Suspicion

Behind Spirit Creek Market, in the mountains, lived a Golden Core True Person, whose Daoist name was Moxuan. He cultivated in seclusion in a cave cave abode rich in Spiritual Qi. Ordinary events in the market had no effect on him.

This time, Wang Cheng'an was truly unsure. After pondering for a long time in his office, he finally crushed the communication Jade Slip and asked the True Person to come down.

Before long, a gentle breeze swept through the courtyard, causing a slight ripple in spiritual pressure. The door opened, and True Person Moxuan entered with his hands behind his back.

He wore a faded Daoist robe, looked to be in his fifties, had a tuft of beard on his chin, and walked slowly, but his bearing was undeniable. As soon as he entered the room, Wang Cheng'an and Accountant Wu both stood up immediately.

Wang Cheng'an stepped forward and bowed. "This subordinate greets the True Person."

"Hmm." True Person Moxuan waved his hand, sat down in the main seat, and stroked his beard. "What is it that made me come all this way?"

"There's something I'm unsure about, and I need your advice."

"Speak."

Accountant Wu quickly brewed a cup of spiritual tea and brought it over, placing it gently on the table before stepping aside. True Person Moxuan picked it up, took a sip, and didn't urge him, taking his time and showing no sign of haste.

Wang Cheng'an then spoke:

"Reporting to True Person, Master, a few people came to our market a few days ago. They first sold two new items." He took out a makeup mirror from his sleeve and handed it to them with both hands. "Please take a look at this first."

True Person Moxuan took it, opened it, and saw that the mirror was so bright that even the finest hairs were clearly reflected. He glanced at it and then returned it.

"It's quite exquisitely made, and the light is very clear," he said. "This thing isn't very useful for those of us at our cultivation level, but lower-level cultivators, mortals, and especially women, should like it."

"What you say is True Person." Wang Cheng'an then handed over the timepiece. "Take a look at this. It's called a timepiece. It has a mechanism inside, and when you wear it, it keeps perfect time, not a second off. It's much better than an hourglass or a sundial."

Upon hearing this, True Person Moxuan took it and examined it twice, turning it over and over.

How accurate is it?

"It operates precisely within the twelve-hour cycle; as long as you wear it, it will keep moving on its own."

"This thing is no ordinary object." True Person Moxuan nodded. "Alchemy, weapon crafting, seclusion, and array formation—each requires precise timing. Before, we relied on hourglasses, which were clumsy and inaccurate. With this, things are much easier." He looked up and asked, "How many Spirit Stones does it cost?"

"Three to five Low-Grade Spirit Stones."

True Person Moxuan touched the watch case and thought for a moment:

"This price isn't expensive, but it's also reasonable. High-level cultivators naturally won't care; low-level cultivators can afford it; and those low-level Rogue Cultivators can't afford it, which is normal. The person who set this price knows how to do business."

He put down his watch and looked at Wang Cheng'an:

"The stuff is good. But you called me all this way just to show me these two things, didn't you? Just tell me what it is."

"I wouldn't dare trouble you with this business alone."

Wang Cheng'an said, "These people are quite savvy; they've already sold these two items in our market. I'm arranging for them to be distributed to other markets as well, and they're selling very well so far."

"That settles it then." True Person Moxuan leaned back in his chair. "Then you still..."

"True Person, there's more to come."

Wang Cheng'an lowered his voice a little:

"What truly worries me is something else entirely. I discovered that one of them is buying up large quantities of mid-grade pills, mid-grade talismans, and mid-grade magical Law Artifacts in the market; yet at the same time, he's also selling large quantities of high-grade pills, high-grade talismans, and high-grade magical Law Artifacts."

True Person Moxuan paused, his hand holding the teacup still.

"The strangest thing is—" Wang Cheng'an said, emphasizing each word, "That he buys and sells pretty much the same few items."

The room fell silent.

True Person Moxuan slowly and gently placed the teacup back on the table. His previous unhurried demeanor vanished. He sat up straight and stared at Wang Cheng'an.

"He buys in mid-grade goods and sells out high-grade goods... and what he sells are the same goods he bought."

He repeated it in a low voice, tapped two fingers slowly on the table twice, and looked up to ask:

"Where is he? Has the investigation been completed? What is his cultivation level, and what is his background?"

There were three people in total.

Wang Cheng'an said:

"The one with the highest cultivation level is a female cultivator, from the Xiao family of the Great Qian royal Xiao Household. She is the third princess of the Xiao Household, at the Qi Refining Seventh Layer, and she is accompanied by a maid."

"The Xiao Household..." True Person Moxuan paused for a moment as he tapped the table.

He is of a higher generation; even the ancestor of the Xiao Household is of a much lower generation than him.

With so many descendants in the Xiao Household, he really had no recollection of a princess who was the third in line and didn't stand out much. He shook his head.

"What about the other one?"

"The other person is the most suspicious."

Wang Cheng'an said:

"He's a male cultivator who just advanced to the Qi Refinement Fifth Layer, surnamed Shen. According to him, he comes from a certain cultivation Aristocratic Clan, the Shen Household, but no one knows exactly where. Whether it's buying or selling these goods, he's the one handling most of it; the Xiao Household princess seems to be just accompanying him."

"Surname Shen..." True Person Moxuan leaned back in his chair, squinting as he pondered.

After a long pause, he slowly spoke:

"I can't speak for distant places, but within this radius of several thousand miles, there are indeed two cultivation Aristocratic Clan surnamed Shen, but they are all insignificant minor Aristocratic Clan, I know them all too well. None of them have this ability."

He paused, then his tone became even more serious:

"Besides, let alone the Shen family, even any other prominent Aristocratic Clan wouldn't have this ability."

"Then what do you think...?"

"According to you, there's only one possibility," True Person Moxuan said, holding up a finger. "They possess a method that can upgrade low-level pills, talismans, and Law Artifacts to high-level ones."

Wang Cheng'an was startled.

"But the strange thing about this is—" True Person Moxuan frowned, "I've traveled the entire cultivation world and never heard of such an ability. Is it a unique Secret Method? Or is it that they took the item back, disassembled it, and reforged it?"

He shook his head first:

"Refining the Law Artifacts is understandable. But how do you dismantle the elixirs? How do you dismantle the talismans? Those are things that are only used once and then discarded; dismantling them renders them useless. Could it be a smokescreen, a way to pass off inferior goods as superior ones?"

He looked up. "Have you checked what he sold?"

"I've investigated." Wang Cheng'an was prepared. He took out a small jade bottle from his pocket, poured out a pill, and presented it with both hands. "True Person, look, this is the product he sold to our shop. I dared not be careless; I personally took one—it is indeed a top-grade pill with potent potency; it cannot be faked."

He added:

"I've also tested one of the talismans; its power is top-notch even among high-grade talismans. I've also examined the Law Artifacts; they're just as solid, and you can't find a trace of forgery."

True Person Moxuan took the pill, brought it to his nose to smell it, and then used his Divine Sense to examine it carefully, his brows furrowing even more.

"That's really strange..."

He placed the pill back on the table, remained silent for a moment, and then looked up at Wang Cheng'an:

"What are your thoughts? Tell me."

Wang Cheng'an considered his words carefully before slowly speaking:

"This is what I'm thinking—could we find a way to figure out this method from him?"

He cautiously observed Moxuan's expression:

"If this skill is genuine, it would bring immense wealth. However, I also remember the rule you established—our market operates according to strict rules, and we are not allowed to cheat customers. I dare not break your rule, which is why I invited you down here to hear your advice."