The Stocking Empire's Inauspicious Start

"Hey, junior sister, have you heard?"

"Senior sister, what did you hear?"

"Qianhua Pavilion is having a huge sale! Plus, limited-edition items are being given away for free! Hurry up and buy now! Otherwise, all the clothes will be gone!"

"What?! Qianhua Pavilion, which never offers discounts or price reductions, is having a promotion? When have they ever worried about business?"

"Who knows? Maybe the owner of the Qianhua Pavilion had a change of heart and wanted to let poor girls like us wear its expensive clothes?"

"Shh... Senior Sister, be careful. The owner of the Qianhua Pavilion is Qianhua Venerable, who is said to be a very strict female cultivator. You mustn't speak ill of her..."

"Qianhua Venerable, I didn't mean anything by it... Let's go, let's hurry up and join the queue, I heard the line stretches all the way to Phoenix Street."

"But... what about the Bihua Pavilion? The Third Elder's Bihua Pavilion is opening today, wouldn't it be bad if we didn't go and show our support...?"

"Bihua Peak sells wine. Can their clothes be better than Qianhua Pavilion's? We only have these Spirit Stones. Would you rather buy clothes from the Bihua Pavilion than clothes from the Qianhua Pavilion? Besides, the Third Elder is so popular with the female disciples. Even if we don't go, there will definitely be plenty of people who will support us."

"But we are, after all,..."

Are you going or not? If not, I'll go by myself.

"No, no, no, I'll go, I'll go..."

At the foot of Bihua Peak, another pair of sisters who had come together hurriedly ran away.

Lin Si Han watched their retreating figures and called out excitedly:

"Junior sisters, don't run away! Our clothes at the Bihua Pavilion are all high-quality and inexpensive. Even if you don't buy anything, just take a look! We also have gifts to give away!"

But the sisters left without looking back, very quickly.

Lin Si Han could only hang her head in dejection and glance back at the deserted Bihua Pavilion.

Today is the auspicious day for the grand opening of the Bihua Pavilion, Third Elder has gone to great lengths to make it happen.

First, the disciples of Earth Wood Peak were asked to build a tall building on the flat ground of Bihua Peak. In just one day, a simple and elegant wooden building with upturned eaves rose from the ground, attracting the attention of all the people passing by Bihua Peak during this period.

Everyone was filled with curiosity about the brand-new building. Just when everyone thought it was the Third Elder's second tavern, a notice gave them the answer:

The Third Elder extended a wide invitation to the female cultivators of the sect to attend the opening ceremony of the Bihua Pavilion. It turned out that Bihua Pavilion was actually a clothing store opened by the Third Elder, and it was a clothing store that exclusively served women and prohibited men from entering.

Everyone was surprised, yet they also felt it made perfect sense.

The Third Elder was not only beautiful but also loved beauty. Almost every time she was seen, she was wearing different clothes. Among many female cultivators, she was always regarded as a fashion icon. However, almost no one could match her charm, but no one questioned the Third Elder's aesthetic sense. At the same time, the Third Elder was also skilled in the art of herbs and plants, which ensured the availability of materials for her clothing.

What kind of clothes could the Third Elder possibly make?

The female cultivators of the Xuanxiao Sect were filled with anticipation, while the male cultivators protested against the "Men Not Allowed" sign at the entrance of the Bihua Pavilion, which was scheduled to open today.

But the expected grand opening did not materialize...

Not only was it not packed, it even seemed rather deserted.

Only a few female cultivators came and went at the entrance of the Bihua Pavilion, and these people all had considerable relationships with the Third Elder or his disciples.

As the ninth disciple of the Third Elder and a major contributor to overcoming the difficulties in stocking technology, Lin Si Han had put a lot of Heart's Blood into this shop. So she volunteered to attract customers at the foot of the mountain, not letting any passing female cultivators from the sect slip by, but unfortunately, the results were still minimal.

