It was already evening when the outer elder left, the crowd started dispersing. Some of the kids went back to the Martial Techniques Area to resume their training, while others just left to come back to their families.
Gray was curious as to what the elder meant by an Imagery Crystal so he went to the Martial Lessons Area.
When Gray arrived at the Martial Lessons Area, there was a huge crowd of kids, each staring at screens, it was similar to a projector, but instead of a 2D screen, it was more like a 3D Hologram where it depicted a scene.
"Hey kid, what are those crystals?" Gray asked a random kid who was watching, as this was his first time seeing these, and it wasn't in the previous Gray's memories which he inherited.
The kid looked at the masked Gray as if he was a weirdo, as this was common knowledge to everyone, but he didn't want to disrespect him since he seemed to be older, so he still answered.
"Those are Imagery Crystals, they can project what is currently happening in one place to another place, it's mainly used for lectures. It can also record the lecture so everyone can view the recording later." The little kid explained.
'So... basically a magical Twitch stream?" Gray wondered. 'Do people here donate Spirit Stones?'
"Where can I get one of those?" quickly asked Gray.
"Uhh, you can't. Only outer elders can borrow these, as the clan requires them to record their lectures to ensure that they aren't spreading misinformation."
Gray's eyes lit up as he heard that, although he couldn't have an Imagery Crystal, he knew exactly who would have one.
…
Gray didn't feel like there was much more to explore at the moment; he could always come back another day.
There was also a hearing with the clan leader and the Council of Inner Elders tomorrow, which he felt like he should prepare a bit for.
He removed his mask and strolled back to his grandparents' residence.
As he was walking, he heard a bustling noise in the distance. He walked over and his eyes landed on a few stalls.
He then approached one of the vendors who seemed like an honest person.
"How much for these boots?" Gray asked the vendor.
"Ah, dear handsome customer, you have an eye for quality!" The stall owner's eyes gleamed with a merchant's enthusiasm.
"These are the new 'Silent Step' model! 500 Spirit Stones! Not only are they made from reinforced Fierce Fanged Crocodile leather, but they have a level 1 Agility Array woven into the soles! There's also only two pairs left!"
Gray picked one up, not with the look of a customer, but with the grim, focused expression of a doctor examining a patient.
He bent the sole, ran a finger along the inside seam, smelled the insole, and tapped the heel with a practiced rhythm, making a concerned "tsk, tsk" sound.
He looked like one of those sneaker resellers back on Earth who would do those crazy "legit checks" for overpriced sneakers worth hundreds of dollars which only cost 20$ to make.
"Is there a problem, dear customer?" the vendor asked, his smile faltering slightly. "These are the finest boots on the market!"
"The leather is fine. The array is standard," Gray said, his face grave.
"The problem... is the craftsmanship. It's completely misaligned with the principles of Spiritual Ergonomics."
The vendor blinked. "...Spiritual what-now?"
"Ergonomics," Gray repeated, as if explaining something obvious to a child.
"The science of foot-to-meridian energy flow. A foundational concept, really. Look at this," he said, pointing to the arch of the boot.
"There's almost no plantar fascia support. A cultivator wearing these for more than a few hours will undoubtedly suffer from Qi Deviation. It's a classic rookie boot-making mistake."
The vendor started to look a little worried. "Qi Deviation?"
"That's just the start," Gray continued, shaking his head in pity.
"The heel-to-toe drop is far too steep. This forces an unnatural gait, putting undue stress on the knee-to-spirit-root connection. It won't just ruin the wearer's posture; it could permanently slow their cultivation speed. This isn't a boot; it's a long-term crippling device."
The vendor's face had gone from confident to pale. He looked at the boot in Gray's hand as if it were a venomous snake. "A... a crippling device?"
Gray sighed, looking torn. "I'd have to report this to the sect for the distribution of hazardous goods."
He looked at the boots with a pained expression. "I can't, in good conscience, let you sell these to some unsuspecting young disciple. It's simply unethical."
The truth was, Gray had no idea what he was talking about, he was just spouting some random bullshit.
The honest vendor's face now looked pale as ash.
