Chapter 222 – Visiting the Arsenal of Arms Again (2/2)

All of this was hosted by the school of Miscellany among the hundred schools. They were responsible for protecting all Qi Practitioners in town, as well as for maintaining regular trade. Otherwise, why would stronger Qi Practitioners bother to haggle over the price with weaker Qi Practitioners? It would be much faster if they just killed them and looted their items.

The Qi Practitioners in the teahouses and restaurants did not come from the school of Miscellany. They all needed to pay a yearly fee of spiritual stones to the school of Miscellany to set up business here.

When Li Qingshan asked where the best place for purchasing spiritual artifacts was, Sun Fubai immediately recommended the store of Miscellaneous Goods to him. Although it would be slightly more expensive than the streets, there was a guarantee for quality. Since Li Qingshan had plenty of spiritual stones, and he lacked the insight to discern quality, it would obviously be most appropriate for him to come here.

Li Qingshan said, “I want to buy a weapon.”

The women by the tea table giggled quietly. “What weapon? Can’t you call them spiritual artifacts? You can tell with a single glance that he’s a bumpkin who has just emerged from the jianghu.” “Don’t tell me he wants to buy an inferior spiritual artifact!” “Ruping’s commission will be impressive this time.”

Although they had stifled their voices, Li Qingshan still heard every single word that they uttered. As it turned out, this woman was called Ruping, which sure sounded familiar1. As it turned out, these female cultivators were not just responsible for receiving customers, but for sales too. No wonder they were so snobbish.

“Please come with me!” Liu Ruping said indifferently. Although she could not hear what the others were saying, she knew that they were mocking her.

Liu Ruping moved her hips from side to side as she climbed up the stairs. Her moving buttocks made him think about the boss of the inn from last night. He wondered whether the female cultivators he would introduce to keep him company included her. He turned around and looked at the lobby, Perhaps they all might be included!

A daoist in blue robes walked in. Both his daoist robes and the ancient sword on his back flickered with light. In a world of Qi Practitioners, this was what the wealthy looked like.

The women in palace wear basically all wanted to rush over and receive him. A sweet-looking woman said loudly, “It’s my turn.” In the end, only she ventured forward, like a victorious hen, arriving before the customer. Her smile was much more sincere.

Although it was impossible for him to call anyone to keep him company at night as Xiao An was with him, he still could not help but feel relieved. Fortunately, he had not, or he would have been pitiful. He was still technically a virgin, so how could he lose it to a woman like that?

Arriving before a room on the second floor, his gaze was immediately drawn away by a board. Surprisingly, the board detailed three words—Arsenal of Arms. He had purchased the Tyrant’s spear from the Arsenal of Arms back in Qingyang city. He had never thought there would be a branch in a town of cultivators as well.

However, most Qi Practitioners did not care for the silver and gold used among regular people. Why would a store that could sell spiritual artifacts sell weapons in a small, remote city? Their ability was obviously exemplary to be able to set up business in the store of Miscellaneous Goods run by the school of Miscellany.

Liu Ruping introduced with a professional smile. “The Arsenal of Arms is renowned throughout our Clear River province and even the entire Ruyi commandery. The weapons in here have all been tested by masters, so their quality is definitely the best of the best, unlike the stalls outside that offer goods of uncertain quality, who sell low grade spiritual artifacts that end up cracking after just a few battles.”

“Then let’s take a look!” As soon as Li Qingshan stepped into the store, he shivered. All of his hairs pricked up. He felt like an army that had been ambushed from all sides. Vicious, murderous intent poured over. He took a step instinctively, and all of his bones resonated. His aura suddenly rose up, like an army pouring their strength together, with a commander charging up ahead, about to kill their way out of the encirclement.

However, Li Qingshan immediately saw that there were no ambushes at all. There were just thousands of weapons placed neatly on weapon racks, spanning as far as the eye could see. A middle-aged man with an ugly, coarse appearance stood at the centre of the weapon racks, looking at him in a stunned manner.

“What’s wrong, sir?” Liu Ruping was three steps away from Li Qingshan as she looked at him carefully. Just moments prior, this man who had a unique figure but seemed extremely simple and mild suddenly became a vicious beast, ready to pounce and kill. This was the first time she felt that this man might have been much more complicated than he seemed.

Li Qingshan realised where the sharp, murderous intent originated from. It was from these weapons. He restrained himself and said in surprise, “Didn’t you feel it?”

Liu Ruping was stunned. “Feel what?”

The coarse man walked over. “The murderous intent on people is easy to sense, but the murderous intent on weapons is difficult. You can’t develop such a sharp sense for it if you haven’t been through a few life-or-death battles and claimed a few dozen lives with your own hands.” He clasped his hands at Li Qingshan. “I can tell with a single glance that you’re someone who knows his weapons. How may I refer to you?”

Li Qingshan said, “My surname is Niu. And how would I refer to you, sir?”

“That’s a good surname, a good surname. You really are as sturdy as an ox! My surname is Zhang. There’s no need to be polite with me, so you can just call me little Zhang.”

Liu Ruping smiled. “Old man Zhang, you’re trying to act young again. Don’t you feel any shame?”

Little Zhang said, “Cultivators pursue longer lives. There’s no hope for me this life, so can’t you just let me have this? Right, elder sister Ping?”

Most of the shopkeepers responsible for the stores were older Qi Practitioners. In the end, they were still unable to cultivate faster than the rate at which they naturally aged. There was basically no possibility for them to make anymore progress, so they chose to live a more peaceful and comfortable life.

Liu Ruping spat in contempt. “Who’s your elder sister Ru? Cut the nonsense. I’ve brought you the customer, so hurry up and choose a weapon for him!”

Just when Li Qingshan wanted to say something, Little Zhang raised his head. “There’s no hurry, sir. Let me guess what weapon you want, alright?”