Chapter 26: Judging People by Their Clothes, Slapping Mouths as a Clear Rule

The two walked into the adjacent shop, chatting and laughing.

There were no shop assistants here. The proprietor was busy calculating accounts at the counter; seeing that the two were new disciples, he simply lowered his head and continued fiddling with his abacus.

Noticing the proprietor's cold attitude, the two lost interest in browsing and turned toward the next shop.

"Wow, it's actually a shop selling spirit beasts! These spirit beasts are so cute!"

Seeing a room full of fluff, Shen Yingshu immediately found herself unable to move. She looked at one, then touched another, loving them all.

Seeing customers had arrived, the female proprietor rose with a light smile, picking up a fluffy rabbit and gently stroking its voluminous tail.

"You have a keen eye, young lady. These Long-tailed Rabbits are among the most popular spirit beasts in our shop. They have gentle temperaments and are incredibly easy to raise.

Though they aren't skilled in combat, the rabbit fur they produce can be collected and sold, or used to weave cloth for oneself. Would you like one?"

Shen Yingshu was clearly tempted. "How much for one?"

The female proprietor smiled warmly. "Not expensive, only twenty-eight spirit stones each. If you are sincere about buying, I can let them go for twenty-six."

Shen Yingshu waved her hands in panic. "I... I don't have that many spirit stones on me. I'll just... just look..."

The proprietor's smile remained unchanged. "That's quite alright. Look as much as you like. It won't be too late to buy one once you've saved up enough spirit stones in the future."

Despite her words, Shen Yingshu felt too embarrassed to linger in the shop. As she left, her eyes remained fixed longingly on the Long-tailed Rabbit.

"Once I have money, I must buy one!"

Having said that, she glanced at Jiang Youling, whose expression remained unchanged, and couldn't help but ask curiously, "Youling, don't you think the Long-tailed Rabbit is cute?"

Jiang Youling thought for a moment. "It is cute, but it's too expensive, and I can't afford it. Besides, raising a spirit beast requires a significant amount of time and energy; it is no easy task...

Never mind. I only want to focus on my cultivation and reach the early stages of Qi Refinement as soon as possible."

Shen Yingshu sighed. "You're right. Cultivation is the priority. Once my cultivation improves in the future, I'll save up to buy a spirit beast."

After finishing their tour of the first floor, the two took the escalator up to the second floor.

Compared to the Mortal World Market, Linlang Pavilion had fewer shops, but its level of exquisite luxury was clearly superior to the first floor.

"Look, there's actually a weapon shop here!"

Shen Yingshu's eyes lit up, and she hurried into the store.

Jiang Youling followed closely, observing the weapons in the shop. They emitted a piercing, cold light, their edges sharp and intimidating. The various weapons were displayed in an orderly fashion, making it difficult to take everything in at once.

There were long spears with crimson bodies and flame patterns dancing on the tips, thin-as-a-cicada-wing soft swords, and heavy black iron swords radiating a faint, blue, cold light... every single weapon looked extraordinary.

"These weapons look truly magnificent!"

Shen Yingshu couldn't help but exclaim in admiration. Pointing to a silver-white longsword, she asked, "How much is this sword?"

The shop assistant did not answer. He merely swept his eyes over her from bottom to top, wearing a half-mocking expression.

Feeling looked down upon, Shen Yingshu felt both ashamed and annoyed. This assistant was clearly dressed in gray, nothing more than a mere laborer—what right did he have to look down on her?

Besides, they were running a business; surely a customer asking for a price was acceptable?

"Why are you looking at me like that? Aren't these things put out here to be sold?"

"Of course they are for sale..."

The assistant sneered, his gaze becoming increasingly meaningful. "It's just that, looking at your attire, I'm afraid you can't even afford the scabbard."

Shen Yingshu's face instantly flushed bright red. It was true she couldn't afford the scabbard, but how could someone be so insulting?

The more anxious she became, the more she found herself unable to speak, her eyes welling up with tears of frustration.

"What a contemptuous attitude!"

Jiang Youling's voice was not loud, but every word was clear. "As an assistant, your master pays your monthly wages for you to serve customers, not to critique their clothing.

