Desolate Devouring Art

Chapter 526 - Forceful Sale

Buying and selling should be a matter of free will, and forcing a sale was no different from robbery.

Liu Wuxie shook his hand forcibly and broke free from the shopkeeper's grasp.

"Brat, don't push it! I'm being gracious by inviting you in!" The shopkeeper said in an eerie tone, and a few robust men came out from the shops on both sides, wanting to drag Liu Wuxie's trio into the shop.

There was no way he would let such an easy prey away, and many cultivators had fallen into the traps of Serene Sea City throughout the years. Yet, so many cultivators still flocked over.

"You plan to use force?" A cold light flashed in Liu Wuxie's eyes. He was planning to travel around and didn't want any trouble. This was the border of the three major sects, meaning many experts were present in the city. His current cultivation in the Heavenly Phase Realm was insignificant in the Serene Sea City.

They often encountered experts in the Astral River Realm and high levels of the Heavenly Phase Realm, most of whom wore the uniforms of the three major sects. These individuals commanded respect wherever they went.

"Buy a couple of things if you want to leave!" The shopkeeper didn't give up and took a few items from his pocket. There were finely crafted leaves, a bone, and a few items that looked like spiritual stones. The largest item was slightly bigger than an adult palm, and the smallest was just the size of an index finger.

Liu Wuxie's gaze penetrated them with Ghost Eye, and a cold smirk rose on his lips. He replied, "Not interested!"

Let's not mention that these items were fake, but anyone could tell they were fake from their crude craftsmanship. Even if they were fake, these people should’ve put more effort into making them look realistic. Did these people take him for a fool?

"Don't be in such a hurry to refuse. Think of it as buying a souvenir. You traveled to Serene Sea City, and you can't possibly leave empty-handed. Ten thousand mid-grade spirit stones for one; it's a fair price!" The shopkeeper's asking price was ridiculous, wanting to sell a shabby leaf for ten thousand mid-grade spirit stones to Liu Wuxie.

"We don't want any! Step aside!" Chen Ruoyan couldn't take it any longer. Even if she wasn't experienced, she could tell they were fake, and Liu Wuxie would be a fool if he bought them.

The street was bustling with people, but no one dared to step forward because this was the norm in Serene Sea City.

"Don't be in such a hurry. The weather is hot, so why don't you come to have tea? We can negotiate as we talk!" The shopkeeper was surprised when he saw Jian Xing'er and Chen Ruoyan's beauty.

He had been so preoccupied with selling things to Liu Wuxie earlier that he hadn't noticed the two women. Now that he saw them, he couldn't tear his eyes away from them.

The blatant stare made the two women uncomfortable, and they could only stand behind Liu Wuxie.

"Get lost!" A powerful shockwave swept out from Liu Wuxie, and the shopkeeper standing in his way was sent flying away. This allowed Liu Wuxie to break free from the entanglement and leave with the two women.

"Damn it! How dare you lay a hand on me! I'll make sure you die in Serene Sea City!" The shopkeeper yelled viciously as he stood up. These shops on the street had powerful backing and were already accustomed to forceful sales over the years.

Most people were conned when they came, but they would only consider it their bad luck since ten thousand mid-grade spirit stones weren't much.

After leaving the streets, the trio quickened their pace and found a corner to settle down before exploring. Serene Sea City had many shops selling weapons, spiritual herbs, and spiritual talismans.

In addition, there were martial arenas, beast arenas, teahouses, and restaurants. It was a paradise for cultivators and a perfect training ground for them.

Anyone who came to Serene Sea City would find it hard to leave because this city could satisfy any request as long as they had enough resources. If they lacked resources, they could buy them from shops or visit auction houses.

Those who enjoyed gambling could visit the beast arenas, and those who craved fighting could visit martial arenas to find opponents. For scholars, they could visit teahouses and restaurants for leisure.

"Brother Liu, there's a teahouse over there. Shall we go and rest?" Chen Ruoyan suddenly halted. There was a large teahouse on the left, where gentle zither music could be heard.

They had been traveling for ten or so days and were somewhat exhausted. However, it was still early, so they weren't in a hurry to find an inn.

"Let's go!" Liu Wuxie said. He was also feeling a little thirsty.

When the trio entered the teahouse, they saw that the interior was luxuriously decorated. Unlike the usual tea houses, which had a few tables and chairs, the floor was covered in a fine goose-down carpet.

The teahouse was divided into multiple sections with elegant screens to ensure privacy for the guests. It was divided into three floors, with the first floor being the largest. Ten screens separated the space, allowing guests to enjoy their tea peacefully.

The second floor was even more luxurious, with intricately carved pillars, and the third floor looked even more exclusive.

This was the first time Liu Wuxie had seen such a lavish teahouse.

"Is this a teahouse?" Jian Xing'er asked in confusion. This place felt more like a brothel than a teahouse. They even wondered if they had come to the wrong place.

