Cloud Arrival Market

The moon rose above the willow branches, As lovers met after dusk.

At evening, west of the Azure Cloud Sect, outside Cloud Arrival Market.

Beneath the silver moonlight, the market's full expanse lay before them.

The market was enormous, occupying the entire valley. It stretched two to three hundred zhang in length and twenty to thirty zhang across. Streets crisscrossed in a scattered pattern, while shops of every size stood in rows. Though the buildings could not be called breathtakingly exquisite, each possessed its own distinct character.

A crossroads divided the entire market into four sections. Two of them were occupied by layer upon layer of shops, and every storefront was bustling, with countless customers flowing in and out.

Another area was a fairly spacious square. Cultivators' small stalls lined the square in a loose square loop. Browsers and traders moved in twos and threes through the gaps between the stalls, and the constant flow of people gave it the bustle of an ordinary market.

As for the final section, it was occupied by a huge, magnificently lavish building. Those entering and leaving were either wealthy cultivators carrying [Spirit Artifacts] and clad in [Spirit Robes], or powerful cultivators surrounded by Spirit Pressure. As Lin Chen knew, it was a high-end auction house.

By then, the sky had already darkened. Within the market, Bronze Lamps placed along both sides of the roads lit up one after another, clearly illuminating the shops and square.

Yet these lamps held no lamp oil or other combustible material. Instead, each cradled a fist-sized Luminous Pearl that emitted a soft glow.

These were Luminous Pearls. The light they gave off not only illuminated the stalls below them as brightly as day, but in Lin Chen's view, their brightness was even Comparable To the incandescent bulbs of his previous life.

Though night had fallen, there were far more people in the square than during the day. Not only had new stalls appeared, but the number of people browsing them had surged. Great numbers of cultivators flooded into the square at this hour, making the place exceptionally lively.

Cloud Arrival Market was a market governed by the Azure Cloud Sect. A Foundation Establishment Cultivator was permanently stationed within it, along with more than a dozen cultivators whose strength had reached the late Qi Refining Stage [Qi Vortex Realm] to manage its daily affairs.

More than that, groups of cultivators could often be seen striding through the market in imposing patrols. Every member of these patrol teams possessed cultivation above the Innate Realm, and quite a few were early Qi Refining Stage [Nourishing Yuan Realm] cultivators. They wore Spirit Armor and carried large numbers of talismans, ready to react swiftly at the slightest stir.

Naturally, the Azure Cloud Sect collected a hefty annual rent from the shops. Its influence could also be found behind the market's most profitable businesses: the auction house, pill refining, and artifact forging.

That evening, a thin young man dressed in the gray robes of the Azure Cloud Sect's Outer Sect slowly approached from afar. He wore a bamboo hat and had his face veiled in black gauze.

He had stopped and started along the way, spending quite some time on the journey, so it was already night when he arrived.

Lin Chen glanced at the market, then headed straight inside.

As he passed the square, Lin Chen cast it a glance before quickly withdrawing his gaze. He recalled the first time he had come to the market years ago. Back then, he had always believed himself to be the Child of Destiny, blessed by fortune, and had rushed to the square hoping to pick up bargains. In the end, not only had he failed to find any overlooked treasure, he had nearly a hundred Spirit Stones taken from him instead.

Ever since then, no matter what anyone said, he refused to go there again. He went straight to the shops instead. They might be more expensive, but that was still better than being cheated.

Lin Chen did not head directly to his destination. Instead, following his usual practice, he made several rounds. Only after confirming that no one was following him did he proceed straight to his destination—the Treasure Talisman Shop.

The shop stood on a bustling street. People streamed in and out, and the place was brimming with activity.

Lin Chen entered the shop. Its interior was antique and elegant, with luminous pearls embedded in the ceiling, each radiating a brilliant glow. Display cabinets stood around the room, filled with all varieties of spirit talismans.

"Sir, what kind of spirit talisman do you need? Our Treasure Talisman Shop has all manner of—" The moment Lin Chen stepped inside, a shop assistant hurried over to greet him.

"I'm here to see your proprietor, Wu Xueting." Lin Chen cut him off before he could finish speaking.

The shop assistant froze for a moment, then immediately came to his senses and went into the back room.

Not long after he entered, a plump middle-aged Female Cultivator dressed in purple came out to greet him.

She was none other than Wu Xueting, proprietor of the Treasure Talisman Shop.

"So it's Fellow Daoist Zhang." She seemed to recognize Lin Chen and smiled when she saw him.

Zhang Ping was the alias Lin Chen used when traveling outside.

Lin Chen gave an ambiguous nod and said flatly, "The usual."

Wu Xueting immediately understood. With one hand, she made an inviting gesture with her slender palm.

"Please."

She then walked ahead to lead the way.

The two went upstairs and entered an antique side room. A carpet covered the floor, and everything within was fully furnished.

After closing the door and inviting Lin Chen to sit, Wu Xueting unhurriedly took out a teacup and poured him some hot tea.

"Fellow Daoist Zhang, may I ask which kinds of spirit talismans you have brought today?" Wu Xueting asked with a smile.

Lin Chen did not answer. Instead, he took ten stacks of spirit talismans from his [Storage Bag], placed them on the table, and said flatly, "Inspect the goods. The usual terms."

Wu Xueting did not take offense. They had dealt with each other for years, and she naturally knew that he was not someone who liked wasting words during a transaction.

