Qiankun Society

A few days later, Su Fan came to the market town again and set up a stall to sell talismans.

The rogue cultivators setting up stalls next to him were all discussing the Misty Rain Pavilion.

Especially when they talked about the Female Bodhisattvas of the Misty Rain Pavilion, they all sighed and reminisced.

Only Su Fan didn't participate. He sat leisurely on a stool in front of his stall, reading a book.

He kept a low profile.

Since the Qingxuan Sect took over Shaoyang Market Town, the arrival of flying ships had made transportation more convenient, and many well-known shops from the Western Wilderness had set up branches in Shaoyang Market Town.

Now, the market town was getting more and more crowded.

Sects and immortal cultivation families from all over the Chu Kingdom, for major transactions and purchases, would choose Shaoyang Market Town as their first option.

Not to mention the rogue cultivators, they all came from various places to settle here.

It is estimated that the number of rogue cultivators gathered near Shaoyang Market Town now has already exceeded twenty thousand.

The surrounding shantytowns had expanded again and again, stretching for several miles.

The prosperity of the market town had also spurred the development of the market.

The Qingxuan Sect had expanded the market town by another circle. The original cross-shaped main street had now been expanded into a well-shaped layout, and even the market for scattered stalls had doubled in size.

Even so, the market was still crowded with people every day.

Of course, business was getting better and better.

Even though Su Fan adopted a strategy of scarcity and increased the selling price of his talismans, his business was still booming.

He originally thought that the talismans he had on hand could last for two to three years, but at the current pace, they wouldn't even last a year.

Actually, Su Fan preferred the old Shaoyang Market Town; it was so much quieter.

Looking at the crowds of people in the market every day now, it was too damn noisy.

In fact, the prosperity of the market town had little to do with him; he wasn't worried about selling the talismans he had anyway.

The prosperity of the market town not only spurred market development but also caused prices to rise.

Now, the stall fees in the scattered stall market had more than doubled compared to before. The rent for the house he was living in had also doubled.

Anyway, everything was rising, even Spirit Rice had increased by fifty percent.

What was even more disgusting was that some rogue cultivators near the market town who were prone to fighting had started to band together.

Now, several of the largest gangs had the beginnings of a dark underworld force.

As the market town became more prosperous, the public security situation also deteriorated.

The disciples of the Qingxuan Sect had no intention of dealing with these trivial matters, so they simply handed over the work of maintaining public order to these rogue cultivator groups.

The Qingxuan Sect's law enforcement team was only responsible for serious crimes.

As a result, overnight, many rogue cultivator gangs and groups emerged.

There were groups like the Crimson Dragon Society, Qiankun Society, North Saber Hall, Taihe Hall, Sky Saber Alliance, Dark Cloud Gang, Swift Wind Hall, and so on, numbering more than ten.

These rogue cultivator gangs and groups were even more detestable than bandit cultivators.

In fact, some of them were originally bandit cultivators, and now, after washing themselves clean, they had become members of rogue cultivator groups.

They bribed Qingxuan Sect disciples and began to stir up trouble in the market town. They didn't dare to offend the large shops, so they only targeted the rogue cultivators in the market town.

Fortunately, they were still somewhat restrained for now, only collecting protection fees from some small shops and scattered stalls.

Su Fan didn't want trouble. Paying a few dozen Magic Coins every day had no impact on him.

By noon, the talismans on his stall were almost sold out, so he began to pack up.

Every time he came to the scattered stall market, he only brought a dozen mid-grade talismans, and he would leave after they were sold.

Before he could start packing up, dozens of fierce-looking rogue cultivators walked into the scattered stall market.

These people exuded a strong aura of hostility, and it was clear they were not to be trifled with. They went from stall to stall, collecting protection fees.

The stall owners were immediately unhappy. They had just paid in the morning, and now they were being asked to pay again at noon. How could there be such a rule?

The market immediately became noisy. A few brave stall owners even got into arguments and scuffles with the newcomers.