Helpless, Lin Si Han couldn't help but feel disheartened and walked dejectedly back to the mountain.

The Bihua Pavilion should have been a lively and festive occasion, but the atmosphere inside was rather somber.

The Third Elder usually wears clothes in a dark turquoise color, but today, seemingly to celebrate the opening of his clothing store, he specially changed into a bright red cheongsam.

The cheongsam was an extremely form-fitting style, perfectly highlighting the Third Elder's full curves, like a ripe peach. The side slit went all the way to her knees, and her calves, partially hidden by a layer of black, misty silk, added a touch of alluring temptation to the Third Elder's bright and elegant temperament.

Ji Lingruo stood to one side, her gaze sweeping over the Third Elder. She couldn't understand why the Third Elder, dressed so appropriately, was more alluring than those women who were dressed in flamboyant attire.

Is this... the allure of mature women?

"Si Han, why did you come back alone?"

The Third Elder stood at the entrance of the Bihua Pavilion, her delicate brows furrowed as she watched Lin Si Han slink away alone. Behind her were a group of female disciples, as well as Ji Lingruo and Wangshu Fairy.

Lin Si Han was still wearing the same blue dress today, with pure white silk stockings. She was one of the very few female cultivators who could pull off white silk stockings like Wangshu Fairy, thanks to her shy, lovely, and True Qi.

The Third Elder's tone was somewhat stern, and his expression was not good. Lin Si Han had already suffered greatly at the foot of the mountain, and now, thinking that her master was blaming her, her eyes reddened, her nose tingled, and tears streamed down her face.

"Master, I'm so sorry... I didn't bring anyone with me... Waaaaah..."

Lin Si Han was crying her eyes out. Seeing her so heartbroken, the Third Elder felt a pang of pity and secretly regretted that he had spoken with emotion.

With the Bihua Pavilion's business so sluggish, she, as the person in charge behind the scenes, is undoubtedly to blame. How could she vent her bad mood on her disciples?

"Si Han, Master didn't mean to blame you... It's not your fault for not bringing anyone. Come back and get some rest..."

The Third Elder quickly walked to Lin Si Han's side and gently buried the girl's head in his broad chest.

Eight female disciples also gathered around, gently comforting the sobbing girl.

This group of female cultivators, all beautiful, huddled together, each wearing a pair of exquisitely crafted stockings they had made themselves. What should have been a vibrant and enchanting scene was instead tinged with a quiet sadness.

They were full of confidence when they first founded Bihua Pavilion, because each of them had devoted countless Heart's Blood to this cause.

To sew a single thread perfectly, they even worked through the night for three consecutive days. These female disciples of Bihua Peak had never done any heavy work other than tending flowers and plants. Their delicate hands were covered in cuts from the fine, sharp threads, but they never complained. Instead, they found joy in their shared mission.

All the female disciples eagerly anticipated the ecstatic smiles on the faces of the female cultivators when Bihua Pavilion opened, for it would be the highest praise for their Heart's Blood. Although they regarded the slogan of surpassing Qianhua Pavilion as a joke, they all secretly dreamed that Bihua Pavilion would one day truly spread throughout the five continents.

But reality gave them a cold shower, a truly chilling one.

Ji Lingruo and Wangshu stood to one side, both somewhat at a loss.

Opening a store is no easy task, and they've been busy with everything these past few days, but things haven't gone as planned. The thought of their money-making plan falling through is disheartening.

After a while, Si Han finally stopped crying and broke free from the Third Elder's embrace.

"Si Han, is the reason they didn't come all because they went to the Qianhua Pavilion to buy clothes?"

Lin Si Han nodded emphatically, her eyes brimming with tears.

"Yes, Master, Qianhua Pavilion just had to hold a promotional event today, attracting all the female cultivators. It's just that we didn't know beforehand and ran into this bad day..."

