Longevity, starting from being a chicken raising servant Chapter 8 - 8 8 Market, Trade_1

Deacon Li waddled away, his large belly shaking with every step. It was evident that he was highly pleased with the encounter.

In contrast, Wang Ba was left in a state of agonizing poverty, his pockets completely empty.

He kept his head down and finished his daily chores. While the sun was still up, he tucked a few Precious Chicken eggs he had managed to save into his pocket and headed toward the West Garden market, hoping to trade them for some food.

Fortunately, the Precious Chickens had been quite productive over the last few days. They hadn't just met the Sect's requirements; they had actually produced a surplus.

Without those extra eggs, he would have been facing starvation.

“What? One Precious Chicken egg is only worth five taels of silver?”

Standing at the entrance of Chen’s Grocery Store, Wang Ba’s voice rose in disbelief.

In the world of mortals, five taels of silver was a significant sum that could purchase hundreds or even thousands of ordinary eggs. However, value is relative.

In this market, the starting price for a Precious Chicken egg was usually ten taels.

Furthermore, the cost of basic rice here was astronomical, reaching one or two taels per pound. Back in the mortal realms, a few copper coins would have been enough to buy the same amount.

It was a frustrating reality. Within the immortal Sect, the influx of wealth from rich mortals who rarely spent it outside caused massive inflation. Spirit Stones were the only currency that truly held value.

Unfortunately, Spirit Stones were far beyond the reach of a mere mortal like him.

“That is the going rate. Take it or leave it,” Shopkeeper Chen replied, lounging indifferently in his chair as if the sale meant nothing to him.

Despite being called a grocery store, the shop sold a wide variety of foods, including meats like Precious Chickens, Treasure Pigs, and Colorful Ducks.

It reminded Wang Ba of the community markets located near residential gates in his previous life, though the selection here was far less diverse.

Gritting his teeth, Wang Ba finally relented, trading his four Precious Chicken eggs for ten pounds of rice.

He had no other choice; Chen’s Grocery Store was actually known as one of the more reasonable establishments in the market. Other shops were even more exploitative.

Just then, a middle-aged man wearing the official robe of a Sect Daoist approached the store, carrying a black basket covered with a cloth. He looked around suspiciously.

Wang Ba’s nose twitched instinctively.

A very familiar odor drifted toward him.

Noticing the man’s wary glance, Wang Ba wisely stepped away to avoid suspicion.

However, he didn't go far. He lingered nearby, straining his ears to catch any snippets of conversation.

“Spirit Chicken... twenty...”

“No... that’s the highest I can go...”

A Spirit Chicken?!

Wang Ba was stunned.

The middle-aged man was actually selling Spirit Chickens!

The scent he had detected earlier confirmed it; it was the unmistakable, pungent smell of chicken manure from the coops.

“Wait, Spirit Chickens can be traded?” Wang Ba wondered, his mind racing.

He had assumed that because the Sect valued these birds so highly, they were strictly forbidden from being sold privately.

This realization immediately broadened Wang Ba’s horizons. An idea began to take root in his mind.

Watching from the shadows, he saw the middle-aged man eventually depart with a heavy, bulging bag. Judging by its size and weight, it was likely filled mostly with Spirit Stones.

Wasting no time, Wang Ba hurried back to the manor and pulled out Old Sun’s old, patched Daoist robe. He had kept it originally thinking it would make good bedding for the chicken nests, but now it served a better purpose.

Old Sun and Wang Ba were of similar build. By wearing the robe and smudging his face with dirt, Wang Ba ensured that no one—unless they knew him intimately—would be able to recognize him.

“Cough, cough...”

After practicing a deeper, disguised voice to ensure he sounded like someone else, he returned to the West Garden market. This time, he bypassed Chen’s Grocery Store and selected a different shop.

He entered silently, simply browsing the shelves.

Shopkeeper Lu, the owner, didn't bother him. In a Sect environment, one never knew if a customer had powerful connections or hidden backers. It was best not to cause unnecessary trouble.

The shopkeeper remained behind the counter and spoke casually, “Take your time, sir. Look around as you please.”

