Chapter 13
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Chapter 13: The Traveling Merchant
A traveling merchant approached from the south.
In the vast world of cultivation, traveling merchants occupy a unique niche.
They are neither affiliated with any sect nor purely independent loose cultivators.
Traveling merchants traverse villages and towns, appearing wherever human cultivators gather.
Many even engage in trade with monsters.
The traveling merchant who caught Wang Chen’s eye was in his thirties, with an unremarkable appearance and a friendly smile.
The copper bell hanging from the top of his cart jingled, drawing the attention of many local children.
They skipped along excitedly behind him.
Some children brought herbs they had extracted to trade with the merchant for rice candy.
Most traveling merchants deal in small transactions, and this one was no exception.
He would exchange half a tael of rice candy for a handful of dried fish scale grass.
The children who received candy were overjoyed, while those who had nothing to trade looked on with envy.
An elder soon arrived, trading some rice wine with the merchant.
Both rice candy and rice wine were made from tribute rice sourced from the Mortal Realm.
Though devoid of spiritual energy, they were affordable enough to satisfy the basic cravings of the lower echelons of the world of cultivation.
In addition to trading, the traveling merchant also sold sewing supplies, cooking oil, vinegar, and various talismans and powders.
While these items could be found in Yunshan City, nothing matched the convenience of purchasing them right at one’s doorstep.
Aunties and neighbors quickly gathered around.
The small path by the fields soon became the central hub for a ten-mile radius.
Wang Chen observed the lively scene with interest.
The traveling merchant worked efficiently, serving a large group of customers in just a short time.
After organizing his cart, he continued on his way.
As he approached Wang Chen and Wang Tie Niu, the merchant smiled and clasped his hands in greeting, “Hello, gentlemen.”
Traveling merchants are known for their amiable demeanor, as it fosters prosperity.
His attitude was impeccable.
“Greetings, fellow traveler.”
Wang Chen stood and returned the gesture, politely inquiring, “Do you accept land rhinoceroses?”
Though traveling merchants belong to a modest trade category, those in this profession are not to be underestimated.
They frequently face threats from Bandits and Rogues, as well as Evil Spirits.
Without some skill, one would have long been buried on the road.
“Of course.”
Upon hearing Wang Chen’s question, the traveling merchant immediately stopped: “Twenty spirit fragments per pound.”
“Twenty spirit fragments per pound?”
Wang Chen frowned, “Is the price really this low?”
If his memory served him right, the purchasing price at the pharmacies in Yunshan City was three pounds per spirit fragment.
This traveling merchant’s offer was five pounds per spirit fragment.
That was quite a difference.
The traveling merchant explained, “That’s the price in the city now, and it might drop even more in a few days.”
Wang Chen understood.
He did not doubt that the merchant was trying to deceive him.
Although business often involved cunning, in places with rules and order, traveling merchants usually placed high importance on their reputation.
Once their reputation was damaged, no one would want to do business with them.
They could even be directly chased away.
Wang Chen still wore the badge of an Outer Sect Disciple of the Yunyang Sect on his waist.
The merchant could not have missed it.
Thinking about the merchant’s explanation also made sense.
The purchasing price for land rhinoceroses in Wang Chen’s memory was from the past.
Now, many spirit fields had suffered from insect plagues, and everyone was busy exterminating them, which would naturally cause prices to drop.
“Let’s trade!”
Wang Chen decisively pulled out all the land rhinoceroses from his storage bag.
The traveling merchant, known for his experience, was taken aback.
The number of land rhinoceroses Wang Chen had just taken out was truly astonishing.
Among them were seven large monsterized land rhinoceroses!
Seeing someone so young with so many to sell left him deeply impressed.
He took a long look at Wang Chen before starting to count.
After weighing, the total weight of over one hundred ordinary land rhinoceroses was nearly thirty pounds.
The traveling merchant settled the account at thirty pounds right away.
He handed over six spirit fragments.
As for the seven monsterized land rhinoceroses, he calculated separately: “How about one spirit fragment each?”
