"Let's go." Li Xuan waved away the dust around him and led the two little ones towards the city he had just scanned with his divine sense.
"Daddy, these stones are so pretty," Li Li chirped, skipping along and picking up a few stones she deemed beautiful.
Li Jin couldn't contain herself and soon joined Li Li in picking them up. Li Xuan watched the two little ones, a smile blooming on his face.
It had been so long since he had enjoyed such a moment. If Yue Fuyao and the others were here now, they would likely be overjoyed to see these two children.
"Daddy, look, this stone is so beautiful," Li Li said, holding up an incredibly dazzling ore as Li Xuan was lost in thought.
"Huh? Isn't this Blood Crystal Stone?" Li Xuan exclaimed in shock.
Blood Crystal Stone was a fire-attribute crystal, not of low value. Carrying it would completely ward off the cold, and to think it was so common here.
"Ah Li, where did you see it? Take Daddy there," Li Xuan quickly asked, shaking off his daze.
"Daddy, it's over there, Ah Li will take you," Li Li replied, pulling Li Xuan's hand as she ran.
Indeed, by the crevices of the mountainside, Li Xuan immediately spotted more than ten Blood Crystal Stones. At that moment, Li Jin was squatting on the ground, devouring them piece by piece.
"Ah Jin, why are you eating this?" Li Xuan asked upon seeing this.
"Daddy, you should try some too, it's delicious. And it can increase our cultivation," Li Jin said, turning and offering Li Xuan a piece.
"Uh... this can be eaten too..." Li Xuan felt a cold sweat break out on his forehead.
"Ah Jin, let's put them away first. When we reach the city ahead, we can eat them slowly, okay?" Li Xuan wiped his forehead.
"Okay, Daddy," Li Jin nodded.
So, Li Xuan and the two children squatted by the crevices, picking up the Blood Crystal Stones one by one.
"Yo? Where did these country bumpkins come from? Picking up these worthless Blood Crystal Stones here?"
Just as Li Xuan and the children were busily collecting the stones, a mocking voice suddenly sounded from behind.
Li Xuan's hand, which was holding a Blood Crystal Stone, paused. He then slowly turned his head and stood up.
"The road is wide enough, we are picking our Blood Crystal Stones. It doesn't seem to have inconvenienced you, has it?" Li Xuan glanced and saw a man and two women standing behind him, with six servants following.
"It certainly hasn't inconvenienced us. I just find it amusing. A bunch of unsophisticated bumpkins. I assume this is your first time on Emerald Star, isn't it? Alright, let's go. Two junior sisters, your senior brother will take you to explore Emerald City."
The man laughed heartily, then turned and left. The two women behind him also cast mocking glances at Li Xuan before following the man.
Is this guy sick? Li Xuan muttered to himself speechlessly, then squatted down again with the two children to collect Blood Crystal Stones.
Soon, all the Blood Crystal Stones on the ground were picked clean by the three of them. The faces of the two little ones were beaming with joy.
That person mentioned Emerald City just now. Could the city ahead be the Emerald City he spoke of?
"Ah Jin, Ah Li, let's go. Daddy will take you into the city to have a look." Li Xuan said, then pulled the two children and flew towards the city ahead.
Emerald City
"Daddy, this city is so beautiful."
Outside Emerald City, Li Xuan stopped with the two little ones.
Looking at Emerald City before him, he didn't know what words to use to describe it.
The walls of Emerald City were made of some unknown material. Every moment, they emitted different colors.
"I wonder what the currency in this city is," Li Xuan thought to himself. He then pulled the two children and walked inside. Unexpectedly, Emerald City had no guards at the gate.
"Lodging and meals! Top-quality delicacies await your taste!"
"Big discounts! All goods today are 20% off!"
"Stay here, please! We also have free song and dance performances for you to enjoy. Seize the opportunity, it won't come again!"
...
As soon as they entered Emerald Star, Li Xuan felt as if he had returned to Earth. The rows of buildings in the city were almost identical to ancient buildings on Earth. Moreover, in front of every small shop, several people stood and advertised loudly.
