A market could bring in hundreds of thousands of spirit stones in profit every year!
Split among a commandery's aristocratic clans, each clan naturally received little. But what if one person pocketed it all?
Jiang Sheng could not help wondering whether he should establish a market on Qingping Mountain once he reached the Purple Mansion Realm.
Qingping Mountain stood at the junction of three commanderies and could attract plenty of rogue cultivators from all three.
He would not even need to charge admission. Taking a yearly cut from the stalls alone would bring in no small sum!
This venture had promise!
Jiang Sheng knew perfectly well that he could reach the Purple Mansion Realm without a Purple Cloud Barrier-Breaking Pill, purple yang jade, or purple heart jade marrow, but the various potent medicinal ingredients needed for core formation were indispensable.
If he wanted to form a superior golden core, he could not do without those ingredients. The expenses would inevitably pile up.
Setting that thought aside for now, Jiang Sheng entered the market with Xu Xiao.
Besides its rows of shops, the market mostly consisted of rogue cultivators running stalls.
Unable to afford shops, these rogue cultivators could only spread their wares on the ground to attract passing cultivators.
Jiang Sheng stopped here and there, but found nothing worthwhile along the way, let alone any overlooked bargains.
In the end, he entered the Cha Family's medicinal herb shop to purchase spiritual herbs.
Seeing two Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators arrive, the shop assistant hurried to notify the shopkeeper.
The shopkeeper was sixty years old and at the seventh level of the Qi Refining Realm. His lineage had appointed him to manage the shop because of his extensive knowledge of spiritual herbs, and his eye was sharp.
After so many years of dealing with customers, he could size up most visitors almost as soon as they arrived.
Whether they were novices or experts, rogue cultivators or aristocratic clan disciples, and what level of hospitality they required—he knew it all inside out.
The moment Jiang Sheng and Xu Xiao entered, the shopkeeper knew these two Foundation Establishment Realm seniors had extraordinary backgrounds. Ordinary rogue cultivators aside, even among Dongjun's aristocratic clan disciples, few possessed such bearing.
What was more, their otherworldly air and composed expressions made it clear that they had seen their share of grand occasions.
The shopkeeper understood at once: these were not people he could swindle. He had to receive them with care.
"Please, seniors. What are you standing around for? Serve our two seniors some tea!"
While scolding the assistant, the shopkeeper invited Jiang Sheng and Xu Xiao to sit, then stood beside them with a smile. "What spiritual herbs might you two seniors require?"
Jiang Sheng considered briefly before saying, "Hundred-year-old snake-saliva fruit and red-silk flower, wind-chime herb and light-spirit flower over fifty years old, black ganoderma and seven-star herb over two hundred years old, and myriad herb dew."
The more the shopkeeper heard, the more astonished he became. These were clearly ingredients for refining Foundation Establishment Realm pills. Could this senior also be a second-tier alchemist?!
The shopkeeper knew better than anyone how prestigious an alchemist was.
If the Cha Family had a second-tier alchemist capable of refining Foundation Establishment Pills, why would they have to hand over vast sums of spirit stones to the three great sects?
Qing Province's three great Golden Core Realm sects released a batch of Foundation Establishment Pills only once every sixty years. Which aristocratic clan in the eight commanderies did not fight tooth and nail for them?
But alchemists capable of refining second-tier pills were rare in Qing Province to begin with. They either served as attendants in the three great Golden Core Realm sects or were kept well hidden by the few Purple Mansion Realm aristocratic clans.
At the very least, the Cha Family had genuinely failed to cultivate a second-tier alchemist.
Thinking that this Foundation Establishment Realm senior might be a second-tier alchemist, the shopkeeper respectfully ordered the herbs brought over while secretly sending someone to notify his lineage's Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators.
Xu Xiao noticed his little maneuver and transmitted her voice to Jiang Sheng. "Young Master Yuanchen, things may get lively in a moment."
Jiang Sheng merely smiled. "What's wrong with a little liveliness?"
Before long, the shopkeeper seemed to receive some news and respectfully addressed Jiang Sheng and Xu Xiao. "Seniors, second-tier spiritual herbs are worth a fortune. Please come upstairs."
