Chapter 647

Chapter 647: Marketplace

—

In the early morning, amidst the sparse footsteps outside the tent, the young lady gradually awoke from her dream.

She rubbed her eyes, propping herself up with both hands, and slowly stood up, causing the thin blanket to slide off her body.

Her long hair fell over her neck. Lolan Hill shook her head slightly, trying to clear her mind and recall the memories of her dream. After a while, she finally remembered where she was.

She looked at the fading leaf and fruit pattern on her hand, finally believing that what she saw that morning was not an illusion.

Strange, why would she see those memories of the past, of people and events long gone? She pondered inwardly.

Recalling the life of the figure she saw in her dream, from childhood to adulthood, from an ordinary girl growing into a mature witch who ruled an empire, her long journey was filled with hardships and joys, witnessing centuries of historical progress until the end of her dreams.

Attadis, the witch of bountiful fruits.

Her emblematic pattern consisted of lush green branches and crimson berries, beautiful and abundant.

After Julie’s passing, Attadis took over the reins of the empire, leading and supporting the human nation behind the scenes. Under her care and protection, a new generation of witches within the empire grew up, becoming the solid backbone of the Crimson Empire, which gradually became stronger.

If Julie planted the first seed, then Attadis was the one who carefully tended to it, nurturing it until it grew into a grand tree.

[Tears of labor will bear fruit]

[The sheaves in hand are proof of the bond between humans and earth]

[Even if no one recognizes them, I still see them]

[For me, everyone will bloom and bear fruit]

[Precious children, I can do little for you]

[But I will stay by your side. Because I want to praise your efforts]

For all the witches, Attadis was a loving elder and a comforting companion. It was under her modifications that the Crimson Empire gradually shed its fierce aura from the founding era, becoming more gentle, allowing the human population to expand tens or even hundreds of times over several centuries.

And such a vast number, even after the empire’s destruction, left seeds and bloodlines for its potential resurgence later on.

—

Stepping out of the tent, she used a damp handkerchief to wash her face, and the remaining droplets on her skin became slightly refreshed in the breeze. Only then did Lolan Hill gradually sort out the memories of that distant time in her mind.

The predecessors were all very capable; it seemed unlikely she could catch up with their remarkable achievements. The young lady thought to herself.

Wringing out the handkerchief and putting it away, she turned back and returned to the tent, carefully dismantling and gathering everything.

As she squatted down to roll up the carpet, the dark soil and ground beneath emerged, catching her attention with a small white flower bent under the pressure.

Looking at the unknown flower with its bent stem, she impulsively placed her hand on it, imitating the scene from her dream. A faint stream of light flickered along the stem, gradually restoring it to its original state, with fresh tender shoots emerging from below, their pale green leaves delicate and soft.

Withdrawing her hand, the young lady glanced around, relieved that no one had noticed her casual action. She had believed it was just a dream, but the events in the dream seemed to have become reality. She possessed the power of the great witch from her dream.

Power different from ordinary skills or talents, it could transcend certain norms and even break some natural laws.

Just like the simple process of repairing and catalyzing plant growth earlier. Other Extraordinary Beings would need to use related powers and follow certain techniques to achieve this.

Such skills were limited by the user’s abilities and the strength of the object. Ordinary plants were easy to manipulate, but those containing extraordinary properties were much harder.

However, for the bountiful witch in her memory, these problems did not exist. As long as she willed it, things would develop in that direction effortlessly and naturally.

—

Half an hour later, the merchant caravan set off again, and the young lady continued sitting in the back of a carriage, looking up at the slightly grayish sky.

Her long hair hung down behind her, swaying gently. Lolan Hill closed her eyes, feeling the comfort of the breeze, then continued recalling the distant land of her dream.

There was something similar between the Demon Sequence and the Heart of Magic. Unfortunately, she knew little about the Heart of Magic and couldn’t be completely sure. She also wondered if the land she saw in her dream was the same world she was currently in. If so, then this world would indeed be vast and wonderful.

With various thoughts and speculations swirling in her mind, she felt a bit drowsy after a while and leaned against the railing to rest.

Yu Baichou, riding on horseback behind, watched the girl in the gray dress leaning against the carriage, seemingly asleep.

“This child is quite calm, sleeping so soundly.” he thought.

But such ease of spirit would surely make her happy in the future. With a smile, he thought to himself, despite being older than the girl, he sometimes got caught up in illusions and obsessions.

—

After four days of traveling through Minze, the merchant caravan finally reached the solid yellow earth and headed towards a city.

Qingwei City, at the city gate.

Lolan Hill was now among the merchants entering this bustling city.

On both sides of the cobblestone street, many small vendors sold goods along the roadside, including wild vegetables from the mountains, green-headed ducks with tied feet, snakes enclosed in fine nets, and white beans from the mountain region. There were also items like tofu, lotus seed cakes, and large griddle cakes.

As they moved further into the city, the central prosperous area became more prominent, and the small vendors gradually decreased, replaced by shops with prominent signboards.

Although the names varied, from the young lady’s perspective, she could guess what each shop sold based on the items displayed. Some sold writing materials, others simple ceramics, condiments and spices, clothes, and jewelry.

“Moo—” The long cry of the Qiu Niu caused the caravan to slow down.

“So this is it. This inn has ample space to accommodate many goods, and it seems safe enough,” the leader of the merchants said, then turned to look at them.

“Where will you two go next? If it’s not on the way, we might have to part ways here.”

“We plan to rest for two days and then head to the provincial capital of Minzhou. We probably won’t be going the same way,” Yu Baichou bowed.