Wang Chen nodded, “Agreed.”
Earlier, he had consulted Old Sun, and the price for monsterized land rhinoceroses was indeed this.
Currently, the purchasing price for ordinary land rhinoceroses had dropped significantly, but it clearly had no impact on the monsterized land rhinoceroses.
After all, monsterized land rhinoceroses were essential materials for crafting elixirs.
They were of a completely different caliber compared to the ordinary land rhinoceroses used for preparing powders, and their numbers were far fewer.
With an additional thirteen spirit fragments added to his pouch, Wang Chen’s total assets now amounted to forty-five spirit fragments!
“Impressive, fellow traveler,” the traveling merchant praised after the transaction. “In the past couple of days, I’ve collected quite a few land rhinoceroses, but your gain is the most substantial.”
“With such talent, your promotion to the inner sect is surely imminent!”
Wang Chen smiled modestly, “I appreciate your kind words.”
The traveling merchant chuckled, clasped his hands in a gesture of respect, and then ambled away with his box slung over his shoulder.
After the merchant left, Wang Chen felt almost fully recovered.
He returned to his work in the fields.
As he resumed his labor, Wang Chen immediately noticed a difference.
His Metal Finger Technique had advanced to the basic level, though he hadn’t yet had the chance to test it on land rhinoceroses.
However, after his spiritual awareness increased by one point, once he activated his spiritual awareness to enhance his senses, his perception range expanded dramatically.
Moreover, his senses became sharper and more precise.
In no time, he detected three land rhinoceroses at varying distances!
This sudden surge in insight significantly boosted Wang Chen’s pest control efficiency.
Then, the advancement of his Metal Finger Technique to the basic level brought another pleasant surprise.
During the initial and proficiency stages, Wang Chen had only a superficial understanding of the skill, knowing how to perform it but not fully grasping its underlying principles.
Upon reaching the basic level, it was as if he had experienced a sudden enlightenment.
He began to understand some of the deeper mysteries of the Metal Finger Technique.
Now, he could approach, control, and even analyze this technique from a higher perspective.
As a result, when Wang Chen cast the Metal Finger Technique again, it felt much more effortless, precise, and less draining.
Combined with the heightened perception from his improved spiritual awareness, Wang Chen’s speed in clearing the spirit fields nearly doubled compared to before!
By just past noon, he had finished clearing all twenty-seven spirit fields belonging to Wang Tie Niu.
Wang Chen also gained sixteen land rhinoceroses and two monsterized land rhinoceroses.
It is worth mentioning that these two monsterized land rhinoceroses were also killed by him while they were in a dormant state!
“Little Wang is the man!”
Wang Tie Niu couldn’t help but give Wang Chen a thumbs-up, “It was a great decision to find you.”
His cultivation level was much higher than Wang Chen’s.
He was also an expert at farming spirit fields.
Yet, he had no way to deal with the land rhinoceroses that were ruining the spirit rice.
He didn’t expect Wang Chen to be so capable!
Relieved from his serious troubles, Wang Tie Niu beamed with joy, “Let’s go, let’s go! Come to my house for a drink.”
“Little Wang!”
“Little Wang!”
Just as Wang Tie Niu finished speaking, a commotion suddenly erupted nearby.
A group of farmers hurried over, surrounding Wang Chen and speaking all at once.
“Quick! Come to my house and take a look!”
“I got here first!”
“Pfft! Clearly, I was first!”
“Little Wang, come help save my spirit fields!”
“What a disaster…”
Wang Chen found his sleeves, arms, and pants being tugged at as he felt more overwhelmed than ever before.
He felt like he had turned into a little ginseng doll.
Fortunately, the righteous Wang Tie Niu stepped in and rescued Wang Chen from this dire situation.
It turned out that land rhinoceroses had also been discovered in these families’ spirit fields.
Upon learning that Wang Chen had great pest control ability, they rushed over for help.
For this, Wang Chen truly felt both pained and joyful!