Although the Third Elder, Bihua Venerable, had a prestigious title, Qianhua Venerable was no less powerful. These female cultivators were naturally more concerned with their own vested interests than with supporting the Third Elder.

Upon hearing this, the Third Elder's eyes darted around, and his brows furrowed in worry.

"I'm afraid this has nothing to do with whether we knew about it beforehand."

"What Master means is..."

Yu Tong is petite and mischievous. She is the Third Elder's youngest disciple and also the most outspoken.

"It's probably very close to the truth." The Third Elder shook his head and sighed, "Qianhua Pavilion, as the best clothing store in the Five Continents, never worries about selling its clothes, and it disdains using promotional methods to attract customers. But they just happened to hold this event on the day our Bihua Pavilion opened. This cannot be explained by a simple coincidence."

"Qianhua Pavilion is too wicked! What right do they have to do this! These women's clothes aren't only sold by the Qianhua Pavilion!"

Zi Xun is the eighth disciple of the Third Elder. He is usually enthusiastic and lively, and he is also more likely to be indignant when he encounters injustice.

"Yes, yes! Qianhua Pavilion is despicable!" Several disciples echoed.

The Third Elder frowned, for this matter was still unresolved. Given her high status, she shouldn't unnecessarily escalate the conflict. She advised:

"But nothing is absolute, maybe we were just unlucky."

The women then fell silent, all sighing and lamenting their cruel fate.

Although the Third Elder verbally dissuaded him, he couldn't help but think of the rigid and demanding Qianhua Venerable.

There are very few women that the Third Elder can dislike, and even fewer beauties. Qianhua Venerable is a Heavenly Immortal Ranking, yet she tops the Third Elder's secret cricket ranking. This is partly due to love turning into hate, and partly because Qianhua Venerable is actually an unlikable fanatic.

The Third Elder's establishment of the Bihua Pavilion was indeed intended to thwart the Qianhua Pavilion's monopoly and to settle a personal grudge against Qianhua Venerable. However, he did not expect that his meticulous preparations would be so easily defeated by that wretched woman, which left the Third Elder feeling extremely frustrated.

All she did was criticize Qianhua Venerable's dress design as ugly after being rejected, yet she still holds a grudge against her, causing all the Heart's Blood she and her disciples put in to be in vain.

It's not that Qianhua Venerable came first and then Qianhua Pavilion; rather, Pavilion Master of the Qianhua Pavilion are called Qianhua Venerable. Qianhua Pavilion has accumulated hundreds of years of foundation and reputation, which a small, fledgling shop could not possibly shake.

The Third Elder understood this as well, and thus comforted everyone, saying:

"Alright, alright, it's only the first day of business, no need to be discouraged. I don't believe Qianhua Pavilion can keep up with the daily promotions. Our Bihua Pavilion will eventually attract customers. The reputation of Bihua Residence for selling wine has been built up slowly. As the saying goes, good wine needs no bush."

"Don't be afraid of a deep alley..."

Several female disciples responded listlessly; the stark contrast between reality and fantasy had left them lacking confidence.

The Third Elder wanted to reprimand his disciples for their listlessness, but he couldn't bring himself to speak, and could only sigh softly:

"That's all for today. We'll reopen tomorrow. Si Han will rest tomorrow, and Zi Xun will take Yu Tong to continue building momentum within the sect."

Since things have come to this, we can only temporarily suspend operations to avoid making a fool of ourselves.

Just as Zhongmei was preparing to close down, they heard rustling footsteps coming from down the mountain.

The Third Elder's eyes immediately lit up with surprise, and he exclaimed:

"Stop! Put everything back in its place and arrange it neatly! Many women are heading towards the Bihua Pavilion; they must be attracted by it!"

The female disciples were overjoyed upon hearing this and quickly began tidying up the goods on the shelves. Ji Lingruo and Wangshu both helped check if the floor was clean.

On the mountain path, a group of brightly dressed women walked by with charming smiles.

