mu had a distinct premonition from the unseen forces of the world. The oath was real. If he broke it, an unimaginable disaster would surely follow.

The man chuckled and handed over the thin booklet, simultaneously accepting the thirty Broken Spirits Chu Mu had placed on the counter.

Chu Mu was still lost in that strange premonition until the man placed the Spirit Stones into a black, tray-like container, which finally drew his attention.

"What are you doing?"

Chu Mu couldn’t help but ask.

"Measuring the Spiritual Power Level of the Spirit Stones."

The man looked up and pointed to the Broken Spirits on the tray. "According to the standard practice in the Cultivation Immortal Realm, one Broken Spirit should contain exactly one degree of Spiritual Energy."

"If it’s below one degree, it means the Spirit Stones are deficient in Spiritual Power, and you, sir, will have to make up the difference."

Chu Mu opened his mouth, momentarily speechless.

’Do they really have to be this meticulous?’

’Why wasn’t the man who did the Spirit Root test this meticulous?’

As if sensing Chu Mu’s confusion, the man smiled. "I’m just an employee here. If I’m not meticulous, any shortfall will come out of my pocket."

Chu Mu couldn’t help but ask, "Are you guys hiring?"

"We only recruit internally from the clan. We don’t hire outsiders."

Speechless, Chu Mu silently watched the tray. The man tapped it a few times, and a number materialized.

Chu Mu had already learned to read the characters of this era, so he could naturally make out the value displayed: 29.6 degrees.

"The energy in a Spirit Stone is stable. Generally, it won’t dissipate unless you keep it right against your body. I suspect you were carrying these close to you, sir. They’re short by 0.4 degrees, so you’ll need to make up the difference."

Chu Mu was completely speechless. He silently took out another Broken Spirit and placed it on the counter.

The man took it, placed it on the tray as well, and tapped a few times. A white line flashed, and a small chunk was shaved off the Broken Spirit.

When the man handed the larger piece back, the value displayed on the tray read exactly 0.4 degrees...

...