As a result, they were beaten badly, and their goods were looted by these people.

At this moment, several Qingxuan Sect disciples walked into the scattered stall market.

The stall owners began to pour out their grievances about the thugs' atrocities. However, the Qingxuan Sect disciples completely ignored them and even exchanged a few words with the gang members.

After the Qingxuan Sect disciples left, these gang members became even more rampant.

"From today onwards, this place belongs to our Qiankun Society. If anyone dares to cause trouble here and delay everyone's business, our Qiankun Society will uphold justice for you."

Hearing the words of these people, the rogue cultivator stall owners cursed the Qiankun Society for being shameless in their hearts.

But curses were curses; no one dared to defy these people. They all started paying the money.

Two members of the Qiankun Society came to Su Fan's neighboring stall and arrogantly demanded money from the stall owner.

"Wasn't it thirty Magic Coins? Why did it increase so much?"

"Stop the nonsense. If you don't pay, I'll break your dog legs. Don't even think about setting up a stall here again."

The stall owner had no choice. With a face full of grief and indignation, he took out fifty magic coins and handed them over.

Su Fan sighed inwardly. This place was getting harder and harder to get by in.

He didn't intend to make a fuss. It wasn't worth arguing with them over a few dozen coins, so he chose to pay directly.

"Damn it, you sons of bitches, I'll destroy you sooner or later..."

"These guys are even greedier than the Crimson Dragon Society. They've raised the prices this much. Life will be tough from now on..."

"Wasn't the leader of the Crimson Dragon Society in the Late Qi Refining stage? Why did they give this place up to the Qiankun Society..."

"Sigh... The leader of the Crimson Dragon Society was killed a few days ago..."

Su Fan listened to the discussions of the surrounding stall owners while packing up his stall, shaking his head with a bitter smile.

He slung his pack over his shoulder and left the market town.

It was best to come here less often. From now on, he would only come for three days a month to avoid unnecessary trouble.

When Su Fan returned home, Ye Tianhe had arrived again and was sitting in the living room.

Now, this guy could come and go as he pleased. Sometimes, when Su Fan went to set up his stall, Ye Tianhe would even learn to cook for himself.

He was especially fond of Su Fan's soy sauce-marinated meat. Coupled with Su Fan, who was a bottomless pit, the stock of demonic beast meat was running low.

With prices soaring, fresh demonic beast meat had already quadrupled in price.

If this continued, he was even considering venturing into the mountains to hunt demonic beasts himself.

Seeing Su Fan enter the house, Ye Tianhe put down his book.

"The spirit rice just started cooking. I didn't bring any for you, who told you to come back so early..."

This guy had practically made himself at home here. What else could Su Fan say?

A moment later, Ye Tianhe suddenly said.

"Aren't you curious about the Misty Rain Pavilion..."

Su Fan shook his head and feigned confusion, asking, "Misty Rain Pavilion? What do they sell?"

Ye Tianhe was stunned for a moment. He pointed at Su Fan and got up to go to the kitchen.

Su Fan curled his lips. Misty Rain Pavilion? What did that have to do with him?

Not only that, but he also didn't want to mention what had happened at the market today.

Was he supposed to find a Sword Cultivator to kill those people over such a trivial matter? That was ridiculous.

Of course, Ye Tianhe would be happy to do the killing.

But he was only staying here for a few months. After he left, what would Su Fan do? Would he fight those people?

It was better to just get by. If things really didn't work out, he could just leave.

He could find any small market town. With hundreds of mid-grade talismans in his pocket, he wouldn't starve anywhere.

For the next ten-plus days, everything was calm.

He went to the market town for three days each month, setting out twenty to thirty talismans. Once they were sold, he would leave.

The rest of the time, he stayed at home cultivating.

After entering the Mid Qi Refining stage, the effect of the Yellow Spirit Pill was significantly less than before.

Su Fan tried taking the Foundation Cultivation Pill, and the effect was quite good.

Taking one every three days, the proficiency in his Qi Refining realm on the panel increased by about five points each month.