The Third Elder was overjoyed; his extinguished hope was rekindled.

Despite being a respected figure, she completely set aside her status and acted as if she were just a shop owner, personally going out to greet the guests.

There were about twenty women who were received, and they were all flattered. Under the warm hospitality of the Third Elder and a group of female disciples of Bihua Peak, they walked into the exquisitely decorated Bihua Pavilion with smiles on their faces.

The selection of goods in the Bihua Pavilion is relatively limited, mainly consisting of stockings. The only difference between them is the color: black, white, purple, and red. The most universally flattering option is, of course, the versatile black stockings.

Although Ji Lingruo also provided several different types of modified stockings, due to the short production time and the opening concept, only basic stockings were the main focus at the beginning of the opening.

The Third Elder's business strategy was simple: to establish himself as a hosiery specialist in the eyes of customers. Winning over customers first would make it easier to expand into other women's clothing businesses later. However, a standalone store that immediately tries to sell a wide variety of women's clothing is highly likely to fail.

The customers who entered the store all seemed very interested in the stockings, and the female disciples were enthusiastically introducing them to the customers.

But as time went by, most of the twenty customers left, and not one of them expressed any desire to buy anything before leaving.

It's perfectly normal for women to browse without buying anything, but surely it shouldn't be so difficult to attract even one real customer?

Are the items at our Bihua Pavilion really that bad?

Not only did no one buy them, but several pairs of stockings were worn out just from trying them on, including two pairs of precious purple stockings.

With the opening of the new store, the Third Elder naturally wouldn't haggle over compensation from them; he simply planned to swallow the loss quietly, since some damage to clothing was inevitable.

Two female customers even asked for the stockings that had worn out after trying them on, and the Third Elder generously gave them to them.

One of the female cultivators was a little embarrassed and was about to pay for a pair herself, but her companion stopped her.

The two hid and whispered to each other, but little did they know that the Third Elder, who had reached the Void Realm, could hear them clearly.

"Junior sister, why are you wasting your money?"

"Senior sister, the Third Elder is being so sincere, it wouldn't be right to take advantage of her... Besides, I think these stockings are of really good quality, worth buying."

"Are you stupid, junior sister? You have the money to buy these stockings, why don't you buy silk stockings from the Qianhua Pavilion?"

"But even though Qianhua Pavilion's silk stockings are on sale, they're still more expensive than these. And despite the increased supply, they're still in short supply and very hard to get..."

"You still can't buy this. Why not just queue up? Buy a pair of the Qianhua Pavilion silk stockings. They have Qianhua Pavilion's paper crane logo on them. That's much more prestigious. Think about it, so many people are rushing to buy Qianhua Pavilion's goods now. When everyone else is wearing Qianhua Pavilion stockings, and you're wearing these Bihua Peak stockings, how can you hold your head up?"

"It seems a bit embarrassing..."

"That settles it then? We'll just do what we're paid for. Senior Brother Ye didn't give us money to buy stockings, he just wanted us to come and support him, why should we waste our own money? Let's go, let's forget about the Qianhua Pavilion in Henggao City. My sisters and I have chartered a car, let's go to a Qianhua Pavilion in another city to queue."

?!

The Third Elder glared with her beautiful eyes, her proud chest heaving with anger, stirring up a storm of emotions.

So you guys are shills?!

The female cultivator, unable to bear it any longer, gave up the idea of buying after being persuaded by her senior sister. The Third Elder suppressed the urge to lash out and smiled as he saw off the last two customers.

The commotion at the Bihua Pavilion just moments ago seemed like a dream that vanished in an instant, leaving only the chaotic, overturned shelves.

"Master, we've talked until our lips are dry, but why isn't anyone buying it... Do we think our products are good enough?"

One of the female disciples looked at the torn stockings in her hand, somewhat dejected. The other female disciples were also drinking their tea in large gulps, nodding in agreement.

