5 005: The Handsome Scholar

005: The Handsome Scholar

The handsome scholarly young man smiled at the crowd from the podium, giving off a gentlemanly vibe. Zemirah silently complimented the man on her mind, giving him 95 points on her heart.

"I have a Grade 1 Talisman Book here that has 1 Late-stage talisman, 2 Peak-stage talisman, and 5 Mid-stage talisman."

The crowd was in an uproar again, things like knowledge are kept hidden tightly, and these things are mostly circulated within the big forces like the Dynasties, Sects, and some Organizations.

"I want to exchange this book for a spiritual stone."

The words he said made everyone calm down. That's right, how can that book be easily bought?

Spiritual Stones are mostly circulated on Foundation Building cultivators, rarely they flow to Energy Refinement cultivators. Even if they are, only those disciples and children from bigger forces can have access.

Zemirah shot up in her seat immediately when she heard the talisman book. She didn't expect someone will actually put it here in a mid-tier town like Teal River Town.

She's so lucky!

Hearing that he wanted spiritual stones, she smiled and made a bid, "5 low-grade spiritual stones."

The young man smiled and stayed silent.

Someone also made a bid, "6 low-grade spiritual stones." It's the lady from earlier, the one who didn't manage to buy the fur that she got. She looks quite rich, even having spiritual stones to spare.

Zemirah didn't frown and bid, "7 low-grade spiritual stones."

The lady gritted her teeth and said, "8 low-grade spiritual stones."

The lady needed this book to advance and be a mid-stage talisman maker.

Zemirah would've been nervous if she hadn't gifted that spiritual stone to the servant girl last night. She still has 24 spiritual stones in her space ring.

"10 low-grade spiritual stones."

The lady sighed and didn't bid anymore.

Zemirah looked at the young man and he nodded. She handed 10 low-grade spiritual stones to the staff and got the talisman book after.

She excitedly opened the Talisman Book.

Indeed, as he said, there are a total of 8 recorded talismans inside. And she didn't know all of them which made Zemirah smile happily.

Now, she can have more types of talismans on her reserve knowledge. Maybe she can advance her Rare-quality Talisman into Supreme-quality after widening her horizon.

That young man is a good person, actually selling his family's things, tsk tsk.

The lady gave a closing speech, and after that, everyone left.

Zemirah left the auction house with Riya.

In this short time at the auction, they became quite close. It was the first time Zemirah communicated with a peer like this. She mostly cultivated in her room and only shopped when she needed something.

The person she communicated the most these past few days is Thea, the servant girl at the Inn.

"Do you know where to buy a courtyard?" Zemirah asked Riya as they walked on Teal District.

Riya thought for a moment before nodding her head, "I know a courtyard, my neighbor just happened to be selling their yard."

She paused, "Do you want to see it now?"

Zemirah thought for a moment and agreed, "Let's go, the sky is still bright. I want to move to my own place quickly."

Riya then led her to a street in the Ivor District.

"The Ivor District is safe since it's owned by the Town Lord. The people here are checked before being able to buy any property." Riya explained to her.

Zemirah nodded, "That's good. The Town Lord is a good man, not someone who just knows to sit and enjoy life."

"That's true, that is why this Town is still standing even though it's just beside the Teal River Forest where Demonic Beasts live."

They stopped in front of a courtyard.

"Here we are, this house is being sold since my neighbor will live in the nearby City now."

Then she pointed to another courtyard a few steps away, "That's my residence."

"It's really just beside your house." Zemirah giggled.

The courtyard being sold is medium size. Not small or too big, there is also a garden in front with a small pond and a small garden in the backyard where grasses grew tall.

Zemirah already planned what to do after buying this house.

She'll plant the front garden with flowers and build a small hut where she can rest idly. While the back garden will be planted with vegetables and maybe fruits.

Then she will change the walls and gate to a tougher and taller one. The whole courtyard will be renovated to the style she wants, making it her own residence.

"I'll buy this one. Where do we settle the transfer procedures?" Zemirah immediately made a decision and told Riya.

"Let's go to a shop, the owner has one in the Rest District." Riya was quite surprised at her decisiveness. But she thought it was a good trait, she didn't like cowards and indecisive people.

They went to a familiar tea house, the one where Zemirah heard most news in the Town.

An old couple owned the house and this tea house. Riya introduced Zemirah to them before she paid and got the house deed. The Town Hall wouldn't interfere with this matter unless she made something suspicious.

"We finally sold the courtyard to a good owner. We're afraid to just sell it to anyone so we waited for some time." The Old Woman smiled at her as she said.