Jiang Sheng did not refuse. He and Xu Xiao followed the shopkeeper to the second floor.
Upon reaching the second floor, Jiang Sheng saw a middle-aged-looking Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator.
This cultivator was a lineage elder of the Cha Family named Cha Liangping. Though he was only at the Foundation Establishment Early Stage, he was the younger brother of the Cha Family's Purple Mansion Realm ancestor, Cha Liangcai, and therefore held an exceptional position within the lineage.
Though Cha Liangping was not particularly strong in combat, he had an exceptionally sharp mind. Whether conducting business or assisting with lineage affairs, he handled everything with flair, earning considerable respect from his relatives.
The moment Cha Liangping saw Jiang Sheng and Xu Xiao, he knew today's business would not be simple.
Not merely because both were at the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage, but because he recognized Xu Xiao.
She was the personal disciple of Konglan, a Purple Mansion Realm elder of the Moon-Embracing Sect, and the eldest young lady of Qing Commandery's Xu Family. As an elder of the Purple Mansion Realm Cha Family, how could he not recognize someone of her standing?
"The shopkeeper told me two Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators had arrived—a strikingly handsome man and a woman beautiful as a celestial maiden, both with otherworldly bearing. I wondered when Dongjun had gained such a jade-like pair. To think it was Fairy Xu! Forgive me for not coming out to welcome you." Smiling, Cha Liangping invited Jiang Sheng and Xu Xiao to sit.
Xu Xiao was accustomed to such situations and smiled gently. "I was merely passing through. I never imagined buying a few medicinal ingredients would disturb you. The fault is mine."
Cha Liangping quickly replied, "How can you say that, Fairy Xu? Our two families have been friends for generations. If you come to Dongjun and the Cha Family fails to receive you properly, I could hardly bear it if your honored father blamed me."
Xu Xiao exchanged a few more pleasantries with Cha Liangping before finally steering the conversation toward Jiang Sheng.
Cha Liangping looked at Jiang Sheng. "And this gentleman is...?"
Jiang Sheng offered a slight bow. "I am Jiang Sheng, a cultivator of Qingping Mountain."
Jiang Sheng!
That name now thundered in everyone's ears throughout the commandery city!
Who did not know that a prodigy lived in seclusion on Qingping Mountain, one who had challenged the Purple Mansion Realm from the Foundation Establishment Realm and shaken the heavens with a single sword strike?
Cha Liangping hurriedly rose and returned the bow. "So you are Daoist Jiang! Forgive my discourtesy, forgive my discourtesy."
"I should have known that someone beside a lady of Fairy Xu's standing could hardly be ordinary. I never imagined that, beyond your peerless swordsmanship, you were also proficient in alchemy."
"I can hardly call myself proficient in alchemy. I merely practice it when I have nothing else to do," Jiang Sheng said modestly.
But how could Cha Liangping underestimate him?
In all of Dongjun, the only person capable of fighting a Purple Mansion Realm cultivator had been his elder brother, Cha Liangcai.
Now Jiang Sheng had joined that number. Moreover, he had challenged the Purple Mansion Realm from the Foundation Establishment Realm. How could such a prodigy be taken lightly?
Upon learning that Jiang Sheng wanted to refine pills, Cha Liangping waved his hand decisively. "A prodigy like Daoist Jiang honors the Cha Family by visiting our herb shop. Today, every spiritual herb you require will be sold at half price. Please don't stand on ceremony."
"In that case, it would be discourteous of me to refuse."
Seeing that Jiang Sheng had accepted, Cha Liangping grew even happier. He ordered spiritual tea and pastries brought over and chatted with Jiang Sheng about interesting happenings in Dongjun.
As they chatted, Jiang Sheng said, "Actually, there is another matter. Meeting you here must be fate, Fellow Daoist Cha, and I believe it would be more appropriate to leave this matter in your hands."
Cha Liangping was somewhat surprised. "Oh? If you need my help with anything, Fellow Daoist Jiang, please speak freely."
Jiang Sheng took out a stack of azure talismans. "I drew these talismans, but have been wondering where to sell them."