"One hundred First-grade High-grade Talismans, three hundred First-grade Medium-grade Talismans, and the remaining six hundred First-grade Low-grade Talismans. Based on the different types of talismans and their rarity, I calculate a total of two thousand one hundred Spirit Stones for you. What do you think, Fellow Daoist?" Wu Xueting asked softly after making her calculations.

Two thousand one hundred Spirit Stones was a vast sum even for a Qi Refining Stage Cultivator. After all, most Qi Refining Stage Cultivators could earn only one or two Spirit Stones a day. Making several hundred in a year was already considered quite good.

Only cultivators who had achieved something in the Hundred Arts of Cultivation, such as pill refining, artifact forging, and Talisman Making, could earn enough Spirit Stones for their own cultivation.

Yet instead of looking pleased, Lin Chen furrowed his brows and immediately asked, "The price of spirit talismans has gone up again?"

"That's right." Wu Xueting nodded, then handed over a small booklet. "This records the price fluctuations of all kinds of spirit talismans in the market over the past Three Months."

Whether purchasing or selling spirit talismans, their prices were not fixed. They rose and fell according to overall market conditions.

Lin Chen glanced at her, took out a pair of gloves from his Storage Bag, put them on, accepted the booklet, and began flipping through it.

The spirit talismans he made were of high quality and produced in large quantities, making them highly popular in the market.

The reason he had chosen to sell them at this shop was because the other party had promised that every Three Months, she would spend a certain price to compile statistics on the market's talisman supply, sales volume, and price trends.

"Fellow Daoist, if talisman prices are rising, doesn't that mean you can earn more? Why do you seem so unhappy?" Watching Lin Chen continually analyze the figures in the booklet, Wu Xueting could not help asking softly.

"The dynamic balance between supply and demand is the foundation that keeps the market price of spirit talismans stable. Yet over the past year, the number of spirit talismans entering the market has basically remained within a certain range, while their prices have risen again and again. Tell me, what does that mean?" Lin Chen glanced at her and suddenly asked.

Supply?

Wu Xueting was taken aback when she heard this, but she roughly understood what he meant.

"You mean that demand for talismans in the market is rising, while supply remains unchanged, causing prices to keep climbing?"

"Exactly." Lin Chen nodded.

Simply put, more people were buying, while the amount being sold remained unchanged. Seeing profit to be made, quite a few merchants raised the prices of talismans.

"But isn't that a good thing?" Wu Xueting did not quite understand.

"A good thing?" Lin Chen softly repeated those two words, then continued, "After setting aside what is needed for cultivation, the spirit stones a cultivator spends on talismans basically remain within a certain limit. The same holds true when extended to the entire cultivator population."

"If the source of spirit stones had increased, at most the price of pills would rise. After all, talismans are not essential to cultivation." Lin Chen put down the notebook, stood up, and walked to the window, looking down at the crowd below.

"The price of pills necessary for cultivation has basically remained unchanged," Wu Xueting murmured. For some reason, as she listened to Lin Chen's calm words, a sense of foreboding spread through her heart.

After all, pills were indispensable to most cultivators, and coupled with the fact that she was in Cloud Arrival Market, she was naturally especially sensitive to pill prices.

"Could it be that the number of cultivators buying them has increased?" Wu Xueting hesitated before speaking.

"There are only so many pills supplied by the market. If the number of cultivators had increased, their prices should have risen as well. It couldn't be that the new cultivators only bought talismans and not pills, could it?" Lin Chen asked in return.

"Besides, you've been here for so long. Has anything major happened in Cloud Arrival Market that would force cultivators as a whole to buy talismans for battle?"

"This..." Wu Xueting was momentarily at a loss for words. After thinking carefully, there really had not been anything. "Then what do you think is the reason, Fellow Daoist Zhang?"

"You and I both know that rogue cultivators lack spirit stones and cannot afford spirit artifacts, so most of the time, they use talismans to aid them in battle. Taking all this into account..." Lin Chen fell silent for a moment. "That leaves only two possibilities."

"Which two?"

"First, the opening up of the Hengduan Mountain Range. Rogue cultivators and sect cultivators alike could be buying large quantities of talismans for battle in order to obtain more resources, just like that time fifty years ago."

Fifty years ago, within the Hengduan Mountain Range north of the Azure Cloud Sect, a Golden Core Realm demon beast was slain by True Person Qingyang of the Azure Cloud Sect. In order to seize the vast territory it left behind, the Azure Cloud Sect launched a mighty land-clearing campaign and gained immense profits in one stroke.

"Could it be that the higher-ups are going to launch another land-clearing campaign?" Wu Xueting was stunned.

"If it were a land-clearing campaign, then offensive talismans should be selling in great numbers, since the main enemies would be demon beasts guarding Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures. But after observing the market this past year, the talismans that have risen in price one after another lean toward healing, defense, and escape. So I am more inclined toward the second possibility." Lin Chen pointed at the account book, his face expressionless.

"What possibility?"

Lin Chen did not answer. Instead, he stared blankly out the window. The evening wind blew in from outside, gently brushing the wind chimes above the windowsill and producing a crisp, pleasant jingling.

"Fellow Daoist Zhang?"

At that, Lin Chen turned his head and gave her a deep look. Then he softly uttered a few words: "The prelude to war."

For a moment, the atmosphere inside the room seemed to freeze. Though it was a sweltering night, Wu Xueting felt a lingering chill she could not shake.