Most cultivators lead rather monotonous lives. They either remain in seclusion to cultivate, study and master various crafts, or practice spells, leaving very little actual time for adventure and exploration. Some cultivators rarely even step outside to temper themselves in the world.
Ever since his body was eroded by venom, Shen Ping had practically stopped leaving the Cultivation Market altogether.
Low-level cultivators do not face cultivation bottlenecks; their only problem is a scarcity of resources. Even with the aptitude of a False Five-Element Spiritual Root, as long as resources kept pace, the possibility of reaching Foundation Establishment remained within reach.
[You engaged in Dual Cultivation with your wife once, gaining Talisman Dao experience +2.]
[Current wife's affection: 100]
[Dual Cultivation bonus: 4]
[Talisman Master: Rank One Mid-Grade (8044/10000)]
Shen Ping looked at the virtual interface. Over the past half-month, he had resumed his old habit of exercising five times. Thanks to the bedroom arts he had purchased, which helped minimize vitality loss, coupled with daily tonics and nourishing ingredients, increasing the frequency even further would pose no problem at all. However, considering Wang Yun's physical condition, he kept it to five times. Primarily, some of the special techniques recorded in the manual were quite demanding on physical strength and stamina.
"At my current speed, another two months of hard work will meet the breakthrough conditions... It's just a pity that my cultivation is too low; even if I break through, I still won't be able to craft High-Grade Talisman!"
Thinking of this, he could not help but sigh. The accumulation of family wealth was still too slow. Yet, for the sake of his own safety, he would rather take it slow than risk even the slightest danger.
"Husband, why are you sighing? Is Yun'er not serving you well?"
The skin of the young and tender wife in his arms was flushed all over. Looking up at her husband, a trace of anxiety flickered across her face. During this period, there was still no movement whatsoever in her belly, and she inevitably felt anxious inside. Right now, all she could do was try every possible way to please her husband. If she couldn't even manage this much, she wouldn't even be able to hold her head high.
Shen Ping pinched his wife's cheek and smiled. "Yun'er, don't overthink it. Your husband just remembered some things, that's all."
Wang Yun let out a sigh of relief. "Husband, Matchmaker Zeng came by again last time. I think Husband should just agree. I would also like to have a sister so that we could serve Husband together."
She had thoroughly come to terms with it. Since her husband taking another Dao companion was inevitable, she could only choose to accept it proactively. Moreover, mentioning serving together was also a way to increase her own sense of value. Mortals wanting to survive among cultivators had to learn to adapt. This was the survival philosophy her father had always taught her.
Hearing this, Shen Ping felt a gentle warmth in his heart; his wife truly was considerate and sensible.
"There is no rush regarding this matter."
"I need to ponder it carefully."
The next evening, just as the two of them were about to eat, a soft knock sounded at the door.
When opened, Matchmaker Zeng's standard, enthusiastic smile greeted his eyes. Standing beside her was a girl in a green dress, unease swirling in her wide, watery eyes.
Shen Ping's face twitched slightly. If this matchmaker's business didn't boom, it would defy the laws of heaven!
"Come in!"
As Matchmaker Zeng and the green-dressed girl walked into the room, he hurriedly glanced out at the neighbors. Seeing no one around, he immediately shut the door.
When Wang Yun saw the girl, she was stunned for a moment before realizing what was going on. She stepped forward warmly to host them. "Senior Zeng, please take a seat."
With that, she went to pour spiritual tea for Matchmaker Zeng.
"Oh, little sister Yun'er is getting more and more delicate, and life is treating you better and better. This lavish dinner must be worth two spiritual stones—even mid Qi Refining cultivators wouldn't dare be this extravagant!"
Looking at the table full of meat, spiritual rice, and various dishes, Matchmaker Zeng could not help but flash a look of envy. Eating two spiritual stones in a single meal? Too extravagant!
The green-dressed girl standing nearby could not help but swallow hard. Out of the corner of her eye, she quietly sized up Wang Yun, who was busy pouring tea, a deep sense of envy welling up in her heart. Living on the outskirts of the Cultivation Market with her younger brother, she saved every coin she could. Usually, she couldn't even bear to buy spiritual rice, let alone various meats and expensive vegetables imbued with spiritual energy.
