Chapter 12: The Warrior Who Burns Money

Compared to the individuals coming in and out of the shop, Dustin Li looked quite shabby. His clothes were frayed, and his appearance was far from impressive. The shopkeepers were busy with other customers, none of them paying him any attention.

"Where did this poor fool come from?" a voice whispered. "Can't even afford a first-tier Spirit Gathering Formation worth 10,000 taels. What's he even doing in here?"

"The first-tier formations are cheap. A second-tier formation, on the other hand, can't even be measured in silver. You'll need vitality stones to buy those," another voice chimed in.

"Just another young guy from a martial arts hall, probably doesn't even have more than a few hundred taels to his name," came yet another derisive laugh.

Dustin Li couldn't help but feel the sting of their words, though he tried to hide his frustration.

The most expensive formations in the shop were second-tier, ranging from 100 to 300 low-grade vitality stones. A first-tier formation, however, cost between 10,000 and 50,000 taels of silver. Despite the exchange rate of one vitality stone equaling 500 taels of silver, no one in this realm would ever consider trading vitality stones for silver. Warriors in the Energy Gathering Realm made ample silver with ease, but they prized vitality stones, which directly enhanced their cultivation.

Dustin Li walked out of the shop feeling both irritated and disappointed. He made a mental vow: when he made enough money, he'd return to buy a formation device for his own cultivation.

Next, he found a shop selling medicinal pills. The prices made his eyes widen. "A bottle of Energy Yang Pills for 15,000 taels of silver?!" He couldn't believe it.

The Energy Yang Pill was a common first-grade medicinal pill that martial artists in the Body Refinement Realm used. It could enhance their absorption of heaven and earth's vitality, accelerating their cultivation. Children from noble families often used such pills to speed up their training. Compared to Energy Yang Pills, medicines for treating wounds like healing paste were far cheaper.

"Still can't afford it," Dustin Li muttered to himself as he left the store. At the moment, the most pressing thing was improving his cultivation, but with no money to buy pills or formations, he was stuck.

After walking for a while, he came across another shop—this one selling weapons. "Magic Weapons" in this world referred to the weapons used by warriors, categorized by rank: Heaven, Earth, and Human, further divided into lower, middle, upper, and extremely high grades. The shop had a wide variety of weapons—swords, halberds, and even hidden weapons. The most eye-catching item was a sword with a purple glow.

"The Purple Light Demon Moon Sword?" Dustin Li gasped. It was a high-ranking weapon—only warriors of considerable skill could wield such a weapon. To attempt using it without the requisite power would be courting death.

The middle-aged shopkeeper saw him eyeing it and laughed. "This sword belongs to Master Abel. There are only four such swords in all of Novaridge City!" he boasted.

"How much does it cost?" Dustin Li asked.

"Cost?" The shopkeeper scoffed. "You can't measure something like this with money. Even if someone offered a high price, I wouldn't sell it. This is a treasure, a work of pride by Master Abel himself!"

Dustin Li looked at the sword in awe. He knew that even a low-grade human-level Magic weapon could cost anywhere from 300 to 900 low-grade vitality stones. A weapon was far more expensive than formations or medicinal pills of the same level, as a powerful weapon could directly enhance a warrior's strength. With his current funds, Dustin Li could only afford a low-grade vitality stone.

"Practicing martial arts is so expensive," he thought to himself, realization dawning. He understood now how difficult it was to advance in martial arts without resources.

Even talented disciples from ordinary backgrounds struggled to break past the fifth or sixth level of Body Refinement, as cultivation required wealth and vitality stones. If you had enough resources—vitality stones, formation devices, and medicinal pills—you could easily reach a high level, even if you weren't particularly talented. But for someone like Dustin Li, starting out without any resources was going to be incredibly tough.

The shop also sold battle armor, which was even more expensive than weapons. The cost of armor was typically double that of a weapon, but it was more important for survival than a weapon. However, Dustin Li couldn't afford either.

