"Step right up, don't miss out! Open Immortal Chen's jars and marry a fair-skinned, rich beauty!"
"Ten thousand gold coins! No getting cheated, no getting swindled! Seventh-tier magic cores are yours for the opening!"
The sudden hawking instantly drew the crowd's attention.
Immortal Chen, who was setting up his stall, looked utterly baffled. I've never paid this guy a wage. Why is he working so hard to drum up business for me?
Before he could think further, he spotted Xiao Yan arriving at last through the crowd.
"Oh? He's here? Looks like yesterday's scheme to sow discord worked."
Delighted, Immortal Chen cleared his throat and apologized to the onlookers. "I have something to attend to today, everyone. Please come back another day to open jars."
With that, he swept his hand, putting every jar on the stall into his storage space.
Seeing him leave, Xiao Yan followed close behind.
In no time, everyone who was going to leave had dispersed, leaving only five burly men and Jia Lie Ao.
The six exchanged glances, an indescribably strange atmosphere hanging between them.
Finally, one of the burly men broke the silence.
"Young Master Jia Lie, are you a shill too?"
"Mm... yes, that's right."
"Then are you waiting for the immortal to pay your wages too?"
"Y-yes, that's right."
"No need to wait. Come back and ask tomorrow. Boss Chen always pays late."
"Oh, so that's how it is!"
After finally managing to send the burly men away, Jia Lie Ao watched Xiao Yan's retreating figure and listened to Ling Ying's inner thoughts, knowing his plan was already more than halfway to success.
A dilapidated thatched hut stood in a secluded stretch of countryside outside Wutan City.
"Brother Xiao, this is my home. Don't mind how shabby it is. Come in and have a seat!" Perhaps to gain Xiao Yan's trust, Immortal Chen had removed his black robe after leaving the bustling district, revealing his true appearance.
He had a very plain, honest-looking face that inspired a strong sense of security. When he smiled, he looked especially like Old Wang next door.
After brewing a pot of tea, the two sat facing each other. Immortal Chen smiled and asked, "Have you thought everything through, little brother?"
"Yes." Xiao Yan nodded, but did not drink the tea offered to him.
After all, boys out on their own these days had to protect themselves at all times too. Who knew whether someone had slipped drugs into it?
"Hahaha! Brother Xiao, you really are a straightforward man. Then I won't hold anything back either. Would you be interested in taking a stake in this jar business?"
Immortal Chen looked straight at him and smiled. "All I have to do is grant you permission, and you'll be able to sell these jars anywhere on the Dou Qi Continent. We'll split the proceeds seventy-thirty: seventy for you, thirty for me."
Xiao Yan was shocked as he listened. He had never imagined that these lousy jars even allowed people to recruit downlines. They were growing more intriguing by the minute.
"From what you're saying, these jars are anything but simple."
"Of course." Immortal Chen thumped his chest hard. "Don't think I'm boasting. These jars of mine are absolutely a hundred times better than your Storage Ring. Besides, that medicine demon inside it is beyond your ability to control right now."
Boasting was hardly against the law, anyway. The man's wild bragging nearly made Xiao Yan laugh.
After all, his Storage Ring was no ordinary Storage Ring either. It contained a Hundredfold Apprenticeship Return System.
Each harbored his own ulterior motives and had his own plans.
In the end, they reached an impasse over the exchange.
"Little brother, stop dawdling. Hurry up and hand over the Storage Ring."
"There's no rush with the Storage Ring. Why don't you grant me permission first, older brother?"
Immortal Chen teased, "Granting permission is quick. Don't take offense at what I'm about to say, but what if I give it to you and you go back on our deal? Once that permission is set, it can't be changed."
"Oh, I'm worried too. What if I hand you the Storage Ring and you decide to kill me, older brother?" As it turned out, Xiao Yan was naturally ill-suited to joking. A single sentence instantly made the atmosphere tense.
Immortal Chen's eyelid twitched. With an affable smile, he explained, "You really know how to joke, little brother. If I wanted to attack you, why would I sit here wasting so many words on you?"
Before you continue