If you put it that way, I owe you an apology.

The tavern recommended by Li Zi was indeed reliable—Li Xingtian had stayed there in his previous life as well. The experience had been decent enough.

At the counter, Li Xingtian tossed down a few spirit stones to pay for the room and took the room token handed to him by the attendant, declining the offer for a meal at the same time.

There was a reason Li Xingtian didn’t care much for food.

In his past life, his gluttony had nearly cost him his life.

So in this life, after reaching Foundation Establishment and achieving inedia, he rarely ate voluntarily.

Unless his master personally invited him to a meal, Li Xingtian never touched food from outside.

A single lesson was enough to teach him.

Li Xingtian planned to first retreat to his room to cultivate and recover from the fatigue of recent travels. He turned to Li Zi and said,

"Wait for me here at the tavern tomorrow at mao hour."

Li Zi was taken aback—she hadn’t expected things to end so abruptly today.

She watched as Li Xingtian strode toward the guest rooms on the second floor, her expression hesitant.

Taking a deep breath, she cautiously—and with a slight tremble in her voice—asked,

"Senior… could you pay me in advance this time? I swear I’ll do my best to guide you."

Li Xingtian turned back, studied her for a moment, then flicked a single spirit stone toward her before continuing upstairs without another word.

Li Zi caught the stone with both hands, her fingers trembling as she stared at it in her palm.

She quickly steadied herself, then turned and hurried out of the inn.

Li Xingtian glanced sideways at the figure darting through the doorway, shook his head slightly, and resumed his ascent.

By his calculations, he had arrived a full decade earlier this time.

In this life, with his master’s top-tier cultivation techniques, an uninterrupted supply of blood-infused spirit stones, and ample time to train in peace, he had avoided many of the detours he’d taken before.

It also made him realize just how vast the gap was between himself and the elite disciples of major sects.

While they cultivated without a care in the world, drowning in resources, he had once struggled to scrape together enough spirit stones for the next day’s training.

And this ten-year head start would allow Li Xingtian to reap unimaginable gains.

Sunset Valley held one such opportunity—an undiscovered one, known only to him.

Rest well and prepare…

The Central Continent was vast, and many more opportunities awaited him.

The next day at mao hour, when Li Xingtian descended the tavern stairs fully recovered, Li Zi was nowhere to be seen.

Had she taken the spirit stones and run?

She must be new to this—how bold of her to think she could just take the money and disappear.

Where did she get the nerve? Did she not know that nothing in this world came for free?

Did she really take him for some gullible outsider?

Li Xingtian didn’t wait. He strode out immediately—this small debt could be settled properly later, once he was done with more pressing matters.

After all, he knew this place well.

From the tavern, Li Xingtian headed straight for Treasure Pavilion, the shop with the most reliable reputation.

Stepping inside, he approached the counter and called out,

"Ten Suppression Talismans, ten Warding Talismans, a bottle of Barrier-Breaking Pills, and two hundred meters of Foundation-Level Spider Silk."

The elderly clerk behind the counter glanced up at him, then turned to retrieve the items from the large drawers behind him.

He placed the ten Suppression Talismans on the counter first and said flatly, "One hundred and ten spirit stones."

Li Xingtian’s gaze turned frosty.

"Are you trying to fleece me just because I’m not from the valley?"

The old man blinked in surprise, giving him another once-over—his attire didn’t exactly scream "local," but he amended his tone nonetheless.

"My mistake, brother. Let’s call it ninety as a friendly price."

"Seventy-five. And throw in a Blood-Coagulating Pill as compensation."

The old man’s hand, which had been reaching for the Warding Talismans, paused. He set the ten talismans down gently and fixed Li Xingtian with a sharp stare.

His voice rasped, "You don’t look familiar, brother. Never seen you in the valley before. Bargaining like this—are you here to make trouble?"

His gaze darkened as he studied Li Xingtian.

How did this kid know his bottom line? And with such precision? He was certain they’d never met.

Li Xingtian remained unruffled. "I don’t recall Old Deng from Treasure Pavilion being this chatty. Are you selling or not?"

"Old Deng? Haven’t heard that name in a long time."

The old man froze, then chuckled wistfully, stroking his white beard. He nudged a hidden compartment under the counter with his foot.

"If a friend sent you, then of course I’ll sell. Getting old now—nostalgia’s about all I have left."

With a faint smile, he placed two bottles of pills on the counter before heading to the back storeroom.

Two hundred meters of Foundation-Level Spider Silk took up considerable space—it wasn’t something kept in the front.

A young attendant watched the old man leave with wide eyes.

He’d been an apprentice at Treasure Pavilion since he was ten, and the old man had practically raised him.

Yet even he didn’t know the old man’s full name—everyone just called him "Manager."

Normally, fetching goods from the storeroom was the attendant’s job, while the manager stayed behind to mind the shop.

But today…?

The attendant stole another glance at Li Xingtian. Just who was this man?

Before long, the manager returned, carrying a neatly bundled roll of spider silk nearly as large as Old Deng himself. He dropped it unceremoniously on the floor.

Resuming his seat behind the counter, the old man grinned.

"Check the goods, young man. Wouldn’t want you spreading rumors that Old Deng swindles customers."

Li Xingtian only skimmed through the first twenty talismans to confirm their authenticity before storing everything else away.

Everyone in the valley knew—Old Deng only overcharged outsiders and strangers.

Li Xingtian placed seventy-five spirit stones on the counter.

"Of course. Everyone knows Old Deng is the most honorable man around."

The manager chuckled as he pocketed the stones, nodding in satisfaction.

"Now that’s what I like to hear."

With a slight cupped-hand salute, Li Xingtian turned and left.

He knew Old Deng, but Old Deng didn’t know him.

Not hearing the old man’s usual teasing felt oddly unfamiliar.

After leaving Treasure Pavilion, Li Xingtian took a detour through the streets to pick up a few emergency supplies.

His experience was vast—he was a cultivator who had clawed his way up from the very bottom.

He’d endured most hardships imaginable.

And when it came to sifting treasures from the trash, Li Xingtian had a keen eye.

Once his shopping was done, he made his way toward the teleportation array.

By the array’s side, the usual crowd of guides still loitered, waiting for customers.

Among them was the same blue-robed female guide.

Li Xingtian walked straight toward her. Spotting him, she hurried forward eagerly—this was the big spender who’d tossed out spirit stones without a second thought.

"Senior, how may I assist you?" she asked sweetly.

"Li Zi took my spirit stones and didn’t show up the next day."

The guide’s face flickered with surprise, but she quickly smoothed her expression.

"Please return tomorrow, Senior. We’ll give you a proper explanation."

Li Xingtian gave a slight nod and left without another word, heading back to the inn.

He wasn’t the type to repay deceit with kindness.

If others got scammed, that was their problem—but those who tried to cheat him would pay the price.

These guides valued their reputation above all.

If someone dared to ruin their business, they’d ruin that person in return.

When Li Xingtian returned to the inn, he found Li Zi sitting in the main hall, anxiously staring at the entrance.

The moment Li Zi spotted Li Xingtian, he hurried over, dropping to his knees with a thud, and hastily began explaining:

"Senior, I truly apologize! I arrived just a little late, and the innkeeper said you'd already left. It's my fault—please, be merciful and forgive me this once... How about I give you half price this time?"

Li Xingtian looked at the man before him and replied,

"If you put it that way, then I must also apologize to you."