Manager Liao's Business Acumen

Time slowly passed.

In the blink of an eye, ten days went by.

During this time, Qin Ming stayed indoors, practicing the Mastery-level Blood Ignition Saber Technique from dawn to dusk, committing his insights into the saber art firmly to heart.

On the eleventh day.

After the Affix effect disappeared, Qin Ming attempted to cultivate the Blood Ignition Saber Technique once more.

With his firsthand understanding, Qin Ming spent another two days cultivating the saber art from the Proficient level back to the Mastery level.

At last, he had thoroughly mastered this set of saber techniques!

That day.

Qingyang Market.

Qin Ming arrived at Juxuan Pavilion once again.

Manager Liao was tallying the accounts at the first-floor counter. When he looked up and saw a major customer arriving outside—

His face immediately split into a beaming smile!

He hurriedly set down the account book, put on his trademark smile, and quickly came out to greet him.

"Fellow Daoist Qin, you've come at just the right time. Our shop has just received a batch of Spirit Bamboo Wine. Please, come up to a private room on the third floor. I'll let Fellow Daoist Qin have a taste, hehe."

Qin Ming raised his brows at this. "Manager, I came here specifically to buy Spirit Wine today. I'm planning to give it as a gift."

Manager Liao paused as well, but the smile on his face only grew brighter. "Oh! Isn't that a coincidence?"

Inside the private room.

After inviting Qin Ming to take a seat, Manager Liao took out a wine jug and poured him a cup. Then he said with a genial smile,

"Fellow Daoist Qin, please!"

"Try this Spirit Bamboo Wine and see how it tastes."

Qin Ming lifted the cup and held it beneath his nose for a sniff, then drained it in one swallow.

At once, the crisp, sweet fragrance unique to spirit bamboo filled his mouth. After the Spirit Wine entered his stomach, it even slightly enhanced his spiritual power!

"Fine wine!"

Qin Ming could not help but praise it.

"Hehe, Fellow Daoist Qin, you may not know this, but this wine comes from a Spirit Bamboo Mountain deep within the Cloud Marsh Great Wilderness. It's made from spirit bamboo that has matured for more than fifty years. It is difficult to brew and produced only in small quantities—a rare treasure among wines." Manager Liao gave his practiced introduction.

"I'll take this wine. How much do you have?"

"We brought in twenty jars this time, but they've all already been reserved."

"I specifically saved two jars for Fellow Daoist Qin, hehe."

As he spoke, Manager Liao took two jars of Spirit Bamboo Wine from his Storage Bag and placed them before Qin Ming.

Qin Ming swept a hand forward, storing the Spirit Wine in his Storage Bag, then asked, "How many Spirit Stones for these two jars of Spirit Bamboo Wine?"

"Aiya, Fellow Daoist Qin, that's far too formal. I had intended to give this wine to Fellow Daoist Qin in the first place." Manager Liao waved his hand.

Qin Ming did not stand on ceremony. Last time, he had spent more than a thousand Spirit Stones on magic artifacts here in a single purchase.

The old fellow had probably received quite a hefty commission again.

Qin Ming drank another cup of Spirit Bamboo Wine before asking, "Manager, do you have Frost Dew Juice, Jade Fire Fluid, and Spirit Bloom Essence? These kinds of spiritual materials?"

"Of course I do, but... aren't those used for alchemy?" Manager Liao looked puzzled.

Qin Ming said evenly, "Good. Give me ten portions of each."

"Ah? So many? N-no problem."

"Fellow Daoist Qin, forgive my presumption, but are these spiritual materials being purchased for Alchemist Su?" Manager Liao was somewhat at a loss. That was the only possibility he could think of.

For the sake of those two jars of Spirit Bamboo Wine, Qin Ming did not conceal it and answered frankly, "No. I need them myself."

"C-could it be...?"

A thought flashed through Manager Liao's mind, and he suddenly asked, "Fellow Daoist Qin, are you learning alchemy as well?"

"That's right."

"Some time ago, I already broke through to become a Low-Grade Alchemist."

"Now I'm purchasing these spiritual materials to try refining mid-grade pills." Qin Ming did not hide it. After all, he would inevitably have to come here to buy materials in the future.

Buzz—

Manager Liao's mind went blank.