Zemirah nodded and said in a gentle tone, "Thank you for trusting me."

After some little chat, they went out.

Zemirah said she'll ask someone to clean and renovate the house first before moving in. Riya nodded and they went on their separate ways. Zemirah told Riya where she stayed since she already knew Riya's house.

On the way to the inn, she saw a shop that sells spiritual and mortal-grade fruits so she bought some. She doesn't have anything more to give in her space ring except some useful artifacts and her talismans, so Zemirah thinks that fruits are good too.

Going back to the inn, she asked for dinner in her room. The sky is already dark, Zemirah hasn't eaten all day so she's quite starving.

Cultivator needed to eat too.

When the servant girl sent the dinner, Zemirah remembered to ask, "Do you know anyone who can renovate a courtyard?"

The servant girl quickly nodded and answered, "My family knows someone who makes a living with that job."

Zemirah nodded, "Please call them for me. I want someone to renovate my courtyard. The pay is not a problem, I just want a fast and decent courtyard to live in."

The servant girl nodded quickly, "I'll call them now, my lady."

The servant girl told her parents about the lady's request. Then her parents went to call their acquaintance who is good at repairing and building houses.

An old man and his apprentice came, and on the way to the Lady's room, the servant girl told her thoughts to the master and apprentice.

"The Lady is a generous person, as long as she likes your work, she'll never be stingy with her reward." She said that while thinking of the things she got these days.

The Old Master saw her sincere look and believed her words while his apprentice just silently followed his master.

They arrived at Zemirah's door where the servant girl knocked and only went in after hearing the lady's pleasant voice.

"Come in."

They saw a lady sitting in front of a desk with a graceful posture, she seemed to be writing something on a piece of paper as she held a quill in her hand.

"My Lady, they are the people you ask for."

Zemirah raised her head, her veil still covering her face and people could only see the fox eyes that seemed to hook people's hearts yet it felt like someone that was far from the world. The kind that one can only admire from afar.

"Have a seat, I'll talk about the courtyard and what I want to change." They saw her eyes smile slightly at them as she pointed at the other seat on the table.

"Yes, thank you, my lady." The master and apprentice followed the young servant's call to Zemirah, then sat on a chair not far from her.

Zemirah smiled as she saw them giving her space yet not far that will make them isolate her. People in this world are especially thoughtful, especially mortals at cultivators since they know that killing them is easy.

Not anyone will ask for justice on a cultivator for a mere mortal.

"Look at this," Zemirah called them. "I wanted a small hut or rather a pavilion in the garden where I can enjoy the view."

The old master saw her drawing, and although not very good, it was understandable.

"You can find some craftsman to carve me a table and seats, the theme should be flowers. I don't care about specifics, you can decide."

They spoke for a whole hour about the garden pavilion, the rooms, and the hall. She wanted to add some little details that mark the courtyard as hers.

Seeing the Old Master sweating as he studied her requests, she pointed at the fruits on the table.

"Thea, can you cut these fruits? We'll eat these as snacks."

The servant girl followed her finger and saw her pointing to the mortal-grade fruits on the table.

She paused before nodding happily, "Yes, my lady."

Thea took the basket of fruits and went to wash and cut them.

The master and apprentice saw the generosity of this young lady even for a mortal like them. Her attitude alone that gave faint respect to them is admirable.

Just the snacks for workers like them she actually gave mortal-grade fruits. Although mortal-grade fruits are cheaper than spiritual fruits, they are the rare and most suitable to be eaten for mortals.

Spiritual plants have abundant spiritual energy that is suitable for cultivators, if eaten carelessly by a mortal, they may explode from excessive energy that isn't digested.

Mortal-grade fruits have little energy but they are enough for mortals who don't cultivate. That is also the reason they are called mortal-grade.

After eating snacks and discussing their salary, the master and apprentice finally left. They will go to the courtyard and renovate it starting tomorrow.

As for Thea, she cleaned up first before leaving.

Zemirah happily took out the rewards she got from the mortal-grade fruits.

Ding! Congratulations to the Host for triggering a 7-fold back and getting a Supreme-quality Grade 1 [Banana Earth Fruit].

Ding! Congratulations to the Host for triggering a 3-fold back and getting an Outstanding-quality Grade 1 [Apple Wood Fruit].

Ding! Congratulations to the Host for triggering an 8-fold back and getting a Supreme-quality Grade 1 [Dragon Whisk Fruit].

Ding! Congratulations to the Host for triggering a 4-fold back and getting a Rare-quality Grade 1 [Round Moon Fruit].

