Marketplace Observations, Fame Spreads Across Dongjun

Marketplace Observations, Fame Spreads Across Dongjun

A single marketplace could bring in hundreds of thousands of spirit stones in profit each year!

When the great families of an entire commandery divided it among themselves, naturally no one family received much. But what if one person monopolized it all?

Jiang Sheng could not help thinking that once he opened his Purple Mansion, perhaps he should establish a marketplace on Qingping Mountain as well.

Qingping Mountain lay at the junction of three commanderies and could at least draw in quite a few Rogue Cultivators from all three.

When the time came, he would not charge any entrance fee. Just taking a cut from those stalls each year would already amount to no small sum!

This had potential!

Jiang Sheng knew very well that he could open his Purple Mansion without the Purple Cloud Barrier-Breaking Pill, without Purple Yang Jade or Purple Heart Jade Marrow, but when it came time to form his core, all kinds of great medicines would be indispensable.

If he wanted to cultivate a high-grade Golden Core, he would need all manner of great medicines, and the expenses would certainly be substantial.

Setting this thought aside for now, Jiang Sheng and Xu Xiao entered the marketplace.

Besides the rows of shops, the marketplace was filled mostly with Rogue Cultivators setting up stalls.

Unable to afford shops, these Rogue Cultivators could only lay out ground stalls to attract passing cultivators.

Jiang Sheng stopped and started along the way, but after making the rounds, he saw nothing particularly good, much less any overlooked treasure.

In the end, Jiang Sheng entered the Cha Family's spirit herb shop to purchase medicinal herbs.

Seeing that two Foundation Establishment cultivators had arrived, the shop assistant hurriedly informed the shopkeeper.

The shopkeeper was now sixty years old and at the seventh level of Qi Refinement. Because he was well versed in spirit herbs, the family had appointed him as the spirit herb shop's manager. He had a keen eye.

After receiving and dealing with people for so many years, he could gauge a visitor with near-perfect accuracy the moment they arrived.

Whether they were an amateur or an expert, a Rogue Cultivator or a child of a great family—he knew exactly what level of reception each required.

The moment Jiang Sheng and Xu Xiao entered, the shopkeeper knew that these two Foundation Establishment seniors were absolutely not ordinary people. Not to mention ordinary Rogue Cultivators, even among the great families of Dongjun, few junior members possessed such bearing.

What was more, the two had an otherworldly air and calm expressions. They had clearly seen the world and weathered great occasions.

The shopkeeper immediately understood: these were not people he could swindle. He had to receive them with care.

"Please, Seniors. What are you standing around for? Hurry and serve tea to the two Seniors."

As he rebuked the assistant, the shopkeeper invited Jiang Sheng and Xu Xiao to sit. Then, standing nearby with a smile, he asked, "May I ask what spirit herbs the two Seniors require?"

After pondering for a moment, Jiang Sheng said, "Hundred-year 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. I also need Myriad Herb Dew."

The more the shopkeeper heard, the more astonished he became. These were clearly spirit herbs needed to refine Foundation Establishment-stage pills. Could this Foundation Establishment senior be a second-rank alchemist as well?!

The shopkeeper understood better than anyone just how esteemed an alchemist was.

If the Cha Family had a second-rank alchemist capable of refining Foundation Establishment Pills, why would they need to hand over vast quantities of spirit stones to the three great sects?

Qing Province's three great Golden Core sects only released a batch of Foundation Establishment Pills every sixty years. For those pills, which of the great families in the eight commanderies did not fight until their heads were bloodied?

Yet alchemists capable of refining second-rank pills were already rare in Qing Province. Either they served as honored guests within the three great Golden Core sects, or they were carefully kept by several Purple Mansion families.

At the very least, the Cha Family truly had not managed to cultivate a second-rank alchemist.

Thinking that the Foundation Establishment senior before him might be a second-rank alchemist, the shopkeeper respectfully ordered someone to fetch the herbs at once while secretly dispatching someone to notify the family's Foundation Establishment cultivators.

Xu Xiao noticed the shopkeeper's little movements and sent a voice transmission to Jiang Sheng. "Young Master Yuanchen, I fear things are about to get lively."

Jiang Sheng merely smiled. "What is wrong with a little excitement?"

Before long, the shopkeeper seemed to have received some news. He respectfully said to Jiang Sheng and Xu Xiao, "Two Seniors, second-rank spirit herbs are worth a fortune. Please come upstairs."