Once the shop was empty of other customers and the workers were out of earshot, Wang Ba approached the counter.

“Shopkeeper Lu,” he whispered, “if I had something valuable to sell, would you be interested?”

“Something valuable?”

Shopkeeper Lu looked up, scrutinizing the scruffy-looking disciple before him. After failing to match the man’s face with anyone he knew, he replied slowly.

“Everyone in this market knows that if Lu’s Grain Shop won't buy it, no one will. Please, tell me what you are offering.”

His voice was level, projecting an air of absolute confidence.

Wang Ba wasn't surprised by this. Having been in the Sect for over two months, he had learned the local gossip. Lu’s Grain Shop was owned by a high-ranking Outer Sect disciple.

It was one of the premier establishments for mortals in the area. It boasted a solid reputation and the protection of a powerful cultivator, which made it a safe place for business.

Of course, such safety came at a price; their buying rates were usually quite low. If he were just selling eggs, he would have avoided this place to get a better deal elsewhere.

But this was different.

“I have a Spirit Chicken,” Wang Ba murmured.

At those words, Shopkeeper Lu’s casual demeanor vanished. He straightened up instantly and asked, “What grade? Is it a rooster or a hen?”

Wang Ba was caught off guard by the questions.

Determining the sex was easy enough, but he was lost when it came to the "grade." Did Spirit Chickens have different ranks?

Seeing Wang Ba’s confusion, Shopkeeper Lu realized the situation.

“Ah, it seems you aren't familiar with the grading system for Spirit Chickens.”

“To put it simply, Spirit Chickens are much like Spirit Beasts; they are classified by quality. Class I corresponds to the Qi Refining stage and is typically divided into lower, middle, upper, and top grades.”

“If you trust our shop, bring the bird here. I’ll examine it for you personally.”

Wang Ba felt a surge of hesitation. If he brought the chicken here, he would lose all his leverage in the negotiation.

Shopkeeper Lu, an experienced businessman, sensed the man’s doubt. He didn't take offense, but rather smiled kindly.

“If you’re worried, you can visit the talisman shop and purchase a Low-Rank Spirit Light Talisman. They cost twenty taels each and can identify the grade of any Class I Spirit Beast.”

Seeing the shopkeeper's confidence, Wang Ba was mostly convinced. However, he didn't leave just yet.

“I was wondering... what are the prices for the different grades?”

Instead of answering directly, Shopkeeper Lu asked, “Was it obtained through legal means?”

“There is absolutely no problem there!” Wang Ba replied firmly.

Shopkeeper Lu stroked his beard and explained, “For a legally obtained Class I lower-grade hen, the price is six lower-grade Spirit Stones.”

“A middle-grade hen is worth fourteen. An upper-grade one is thirty. And for a top-grade hen? You could get over a hundred Spirit Stones!”

“However, if it's a rooster, you can expect to receive less than half of those prices.”

The figures were nothing like what Wang Ba had imagined. It was a far cry from the seventeen or eighteen Spirit Stones Old Sun had mentioned.

“Why are roosters worth so much less?” Wang Ba asked.

Shopkeeper Lu answered bluntly, “Roosters possess less spiritual Qi than hens and are difficult to breed. They serve little purpose otherwise. Hens, however, lay eggs that are highly beneficial for cultivators in the Qi Refining stage.”

Wang Ba finally understood the logic.

He cupped his hands in a respectful gesture. “Thank you for the information, Shopkeeper. I don't have the Spirit Chicken with me right now, but I will return with it later.”

“That is fine,” Shopkeeper Lu replied. He didn't push, knowing Wang Ba was still being cautious. “Just remember, our prices are the best in the West Garden. If you decide to sell, please come back to us.”

Wang Ba nodded and departed. He spent some time visiting other shops to compare prices and even stopped by the talisman store.

After circling the market to ensure he wasn't being followed, he finally made his exit. He walked a long distance in the opposite direction of the manors first.

Only when he was certain he was alone did he let out a long breath of relief.

“Perhaps I'm being paranoid, but caution is a necessity.”

As he walked, a plan began to form for the four Spirit Chickens back at the manor.