Chapter 132: Chapter 129: Practicing an Art
After several days of business negotiations,
the final rent was settled at around three thousand Spirit Stones.
The rent for the various chambers of commerce was largely the same.
Although there wasn’t much difference between them when it came to selling and recycling miscellaneous Immortal Cultivation items,
their main businesses were still distinct from one another. For example, one might specialize in selling Talismans, another in Elixirs, and a third in Magical Artifacts.
Essentially, each one had a primary business they excelled at, and they had all established a certain reputation in the area.
The Sanhe Chamber of Commerce, for instance, primarily sold Elixirs for Cultivation, such as the everyday Qi Recovery Pills and the desperate, last-resort Violent Qi Pills.
While the lower-level businesses of the major chambers might compete, their core, high-level operations did not overlap.
Therefore, the location within the commercial district didn’t have a huge impact.
Even if a shop was in a more remote spot, those in need would still make the trip.
This was why the rent hovered around three thousand Spirit Stones, with little variation between them.
Still, there were some differences.
For example, locations near the village entrance were slightly more expensive, while those in the inner corners were cheaper.
The difference wasn’t substantial, however—only about a few dozen to a hundred Spirit Stones.
Once the lease agreement was signed and the rent paid,
the tenants could move in immediately.
The plots all followed the Sanhe Chamber of Commerce’s standard area specifications and included a complimentary commercial building.
The only difference would be the sign hanging on the facade.
But the neat and tidy layout, with its wide streets, had a unique charm in this feudal world.
In the end,
three chambers of commerce signed lease agreements to move in.
This netted Shen Changchuan an income of nine thousand Spirit Stones out of thin air.
In fact, the Shopkeepers of five different firms had come this time.
The other two, perhaps due to insufficient funds or other considerations, said they would go back and think it over.
Speaking of which, Shen Changchuan had actually met the Shopkeepers of the three chambers that decided to rent.
He had met them during the event at the Wu Family Collection, where he fought on the tournament stage representing Si Houqing’s Sanhe Chamber of Commerce.
At the time, he had demonstrated several Perfection Level Magic skills on the stage.
After easily defeating his opponent,
the Shopkeepers from Duobao Tower, the Jadeite Jade Merchants Association, and the Fulu Commerce Association had all eagerly approached him to chat. They gave him their contact information and tokens that would grant him discounts at their shops, hoping to win over a genius like him.
However, Shen Changchuan had worn a mask during the tournament to avoid trouble, so they had no idea who he really was.
Because of this,
they had to go through Si Houqing to gauge Shen Changchuan’s intentions this time, rather than approaching him directly.
This world wasn’t like his past life, with its advanced industry.
A world where two strangers could complete a business transaction over the internet.
In this feudal society,
business was more often done between acquaintances.
But Shen Changchuan was used to it.
He could also use this as an opportunity to meet a few more people, which might benefit him in the future.
Of course,
this total income of nine thousand Spirit Stones wasn’t paid in full upfront.
They had paid four thousand five hundred Spirit Stones now, with the rest to be paid later.
This outcome
wasn’t the best,
but it didn’t disappoint Shen Changchuan either.
’It will all be mine in the end anyway.’
With four thousand five hundred Spirit Stones added to his accounts,
Shen Changchuan’s net worth officially surpassed the ten-thousand-Spirit-Stone mark!
With such a substantial fortune,
Shen Changchuan couldn’t just hoard it in his Storage Bag like some old miserly landlord.
He considered his next objective for improvement.
The next step would be to travel to Qing City, spend all these Spirit Stones on Cyan Jade Pills, and raise his Cultivation.
But even though he had this idea,
Shen Changchuan didn’t set off immediately.
For one, he felt it wasn’t safe.
Second, the journey covered hundreds of miles. Even traveling on foot at full speed, a round trip would take at least ten days.
That was far too much time to waste!
Besides, if things went as Si Houqing feared,
and news of him buying the Cyan Jade Pills was leaked right after the purchase, he could be ambushed on his way back.
That would be a huge problem.
Shen Changchuan didn’t think he was invincible just because he had advanced to the Seventh Layer.
If he were to be surrounded and attacked by Cultivators at the Qi Introduction Eighth and Ninth Layers, Shen Changchuan wasn’t very confident, even with his Cyan Wood Sword Light.
A massive fortune of over ten thousand Spirit Stones
was definitely enough to tempt those notorious Tribulation Cultivators of the Qi Introduction Eighth and Ninth Layers into action!
His only option would be to follow Si Houqing’s advice: rent a Cultivation Secret Chamber in Qing City right after buying the Cyan Jade Pills and consume them all for Refinement,
converting them into personal strength in a safe place before returning.
But obviously,
that was impossible.
The time needed to go into seclusion and refine Elixirs was by no means short.
It was a process that took months!
To be away for several months in these turbulent times...
He might as well give up his entire enterprise in Dawan Village.
’I need a way to travel long distances quickly, back and forth between Dawan Village and Qing City.’
An idea quickly formed in Shen Changchuan’s mind.
His attention turned to the Beast Taming Secret Technique he had acquired earlier,
and to the Gale Falcon captured and imprisoned in the dungeons of Dawan Village!
’If I can master the Beast Taming Secret Technique and control the Gale Falcon, I’ll be able to fly before even reaching the Soul Emergence Realm.’
’Flying in a straight line high in the sky, I can bypass difficult terrain like rugged mountains and dense forests. I can also avoid attacks from Demon Beasts and people with ill intentions... Plus, with the Gale Falcon’s speed, I could complete the transaction and make the round trip between Dawan Village and Qing City in just one or two days!’
If he mastered the Beast Taming Technique and controlled the Gale Falcon,
he would no longer have to worry about being ambushed by enemies on the road after leaving Qing City.
Before reaching the Soul Emergence Realm, not even a Qi Introduction Ninth Layer Cultivator could fly.
That way,
even if people were green with envy and wanted to surround and kill him, he could simply ride the Gale Falcon and fly high above, leaving them completely helpless!
Shen Changchuan quickly made his decision.
Oh, right.
There was also the Transformation Technique Magic that he needed to cultivate.
He’d need a disguise to buy the Cyan Jade Pills in Qing City.
’Consider it preparations for my alias’s debut.’
Having made up his mind,
after a few short days of rest, Shen Changchuan roused his spirits and began the life of grinding Magic.
He cast the Magic over and over, experiencing the process each time.
When he got tired, he would watch the progress bar on his panel increase.
This repeated,
and after seven days,
Shen Changchuan saw that
the progress bar for the Beast Taming Secret Technique on his panel had reached 100%.
