« Previous Chapter | Table of Contents | Next Chapter » Chapter 44: White Ant Queen Half a month later. Outside the mountain, the summer heat was sweltering, but inside the mountain, it remained cool. Accompanied by Bai Jing, Fu Shaoguang left the Demon Market . Soon, a gigantic earthen fortress came into view. It was the Ant Nest . Fu Shaoguang entered it, marveling at the sight. The Termite Demons truly deserved their reputation in the Demon Market for their construction skills. The Ant Nest stood tall like an earthen mound, magnificent on the outside, and even more intricate on the inside, with roads extending in all directions. Crisscrossing and dense with tunnels. Like a dense, sprawling network. Fu Shaoguang believed his memory was good and his sense of direction accurate; he could remember the path at first, but he quickly became disoriented. His head was spinning. He stuck closely behind Bai Jing. Perhaps only Termite Dem...
Achieving Immortality in a Cultivation World by Extraordinary Means: Chapter 8: Settling Down
Chapter 8: Settling Down
Holding the thin bamboo pole firmly and wearing the automatically shrinking Bamboo Token around his neck, Fu Shaoguang was in no hurry to leave the entrance. He knew that in any world, information was the most valuable currency, and old demons were notoriously talkative.
When the Old Weasel Demon had issued his identity token, he had rambled on incessantly, revealing several key pieces of information that Fu Shaoguang carefully committed to memory:
Every demon newly arriving at the Yu Mountain Demon Market was required to receive a basic education at the Demon Administration Office. They had to memorize the Demon Regulations to avoid causing unnecessary trouble or inadvertently offending the powers that be. Fu Shaoguang spent half an Shichen here, lingering in the shadows and listening to the Old Weasel Demon ramble alongside a diverse group of other minor demons, gradually piecing together the layout of his new home.
He learned that the Demon Administration Office governed the entirety of the market. Although the physical office was not particularly large, its functions were incredibly diverse; it oversaw household registration, Trade Regulations, taxation, military affairs, marriage, and land management. The Bamboo Token hanging from his neck was a demon's essential identity certificate. Whether a demon planned to settle down permanently or was merely visiting, they had to possess this certificate. Without it, they were considered "unregistered residents," subject to forced labor or heavy fees for replacement, and were barred from any benefits the market provided. Furthermore, he learned the geography: the market was divided into Three Streets and Six Alleys, with each area serving a distinct function.
Leaving the Demon Administration Office behind, Fu Shaoguang headed toward Jinyu Street. This was the vibrant Commercial District of the Demon Market. Stalls lined both sides of the street, with the cries of vendors and the shouts of hagglers rising and falling in a continuous, chaotic symphony. There were more than a dozen established shops, their signs conspicuous and unique—some hanging from eaves, others standing on the pavement, each boasting its own style.
"Tiger Wine! The Tiger Strength Family's nourishing tiger blood wine. Warming and invigorating, an ancestral secret recipe, absolutely authentic!"
"White Cabbage! Crisp and refreshing White Cabbage, a must-have for every vegetarian demon!"
"Chicken Eggs! Freshly laid today by the descendants of my Ji San Niang's family, guaranteed freshness."
The other minor demons who had left the office with him were overwhelmed, their eyes wide with amazement at the spectacles, but Fu Shaoguang remained largely indifferent. This was partly because this Commercial District was only equivalent to a small village market in his previous life, and partly because his goal was clear. He had no time to waste observing local color; he needed to secure his survival. The Weasel Demon had mentioned that shops displaying golden signs were Exchange Shops affiliated with the Administration Office. After flying halfway down the street, he spotted one. Its threshold was slightly higher than the other stores, radiating an air of officialdom. He flew straight inside.
The Exchange Shop building was uniquely shaped like a Yuanbao (gold ingot). Its interior spanned about three zhang, and the decoration was lavish, featuring rich gold and red silk, intricately carved beams, and brightly painted rafters. As Fu Shaoguang entered, he saw several demons already queuing to conduct their business. Next to the counter, perched on a wooden stand, a colorful Parrot opened its beak and chirped pleasingly: "Welcome, honored guest, welcome!"
