Running into Xiao Fan so soon had been unexpected, especially after Ning personally witnessed the strange, trouble-attracting aura that seemed to cling to him.

  Still, Ning adjusted his mindset almost immediately.

  There was no point in dwelling on it. At this stage, the only sensible approach was to adapt and let things unfold naturally. Endless worry accomplished nothing. Just like in the transmigrator novels he remembered, no matter how desperately the protagonist tried to dodge the plot, they always ended up pulled back in sooner or later.

  If escape was pointless, then resisting it was even more so.

  Ning decided he might as well go with the flow, and, while he was at it, extract whatever benefits he could along the way.

  After all, in a world where inner demons could form from lingering negativity, maintaining a stable mindset was a necessary skill.

  Over time, Ning had grown increasingly skilled at keeping his thoughts in order, discarding unnecessary worries before they could take root.

  "Gambling?" Sun Jing blinked. "You mean spirit ores?"

  "Yes." Ning nodded, then turned to Xiao Fan. "What do you think?"

  In this world, when people spoke of gambling, more often than not, they meant gambling on spirit ores.

  Xiao Fan stopped walking.

  "Spirit… ores?" He frowned slightly. "You mean the kind used for gambling? I don't know much about them."

  Sun Jing nearly stumbled.

  "How is that possible?" he blurted out. "These things exist in almost every major city. I thought someone from the Xiao Clan would frequent these pavilions. Young masters like us usually come here all the time."

  Ning watched Sun Jing's expression shift between confusion and disbelief. In truth, he was surprised as well, but only briefly.

  It was another common trope.

  Protagonists always seemed to lack the most basic common knowledge, not because they were truly ignorant, but because the stories needed a convenient excuse for explanations to unfold.

  Of course, Xiao Fan wasn't ignorant. He just hadn't lived like a typical young master.

  "It's not that I don't know what they are," Xiao Fan said quietly, a trace of distance in his voice. "I've simply never paid them much attention."

  He paused, then added, "Back then, I was focused on other things."

  His thoughts drifted back to the Xiao Clan.

  The first few years had been peaceful, even happy, while his parents were still around. But after they vanished, everything changed.

  From that moment on, his attention had been consumed by only two things: repairing his damaged meridians and searching for clues to his parents' disappearance. Compared to that, matters like spirit ores had never seemed worth his time.

  Seeing the fleeting sadness pass across Xiao Fan's expression, Sun Jing recalled the rumors he had once heard, the disappearance of the Xiao Clan's heir, the man who should have been Xiao Fan's father.

  Realizing he might have touched a sore spot, Sun Jing quickly changed the subject and began explaining.

  Spirit ores were things of infinite possibility.

  This world had existed for an immeasurable length of time. Over that vast span, countless treasures had been lost to history, buried beneath earth and dust, forgotten by all living beings.

  Some belonged to cultivators who died in places no one ever found. A few had the foresight, or leisure, to establish inheritance sites, waiting for a destined successor. Others were less fortunate, dying abruptly and leaving everything behind with only heaven and earth as witnesses.

  There were also the ruins of ancient sects. No sect, no matter how glorious, could escape the erosion of time. When such sects collapsed, techniques, artifacts, and wealth were often left behind.

  Xiao Fan listened quietly, arms crossed.

  "And you're telling me," he said slowly, "none of that simply rots away?"

  "Not exactly," Ning replied. "Those things are somehow petrified, sealed into stone-like shells. Those shells are what we call spirit ores."

  What Ning didn't say was that he'd also read theories claiming this was the world's way of preserving its own heritage.

  If that were true, then did something like a Will of Heaven truly exist?

  Standing beside a protagonist, concepts like fate and destiny suddenly felt far less abstract.

  Thinking back to how he'd obtained a recoverable spirit stone from Xiao Fan, and how trouble had immediately followed, trouble that should have fallen on Xiao Fan instead, Ning couldn't help but wonder.

  Maybe fate really did exist.

  While Ning was lost in thought, Sun Jing nodded enthusiastically and continued, "Spirit ores usually form in places with dense spiritual energy, especially spirit stone mines. The higher the grade of the mine, the greater the chance spirit ores will appear, and the better the odds that something valuable is hidden inside."

  Xiao Fan let out a short laugh. "So the world hoards its own junk and sells it back to cultivators."

  "…When you put it that way," Sun Jing hesitated, then admitted, "yes."

  "I see. Then where are we going?" Xiao Fan asked.

  Ning also looked at Sun Jing with curiosity. This was his first time in the inner city as well.