Acting with such disrespect—are you not afraid of offending a low-profile but powerful guest and bringing disaster upon your master?"

The assistant's expression changed instantly. His ears turned a deep purple, and the veins in his neck bulged, yet he couldn't squeeze out a single word.

"Well said!"

Hearing the voice, Jiang Youling looked over and saw a man dressed in apricot-yellow cloud-patterned disciple robes smiling slightly at her.

Yellow robes!

Jiang Youling was inwardly startled.

The *Rules of the Mysterious Sect* mentioned that the attire of the Taixuan Sect followed specific protocols, and all disciples must adhere to the *Rituals of Mysterious Sect Attire*.

Laborer disciples wore plain gray linen, symbolizing "unpurified mortal ties"; those with spiritual roots could wear white silk Daoist robes, signifying "the first light of the spiritual platform";

Only those with superior spiritual aptitude, personally bestowed by the Sect Leader, were entitled to wear these apricot-yellow cloud-patterned robes—the symbol of a "True Disciple of the Mysterious Sect."

Jiang Youling composed herself and gave a formal bow to the man. "Greetings, True Disciple Senior Brother."

Shen Yingshu also snapped out of it and hurriedly followed suit with a bow.

Xie Jingxing gave them a slight nod. When he turned his head back, his face was covered in frost.

"Is this the way the Divine Weapon Pavilion treats its guests?"

The assistant panicked, his back drenched in cold sweat. He hurriedly knelt down, pressing his head deep against the floor.

"Please calm your anger, Senior Brother Xie! I... I didn't mean it that way. The sword you sent someone to inquire about a few days ago has already been forged..."

Hearing this, the proprietor rushed out, hurrying forward with a gilded tray. Resting upon the tray was none other than the silver-white longsword from moments ago.

"Please calm your anger, Senior Brother Xie," the proprietor said, bowing so low he was nearly at a right angle, not even bothering to wipe the sweat from his brow.

"This 'Frost Condensation' was only finished yesterday. I intended to send someone to deliver it to you today, but I did not expect you to come in person..."

Xie Jingxing tapped the scabbard with his fingertip, producing a clear, ringing "zheng" sound, yet his voice was colder than a thousand-year-old glacier. "Is a sword what I asked for?"

The proprietor grew frantic and quickly shot a look at the assistant beside him.

Understanding the signal, the assistant's eyes flashed with hesitation before he bit his lip and began slapping himself hard. "Senior Brother Xie, I was wrong! I did not dare to speak insolently or use harsh words to hurt others!"

The crisp sound of slaps echoed throughout the Divine Weapon Pavilion. Xie Jingxing watched coldly until the assistant's cheeks were bright red and swollen, at which point he frowned and said, "That is enough."

The proprietor breathed a sigh of relief and signaled for the assistant to withdraw, before offering 'Frost Condensation' with a conciliatory smile.

"Senior Brother Xie, the sword you requested."

Xie Jingxing did not take the sword, saying only

"The reputation of a shop lies not in its displays, but in the virtue of its master.

If the master lacks virtue, and even the etiquette of serving guests is not forged correctly, then even if this sword is forged, it will be nothing more than dust covering the Dragon Abyss."

The proprietor forced a smile. "Yes, yes, you are right..."

Only then did Xie Jingxing drop the spirit stones, take 'Frost Condensation,' and examine it closely.

Seeing that the transaction was successful, the proprietor's heart finally settled, and the smile on his face became more sincere.

"Please examine it to your heart's content, Senior Brother. The blacksmith in our shop put real effort into this!

Look at these patterns—the master smith hammered them out one by one using the 'Thousand-Fold Forging' technique. Every single strike requires returning it to the furnace for quenching; he repeated the process exactly nine hundred and ninety-nine times!"

Shen Yingshu had also recovered her wits. Seeing that this True Disciple Senior Brother was a reasonable person, she gathered the courage to take a look at the sword.

She examined it carefully for a moment, and suddenly her eyes lit up. She turned to Jiang Youling and whispered.

"The forging patterns on this sword are quite unique, but..."

She paused, her voice pitched perfectly so that those around them could hear. "I can't help but feel that compared to the pine-patterned sword displayed when the Academy Head bestowed it, this one lacks a certain ancient charm."