Living steadily in the world of gods and mystery

The next morning, a lively procession filled the streets with music.

It was exceptionally festive.

Upon inquiring, I learned that someone was getting married.

Unlike the newly developed border markets like Green River District, where mostly Loose Cultivators dwell, Luoluo City had been stable for a hundred years aside from some severe disturbances in the past one or two years. Its customs were similar to those of ordinary people nearby, and getting married and having children were common.

Chen Li and Zhou Hong stood at the doorway watching the bustling scene, with Zhou Hong showing a look of envy.

"The bride is coming!"

"The bride is coming!"

A small flying boat, about three to four meters long and festooned with red silk, approached slowly from a distance. As the flying boat stabilized, the groom, with his face freshly rouged, stepped down first, smiling and gesturing to the crowd. Then he carefully helped the bride, veiled with a red cover, to descend.

Countless pink petals fell from above, while the musicians on both sides promptly changed the tune to something more festive and celebratory.

"Old Xu is really splurging this time. He has many relatives, and I heard he’s setting up over a dozen tables—that’s going to cost a pretty penny."

"I reckon it would take at least three mid-grade spirit stones to cover it!"

"Well, Old Xu hails from the Xu Family of Foundation Establishment. Although he has set up his own household long ago, he’s still related to them. We’re not in the same league, with our small families. Don’t be fooled by his lavish spending; he’ll surely make back a good amount in wedding gifts!"

"That makes sense. Whose family is the girl from?"

"She’s not from around here; seems to be from a secular family."

"Why choose someone like that?"

Expressions changed on everyone’s faces, and when they looked at the bride again, they had the look of city folk peering down at country folk.

Chen Li found it amusing. Even Cultivators, it seemed, were mostly mundane at heart—gossiping about the Zhangs and Lis, despising the poor and envying the rich, no different from his previous life. Through all changes and transformations, human nature remains the same!

...

Perhaps spurred by the events of the day, Zhou Hong was especially enthusiastic and relentless that night, employing every trick in the book.

Afterward!

"When we have children, our wedding must be just as splendid," Zhou Hong said, resting weakly in Chen Li’s arms, her body drenched in sweet sweat.

"It will certainly be more splendid!" Chen Li responded. They were an old married couple by now, and he understood well that she was moved by what she saw and felt stimulated by it. He then laughed, "I don’t see why we should wait; let’s pick a propitious date and make up for the wedding we never had."

A warm feeling surged through Zhou Hong’s heart, and her eyes misted over. Although touched, she ultimately shook her head and replied, "It would just make a show for others to laugh at. We have no parents by our side, nor any elders to speak of. It would be out of the ordinary. I am content with your words alone."

Chen Li was naturally happy to hear this. After all, weddings were such a hassle.

Not only expensive but also laborious.

And life would continue as before afterward.

It was just a formality.

He shifted the conversation, "I haven’t even asked if your parents are still alive."

"I don’t know. I lived with my master and senior sister from a young age.

Many Loose Cultivators who are old, childless, and live alone would train some disciples to care for them in their old age. My master was one such case. However, he treated me exceptionally well, like his own child. After he passed away, my sister and I began to make our way in the world on our own," Zhou Hong said, wiping the corner of her eye.

Chen Li, upon hearing this, couldn’t help but think of his past life and felt a sense of longing.

...

"How much for this magic artifact?"

"This is a mid-grade magical instrument. Take it for two hundred and forty low-grade spirit stones."

"That’s far too expensive. This artifact is severely worn, with notches, and the inscriptions are nearly damaged. Give me an honest price—how about one hundred low-grade spirit stones?"

"What? One hundred low-grade spirit stones? At that price, you couldn’t even buy a low-grade magical instrument; you must be joking. I can give you at most a ten-stone discount."

...

Chen Li bargained hard for a good while.

He managed to haggle the price down to two hundred and twenty-five stones.

Eventually, citing disagreement over the price, he walked away.

He continued to browse other stalls, inquiring about the prices of magic artifacts to understand the latest market trends. The price of magic artifacts had clearly started to recover; just over a month ago, mid-grade magic artifacts generally cost under two hundred low-grade spirit stones.

Now, the lowest were over two hundred.

The price had risen by more than ten percent.

It was the same in the magic artifact shops.

However, this was clearly just the beginning. The prices were still far from normal.

Suddenly, the crowd began to stir.

"It’s the inner sect disciples of the Eternal Life Sect," someone whispered.

Chen Li looked up.

He saw a group of three—a man and a woman laughing and talking as they walked. People around them made way respectfully.

The three were dressed in lake-blue robes, and they all looked to be about twenty years old.

The men were handsome and dignified, the woman charming and attractive. Amidst the marketplace, they stood out like cranes among chickens, and when they looked at the loose cultivators around them, they carried an air of condescension.

"Sect disciples..."

A touch of envy crept into Chen Li’s heart: "I wonder what their strength is like?"

"They must be much stronger than loose cultivators of the same level! Being an inner sect disciple of the Eternal Life Sect, each one is the cream of the crop, a Foundation Establishment seed with exceptional talent. Coupled with systematic Cultivator education, they are far beyond the wild and unaffiliated Loose Cultivators."

The group browsed through the stalls.

The two male Cultivators were clearly both courting the female Cultivator, their eyes brimming with earnest flattery. But the woman was somewhat indifferent, occasionally offering a restrained smile or a response, proud as a white swan.

"Ah, to be young is wonderful!"

Chen Li watched from a distance for a while and then quickly left.

...

Over the past month, Chen Li never stopped working on the excavation of the underground shelter.