Sorry, I'm Slightly Better Below

Chapter 14: Fortuitous Encounter in the Market

One day later, when the merchant caravan passed through Pingshi City, Chen Ze left the group.

Compared to large cities like Ruifeng City, Pingshi City was much smaller, with a population of only around one hundred thousand. There were quite a few small cities like this one around Azure Sun Sect.

The main reason Chen Ze came here was because Pingshi City had a market specifically for cultivators.

This market opened every seven days and lasted for half a day each time.

To enter the market to sell items, one needed to pay a Low Grade Spirit Stone, but if one only wanted to buy things, there was no need to pay.

However, most people who came to the market both bought and sold.

Chen Ze was the same. On one hand, he wanted to sell Senior Wu's belongings, and on the other hand, he wanted to see if there was anything useful for him here.

As he passed by the market, Chen Ze casually bought a mask and put it on his face.

This was a common practice for those entering the market.

After making several turns, Chen Ze arrived in front of a huge ancient building in a remote part of the city.

This ancient building used to be a temple. After it fell into disrepair, the Shen family, a cultivator family in Pingshi City, emptied all the statues inside and replaced them with stalls, turning it into a market.

Of course, one needed a certain level of strength to do this kind of business.

The Shen family was a large cultivator family with a Foundation Building cultivator presiding over it. It was also said that someone from the Shen family held a position in Azure Sun Sect.

It was because of their strength and background that some small families and independent cultivators in the vicinity were willing to do business here.

...

Arriving at the gate of the temple, Chen Ze took out a Spirit Stone and handed it to the two black-robed Shen family cultivators guarding the gate.

After receiving the Spirit Stone, the Shen family cultivators handed Chen Ze a token, then waved their hands, indicating that Chen Ze could enter.

After entering the temple, what came into view were rows of stalls, totaling around a hundred or so, with only a dozen or so vacant.

Seeing this scene, Chen Ze couldn't help but feel a bit sentimental.

He had been here many times before, always accompanied by his parents.

The reason he believed that the path of cultivation was prevalent in this world was because he had seen too many people with various tricks up their sleeves here.

At that time, he would follow behind his parents, worrying for them because there were indeed many people in this market who could take their lives.

His cautious and careful personality was probably developed during that time.

"I wonder how my parents are doing now? And my ancestors..."

Chen Ze became somewhat emotional.

The city where the Chen family resided was called Dayan City, near Pingshi City.

His father, Chen Shan, had a cultivation level of the fifth layer of Qi Refining. On weekdays, he would exorcise demons and catch monsters for the wealthy households in the vicinity to earn some Spirit Stones or silver.

When he was young, his father encountered his mother, who was an independent cultivator at the time, and saved her life. Afterward, the two became Dao companions.

In addition to his father, who was at the fifth layer of Qi Refining, and his mother, who was at the fourth layer of Qi Refining, there were also three uncles and aunts at the third and fourth layers of Qi Refining, as well as four cousins at the first and second layers of Qi Refining in the family.

Lastly, there was the ancestor at the ninth layer of Qi Refining.

However, the ancestor had suffered injuries when he was young and had very little remaining hearing, so his actual combat strength was probably only at the level of the eighth layer of Qi Refining.

But the ancestor was skilled in talisman drawing, which was the main source of income for the Chen family.

After all, to obtain Spirit Stones, they had to earn them from cultivators. Most of what his parents, uncles, and aunts earned were silver.

Looking at the familiar scene in front of him, memories flooded Chen Ze's mind.

During the time leading up to his joining Azure Sun Sect, he witnessed his parents and ancestors' storage bags gradually decreasing.

But he could only pretend not to know...

He is still the Chen family's Qilin, as his father and ancestors call him.

But they don't know that if this Qilin is really only as capable as they see, then in Azure Sun Sect, he is just the lowest level among the outer disciples.

Chen Ze subconsciously touched the inner armor on his body, which was the trump card his father exchanged with his own spiritual weapon.

Chen Ze sighed lightly, feeling a bit homesick.

He missed his father, who was always righteous, kind-hearted, and sometimes impulsive. He missed his mother, who was gentle, caring, and always able to stop his father from doing something foolish at critical moments. He missed his deaf ancestor, who needed to speak loudly to be heard. He missed his uncles and cousins, who he thought were a bit dim-witted.

Da Yan City is very close to Ping Shi City, so he should theoretically go back and take a look.

But after thinking it over, he ultimately decided against it.

Although he rarely wrote letters home in the past six months, his mother must be worried about him. She probably also knows that Azure Sun Sect will hold an outer disciple trial soon.

If he were to go back now, no matter what he said, the family would think he was going back to seek help. And then...

"Forget it, I won't think about these things. I'll go back to the family after the trial is over."

Chen Ze took a deep breath, suppressed his emotions, and then glanced at the buyers and sellers present.

Although most of these people wore masks and concealed their cultivation, he could still see through their true identities at a glance.

"So many Demonic Cultivators infiltrated here?"

Chen Ze frowned slightly.

There were no Foundation Building level cultivators present, but there were surprisingly seven or eight Demonic Cultivators.

Although he had seen Demonic Cultivators when he followed his parents to this market before, there were only one or two each time.

"Could it be related to the trial?"

Chen Ze glanced at the hidden Demonic Cultivators again, and when he saw one of them, he narrowed his eyes behind his mask.

This was a Blood Demon Dao Qi Refining fifth level cultivator, whose cultivation was not that impressive, but he carried a precious treasure with him!

In the past, the trump cards in his eyes were things like Middle Grade spiritual weapons and High Grade spiritual weapons. But now that he had reached the seventh level of Qi Refining, his vision had naturally become much higher.

So most of the things hidden by others were things he couldn't even look at now. But this Blood Demon Dao Demonic Cultivator was different. This person actually carried a Supreme Grade spiritual weapon with him!

And it was an extremely rare type!

As a result, even someone as composed as him couldn't help but feel his heart beat faster.

"This is my opportunity!"

Chen Ze forcibly suppressed the excitement in his heart and walked towards a stall in the corner, pretending to be calm.

Sitting at the stall was a middle-aged man wearing a mask.

This middle-aged man set up his stall here every time the market opened and was one of the few people in the entire market who was stronger than him.

Although this person wore a mask, Chen Ze knew his identity.

This person was from the Yu family in Luo Kang City, a pill refining family that lacked spiritual weapons but not spiritual stones. They often sent people to various markets to purchase spiritual weapons while selling pills.

All the Qi Gathering pills he had swallowed before entering Azure Sun Sect were bought from him.

Because this person had plenty of spiritual stones and a good reputation, most people who came to this market to sell spiritual weapons would look for him.

Approaching the middle-aged man, Chen Ze saw the familiar sign.

"Buying all kinds of spiritual weapons, selling all kinds of pills."

Without hesitation, he took out a storage bag from his pocket and placed it on the stall, then said in a hoarse voice,

"Take a look at what's inside and give me an estimate."

Thanks to Qing Feng for the 100-point reward, and thanks to everyone for the monthly votes and recommendations.

(End of this chapter)