The Landlord's House Has No Surplus Grain

To leave that place of trouble as quickly as possible, the caravan accelerated their pace. What was originally expected to be a three-day journey to Wu Family Market was completed by the afternoon of the second day.

Although it was named a "market," which sounded like some rustic, backwater town—a whiff of rural simplicity hitting one in the face—Wu Family Market was, in reality, anything but countrified.

Looking from afar, the towering walls and the magnificent city gates already appeared before them, and one could faintly hear the clamor emanating from within the city.

On the wide roads paved with sand and stone on either side, caravans of merchants from various villages came and went in a ceaseless stream.

Entering the city gates, a broad street paved with massive bluestone stretched out into the distance. Shops lined both sides, and the sounds of hawking and bargaining were incessant.

Its level of prosperity was in no way inferior to the important county seats of the feudal eras from his past life.

But that was to be expected. After all, it was a territory occupied by cultivators; no matter how remote, it wouldn't be too shabby.

However, the shops on both sides of the street mostly sold mundane items, catering to the large number of mortal guards and martial artists who accompanied the caravans from the various villages.

Occasionally, items used by cultivators would flow out of these shops, traded from those mortal martial artists in exchange for treasures they had stumbled upon by pure chance.

After all, even though they were mortal martial artists, with such a large base, they would more or less have a few good things in their possession due to fortuitous encounters.

As for the market catering to cultivators, it was located in the designated square to the north.

That was a place where mortals were almost entirely forbidden from setting foot—a "Forbidden Land of the Immortals" in the eyes of the common folk—where only those with cultivation could enter.

Everything conducted within dealt exclusively in the business of cultivators.

Whenever the market opened, large caravans from Qing City would travel from afar to congregate there.

At the same time, it attracted a multitude of small-time traveling merchants, all hoping to get a slice of the feast during this rare grand event.

Shen Changchuan and his group arrived neither too early nor too late. By the time they reached their destination, the major caravans from Qing City had already arrived.

The massive plaza was packed with dense crowds of individual vendors, and the multi-story buildings lining the sides were occupied by the storefronts of various merchant groups.

As far as the eye could see, the flow of people was like a woven tapestry.

And these people were all cultivators.

Although their cultivation levels were not high—mostly at the third or fourth stage of the Qi Induction Realm, with many even just having succeeded in Qi Induction and working as handymen or laborers—the sight of so many practitioners gathered together in such a deafening, clamorous scene was still incredibly shocking.

This was the first time Shen Changchuan had witnessed such a spectacle.

Because during the two and a half years he spent in Tiannan City, he had never even visited the nearby markets, wanting to avoid entanglements with the outside world as much as possible.

I didn't expect it to be this prosperous. If that's the case, the likelihood of me achieving my goals within this market has increased significantly.

Watching the numerous cultivators in this vast market, Shen Changchuan's mood lifted.

With more merchant caravans, the goods would be even more abundant.

The possibility of fulfilling his requirements grew greater.

Perhaps he might even be able to pick up a bargain, just like in those old-fashioned fantasy web novels.

Although it was just a fantasy, it didn't stop Shen Changchuan from daydreaming.

However, he also knew clearly that the foundation for all of this was money! Or rather, Spirit Stones!

Shen Changchuan quickly reined in his thoughts, deciding to first sell his Spirit Grain and exchange it for Spirit Stones.

The group arrived at the area where the grain merchants among the Qing City caravans were located.

Shen Changchuan casually asked for the price of grain at one of the grain merchants' stalls, but the other party's response made his eyes widen in disbelief.

"What? Five pounds of Spirit Grain for one Spirit Stone? Isn't it supposed to be ten pounds of Spirit Grain for one Spirit Stone?"

"My young master, Spirit Grain is a commodity. Naturally, the price fluctuates; it cannot be fixed at one rate."

"Furthermore, transporting Spirit Grain in large quantities carries risks, there are transportation costs, and we have to pay a portion of our rent to the Wu family for trading here. Not to mention our time costs—when you add all these bits and pieces together, charging you one Spirit Stone for five pounds of Spirit Grain is already a high price."

"If you don't believe me, you are welcome to ask at other shops. We aren't just making up this price."

The shop clerk explained carefully, his face showing a hint of helplessness.

