Chapter 23: The Stone Pavilion went berserk, and Ye Chen got humiliated

"Master, I don't know if it's my illusion, but I always feel like someone is following me."

Ye Chen said to the ring while constantly changing directions.

"Disciple, you are very cautious, which is good. I hope you can maintain this caution in the future. I have used my Divine Sense to investigate for you, and there is no one within a ten-mile radius."

A definite reply came from the Ring Spirit.

"Yes, Master." Ye Chen replied.

Even after receiving the Ring Spirit's reply, the feeling of being followed lingered in Ye Chen's heart.

Fortunately, Ye Chen focused all his energy on traveling, not thinking about anything else, and immediately felt much more at ease.

A few days later.

Chuan Sha Mountain Range, one hundred thousand miles west of the Sect.

Boom!

With a roar, a black Yao Beast radiating the aura of the Qi Refining Tenth Layer fell in front of Ye Chen.

Ye Chen also lay down, panting heavily.

"Chen'er, after you've dismembered the Materials from this Yao Beast, go to a nearby market to rest. After all, you've killed quite a few Yao Beasts these past few days, and it's time to Cultivate and consolidate."

"Alright, Master."

After listening, Ye Chen forced himself to get up and dissect and dismember the Yao Beast, categorizing the Materials into his storage ring, then walked towards the nearest market.

Wenxian Sect's Disciples usually have a map when they are out adventuring, so they don't worry about getting lost.

There were three markets nearby, and the closest one was a market called Heishi Market.

Ye Chen confirmed the direction and headed straight for Heishi Market.

Not long after Ye Chen left, Zhou Chen looked in Ye Chen's direction and had a plan in mind.

He quickly took a shortcut and headed for Heishi Market.

…

An hour later.

Inside Jubao Pavilion in Heishi Market.

"Guest, that will be eight thousand Low-Grade Spirit Stones in total. Please count them."

It was the Shop Assistant of Jubao Pavilion speaking, looking at Ye Chen ingratiatingly.

An eight-thousand Spirit Stone business meant the Shop Assistant's commission alone was two hundred Low-Grade Spirit Stones, which was quite a lot.

"Can you give me more? These are all fresh Yao Beast Materials."

Ye Chen frowned, feeling the price was a bit low.

"Oh, guest, this must be your first time here, right? Our Jubao Pavilion's business spans the Heavenly Profound Continent, and we are absolutely fair to everyone. Please rest assured, our prices are definitely fair. If you don't believe me, you can go and ask around."

The Shop Assistant said to Ye Chen with a smile.

People came and went in the first-floor trading hall, and upon hearing someone bargaining in Jubao Pavilion, quite a few strange gazes fell upon Ye Chen.

"Alright, help me exchange them for Mid-Grade Spirit Stones."

Ye Chen said coldly.

"Alright, guest, here are your Spirit Stones. Welcome to Jubao Pavilion again!"

Ye Chen took the Spirit Stones and left without looking back. So many people watching made him very uncomfortable.

Not long after leaving Jubao Pavilion, Ye Chen heard a burst of noisy sounds.

"Source Stones, newly arrived Source Stones! If you want an Opportunity to reach the heavens in one step, come and open Source Stones!"

The shouting caught Ye Chen's attention. He walked forward curiously and found a very lively shop ahead, with the words "Qishi Pavilion" clearly written on it.

The shop was crowded with people, and from inside, sounds of overjoyed crying or wailing occasionally came out.

Bang!

"Give me back my Spirit Stones! I'm not gambling anymore! Please, give me back my Spirit Stones!"

A figure was thrown out, seemingly a Qi Refining Third Layer Cultivator, loudly crying out towards Qishi Pavilion.

"Tsk, isn't that Old Hu San? His Family used to have a small fortune in Heishi Market, but he got addicted to gambling on Source Stones, and his wife even ran off with a Foundation Establishment Cultivator."

"Isn't that the truth? Speaking of which, Old Hu San deserved it. I heard that to gamble on Source Stones, he made his wife go out and entertain guests. Is that even human!"

"It seems that Foundation Establishment Cultivator was someone his wife met while entertaining guests. She'd rather be a concubine to a Foundation Establishment Cultivator than Old Hu San's wife."

"If it were you, you'd be willing too. Can you even get along with that Old Hu San?"

…

The surrounding people discussed endlessly, and Ye Chen heard it all clearly.

"Indeed, those who are pitiable must also have something detestable about them."

Ye Chen thought to himself.

However, just as he was about to leave, Ye Chen was drawn to a Source Stone in Qishi Pavilion.

That stone was dull, without any Spiritual Qi, located in a corner by the entrance of Qishi Pavilion, used as a stone base for decorative spiritual plants inside the shop.

But Ye Chen's eyes couldn't leave it. Although it had nothing remarkable about it, it gave Ye Chen a very strong intuition that he must buy it!

Ye Chen could even clearly feel his whole body's Qi and blood surging at this moment, seemingly boiling for that Source Stone.

So, without hesitation, Ye Chen walked straight into Qishi Pavilion.

Looking at Ye Chen's departing figure, the onlookers couldn't help but sigh.

It seemed another young person with wishful thinking was about to be ruined.

There were people who became rich overnight, but not many.

Some even opened Saint Rank or even Imperial Rank Divine Weapons from Source Stones, but that was always one in hundreds of millions, almost impossible.

"Shopkeeper, how do you sell Source Stones here?"

Ye Chen asked a Shop Assistant dressed in luxurious clothes.

The Shop Assistant's eyes darted, he sized Ye Chen up and down, then replied listlessly.

"Source Stones on the first floor are one High-Grade Spirit Stone or one hundred Mid-Grade Spirit Stones per piece. Source Stones on the second floor are ten High-Grade Spirit Stones, no bargaining."

From Ye Chen's simple attire, he didn't look like a wealthy Family Disciple.

"How much is this Source Stone?"

Ye Chen pointed to a dull stone cushion in the corner behind the door.

"I already said it's one High-Grade Spirit Stone or one hundred Mid-Grade Spirit Stones, no bargaining."

The Shop Assistant revealed an "I knew it" expression, his tone extremely impatient.

He had seen many people like Ye Chen, who came here wanting to bargain.

At a glance, they were not the target customers of their Qishi Pavilion, the Shop Assistant knew perfectly well.

Moreover, Ye Chen actually took a liking to a Source Stone that even Old Hu San disliked. His taste didn't seem to be very good either.

"Okay, I'll take two Source Stones, this one and that one."

Ye Chen feigned a pained expression and casually pointed to another Source Stone, which was perfect for diverting attention.

"Guest, please wait a moment. I'll just register it with the shop."

The Shop Assistant's expression softened slightly. He didn't expect Ye Chen to be able to afford two Source Stones.

Then the Shop Assistant disappeared from the first floor.

After a while.

"Young Master, Young Master, I am truly sorry. I just received news from the Pavilion Master that all the Source Stones on the first floor have already been reserved by a big client. To compensate you, you can purchase a Source Stone on the second floor at a fifty percent discount. How does that sound?"

The Shop Assistant rushed down from the second floor, his forehead covered in fine beads of sweat.

"How can you go back on your word? How dare you do this!"

Upon hearing this, Ye Chen clenched his fists in anger.

The Shop Assistant, upon hearing this, continued to smile and said to Ye Chen.

"Young Master, I'm sorry, but would you like to move to the second floor?"

"I'm not going! I'm an Inner Sect Disciple of Wenxian Sect. Are you sure you want to offend me?"

Ye Chen was so angry he was almost roaring.