Chapter 158: Chapter 157: The Reconstructed Market
"Hou Kehai pays his respects to Elder Bai. I wish you an everlasting Great Dao!"
Hou Kehai was the last to enter. He had already learned the rules from the Spirit Plant Masters who had just left and knew that everyone else had benefited immensely, which filled him with even more anticipation.
"Qi Refining Sixth Layer, cultivating a basic earth-element technique. Your foundation is solid, so breaking through to the next realm shouldn’t be a problem... Hmm, did you break your left leg once?"
Bai Zichen recognized the name. Hou Kehai was one of the two or three most skilled farmers, second only to the handful of Tier Two Spirit Plant Masters.
The Tier Two Spirit Fields under his care showed the best growth and had never suffered from any pest infestations.
"Yes. When I was thirteen, I was playing around and fell from a tree, breaking my left leg. I was bedridden for three whole months before I could walk again."
Hou Kehai was a bit puzzled by Elder Bai’s question, but he answered truthfully.
"That explains it. You think the bone has long since healed, but in reality, there are still a few hairline fractures deep within the bone. As it happens, the earth-element technique you cultivate focuses on the meridians in your legs. I reckon it’s a technique that relies on drawing from the earth’s energy."
Bai Zichen had spotted the issue at a glance on the Human Meridian Map; several faint cracks on the left leg bone were affecting the flow of his cultivation technique.
"Go and concurrently cultivate a body refining technique. One that tempers the strength of your bones will do. It doesn’t need to be high-tier; you can just pick any one from the second floor of the Transmission Hall."
"In a year or a year and a half at most, by strengthening your bones with the body refining technique and mending this hidden injury, your breakthrough will come naturally."
"That simple?"
Hou Kehai’s eyes went wide. ’Doesn’t this mean the Barrier-Breaking Pills I bought and the cultivation technique essentials I exchanged my Sect Contribution for were all a complete waste?’
’The Meng Chun Skill I cultivate is best at utilizing the earth’s energy from mountains and rivers. It focuses on drawing up the earth’s energy, harmonizing with heaven and earth, and encouraging the sprouting of life... All this time, I haven’t received much feedback from the earth’s energy and thought my cultivation was just lacking. It turns out my leg injury was affecting it!’
"Thank you for your invaluable guidance. If my Body Refining is successful and I’m fortunate enough to break through to Late-Stage Qi Refining, I will return to farm for you, Elder."
Hou Kehai bowed deeply. He was going to focus on Body Refining next, then prepare for secluded cultivation to break through to Late-Stage Qi Refining. For a short time, he definitely wouldn’t be able to continue tending the Spirit Fields.
"It’s alright. Your own cultivation is what’s important... Looking at your foundation, you will definitely succeed in breaking through this time."
Bai Zichen didn’t hold back his blessing. This man had a high probability of becoming a Tier Two Spirit Plant Master.
’If he’s truly willing to serve under me, I’ll have a good candidate to look after the Spirit Fields in the future. The contract for the Spirit Fields at Feiyue Lake is for thirty years at most, after which the Sect will reclaim them. But Black Mountain is vast, and there’s no shortage of Spirit Land suitable for being converted into Spirit Fields. Since I’ve declared my goal of opening ten new Tier Three Spirit Veins, I’ll definitely choose the best one for my own Cave Mansion. At that time, my personal Spirit Fields will be at least tens of thousands of *mu* in size, and I’ll need a large workforce to manage them.’
Having finished the Q&A session on cultivation problems in the morning, the afternoon’s work was just as easy: guiding a group of disciples who thought themselves quite talented in the Sword Dao. In reality, they were hopelessly dull, and many hadn’t even grasped the fundamentals. Most didn’t even own a Flying Sword; they had merely learned a set of Sword Techniques with a common mortal longsword.
Bai Zichen’s mouth twitched as he watched these disciples demonstrate their swordsmanship before him, waiting expectantly for his comments. He didn’t know what to say.
After a moment’s thought, he picked out the most basic set from the True Enlightenment Sword Technique—the Flowing Cloud Thirteen Techniques—and demonstrated it once for the disciples.