"Sir! Please, don't report me to the sect. I truly had no idea that the goods I had were defective, I swear I'll take these off the shelves and never sell them again!"
"Take these off the shelves? I'm sure you'll just sell these off to another one of our clan members, I think it's safer if I just report you." Gray hesitated.
"Sir, please no. You can take these two pairs with you, they're the last ones I have, you can even have the display model. I promise I won't sell these again!" The honest vendor pleaded, tears threatening to fall.
Gray looked at the vendor in pity.
Sigh…
"You're lucky I'm a good person, since you're being this sincere, then I'll take these off your hands. You better check your goods before selling them next time!"
"Yes sir, yes sir. I'll be careful next time. I'm truly sorry." The honest vendor bowed again and again, his head bobbing like a chicken pecking at grain.
…
A few stalls down, Gray's eyes landed on a display of finely crafted coats.
The vendor was a young, proud-looking young girl, likely an apprentice from a notable craftsman family, who was stitching a leather coat with an air of intense self-importance.
Gray approached, his gaze settling on a particular coat.
This coat was made of tough, Black Shadow Panther hide with reinforced defense.
The young vendor, Linny, immediately stopped her polishing, her pride clearly stung.
"Is there a problem with my wares?" she asked, her voice sharp. "That's crafted from Grade-A Shadow Panther hide, imbued with a Level 1 Strength Rune. It is flawless."
Linny saw Gray's interaction earlier with the other shop owner. However, as someone from a notable craftsman family, the Wang Family, she knew the quality of her own goods.
Gray just smiled. "Flawless? A strong word. I'm willing to bet it's not."
Linny's pride flared. She had been waiting for this. "A bet? You, a cripple, think you know more about my family's craft than I do?"
"I think I notice things others don't," Gray said smoothly.
"Let's make it interesting. I will point out one genuine, critical flaw in this 'flawless' coat. If I'm wrong, or if you can logically refute my claim, I'll pay you double for it. But if I'm right... I get it for free."
Linny sneered, "You do realize this costs 2,000 Spirit Stones? Do you even have that much?"
Gray's eye twitched at the staggering price of the coat, however, he pretended to not care about it.
"Of course I do, and my grandparents are elders in the clan, so you can rest assured."
"Hmph, alright then."
Confident in her work and eager to humiliate this upstart trickster, Linny agreed instantly.
"You've got a deal. Now, show me this imaginary 'flaw'."
A crowd, sensing a spectacle, gathered around.
Gray picked up the coat. He didn't look at the stitching. He didn't examine the array. He simply closed his eyes and held it in his hands for a long, dramatic moment.
He opened his eyes and let out a sigh of profound sadness. "A real tragedy," he said.
"What are you talking about?" Linny demanded, growing impatient. "What flaw?"
"The craftsmanship is perfect," Gray admitted, causing Linny to smirk.
"The materials are excellent, and the rune is carved with skill." He paused, then delivered the twist.
"The flaw... is not in the coat. It is in its soul."
Linny stared at him, completely baffled.
"Its… soul? Coats don't have souls. That's the most absurd thing I've ever heard."
"Is it?" Gray asked, his voice taking on a mystical, lecturing tone as he addressed the crowd as much as her.
"Every truly masterful creation is imbued with a piece of the creator's intent, their spiritual essence. It's what separates a mere product from a true artifact. This coat…" He held it up.
"... they feel empty. They were crafted with technical skill, yes, but not with passion. They lack soul."
He locked eyes with Linny.
"A true warrior would feel this emptiness in the heat of battle. It would create a moment of fatal hesitation."
Linny was furious, but also flustered. How do you argue against that? "That's nonsense! You're just making things up!"
"Am I?" Gray didn't argue back. Instead, he scanned the crowd and his eyes landed on a burly, tough-looking disciple with a large axe on his back.
"You, sir," Gray said, his voice ringing with authority. "You look like a man who has seen real battle. Come. Hold this."
The burly disciple, put on the spot, hesitated before lumbering forward.
Gray placed the coat in his large hands.
"Tell me," Gray said, his voice low and serious. "Quiet your mind. Can you not feel it? The coldness? The lack of a true fighting spirit within the leather?"