  "You've asked the right person." Sun Jing patted his chest confidently. "Just follow me."

  Wherever profit could be made, interest groups and businesses would inevitably spring up.

  The Treasure Abundant Pavilion was one such establishment, specializing in collecting and selling spirit ores.

  "If I remember correctly," Sun Jing said brightly, "a new batch should've arrived by now."

  As they walked, he eagerly talked about his past gains.

  Shattering a spirit ore did not guarantee a reward.

  Some spirit ores radiated dense spiritual energy, yet contained nothing more than fragments of ordinary spirit stones. Others were worse, releasing dangerous energies or sealed entities.

  There were stories of cultivators who shattered a spirit ore only to be afflicted by unknown curses. Others had unleashed ferocious magical beasts that attacked the moment they emerged.

  High rewards came with equally high risks.

  On the other hand, some spirit ores appeared dull and lifeless on the outside, yet revealed artifacts, or even spirit artifacts, once broken open.

  Those were worth fortunes.

  "But I'm an old hand at this," Sun Jing added confidently. "In recent years, I've never really lost too much."

  Ning quietly tuned out the bragging.

  Sun Jing might be wealthy and born a young master, but he wasn't arrogant in the slightest. If anything, he was a chatterbox, completely different from the cold, aloof young masters who were popular these days.

  "So?" Ning turned to Xiao Fan. "What do you think?"

  "Sure." Xiao Fan nodded calmly. "I don't mind."

  "Then it's settled." Ning gestured forward.

  ...

  Before long, the three of them arrived at the spirit ore shop, accompanied by Sun Jing's nonstop chatter.

  "This is it, the Treasure Abundant Pavilion!"

  Unfortunately, despite it being early morning, the place was already packed. A sea of heads filled their vision, bodies pressed tightly together.

  "Let's move forward!" Sun Jing said eagerly.

  "Eh? But there are so many people." Ning hesitated. "Don't we need to line up?"

  "Relax," Sun Jing waved it off. "Most of them are just here to watch the excitement."

  If there was one thing cultivators were famous for, it was their love of spectacle. At the slightest hint of drama, they would swarm over without hesitation.

  Ning wasn't surprised. He followed Sun Jing deeper into the crowd.

  "Damn it, what shitty luck! I shattered ten Copper Grade spirit ores, and only one had anything inside, and it was just a lump of low-grade spirit stone!"

  "You're still luckier than that guy over there. He cracked five Iron Grade ores and got nothing but a piece of rock."

  "Hey, did you hear? Someone earlier shattered a Gold Grade ore, but it turned out to be a hive of red winged wasp."

  "Damn!"

  Ning paused and silently offered a moment of prayer for that unfortunate soul.

  "?" Sun Jing glanced back at him, puzzled.

  As the noise of the crowd grew louder and more chaotic, the three finally reached the front of the pavilion.

  Before them lay countless stones of every shape and size, some no larger than a fist, others as big as a human head, and a few massive ones that towered over an adult.

  Staring at these rocks, which looked no different from ordinary stones, Xiao Fan couldn't help asking, "Those… are spirit ores?"

  "That's right," Sun Jing replied without hesitation.

  "Really?" Xiao Fan frowned. "They just look like normal rocks. Mm… no, I do feel spiritual energy fluctuations, but they're very faint…"

  As he focused, he sensed something else as well, a subtle, mysterious power lurking beneath the surface.

  Sun Jing smiled. "Don't just look at their shape. Look at the patterns on the surface. That's what distinguishes them from ordinary stones."

  Ning also leaned closer, matching what he had read in books.

  Sure enough, each spirit ore bore unique, intricate markings. No two were the same.

  "The more complex the pattern," Sun Jing continued, "the higher the grade of the spirit ore."

  Spirit ores were divided into several grades: Copper, Iron, Silver, and Gold.

  The Treasure Abundant Pavilion priced them accordingly.

  Copper Grade spirit ores were the lowest quality, priced at twenty spirit stones.

  Iron Grade went for fifty.

  Silver Grade costs two hundred.

  Gold Grade was the highest.

  Even if a Gold Grade spirit ore didn't contain anything priceless, it was guaranteed not to leave the buyer empty-handed.

  Because of that, each Gold Grade ore was priced at a full five hundred spirit stones.

  As long as customers felt the price was acceptable, they could purchase a spirit ore and shatter it open using a special tool.

  Just as Sun Jing finished explaining this, a man approached them.

  The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

  Judging by his attire, he was clearly the shopkeeper.

  "Well, if it isn't Young Master Sun," Shopkeeper Feng said with a flattering smile. "It's been a while. Are you here to try your luck again?"