"Guest, esteemed guest. Are you looking for lodging? Our establishment has excellent rooms. Only one top-grade spirit stone. Guest, would you like to take a look?" As Li Xuan was looking around, a young man dressed as a waiter ran over.
"Hmm, I'll go take a look then." Li Xuan nodded.
After a while, Li Xuan let out a loud roar: "Such a dilapidated room, and you're asking for one top-grade spirit stone! Why don't you just rob me!"
Then, Li Xuan, full of anger, walked out with the two little ones.
"Guest, our rooms are definitely better than theirs. Why don't you take a look?" As soon as Li Xuan came out, several people surrounded him.
"Get lost, get lost." Li Xuan was speechless, waved his hand, and squeezed out with the two children.
As he walked, Li Xuan's mood slowly improved as he looked at the scenery on both sides.
The room just now only had a small bed and a small round table, and nothing else.
And they still dared to ask for one top-grade spirit stone!
However, it wasn't long before Li Xuan's mood, which had just improved, was deeply hit again.
It turned out that as Li Li passed a stall selling something similar to candied haws, she reached out and took one to eat. Li Jin, seeing this, also took one and ate it.
When Li Xuan asked how much it cost, he was shocked again.
Two skewers of candied haws actually cost two top-grade spirit stones!
Looking at the smiling woman, the flesh on Li Xuan's face twitched visibly.
Heavens! How rich is this Emerald Star? Everything is priced in top-grade spirit stones! After some inquiries, Li Xuan finally understood.
It wasn't that people were trying to trick him, but that the prices of things on Emerald Star were indeed in units of top-grade spirit stones.
Although Li Xuan had nearly six billion high-grade spirit stones on him, that converted to only six million top-grade spirit stones.
In an instant, Li Xuan felt very poor.
"Daddy, where are we going now?" After eating, Li Jin and Li Li asked.
"Uh, let's find a place to stay first." Li Xuan looked up at the many snack stalls ahead and quickly pulled the two children towards the city.
"Boss, why is no one standing at your door calling for customers?"
Li Xuan stopped at a shop with the sign "Inn" and walked in after looking around, asking.
"Guest, only inns that can't be rented out will call out for customers at the door like you said. Our establishment, in terms of quality and service, is top-notch in the city. Moreover, today there is only one room left. So, there's no need for us to call for customers."
A man who looked to be middle-aged said with a smile.
"Alright. I'll take that room. How much is it per day?" Li Xuan nodded.
"Our establishment is honest with everyone. Ten top-grade spirit stones per day, including tea and pastries. If the guest wishes to stay, please pay." The shopkeeper said with a smile.
"Ten... Ten pieces! Forget it, ten pieces it is." Li Xuan, with a pained expression, took out ten top-grade spirit stones and turned around.
"Xiao Luo, take the distinguished guest to the room." The shopkeeper put away the top-grade spirit stones and shouted towards the inner room. Then, a waiter emerged from inside, smiling, and led Li Xuan and the two children upstairs.
"Guest, if you have any requests, you only need to speak them on this summons stone, and I will come. If the guest has no other requests, I will take my leave."
After the waiter left, Li Xuan carefully examined the room. Although he grudgingly paid ten top-grade spirit stones, it could indeed be considered luxurious.
"Ah Yue, Ah Chu, you two can make do with Blood Crystal Stones for now. Daddy will earn money tomorrow to buy you more delicious food, okay?" Li Xuan said, taking out the Blood Crystal Stones.
"Okay, Daddy," Li Jin and Li Li said, taking the Blood Crystal Stones.
"Good children," Li Xuan smiled slightly, then sat down cross-legged and closed his eyes.
It seems I'll have to see what can be exchanged for some money tomorrow.
Li Xuan vaguely recalled hearing about the price of wine at a winery they passed earlier, which was fifty thousand top-grade spirit stones. Once again, he felt very poor.