Setting Up a Stall

The cultivators who had witnessed the entire affair whispered among themselves. "Tsk, tsk, so the rumors were true. The Lin Family really does have descendants who joined the Purple Firmament Sect. Even disciples of the Purple Firmament Sect have come. It seems the news of Foundation Establishment Spiritual Items being auctioned is true."

"Hehe, I just wonder whose hands those spiritual items will fall into. Could something that assists with Foundation Establishment be a Foundation Establishment Pill?"

"I think that's possible. Looks like we came to the Tianhe Gathering at the right time."

Wang Changsheng did not take their words to heart. He was only at the Qi Refining Sixth Layer, still far from Foundation Establishment. He did not care at all what the Foundation Establishment Spiritual Item might be.

After entering the Market, he followed Wang Changxing around.

Buildings of varying heights lined both sides of the street. There were exquisitely crafted pavilions over a dozen zhang tall, as well as crude stone houses barely a zhang high. The goods for sale were all items used by cultivators.

Talismans, Medicinal Pills, Spirit Garments, Spirit Tools...

Every kind of merchandise was available, dazzling Wang Changsheng's eyes.

"Don't miss out as you pass by! A century-old Artifact Refining Shop, quality guaranteed! Fellow cultivators looking for a weapon that fits their hand, don't miss this chance—come on in and take a look!"

"Freshly picked Rain Well Spirit Tea from this year! Come in and take a look! Drink a cup of Rain Well Spirit Tea before cultivation, and your mind will become tranquil."

"Top-quality Tier 1 Talismans, with quality beyond question! Attack, defense, support—many different types available!"

Nearly every shop had arranged for a Shop Assistant to shout at the entrance and draw in customers.

After the time it took to drink a cup of tea, Wang Changsheng followed Wang Changxing onto a street with relatively few people. All kinds of fragrances filled the air.

This was a food street, selling all sorts of delicacies made from spirit ingredients. The aroma was mouthwatering.

Wang Changxing led Wang Changsheng into a two-story Azure Pavilion. Three large golden characters—"Hundred Flavors Workshop"—were written on the plaque.

"Ninth Brother, Hundred Flavors Workshop is the best pastry shop in Tianhe Market—no, it should be the best in all of Ning Province. Since you've rarely come here, you must buy some pastries to take back."

Wang Changxing pointed at the Azure Pavilion as he introduced it, then stepped inside. Wang Changsheng followed him in.

Behind the long wooden counter stood several shelves, filled with prepared pastries.

Wang Changxing walked up to a section of the counter and asked the attendant behind it, "How many Spirit Stones are the Osmanthus Cake and Red Bean Cake per jin?"

"Three jin of Osmanthus Cake costs four Spirit Stones. Red Bean Cake costs two Spirit Stones per jin."

"The last time I came, Osmanthus Cake was still one Spirit Stone per jin. Why has the price gone up now? Are you taking me for an outsider and deliberately raising the price?"

Wang Changxing frowned, displeasure showing on his face.

"Sir, please don't misunderstand. Spirit Honey has been added to the Osmanthus Cake, and Spirit Honey has gone up in price, so the Osmanthus Cake has become more expensive as well."

"Fine, then. Give me two jin of each."

A trace of surprise flashed through Wang Changsheng's eyes. He asked doubtfully, "Third Brother, didn't you say you didn't like sweet things?"

"Your sister-in-law likes sweets. It isn't easy for her to stay home alone and look after the children, so I'm buying these for her."

At the mention of his wife, happiness appeared on Wang Changxing's face.

Wang Changsheng came to a realization and nodded. "I'll take two jin of each as well."

The two paid with Spirit Stones, put away the wrapped pastries, and left Hundred Flavors Workshop.

As they passed a noodle shop, an enticing fragrance drifted into Wang Changsheng's nose.

Wang Changxing took a light sniff, and a blissful expression appeared on his face.

Wang Changsheng's stomach began to rumble. He suggested, "Third Brother, let's go in and have a bowl of noodles! I remember beef noodles are your favorite."

