"Come take a look at these pearls, they're from the green sea. You will never find any of the same quality anywhere."

"This Roc demon's fur is the best of the best. One hundred years old Roc demon. Its fur is very cool to the skin but tenacious. It can easily block weapons, while keeping you warm."

"Dragon bone knife, cuts through the sharpest of swords like hot butter. Buy now to avoid regretting later."

The voices of the traders in the bustling market filled the air. The scent of street food and snacks filtered into people's noses, and different types of goods ranging from clothes, shoes, belt, braces, hair pins and accessories, jewelry, weapons, treasure maps and ancient books were on display at the various stalls.

However, Anthony could tell after inspecting each product that seventy percent of the goods displayed are fake and substandard products. The so-called cultivation techniques being sold were incomplete manuals composed by unscrupulous members of sects looking to make quick cash. But of course, every sect forbids its disciples from transferring the knowledge imparted into them, otherwise they would be investigated and hunted down. In a situation where they need the money but unwilling to bear the punishment of betraying the secret, of course they would settle for a smart compromise. Sell a part of the cultivation manual while casually adding nonsense or mixing it in with other cultivation methods to create a new manual which although has the same name as the ones from famous sects, they were far from the original, not half decent at all. Worse, they were even damaging to the body—a sure way to die young. Most of them do not show the negative effects immediately, but they accumulate into something frightening, causing qi deviation or numerous hidden illnesses. Others kill within one week of cultivating it, due to qi deviation or qi reversal, leading to destroyed or blocked meridians. Some who are extremely lucky actually reach the master level (first level) of cultivation, filling them with joy. One in a few hundreds might even reach the grand master realm before getting stagnated, unable to advance further. However, people never learn from past mistakes when it came to power.

Those wannabes from a family of farmers or local workers always had high dreams of becoming a renowned cultivator, famous far and wide with abundant wealth and grace, attracting elite youth to themselves and marrying into a higher social hierarchy through their martial prowess.

When people try to warn these over enthusiastic wannabes, most always point out that everyone's fate and body constitution were not the same. Who is to say that they won't be the ones to take the cultivation methods to the next level and become the new generation hero.

"Young master, do you see anything you want to buy? You can find a suitable weapon. I noticed you didn't have any weapon on you." Miao Miao said, making Anthony burst into laughter.

"Buy weapons from these fraudsters? These trash displayed here are just what they are—trash. None of them are worth a dime, except maybe the food and clothes. A random stick in my possession would be more precious than everything here combined. Since I entered this market, I have never encountered an item with rich spiritual energy among the things displayed showing that they are poorly made trash. Yet you expect me to buy it? Hahahaha."

Miao Miao's face immediately turned a deep shade of red on hearing Anthony's taunts.

"It might be nothing to you because you were born into a good background with lots of privilege and priceless foundation, learning from the best and being given the best. But for people like us, those items you call trash are huge treasures that can change one's life."

Anthony scoffed and shook his head wryly.

"Of course, it has the ability to change one's life. Cultivating those incomplete improperly scribbled cultivation techniques is definitely a death sentence. How could one's life remain the same after using it? They might run mad, suffer from qi deviation or reversal, bleeding from their seven orifices. They won't even know how they died. Some might get diagnosed with multiple diseases because the technique had destroyed their internal structure. Those that are extremely lucky might actually succeed in waddling their way into becoming a cultivator. But they will forever remain stuck in the first realm, unable to make half an inch of progress after many years, just a little bit stronger than an average mortal. So think carefully, is it worth risking your life for this trash that can kill you?" Anthony asked, looking at her with a mischievous smirk and one of his brows slightly tilted up, enjoying her red faced anger and embarrassment. No doubt the woman before him was one of those women that look cute and even more beautiful when angry or embarrassed. And Anthony quickly discovered he had a new hobby—teasing her.

"How do you know that? Some people successfully became cultivators by picking up lost arts from inheritance caves during treasure hunts. A few others succeed using the techniques bought from vendors. Some of these vendors are bandits that join martial art masters in tomb raids and treasure hunts, or servants that used to be members of martial arts clans. Although most of the items were obtained through unscrupulous means, one can't deny that it is useful. Not everyone has an evil fate."

Anthony nearly laughed out loud as she repeated the speculation he made about what the villagers' reaction would be if he warned them about buying these scams called cultivation techniques. She immediately assumed that there would be survivors. Who is to say that the rare survivor won't be her?

"Miao Miao, you're as cute as a cat. However, don't be too naive. Sects are very protective of their cultivation techniques, it's equivalent to state secrets. Not that you would know what I mean. Revealing a sect's cultivation method, especially one from powerful sects, to outsiders carries a death sentence. Who do you think loves money so much that they have no value for their lives? It's better to trust cultivation manuals from tombs and caves because there are chances it belonged to a real cultivator who later died because of one reason or the other. Some of them might even be from a powerful sect with amazing manuals. However, engaging in those dangerous adventures is not what a beautiful woman like you should be doing."

Anthony's words made her blush and she began to walk faster.

"Hey, where are you rushing to? Are you trying to abandon me in the middle of the market?" Anthony shouted after her, increasing his pace while his mighty horse trotted behind him.

Soon they got to an area with huge clusters of residential buildings, and she led him to a huge shed made with tree branches and palm fronds.

"It's almost evening. I will serve you some food while we wait for the main event at night."

*****

Anthony's mouth was dripping with oil and fat, before him was a chilled jug of fruit wine which nearly made him cry from joy.

Although he was sure that the rural village had no electricity nor refrigerator, they had managed to find a way to make the drinks served to be chilled. They even served him coconut juice alongside its flesh while giving him lunch. The moon was high up in the dark sky, and the bonfire lit up the surroundings. A huge well spiced ram was roasting on the fire, on two huge tables close to the fire were the remains of the huge roasted cow which was quickly turning into bones from all the cuts made from it to serve guests. Two young men were beside the table, serving the meat alongside vegetables and cream which was prepared like salad.

Anthony's stomach was on the verge of bursting, but the food was too tasty. So he quickly circulated his energy to convert the food to soul power, no matter how miniscule. The servers assigned with feeding him by the chief's daughter, Miao Miao, marveled by his quick digestion and bottomless pit which he had for stomach.

Miao Miao rushed to him at that moment, carrying more jars of wine and plates of food on a wooden tray. The rice they served him was cooked with tomatoes, coconut oil and spices in addition to vegetables, giving it a unique taste. They had called it coconut rice, a specialty of the town because there was a beach close by where lots of coconut trees grew on. The coconut was especially tasty and the milk melted in his mouth.

"Young master An, how do you like it? Our hospitality is not bad, right?" Miao Miao asked eagerly, while the other girls who looked a bit drunk from consuming fruit wine nodded, looking at him.

Anthony smiled and made a sign with his fist, his thumb pointing upwards.

"It's awesome. The food, the fruits, the meat, the wine, the coconut is top notch. The meat is so well prepared, making it as good as those spirit beasts meat, so juicy and fragrant. The rice cooked with coconut milk is amazing, same with the fruit wine and coconut juice. And the fruits are so sweet and juicy. I have not eaten such tasty pineapple in the past nor does the fresh orange juice taste as good as the one you all made." He replied, same time his eyes encountered a suspicious person sneaking around.

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