Su's General Store

Several days had passed by the time Lin Xiao had recorded almost all the types of goods and market prices in Yuanling City.

During this period, with the martial law in the city and the Wu Household family incident having passed without any further strange occurrences, the gloom in the hearts of the people in the city gradually dissipated over time.

The atmosphere in the city became more and more lively each day.

On this day, Yuanling City also welcomed a long-awaited heavy rain.

Although the monks weren't afraid of getting wet in the rain, there were still far fewer pedestrians in the rain.

Lin Xiao and Jiang Youfu sat facing each other by the window in the inn's room, with a Go board on the table between them.

They were playing Gomoku, one with black pieces and the other with white pieces.

Liu Chun sat on a chair by a round table on the other side of the room, carefully examining the Yue Clan Jade Token that Lin Xiao had lent him.

Across the round table, Liao Pantu was leisurely leaning back in his chair, sipping tea and enjoying the rain.

Liao Pantu was slightly surprised to see Lin Xiao pull out a chessboard and pieces, saying he wanted to play chess with the chubby boy. He hadn't expected this seemingly unremarkable kid to have such a refined hobby.

Later, after listening to Lin Xiao explain the rules to Jiang Youfu, Liao Pantu felt something was off.

After taking another look at how they started playing chess, Liao Pantu completely lost interest in watching.

Rainy scenes are still more beautiful.

While waiting for Jiang Youfu to make his move, Lin Xiao turned his head and glanced outside, saying:

"I wonder how Yuan Qing's ancestor is doing."

Upon hearing this, Liao Pantu glanced at him and emphasized again:

"I don't sell my Icefield Spirit. If you don't want it, give it to Yigao."

At this moment, Jiang Youfu finally placed his piece, and Lin Xiao followed suit with a helpless smile:

"Don't worry, I won't sell it."

These days, as the people of Yuanling City gradually recover their Origin Qi, gossip that had been dormant has begun to circulate again.

Among them, the news that the Yuan Household patriarch was about to pass away was the most widely circulated.

It was so lively that Yuan Qing couldn't help but notice it.

Along with this news, stories spread among the people about how the head of the Yuan Household had gone to great lengths to find the medicine, traveling everywhere in vain.

Yuan Bi, the head of the Yuan Household, is essentially Yuan Qing's adoptive father. If he and his wife hadn't taken him in, Yuan Qing wouldn't know what he would be like now.

Upon hearing this, he immediately became restless and, after obtaining Lin Xiao's consent, went alone to the main residence of the Yuan Household.

Liu Chun admired the jade pendant for quite a while before finally stopping, still wanting more.

Hearing them talk about the Yuan Household, she suddenly seemed to remember something and turned to Lin Xiao, saying:

"By the way, Sect Master, you mentioned before that you wanted to make some Foundation Establishment cultivators, right?"

He remembered Lin Xiao mentioning this before.

Lin Xiao, who had just won another game of Gomoku against Jiang Youfu, helped tidy up the pieces, nodding as he said:

"Yes, do you have any reliable friends you could introduce me to?"

Liu Chun then said:

"Does the sect leader remember when I mentioned to you that after leaving the Wu Household, I temporarily stayed at a friend's house?"

Seeing Lin Xiao nod, he continued:

"My friend is also a Foundation Establishment cultivator. He has lived in Yuanling City for generations, but he is not from any prominent Lineage. His family is small, and they own a small general store in Yuanling City. His family usually relies on him to go out hunting to support his cultivation. He has been a friend of mine for many years. He is rather introverted, but he is very loyal."

Upon hearing this, Lin Xiao looked at him with some interest:

"Does his family own a general store?"

Seeing his interest, Liu Chun nodded and said:

"Although his shop isn't big, it does quite well because of its good reputation. However, since the shop's profits depend entirely on his earnings from going out, and one person's efforts are limited, the income is just barely enough to make ends meet."

Lin Xiao then readily replied:

"Alright, alright, then I'll have to trouble Elder Liu to act as an intermediary and inquire for me. If the other party is willing, I would certainly like to make their acquaintance."

Liu Chun smiled:

"Sect Master, you're too kind. This is nothing. I'll speak to him about it tomorrow; I'm sure he'd be very happy to befriend you."

Liao Pantu to the side, shook his head and sighed at Liu Chun:

"Little Willow..."

However, Lin Xiao had already discerned his intention to speak ill of him and decisively spoke up:

"By the way, Senior Liao, do you know how to use those functions in that bookstore?"

Liao Pantu, interrupted, glanced at him, gave a soft snort, and turned away, refusing to look at him again.

"You don't actually think those functions are made using arrays or restrictions, do you?"

"Isn't that right?" Lin Xiao asked doubtfully.

Even Jiang Youfu, who was engrossed in playing Gomoku, couldn't help but prick up his ears.

Liao Pantu the way:

"Of course not. Those functions are created by combining a large array with smaller arrays within it, along with the tortoise shell. Without that tortoise shell, it would be impossible to create an array that can isolate and control the Spiritual Power of every entrant, unless your array skills are strong enough to crush every entrant."

Otherwise, if you open a self-service shop like this, it's only a matter of time before someone empties the entire shop.

Hearing him say this, Lin Xiao asked:

Do you know how to get the tortoise shell that runs the bookstore?

"I don't know!" Liao Pantu replied matter-of-factly.

He paused, then immediately turned back to Lin Xiao and added:

"Yin Xuanzi didn't get this thing himself; someone gave it to him!"

Therefore, it's not that Yin Xuanzi is more capable than me!

"All right."

Lin Xiao was somewhat disappointed that he couldn't find out the origin of the tortoise shell; it seemed his dream of a self-service shop would have to be put on hold for the time being.

That night, Yuan Qing did not return to the inn.

Lin Xiao and the others ate and slept as usual, not too worried.

After all, the Yuan Household is a local tyrant in Yuanling City. Rather than worrying about Yuan Qing's safety, it's more important to worry about whether they might bump into or offend someone while walking down the street.

The next morning, Liu Chun went out to visit a friend.

There had been no news from Elder Zhang these past few days, and Liu Chun couldn't stay still, so he would occasionally disguise himself and go out for a short stroll.

In fact, Liu Chun had visited his old friend a few times before, but because he hadn't had the chance to ask Lin Xiao for his opinion, he didn't want to tell his friend anything. He only told him that he had met another friend who was suitable to take him in, so that Lin Xiao didn't need to worry about him.

Liu Chun's good friend is named Su Yaoguang, who is seventy-two years old and in the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage.

Although this age would be considered very old in the Mortal Realm, in the Immortal Cultivation Realm, he actually looks no more than fifty years old.

Liu Chun arrived at Su's General Store and saw his old friend busy in the shop, so he went in to greet him.