All Business

Celestial Origin Realm.

West Sea, Cloud Mountain Immortal Kingdom.

There was a White Cloud Market Town.

The White Cloud Sect had Foundation Establishment Grand Cultivators stationed in the market year-round, and it could receive support from the surrounding Immortal Cities and markets at any time. Robber Cultivators and Demonic Cultivators rarely caused trouble here, and over the years, the market had grown increasingly prosperous.

The Cloud Mountain Immortal Kingdom and the Desiring Demon Immortal Kingdom were currently locked in unceasing war. Compared to the chaos and devastation of the war-torn regions, White Cloud Market Town showed no signs of decline. Instead, it had become even livelier.

"Return it? Fellow Daoist, surely you jest. Market transactions were final once money and goods changed hands. Besides, you've already polished this Puppet smooth from use..."

Within the market, Su Qing flatly refused the unreasonable demand of the middle-aged man before him.

The middle-aged man knew his request was somewhat unreasonable. He gave an embarrassed smile. "Fellow Daoist, this Puppet of yours truly was wonderful beyond words. Since I can't return it, I'll take it back, wash it, and keep using it."

"Don't say that. Clothes were better new, but people were better old. Even the girls at Red Sleeve Pavilion were changed every month. You can't return this Puppet, but you can trade it in for a new one! How about this—you add another 300 Spirit Crystals, and I'll take a loss to give you the newest girl—oh, no, the newest Puppet!"

After sitting idly for an entire morning, Su Qing spoke as he lifted the covering cloth from a Puppet.

Her skin was like white mutton-fat jade, her waist slender enough to encircle with one hand. What should be large was large, and what should stand tall stood tall. The moment she appeared, the middle-aged man's eyes went blank.

"Th-this is Liu Yun'er, the True Disciple and Foundation Establishment Grand Cultivator of the Desiring Demon Sect? Fellow Daoist, your courage is far too great. How dare you make a Puppet in her likeness?"

The middle-aged man shuddered. Thinking of the demoness's ruthless methods, he felt as though a basin of cold water had been poured over him. The restless heat that had just risen in his lower abdomen immediately subsided.

"So what if she's a Foundation Establishment Grand Cultivator? Could she possibly come to White Cloud Market Town to make trouble for us?

If she weren't a Foundation Establishment Grand Cultivator, I wouldn't even make her! Isn't this everyone's taste? What was it called? The desire to conquer—defying those above you was what made it exciting!"

Su Qing argued with confidence. This Demoness Puppet, refined in a one-to-one lifelike imitation, had cost him no small amount of effort. It was the flagship product on which he had placed high hopes, so naturally he had to dispel his customer's concerns.

Hearing this, the middle-aged man's expression indeed shifted slightly. When he looked at the Demoness Puppet again, she seemed even more tempting than before.

As a Rogue Cultivator, both the Cloud Mountain Sect and the Desiring Demon Sect were existences he respected and feared.

Liu Yun'er, as a True Disciple of the Desiring Demon Sect and a Foundation Establishment Grand Cultivator, was someone whose true self he would not even dare glance at if he encountered her.

But this was only a Puppet. If he secretly used it at home, and only for a quarter of an hour each time, there should be no problem, right?

Alas, this meant this month's cultivation would be delayed again!

That damned demoness—even as a Puppet, she was still so bewitching!

The middle-aged man secretly cursed the demoness, then began haggling with Su Qing.

Half an Hour later.

Not only had he failed to haggle down the price, but the middle-aged man had spent hundreds more Spirit Crystals on a Water-Fire Spiral Module and all sorts of Passion-Inducing Outfits before Su Qing sent him away with a face full of smiles.

"Hmph. You sell Puppets and entice people into indulgence. Fellow Daoist, you earn these Spirit Crystals easily enough, but aren't you afraid they'll burn your hands?"

Su Qing had just tucked the Spirit Crystals he received into his Storage Bag when the Old Daoist next door, who sold Talismans, shook his head and sighed.

"Fellow Daoist, your words are greatly mistaken. Cultivators also had seven emotions and six desires. Those who bought my Puppets were all people of true temperament. Rather than let them spend their Spirit Crystals on the Female Cultivators at Red Sleeve Pavilion, wouldn't it be better to spend them on Puppets?

"After all, my Puppets were clean and hygienic, Cheap and useful, and there was no need to worry about encountering a Demonic Woman who would drain away their primal yang!"

Su Qing, who had started out making adult products in his previous life, answered without a second thought.

Just then, another customer happened to arrive, leaving Su Qing with even less time to pay him any attention. Only after happily selling several more Demoness Puppets did he take the initiative to approach the Old Daoist's stall.

After much persuasion, he used one Demoness Puppet to settle the account and exchanged it with the Old Daoist for five Thick Armor Talismans and two Exorcism Talismans.

"Fellow Daoist, you've just come into a large sum of Spirit Crystals, yet you're using a Puppet to settle your debts. That truly is a bit improper!"

The Old Daoist complained with his mouth, but his movements were neat and swift as he put the Demoness Puppet into his Storage Bag.

Su Qing turned his head and said, "Fellow Daoist, you do not know this, but the materials I used to refine this batch of Puppets were all borrowed on credit from Hundred Treasures Pavilion. Now that I have Spirit Crystals, I naturally have to repay them. There aren't many Spirit Crystals left once they reach my hands."

