She stared fixedly at Eric Clark's face, as if trying to exert psychological pressure on Eric Clark.

Eric Clark sneered inwardly. This little girl wants to extort me? She’s still too green.

He didn’t hesitate and said, “I went to buy talismans. I saw on the Xinguai platform that someone said the Duofu shop has a kind of illusion talisman that’s very effective for learning basic runes and is very cheap, so I wanted to buy a few more to study at home!”

“Really? What’s the name of that Mr. Bolton from Hongchen Apartment?”

“Rachel Bolton!”

“Why did you go to him?”

“To borrow spirit stones!”

“Did you get any?”

“Not a single one!”

“Haha!” The icy look on Dawn Fields’s face instantly melted away, all the coldness gone. “Not a single one? What kind of lousy senior brother is that? Not even a single spirit stone?”

She turned to look at a red-robed disciple behind her. “Hey, do we have this person in our hall?”

That disciple replied respectfully, “Senior sister, Rachel Bolton is a disciple of the Zhang family. Normally… he’s a bit stingy…”

Eric Clark’s heart stirred, and he suddenly said, “Senior sister Fields, you’re an elite disciple. I’ve heard elite disciples are all loaded, rich beyond belief. Could you… could you lend me some spirit stones… I… I need them urgently…”

Dawn Fields was suddenly stunned, looking at Eric Clark in surprise, her face flushing slightly. “You… you want to borrow spirit stones from me? We… we’re not even that close…”

Eric Clark coughed awkwardly and said, “I’ve long heard of senior sister Fields’s reputation for generosity and boldness. If it’s inconvenient for you, then… just forget it!”

Dawn Fields frowned, puffed out her chest, and said, “Who says it’s inconvenient for me? How much do you want to borrow?”

Eric Clark thought quickly and blurted out, “Two thousand low-grade spirit stones.”

Dawn Fields’s eyes widened in shock. “You want that many?”

Eric Clark’s face turned red in an instant, and he stammered, “If… if you don’t have it, that’s fine. I… I’ll look for another way!”

Eric Clark slowly turned around, putting on a dejected look, but inside he was quite pleased.

Turning the tables, changing the subject, and making a quick escape.

The money-making route with illusion talismans was cut off, so he’d have to find another way to make money.

This world is really tough—low-level disciples are suppressed everywhere. It’s not easy to get by!

Eric Clark slowly walked away, thinking about ways to make money, when he suddenly heard Dawn Fields shout from behind, “Stop right there!”

Eric Clark turned back in surprise. Dawn Fields strode over and said, “Eric Clark, you underestimate me. What’s two thousand spirit stones? If you want to borrow, I’ll lend them to you!”

She slapped her storage pouch, and a stream of spirit stones poured out endlessly.

Eric Clark quickly circulated his spiritual power and used his storage pouch to collect all the spirit stones.

There were exactly twenty mid-grade spirit stones, not more, not less—just enough to equal two thousand low-grade spirit stones.

Eric Clark was very surprised. This was truly an unexpected windfall. He hurriedly expressed his gratitude, thanking her profusely, showering her with all sorts of compliments until the little girl’s face turned shy.

She said a bit bashfully, “Eric Clark, you must pay me back on time. I still want to buy a little spirit cat, but I definitely can’t buy it this month, so I might as well lend the stones to you!”

“Thank you, thank you, senior sister Fields. You really are generous and righteous. Thank you!”

Eric Clark thanked her again and again, then dashed off and disappeared.

Dawn Fields watched Eric Clark's departing figure, smiled slightly, blinked, and muttered, “This guy is interesting—so sly. Do you think I’d actually believe you?”

……

It was Eric Clark’s first time strolling around Nanhai City.

The city was bustling, the streets packed with people, the cries of various vendors, and the dazzling talismanic light advertisements at the entrances of major shops—all of it was overwhelming.

The cultivation civilization of the Huaxia World was so advanced that Eric Clark felt as if he were walking down a street on Earth filled with technological wonders.

Nanhai City’s Immortal Fate Market was the gathering place for cultivators.

Eric Clark’s destination was the Immortal Fate Market.

As soon as he entered, the place was packed with people, all of them cultivators in robes.

Most were postnatal cultivators, many above the fourth level, and there were quite a few innate cultivators as well. Every time an innate cultivator appeared, their aura was astonishing, and people would automatically make way for them. These innate beings would then stride forward under the envious and respectful gazes of the crowd, each one looking proud and impressive.

“Hey, buddy, where are you headed? Need a deer-horse?”

A burly, honest-looking man came over to strike up a conversation with Eric Clark.

Behind him stood a robust spirit beast, part deer, part horse, snorting and occasionally nuzzling the man’s back, looking very affectionate.

“To Xinguai Pavilion. How much?” Eric Clark asked with interest. There were too many people on the street, and he was getting dizzy. Having a guide would definitely be more efficient.

“Two low-grade spirit stones, guaranteed to get you there!” the burly man grinned.

“Deal, let’s go now!” Eric Clark said decisively.

He mounted the deer-horse. It was his first time riding such a creature. At first, he was nervous, but once seated, he found it as steady as walking on flat ground and very comfortable, which put him at ease.

The burly man was very talkative, constantly chatting with Eric Clark. He was also a cultivator, at the second level of body refinement, and it had taken him thirty years to reach this stage.