A Godsend Opportunity

At the "Zhongping Hall" on Pagoda Peak.

When Zhou Chun entered, he found that not only was Family Head Zhou Daoyi there, but another elder, Zhou Jiasheng, was there as well.

"Your junior pays respects to the Family Head and Sixteenth Uncle!"

He respectfully saluted the two family elders, then stood obediently to the side, waiting for Family Head Zhou Daoyi's instructions.

Judging by the situation, the matter for which he had been summoned today was clearly no simple one.

"Since Zheng Chun returned to the Lineage, his cultivation has advanced rapidly and steadily. He has also repeatedly rendered meritorious service to the Lineage and offered many valuable suggestions. With him and Jiasheng working together at the market, I believe you will surely achieve excellent results."

At this point, Zhou Daoyi smiled faintly at the still-bewildered Zhou Chun and said, "The reason I summoned you here today is that the Lineage has decided to send you and Jiasheng to Red Cliff Market to operate and manage the newly opened Zhou Family shop. From now on, the two of you will be stationed at the market."

Go to Red Cliff Market to operate and manage a Zhou Family shop?

Upon hearing Zhou Daoyi's words, Zhou Chun was startled at first, then overjoyed. His heart surged with wild delight.

If he could be stationed at the market and obtain the right to operate a shop, wouldn't that mean he would often have opportunities to purchase spirit herbs from the market, purify them, and sell them?

This really was heaven helping him!

In truth, Zhou Chun had always possessed a profound understanding of the value of the Purification Stone Jar.

However, he knew even better that with his current cultivation and strength, it was highly inconvenient for him to use the Purification Stone Jar on a large scale to earn Spirit Coins.

Thus, he had always restrained the greed in his heart and refrained from frequently purchasing spirit herbs at the market for resale.

According to his own plans, he would have to wait until his cultivation reached at least Layer 10 Qi Refining, when his progress slowed and he began making preparations for Foundation Establishment, before using the Purification Stone Jar to earn Spirit Coins on a large scale.

By then, whether he went out hunting demonic beasts and searching for spirit herbs or purchased spirit herbs from the Stall Market for resale, he would have sufficient strength not to fear most bandit cultivators.

But now, an even safer and more stable shortcut had appeared before him.

By going to Red Cliff Market to operate the shop opened by the Zhou Family and purchasing and selling various spirit herbs in the Zhou Family's name, he could perfectly avoid all kinds of danger.

As long as he kept his greed in check and acted cautiously, there was practically no chance of being discovered!

If Family Head Zhou Daoyi had not been standing right in front of him, Zhou Chun would definitely have excitedly clapped his hands and shouted that heaven was helping him.

At that moment, he forcibly suppressed the wild joy in his heart and nodded heavily. "Yes. Your junior will certainly devote himself wholeheartedly to this task and will not fail the Family Head's trust!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Zhou Jiasheng nodded slightly. "Since the Family Head thinks so highly of him, I suppose he must indeed possess abilities beyond the ordinary."

Then he cupped his hands toward Zhou Daoyi and said, "However, this junior still asks the Family Head to clarify in person the hierarchy between me and Zheng Chun when we operate the shop, lest we argue with each other when problems arise and cause losses for the Lineage!"

Hearing this, Zhou Daoyi immediately looked toward Zhou Chun and said, "You heard Jiasheng as well, Zheng Chun. From now on, when operating the shop, Jiasheng will be the shopkeeper and you will be the shop assistant. All matters concerning the shop's operations will be decided by Jiasheng."

Just a shop assistant?

Upon hearing this, the joy in Zhou Chun's heart faded considerably.

But when he thought that, with only the two of them there, a shop assistant should also have opportunities to receive customers alone, his mind settled once more.

He immediately replied respectfully, "Yes. Your junior will certainly remember the Family Head's instructions and will obey the Sixteenth Uncle's orders in all things!"

Zhou Daoyi then said, "You have always been clever, and you often possess unique insights into various matters. The Zhou Family shop has just opened, so if you discover any flaws, you must explain them to Jiasheng promptly. If you have any usual suggestions, you may also draft them into a letter and submit it for my review."

Hearing this, Zhou Chun stealthily glanced at Zhou Jiasheng beside him. Sure enough, he saw the expression of this clan uncle change slightly. Clearly, he had understood Family Head Zhou Daoyi's meaning.

That was right. Although these words appeared to be spoken to Zhou Chun, they were actually a warning to Zhou Jiasheng.

