Leo flipped his right hand and took out a blank Messaging Jade from the Storage Sack, which he had obtained after killing Dorian. He imprinted his consciousness on the jade and handed it to Arthur Watts.
Exchanging Messaging Jades made them essentially friends.
The two then entered Clearwind Town together.
“Leo, are you here in Clearwind Town to hunt beasts in the Azure Dragon Mountains?” Arthur Watts asked as they walked.
Leo casually replied, “Sort of. What about you?”
“Well, sort of. What about you, fellow cultivator?”
In truth, Leo had come here randomly to learn about this world and find the location of the Frostwhisper Clan.
Arthur Watts candidly said, “I’m here for family business and a marriage proposal.”
“A marriage proposal?” Leo was somewhat surprised.
From Arthur Watts’ appearance, Leo guessed he was probably in his twenties. In a Cultivator’s World, discussing marriage at that age seemed a bit early.
As they talked, they turned a corner and saw two elderly men in gray robes walking briskly toward them.
One of the elders, upon seeing Arthur Watts, hurriedly said, “Mr. Watts, you finally arrived. Come with me quickly; don’t keep them waiting.”
“Alright, Elder Steve,” Arthur Watts nodded reluctantly.
Elder Steve looked at Leo and asked, “And this is…?”
Arthur Watts introduced, “This is Leo, a new friend of mine. Leo, these are Elder Steve and Elder Jaycob, elders of the Watts family stationed in Clearwind Town.”
“Elder Steve, Elder Jaycob,” Leo greeted the elders with a smile and a respectful bow.
Elder Steve and Elder Jaycob nodded slightly in response.
They paid little attention to Leo.
“Mr. Watts, let’s go,” urged the two elders.
“Lead the way, elders,” Arthur Watts shrugged and then looked at Leo. “Leo, come along.”
Seeing Arthur Watts’ helpless expression, Leo found it amusing and was curious to see how people in this Cultivator’s World conducted blind dates. He nodded in agreement.
Led by the two elders, Arthur Watts and Leo walked toward a part of Clearwind Town.
After a short walk, they arrived at a three-story building.
The plaque above the entrance read “Everlasting Trade Association” in gilded letters.
“Leo, we’re here,” Arthur Watts said with a mix of emotions as they stood in front of the Everlasting Trade Association’s entrance.
Leo smiled and comforted him, “Arthur, look on the bright side. You’re not getting any younger; it’s time to settle down.”
Arthur Watts didn’t know whether to laugh or cry at Leo’s half-joking comfort.
Finally, Arthur Watts sighed, “I’ve always been a free spirit. Who would have thought I’d end up sacrificing my freedom for a marriage proposal?”
“Ehem, young master, let’s go inside,” Elder Steve couldn’t help but interject.
They had come to the Everlasting Trade Association in Clearwind Town for a proposal without much fanfare. If things didn’t work out and word got out, it would be embarrassing.
Though the Watts family had declined somewhat in recent years, they were still a top-tier family in Zratol.
The four of them entered the Everlasting Trade Association.
The first floor resembled a small shopping mall with dozens of neatly arranged counters.
Each counter had dedicated staff.
Additionally, there were many women in white uniforms in the hall, providing shopping services to visitors.
Elder Steve scanned the hall and quickly walked over to an elderly man in a dark green robe.
The green-robed elder was slightly plump with well-maintained skin and few wrinkles. His demeanor occasionally showed a hint of arrogance.
“Mr. Carter, we are here,” Elder Steve greeted the green-robed elder with a respectful bow.
The green-robed elder raised his eyes and glanced at Elder Steve indifferently. “You are from the Watts family?”
“Yes, today I represent the Watts family and have brought our second young master to propose to Miss Isla Morgan, daughter of your association’s president,” Elder Steve said with measured politeness despite Mr. Carter’s slight arrogance.
Mr. Carter nodded coldly and said, “I see. You may go upstairs.”
Elder Steve bowed again to Mr. Carter and then looked at Arthur Watts. “Young master, let’s go upstairs.”
Arthur Watts reluctantly turned to Leo and said, “Leo, please wait for me here.”
Leo nodded and watched as Arthur Watts followed Elder Steve and Elder Jaycob upstairs.
Mr. Carter’s face showed a faintly mocking expression. In his view, the Watts family’s proposal was bound to be futile.
Mr. Carter then turned his gaze to Leo and asked coldly, “And you are?”
“I’m here to buy some things,” Leo replied casually.
Mr. Carter acknowledged with an “Oh” and turned to a nearby maid. “Paige, attend to this guest.”
After giving his instructions, Mr. Carter walked away without looking back.
Maid Paige responded and approached Leo. She sized him up briefly before politely asking, “Sir, are you here to sell or buy items?”
“I want to buy a map-a world map. Do you have one?” Leo asked directly.
“Yes, please follow me,” Paige nodded.
Paige led Leo to a counter and then went behind it. She opened a drawer and took out several jade slips.
“Sir, we have exclusive maps from the Everlasting Trade Association. We have maps of the Awakened Continent as well as the Martial Dynasty Map where you currently are.”
“The maps come in three levels: detailed first-class maps, second-class maps with less detail, and third-class simplified maps. Which level do you need?”
From Paige’s words, Leo learned two things: he was currently in the Martial Dynasty on the Awakened Continent.
Awakened Continent?
This world seemed to have many land and sea areas similar to Earth’s continents and oceans.
“I’ll take one detailed first-class map of the Awakened Continent and one of the Martial Dynasty,” Leo said directly.
Paige found two jade slips with a greenish glow and placed them in front of Leo with a smile. “That will be one thousand lower-grade Spirit Stones.”
The price surprised Leo slightly.
A thousand lower-grade Spirit Stones was no small amount; it could sustain a high-level Spirit Master cultivator for months of training.
Fortunately, Leo was wealthy. A mere thousand lower-grade Spirit Stones were nothing to him.
Besides the High-Quality Spirit Stones he obtained from Azure Dragon Shrine, he had also acquired various grades of Spirit Stones from Saul’s and Dorian’s Storage Sacks after killing them. He was indeed quite wealthy.