This set of swordsmanship had no complex techniques. It had a single purpose: how to strike an opponent with a Flying Sword in the quickest and most agile way.
As long as one could master the Flowing Cloud Thirteen Techniques, they could be considered a skilled swordsman in the Black Mountain Territory.
Among all the disciples who asked for guidance on swordsmanship, only one named Zha Chengsun left a slight impression on Bai Zichen.
This man was at the Qi Refining Seventh Layer, possessed an Ink Bamboo Sword bought from the Bai Family, and had taught himself the Flying Sword Dao using the few Swordsmanship Manuals available in the Transmission Hall.
According to the Sword Dao classification method here in Liang Country, he could be considered to have entered the Second Realm of Sword Dao.
For this person, Bai Zichen not only demonstrated the Flowing Cloud Thirteen Techniques but also patiently answered a few of his questions.
He taught him a few tips for Controlling Flying Swords during the Qi Refining Stage, mainly on how to squeeze out an extra two sword strikes with limited Magical Power.
Zha Chengsun listened, completely mesmerized, and immediately knelt down on the spot to perform the ritual of a disciple.
Bai Zichen used a surge of Magical Power to stop him, not allowing Zha Chengsun to kneel.
’Giving him pointers on swordsmanship is one thing, but formally taking him as a disciple is out of the question. Elder Tong gave me such a generous gift, and even his precious grandson is still just a registered disciple, unable to become an inner disciple.’
...
The Qingfeng Sect’s Market was very different from a few years ago.
On the plaza outside the original market, the ubiquitous Loose Cultivator stalls were all gone, replaced by rows of small shops.
The Market Array had been expanded to envelop the entire plaza.
Previously, the council of elders had proposed making the Market an independent hall, but it wasn’t approved.
But the faction of elders who wanted to push this plan had done a lot of work behind the scenes.
Formally incorporating the plaza, which had previously been left for Loose Cultivators to set up stalls, into the Market was one such move.
This instantly created eighty-eight new small shops, available only for rent, not for sale, with leases ranging from ten to thirty years.
In the first month they were offered, all were rented out. This alone would bring the Sect an annual income of two hundred thousand Spirit Stones.
Bai Zichen landed and took in the vastly improved market, nodding in satisfaction.
’Now this is more like it. It was chaotic before, with all sorts of swindlers and cheats mixed in. How could the market’s business ever improve like that? After seeing the Ten Thousand Beasts Pavilion, I really felt our Sect’s Market had a lot of room for improvement. It’s a good thing the Qingfeng Sect is the sole power in all of Black Mountain County, preventing any other large-scale markets from forming. Otherwise, our business would have been snatched away long ago.’
Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion.
As Bai Zichen walked into the main hall, a beautiful Female Cultivator with a graceful figure came up to greet him enthusiastically.
"Senior, have you been to the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion before?"
The beautiful Female Cultivator looked over but found that she couldn’t discern the cultivation level of the cultivator before her at all. She made her posture even more seductive.
"Please tell me what you wish to purchase, and I will be happy to guide you."
"Get your steward. You can’t handle the business I’m here for."
Bai Zichen recalled the first time he came to the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion years ago, when he was also greeted by a woman in a palace gown with an excellent figure.
However, although that woman in the palace gown was no less beautiful in face and figure, she was only a Mortal, while the hostess before him had a cultivation at the Qi Refining Second Layer.
"Perhaps Senior could first explain a little, so that I can report to the Steward..."
"You may leave. I will personally receive Elder Bai!"
The beautiful Female Cultivator turned her head to see an extremely tall, aloof woman in a red dress walking over. She quickly lowered her head. "Greetings, Pavilion Master."
"I was unaware of your arrival, Elder Bai. Please forgive any offense."
The aloof woman in the red dress waved for the others to withdraw, then gave a slight curtsy.
"My name is Qing He, and I am the Pavilion Master of the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion’s Black Mountain Sub-Pavilion. Please, Elder Bai, let’s adjourn to the fifth floor."
