Setting Up a Stall to Sell

Greenwood Market.

West Street.

Dawn was still dim, and there were relatively few people setting up stalls.

A burly man in black looked around before finally choosing an empty spot not far from the entrance to Greenwood Market.

"Phew... the Human Skin Mask really is useful. I just brushed past Lin Dongpeng, yet even with his Qi Refining Layer Seven cultivation, he didn't recognize me."

This burly man in black was Zhao Huaian.

After realizing that someone might be targeting him in the shadows, Zhao Huaian had used the Human Skin Mask to alter his appearance.

He had found this Human Skin Mask on Guoshanhu's body after killing him.

Thinking it might come in handy, Zhao Huaian had kept it on him ever since, just in case.

Today, it had happened to serve its purpose.

With his false identity in place, Zhao Huaian felt much more at ease.

But just as he was about to spread out a black cloth and lay out the Water Arrow Talismans he intended to sell, someone wearing an Enforcement Uniform approached.

"Senior Brother, this is my stall fee for today."

Seeing the man in the Enforcement Uniform, Zhao Huaian hurriedly took a Low-grade Spirit Stone from his robes.

From the information he had gathered beforehand, Zhao Huaian naturally knew the rules of West Street in Greenwood Market: one Low-grade Spirit Stone had to be paid every time one set up a stall.

But it was well worth it.

For one, it secured a good location for the stall. For another, those setting up stalls in Greenwood Market received greater protection, so there was no need to worry about anyone forcing a purchase or sale.

"Mm."

After receiving the Spirit Stone, the man in the Enforcement Uniform nodded and continued toward the other stalls.

Zhao Huaian let out a long breath, took out some Water Arrow Talismans from his robes, placed them on the black cloth, and quietly waited for customers to come.

As the first rays of morning sunlight shone down, the flow of people on West Street in Greenwood Market steadily increased.

"Water Arrow Talismans! Water Arrow Talismans! Exclusively made! Three for one Low-grade Spirit Stone! Don't miss out as you pass by!"

Watching the crowd grow thicker, Zhao Huaian immediately deepened his voice into a rough rumble and shouted at the top of his lungs.

Though Zhao Huaian had never run a stall before, he had visited marketplaces in his previous life and had Mastered the way of things.

On West Street in Greenwood Market, where so many stalls competed fiercely, anyone who wanted good business had to be better than the rest at drawing attention.

And right now, loudly calling out to customers near the entrance was the best choice.

Of course, the quality of the goods also had to be good. Otherwise, it would be hard to retain customers and win repeat business.

With Zhao Huaian's loud calls, several early-stage Qi Refining cultivators soon gathered around.

One young man looked at Zhao Huaian's stall and frowned. "Why do you only have Water Arrow Talismans? Don't tell me you make your living selling nothing but this one kind of Water Arrow Talisman?"

Zhao Huaian smiled. "A man who chases too many things chews none of them well. Ever since becoming a Spirit Talisman Master, I've focused exclusively on drawing Water Arrow Talismans. With such specialization, the quality of my Water Arrow Talismans is far better than those at other stalls."

Zhao Huaian had a certain degree of confidence in the quality of his Water Arrow Talismans.

The young man nodded thoughtfully, his gaze repeatedly sweeping over the Water Arrow Talismans as though he were hesitating over whether to buy them.

Seeing through his thoughts, Zhao Huaian pressed his advantage. "The attack power of this First-Rank Low-Grade Water Arrow Talisman is around Qi Refining Layer Three. Keep a few more on you, and when your Spiritual Energy runs dry, they can serve as a trump card—at least you won't become a lamb awaiting the butcher's knife."

The young man naturally understood this. He nodded and no longer hesitated. "True. I just happened to accept a mission that requires leaving town. How about ten Water Arrow Talismans for three Low-grade Spirit Stones?"

If you can't find it by searching the book title, try searching for the author—it may simply have been renamed!