  Ning subconsciously glanced at Sun Jing as he stepped forward.

  "It has indeed been a while, Shopkeeper Feng. I'll be picking a few spirit ores today as usual."

  "Well then," Shopkeeper Feng replied warmly, "you've been our customer for many years. This time, we've reserved a fine spirit ore for you. While we can't guarantee a priceless treasure, we can at least ensure you won't suffer a loss."

  The two chatted enthusiastically, clearly familiar with one another.

  Even Ning raised an eyebrow in surprise. Earlier, he'd assumed Sun Jing's confidence was an exaggeration, but judging by this scene, Sun Jing was genuinely well-acquainted with the trade.

  As expected of someone who'd lived in the inner city before entering the sect.

  "Haha," Sun Jing laughed. "Then I'll have to thank you, Shopkeeper Feng. Don't worry, I'll play my part well, just like before."

  "That's a relief." Shopkeeper Feng nodded. "Without further ado, let's head inside. Please follow me."

  He personally escorted Sun Jing inward.

  As they walked, Sun Jing noticed the shopkeeper's sour expression.

  "What's wrong, Shopkeeper Feng? You don't look too well."

  Shopkeeper Feng sighed. "Business hasn't been good today. You must've heard the crowd outside, nothing but complaints, hardly any cheers."

  He shook his head. "No one's obtained anything worthwhile after shattering spirit ores. Their sour reactions discouraged others from buying. Now most people are just watching."

  "But," he added, his tone lifting, "now that Young Master Sun is here, we can certainly turn things around. I've prepared something especially for you."

  Sun Jing waved modestly. "You place too much expectation on me. Still, I'll do my best not to disappoint."

  The two continued talking as they headed deeper inside.

  Ning glanced at Xiao Fan, who seemed distracted, his gaze lingering on the spirit ores.

  Ning nudged him lightly. "Did you notice something?"

  "No." Xiao Fan shook his head. "Just… a feeling."

  Saying that, Xiao Fan walked away.

  Ning narrowed his eyes.

  A feeling?

  Damn it. Xiao Fan was probably about to hit something good.

  Cultivators were prone to impulses born from heaven and earth because cultivating itself was a process of understanding the 'heaven and earth'. Most of the time, these whims meant nothing, but when they came from the protagonist, they were almost guaranteed to be a hint at something.

  With such thoughts, Ning also tried to sense something, or even try to spot any special ores.

  After a few seconds, he gave up. He could not sense anything special.

  Before Ning could lament his ordinariness, a sudden exclamation erupted from the crowd.

  "Oh! This is an egg of a Red Whisker Cat! Even though its limit is only early stage, it's still better than nothing!"

  "Yes!" A man held up a crimson egg proudly.

  Ning froze.

  A cat… laying eggs?

  Even after living in this world for some time, there were moments when its absurdity still caught him off guard.

  As expected, this world completely ignored common sense.

  Shaking his head, Ning followed the others.

  He soon reached a closed room, the same one the three had entered earlier.

  Without much thought, Ning pushed the door open.

  And stopped.

  He'd only been gone for a minute.

  So why was Shopkeeper Feng holding a sword against Xiao Fan?

  ...

  A minute earlier…

  Shopkeeper Feng took out a spirit ore and presented it to Sun Jing.

  "Young Master Sun, this is the spirit ore we prepared for you. Though it's only Copper Grade, we mixed something special into it. As for what exactly it contains, I don't know; my manager handled it. But he assured me there's something equivalent to an Artifact inside."

  "Haha, I trust your words," Sun Jing replied. "So what should I do next?"

  "Come now," Shopkeeper Feng said. "We've done this for years."

  "I know, I know. I just get nervous every time."

  Shopkeeper Feng sighed. "I'll explain again. I'll mix this Copper Grade ore among the others. You'll pretend to buy several and make sure this one is included. When you shatter it, act excited. Make a scene."

  "Let them see a reward come from a Copper Grade spirit ore. Once their confidence returns, they'll dare to spend again."

  "I understand," Sun Jing nodded seriously.

  Xiao Fan, who had been listening silently, felt his scalp tingle.

  He wasn't supposed to hear this.

  Was it still possible to quietly leave?

  Xiao Fan's heart sank.

  So that was it.

  A planted "win" to bait the crowd, restore confidence, and coax people into spending spirit stones again.

  He could pretend he hadn't heard anything. But he could now see that Sun Jing was walking down a crooked path.

  Xiao Fan clenched his fists.

  No. He couldn't stay silent.

