The moon wheel spits out over the city walls, the night sky clear and tranquil.
Chang'an's night view is captivating; one could lose themselves wandering from the eastern district to the western without noticing.
Even deep into the night, Chang'an remains a city that never sleeps. Before they knew it, morning had arrived.
When the first ray of sunlight hit Li Qi's face, he had just finished his tasks and looked up to see the sun already risen.
Looking back, Shen Shuibei was sitting in meditation behind him.
Though she appeared to be meditating, she was actually sleeping.
But for her, there wasn't much difference between the two.
"Has it been a day?" Li Qi pondered over the densely written notes he had taken, all concerning his organization and speculation about information related to the Tang Kingdom.
"Hmm... I should go out for a stroll and grab something to eat," Li Qi said as he stood up, careful not to disturb Shen Shuibei, then left the room heading outside.
Although he had no money, he could exchange some. He still had quite a few qi beads which could be traded for silver.
However...
By simply exchanging these valuable qi beads for silver, which held its worth in various aspects and possessed genuine utility, they would become worthless pieces of silver.
Invisibly, a portion of value was stripped away by the economic system of the Tang Kingdom, and it was done voluntarily.
There really was no other way around it. With the enormous economic system and production base of the Tang Kingdom, coupled with its trading rules that spanned countless worlds, one had no choice but to accept their regulations.
Wait...
Accepting the rules.
Indeed, these... were probably part of Humanism?
Dao existed externally, being the rule by which everything in the world operated...
Why did many animals without spiritual wisdom naturally form orderly groups such as wolf packs, lion prides, or even ant colonies? It was because they inherently followed certain rules, or 'Dao'.
It had been mentioned before that beasts without spiritual wisdom could also cultivate, for they were closer to a particular 'Dao'. If they continued to progress, they might even directly become an embodiment of this Dao.
So... with so many races and worlds beginning to actively or passively utilize the rules of Humanism...
He dared not think further,
the thought was too frightening.
Better to honestly exchange some silver and head to the streets to buy something to eat.
Exchanging qi beads didn't take much time, nor did he need to queue. Automated magical artifacts acted like ATMs, automatically counting and exchanging the beads. Moreover, one could choose physical silver or virtual currency on a terminal.
It was truly absurd... it felt like stepping into the future. Apart from the ancient-style decor everywhere, in terms of convenience and functionality, it almost surpassed Earth.
There was a strange sense of disconnection.
The streets were filled with pavilions and towers, people dressed in long robes and wide sleeves, while those needing mobility wore tight-fitting short clothes. Everything looked ancient, yet somehow automation and standardization were achieved in peculiar ways.
Three thousand qi beads exchanged for one hundred fifty taels of silver.
This exchange rate was truly remarkable...
Li Qi chose one tael of physical silver to observe, leaving the rest as virtual currency to avoid losing it.
After receiving the one tael of silver, he examined it closely.
It was ordinary silver.
But... there was a special aura about it, very noticeable, yet upon closer inspection, extremely complex and constantly changing, seemingly designed for show.
Was this... an anti-counterfeiting mark?
Truly meticulous.
Weighing the tael of silver in his hand, Li Qi made his way to the market here.
While called a market, it wasn't like the sprawling flat markets of Qingwu City.
In reality, it consisted of three towering buildings several miles high, serving as commercial hubs for several nearby streets. They resembled large comprehensive malls, with corridors weaving between them like threads, and walking within them, one was surrounded by clouds.
At first glance, only four words came to mind.
Pavilions in the Clouds.
Beautifully adorned with eaves and murals floating amidst ethereal clouds, overlooking rivers and columns, gazing at scenes stretching beyond.
Upon entering, numerous goods could be seen, ranging from miscellaneous items, clothing, to food, all neatly arranged and bustling with activity.
Clothing, hats, scarves, robes, skirts, new terminals, and many other mysterious objects Li Qi couldn't identify.
Crafted through Li Dao, showcasing exquisite craftsmanship, various tools, and playthings, dazzling and overwhelming to the eye.
It was impossible to distinguish their uses, merely a colorful array of items.
Moreover, they were very affordable.
Truly inexpensive, most could be bought using 'Deyuan Tongbao', essentially copper coins.
One tael of silver equated to a thousand coins.
Li Qi saw a brand-new terminal priced under a hundred copper coins.
