Chapter 334: Nothing Worth Noticing

After Ji Yuan and the Dragon Girl had toured the interior of the ship, it was already half an hour later when they emerged. The excitement outside regarding the esteemed guests boarding the flying vessel had also subsided considerably.

Now, apart from those still leaning over the ship's edge, gazing at the motionless giant whale in the sea below, many others had returned to their usual activities and were attending to their own matters.

So, as Chi Gui now led Ji Yuan and the Dragon Girl into the market, only a few people—those with exceptional eyesight or who recognized Chi Gui and Lin Jian—could infer their identities from the fact that these two were personally escorting them. Most others were unaware that Ji Yuan and Ying Ruoli were the ones who had arrived on the giant whale earlier.

Unlike the relatively quiet interior of the ship's cabins, at this moment, as Ji Yuan and the Dragon Girl followed Chi Gui and Lin Jian, they observed what appeared to be a long street on the deck. Buildings of varying sizes, some single-storied and others two or three stories high, lined both sides of the path.

Most of these buildings were likely shops, displaying their signs, many of which were even run by ordinary people selling food or daily necessities.

Of course, there were also shops selling "extraordinary items." Some maintained a traditional shop format, while others simply found a spot within the appropriate building, laid out their wares, and effectively created a temporary stall.

As Ji Yuan walked along, he found the sights quite novel, taking them in superficially. It was his first time seeing so many cultivators gathered densely in one place in his life. Although their cultivation levels varied, most were proper immortal cultivators, and there were quite a lot of them.

Back during the Water-Land Dharma Assembly of Emperor Yuande of Da Zhen, although it was chaotic and many cultivators from Yuhuai Mountain arrived, they were actually quite scattered throughout the capital. Moreover, the group of evil demons was quickly annihilated, so he hadn't felt much impact. It was far less lively than this "cultivator gathering."

"Haha, Mr. Ji," Chi Gui began, "this inter-realm ferry, besides helping people cross realms, sometimes also serves as a mobile market for cultivators. When it docks, cultivators with shallower foundations or those seeking convenience, as well as demon cultivators, ghost cultivators, and even those of the divine path, all frequent it."

Ji Yuan listened to Chi Gui's words and nodded in deep agreement.

Lin Jian, standing beside them, also chimed in.

"Cultivators are also sentient beings, possessing emotions and desires," Lin Jian explained. "Though perhaps less intense than mortals, they still have things they desire and realms they wish to reach. Mortals assume immortal cultivators are free from desire, but it's merely that they have little interest in mundane affairs! If a nugget of gold falls to the ground, a mortal would pick it up, while we might regard it as mere dross. However, if a Mountain God Stone lies on the ground, a mortal wouldn't understand and would mistake it for a pebble, whereas we would cherish it as a treasure."

Ji Yuan chuckled upon hearing this and replied, half in jest and half seriously.

"If I saw a nugget of gold, I'd pick it up too."

The Dragon Girl almost burst out laughing beside them. From her father's influence and her own understanding, she knew very well that Uncle Ji acted freely and without restraint and enjoyed experiencing the mortal world. If he said he would pick it up, he truly would.

Chi Gui and Lin Jian took the senior's remark as a joke and continued leading the way.

In the middle of the street ahead stood a huge ship's mast, a towering wooden pole, which was also one of the main places where cultivators bartered.

"Come on, I'll go in and take a look too!"

Piqued by curiosity, Ji Yuan quickly walked over, looked around, and found a building labeled "Matter Transformation Pavilion" to enter.

Inside, it was quiet, with occasional conversations kept low. Immortal cultivators, when setting up stalls, would never loudly hawk their wares.

There wasn't much foot traffic inside, and not too many stalls. Various cultivators, dressed in different attires, sat cross-legged behind small tables. The entrance of Ji Yuan's group of four naturally drew attention from many, but no one called out to solicit business.

On the small tables in front of them were items that could be considered "goods," including talismans and exotic artifacts. Ji Yuan was surprised to see two "bonsai."

So, he curiously approached and peered closely. Both pots contained the same kind of plant, appearing like a stout vine coiling upwards, about a foot tall. Its small leaves had sharp thorns, and both leaves and thorns were purple.

Seeing Ji Yuan stop to observe, the cultivator who had been sitting with closed eyes behind the small table opened them and offered an introduction.

"This is a Purple Thorn Vine," the cultivator explained. "The pot is a common clay pot, and the soil is Mystic Earth soaked in spiritual spring water, which can keep the Purple Thorn Vine from dying. If carefully nurtured, it may one day bloom and bear fruit, which can stabilize the soul and replenish vital energy."

"Oh, how long does one need to care for it before it can bloom and bear fruit?" Ji Yuan asked casually.

The cultivator smiled.

"That depends on one's personal destiny," the cultivator replied. "Purple Thorn Vines are rare. If they don't mature, they can't develop spirituality, and if they do, they constantly try to escape. It's difficult to control their plants and fruits. I've cared for these two Purple Thorn Vines for thirty years, and they haven't bloomed or borne fruit, so I might as well trade them for something else."