  With a firm step forward, he spoke.

  "Sun Jing. Shopkeeper Feng."

  His voice was calm, but resolute.

  "Isn't this cheating the customers?"

  Shopkeeper Feng snapped back without turning around.

  "What nonsense are you spouting? This isn't cheating, this is strategizing!"

  He stopped mid-sentence.

  Slowly, he turned around.

  The color drained from his face.

  "Who are you?!" he shouted. "How did you get in here?!"

  Xiao Fan stared back at him in shock. How the hell did this shopkeeper just now notice him?

  "…"

  Sun Jing coughed awkwardly. "Shopkeeper Feng, this is my good brother Xiao Fan. He's been following, no, we let him follow us from the start."

  Shopkeeper Feng continued staring at him as if struck by lightning.

  Impossible. How could he have let a third person witness this?

  His gaze darted wildly, panic overtaking reason. Then, in a sudden burst of desperation, he reached into his storage bag and pulled out a sword.

  "Wait, calm down, Shopkeeper Feng!" Sun Jing shouted, startled. "Let's talk this out! Don't do anything rash!"

  Sun Jing knew this man well. He was capable of going into extreme when things don't go his way. As suggested by his plan to fake wins.

  Just like now.

  At that moment, the door creaked open.

  Ning stepped inside.

  "What happened?" he muttered. "I was gone for barely a minute…"

  He stopped mid-sentence.

  Why was there a sword pointed at Xiao Fan?

  Seeing yet another person, Shopkeeper Feng panicked completely and swung the sword toward Ning.

  "How is there another one?!" he shouted. "I need to silence them."

  Ning's mouth twitched.

  At that moment, Xiao Fan's patience snapped.

  "You old man!" he barked. "I was already tolerating you. Now you're pointing a sword at us?!"

  Being threatened had always been Xiao Fan's breaking point.

  The atmosphere instantly became explosive.

  Meanwhile, Ning was quickly brought up to speed by Sun Jing.

  After hearing the cause, he wasn't surprised that this gambling business was doing something shady.

  Such tricks were nothing new. Casinos in his previous life used the same methods all the time.

  After all, gamblers might win once or twice, but the house always wins in the end.

  While Ning's thoughts ran quickly, Sun Jing also took action.

  "Everyone, calm down!" Sun Jing shouted, "Can we please talk for one second?!"

  Ning inhaled slowly.

  If this continued, Xiao Fan and the shopkeeper would definitely fight. That would draw attention, alert higher-ups, and turn a messy situation into a disaster.

  Clearing his throat, Ning spoke calmly.

  "Shopkeeper Feng. Please relax."

  All eyes turned to him.

  "We have no intention of harming your interests," Ning continued. "How about this, let Xiao Fan and me act as the second and third participants. We'll do it together."

  "Ning, you!" Xiao Fan stared at him in disbelief. How could even Ning support such an act?

  Ning, however, just shrugged. At this point, unless they want to cause even further trouble, this was the best solution.

  Of course, anyone saying he was just greedy for some freebie was lying.

  Shopkeeper Feng hesitated. After all, now that he calmed down, he realized that silencing these people will lead to even more troubles.

  Seeing the opening, Sun Jing rushed in, whispering urgently to Xiao Fan.

  Ning caught fragments.

  "This kind of thing can't be stopped anyway…"

  "At least if we're involved, we can limit the damage…"

  At the same time, Ning turned back to the shopkeeper.

  "If only Sun Jing acts, some people will still doubt it. But if three people obtain rewards, won't that look much more convincing?"

  Shopkeeper Feng's expression wavered.

  "Just give my friend and me spirit ores similar to Sun Jing's," Ning added.

  Shopkeeper Feng grimaced. "Do you think fake spirit ores are easy to make? I only have one."

  Ning nodded. "Then let us choose two genuine Iron Grade spirit ores."

  "Yes! That works!" Sun Jing chimed in loudly.

  At this point, what could Xiao Fan say?

  Especially with a sword still pointed in his general direction.

  And… he would be getting something for free.

  Xiao Fan sighed. "You weren't going to listen to my opinion anyway, were you? I don't like doing things like this, but since Brother Sun has helped me before, I'll give him face."

  "Haha!" Sun Jing laughed shamelessly. "We're brothers. Of course, we help each other."

  "…Right," Xiao Fan muttered.

  Ning watched the exchange, quietly impressed by Sun Jing's ability to persuade others.

  "Alright," Shopkeeper Feng said urgently. "Young Master Sun, pick the ore and leave quickly. We've spent too long here."

  ...

  Thanks for reading~