Refining the Sword Control Technique, Opening a Small Shop

"Ling'er, has Chen Fan sent back any news recently?" Chen Ze asked, feeling bored.

"Reporting to Master, not yet. Chen Fan has been busy taking on missions outside and hasn't returned to the Qingyun Sect. However, once this mission is complete, he can take the opportunity to reveal his Foundation Establishment cultivation, which will allow him to enter the Qingyun Sect's inner circle."

"That's good," Chen Ze said indifferently, then asked, "How are things at the Mysterious Iron Ore mine? Is there anyone still refusing to obey?"

"Reporting to Master, everything is normal at the mine. Those who needed to be killed have been dealt with, and it was done right in front of the Ye Family members. The daily output of Xuantian Ore is now quite stable. However, the day for the Ye Family to come and collect the Mysterious Iron Ore is approaching. If we don't hand over any ore, the Ye Family will surely grow suspicious and send people to investigate."

After a moment of contemplation, Chen Ze said, "It doesn't matter. If they come to investigate, just capture them and put them to work in the mines. As long as the Ye Family's Golden Core cultivators don't show up, everything is manageable. If we can just stall for another ten days or half a month, even if a Golden Core cultivator comes, it won't be a problem. I didn't exchange for those doppelgangers for nothing; even if the Ye Family sends a Golden Core expert, the outcome is far from certain. Besides, it's still up for debate whether the Ye Family even has a Golden Core cultivator."

Over the past ten days, the Mysterious Iron Ore mine had contributed over two thousand points daily, allowing Chen Ze to exchange for a new doppelganger almost every day. There were now twenty-four doppelgangers in the mine, all at the Foundation Establishment Fourth Layer. Any one of them could kill the Ye Family's previous guards in the mine tunnel in an instant. Even if a Ye Family Golden Core cultivator arrived, they would have to think twice about whether they could withstand a gang-beating from these doppelgangers.

"Master, Zhao Yun says he has already crossed the Dagan border. Should we send those miners over?"

"Zhao Yun is moving that fast?"

"Zhao Yun says it's all thanks to the Sword Control Technique that he can travel at such speed."

Chen Ze curled his lip imperceptibly, thinking to himself, Well, of course. Just look at what level of Sword Control Technique that is. In order to master the technique, Chen Ze had switched his focus to it immediately after reaching Perfection in the Thirteen Swords of Star Movement. His original goal was simply to achieve Sword Flight, but he hadn't expected to reach the Grandmaster-level directly. His current Sword Control Technique was incomparable to what it once was; to put it simply, traveling a thousand miles a day was an understatement.

"Let the miners go! They are innocent, after all. But since they're leaving, the workforce will be smaller, so remember to double the workload for the Ye Family members. You handle this."

"Yes," Zhao Ling'er replied before heading off to make the arrangements.

Chen Ze lay alone on his recliner, staring blankly at the sky. "Four thousand Spirit Stones should be enough to open a small shop in Wannan City. It's been a long time since I've been out; it's time for a stroll."

A short while later, guessing that Zhao Ling'er had finished her arrangements, Chen Ze stood up, stretched, and loosened his limbs.

"Ling'er, is everything arranged?"

"Master, it is all settled."

"Good. Leave the rest to the doppelgangers. I haven't been out in ages—let's go for a walk."

"Very well, Master." Hearing that she could go out for a stroll, Zhao Ling'er looked delighted.

"Then let's go!" Chen Ze stood up and walked out of the mansion first, with the doppelganger Zhao Ling'er following closely behind.

Once they left the mansion, it didn't take long for the two to reach the main street. Having had the experience of purchasing the mansion previously, Chen Ze knew that vacant properties in Wannan City could be bought at the Property Sales Office. They didn't linger along the way and headed straight for the office.

As soon as they stepped into the Property Sales Office, a young clerk walked up to greet them. "Hello, are you looking to purchase property?"

Chen Ze spoke up, "Are there any shops for sale recently?"

The young man glanced at Chen Ze calmly, as it was rare for people to come looking for shops. He hesitated for a moment, then said with a hint of embarrassment, "There is one, but it isn't very large. If you're interested, I can take you to see it first."

"Is that the only shop?" Chen Ze hadn't expected that shops would be so hard to come by in Wannan City.

The young man nodded. "Shopfronts in Wannan City have always been in high demand. This is the only one, and it just recently became vacant."

"Fine, take me to see it." Since he had no other choice, Chen Ze decided to take a look.

"Very well, please follow me. The shop is on this street, quite close by."

The young man was pleased; this shop had actually been on the market for over three months without anyone showing interest. The main issue was its remote location at the very end of the street. In Wannan City, the prime locations had long been occupied by various clans, leaving only the mediocre spots for outsiders.

Furthermore, since street vending was not prohibited in Wannan City, shops in poorer locations were essentially unwanted.

Setting up a stall only required paying a small fee; one could open for business whenever they pleased and simply take a break when they didn't.

Now that someone had actually come to look at a shop, the young man from the Property Sales Office was naturally delighted.

The moment he had sized up Chen Ze, he realized he was a stranger.

It was clear he was an outsider, and looking at shops meant he intended to settle down in Wannan City and start a business.

The young man had already made up his mind that, no matter what, he would sell this shop today.

After walking for half a quarter of an hour, they were almost at the end of the main street.

Along the way, Chen Ze hadn't said a word, leaving the young man to do all the talking.

Chen Ze hadn't really been listening either; whatever the young man said was just a load of bragging, so it didn't matter if he heard it or not.

"We're here, it's that one." The young man pointed to a shop with closed doors at the end of the street.

Chen Ze followed the direction of the young man's finger and looked over. The shop was shut tight and didn't even have a signboard; it had likely been left unmanaged for so long that the entire place looked dilapidated.

Chen Ze looked around at the surroundings. "This location is indeed remote; there isn't even a passerby in front of the door."

Zhao Ling'er looked at the desolate shop and frowned slightly. "Master, isn't this location a bit too deserted?"

Chen Ze smiled indifferently. "It's fine, let's take a look first."

The young man also noticed the look of dissatisfaction on the pair's faces, and he felt a bit embarrassed for bringing them to see such a shop.

However, he still cheered himself on internally, I must sell this shop.

"Dear guests, don't let the lack of people in front of the shop right now fool you.

It only looks this way because the shop isn't operating.

But once your thriving business opens up, this doorway will absolutely be bustling with activity."

Chen Ze scoffed inwardly, His sales pitch is quite good. If I hadn't spent so much time hanging around Wanwu City, I might have actually believed his nonsense.

Nevertheless, Chen Ze smiled and said, "Let's go inside and take a look first!"

"Right away, I'll open the door for you." As he spoke, the young man took out the key to unlock the door.

Chen Ze continued to observe the area around the shop, carefully weighing the feasibility of opening a business in this location.