The Old Daoist's expression changed. If Su Qing spoke the truth, then for Hundred Treasures Pavilion to let him purchase materials on credit, this Fellow Daoist's abilities exceeded the Old Daoist's previous estimation.

Of course, in the Old Daoist's eyes, Su Qing's words were most likely false.

Hundred Treasures Pavilion indeed gave many preferential treatments to cultivators accomplished in the Hundred Arts of Cultivation.

But he had been making Talismans for years. Even with the status of a First-Tier High-Grade Talisman Master, he had never received the slightest preferential treatment at Hundred Treasures Pavilion. This brat was merely at the Third Layer of Qi Refining and, at most, a Tier 1 Puppet Master. Why would Hundred Treasures Pavilion regard him highly?

The Old Daoist shook his head, though his tone became somewhat more polite. "Fellow Daoist, why pretend to be poor? Rest assured, this Old Daoist had no plans to switch careers and become a Robber Cultivator. But if Fellow Daoist refined two Combat Puppets, you would not need to remain so on guard."

As Su Qing turned to leave, his gaze swept over the carriage behind him, concealed beneath Black Cloth.

"How did Fellow Daoist know whether there were any Combat Puppets on my carriage?"

"Hahaha! If there truly are, Fellow Daoist must let this Old Daoist have a look next time. Perhaps this Old Daoist can even help Fellow Daoist make a sale!"

"Fellow Daoist should try the Demoness Puppet first. I'll allow Fellow Daoist to try it a few times. If you're dissatisfied, you can return it next time you come by!"

With a backward wave of his hand, Su Qing led his carriage away and vanished from the Old Daoist's sight in an instant.

Seeing the sun slanting westward, the Old Daoist also began thinking of packing up his stall.

When he saw the Demoness Puppet lying in his Storage Bag, he could not help looking at her a few more times.

"Hmph. She's merely an inanimate object. If this Old Daoist truly had such thoughts, couldn't I just find an ordinary mortal woman?"

"Water and Fire Spiritual Power leaked from between her legs. Though they were only the lowest-grade Water-Fire Runes, such craftsmanship was still outstanding among Tier 1 Puppet Masters. What a pity it was not used on the proper path."

"No, this Puppet's skin felt as though its texture had been formed by nature itself, faintly giving one the sensation that she was alive. These were Biomimetic Runes. How could a Tier 1 Puppet Master possibly draw such runes?"

The Old Daoist's entire body suddenly shook as he recalled Su Qing's words before leaving.

"Perhaps he truly can make Hundred Treasures Pavilion look upon him differently!"

Clop, clop, clop!

Inside Hundred Treasures Pavilion, upon hearing the familiar sound of hooves, the shopkeeper immediately put down his work and called to the attendant, "Fellow Daoist Su is here. Quickly, brew a pot of good tea."

As he spoke, amid the astonished gazes of the customers in the shop, Shopkeeper Liu—at the Seventh Layer of Qi Refining and somewhat renowned in White Cloud Market Town—stood at the entrance with a broad smile, eagerly awaiting his arrival.

Just what sort of person could make Shopkeeper Liu sweep his couch clean to welcome them?

A Foundation Establishment Grand Cultivator? Or someone sent by Hundred Treasures Pavilion's headquarters?

The sharp clanging of iron striking stone grew ever closer.

Once the curious customers saw the newcomer clearly, however, they were all somewhat disappointed and confused.

The newcomer wore a long green robe and was merely at the Third Layer of Qi Refining. Other than being somewhat handsome, there was truly nothing remarkable about him.

If there was anything eye-catching about him, it was only the Iron-Footed Horse he led.

The towering horse, over a zhang tall, was a Tier-1 Mid-Grade Puppet constructed from Iron Wood. A single Spirit Crystal allowed it to travel a thousand li in a day and carry more than eight thousand jin of cargo. Only powerful merchant caravans around the outskirts of the market would be equipped with one.

For a Rogue Cultivator at the Third Layer of Qi Refining to afford an Iron-Footed Horse, he was doing fairly well for himself.

But among the customers currently inside Hundred Treasures Pavilion, who could not afford an Iron-Footed Horse?

Those with means all used Storage Bags, all right?

Why should someone who did not even have a Storage Bag deserve such respect from Shopkeeper Liu?

As everyone wondered, Shopkeeper Liu saw the looks in their eyes. To prevent some blind fool from offending his honored guest, he pointed at Su Qing outside unloading goods and said, "This man was once an Inner Sect Disciple of the Cloud Mountain Sect. Though he has now been expelled from the sect, he is still a First-Level Guest Elder of our Hundred Treasures Pavilion. Do not judge people by their cultivation. Otherwise, should you bring disaster upon yourselves, it will be too late for regret."

As soon as these words were spoken, all the cultivators in the shop put away their contempt. Yet the doubts in their hearts only deepened.

How could an Inner Sect Disciple of the Cloud Mountain Sect possess only Third Layer of Qi Refining cultivation?

And how could a cultivator at the Third Layer of Qi Refining become a Guest Elder of Hundred Treasures Pavilion?

Not until the shop attendants, under Su Qing's direction, unloaded Puppet after Puppet from the Iron-Footed Horse,

did these customers gain some understanding.

A cultivator at the Third Layer of Qi Refining was insignificant, but if he was a Puppet Master with exceptional skill, then that was another matter entirely.