Jiang Sheng did not refuse. Led by the shopkeeper, he and Xu Xiao went up to the second floor.

The moment he reached the second floor, Jiang Sheng saw a middle-aged Foundation Establishment cultivator.

This Foundation Establishment cultivator was an elder of the Cha Family, named Cha Liangping. Though he was only at the early Foundation Establishment stage, he held an extraordinary position in the family because he was the younger brother of the Cha Family's Purple Mansion patriarch, Cha Liangcai.

Although Cha Liangping was not particularly strong in battle, his mind was exceptionally sharp. Whether conducting business or assisting with family affairs, he handled everything with flair, and the members of the family held him in especially high regard.

The moment Cha Liangping saw Jiang Sheng and Xu Xiao, he knew this matter would not be easy to handle today.

It was not merely because Jiang Sheng and Xu Xiao were both at the middle Foundation Establishment stage. More importantly, he recognized Xu Xiao.

The personal disciple of Konglan, a Purple Mansion elder of the Moon-Embracing Sect, and the eldest daughter of the Xu Family of Qing Commandery—how could an elder of the Purple Mansion Cha Family fail to recognize someone of such status?

"I heard from the shopkeeper that two Foundation Establishment cultivators had come to the spirit herb shop—the man handsome and dashing, the woman as beautiful as a celestial maiden, both with an otherworldly air. I was wondering when Dongjun had gained such a pair of jade-like figures. I never expected it would be Fairy Xu. Forgive this old man for failing to welcome you properly." Cha Liangping smiled as he invited Jiang Sheng and Xu Xiao to sit.

Xu Xiao was accustomed to such scenes and smiled sweetly. "This little woman was merely passing through. I never expected that purchasing a few medicinal herbs would disturb you. It is this little woman's fault."

Cha Liangping hurriedly said, "What are you saying, Fairy Xu? The Xu Family and the Cha Family have always been old friends. Since Fairy has come to Dongjun, if our Cha Family fails to receive you properly, this old man will not be able to bear it if your esteemed father holds us accountable."

Xu Xiao exchanged another round of polite pleasantries with Cha Liangping before finally steering the conversation toward Jiang Sheng.

Cha Liangping looked at Jiang Sheng. "May I ask who this is?"

Jiang Sheng gave a slight salute. "This humble Daoist is a Qi Refiner of Qingping Mountain, Jiang Sheng."

Jiang Sheng!

This name was now thunderous throughout the commandery city!

Who did not know that Qingping Mountain concealed a genius who, upon making his move, had used Foundation Establishment cultivation to fight a Purple Mansion cultivator across realms, sending the heavens reeling with a single sword strike?

Cha Liangping hurriedly rose and returned the salute. "So it is Daoist Jiang! This old man has been discourteous, truly discourteous."

"No wonder someone of Fairy Xu's status would not have an ordinary person by her side. I never expected that not only was Daoist Jiang's swordsmanship exceptional, but you were also skilled in alchemy."

"I would not call myself skilled in alchemy. I merely practice it to pass the time when I have nothing to do." Jiang Sheng appeared very modest.

But how could Cha Liangping possibly underestimate Jiang Sheng?

In all of Dongjun, the only person capable of fighting a Purple Mansion cultivator was his elder brother, the Purple Mansion cultivator Cha Liangcai.

Yet now there was Jiang Sheng as well. Moreover, Jiang Sheng had crossed realms to fight a Purple Mansion cultivator while still at Foundation Establishment. How could one underestimate such a genius?

Once he learned that Jiang Sheng wished to refine pills, Cha Liangping immediately waved his hand. "For a genius like Daoist Jiang to visit our Cha Family's spirit herb shop is an honor to our Cha Family. For all the spirit herbs Daoist Jiang requires today, the Cha Family will charge only half price. I hope Daoist Jiang will not stand on ceremony."

"In that case, this humble Daoist will accept your kindness without further ceremony."

Seeing that Jiang Sheng did not refuse, Cha Liangping became even happier. He ordered someone to bring spirit tea and pastries, then chatted with Jiang Sheng about interesting matters in Dongjun.

As they spoke, Jiang Sheng said, "Speaking of which, this humble Daoist has another matter to attend to. It is fate that I encountered Fellow Daoist Cha here, and I believe it would be more appropriate for Fellow Daoist Cha to handle this matter."

Cha Liangping was somewhat surprised. "Oh? If Fellow Daoist Jiang needs this old man's help, please speak freely."