However, only heaven knew how much of that "helplessness" was genuine.

Shen Changchuan couldn't help but furrow his brows.

Although he hadn't frequented many markets for cultivators, some principles remained universal, and the experience of buying and selling from his past life could still be applied to this world.

Since the other party said as much, it was certain that other grain merchants would only offer the same price.

Yet, back then, to avoid paying the five-percent transport loss fee to Shen Shiying, he had chosen to pay the one-hundred Spirit Stone levy directly.

Now, the grain price wasn't ten catties of Spirit Grain for one Spirit Stone, but ten catties and five taels for one.

Calculating it that way, hadn't he just gone through all that trouble for nothing?

"Sigh, forget it. It's roughly the same as that transport loss anyway."

"Selling one catty or two, it's all the same. Let it be."

Shen Changchuan gave a bitter smile in his heart, forced to console himself.

Come to think of it, the Green Origin Spirit-Cleansing Pill he had obtained was worth far more than all this Spirit Grain combined.

Was there any need to nitpick and calculate the gain or loss of a dozen Spirit Stones?

No need!

Absolutely no need!

Among cultivators in the Qi Induction Realm, his assets already placed him among the wealthy.

There was no need to fuss over these trifles.

Thinking this, Shen Changchuan felt much more at ease.

Though his brows barely relaxed, there was still a lingering sigh of regret on his face.

"In that—"

Just as Shen Changchuan was about to speak to the clerk, preparing to sell all the Spirit Grain on hand, at that very moment, Guo Cheng and the other family heads behind him, who had been reading the situation, stepped forward and pulled him aside.

"Young Master Shen, could we speak in private for a moment?"

"What is it?"

Shen Changchuan followed them out of the shop, feeling a bit strange, and arrived at the corner of a nearby building.

"Well, Young Master Shen, these grain merchant clerks are the type to size people up and set prices accordingly. If you're a stranger, they'll always give you this suppressed, uniform price. But if you're an acquaintance, you can get a higher, internal acquisition price."

"Because I, Guo Cheng, have been in the Refined Charcoal trade for these years, I have some meager connections and can pull some strings for that internal price. If Young Master Shen finds it troublesome, you could leave the selling of the Spirit Grain to us."

Guo Cheng said, stammering slightly.

However, despite his words, such internal pricing wasn't so easy to secure.

It was just that after Shen Changchuan had asked the price earlier, his furrowed brows had been caught by the observant group.

Two days ago, when the Black-Clad Men attacked, they had fled before even engaging the enemy. No matter how one looked at it, that wouldn't leave a good impression in the heart of a young man whose strength was unfathomably formidable.

Throughout the journey, it could be said that every family head had been feeling anxious.

If they didn't take this opportunity to proactively help Young Master Shen solve a small annoyance and leave a good impression, when would they ever get another chance?

"There's such a thing?"

Shen Changchuan was stunned upon hearing this, unable to stop himself from cursing inwardly, Damn it,

Even in a world of cultivation, you can't escape the social nuances of business!

"Wait a moment, you aren't planning to pay the price difference out of your own pockets and trick me by claiming it's an 'internal acquaintance price,' are you?"

"If you feel guilty about fleeing when the Black-Clad Men attacked that day and want to make up the difference with your own money, there's really no need."

Shen Changchuan suddenly thought of something, glanced at them, and spoke directly.

"I didn't mean to blame you for that day. After all, with your cultivation at the third or fourth level of the Qi Induction Realm, staying behind wouldn't have made much difference."

"In reality, if the enemy were too strong, I would also flee without the slightest hesitation."

"Oh, Young Master Shen, how could you say such a thing?!"

Shen Changchuan's words stirred a sense of gratitude in the hearts of Guo Cheng, the head of the Li Clan, and the others present.

"Rest assured, Young Master Shen. Our families have operated in the Border Wilderness for decades, if not a century; we have our ways, and we will certainly secure a high price for you."

"Then I shall trouble you all."

Having reached this point, Shen Changchuan no longer declined and accepted the offer readily.

What?

Are you saying that a single Green Origin Spirit-Cleansing Pill is worth many times the value of Spirit Grain, and that for a rich man like him, a dozen Spirit Stones aren't even worth mentioning?

You must be joking.

Even a landlord's house has no surplus grain to spare, alright!