After spending some time browsing, Dustin Li selected a blue-colored, ordinary long sword. "How much is this one?" he asked.

"Although it's not a Magic weapon, this sword can still break the defense of most first-level monsters if infused with internal energy. Since you're young, I'll give you a discount—500 taels of silver," the shopkeeper said, smiling.

Dustin Li frowned. He only had 500 taels to his name, and buying the sword would leave him penniless.

"Can you do 450 taels?" he asked. "I still need money for things like gold sore medicine. I don't have that much right now."

The shopkeeper shook his head. "450 is the lowest I can go. One or two taels won't make a difference. You must be from an ordinary family, right? At least 450 is a fair price."

Though Dustin Li was reluctant, he knew he had no choice. With a sigh, he handed over the 450 taels and bought the sword.

There was no martial artist who didn't appreciate weapons, and Dustin Li was no exception. Though expensive, he had always wanted a weapon but could never afford one. The sword was just over three feet long and a bit heavy. For an ordinary person, it would have been difficult to wield, but for someone like Dustin Li, who was at the fifth level of Body Refinement, the weight was perfect.

"When I reach the seventh level of Body Refinement, I'll be able to enter Martial Art Pavillion and choose a third-grade martial art. Then, I'll choose a better sword technique." Dustin Li couldn't help but imagine his future progress.

The lowest tier of weapon martial arts was third-grade, and their power far exceeded that of second-grade techniques.

Dustin Li made his way to Martial Hall to apply for permission to leave the city for a while. Students weren't allowed to stay away for more than three days, mainly for their safety. This time, Dustin Li planned to go hunting in nearest Mountain, located over 30 kilometers away. He didn't plan to return until the annual assessment.

With his sword on his back, a pack of provisions, and some water, Dustin Li embarked on his first martial arts journey.

As he walked away from Novaridge City, the vast land stretched out before him, and a sense of freedom washed over him. His chest swelled with pride as he walked, sword in hand, thinking: "The world is mine to roam, and I will carve my own path."

Three hours later, Dustin Li arrived at the outskirts of Shiwu Mountain. Along the way, he saw several other warriors, most of them in groups. His solo journey stood out.

"Where did this rookie come from?" some whispered. "He's barely fifteen and probably at the seventh level of Body Refinement. What's he doing here hunting alone?"

"He's probably from a noble family," another added dismissively. "But those families don't go hunting without a lot of backup. He's clearly a rookie."

"Bet he'll be torn to pieces by the monsters," a third voice snickered.

Dustin Li heard the murmurs, but he paid them no mind. He was focused on the task ahead. While some of the hunters might view him as inexperienced, he knew better. He was determined to prove them wrong.

As he ventured deeper into the forest, Dustin Li felt his senses sharpen, his awareness expanding as he focused on the environment around him.

"Let's make this hunt count," he thought.

He leaped from branch to branch, his eyes narrowing as he sought his first target. His mind entered a meditative state, heightened by the unique ability granted by the Pearl of Life and Death.

This special skill allowed him to sense all living creatures within a few kilometers—an ability that became his greatest asset in hunting.

Then, suddenly, his eyes snapped open with a smile. He spotted his target—a black-and-white poisonous snake, its thin body coiled among the leaves.

The creature had already spotted him, but before it could strike, Dustin Li lunged forward. With a flash of steel, the snake's head was severed in a single blow.

"Black-spotted poisonous snake," Dustin Li murmured. "Its venom is deadly—without a detoxification pill, even a Body Refinement martial artist would die within ten breaths."

He collected the snake's fangs, venom sacs, and gallbladder, securing them in a small box. He couldn't carry the entire snake—it was too large—but the valuable parts would fetch a good price.

"These will sell for at least 400 taels of silver," he thought. Martial arts cultivation may be expensive, but the rewards were clear. This snake alone would cover his costs for a while.

With that, he continued deeper into the mountain, determined to make this first hunt a successful one.