The night was gradually deepening.
Even the latest to return home would already be in their rooms by this time.
The surroundings were enveloped in silence.
Yet, at this moment, Zhou Changwang and Qian Xiaoyue quietly slipped out the door. After taking a few steps, they found themselves before the door of the house next door.
Although it was just the outskirts of the marketplace, a simple defense array was routinely set up inside the house.
Of course, this so-called defense array served primarily as a warning; a slightly stronger attack could easily break through it.
However, once this defense array was breached, it would immediately emit a violent flash of light.
This light was not harmful in itself, but it could easily draw the attention of those nearby.
Therefore, unless they had great confidence in their abilities, most Tribulation Cultivators wouldn't dare break into someone else's room forcefully.
This provided a small comfort to those living on the outskirts of the marketplace, a reason why they were willing to pay a monthly rent in Spirit Stones.
Naturally, Zhou Changwang and Qian Xiaoyue wouldn't dare force their way in.
Luckily, after countering Fang Yu and Zhao Xifeng, Zhou Changwang had carefully gathered his spoils of war.
This, of course, included the house keys that Fang Yu and Zhao Xifeng would inevitably carry—the very hub of the defense array.
Only by using the 'key' to open the door could they avoid triggering the defense array's warning and come and go freely.
Taking out the key, aligning it with the keyhole,
a click sounded as the door opened, and the two immediately entered the room.
They didn't linger in the living room; with Qian Xiaoyue leading, they headed straight to the bedrooms.
Compared to their own minimalist style, Fang Yu and Zhao Xifeng's rooms were lavishly decorated. Despite most of the objects being ordinary, the embellishments made them appear distinctive.
Without dwelling too much on these ordinary items, Zhou Changwang glanced under the bed and saw three large and one small chests arranged in order.
Dragging them all out, Zhou Changwang opened one of the large chests, and his pupils contracted immediately.
Gold.
Piles of gold, neatly arranged inside the chest, filling half of it.
"That must add up to five thousand taels, right?"
Zhou Changwang estimated the weight, even if it wasn't five thousand taels, it was at least three thousand.
Unfortunately, for an Immortal Cultivator, gold and silver were of little significance.
They could at best buy some mortal tools, or if taken to the Artifact Refining Hall, exchanged for three to five Lower-Grade Spirit Stones, only to be smelted into 'Gold Essence'.
Opening the second chest revealed a box full of silver.
The silver was even less valuable, probably not even worth one Lower-Grade Spirit Stone for the whole box.
The third chest also contained silver, though only half full, with the rest filled with books and manuals stacked over twenty books high.
Zhou Changwang rifled through them casually.
"Blood Evil Saber, Flame Sword, Celestial Deformed Leg, Nine Revolutions Profound Nether Scripture, Celestial Blade Nine Techniques, Myriad Phenomena True Technique, Innate Technique, Nine Yin and Nine Yang, Seven Steps to Heaven..."
All were martial arts manuals.
They included both cultivation techniques and martial skills.
Thanks to his father's influence, he had a certain understanding of martial arts.
He knew that if these manuals were to fall into the mortal countries, they would undoubtedly incite a bloodbath; each one could be considered a peerless martial art, likened to the core treasures of Martial Arts Sects.
Sadly, in the Cultivation Realm, regardless of the martial art, be it the legendary Celestial Demon Dissolution, the Nine Yang Divine Technique, or those highly ceremonial Eight Pioneer Sabers, All Swords Return to the Root... they were nearly equivalent to waste paper.
In the Fengming Dock Marketplace, there were plenty of former martial arts masters and Demon Sect giants who came in search of immortality and, for a sliver of a chance, sold their treasured skills.
For instance, his father initially sold his top-tier skill, Nine Revolutions Golden Body Technique, for one Lower-Grade Spirit Stone.
Consequently, since learning that Zhou Changwang possessed a Spiritual Root, his father forbade him from practicing martial arts, wanting him to focus solely on Immortal Technique cultivation.
Finally, Zhou Changwang opened the smallest chest.
"Hiss!"
"Spirit Stones!"
"And there are some talismans, incense, and what is this? Jade Scroll Pupil, there's even Jade Scroll Pupil?"
Zhou Changwang, not holding much hope initially, exclaimed the moment he opened this small chest.
The grayish stones—weren't they Spirit Stones?
Zhou Changwang quickly counted them, with a total of one hundred and seven Lower-Grade Spirit Stones.
Aside from the Spirit Stones, there were also about ten various Spirit Talismans, a small bundle of incense, and no less than three Jade Scroll Pupils.
These Jade Scroll Pupils, bearing recorded Cultivation Methods and Magic, were special carriers; having three Jade Scroll Pupils was tantamount to having three Cultivation Methods or Magic, and for him, their significance was immense.
Meanwhile, Qian Xiaoyue had her finds.
She removed the large bed of the two Tribulation Cultivators, carefully rummaging, and from a pillow pocket, she pulled out a small bag.
Unwrapping it revealed some Spirit Stones inside, though not many, about thirty in total. Aside from the Spirit Stones, several bottles of elixirs were also found. These elixirs bore no labels, but this posed no challenge to Qian Xiaoyue, who had spent time with an Alchemy Master. After opening and closely examining them, she identified their names and purposes.
"A bottle of Restoration Pill, a bottle of Vitality Creation Pill, both types of healing Spirit Pills.
Additionally, a bottle of Antitoxic Pill, a bottle of Primordial Qi Pill, and a bottle of Yellow Spirit Pill.
Among the healing Spirit Pills, the Restoration Pill primarily worked on vital organs for restoring internal energy, while the Vitality Creation Pill was mostly used for external injuries.
The Antitoxic Pill, as the name suggests, could neutralize hundreds of poisons upon ingestion.
As for the Primordial Qi Pill and Yellow Spirit Pill, they were the kind that could directly increase a cultivator's cultivation, each small pill containing abundant spiritual energy, with the Yellow Spirit Pill's potency being slightly stronger than the Primordial Qi Pill.
Regrettably, there weren't many Spirit Pills left; only three Primordial Qi Pills and two Yellow Spirit Pills remained."
Qian Xiaoyue remarked, a trace of regret flashing across her face.
"No matter what, this time we have achieved a great success."
A smile appeared on Zhou Changwang's face as he spoke with slight excitement.
Not to mention anything else, the mere hundred and forty plus Lower-Grade Spirit Stones filled him with satisfaction.
Understanding that the output from his three acres of Spirit Field amounted to no more than one hundred fifty Lower-Grade Spirit Stones a year, reducing from the rent for Spirit Field Hall left him with fifty to sixty Lower-Grade Spirit Stones at best.
A pitiful amount.
But now, he had gained as much in one night, comparable to his entire year's effort, without having to toil painfully. Even after splitting half with Qian Xiaoyue, he couldn't help but feel a wave of excitement.