Minghai Sea Region, Green River Market.
A crowd surged outside a branch of the Rare Treasures Tower, where several dozen Qi Refining cultivators who looked like rogue cultivators had formed a long queue, apparently waiting for something.
With the clang of a gong, a large table was set out before the spacious entrance, and box after box of prepared packages was placed upon it. Knowing the routine well, everyone briskly stepped forward to pay and collect their purchases.
The little mountain of stacked boxes rapidly dwindled. In mere moments, everything had sold out.
Members of the merchant association watching the scene could not help clicking their tongues in wonder. "In all the years this branch has been open, we've had plenty of popular curiosities and treasures of every kind, but we've truly never seen anything this sought-after."
"Exactly. The moment a shipment arrives, people snap it all up. It's downright madness."
Nor did it stop there. The product had become so popular that they had to hold another auction immediately after each batch sold out.
"Next, as usual, we'll auction off the purchasing rights for the next batch of Incense Pills..."
A shop assistant announced this loudly.
That was right: they were auctioning the right to buy, not the Incense Pills themselves.
Li Ling did not wish to shoulder unnecessary infamy, and he controlled pricing through the merchant association's channels. In essence, he was merely selling on consignment, using their premises to sell his product.
But the merchants did not care about such things. They had their own ways of working around the rules, and so had devised this scheme.
"What a sin! Those profiteers really do squeeze through every crack!"
"They're looting a burning house! Absolutely despicable!"
"Forget it. We only have ourselves to blame for not mastering the