This was a big deal!

At his words, Zhao Huaian's eyes instantly lit up. He nodded readily, picked up ten Water Arrow Talismans, and handed them over. "Fellow Daoist, you're straightforward, so I won't beat around the bush either. Three Low-grade Spirit Stones it is!"

"Deal! If the results are good, I'll buy from you again next time."

A smile appeared on the young man's face as well, and he took three Low-grade Spirit Stones from his robes.

Having successfully completed the transaction, Zhao Huaian swiftly tucked the Spirit Stones into his robes. A little more joy appeared on his face as he called out even more vigorously for customers.

Under his solicitations, he soon completed several more transactions one after another.

Perhaps it was because he had claimed a good spot. Perhaps Zhao Huaian's energetic shouting was better at catching people's attention. Or perhaps the Water Arrow Talismans truly were of exceptional quality.

In just over an hour, all one hundred and five Water Arrow Talismans had been completely sold out by Zhao Huaian.

And after that hour-long battle, Zhao Huaian had earned a total of thirty-four Low-grade Spirit Stones.

"As expected, having a skill really does make earning Spirit Stones this fast."

Feeling the Spirit Stones he had earned in his robes, Zhao Huaian's face was filled with satisfaction.

This was only the beginning. In the future, with the Attribute Heavenly Book improving his talisman-making skills, he would earn more and more Spirit Stones.

"Time to pack up and start spending—buy the materials needed to make talismans."

Patting his backside, Zhao Huaian put away the black cloth and happily wandered toward the other stalls.

Not long after he left, the spot he had occupied was quickly claimed by other stall owners, who copied his method and loudly called out to draw in customers.

Zhao Huaian soon spent Ten Low-grade Spirit Stones on a large quantity of Talisman Paper and Black Ink.

As for other items, especially Cultivation Resources, Zhao Huaian did not dare buy any for now.

After all, he still owed the hefty debt of two hundred Low-grade Spirit Stones. Only after repaying every last one could he cultivate with peace of mind.

"Time to go, time to go! I can't keep looking. If I do, I'm afraid I won't be able to resist buying something else."

Passing a stall selling Elixir Pills, Zhao Huaian suppressed the urge in his heart and hurried away.

After leaving Greenwood Market, Zhao Huaian did not return directly to the Residential Area out of caution. Instead, he wandered this way and that.

At last, in a secluded spot, he changed into a blue robe and peeled off the Human Skin Mask before returning to the Residential Area.

Having arrived home safely, Zhao Huaian looked at his bountiful haul from the day and finally let out a long breath. The heart that had been hanging in his throat finally settled.

"Let's calculate the costs and profits!"

He drained the tea on the table in one gulp, moistening his throat, then sat beside the wooden table, took out a small notebook, and began doing the accounts.

"Previously, buying Talisman Paper, Black Ink, and a Talisman Brush cost a total of nine Low-grade Spirit Stones. Adding the one Low-grade Spirit Stone stall fee, the total cost came to ten Low-grade Spirit Stones."

"There are still several dozen sheets of Talisman Paper left, while today's total earnings amounted to thirty-four Low-grade Spirit Stones."

"Carefully worked out, the profit from that last round of Drawing Talismans alone earned me a full twenty-four Low-grade Spirit Stones."

As he calculated the profits he had earned through his efforts these past days, Zhao Huaian could not help clapping his hands and laughing aloud.

"Wonderful! And from here on, the costs will only get lower and lower, while the profits will grow higher and higher. In the more than two months remaining, earning two hundred Low-grade Spirit Stones won't be a problem at all."

"But I can't get complacent. I still have to work hard. The sooner I earn two hundred Low-grade Spirit Stones, the better."

Zhao Huaian's face was bright with a dazzling smile as he silently encouraged himself.

After brewing a pot of tea he had brought from the mortal world and adjusting himself to his best condition, Zhao Huaian began another day of grueling work.