A ninth-grade magical artifact cost only two to three taels.
Damn, prices differed so much from Baiyue!
The purchasing power was completely off the charts. Li Qi recalled previously exchanging Baiyue currency for Tang Kingdom currency, now realizing it was likely counterfeit.
Really...
Wandering through the mall, Li Qi planned to buy some food and drinks.
First, drinks.
He bought some Stone Splendor Spring water, stored in a kettle. It was said to originate from the Stone Splendor Spring, where spiritual herbs grew inside, producing three drops of spiritual liquid daily that fell into the water, transforming into waterfish.
These waterfish lived for one day, died, turned back into liquid, and merged with the mountain spring water.
However, these spiritual herbs were guarded by spiritual beasts, making harvesting difficult. Thus, people collected the flowing spring water downstream, known for its sweet and smooth taste, capable of detoxifying and sobering one up instantly after drinking.
He bought a kettle for only sixteen coins, though it seemed expensive.
Having bought drinks, next door was a meat vendor with an interesting sign saying "Wind Meat".
Li Qi approached and asked, "Shopkeeper, what does your sign's 'Wind Meat' mean?"
The shop assistant greeted Li Qi with a smile, "Sir, are you new to the area?"
"How do you know?" Li Qi asked in return.
The waiter proudly lifted his head and said, "Our Wind Meat is famous around here. Anyone who has lived in the area for a while knows about it! Sir, if you don't know its name, you must either be passing through or have recently arrived!"
This piqued Li Qi's interest, prompting him to ask, "Is that so? Could I then try some and get an introduction?"
The waiter replied, "Due to its unique preparation method, this meat can't be tasted directly; otherwise, it would taste salty and bitter without any flavor."
He continued, "To make Wind Meat, one needs to slaughter a pig, cut it into eight pieces, and rub each piece meticulously with four qian of finely ground salt. Then, hang it in a place exposed to wind but not sunlight. Place seeds from Annan's mystical breed within the meat, allowing them to sprout and burrow into it. This tree is special, exuding a unique fragrance only when rooted in the meat. Once the root system forms, the meat's texture changes. Then, coat it thoroughly with fragrant oil and marinate it for a year. Only in the following summer can it be consumed."
"When the meat matures, its aroma permeates the air, drifting ten miles away. Thus, it is named Wind Meat due to its scent carried by the wind."
"To eat it, you must first soak it in water overnight, then cook it over high heat. The water cannot be too little, and after two rounds of removing the salty water, add rock sugar and stew until tender. At this point, the aroma will be irresistible. Whether stir-fried, boiled, stewed, or fried, every method results in deliciousness!"
Upon hearing the complexity involved, Li Qi shook his head, "With so many steps, I think I'll pass. I'm not skilled in cooking, so I'll just buy something ready-made."
Li Qi didn't purchase the Wind Meat since he wouldn't know how to prepare it. He merely intended to buy breakfast.
After walking a bit further, he saw a vendor selling cooked food and bought some stir-fried fish slices which smelled quite good.
Approaching the vendor, Li Qi asked, "Sir, what are you selling?"
Seeing Li Qi approach, the vendor promptly called out, "Sir, these are fresh Xiao'er Fish, known as the best among all fish."
"Oh? What is their origin?" Li Qi inquired curiously.
"These Xiao'er Fish resemble catfish with four legs and long tails, capable of climbing trees. During droughts, they carry water up mountains, covering themselves with leaves. They open their mouths, attracting birds to drink, and consume them, making sounds like children, hence the name. Their taste is extremely delicious, though they are highly toxic. They must be properly prepared by someone trained before consumption, so we only sell cooked ones," explained the vendor.
Li Qi nodded and said, "I see. Give me a jin, please. But I have a question: How did people discover they could eat such a poisonous fish, and how is the poison removed?"
"How was it discovered edible? I'm not sure, but there are countless food enthusiasts who go to great lengths for a tasty dish, always finding a way. Here, sir, this is your fish!" The vendor packed a jin of fish slices and handed them to Li Qi.
He then explained, "As for removing the poison, the fish must be tied to a special tree and whipped with a secret herbal whip. When white sweat appears on the fish like milky sap, it becomes safe to eat; otherwise, it remains toxic."
"Incredible," Li Qi remarked, taking the packaged bag and weighing it in his hand, confirming it was indeed a jin of fish slices.