Chen Ruoyan was equally puzzled. She was well-versed in teahouse culture as a princess of the Great Yan Dynasty. As the third princess, she had visited all kinds of places in Imperial City, and the teahouse was one of them.

Teahouses were places meant for leisure between friends to discuss the wonders of the world.

"This way, please!" A waitress approached, bowing slightly. Despite her simple waitress attire, she was a rare beauty, which made it unusual for someone like her to be serving in a teahouse.

"Is this a teahouse?" Liu Wuxie asked, uncertain if he wanted to stay.

"Yes, sir. This is a teahouse. What would you like to drink?" The waitress bowed politely. She maintained her respect for every guest.

"What kind of tea do you have?" Liu Wuxie asked with his interest piqued. This was his first time encountering such a luxurious teahouse, and he naturally wanted to try it since they were there.

He hoped the tea matched the grandeur of the setting. After all, a crude tea would ruin such a beautiful place.

"We have Heavenly Star Tea, Grand Jade Tea, Jade Bamboo Dew, Thousand-Hand Buddha..." The waitress listed seven or eight varieties, none of which Liu Wuxie had heard.

Liu Wuxie hadn't expected the tea culture here to be so rich and profound. He asked, "What's so special about the tea you mentioned?"

"Good question, sir. Each tea represents a different state of mind. I recommend trying the Jade Bamboo Dew and Grand Jade Tea if you're in a good mood. If you're feeling average, you can try the Thousand-Hand Buddha. We also offer the Bitter Spirit Tea if you're in a bad mood." The waitress gave Liu Wuxie three recommendations for him to pick.

"This is the first time I've heard of choosing tea based on your mood." Liu Wuxie's interest was further piqued. His goal was to experience the local customs.

Serene Sea City was one of the ten major cities in the Southern Province, brimming with hidden talents and wisdom worth exploring. Liu Wuxie recognized that, despite having once been an immortal emperor, the world was ever-changing, and he needed to seize every opportunity to advance.

"It sounds like you're in a good mood today, sir. Why don't you have a pot of Jade Bamboo Dew?" The waitress asked after sensing his mood from his words.

Liu Wuxie wasn't in a good mood, but he wasn't in a bad mood either. He had long tossed the little incident they had experienced earlier out of his mind.

"Sure," Liu Wuxie nodded and asked for a pot of Jade Bamboo Dew according to the waitress' recommendation.

"Young master, right this way!" Strangely enough, the waitress didn't seem to care much about Jian Xing'er and Chen Ruoyan, as if women weren't welcomed there.

This struck Liu Wuxie as odd; teahouses were typically places where anyone could enjoy a drink, regardless of gender.

The three passed through a long passage. On both sides, there were screens, and many young prodigies were seated behind them.

Liu Wuxie noticed something peculiar: Everyone who was drinking tea was young. There wasn't a single elderly person in sight, which made him wonder if older people were prohibited from entering this teahouse.

"May I ask why there are only young people here?" Liu Wuxie asked.

"Young master, you must have just arrived in Serene Sea City. This rule at our House of Tea Art prohibits anyone over thirty," the waitress explained.

Upon entering, Liu Wuxie had found the name of the teahouse quite elegant, but he hadn’t anticipated such a restriction.

"The owner of this place must have quite the character!" Liu Wuxie remarked, acknowledging the uniqueness of the establishment.

The waitress led them to a secluded spot behind a decorative screen. The ambiance was pleasant, allowing a view of the outside while ensuring privacy from the adjacent tables. Liu Wuxie noticed around forty people in the teahouse, all speaking in hushed tones.

"Please wait for a moment. The tea will arrive shortly!" The waitress turned to leave while the trio sat down.

"This place feels weird!" Chen Ruoyan had a feeling that something was off about this place.

Jian Xing'er nodded in acknowledgment. An ordinary teahouse wouldn't be this quiet and would undoubtedly be more lively. There wasn't even a waiter when they came in, but a beauty for the waitress.

"Let's not think much about it since we're here. We're only here to drink tea, and let's not bother about anything else." Liu Wuxie was somewhat optimistic. He wasn't interested in causing trouble, but he wasn't afraid of trouble either. They only had to keep it to themselves and leave after tea.

"Let’s not overthink it. We’re here to enjoy some tea, so let’s just focus on that," Liu Wuxie suggested, maintaining an optimistic outlook. He had no desire to stir up trouble, but he wasn’t afraid of it either. They could keep to themselves and leave once they finished their drinks.

A sneaky-looking man approached the teahouse from the street and pulled out a Communication Talisman. He crushed it and used it to send a message.

A youth was drinking tea in the teahouse when his Communication Talisman lit up, causing a flood of information to flood his mind.

"This is interesting!" The youth who received the information beckoned to his three companions behind a screen ten meters from Liu Wuxie as they headed to the latter's table.