After the shop assistant left, Qin Xiao began wandering around the store, looking here and there.
"Master."
Yun Man hesitated, wanting to speak.
"What's wrong, disciple? Do you need to exchange some too? Right, I almost forgot about you. You said earlier that you spent all your silver, didn't you? Don't worry. I'll exchange ten thousand Spirit Stones for you as well."
Seeing Yun Man's expression, Qin Xiao spoke quickly.
His disciple needed Spirit Stones for cultivation, so naturally she wouldn't be willing to exchange them for silver. But as her master, he couldn't be stingy.
"Master, that's not what I meant. You're exchanging too much! What do you need to buy? Ten thousand Spirit Stones worth of silver-do you know how much money that is?"
Yun Man said, somewhat at a loss for words.
"I know. Your master may not be able to cultivate, but I'm not illiterate. One to one thousand-ten thousand Spirit Stones equals ten million silver."
Qin Xiao replied, somewhat puzzled.
Even if one tael of silver equaled one yuan, that was only ten million. With his current status, was ten million really that much?
"One tael of silver can be exchanged for a thousand Copper Coins. One Copper Coin can buy a steamed bun. A meal costs only a few dozen Copper Coins. And you want to exchange for ten million taels of silver?"
Yun Man truly didn't understand. Her master was a mortal-how could he not know mortal prices?
"What? There are Copper Coins below silver? Then why aren't they on the exchange table on the wall?"
Qin Xiao had considered this before. After all, in his understanding, copper coins existed beneath silver. But when he saw that the exchange shop's table didn't list Copper Coins, he'd dismissed the thought, assuming that perhaps in this world, silver was the lowest denomination. After all, even the exchange shop had nothing lower.
"Master, this place specifically exchanges Spirit Stones. It serves cultivators. How could Copper Coin exchange rates appear here? Only ordinary money houses have those."
Yun Man continued her explanation.
"I see. If one Copper Coin equals one yuan, then ten million silver would equal ten billion. Well... that's still acceptable, I suppose."
Qin Xiao pondered for a moment, then decided he could accept it. After all, he was one of Tianyuan Sect's Peak Masters. Having ten billion in mortal wealth was normal. More importantly, he'd already spoken. The assistant had gone to fetch the manager. If he reduced the amount now, wouldn't that be embarrassing? Besides, he didn't lack Spirit Stones anyway. It didn't matter.
"Two Immortals gracing my Immortal Dao Exchange Shop-this is truly my honor. I am Zheng Kaiming, the shop's manager. Forgive me for not welcoming you properly."
Just as Qin Xiao was still mulling things over, a middle-aged man emerged from the back hall.
"Foundation Establishment late stage. Even a manager has Foundation Establishment late stage cultivation. Truly worthy of the Immortal Dao Merchant Association."
The moment Zheng Kaiming appeared, Yun Man sensed his aura.
"No need for pleasantries. Did you bring the silver?"
Qin Xiao had no desire to exchange courtesies. He still needed to go shopping, and then attend the auction in the afternoon. Time was precious.
"Immortal, my sincerest apologies. This shop has never encountered an order of this scale. We do not have enough silver on hand. I've already sent word for someone to bring Banknotes. Immortal, please wait just a moment. It will be very quick."
When Zheng Kaiming heard that someone wanted to exchange ten thousand Spirit Stones for silver, he was also startled. Generally, those who came to exchange were cultivators, but they exchanged dozens or hundreds at most. Who exchanged ten thousand at once?
So he'd quickly contacted the young miss. She happened to be in Tianyuan City presiding over the auction this time. Such a large transaction would let him complete half a year's quota ahead of schedule.
"Your shop is this large, yet you don't even have ten million silver on hand?"
Qin Xiao was somewhat skeptical. Could it be they saw wealth and had evil intentions, calling people over to rob him?
"Immortal, it's truly unfortunate timing. We just settled accounts yesterday and turned everything in. Normally, we would certainly have it on hand."