Excluding the complimentary seasonings and broth, the solid fish slices weighed about three to four jin with the accompaniments, truly substantial.
He paid fifteen copper coins.
Reflecting on it, exchanging three thousand qi beads for one hundred fifty taels, equivalent to one hundred fifty thousand copper coins, meant one qi bead equaled fifty coins.
Calculating this way, the prices weren't cheap at all.
However, it shouldn't be this outrageous. Li Qi had been buying expensive items; usually, these were reserved for grand banquets. Regular chicken, duck, fish, and meat were also available.
But Li Qi wanted something better.
After browsing for another ten minutes, he bought some Eight Treasure Meatballs.
According to the vendor, select premium pork, half lean and half fat, minced finely, mixed with pine nuts, mushrooms, bamboo shoots, water chestnuts, melon ginger, and other ingredients, bound with starch, formed into balls, placed in a dish, steamed with sweet wine and autumn soy sauce.
Li Qi tried one; crispy and sweet, very satisfying.
He also bought two sea cucumbers, soaked three times in meat broth, then stewed to tenderness with chicken and meat juices, served with wood ear fungus, fish maw, and pig trotters, rich in collagen.
Lastly, he purchased a plate of shrimp oil tofu, made from tender tofu sliced, mixed with mushroom crumbs, pine nut crumbs, melon seed crumbs, chicken crumbs, ham crumbs, simmered in golden shrimp oil over high heat until the tofu developed honeycomb-like pores filled with the accompanying ingredients.
All together, it cost twenty-five copper coins.
A breakfast considered luxurious by ordinary standards was now ready. Li Qi bid farewell to the bustling market, heading towards another location.
Half an hour had passed since he left home.
Thinking to buy one last item before leaving, he decided on a hairpin.
Her jade hairpin from Qingwu City needed replacing.
Jewelry shops were upstairs, far more upscale than food vendors.
This building stood several miles high, impossible to climb on foot. Cultivators could manage, but ordinary people would likely collapse from exhaustion.
Moreover, most areas of Chang'an prohibited flying, except designated flight paths where flying artifacts could operate normally.
Even if you could fly, doing so in restricted areas would result in severe consequences.
Thus, elevators were installed.
Technically, not electric but driven by magical formulas, referred to as 'Self-Propelled Stairs'.
Li Qi searched for relevant information using his terminal, discovering it could even take photos for image recognition.
Though it looked like a wooden token with iron plating, it was incredibly advanced, utilizing augmented reality through illusions, presenting interactive interfaces, highly convenient.
Once again, beneath the ancient appearance lay an extremely advanced and automated civilization.
It was a futuristic society, albeit based on different principles.
According to the terminal, these Self-Propelled Stairs were essentially elevators.
Ascending quickly to the six-hundredth floor, guided by the internal directional artifacts, Li Qi reached the jade trading area.
He planned to buy a jade hairpin.
In the Tang Kingdom, jade held immense importance and was a distinctive accessory.
A Confucian sage once said, "Jade is warm and lustrous, symbolizing benevolence; fine-grained and solid, symbolizing wisdom; incorruptible yet not harmful, symbolizing righteousness; hanging down gracefully, symbolizing propriety; striking it produces a clear and resonant sound, symbolizing music; flaws do not hide beauty, nor does beauty conceal flaws, symbolizing loyalty; consistent color radiates trustworthiness; a jade tablet signifies virtue. Hence, jade is esteemed worldwide, likened to a gentleman, described as 'a gentle and refined gentleman.'"
Furthermore, jade itself embodies the essence of stones, possessing various uses. In the Tang Kingdom, almost everyone wore jade.
Li Qi recalled reading about the highest-grade jade, named Xuanji and Yuheng, referring to three stars in the Big Dipper.
Xuan means beautiful jade.
Ji and Heng, tools for aligning heaven, discerning celestial will, implying the three stars of the Big Dipper are actually imperial artifacts made of jade.
Given these attributes, jade's status was evident.
Li Qi was prepared to spend lavishly but opted against buying pre-made magical artifacts or hairpins due to the high markup.
Instead, he intended to buy a high-quality raw stone and carve it himself, aiming for decoration rather than crafting powerful artifacts.
Surprisingly, upon arriving upstairs, he found jade prices unexpectedly low.