A three-chi Squirrel Demon, acting as an attendant, scurried over with its fluffy tail shaking. It was orange-red all over, with chubby cheeks and large incisors that gave it a joyous, adorable appearance. "Honored guest, how may I help you?" it asked. It pointed a claw at a large wooden plaque on the wall, introducing the services: "Our humble shop primarily deals in Pawnbroking, Interest Loans, and Safekeeping."
Fu Shaoguang understood immediately. Pawnbroking was straightforward; Safekeeping meant secure storage; and Interest Loans were essentially usury. Since many demons could not speak the human tongue or read, the shop operated on a system of pointing. Fu Shaoguang flew in a small circle around the Pawnbroking plaque. The Squirrel Demon understood and led him to the corresponding counter.
As the first among the nightly newcomers to arrive, he didn't have to wait. Behind the counter sat a Toad Demon wrapped in a Red Scarf. Its naturally bulging eyes grew even rounder when it saw him. It stuck out its tongue, licked its mouth, and croaked in surprise: "Croak! A Mayfly can become a demon these days? How rare!"
Fu Shaoguang suppressed his instinctive fear of this natural predator and placed the Thin Bamboo Tube on the counter. The Toad Demon took it, pulled out the wild fruit pit stopper, and the concentrated scent of wine filled the air. The Toad's eyes lit up: "Croak, croak, Monkey Wine! This stuff is considered high-grade even here in the Demon Market. Too bad the quantity is so small." It manipulated the beads on an abacus with its webbed hand and declared: "Honored guest, at the current market price, two liang of Monkey Wine is worth fifty wen. Do you wish to exchange it, croak!"
Fu Shaoguang, unable to speak fluently or haggle, simply nodded in agreement. Having money in hand provided a confidence that no amount of theory could match. He handed over his identity Bamboo Token. The token was blessed with the magic of Empress Yuli, the ruler of the Market; in addition to being an ID, it contained a small, square chi of storage space. This revelation pleasantly surprised him. The Toad Demon transferred the fifty wen into the token and returned it. Fu Shaoguang infused a stream of Qi into the token, watched it shrink back to its size around his neck, and departed.
His next stop was the Demon Market Realty Office at the end of Jinyu Street, a building shaped like a grain of rice. Inside, he was greeted by sleek, cunning Rat Demons who monopolized the real estate trade. Using the wooden plaques, Fu Shaoguang expressed his desire to rent.
The Rat Demon in charge of housing twirled its whiskers and spoke in a sharp, nasally voice: "Housing is divided into three types. Type A is five hundred wen per month, built on a Spiritual Acupoint; Type B is one hundred wen per month, featuring a Spirit Gathering Formation; Type C is fifty wen per month for ordinary housing. Which does the guest prefer? You may answer by swaying the corresponding number of feet."
Fu Shaoguang swayed his three feet without hesitation. He was truly poor. The Rat Demon’s smile remained bright, though its eyes showed a hint of dismissiveness. "Please wait, I will arrange a Realtor Demon to show you the properties." Half a zhan of tea later, as Fu Shaoguang left with the realtor, the Rat Demon curled its lip: "Another poor demon."
He was led to Anping Alley, the most densely populated area for average citizens—a mixed bag of low-cultivation demons. Along the way, the Rat Realtor chattered incessantly. After viewing several locations, Fu Shaoguang settled on a specific Courtyard. The fifty wen he had just earned were spent before they even got warm in his pocket, which caused him no small amount of distress. However, the Realty Office handled all the paperwork and contracts with the Administration Office, leaving him worry-free.
Left alone, Fu Shaoguang inspected his new home. Because the Yao race varies so much in size, the houses did too. Type C courtyards were diverse; while large ones were crude, the small ones—like his—were custom-made by human artisans using exquisite materials. His five-chi rented courtyard was like a miniature garden. It featured three-chi Lucky Bamboo for trees, various flowers, a tiny pavilion, and two chi of fertile land. The bamboo house was elegant, containing a Main Hall, Bedroom, Guest Room, and Kitchen, fully furnished with cooking utensils.
Most importantly, the courtyard was situated atop an Old Pine Tree, providing a commanding view of a corner of the Demon Market. Exhausted, Fu Shaoguang collapsed onto the couch. He was broke, but he was safe. He wanted nothing more than a peaceful sleep and perhaps a beautiful dream. He would worry about making a living tomorrow. As he drifted off, he held onto a single thought: fewer worries in the heart meant a longer life.
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