The Third Elder let out a long sigh, "Chuchu, it's not like that. We need to have confidence in ourselves. There's another reason why they're not buying."

"What's the reason?"

"Because they were invited by your good senior brother Ye Qingchen!"

"What?!"

The disciples were all shocked, unsure whether they should be moved.

To avoid disappointing them, this second brother specially hired so many actors to put on a show. But the result was the opposite of what he hoped for. Not only did it make them feel even more frustrated, but it also made a mess of the shop, and many pairs of the stockings that he had painstakingly sewn stitch by stitch were worn out.

Even if they wanted to be moved, they couldn't feel anything at all. They had to admit that Senior Brother Ye had indeed meant well but did something wrong.

Just as the women were wondering what was going on, a clear male voice rang out from the mountain path.

"Master!"

The Third Elder remained silent, his expression somewhat gloomy.

The visitor was none other than Ye Qingchen, who was beaming with joy.

"Second Senior Brother..."

The female disciples greeted him, but Ye Qingchen ignored them and went straight to the Third Elder, bowing and saying:

"Master, when I went up the mountain just now, I saw many female cultivators coming down chatting and laughing. They must all be customers of my Bihua Pavilion, right? Master is indeed amazing. Your small shop is so successful. When it grows bigger in the future, how can Qianhua Pavilion dominate? My Ye Family has considerable resources in Henggao City, and Master is on good terms with my Ye Family. Why don't you join forces with my Ye Family to make our Bihua Pavilion bigger and stronger?"

Ye Qingchen spoke earnestly, his face beaming with excitement, seemingly quite pleased with his praise.

But the Third Elder remained completely unmoved; instead, his face was as dark as if a storm cloud was pressing down on him.

This mature and beautiful female cultivator, who always greets people with a smile, rarely appears so serious.

"Senior brother, stop talking about our Bihua Pavilion all the time, okay? You didn't even contribute... Besides, Bihua Pavilion isn't something we opened casually; we were seriously preparing for it!"

Lin Si Han felt a little uncomfortable listening to Ye Qingchen's words.

Even with her gentle nature, she couldn't bear the injustice and bravely defended herself to her second senior brother.

"Excellent, excellent! It is thanks to Master and Junior Sister's meticulous preparations that Bihua Pavilion is thriving!"

Ye Qingchen sensed something was off and quickly changed his tune.

"Qingchen, did I ever tell you that men are not allowed to enter Bihua Pavilion?"

The Third Elder stared coldly at Ye Qingchen.

Ye Qingchen quickly bowed his head in apology, "Reporting to Master, Qingchen didn't go in..."

"Senior brother, it's the 'near' in 'near' and 'far'!"

Yu Tong immediately understood her master's meaning and stuck out her tongue playfully.

She felt that Ye Shixiong's attempt to smooth things over earlier sounded like he was calling them stupid. How could their meticulously prepared shop be doing so poorly if not stupid?

"Ah? That was a misunderstanding on my part. I will leave now, and I hope Master will not take offense... As for the matter of cooperating with my Ye Family, Qingchen is serious, and I ask Master to consider it carefully."

Before leaving, Ye Qingchen did not forget to curry favor with the Third Elder.

"Qingchen... I really thank you for your hard work. Do you feel proud to have invited so many people to cheer us up?"

"Master, Master, I didn't..."

"Do you think it's funny to deceive us like this?! Do you think we'll amount to nothing without your charity?!"

"Master, I really don't..."

"Shut up! Go to the Cliff of Repentance and face the wall for three days to reflect on your mistakes! If you don't repent, the punishment will be increased!"

The Third Elder shouted coldly, startling everyone.

Ji Lingruo curled her lips, feeling no sympathy whatsoever for Ye Qingchen.

His initial intentions may have been good, but he unknowingly did something wrong and ran into the Third Elder's bad luck.

Alas, how can we possibly salvage the business of the Bihua Pavilion...?