Although he was the shopkeeper and all matters in the shop were to be decided by him, Zhou Chun, as the shop assistant, also had the right to supervise him and report to the Family Head.

That way, if he dared to think that being in Red Cliff Market meant the emperor was far away and act recklessly, he would certainly meet a bad end.

"Yes, your junior understands."

Zhou Chun nodded heavily to show that he understood.

"Very well. Since both of you are now clear on your respective duties, return today and make your preparations. Tomorrow morning, I will personally escort you to the market!"

As Zhou Daoyi spoke, he waved his hand, indicating that the two of them could withdraw.

After returning from Pagoda Peak, Zhou Chun hurried around to various places, informing the clansmen with whom he had close relations that he would soon be stationed at the market.

To most Zhou Family cultivators, Zhou Chun's assignment was undoubtedly a lucrative post.

Leaving aside the fact that being stationed at the market as a shop assistant would certainly come with an additional allowance from the Lineage, merely being able to avoid guarding the Spirit Cleansing Pavilion and handling other miscellaneous family duties after taking up residence in the market was enough to make many clansmen envious.

Moreover, while stationed at the market, he would certainly meet many more cultivators, and the opportunities he encountered would surely be greater than those available while cultivating within the family's mountain gate.

Thus, after learning that Zhou Chun had received this assignment, all the clansmen who heard about it congratulated him one after another.

"I knew it! Sooner or later, Thirteenth Brother, you would be valued by the Family Head and rise above the rest!"

After learning of the matter, Zhou Zhengyong seemed even more excited than Zhou Chun himself.

He happily placed a hand on Zhou Chun's shoulder and said excitedly, "Thirteenth Brother, as long as you do well this time, once that benefit is granted, you should have no problem being promoted to a Core Clansman. By then, you'll even be qualified to take over as the shopkeeper!"

The benefit he referred to was naturally the reward for discovering the Crimson Radiance Iron ore vein.

However, with his dao companion Sun Yujiao beside him, it was inconvenient to say so openly.

Zhou Chun had not thought that far, but he did not dampen Zhou Zhengyong's enthusiasm either. He merely smiled faintly at the couple and said, "Brother Yong, if you go to the market in the future, remember to look me up. When the time comes, I'll treat you both and take you to sample some of the Spirit Brew at the market's restaurants!"

"Haha, of course! When the time comes, Thirteenth Brother, you'll have to spend a little!"

Zhou Zhengyong laughed heartily and readily agreed.

After leaving Zhou Zhengyong's home, Zhou Chun thought for a while, then went to Flying Stone Peak as well.

When he arrived at Flying Stone Peak, he first went to the Book Repository and bid farewell to the Giant Green-Haired Ape guarding it. "Elder Ape, I'm leaving the Lineage tomorrow to be stationed at the market. I probably won't be able to come keep you company for quite some time."

"When you're away from home, be careful in everything."

The Giant Green-Haired Ape dipped its brush in ink and wrote those words on a sheet of paper, then gave him a kind smile.

Over the past few years, Zhou Chun had often come to the Book Repository to read. Each time, he also brought it some fresh food and chatted with it for a while.

Therefore, compared with the other Zhou Family clansmen, its impression of Zhou Chun was naturally much more favorable.

"I will. When I return from the market next time, I'll also bring Elder Ape a few spirit fruits to taste."

Zhou Chun smiled and nodded. After chatting idly with the ape for a few more moments, he went to pay his respects to Third Elder Zhou Daoquan.

Third Elder Zhou Daoquan was somewhat surprised that Zhou Chun had come to bid him farewell.

He looked at Zhou Chun before him and pondered for a while, then smiled faintly. "It was thoughtful of you to come. Since the Family Head values you so highly, work hard and do not disappoint him."

"Also, now that you'll be in the market, obtaining various resources should be much more convenient. If you have sufficient funds, you can keep an eye out for information about spirit objects such as Dragon Blood Grass and Dragon Blood Stone for your Silver Lightning Thunder Python."

"After the Silver Lightning Thunder Python consumes spirit objects of this kind, even if they cannot make it evolve into a Flood Dragon, they will still increase its bloodline potential, strengthen its physique, and help it awaken certain draconic bloodline talents."

He had merely mentioned this in passing and did not believe that Zhou Chun could accomplish it right now.

After all, in the Cultivation World, any material bearing the words "dragon blood" had absolutely nothing to do with being "cheap."

Even a Foundation Establishment cultivator like him would have to pay dearly to purchase such materials.

But Zhou Chun took his words to heart and immediately replied seriously, "Yes. Your junior will certainly remember the Elder's teachings."