Shopping
Inside her private room at Sign Inn, Seraphine sat cross-legged on the bed, preparing to cultivate.
The room itself was not particularly luxurious, but it was clean and comfortable, offering a quiet space for rest. The wooden walls carried a faint scent of aged pine, and the flickering lantern on the table cast soft shadows across the room.
Closing her eyes, Seraphine took a slow, steady breath, allowing her mind to enter a state of deep focus. She began circulating her cultivation technique—Glacial Glow Celestial Technique.
Almost immediately, the cold energy of ice qi surged into her body, flowing like an invisible stream through her meridians before gathering in her dantian. The familiar sensation of frost spreading through her veins was almost soothing, but at the same time, the process required intense concentration.
The liquid qi inside her dantian slowly began to transform, thickening as it tried to take a more defined shape. This was an incredibly slow process—one that required patience and unwavering focus.
Even as time passed, she remained still, unmoving, fully immersed in her cultivation.
The night deepened.
Outside, the streets of Vortex Town gradually quieted as cultivators and merchants retired for the night. The once lively inn also settled into silence, with only the occasional footsteps of the workers moving about.
Seraphine continued cultivating through the night, feeling the Seventh drop of liquid qi inside her dantian slowly take form. However, it was still incomplete, requiring more time before it could fully solidify.
When morning arrived, the first rays of sunlight peeked through the window, casting a faint golden glow inside the room. Seraphine slowly opened her eyes, exhaling a breath of frosty air as she finished her session.
She could still feel the cold energy lingering in her meridians, but overall, her body felt more refined and strengthened than before.
After stretching lightly, she left the bed and freshened up. Soon, her breakfast arrived—a simple yet nourishing meal. She ate quickly but without rushing, knowing that she had other matters to attend to.
Once finished, she stepped out of her room and made her way toward the marketplace of Vortex Town.
---
The town was already bustling with activity.
Cultivators of various realms walked along the streets, engaging in business, trading cultivation resources, and browsing through market stalls filled with spiritual herbs, weapons, and talismans.
The voices of merchants calling out to customers blended with the general hum of conversation, creating a lively atmosphere.
Seraphine, however, felt an immediate shift as she stepped into the crowd.
Even without looking up, she could feel the weight of countless gazes falling upon her.
Some were filled with admiration. Others with curiosity. And a few with barely restrained desire.
She was used to this kind of attention, but that didn't mean she liked it.
Her beauty was something that stood out no matter where she went. Even though Elena and Malavi were both beautiful in their own right, Seraphine's presence was different—intense, alluring, and nearly impossible to ignore.
She could hear the whispers.
"Who is she?"
"She's not from our sects, right?"
"Could she be a noble lady from some hidden clan?"
Some men openly stared at her, their gazes lingering on her face, her figure, her every movement. Even some women looked at her with mixed expressions—some admiring, others envious.
Seraphine resisted the urge to sigh.
She walked forward with a steady pace, keeping her expression calm and unreadable. However, inside, she felt mildly uncomfortable under so many watchful eyes.
She had lived her past life as a man—as someone who had never experienced this kind of attention.
Even now, she wasn't entirely used to it.
Clutching the folds of her sleeve, she took a deep breath and pushed forward, focusing on her destination rather than the stares that followed her every step.
Seraphine wanted to familiarize herself with Vortex Town.
Even though she had known about this place in her past life, back when she was a man, she had never spent much time here. Now, walking through the town in her current body, everything felt both familiar and completely foreign at the same time.
As she moved through the crowd, something became clear—wherever she went, people instinctively stepped aside, parting the way for her as if she were a queen walking through her subjects.
It wasn't just respect.
There was an unspoken acknowledgment in their behavior, as if they believed themselves unworthy of being too close to her. Some admired her, others looked upon her with awe, and a few with barely concealed jealousy.
Seraphine ignored their gazes—both from men and women—as she walked.
She wasn't here for their attention.
Currently, she only had 38 energy stones in her possession, which wasn't enough to buy valuable cultivation items. However, there were two things she was interested in—a new veil to cover her face and, if possible, a mask.
Her beauty was becoming a problem.
It drew too much attention, and she had no interest in dealing with unnecessary trouble because of it.
With that thought, she turned and walked toward a clothing shop that caught her eye.
---
The shop was filled with women and young girls, all looking through rows of fine garments.
