Two days passed in a blur of focused activity within the confines of Lin Fan's hut. The outside world, with its whispers, wary glances, and the palpable absence of Zhao Feng's usual arrogance, seemed distant. Lin Fan dedicated himself completely to consolidating his newfound power.
He established a routine. Mornings were spent meditating, circulating Qi according to the Nine Cycles Refining Art. Instead of relying solely on the thin ambient energy, he used the Pure Qi Pills from his lottery winnings, supplementing them with Mid-Grade Spirit Stones which he manifested effortlessly whenever needed. The potent combination, guided by his superior technique, rapidly pushed his cultivation forward. By the dawn of the third day – Market Day – his Dantian felt full to bursting, his Qi significantly denser and purer. He hadn't broken through to the fifth layer yet, but he stood firmly at the peak of the fourth layer, the barrier to the next stage feeling almost within reach.
Afternoons were dedicated to practical skills. He practiced the Wind Step Technique relentlessly, moving like a flicker within his small room, his control becoming smoother, his bursts of speed more sustained. He familiarized himself with the Flowing Shadow Sword, channeling Qi into the blade, practicing basic strikes and parries. The sword felt like an extension of his arm, humming with energy, far superior to any mundane weapon.
Throughout these two days, the system remained quiet, apart from dutifully providing the Spirit Stones he requested. His System Points remained at 995. His Daily Giveaway Quota had reset each day; he hadn't used it, focusing instead on personal improvement and conserving his 'performance' for the market.
On the morning of Market Day, Lin Fan finally emerged. He wore a standard Outer Disciple robe – clean, but unremarkable, deliberately chosen to create a greater contrast later. The Flowing Shadow Sword was strapped to his back. He walked out of the dilapidated courtyard area, ignoring the few disciples who either averted their gazes quickly or offered hesitant, awkward greetings. News of his breakthrough and his clash with Zhao Feng had clearly spread like wildfire.
The Outer Sect Market was located in a large, cleared plaza near the foot of the misty peaks that separated the Outer Sect from the far grander Inner Sect region. Even from a distance, the noise was considerable – a cacophony of shouting vendors, haggling disciples, and the occasional clang of metal or grunt of effort.
As Lin Fan approached, the sheer scale of the market became apparent. Hundreds, perhaps thousands, of Outer Sect disciples milled about. Rough stalls were set up everywhere, displaying a motley collection of goods. Grimy-looking disciples hawked low-level spiritual herbs gathered from dangerous expeditions into the surrounding forests. Others displayed chipped beast cores, dented pieces of armor barely worthy of the name, and worn-out weapons hoping for a single Low-Grade Spirit Stone in return. Stalls selling basic Qi Gathering Pills or cheap healing salves seemed the most popular, surrounded by disciples carefully counting out their meager earnings.
The air thrummed with a mixture of desperation and fleeting hope. Every transaction seemed fraught with tension, every Spirit Stone clutched tightly. It was a stark reminder of the life Lin Fan himself had lived just days ago – a life of constant scarcity.
He walked through the bustling aisles, an island of calm in the chaotic sea. He saw a disciple arguing fiercely with a vendor over the price of a single Toughness Pill, needing it for an upcoming sect task but being short one Low-Grade Spirit Stone. He saw another group pooling their resources to buy a slightly damaged Defensive Talisman, their faces etched with worry.
It was all so... pitifully frugal.
A small smile played on Lin Fan's lips. This was perfect.
He stopped before a stall that seemed relatively well-stocked with basic medicinal supplies. An exhausted-looking older disciple manned it, his eyes scanning the crowd hopefully. On display were dozens of bottles of standard Qi Gathering Pills, several vials of basic Healing Salve, and bundles of common spiritual herbs like Greenleaf and Ironvine.
"How much for everything?" Lin Fan asked casually, gesturing vaguely at the entire stall's contents.
The vendor blinked, startled by the question. He looked Lin Fan up and down, taking in the plain robe but noticing the quality sword on his back (though he couldn't identify it as a Spiritual Weapon). "E-everything, Senior Brother?" he stammered. "That's... uh... let me calculate."