“Thank you for your care along the way. From now on, we’ll travel alone,” the young lady also bowed as she spoke.

“Then may your journey be smooth,” the merchant leader nodded and returned the bow before leading the group into the inn.

Seeing the merchants enter the courtyard, Yu Baichou and Lolan Hill continued forward. They needed to find a place to rest and gather information.

Two hours later, they settled down and enjoyed a bowl of freshly made dragon beard noodles.

“Should we check out the inner marketplace?” Yu Baichou asked the young lady after eating.

“It’s a place where items related to cultivators are sold. However, this city isn’t very big, so the variety might not be as extensive as in the provincial capital.”

“I’d like to go,” the young lady nodded with interest.

“Alright, let’s go,” Yu Baichou said, leading her onto the street. After asking a passerby for directions, they headed in a specific direction. They entered a high red archway after paying two silver rings.

Compared to the common folk shopping areas outside, the shops here were much more luxurious, with some emitting pleasant sounds of gold and jade chimes.

“Chuangu Qingyu Hall,” “Tianyi Baixiang Pavilion,” “Wuse Chansilou,” “Zhuyin Miaoyu Fang”—these finely crafted, vibrant buildings appeared before the young lady’s eyes. Meanwhile, numerous energy ripples surged along the streets.

The pedestrians on the street were dressed in all sorts of peculiar attire. Some wore entirely black, with cloaks resembling black wings adorned with layers of feathers. Others wore jade crowns with dangling beads, moving gracefully like the wind. Some donned bright red sleeves, their silk threads glowing like fire, dazzling and striking.

“That outfit is likely made from the fur of fire rats from the southern mountains. It doesn’t burn when exposed to fire and cleanses itself. Many people favor it. If you are proficient in flame-related cultivation, wearing that garment would be very beneficial.”

[Red Long Coat] (Golden Grade, Exquisite): Made from the hair of fire beasts (also known as fire rats), it does not burn in fire and enhances the flames. Its material is tough and fire-resistant, able to withstand most low-level attacks. It is also lightweight and comfortable, providing protection against heat and cold, and is highly favored by people.

[Jade White Hairpin] (Bronze Grade, Excellent): Made from jade seeds found in the western Kunlun River, carved according to their texture, it has good effects on calming the mind and stabilizing the breath.

Lolan Hill blinked, looking at the data floating on the virtual screen, forming her own assessment.

It looked impressive. She couldn’t help but think of the scenes from her previous life’s games, wishing she could create something like this.

“There’s no rush to buy. Let’s take a look first. We might encounter many things on our journey. How about you, Miss, try a simple cultivation method first? As long as it doesn’t exceed the third rank, you can dispel it later and focus on the true teachings of the sect.”

“Are cultivation methods also sold here?” the young lady asked curiously.

“Haha, those who can cultivate to high ranks are incredibly rare, but lower ranks are not uncommon. However, methods circulating outside are usually incomplete and less effective than those in sects. After all, sects have been refined over generations, leaving few shortcomings and offering comprehensive training. Methods scattered outside are harder to find and often conflict with ongoing practices.”

“Moreover, some cultivation methods have hidden pitfalls when practiced deeply.”

“Doesn’t each sect exchange knowledge? Won’t they fall behind by closing themselves off for too long?” the young lady asked curiously.

“Of course, there are three major gatherings: ‘The Red Tower Duel in You City,’ ‘Discussion Under the Purple Banyan Tree,’ and ‘The Ten Thousand Mile Bamboo Sea Song Festival.’ But we can only be spectators at these events. Those performing on stage are the elite from the world’s sacred lands.”

“Alright, let’s not talk about this anymore. Let’s go check it out,” Yu Baichou said, stepping forward as if afraid the young lady would keep asking questions, depleting his limited knowledge.

Lolan Hill wasn’t annoyed and quickened her pace to follow him.

“Zhiyun Fire Pill, eat it to aid advancement. Limited to three pills, hurry if you’re interested,” a commotion arose as they approached an open area in the marketplace. A crowd surrounded someone on a wooden platform shouting, with people below whispering among themselves.

“Is this pill really effective?” a cultivator asked curiously.

“I heard from a fellow townsman that it works. One of their sect members advanced to the fourth rank because of it,” someone replied.

“Apparently, it boosts willpower like fire, burning away confusion and aiding in resisting external illusions during advancement.”

“I don’t think so,” another person in the crowd argued.

“While this method temporarily improves resistance to illusions, it ultimately harms the soul. Even if one advances, it requires a long period of recovery. And if the dosage isn’t right, it might turn one into a fool.”

“It’s true. This person is selling it at such a high price, six gold coins per pill. I heard last month it was only four gold coins.”

“There’s no choice. Once fame is established, prices rise.”

“Still, some aren’t deterred by the side effects and are willing to risk it for advancement.”

“Ah, it can’t be helped. This is the age of great contention, with heroes rising everywhere. Anyone wants to stand out. Perhaps someone with exceptional talent will be noticed by a sect and given special training.”

“I think you should give up on such fantasies. Even the outer disciples of the Thirty-Six Sects are rare, chosen from millions. They wouldn’t look at someone needing pills to advance to the fourth rank.”

“Hahaha, yes, yes, I was overthinking.”

“But this person is impressive. Supposedly, he came from the Green Deer Plain, once a sixth-rank alchemist, but due to recent upheavals, he had to restart his cultivation path, landing him in his current situation.”

“And his cultivation method reportedly consumes a lot of rare materials, so he needs money. Hence, he came up with this idea.”

(End of Chapter)