"Now, this is called life." She said and bit the Green Apple in her hand. Her eyes narrowed in enjoyment as she savored the taste. Spiritual energy flowed into her body that made her subconsciously circulate her cultivation technique.

The faint feeling of breaking through is becoming stronger, Zemirah thought for a moment before deciding against advancing now. She'll wait for a few more days then she'll break through naturally. No need to force it now when there is still space for improvement.

"Sia, what do you think of my courtyard's design?" Zemirah asked her system.

Ding! The Host's design is great.

Zemirah laughed at her clumsy flattery and said, "Thank you, Sia. What do you think I should add then?"

Ding! The Host can find more pieces of furniture made from spiritual wood inside the house.

Zemirah smiled and nodded, "Sia is still the best. I'll watch out for a good spiritual wood then find a spiritual craftsman to create good furniture."

"Now, let's see what I've got on the auction." Zemirah happily said as she rubbed her palm.

Taking everything she got on the auction from her space ring, which is looking quite cramped now, there are ten things she has.

"An Uncommon-quality Late-stage Grade 1 Defensive Artifact called [Weeping Clam Pearl]. I heard that it has a water shield and a strong rebounding effect. A Late-stage Energy Refinement Cultivator will not be able to destroy it easily."

"This can be given to my Future Disciple, a meeting gift for her safety." Zemirah nodded happily to herself. She can already foresee the reward Sia will give her.

"Next is the fur from a Late-stage Grade 1 [Crimson Fire Two-Tailed Fox] that almost made me fight with Riya earlier."

"This fur can be made into an article of clothing, especially warm for winter. The fur's red color is very bright but not gaudy. I'll find a spiritual weaver when I have the time." Zemirah has a design on her mind.

She wanted a cloak since she didn't have one.

"Oh, I remember that Sia rewarded my two Talismans from this part of the auction, a Rare-quality Mid-stage Grade 1 [Earth Guard Talisman] and a Rare-quality Low-stage Grade 2 [Snow Sword Talisman]. Another addition to my stash of talismans, hehe." Zemirah giggled happily.

"Then we have the golden silk made from a Mid-stage Grade 1 [SunRay Spider]. This can be used to make a robe for my disciple. Warm and bright."

"Then the mirror called [Thousand Step Voice Mirror]. It's like a cellphone that can video call but it has limited range. But it's good enough, I'll just give it to my Future Disciple."

"And the necklace called [Moon Tear Necklace]. On earth, this necklace can only be owned by royalty, now I got it easily here." Zemirah wore it and saw herself in the mirror. The small crystal that showed hidden opulence fit her perfectly just as she imagined.

"Last is the mortal-grade beautiful [Flower Embroidered Space Pouch], embroidery like this is very rare on Earth. I'm lucky to find one here and it fits my taste. Flowers and butterflies." She then hung it on her waist.

"Oh, and the little plant I got from that VIP." She took the Dutch Whisper Plant whose leaves are closed right now so there are no pleasant whisper can be heard.

"The pleasant whisper can soothe away headaches and heartaches." She whispered the sentence she read about this spiritual plant.

"I don't have headaches or heartaches, I'll just put it on my table to listen to its whisper since there are no phones where listening to music is convenient."

"Then the Instrument Artifact I got from the VIP again, an Uncommon-quality Low-stage Grade 2 [Starlight Sea Piano]."

Caressing the piano carefully, Zemirah marveled at how the black parts seemed to contain the Starry Night. This piano is also related to the power of stars, having a fate with her because of the breathing technique she uses.

"This piano is gorgeous, I just don't know how it is in when played." Zemirah was tempted to play but decided against it since it was already late at night.

"The last surprise is my Talisman Book from the good scholar who sold his family's treasure."

Opening the talisman book, Zemirah has read the contents inside. The Late-stage talisman is called [Tree Group Trap Talisman], a control-type talisman that she doesn't have.

The two Peak-stage talismans are a defensive-type talisman [Giant Tree Spirit Talisman] and an auxiliary-type talisman [Morning Plant Dew] that can be used on planting.

And 5 Mid-stage Talismans, [Blind Ray Talisman], [Thorn Garden Talisman], [Nature Breath Stealth Talisman] [Vine SnakeBind Talisman] [Nature Smile Healing Talisman]

Zemirah decided to study the talismans tomorrow, for now, she wanted to have a good sleep.

[Authors's Note]

Oh my Fellow Daoists, please suggest any talisman you know or imagine. This humble one spent hours thinking of the ones upstairs...