He quickly tallied up the prices. "That would be... three hundred and twenty-seven Low-Grade Spirit Stones, Senior Brother!" He announced the price with a hopeful quiver, though he clearly didn't expect anyone to actually buy it all. It was more than most outer disciples saw in a year.
Lin Fan didn't even blink. He simply waved his hand. A small, neat pile of glittering stones appeared on the stall counter. Not Low-Grade stones.
Mid-Grade Spirit Stones. Four of them.
Four Mid-Grade Spirit Stones were equivalent to four hundred Low-Grade ones.
The vendor stared at the Mid-Grade Spirit Stones as if they were divine artifacts. His jaw dropped. Mid-Grade Spirit Stones used for such a mundane purchase?
The disciples near the stall, who had overheard the initial question and the price, also froze. Their haggling and chatter died instantly. Eyes widened, fixed first on the luminous stones, then on Lin Fan's nonchalant expression.
"Keep the change," Lin Fan said dismissively, as if swatting away a fly. He then turned to the stunned onlookers nearby. "These basic supplies... rather low quality, but I suppose someone might need them."
He gestured to the pills, salves, and herbs he had just purchased. "Anyone who needs Qi Gathering Pills or Healing Salve, help yourselves. First come, first served. Take one item each."
For a moment, absolute silence reigned. Then, chaos erupted, even fiercer than the giveaways back at the courtyard. People had come to the market specifically because they needed these things! Getting them for free? Unthinkable!
"He bought the whole stall!" "With Mid-Grade Stones!" "And he's giving it away?!" "Free Healing Salve!" "Qi Gathering Pills!"
The stall was instantly swarmed. The vendor, forgotten amidst the scramble, could only stare blankly at the four Mid-Grade Spirit Stones shining on his counter, feeling like he was in a dream.
DING!
[Detected significant squandering and giveaway action!]
[Triggered emotions: Utter Shock (Market Vendor + Crowd, +250 Points), Intense Envy (+300 Points), Rampant Greed (+280 Points), Overwhelming Disbelief (+350 Points), Confusion (+100 Points), Scattered Gratitude (+150 Points)]
[Daily Giveaway Quota used: Approx. 150 items (Pills, Salves, Herbs distributed). Cumulative Today: 150/10,000]
[Total System Points earned: 1430]
[Current System Points: 995 + 1430 = 2425]
Over fourteen hundred points! Lin Fan mentally fist-pumped. The market was indeed fertile ground. The sheer contrast between the general poverty and his casual display of wealth amplified the reactions immensely. Using Mid-Grade Spirit Stones for a Low-Grade purchase was the key shock factor.
He ignored the frantic scramble behind him, turning away from the now-empty stall (save for the dazed vendor and his payment). He started walking deeper into the market, projecting an air of someone looking for something actually worth his time.
His actions had not gone unnoticed. The commotion was drawing eyes from all over the plaza. Other vendors paused their calls, disciples stopped their haggling, and even a couple of stern-looking disciples wearing slightly better robes – likely Outer Sect Patrols or assistants to Deacons – frowned as they observed the chaos Lin Fan had unleashed and then casually walked away from.
Whispers followed him like ripples in a pond. "Who is that disciple?" "Never seen him before... but that sword..." "Buying out a stall with Mid-Grade stones? Is he an Inner Sect disciple in disguise?" "No, look at his robe... maybe he found a treasure?" "He's the one! The one who gave away items back at the courtyards two days ago! And slapped Zhao Feng!" "Him? He advanced to the fourth layer overnight?"
Lin Fan smirked. His reputation was preceding him. Good.
He continued his stroll, eyes scanning the stalls. Most offered junk, but occasionally, something slightly more interesting caught his eye – a decently preserved beast hide, a strange ore, a hand-drawn map fragment. He needed a bigger target for his next act, something to solidify his image as an unfathomably wealthy and eccentric figure.
His gaze landed on a stall slightly set apart from the others. It was manned by a grizzled old man, and instead of piles of common goods, it displayed only a few, carefully arranged items: a rusty dagger emanating a faint chill, a peculiar-looking amulet carved from bone, and a single, locked wooden box that seemed ancient.
This looked more promising. Time for act two.