Victor adjusted his gear and began his descent down the valley, leaving the place where he had first spawned upon entering Ascendant Realms.
The Hidden Valley had been a chaotic but fruitful starting point. It had challenged him, but now it was time for a new chapter.
The path was curvy, winding through steep slopes and dense clusters of trees. The occasional bird-like spiritual beast flitted past, chirping melodiously, but none seemed interested in attacking him. For once, Victor was grateful for the peace.
"This would've been a great place for a montage," Victor muttered as he navigated the rocky terrain.
After about thirty minutes of careful descent, he reached the bottom of the valley. The landscape transitioned into a sparse forest region with the trees thinning out as patches of sunlight broke through the canopy. A faint path wound through the forest, trodden by countless footsteps.
As Victor followed the path, he heard the rhythmic sound of chopping.
He curiously and cautiously approached the source.
It happened to be a burly woodcutter hacking at a fallen tree. The man had short, dark hair and a weathered face that spoke of years of labour.
His muscular frame was clad in a simple brown tunic, and his axe gleamed in the sunlight.
"Excuse me!" Victor called out before stepping into view.
The woodcutter paused mid-swing and turned to face him.
His dull grey eyes regarded Victor with mild curiosity.
"Need something, traveller?" the man asked while resting the axe on his shoulder.
"Yeah," Victor responded while scratching the back of his head. "I'm trying to find the closest settlement. Any idea where I should go?"
The woodcutter nodded. "Not far from here. Follow this path until you reach a fork. Take the left trail, and you'll find yourself in Lingyun Town. Shouldn't take you more than an hour."
"Lingyun Town?" Victor tilted his head slightly. "Sounds like a place where people win lotteries."
The woodcutter chuckled. "More like a place where you lose money if you're not careful. Watch yourself, young one."
Victor grinned. "Thanks for the tip… uh…"
"Xu Sheng," the woodcutter replied. "And you?"
"Fang Chen," Victor said before giving a slight bow. "Thanks for the directions, Xu Sheng."
Xu Sheng nodded but didn't say more. He turned back to his work as Victor continued on his way.
The forest thinned as Victor followed the path, revealing open fields and the distant walls of Lingyun Town.
The wooden gates were adorned with strange martial carvings, and guards in light armour stood to watch with their hands resting on their weapons.
Victor passed through the gates and entered the bustling heart of Lingyun Town. The streets were filled with vendors shouting about their wares, children laughing as they played, and a few cultivators walking with an air of authority.
The aroma of sizzling skewers and fragrant teas wafted through the air, mingling with the metallic tang of a blacksmith's forge.
At the town's centre stood an impressive statue of a cultivator, posed mid-strike with a sword raised high. The figure exuded a commanding presence.
There was no doubt that this town was deep-rooted in cultivation.
"Not bad," Victor muttered while taking it all in. "Definitely beats being wolf chow back in the valley."
The system chimed softly:
<[ Objective Complete: Find a Nearby Settlement ]>
- Attribute Points: +3
- Low-Grade Spirit Stone
- +15% Bloodline Awakening Boost
Victor smiled. "Keep those rewards coming, system. Fang Chen's got bills to pay."
As he wandered through the town, he couldn't help but notice how out of place he looked.
The ragged white attire he spawned with was vastly lacking in quality to the fine robes and elegant outfits worn by the townsfolk.
"Alright," Victor muttered while tugging at his frayed sleeve. "First order of business: stop looking like a vagabond."
He found a stall run by an elderly woman named Zhou Mei, who sold an array of robes in vibrant colours. Her sharp eyes and confident demeanor screamed "shrewd merchant."
"Welcome, young man," Zhou Mei voiced with a polite but distant tone. "Looking to refine your appearance?"
Victor scanned the selection and his eyes soon landed on a dark green robe with golden embroidery. "How much for this one?" he proceeded to grab it.
"That would be twenty-five jade crescents," Zhou Mei replied with a faint smile.
Victor blinked. "Uh… is that a lot?"
The woman raised an eyebrow. "For someone like you? Probably."
Victor shrugged. "Well, let's see…" He reached into his inventory, only to freeze. He didn't have any currency.
"Oh, no…" he muttered while glancing awkwardly at the old woman, who was now eyeing him suspiciously.
"Don't tell me," she voiced with an icy tone. "You don't have any money."
Victor gave her an awkward smile. "I, uh… I was hoping for an installment plan?"
Zhou Mei's smile disappeared instantly. She snatched the robe from his hands with surprising speed. "This isn't a charity! Get out of here before you scare off my paying customers!"
Victor held up his hands defensively. "Alright, alright, I'm going!"
As he walked away, her sharp voice followed him. "Raggedy beggars wandering into town… disgraceful!"
Victor sighed. "Okay, first priority: get some cash. Second priority: get a robe. Third priority: never shop there again... ahem, until after I get that green robe, of course. It's so fine."
Victor wandered the streets, wracking his brain for ways to earn money. That's when he remembered his inventory.
"Wait a minute," he stopped in his tracks. "I've got loot from the Hidden Valley. Maybe I can sell some of it!"
Excited by the idea, Victor searched for a suitable merchant. He spotted a sign reading "Lingyun Trade Pavilion" and made his way inside.
The pavilion was a loud place filled with merchants and customers haggling over prices. Shelves displayed rare herbs, shimmering crystals, and intricate artifacts.
Victor approached the counter, where a middle-aged man with a short beard and sharp eyes stood. His nameplate read Liu Shen, and he gave Victor a welcoming nod.
"Welcome to the Lingyun Trade Pavilion," Liu Shen said. "What can I do for you?"
Victor pulled a glowing crystal from his inventory and placed it on the counter. "I'd like to sell this."
Liu Shen's eyes widened slightly as he examined the crystal. "A Low-Grade Spirit Crystal. This is good quality. I can offer you ten jade crescents for it."
Victor grinned. "And what if I wanted to sell three?"
Liu Shen grew even more interested, "Thirty jade crescents."
"Deal," Victor stated.
As Liu Shen handed over the coins, he asked, "Where did you acquire this?"
Victor shrugged casually. "The Hidden Valley."
The room fell silent. Liu Shen's expression shifted from casual interest to shock.
"The Hidden Valley?" Liu Shen repeated with a low voice. "You mean the one teeming with spiritual beasts? The place no sane person would dare to enter?"
Victor blinked. "Uh… yeah. Why?"
Liu Shen stared at him for a long moment, then gave a slow, respectful nod. "You must be quite the cultivator to survive there. Few can say they've come out of that place alive."
Victor laughed nervously while waving a hand.
"Oh, it's nothing. Just got lucky, I guess," he said while leaving out the part where he died like a thousand times.
But Liu Shen's gaze didn't waver. "Fang Chen, was it? I'll remember your name. If you ever need anything, the Lingyun Trade Pavilion is at your service."
Victor gave a quick nod, eager to leave before the conversation got any weirder. "Thanks, Liu Shen. I'll keep that in mind."
As he stepped out of the pavilion, Victor couldn't help but grin. "A powerful cultivator, huh? Maybe I should've asked for a discount."
Victor opened the pouch, letting the coins clink softly. They were small and hexagonal, with a faint green hue that glimmered a little.
"Alright," he proceeded to pocket the pouch excitedly. "Time to go shopping."