Zheng Kaiming was helpless as well. The accounts had been settled just yesterday, which was why the shop did not have enough silver on hand.
"Fine, I'll wait a bit. But if no one comes, I won't exchange it for now."
Here in Tianyuan City, Qin Xiao felt safety should still be assured. If he left the city, he'd return directly to the sect. He wasn't afraid of being robbed. To rob Tianyuan Sect members on Tianyuan Sect territory-even the most thick-headed person wouldn't dare act so recklessly.
Sure enough, before long, someone arrived. The one leading them was a woman.
Seeing the newcomer, Yun Man quickly produced a veil to cover her face.
Qin Xiao naturally observed these actions, but he said nothing.
"Which Fellow Daoist needs to exchange ten thousand Spirit Stones for silver?"
Upon entering, the woman at the front immediately questioned Zheng Kaiming.
Qin Xiao's impression of this person was very poor. She acted as if no one else existed, her entire face full of arrogance. Did being pretty mean she could do whatever she wanted?
"Young Miss, it's this Immortal."
Zheng Kaiming respectfully indicated Qin Xiao.
"Him? Merely an ordinary person without any cultivation. Manager Zheng, do you know the consequences of toying with me?"
Ling Ruoxue casually swept a glance over Qin Xiao, then grew somewhat angry. The auction house still had many matters requiring attention. How dare he toy with her at a time like this?
"Young Miss, I truly wouldn't dare toy with you. If you don't believe me, ask for yourself."
Zheng Kaiming immediately panicked as well, hurriedly explaining.
"I'll trust you wouldn't dare. Boy, I brought the Banknotes. Where are the Spirit Stones? If you dare toy with me, I'll let you know just how severe the consequences of making fun of this young miss can be."
Ling Ruoxue still looked arrogantly at Qin Xiao. After all, in her eyes, Qin Xiao was merely a mortal. If not for the Spirit Stone exchange, someone like this probably wouldn't speak a single word to her in his entire lifetime.
"Disciple, what's her cultivation level?"
Qin Xiao very much wanted to lose his temper immediately, but he still inquired about her cultivation first. If he got angry and then couldn't beat her, that would be awkward.
"Answering Master-Golden Core early stage."
Yun Man said softly.
"Good, then."
Learning that she didn't have higher cultivation than his disciple, Qin Xiao no longer planned to suppress the anger in his heart.
"I say, you arrogant tigress-what exactly are you so proud of? I came here to exchange Spirit Stones, which makes me a customer. Is this how you treat customers? Running a business like you do, you'll go bankrupt sooner or later."
Qin Xiao vented all his accumulated anger in one breath.
The entire shop immediately fell silent. Not a single person dared to speak.
Yun Man helplessly rubbed her forehead. What madness had possessed her master?
Everyone else hadn't expected it either-that someone would actually dare scold the young miss.
Ling Ruoxue was completely stunned. From childhood until now, everyone had coaxed her, doted on her. No one had ever even spoken a harsh word to her. Yet now she'd been directly scolded-called a tigress, no less.
"What's the matter? Realized you're in the wrong and have nothing to say? That's more like it. When doing business, you should act like it. Who are you putting on that face for? For me to see?"
Seeing that no one responded, Qin Xiao restrained himself slightly. He'd come to exchange Spirit Stones and still had to look at her sour expression-what kind of reasoning was that?
Everyone looked at Qin Xiao as if looking at a fool. In their hearts, they all gave him a thumbs up, but they also worried that he probably wouldn't be able to leave the shop in one piece.
Regaining her composure, Ling Ruoxue suddenly flew into a rage. She drew her sword, intent on killing Qin Xiao.
"Disciple, save me!"
Qin Xiao had thought his scolding had brought her to her senses. Instead, she'd short-circuited. Now that she'd finally reacted, he hurriedly called for help.
Just as Ling Ruoxue's sword was about to pierce Qin Xiao, Yun Man deflected it with a flick of her own blade.