Cha Liangping was truly astonished. Every talisman before him was a high-grade second-tier talisman!
Only then did he recall the rumors about Jiang Sheng's origins. It was said that every Penglai cultivator excelled at talisman crafting. Outside Penglai, its talismans fetched at least thirty percent more than those made by ordinary talisman makers.
The value of this stack of second-tier talismans was certainly not to be underestimated!
These were treasures that could bolster the lineage's reserves. Moreover, if a lineage disciple traveled with a Penglai-made talisman for protection, it would certainly provide an extra measure of safety.
Thus, Cha Liangping unhesitatingly bought every talisman for thirty percent above market price, openly demonstrating his desire to befriend Jiang Sheng.
Jiang Sheng was naturally delighted. He used those spirit stones to purchase spiritual herbs and also asked Cha Liangping to help him buy a second-tier alchemy furnace.
Cha Liangping was exceedingly enthusiastic and personally brought out a three-legged alchemy furnace with two handles. "Fellow Daoist Jiang, this furnace was forged from earth-spirit gold, mind copper essence, scarlet fire essence, and forest-spirit copper. Even among second-tier furnaces, it ranks above average. If it suits your eye, please take it."
After examining it, Jiang Sheng accepted the furnace and bought all the spiritual herbs he needed. He still had a considerable number of spirit stones left.
After some thought, Jiang Sheng added, "Sorry for the trouble, Shopkeeper, but please bring me another hundred portions each of calming-heart herb, azure-sky flower, silver-moon flower, flowing-heart grass, and earth-yellow ginseng."
The shopkeeper hurried to fetch these herbs as well, finally satisfying Jiang Sheng's appetite.
Once all the transactions were completed, Cha Liangping wanted to invite Jiang Sheng to visit the Cha Family, but Jiang Sheng politely declined on the grounds that his Daoist temple had been left unattended.
Cha Liangping did not insist. After seeing Jiang Sheng and Xu Xiao off, he immediately hurried back to his lineage.
"Is my elder brother here?"
"Second Elder, the ancestor is in the rear courtyard."
Hurrying into the rear courtyard, Cha Liangping saw Cha Liangcai fishing and immediately approached him. "Brother, do you know whom I met today?"
"Who?" Cha Liangcai sounded rather distracted.
"Jiang Sheng and Xu Xiao of the Xu Family," Cha Liangping replied.
Cha Liangcai's hand paused on his fishing rod, and he straightened. "What brought them here?"
"Xu Xiao was returning to the Moon-Embracing Sect, while Jiang Sheng came to buy a batch of spiritual herbs," Cha Liangping said.
Cha Liangcai smiled. "Truly worthy of being a Penglai prodigy. Not only is his swordsmanship extraordinary, he understands alchemy as well."
"More than that, Jiang Sheng is also proficient in talisman crafting. These are the talismans he made, all high-grade second-tier ones. I bought every last one, and charged him only half price for the herbs he wanted." As he spoke, Cha Liangping took out the stack of talismans and handed it to Cha Liangcai for inspection.
After sensing their power, Cha Liangcai nodded. "You handled this well. Give these talismans to the youngsters in the lineage; they will have another measure of protection outside. If Jiang Sheng comes to buy herbs again, continue selling them to him at half price."
Cha Liangping nodded, sounding a little regretful. "If only we could make Jiang Sheng one of our own."
Cha Liangcai laughed. "What lovely dream are you having? Jiang Sheng is a Penglai prodigy who challenged the Purple Mansion Realm while still in the Foundation Establishment Realm. He is certain to attain the Golden Core Realm someday. How could such a person remain confined to this mere Dongjun forever?"
"We have no conflicting interests with someone like him. Simply maintaining good relations will leave our lineage another reserve to draw upon."
Thinking of the mysterious river god in the Taiping River, then of himself, Cha Liangcai sighed softly. "The Cha Family has reached a bottleneck. Without outside help, substantial growth will be difficult. Perhaps someday, we will need this Penglai prodigy..."
Here is today's second update~ Another six-thousand-character day. I really am hardworking.
(End of chapter)
Please spare a moment to share this website on Facebook so that we can keep it running.
Before you continue