Translator: AnubisTL
At dawn on Nanyang Peak, Li Qing slowly emerged from a cave abode halfway up the mountain.
He and Shen Ningbing had each rented a cave abode. Ten days had quietly passed, during which he had diligently cultivated.
Gazing at the market established between the spirit peaks, Li Qing's eyes gradually grew thoughtful.
"Renting a cave abode here costs 1,200 spirit stones per year—quite steep."
"If I keep spending without earning, my spirit stones will run out in just a few years."
"It's time to make a living!"
Li Qing's gaze sharpened slightly. With a leap, he landed on his wind spear and soared toward the market between the spirit peaks.
For rogue cultivators like him, skilled in cultivation techniques, the best way to earn spirit stones was naturally to sell their skills.
Those without such skills had to resort to adventuring in dangerous areas or accepting commissions to earn spirit stones.
Li Qing would never choose the latter. In the unfamiliar Great Wilderness Domain, where he knew nothing of the local conditions, recklessly seeking opportunities in dangerous places or accepting commissions carried far too much risk.
As a rogue cultivator, Li Qing naturally avoided all high-risk endeavors.
With this in mind, he flew to Nanyang Market.
The market wasn't particularly large, and its bustling atmosphere couldn't compare to Sunward City. However, the cultivators who frequented this place were generally well-off and powerful, many of them residing in spirit peak cave abodes like Li Qing himself.
The market's main advantage was that most cultivators here had some wealth or exceptional cultivation techniques. Those who opened shops here were particularly confident in their cultivation skills.
This made Nanyang Market highly attractive to foundation establishment realm cultivators, and it also drew occasional qi refining realm cultivators with impressive backgrounds.
"Arrays, talismans, pills, magic artifacts—even puppet sellers are here. It's small but complete," Li Qing murmured, rubbing his nose as he strolled through the market.
When renting his cave abode, he had inquired with the Ghost Sword Sect disciples stationed there about opening a shop. The requirements were surprisingly simple: just pay 300 spirit stones annually to the sect.
Unexpectedly affordable!
Later, after some subtle questioning by Li Qing, he finally pieced together the full story.
Originally, there was no Nanyang Market. It began when foundation establishment cultivators residing in the area spontaneously set up stalls to trade resources.
Over time, the market gained a reputation, attracting cultivators from afar who came to join the bustling scene.
Seeing the potential for profit, the Ghost Sword Sect immediately planned to transform the area into a high-end market. Any cultivator wishing to open a shop would have to pay exorbitant annual spirit stone fees.
Once this rule was established, all the stallholders unanimously withdrew, abandoning their businesses.
This left the Ghost Sword Sect dumbfounded. The once-thriving cultivator market suddenly became desolate, with only a few Ghost Sword Sect-owned shops remaining open.
The sect had been preoccupied with its war against the Ancient Hua Immortal Dynasty for years, neglecting internal territory management.
Forced to retreat, the Ghost Sword Sect abandoned its market plans and stopped charging high taxes from the stallholders.
Eventually, the right to open shops in the market became a perk reserved for resident cultivators.
For a symbolic annual fee of three hundred spirit stones, cultivators could set up stalls and open shops here.
It wasn't an exorbitant price, and gradually, these rogue cultivators established Nanyang Market, which eventually became quite well-organized.
"Indeed, unity is strength," Li Qing murmured, standing in the heart of Nanyang Market.
He wandered aimlessly, searching for a suitable spot to set up his own stall.
Midway through his stroll, he noticed several disciples from the Ghost Sword Sect dismantling a building ahead.
"May I ask why this Pill Pavilion is being demolished?" Li Qing inquired curiously.
"Ah, Senior, this pill shop was originally established by Pill Master Yan, a renowned alchemist in the city. After wiping out the Water Moon Merchant Guild, he fled."
"One of our Ghost Sword Sect elders had intended to settle accounts with him, but since he's already escaped, the shop has been abandoned. We might as well tear it down."
Hearing this, Li Qing's interest piqued. He hadn't realized Pill Master Yan had not only established businesses within the city but also maintained a shop in Nanyang Market. Truly a cunning fox with multiple escape routes!
"So that's the situation, young brothers. I happen to be planning to open a shop in the market myself."
"Why don't you just take the signboard down? I'll replace it with my own and sell magic artifacts here from now on."
"That'll save you the trouble!"
As Li Qing spoke, he smiled warmly and pulled out several dozen spirit stones from his pouch, handing a share to each of the three disciples.
"Senior, if you're opening a shop here, that's wonderful! But we couldn't possibly accept these spirit stones..."
The three Ghost Sword Sect disciples, who had been dismantling the shop, wore expressions of surprise and delight. Though their words feigned reluctance, their hands were remarkably honest, clutching the spirit stones tightly to their chests as if they'd never let go.
"Heh heh heh, consider it compensation for your wasted trip."
"But now, I'll need your help with the shop's opening procedures!"
As the saying goes, money makes the devil dance. With spirit stones paving the way, the matter proceeded with remarkable smoothness.
Without a word, the Ghost Sword Sect disciples immediately removed the pill shop's signboard and promptly signed a spiritual contract with Li Qing to lease the premises.
In the blink of an eye, the ownership of the shop had passed into Li Qing's hands—a remarkably smooth transaction!
"Now I can finally call myself an immortal with my own business!" Li Qing murmured, gazing at the empty shop with no signboard. He realized that from now on, he would have to rely on this place to earn spirit stones.
With that thought, Li Qing retrieved a pile of mortal iron from his storage pouch. With a single hand, he summoned his innate true fire and melted the iron, forging it into a rectangular signboard.
The iron signboard still radiated residual heat. After a moment's contemplation, Li Qing pondered what name would best suit his soon-to-open shop.
"Hmm... Heaven Refinement Workshop?"
"No, no, that name's too grand. How could a mere foundation establishment realm cultivator like me ever live up to it?"
"Hundred Treasures Pavilion? Hmm... that sounds suspiciously like plagiarism of the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion!"
"Hundred Crafts Pavilion? Too delicate."
Suffering from naming paralysis, Li Qing finally pressed his finger against the iron signboard, channeling spirit patterns into the metal.
Hundred Refinements Pavilion!
Each stroke of the characters was bold and vigorous, faintly imbued with traces of spirit patterns—a testament to the profound skill of the master who had carved them.
"That'll do!"
With a final flourish, Li Qing branded the signboard with an emblem of spirit fire, marking it as the shop's official insignia.
Thus, the Hundred Refinements Pavilion officially opened its doors in Nanyang Market!
(End of the Chapter)
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