Apart from showing Qin Feng and Qin Xi around those shops, the stalls run by factionless cultivators by the road was also a common place for Qin Guanpao to visit.
These factionless cultivators sold a plethora of items. In fact, a lot of them were things that people had trouble identifying. Some were giving off a strong spiritual aura with a wonderful appearance while the others were dull with its spiritual aura barely detectable.
According to those factionless cultivators, those items were treasures they found on their adventure to explore some secret locations. If not for their lack of cultivation resources, they would not be willing to part with those items.
Quite a number of foreign cultivators would often be mesmerized and swayed by these factionless cultivators and some would even purchase those items of unknown usage.
Each time that happened, Qin Guanpao would have them observe nearby and have these two juniors of his witness the results of being swindled as a warning for them to not easily trust the words of those factionless cultivators. Otherwise, they would very likely be scammed right down to the last spirit stone on them.
“These factionless cultivators would set up their stalls here everyday and might not even leave the town a single time in years. How would they find the time to explore some secret location?”
Qin Guanpao continued with a laugh, “When you visit other markets in the future, you will surely run into these situations. You mustn’t fall for their tricks. Otherwise you might spend your spirit stones to purchase some useless junk, turning into a great benefactor. There, look there. Those two young ladies are definitely getting scammed.”
Qin Xi followed along the direction the patriarch pointed and noticed two young ladies from some unknown family being swindled by a factionless cultivator to spend several hundred spirit stones to purchase a so-called treasure map. They even thought that they got lucky and ran back happily to their patriarch to share the good news.
In the end, once they have left the area, the factionless cultivator immediately packed up his stuff and departed.
Some time later, a middle-aged cultivator at the Foundation Establishment Stage rushed over with those two young ladies but was unable to find that factionless cultivator!
Qin Xi was stunned speechless by the sight. She quietly held tight the storage bag on her.
Those were the cultivation resources given to her by the family and also all of her assets. She must never let someone swindle it from her. Otherwise, her future cultivation speed would be very slow.
She asked nervously, “Patriarch, does that mean that we can’t purchase anything from these stalls?”
“Not really.”
Qin Guanpao said with a smile, “If it were just some regular spiritual talisman, magical tools, spiritual herbs and other common spiritual items, they could still be bought from these stalls as they might even be cheaper than the proper stores.
“In fact, sometimes you might be able to find some good stuff from the stalls of these cultivators. They are factionless cultivators after all. Most of the factionless cultivators need to wander and explore all over the world in search of cultivation resources. Therefore, they could come across some treasures. However, they are also limited by their lack of knowledge and would often sell those treasures as regular spiritual items. However, quite a number factionless cultivators would take advantage of the regular cultivator’s gambler’s psychology and create an illusion where they were getting a great deal and end up having them purchase a whole bunch of useless trinkets.”
Having said that, he added another warning. “If you want to buy something more valuable, it would be best to buy them from proper stores run by the major sects and factions. Although the price might be higher, it would save you from being scammed.
“Moreover, some of the factionless cultivators would be selling their wares on the surface, but secretly observe those coming from a foreign land. Once they noticed the cultivator’s strength was low and had a number of spirit stones, that cultivator might even be marked by them. They might even sabotage the wares they sold and secretly follow those cultivators, then killing them when they leave town and reach some more desolate areas to take their belongings. Such incidents are quite common so you will have to be careful. When you are lacking in power, it would be best not to show your wealth although you both don’t have much anyway.”
Seeing the color drained from Qin Xi’s face, Qin Guanpao noticed that he had traumatized the girl. He quickly added, “However, you don’t need to worry too much. After you’ve joined the sect, you’ll be a disciple of Beastmaster Sect. In the southern region, there aren’t many factionless cultivators that plot against a disciple of the Beastmaster Sect. Otherwise, once the Beastmaster Sect got wind of it, they would definitely be in big trouble.”
Hearing that, Qin Xi’s expression finally eased up.
Although she had a strong heart, she was still an ignorant little girl that had never travelled the world before.
Hearing the patriarch bring up these matters, the girl finally realized that the outside world was filled with malice.
Qin Feng laughed. “Sister Little Xi, don’t worry. You can bring me along when you go out for training, or you can follow along other disciples that you’re close to. As long as we don’t go out alone, it should be fine.”
Hearing that, Qin Xi nodded. However, deep down, she made a decision to avoid going out of the sect as much as possible. That could wait until her cultivation level was higher. By then, not many factionless cultivators would dare to plot against her.
It was undeniable that the patriarch was very responsible when it came to dealing with his juniors by explaining the many ways of the world of cultivation to them clearly.
In fact, a lot of traps were extremely obvious. As long as one was sufficiently clear headed, it would be easy to avoid the trap. Unfortunately, most people would have to suffer the consequences before remembering the lesson.
After walking through the entire market, it was already evening.
After all, Qin Guanpao was not just purely bringing them around for a stroll, but instead to impart to them some experience for their travels. It was to prevent them from suffering a scam. That took up most of the time.
Seeing that it was quite late, the trio returned to the courtyard behind Myriad Demon Pavilion.
Some servant disciples served them dishes.
A cultivator at the Qi Refinement Stage had yet to reach the grain avoidance stage. Although they could last a few days without food by relying on their spiritual energy, it was not something they could do over a long time.
Since Manager Yang had put in a word for them, these servant disciples took good care of the group. Even though the dishes were not fancy, it was a sumptuous meal.
Especially when some of them were spiritual dishes made with demon beast meat, the taste and texture were excellent. Most importantly, it contained quite a bit of spiritual energy, resulting in Qin Feng and Qin Xi to partake of the meal joyfully.
In the past, unless the patriarch returned from a hunt, they would not have the chance to eat dishes cooked with demon beast meat.
For the following days, Qin Guanpao would bring them out for a stroll in the market to help Qin Feng and Qin Xi learn more about the world. They came across various amazing spiritual items, countless magical tools, elixirs, talisman, formations with a plethora of effects, and many other skills.
In the market, apart from the four main businesses of elixirs, talisman, formations, and magical tools, there were many other businesses.
For example, that dozen of inns especially designed to serve cultivators. Each room would be protected with restrictive barriers, offering the foreign cultivators a place to stay.
Some were specialized in making various dishes with all sorts of spiritual items, supplying for the restaurants that served cultivators.
Tea shops that made various spiritual tea using unique methods to serve the cultivators, providing them with excellent taste.
Some musicians would play on their instrument that felt like a natural stream from the mountains, allowing all the cultivators who listened to feel their souls being washed of all troubles, helping them calm down for their cultivation.
There were also breweries that made spiritual wine, filling the street with their fragrance.
There was even a place named the Hundred Flowers Pavilion. Within it were many beauties dressed stunningly, tugging at the heartstrings of its customers.
However, everytime Patriarch Qin passed by, he would keep his eyes straight on the road, putting on a noble image that instilled respect into the two juniors following him.