Chapter 53: Being Called Immortal
"Believe me, Immortal, this is truly the most affordable and understandable gift," the young man said earnestly. Xu Mo rubbed his neck, unsure how to correct the young man's misunderstanding. Seeing Xu Mo's gesture, the young man assumed he was a shy boy who had recently fallen in love. Xu Mo, however, felt even more embarrassed to be called an "Immortal" by someone stronger than himself. He could sense that the young man was at the fifth level of Qi Condensation.
The young man grew more enthusiastic and began showcasing more items. "Immortal, take a look at this Scented Bath Paste. It's a bit older than the newer products, but it's quite famous among both men and women. Its scent lasts an entire day," he explained, pulling out a tube slightly larger than his palm. Xu Mo inspected both the Fragrant Cleansing Clay and the Scented Bath Paste. They smelled pleasant, though mostly of flowers. He leaned in closer, sniffing for a scent that might appeal more to men.
"Immortal..." The young man continued introducing every item Xu Mo glanced at. By now, Xu Mo felt obligated to buy something from the kind young man, fearing his conscience would prick him if he didn't. He decided on the Scented Bath Paste. Without a word, he picked up the paste and handed over one spiritual stone.
"Perfect choice!" The young man gave him a thumbs up, and they settled the bill. The bath essence cost Xu Mo one low-grade spiritual stone. After completing the transaction, Xu Mo continued his journey. He ordered some wooden chairs from a seller, who promised they would be ready in two days. Xu Mo provided his address and paid half the amount in advance.
The shopping district was crowded, though less so in the outer areas. As one moved closer to the center, the crowd thickened. Auction houses, brothels, Alchemy Halls, Forging Halls, and other establishments lined the bustling streets.
Xu Mo's next destination was the Alchemy Hall. He wanted to purchase some basic supplements and pills, curious to see the effects of consuming a refined pill rather than raw ingredients.
Xu Mo preferred adventuring alone, but the elders in his sect forbade it, forcing him to suppress his nature. He didn't feel lonely when accompanied by Xue Lingxi or Mei Xueyin, but he considered them mere acquaintances rather than close companions. It wasn't that he had no appreciation for beauty or was solely focused on strength; rather, he believed beauty often brought trouble, and few women were truly loyal. He clenched his fist, recalling the promise he had made to himself: he would not fall in love with anyone except her.
She was someone from his childhood, a girl who had—or might have—awakened extra meridians, attracting the attention of an immortal who took her away for cultivation. Xu Mo wanted to slap himself for remembering that promise, but a promise was a promise. Unless one of them broke it, he would not be the one to do so. For now, he resolved to let no girl enter his heart. He would wait and watch. Time would reveal whether she remained loyal. Above all, Xu Mo was young and had mistaken possessiveness for love. If she loved him in return, he would remain loyal. But if she had changed, he would let her go and wish her happiness.
Soon, the Alchemy Hall came into view. The building housed a ground floor filled with alchemy merchants, providing them shelter from the sun. The Hidden Dragon Sect regulated the market, ensuring that every pill and herb sold was safe and not harmful. Only licensed merchants and alchemists were permitted to sell their wares.
Xu Mo navigated through the stalls but found the crowd overwhelming. After roaming the entire ground floor, he was exhausted and made his way to the entrance, where the seats were mostly empty. He exhaled deeply and nearly collapsed onto a chair, his posture embarrassingly relaxed. No one dared to scold him. His hair, tied in a bun, cushioned his head against the wall, giving him an air of an immortal who had descended to the mortal world. Despite his casual posture, an inexplicable masculine charm radiated from him, though he remained unaware of it. By his own observation, many male disciples in the sect were more handsome than he was.
Were they blind? They clearly saw that he was a disciple of the Hidden Dragon Sect, even if only from the outer sect. He was not someone they could afford to offend.
"Immortal, why don't you give my pills a try?" a voice called out. Xu Mo, still in his relaxed posture, opened his tired eyes and turned his head toward the source. There, he saw an elderly man. Xu Mo sensed no trace of Qi emanating from him.
A mortal? Here?
Xu Mo painfully straightened his body, smoothed out the wrinkles in his clothes, and approached the elderly man. Though the elder appeared clean, his overgrown beard and unkempt hair gave him the appearance of a roadside beggar. The man sat on the cold marble floor, a dirty cloth spread before him with pill bottles haphazardly arranged.
[Xu Mo.] Xu Mo wrote his name in a notebook and showed it to the elder. He disliked being called an "Immortal" by someone so much older than himself. "Are you mute?" the elder asked cautiously, careful not to offend a disciple of the Hidden Dragon Sect. He had encountered many disciples, most of whom looked down on mortals, forgetting that just a few months ago, they were the same—and their parents still were.
Xu Mo nodded humbly, showing no signs of impatience. On a slip of paper, he wrote, "Foundation-strengthening pills and energy-replenishing supplements."
The old alchemist nodded knowingly. "Ah, a cultivator preparing for breakthroughs, are we?" He rummaged through the bottles on the cloth, picking one up, shaking his head, and then selecting another. He retrieved several small jade bottles. "These are Qi Condensation Pills, useful for stabilizing your Qi flow. And these," he tapped a smaller vial, "are Spirit Revitalizing Pellets, excellent for long training sessions."
Xu Mo examined the pills carefully. They weren't the highest grade, but they would suffice for his needs. After completing his purchase, he exited the shop but paused at another stall selling mysterious black vials.
Demonic Qi Suppressants? Cursed Blood Essence?
[How much for these?] Xu Mo wrote.
"As you're my first customer, I'll sell them to you at cost," the vendor offered.
Xu Mo shook his head and wrote, [I don't want to sound arrogant, but money is the least of my concerns. Please state the market price.] He adopted a slightly arrogant stance, though more moderate than during the trial. He didn't mention that he was taking pity on the elder and wanted to pay more. Everyone had their pride, and Xu Mo always judged others by putting himself in their shoes. He would have felt hurt if someone pitied him simply for being old.
"Oh!...Then give me seven low-grade spiritual stones," the old man said, surprised by Xu Mo's sudden shift in demeanor. Xu Mo didn't bargain. He handed over the requested amount, took the items, and left in a haughty manner, as though such a sum was trivial to him.