Chapter 1713: Chapter 1713: The Snobbish Shopkeeper

Li Feng listened to Bai Xiaosheng’s description and gained some understanding of the three trials of Nine Layers Mountain. The first stage was clearly not something that can be crammed at the last minute, but Li Feng was quite confident about this. 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

"Brother Bai, do you know where they sell military books and strategies?"

Bai Xiaosheng turned to Li Feng: "Brother Li, don’t tell me you haven’t prepared at all?"

The three trials of Nine Layers Mountain were not exactly a secret; otherwise, Bai Xiaosheng wouldn’t describe them so precisely. After all, as a spy for Fengyun Tower, useful information could be exchanged for money.

"As the saying goes, sharpening a sword before battle might not make it fast, but it will make it shine. It’s not too late."

Bai Xiaosheng was speechless for a moment but quickly scanned ahead; "Hmm, there’s a book pavilion up ahead that should have them. These military books and strategies aren’t really secret texts. If it wasn’t for the need during Nine Layers Mountain’s trials, perhaps nobody would look at them."

Li Feng followed Bai Xiaosheng to the nearby book pavilion, where Bai Xiaosheng directly asked the shopkeeper, "Shopkeeper, please bring out a set of military books and strategies."

The shopkeeper didn’t even raise his head, replying, "If you want military books and strategies, go get them yourself from the corner. They’ve all been bundled up, one Purple Spirit Stone each."

Clearly, this transaction didn’t spark any interest in the shopkeeper, who continued to tap on his abacus without ever looking up.

Li Feng didn’t mind the shopkeeper’s indifference and looked toward a corner in the book pavilion as instructed. Sure enough, there was a pile of booklets, almost forming a cubic meter in size.

That’s quite a lot.

And it only costs a Purple Spirit Stone, not even a Golden Spirit Stone.

"So many?"

Li Feng remarked.

"Yes, these military books and strategies accumulate the wisdom of military families over thousands of years, but now cultivation is all the rage, and these books seem a bit outdated. However, the old folks at Nine Layers Mountain still stick to tradition."

"Although these things aren’t highly useful now, reading them does no harm, just takes some time."

For those in cultivation, mental strength naturally surpasses ordinary people, so this heap of books isn’t really a challenge. Most people may not have an eidetic memory, but they can remember almost all of it if they focus while reading.

It’s just that no one is willing to waste their time on it.

Li Feng hummed in acknowledgment, drew out a book from the bundle, and started flipping through, scanning lines rapidly. Some of these books Li Feng had seen before, such as Taigong’s Art of War, among others.

Of course, Li Feng learned those because his grandfather had a large collection, providing a force-feeding education, but these military books greatly influenced him. Li Feng made a name for himself throughout the world, assembled the Dragon Guards, and became the Dragon King. These books and strategies were indispensable in his journey.

But it seems that in Ancestor Dragon City, these books and strategies were not highly regarded, as only sects like Nine Layers Mountain, with a guard background, cared about them.

But thinking about it, it wasn’t surprising; many military books and strategies are meant for warfare, military formation, and troop deployment.

In the world of cultivation, military deployment practically has no use. Ancient warfare traveled thirty miles a day, but for cultivators, mastering Sword Control Technique allows travel thousands of miles a day without a problem. As for logistics, it’s even less of a concern; with Spirit Stones at hand, one doesn’t need food.

But these military books and strategies fascinated Li Feng because, apart from some outdated records, there were many that kept up with the times and contained plenty of war accounts.

These contents broadened Li Feng’s horizons, giving him some insight into Ancestor Dragon City’s guards, something he didn’t know before.

Bai Xiaosheng watched Li Feng engrossed in his reading without disturbing him, instead picking up some books nearby himself.

Time flew by.

At the front counter, the shopkeeper flicked the last bead of the abacus, noting the accounts, and then stretched lazily. His eyes scanned over Li Feng and Bai Xiaosheng, who were reading, slightly furrowing his brows. He walked out from behind the counter, directly approached Li Feng, and slapped his fat palm onto the book in Li Feng’s hands.

Interrupted by the shopkeeper, Li Feng raised his eyes in displeasure.

"What are you staring at, planning to freeload?"

The shopkeeper threw the snatched book onto the pile: "I despise your kind the most, can’t even fork out a Purple Spirit Stone and dreaming of instant success. Really don’t understand your thinking; even though Nine Layers Mountain has low entry barriers, it’s not a place for trash."

Looking Li Feng up and down, the shopkeeper said, "With your status, you don’t need to read these, because you won’t even pass the first stage."

Bai Xiaosheng stood stunned watching this confrontational shopkeeper; evidently, the shopkeeper took Li Feng for a mooching freeloader.

Nine Layers Mountain might not rank high among the top sects, but since it practices Physical Martial Arts, many see it as a place for brute force, generally attracting fewer women. It’s usually where those not doing well try their luck.

Over time, many view Nine Layers Mountain as inferior, even though it remains among the top ten sects.

"How do you know I can’t pass?"

Li Feng asked the shopkeeper.

"Ha, how do I know? Take a look at yourself. Nine Layers Mountain practices Physical Martial Arts, strong and sturdy physiques are basic. And here you are, with a pretty face and slender frame, thinking you can go to Nine Layers Mountain?"

"You probably can’t pass even the basic strength test, let alone anything else."

"I advise you to leave as soon as possible, before getting hurt trying for Nine Layers Mountain, those brutes don’t hold back during trials."

The shopkeeper said coldly.

"Ha, you’re making me want to challenge it even more."

Li Feng remained unbothered. Bai Xiaosheng approached, but Li Feng gestured to stop him, then directly took out a Golden Voucher from Fengyun Tower from his storage ring and threw it at the shopkeeper’s face.

"I’ll take these books."

Li Feng said, sweeping his hand over the stack of books before storing them into his ring, occupying almost half of its space, then picking up the strategy book the shopkeeper had thrown on the floor.

"Let’s go."

Li Feng turned and walked out with Bai Xiaosheng, leaving the shopkeeper stunned.

Gulp.

Storage Ring?

The shopkeeper swallowed hard; such space storage equipment is a treasure, requiring an Array Master to inscribe a sufficiently small spatial array on a ring. Even the cheapest space storage bags cost thousands of gold notes, and a storage ring is even more expensive, costing upwards of ten thousand to obtain.

The shopkeeper unwittingly mistook someone wearing a storage ring for a freeloader, unclear which family’s noble son he had offended, fortunate the person didn’t stoop to argue with him, or he might not know how he ended.

Looking down at the golden voucher slapped on his face, the shopkeeper swallowed again; it was for one hundred Golden Spirit Stones.

The voucher could purchase thousands of sets of military books and strategies.

"You’re not angry?"

Outside the book pavilion, Bai Xiaosheng asked Li Feng.