Ji Yuan replied, "You are quite honest!"

He then shook his head, no longer looking at the two Purple Thorn Vines, and walked elsewhere. The cultivator did not try to keep him and closed his eyes again to meditate.

The higher a cultivator's cultivation level, the firmer their resolve. When it comes to buying things, what they want and don't want is as clear as black and white. If they want something, they'll naturally stay; if they don't, no amount of persuasion is useful. Therefore, apart from some special circumstances, it's rare to see a shopkeeper talking effusively while the customer hesitates.

After browsing casually through the building, Ji Yuan found nothing among the items for sale that he particularly wanted. Or rather, he had some interest in almost everything, but it was purely out of curiosity.

Given this, and lacking any suitable items for trade, he naturally bought nothing, content just to look.

After visiting a few more so-called immortal family shops, Ji Yuan's interest had mostly waned.

"Uncle Ji, is there anything you'd like to buy?" the Dragon Girl asked. "If you don't have suitable items for trade, I have some. I have several hundred pounds of Water Spirit Essence and some Deep Sea Spirit Gathering Pearls as well."

"Hiss..."

Even though Chi Gui and Lin Jian were True Person-level cultivators, they couldn't help but gasp slightly. Listening to the Dragon Girl's casual tone, it seemed these items were nothing to her.

Even Ji Yuan secretly clicked his tongue in surprise. After this casual stroll, he had gained some understanding of condensed Five-Element spirits and similar items. Taking the Purple Thorn Vine he had just seen as an example, one *jin* of Water Spirit Essence would be enough to acquire it, yet it appeared to be merely a bean-sized ice bead. The Dragon Girl was practically flaunting her wealth.

"Never mind, never mind," Ji Yuan said. "Although these items are rare and interesting, there's nothing that truly catches my eye. They would be useless to me anyway."

Ji Yuan was speaking the truth. He was quite keen to find a life-substituting talisman, which he had encountered before, but there were none. As for the other items, from medicinal herbs to talismans and even some so-called spiritual artifacts, they were all dispensable to him.

Regarding magical artifacts, Ji Yuan felt that for his current needs, an immortal sword, a wolf-hair brush, and a fishing rod were sufficient. As for items aiding cultivation, Five-Element spiritual items used to be useful, but he hadn't known then that they could be traded and collected in such a way. Now, with his Five Qi Facing the Origin and Five Elements perfected, they actually weren't of much use anymore, unless used in an extremely extravagant manner to aid in performing Five-Element techniques.

So, the problem was, his immortal sword didn't require such items. The wolf-hair brush was mostly for executing decrees, so it also wasn't useful. Controlling lightning relied on the power of thunder spells, not wood spirits.

Water control, on the other hand, could work, but his limited water control abilities, though precise enough, didn't include any techniques for massive waves. How extravagant it would be to use water spirits for that! He regretfully didn't know earth elemental techniques. As for fire control, his other fire control techniques were on par with his water control, and regarding the Samadhi True Fire, putting aside whether fire spirits could aid its intensity, even if they could, the consumption would surely be substantial.

Furthermore, Ji Yuan wasn't skilled in alchemy nor did he understand traditional medicine. Using spiritual herbs would be a waste of heavenly resources.

After thinking it over, Ji Yuan truly couldn't think of anything he urgently needed right now, at least not on this Nine Peaks Mountain inter-realm flying vessel.

Thinking of this, Ji Yuan saw some shops ahead with the aroma of cooking wafting out. He thankfully pointed forward and strode towards them.

"Let's go find a restaurant with good food," he announced, "and order a table full of dishes for a proper meal. I've barely eaten anything proper these past few years."

Chi Gui and Lin Jian exchanged glances, feeling that they should still follow.

As the Dragon Girl followed, she covered her mouth with her sleeve and smiled faintly, then spoke to Ji Yuan.

"Ruoli suddenly thought of what Uncle Ji needs!"

"Oh? I don't even know, and you do?" Ji Yuan looked at her sideways as he walked, feeling a bit curious.

"Of course I know," she replied. "Uncle Ji, you're missing a jar of immortal brew!"

Ji Yuan paused, momentarily stunned, then clapped his hand in regret.

"You're right!" he exclaimed. "I, too, suddenly remembered! Your father still owes me a whole jar of dragon's saliva incense! I didn't collect it last time I visited, and he shamelessly pretended to be asleep in the Dragon Pool. That should be counted as interest!"

Tens of thousands of miles away, at the Dragon Pool, a massive *chilong* suddenly felt an unbearable itch in its nose.

"Ah ah ah ah... achoo-roar... achoo-roar-rumble..."

Rumble rumble rumble...

Outside the Dragon Pool, numerous aquatic creatures heard a violent dragon roar erupt. Even the yakshas guarding the Dragon Pool were suddenly swept away by the torrential currents bursting from its depths.

Countless aquatic creatures were tossed about in confusion. One or two pavilions of the water mansion collapsed, and countless artifacts were overturned. The water in the entire dozens-of-miles-long stretch of the Tongtian River surged and churned, with the river waves rising and falling erratically, and faint dragon roars continuously echoed.