After finishing the entire pot of spirit rice, he cast a water spell to clean the pot.
Instead of heading straight to his meditation room to continue yesterday's work, he walked toward the door. Today was rent payment day, and he needed to visit the market.
After ensuring everything was locked, he stepped out into the alleyway.
A few steps out, a woman emerged from a nearby house along his path. It was a common sight in this residential area of the outer section.
After exchanging a brief greeting, he continued on his way.
An hour later, he arrived at the market entrance.
Showing his wooden token to the guards, he was granted entry without issue. The token signified his status as a market resident. Loose Cultivators who were not residents had to pay one spirit stone to enter.
He headed straight for the Official Section of the market, where all business-related matters such as rent, taxes, and other official transactions took place.
As he walked through the lively streets, he took his time observing the bustling market, his eyes scanning the countless stalls and buildings lining the roads.
Loose Cultivators, Immortal Family Cultivators, and even Sect Cultivators filled the marketplace, each going about their business with purpose.
The air buzzed with conversation, haggling, and the faint hum of spiritual energy flowing through various artifacts and talismans on display.
The market was vast, almost like a small city within itself. Numerous buildings housed different businesses, each catering to the diverse needs of cultivators.
There were alchemy shops selling medicinal pills, elixirs, and rare herbs, their interiors filled with the rich scent of spiritual plants and the faint glow of preservation formations.
Some specialized in recovery pills, while others offered strength enhancing or poison-neutralizing medicines.
Beside them were talisman shops, where various paper talismans were displayed on shelves, neatly categorized by effect defensive, offensive, healing, or utility-based.
Weapon forges and artifact shops stood proudly in the market, their exteriors reinforced with formations to contain the powerful spiritual fluctuations.
Inside the shop swords, spears, and other enchanted weapons were lined up, each infused with different properties.
For those seeking leisure, there were teahouses, taverns, and inns, offering not only food and drink but also a place to rest and gather information.
Scattered throughout the market were various pavilions and halls, each offering specialized services. Some provided bodyguard services, hiring out trained cultivators for escort missions or protection.
There were even training grounds, where cultivators could pay to spar with others or test their skills against formation-based challenges.
As he wandered through the market, taking in the sights, he couldn't help but marvel at the sheer variety of goods and services available.
It took a while to reach the Official Area, as he occasionally stopped to glance at the various stalls, broadening his horizons.
Once there, he went directly to the Residential Office to pay his rent. Since it was still early in the morning, there were only a few people in the queue ahead of him.
After settling his rent, he made his way to the Trading Section and entered the Li Family Talisman Shop, a store he frequented.
As the name suggested, the shop was owned by the Li Family, one of the three major immortal families in Cloud Market.
The Li Family had a Foundation Establishment ancestor as their pillar, making them an undisputed power in this small market. Few dared to offend them.
This status made their business relatively trustworthy, at least for small transactions.
A few spirit stones were insignificant to them, ensuring their integrity in trade.
After purchasing the necessary materials for drawing talismans, he left the shop and headed toward the Stall Section.
Located in the market's alleyways, this section was where Loose Cultivators set up makeshift stalls to sell their goods.
The stalls were a chaotic mix, some sold stolen goods and counterfeits, while others offered genuine hand-crafted items like pills and talismans.
The original owner of this body had also operated a stall here, selling talismans.
Since no fees were required to open a stall, all one needed was a cloth to display their goods.
.....