Despite the ongoing fear and uncertainty in Vortex Town—caused by the dark cultivators' presence—the town itself was still alive. Loose cultivators, despite their wariness, still believed in the three sects protecting them.
Because of that faith, people continued living their lives as normally as possible, even in the shadow of looming danger.
When Seraphine stepped inside the shop, the reaction was immediate.
Every woman in the shop turned to look at her.
It was an instinctive reaction, as if their attention had been pulled toward her by an unseen force.
Seraphine, with her alluring presence and elegant movements, was undeniably striking.
Even among other cultivator women, her beauty stood on an entirely different level—an ethereal charm that seemed almost unreal.
She could feel the stares.
Some women looked at her with undisguised jealousy, silently questioning why they couldn't possess the same kind of beauty. Others carried expressions of admiration, unable to look away. A few even seemed to harbor quiet resentment, though none dared to act on it.
Despite this, no one approached her.
There was a reason.
Even though Seraphine did nothing to intimidate them, an invisible pressure radiated from her—a subtle yet undeniable aura of power.
The other women in the shop could sense it.
Even if they didn't know her cultivation level, their instincts screamed that she was not someone to offend.
Realizing this, they subconsciously moved aside, clearing a path for her just as the people in the streets had.
Seraphine noticed the reactions but didn't acknowledge them.
With her expression calm and composed, she walked deeper into the shop, looking for what she had come to buy.
As Seraphine stood in the shop, a young attendant quickly approached her.
The girl was quite beautiful by modern standards, with soft brown hair and deep black eyes that shimmered with curiosity and admiration.
She moved with a graceful energy, her smile warm yet respectful as she reached Seraphine's side.
"Madam," she greeted politely, her voice carrying a hint of excitement.
Seraphine nodded in acknowledgment before speaking in a calm and composed tone.
"I want to see veils."
The young attendant's eyes brightened at the request.
"Of course, madam. Please, follow me," she said, gesturing toward the inner section of the shop.
---
The deeper part of the shop was even more luxurious.
Rows of beautiful garments lined the walls—dresses in countless styles, flowing robes of various colors, and accessories crafted with fine details.
It was clear that this shop catered to cultivators and wealthy individuals.
Seraphine followed the attendant to a specific section dedicated to veils.
The display was filled with a wide variety of them, each crafted with different levels of coverage and design.
Some veils were made to fully conceal the face, much like the one Seraphine currently held in her storage bag.
Others were lighter, designed only to cover the lower half of the face, leaving the eyes visible.
These were the more common styles worn by female cultivators.
And then there were veils that provided even greater concealment, covering everything except for the eyes, allowing for both elegance and anonymity.
Seraphine's gaze moved across the options, silently considering which one would suit her needs the best.
Seraphine carefully examined the veils displayed before her, her eyes finally settling on a black veil that covered everything except the eyes.
The fabric was light yet durable, offering both concealment and comfort.
She then picked up another veil—a white half-face veil that elegantly covered the lower half of the face, leaving the upper features visible.
Even though these were just veils, their prices were astonishingly high.
The reason was clear—the veils were crafted from a rare and exquisite silk, jelly spide Whisper Silk known for its luxurious texture, water resistance, and exceptional comfort when worn.
Despite their plain design, with no extravagant embroidery or gemstones, Seraphine found them simple yet elegant, fitting her needs perfectly.
The two veils together cost 15 energy stones—a steep price, but she paid without hesitation.
---
After completing her purchase, she turned to the attendant once more.
"Do you have any masks?"
The attendant nodded quickly and brought out a selection of masks, ranging from ornate metal designs to simple wooden ones.
Among them, Seraphine chose a plain black wooden mask.
The mask was smooth and sturdy, covering the upper part of the face while allowing for easy breathing and visibility.
It was unadorned, without unnecessary decorations, yet it carried an air of mystery.
The price was 10 energy stones, and once again, she paid without hesitation.
---
Now properly disguised, Seraphine placed the black veil over her face, allowing only her Silver eyes to be seen.
With her new look, she stepped out of the shop and headed back toward the Sign Inn.
As she walked through the crowded streets, the usual gazes of admiration and curiosity were still present, but the veil prevented anyone from seeing her full appearance.
---
Upon arriving at the Sign Inn, Seraphine stepped inside.
As soon as she entered, she noticed Elina and Malavi seated at a table, waiting for her.
Their expressions were calm, but there was a hint of seriousness in their eyes, as if they had come with an important decision.
*****