It would take about a year and a half to cultivate to the peak of the Qi Refining Fourth Layer.

With such a fast cultivation speed, what more could Su Fan be dissatisfied with? Even disciples of a sect wouldn't be much faster.

His only concern was that long-term reliance on pills would definitely accumulate some pill toxins in his body.

Cultivators in this world all took pills to speed up their cultivation.

But no one took them like Su Fan, over a hundred pills a year. He treated them like candy.

Pill toxins accumulating in the body not only affected the foundation of cultivation but also created bottlenecks when cultivators broke through their realms.

But Su Fan had no choice; his aptitude was too poor.

Even with a heaven-defying game panel, his foundation was still too low.

Without relying on pills, let alone reaching Foundation Establishment, it would be difficult for him to even break through to Late Qi Refining in this lifetime.

There wasn't no solution, and that was to take the Marrow Cleansing Pill.

Many sect disciples relied on this pill to clear the pill toxins in their bodies.

Not only was this pill extremely expensive, but the spiritual herbs required for its refinement were also relatively rare.

Even sect disciples had to accumulate many years of good deeds before they could exchange for one.

But cost was one thing; you couldn't even buy it in the market town.

Just as he was at his wit's end, a turning point appeared.

Every time he sparred with Ye Tianhe, the lightning Dao Seed would consume some electricity.

To ensure sufficient electricity within the Dao Seed, Su Fan had no choice but to recharge his power bank once more.

How to recharge? By getting struck by lightning, of course.

Although he had undergone Heavenly Thunder Empowerment more than once, the entire process was still like hell.

He never dreamed that getting struck by lightning this time would bring him a pleasant surprise.

Heavenly Thunder Empowerment not only tempered his physical body but also cleansed his marrow and washed his tendons, clearing the impurities within him.

Compared to the Marrow Cleansing Pill, its effect in clearing pill toxins was far superior.

While Su Fan was pleasantly surprised, he couldn't help but sigh. His fate was to be struck by lightning.

Having completely resolved the issue of pill toxins in his body, he naturally wouldn't stick to the old ways anymore and decided to increase his dosage of pills.

From now on, he would take one Foundation Cultivation Pill every two days.

With this, he could cultivate to the peak of the Qi Refining Fourth Layer in just over a year.

Actually, Su Fan was quite content with his current life.

Except for being extorted fifty Magic Coins by the Qiankun Society every time he went to the market stalls, which annoyed him greatly.

But that was a minor issue; he could afford the hundred or so Magic Coins each month.

However, fate seemed to have other plans for him.

One day, he arrived at the market town again.

Business was exceptionally good today; by noon, most of his talismans were sold out.

Just as he was about to pack up, several people from the Qiankun Society approached his stall. The leader spoke directly, stating their purpose.

"Starting tomorrow, the price of talismans will be doubled."

Su Fan was a bit bewildered and asked, "Why..."

"Why so much nonsense? Just raise the price if you're told to..."

After speaking, the man didn't linger and left.

The stall owners nearby watched the departing group and then crowded around.

"Old Fan, you Talisman Masters are going to strike it rich."

"Yeah, isn't a price increase a good thing..."

"If only I had persisted back then, I would be a Talisman Master now. Alas..."

Looking at the envious eyes of the surrounding stall owners, Su Fan sneered inwardly.

The Qiankun Society was getting bolder. This was clearly an act of bullying and monopolizing the market.

This behavior was no different from the fishing and vegetable bullies of his past life, manipulating market prices for exorbitant profits.

He wasn't worried about the price of talismans increasing; he had no shortage of supply, and selling less was even better.

But if this precedent was set, who knew what outrageous things the Qiankun Society might do in the future.

Thanks to Ai La Wu You, Aoteman999, Wang Wen San Dai, Xi Huan Xiao Bai Wen, and Shu You 20181125140200635 for their recommendation tickets. Lao Bu expresses his deepest gratitude. Thank you all for your love and support.