"Is this what the life of a Middle-Grade Talisman Master is like?"
Yearning filled her eyes.
Shen Ping gave a couple of dry coughs. "What brings Fellow Daoist Zeng here this time?"
Reaching out, Matchmaker Zeng pulled the green-dressed girl right up in front of them. "Fellow Daoist Shen, we are old acquaintances, so I won't beat around the bush. I've been saving this girl especially for you. She has a docile and sensible personality—if you tell her to go west, she absolutely won't go east!"
"Several other cultivators have expressed interest."
"If we delay any longer, I truly can't guarantee I'll be able to hold onto her."
Shen Ping rolled his eyes internally. *I'd sooner believe in ghosts!* If she were really in high demand, given Matchmaker Zeng's temperament, she would have married her off long ago.
He had just sensed her cultivation a moment ago. This green-dressed girl had very low cultivation—merely at the 1st Layer of Qi Refining! Her appearance was sweet and charming, and there was an indescribable tenacity about her, suggesting she was used to hardship. It was just that at her age, her spiritual root aptitude must have been quite poor.
Many cultivators looked at aptitude when choosing wives and concubines. Those with False Spiritual Roots basically had no cultivation potential; taking them in was purely for the sake of reproduction.
If market conditions had been good before, such girls wouldn't lack demand among cultivators. But nowadays, the majority of cultivators throughout the entire Cultivation Market were fixated on getting rich quick in the Yunshan Marsh; who would still be thinking about taking wives and concubines? After all, blazing a trail through adventures meant life and death were unknown. If a wife were just brought home only to have her husband lose his life shortly after, that wife or concubine might instantly become someone else's.
Therefore, Shen Ping guessed that this girl in front of him had most likely fallen into Matchmaker Zeng's hands by default.
Seeing that Shen Ping remained silent, Matchmaker Zeng gave the green-dressed girl a kick.
The girl trembled slightly and hurriedly spoke up. "Sh-Senior Shen, I can do anything! Please, take me!"
Shen Ping gave a start. Her voice was as crisp and soft as melting candy, and she wasn't even putting on a fake baby voice. Back in his past life, men lining up to throw money at her would have formed a long queue.
He instantly made up his mind. However, putting on a troubled frown, he said, "Fellow Daoist Zeng, aren't there any with slightly higher cultivation?"
Actually, given his current strength, marrying someone at the 1st Layer of Qi Refining suited him best. If her strength were too high, he might end up losing both his wife and his wealth.
Matchmaker Zeng smiled cheerfully. "There are, naturally there are. If you fancy the lonely widow living right across from you, Fellow Daoist Shen, I can act as a matchmaker and set you up."
Shen Ping had no intention of marrying a widow. Putting on a difficult expression, he said, "Fine, we'll take her then. But if the price is too high, Fellow Daoist Zeng can go look for other cultivators."
Matchmaker Zeng had originally planned to ask for more, but considering the possibility of future cooperation, she gritted her teeth and said, "Alright! One Medium-Grade Spiritual Stone, and she is yours!"
A moment later, Shen Ping escorted Matchmaker Zeng out the door.
Before leaving, Matchmaker Zeng smiled warmly. "Fellow Daoist Shen, don't forget to invite me to the wedding banquet!"
Shen Ping shook his head. "Given the current situation, let's skip the banquet."
Matchmaker Zeng didn't mind either, swaying her waist as she sauntered away.
Watching her retreating figure, Shen Ping mused inwardly that Matchmaker Zeng dared to walk out at night with a low-level female cultivator, which proved she was an absolute ruthless character. But on second thought, running this kind of business in the Cultivation Market without some means would have long since made her a target for bandit cultivators.
He closed the door, shutting the darkness outside. Under the illumination of the crystal lamp, the room was brightly lit.
In the past, when he was poor, he couldn't bear to buy a crystal lamp. But now that he had become a Middle-Grade Talisman Master, there was no need to scrimp on such a small expense.
Though Shen Ping lived a frugal and calculated life, when it came to certain things, he was quite willing to spend money.
"What is your name?"
"Reporting to Senior Shen, my name is Bai Yuying."