Wang Changxing was somewhat tempted, but when he thought of his wife and children at home, he shook his head and refused. "No. A bowl of beef noodles costs one Spirit Stone—far too expensive. I'd rather eat dry rations. Before I left, your sister-in-law made me plenty of dry rations. Those will do."

"It's rare for us to come here. Having one bowl is nothing. It's not like we eat it all the time."

Wang Changxing still shook his head and said seriously, "One Spirit Stone can buy three jin of First Grade Lower Rank Spirit Grain. Three jin of First Grade Lower Rank Spirit Grain is enough to eat for several days. Noodles are too wasteful; dry rations will do. Ninth Brother, if you don't run a household, you don't know the price of rice and firewood; if you don't raise children, you don't know your parents' grace. Right now, all I hope for is that Qingze can walk farther on the immortal path. I have to save Spirit Stones to buy spirit grain and feed the Snowcloud Chickens. If your nephew has a Spirit Root, I want him to have Spirit Eggs to eat every day. I'm not much of a father, so all I can do is save up Cultivation Resources for him."

"Third Brother, what if Qingze doesn't have a Spirit Root?" Wang Changsheng asked carefully.

"Then we'll have more children, until one of them has a Spirit Root. Your sister-in-law and I both have poor aptitude. We can only hope our sons and daughters will have better aptitude than us, and amount to more than us. If you want noodles, go in and eat. I'll wait for you here. Once you're done, we'll go set up our stall."

Wang Changsheng's eyes shifted as he said with a smile, "Third Brother, you took care of me plenty when we were little. If I treat you to a bowl of noodles, you won't refuse, will you?"

After hesitating briefly, Wang Changxing agreed.

There were not many cultivators eating in the noodle shop. Wang Changsheng and Wang Changxing sat down at an empty table and ordered two bowls of beef noodles.

Before long, the Shop Assistant brought over the two bowls of beef noodles.

A layer of oil floated atop the noodle soup. Several thin slices of beef and two pieces of greens lay over the noodles. The fragrance was mouthwatering and stirred one's appetite.

Wang Changsheng and Wang Changxing picked up their chopsticks and began eating. With three swipes and two bites, they quickly finished their beef noodles, not leaving behind even a drop of soup.

"Ah, that was satisfying. It's been so long since I've eaten anything this delicious."

Wang Changxing let out a long breath, his face filled with satisfaction.

"Now that we've finished eating, it's time to set up our stall."

Wang Changsheng paid the Spirit Stones and left the noodle shop with Wang Changxing.

A quarter of an hour later, the two arrived at a vast Bluestone Plaza, which was covered in small stalls.

There was no rental fee for setting up a stall in the plaza. This was also one of the methods the Tianhe Gathering used to attract cultivators to trade, though the stalls could not be too large.

Wang Changxing found an empty spot and took out a piece of coarse cloth one zhang long and one zhang wide, then laid out his goods.

First-Order Mid-Grade Spirit Grain, Tier 1 Refining Materials, Tier 1 Medicinal Pills, Tier 1 Talismans, and several First Grade Spirit Herbs. Most of these items belonged to Wang Changxing. Though his aptitude was poor, he was enthusiastic about business and had long prepared for this Tianhe Gathering.

Wang Changxing did not shout to attract customers. After marking the prices, he began chatting with Wang Changsheng.

He shared some of his own experience with Wang Changsheng, such as how to bargain when buying things, how to tell whether a stall had planted shills, and some common methods of deception.

Wang Changsheng nodded to himself, finding it greatly beneficial.

Looking at the goods on the surrounding stalls, Wang Changsheng's heart itched with impatience. It was his first time attending such a grand event, and he wanted to wander around properly.

Wang Changxing saw through Wang Changsheng's thoughts and said, "Ninth Brother, I can watch the stall by myself. Since it's your first time here, go have a look around. Remember, don't buy things lightly. If there's something you truly want, come back and tell me at once. I'll help you probe out the truth. Every Tianhe Gathering has plenty of swindlers. Even Second Sister has been cheated before. Spirit Stones do not come easily, so don't spend them carelessly."

"Got it, Third Brother. Then I'll go take a look around."

Wang Changsheng agreed, got to his feet, and left.