Jiang Sheng took out a stack of azure talismans. "These talismans were drawn by this humble Daoist, and I happen not to know where to sell them."

Cha Liangping was truly startled. Looking at the talismans before him, he found that every one of them was a high-grade second-rank talisman!

At this moment, Cha Liangping finally recalled the rumors of Jiang Sheng's origins. It was said that every cultivator from Penglai excelled at talisman crafting, and talismans produced by Penglai were worth over thirty percent more than those refined by ordinary talisman makers when sold outside.

The value of this stack of second-rank talismans absolutely could not be underestimated!

These were items that could serve as part of a family's foundation. Not to mention that when family disciples traveled outside, having a talisman refined by Penglai for protection would undoubtedly provide an additional layer of security.

Thus, Cha Liangping did not hesitate to purchase every talisman at a price thirty percent above the market rate, making it obvious that he wanted to befriend Jiang Sheng.

Jiang Sheng was naturally delighted. He immediately used the spirit stones to purchase medicinal herbs and also asked Cha Liangping to help him buy a second-rank pill furnace.

Cha Liangping was extremely enthusiastic and personally brought out a pill furnace with three legs and two handles. "Fellow Daoist Jiang, this pill furnace was made from Earth-Spirit Gold, Mind Copper Essence, Scarlet Fire Essence, and Forest-Spirit Copper. It is considered above average among second-rank pill furnaces. If Fellow Daoist Jiang finds it acceptable, please take it."

After examining it, Jiang Sheng accepted the pill furnace. At the same time, he purchased all the medicinal herbs he needed, yet still had quite a few spirit stones remaining.

After some thought, Jiang Sheng added, "Please trouble the shopkeeper to fetch one hundred portions each of Tranquil-Heart Grass, Azure-Sky Flower, Silver-Moon Flower, Flowing-Heart Grass, and Earth-Yellow Ginseng for this humble Daoist."

The shopkeeper hurriedly brought Jiang Sheng these spirit herbs as well, finally satisfying Jiang Sheng's appetite.

After all the transactions were complete, Cha Liangping also wished to invite Jiang Sheng to the Cha Family as a guest, but Jiang Sheng politely declined on the grounds that no one was guarding his Daoist temple.

Cha Liangping did not force the matter. After seeing Jiang Sheng and Xu Xiao off, he immediately hurried back to the family estate.

"Is Elder Brother here?"

"Second Elder, the patriarch is in the rear courtyard."

Rushing to the rear courtyard, Cha Liangping saw Cha Liangcai fishing and immediately stepped forward. "Elder Brother, do you know whom I met today?"

"Who?" Cha Liangcai asked somewhat absentmindedly.

"Jiang Sheng and Xu Xiao of the Xu Family," Cha Liangping said.

Cha Liangcai's hand holding the fishing rod paused. Then he sat up straight. "What were they doing here?"

"Xu Xiao was returning to the Moon-Embracing Sect, while Jiang Sheng came to purchase a batch of medicinal herbs," Cha Liangping said.

Cha Liangcai smiled. "Truly worthy of being a genius from Penglai. Not only is his swordsmanship extraordinary, he also understands alchemy."

"Not only that. Jiang Sheng is also skilled in talisman crafting. These are the talismans he refined—all high-grade second-rank talismans. I have bought them all, and I charged him only half price for the medicinal herbs he wanted." As Cha Liangping spoke, he took out a stack of talismans and handed them to Cha Liangcai for inspection.

Cha Liangcai examined them with his spiritual sense and nodded. "You handled this correctly. Give these talismans to the younger ones in the family; they will provide them with an extra measure of protection outside. If Jiang Sheng comes to buy spirit herbs again in the future, continue selling them to him at half price."

Cha Liangping nodded, somewhat regretful. "It would be wonderful if we could make Jiang Sheng one of our own."

Cha Liangcai smiled. "What pleasant dream are you having? Jiang Sheng is a genius of Penglai. At the Foundation Establishment realm, he already fought a Purple Mansion cultivator across realms. In the future, he will certainly attain the Golden Core Realm. How could a figure like him remain trapped in this mere Dongjun for long?"

"We have no conflicts of interest with someone like him. We need only befriend him, and that alone will leave the family with a piece of foundation."

Thinking of that mysterious River God in the Taiping River, then of himself, Cha Liangcai sighed faintly. "The Cha Family has now reached a bottleneck. Without outside aid, it will be difficult for us to achieve great development. Perhaps one day, we may need this genius of Penglai..."