A Mid-Grade Alchemist?

For a moment, he did not know what to say. He only felt that giving away those two jars of wine had been more than worth it!

Then he came back to his senses, his face piling up with smiles. "Congratulations, Fellow Daoist Qin! I never expected you to possess such astonishing attainments in the path of alchemy as well!"

"Could it be related to Alchemist Su?" he asked cautiously once more.

Qin Ming nodded lightly.

Only then did Manager Liao come to a sudden realization. No wonder the other party's alchemy had progressed so rapidly.

It seems the Pavilion Master's judgment was mistaken. Fellow Daoist Qin and Alchemist Su are not merely acquaintances. For Alchemist Su to personally teach him alchemy, the two must share an exceptionally close relationship!

If Fellow Daoist Qin breaks through to become a Mid-Grade Alchemist as well, then with the relationship I currently have with him, as long as I win him over, the Pavilion Master will surely credit me with a great merit!

Manager Liao's thoughts raced, and his eyes gradually lit up.

"Fellow Daoist Qin, I'll make the decision on this batch of spiritual materials. We'll settle the price at half off."

Qin Ming was taken aback, then smiled. "Then I'll accept your generosity without undue ceremony."

Seeing Qin Ming agree so readily, Manager Liao knew there was hope. He hurriedly poured him another cup.

"Fellow Daoist Qin, I have an Unreasonable Request."

"If Fellow Daoist Qin has any surplus pills to sell in the future, could you give our shop priority consideration?"

Qin Ming smiled faintly. "Certainly, but for now, I can only refine some low-tier pills."

"Manager, don't hold too much hope."

"It's no matter, no matter. Fellow Daoist Qin has such talent in the path of alchemy. I believe you'll soon break through to become a Mid-Grade Alchemist."

"Come, let me offer Fellow Daoist Qin a toast!"

Manager Liao immediately bloomed with delight.

The transaction was complete.

The two drank for a while longer.

As though suddenly recalling something, Manager Liao's expression became rather grave. "Right, Fellow Daoist Qin, things have not been very peaceful around the Spirit Fields lately. You should be careful and avoid going into the surrounding woods."

"I heard that a few days ago, four cultivators from the Spirit Feather Sect were killed and their bodies destroyed. The incident occurred in the woods behind the mountain by your Spirit Fields."

"Oh? Have they found any trace of the murderer?" Qin Ming took a sip of wine and asked without giving anything away.

"I heard the scene was cleaned up too thoroughly. If the Soul Lamps the Spirit Feather Sect disciples left in their sect hadn't gone out, they probably wouldn't even have been able to determine who had died."

"The four Spirit Feather Sect cultivators who died were all mid-to-late-stage cultivators. The murderer's cultivation was likely at least at the peak of the Qi Refining Stage."

Hearing Manager Liao say this, Qin Ming was immediately reassured.

"But Fellow Daoist Qin needn't worry too much. The market is still very safe. Especially since two powerful late-stage Qi Refining cultivators have moved in next door to you. They can also deter some petty rats and thieves." Afraid that Qin Ming might be overly concerned, Manager Liao added this.

Qin Ming frowned in confusion. "Two new neighbors at the late Qi Refining Stage?"

"That's right. Speaking of those two Daoist friends, Fellow Daoist Qin saw them here in our shop a few days ago. They were the two cultivators who came to sell demon beast corpses when you and I went downstairs that day. They're the Feng Brothers," Manager Liao explained.

At this, two cultivators wearing leather Dharma Robes appeared in Qin Ming's mind, one of them bald.

"Oh, so it was those two." Qin Ming spoke thoughtfully.

Manager Liao could tell that Qin Ming had probably not run into them, so he said, "It's perfectly normal that Fellow Daoist Qin hasn't seen them going out. The Feng Brothers are demon beast hunters and are quite formidable. They only return to the market once every ten days or half a month."

Qin Ming nodded.

Their conversation ended.

Qin Ming left the shop.

Manager Liao personally saw Qin Ming all the way to the entrance, watching as he gradually walked away.

Only then could he no longer contain his excitement. He clapped his hands, muttering to himself with an exhilarated expression,

"The chance to render great merit has finally come!"

"I need to report this to the Pavilion Master at once!"