"Very well. Lead the way."
’I’m not surprised she recognized me immediately. The Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion is an outside enterprise. No matter how powerful they are, on Black Mountain’s turf, they have to play by the Qingfeng Sect’s rules. They’ve surely collected detailed information on every Qingfeng Sect Elder to aid in their interactions. Besides, when I walked in, I sensed that the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion had set up its own warning array. I suspect it sends an alert to the Pavilion Master whenever a Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator enters.’
’Qi Refining Great Perfection. To be in charge of a Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion branch with such a cultivation level, and as a woman no less, she must be extraordinary...’
Bai Zichen followed Qing He straight up to the fifth floor, which was rarely opened to the public.
The Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion claimed to have sub-pavilions in all of Liang Country’s Five States and Seventy-Two Commanderies, and in recent years had even extended its reach beyond Liang Country.
’In a market like Black Mountain County, it would probably take two or three years to sell all nine thousand *jin* of my recently harvested Dragon Tooth Rice. If I want to cash it in as quickly as possible, the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion is the best channel.’
The private room in the center of the fifth floor of the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion was set up with an array that specifically blocked Divine Sense probes. It was said that even the Divine Sense of a Perfect Foundation Establishment Cultivator could not penetrate it.
Host and guest took their seats, and Spirit Tea was served.
"Elder Bai, you are a rare guest. This must be your first visit to our Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion since reaching Foundation Establishment... Whatever your needs, I will do my utmost to satisfy them."
Qing He had been transferred from the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion Headquarters to Black Mountain just two years ago, but she had long heard of the famous Elder Bai of the Qingfeng Sect.
’A Foundation Establishment Cultivator from a sect like him must be looking for rare items when he comes to the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion. Otherwise, he could have just used the Qingfeng Sect’s own channels.’
"If our branch is temporarily out of stock, I will report back to the headquarters and have it transferred here as quickly as possible."
’Such a young Foundation Establishment Cultivator, and a Sword Cultivator at that, is said to have top-tier combat prowess. A figure like him is rare even at the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion Headquarters. Of course I wouldn’t dare show the slightest neglect.’
"I remember that the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion buys Spirit Rice... I have a batch of Spirit Rice here. Take a look and give me a price."
Bai Zichen took a handful of Dragon Tooth Rice from his storage bag. As it was exposed to the air, a crisp, fragrant aroma of rice spread out.
"Dragon Tooth Rice?"
Qing He picked up a slender grain of the Spirit Rice between two fingers. Each grain was the length of an index finger. She held it before her eyes, examining it for a long moment, and even waved her hand to catch its scent.
"It really is Tier Two Top-Grade Dragon Tooth Rice. The grains are plump and full of life force; it must have been harvested not long ago. Unfortunately, this Spirit Rice’s only two advantages are its high yield and short growth cycle. Its effects when consumed are not outstanding among Tier Two Spirit Rices."
"I wonder how much Elder Bai has? If it’s not a large amount, I can make the decision to purchase it directly at market price."
"Not much, not much... around seven thousand *jin*."
After setting aside one thousand *jin* for Elder Jiang to sell retail, and some for congratulatory gifts, Bai Zichen had also kept several hundred *jin* on hand for unforeseen needs.
"Seven thousand *jin*? Are you sure?"
Qing He’s cold and beautiful face finally showed another expression. Her red lips parted slightly, and thinking she had misheard, she asked again to confirm.
After confirming the quantity was correct, Qing He forced an awkward smile. "With such a large quantity, according to the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion’s rules, we can’t purchase it at market price... Dragon Tooth Rice might not be common in Black Mountain, but the Shennong Sect’s shop in Wanlian Square has been selling it continuously. The market price for all Spirit Rice is basically based on theirs."
"The latest quoted price is nine hundred and eighty Low-Grade Spirit Stones per hundred *jin* of Dragon Tooth Rice. Elder Bai, your seven thousand *jin* have a market value of sixty-eight thousand, six hundred Spirit Stones, but if our Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion buys it all at once, the highest we can offer is eighty percent of that value."
