Junior Sister, I Really Have to Control You

But for him, neither of these two flaws mattered at all.

Whether it was the agonizing burning sensation or the need to wrap it in Magical Power, it all ultimately amounted to a drain on the Heart and Spirit. But when he claimed his rewards in that Ghost Realm, his Heart and Spirit would never be depleted!

As long as he could endure the searing pain and persist in multitasking—enveloping the Blood Refining Core with Magical Power while cultivating—then this item essentially had no flaws!

”How great is the drain on the Heart and Spirit?” Li Yinsheng asked.

The shopkeeper replied, ”Most people cannot adapt to it at first. When they initially use this item, their daily cultivation time is almost halved, or even reduced by more than sixty percent.

”Later on, depending on individual pain tolerance, some still see their time halved, some see a thirty to forty percent reduction, and others only lose twenty to thirty percent, though people in the last category are extremely rare.”

”That doesn’t sound like a very good deal,” Li Yinsheng said, attempting to haggle.

”Which is why very few people buy it,” the shopkeeper laughed. ”It initially sold for twenty thousand talismanic coins. The price dropped again and again until it was slashed in half. Now, we are simply looking to clear out this unwanted burden.”

The implication was clear: she was refusing any further haggling.

”Can’t it be any cheaper?” Li Yinsheng cut straight to the chase.

It wasn’t that he couldn’t afford ten thousand talismanic coins, but if he actually paid that much, he would only have five or six thousand talismanic coins left.

”Since you have asked, Senior, how could I refuse?” The shopkeeper had already intended to build a connection, so she spoke plainly. ”If you don’t mind, I will only charge nine thousand talismanic coins for this item.

”Please understand, Senior, the price has already been lowered time and time again. It is practically at cost right now. Any cheaper, and we would be taking a loss.”

The shopkeeper abruptly shifted her tone, adding, ”However, if you are truly interested in this item, Senior, I can make an executive decision. It will still be nine thousand talismanic coins, but I will throw in that Quenching Essence Lock as a freebie.”

”Then can I just take the freebie?” Li Yinsheng asked.

”HEHEHE... You are truly humorous, Senior,” the shopkeeper giggled, covering her mouth.

Li Yinsheng sighed.

He knew that the shopkeepers of these stores from Baoguang Temple held a certain degree of pricing power. The reason she had readily offered him a discount twice in a row was simply because he had revealed his Cultivation.

Logically speaking, this treatment wasn’t bad at all. And since she could so easily drop the price twice, he could probably shave off another few hundred talismanic coins if he haggled a bit more.

But he wanted an even steeper discount, and he didn’t want to go through too much trouble.

”Shopkeeper,” Li Yinsheng touched his Conical Hat. ”Could we speak in a private room?”

”Of course, Senior,” the shopkeeper smiled. ”Please follow me.

”Ms. Mei, take good care of this little junior sister. Serve our best tea and finest pastries!”

Inside the private room.

Li Yinsheng sat across from the shopkeeper.

The shopkeeper looked at him with a polite smile.

From their casual chats and interactions thus far, she had deduced that although the other party spoke and acted quite thoroughly, he wasn’t particularly seasoned. This was likely due to a cautious personality coupled with a lack of experience in haggling.

This was perfectly normal. After all, besides professional merchants, who would practice bargaining on a daily basis?

She already had a plan in mind. When he started haggling shortly, she would concede another seven or eight hundred talismanic coins. She would put on a conflicted expression, pretending that she was ”only reluctantly making an exception for such an important guest,” leaving him feeling thoroughly satisfied.

Besides, this price was indeed quite a bit lower than the market rate. Since her main goal this time was to build a connection, earning a little less wasn’t an issue.

”Shopkeeper...” Li Yinsheng began.

”Here it comes! Now is the time to show off my acting skills!” the shopkeeper thought to herself.

Li Yinsheng didn’t continue speaking; instead, he took off his Conical Hat.

The shopkeeper stiffened entirely.

The face before her looked barely over twenty, which wasn’t actually that shocking.