The new Marketplace couldn’t be built at the foot of Yuanling Mountain. Marketplaces drew huge, complex crowds, so for safety, it needed to be separated from Yuanling Mountain by a distance of seven to eight li.
In the Cultivation Realm, Marketplaces were almost always built on their own empty plots of land. This made them easier to plan and was also for the sake of security.
As for a Marketplace built within one’s own sect gates, enemies would be able to enter the heart of your territory. If they harbored malicious intent, the Mountain Protection Array would beco aningless.
In recent days, Fang Qingyuan had found a plot of land near Yuanling Mountain and planned to start by building two short, intersecting streets.
There was no need to build everything at once for the Marketplace’s initial phase. He would start with two streets and expand later in a second phase according to its developnt.
Fang Qingyuan also had plans for the four street-facing plots at the central intersection, the best real estate in the Yuanling Square Marketplace.
He planned to give one to Zhao Liangde for a shop selling Spirit Beasts, one to She Xiyu for them to run whatever business they chose, and another he would reserve for Yuanling Mountain to establish so kind of trade.
For the last remaining plot, Fang Qingyuan planned to build an Independent Practitioner Marketplace. The main hall would serve as a Ghost Marketplace for Loose Cultivators. Initially, this Ghost Marketplace wouldn’t charge any Spirit Stones for stalls—anyone who wanted to could co. Later, he would set prices based on popularity.
If these Loose Cultivators earned Spirit Stones here and wanted to rent a long-term storefront, then Fang Qingyuan’s efforts would not have been in vain.
When She Xiyu heard Fang Qingyuan’s explanation and learned that he would be getting a Marketplace shop for free, a look of delight spread across his face.
But Fang Qingyuan’s next words made his smile vanish.
"Patriarch She, this property isn’t exactly free. The entire construction project for the Marketplace must be handled by your She Family. Furthermore, you will also be responsible for acquiring the Guardian Array for the Ruins Marketplace."
Yuanling Mountain currently had just over thirty thousand Low-grade Spirit Stones in its accounts, and he couldn’t sink all of it into this Marketplace. So, Fang Qingyuan used one of the plots as paynt in exchange for the She Family covering the initial construction costs.
As for whether the She Family thought it was worth it, that was up to She Xiyu to decide. Upon hearing Fang Qingyuan’s terms, She Xiyu quickly asked:
"The Marketplace is easy enough to build; two streets don’t add up to that many buildings, and our She Family disciples aren’t afraid of hard work. But this Array... are there any specific requirents?"
Seeing She Xiyu take the bait, Fang Qingyuan smiled faintly.
"A Second-tier Middle and Upper Grade Array will suffice. After all, your She Family will be responsible for the Marketplace’s security in the future. A stronger protective Array ans the She Family will be safer as well."
At these words, a complicated mix of emotions appeared on She Xiyu’s face. Seeing this, Fang Qingyuan laughed heartily and pulled She Xiyu out to continue drinking.
.....
Half a month later, She Xiyu stood beside Fang Qingyuan, his dignified expression restored, though a few more white hairs had quietly appeared on his head.
Fang Qingyuan gazed at the two streets before him, a surge of ambition rising in his heart. ’Even though it’s just two streets for now,’ he thought, ’I’m confident I can turn this place into the most prosperous location in all of southern Nanjiang.’
"Brother Qingyuan, let’s take a look over here."
She Xiyu no longer addressed Fang Qingyuan as "Fellow Daoist." Their relationship, now bound by this Marketplace, had beco much closer. Fang Qingyuan now called She Xiyu "Brother She," while She Xiyu addressed Fang Qingyuan as "Brother Qingyuan."
In that half a month, She Xiyu had purchased a second-tier, upper-grade Array from outside, while She Xuanyan had led a group of She Family disciples in tireless work, completing the two streets in just fifteen days.
Now, two short streets, one running north and the other south, intersected at a crossroads. The Xumu Heart Clearing Array brought by the She Family had also been properly installed, securely protecting the fledgling Marketplace.
Autumn was the season of harvest, and Fang Qingyuan now felt like an old farr, his cart full, surveying his fields and taking in the sight before him.
He casually stepped into a shop. It was completely empty inside, save for a few large pillars. Fang Qingyuan paid it no mind, nodded, and moved on to the next one.
After half a day, Fang Qingyuan turned to She Xuanyan, who had co up to him, and said:
"Overall, I’m satisfied. I just have a few suggestions. You can make the changes as you see fit..."
.....
As the first snowflake of winter began to fall, a young Qi Cultivation Cultivator was hurrying toward the Wilderness Forest.
The continuous flight had rapidly depleted the Mid-stage Qi Cultivation Cultivator’s Spiritual Power. Seeing that he had less than half of his Spiritual Power left, the Cultivator sighed and prepared to find a place to land, ditate, and recover.
But just then, out of the corner of his eye, the young Cultivator caught sight of a multicolored radiance flashing in the distance. Its colors shifted with extre regularity.
Seeing such an unusual sight, the Cultivator’s expression imdiately turned to one of pleasant surprise. He wondered to himself, ’Could so rare treasure be erging up ahead?’
Drawn by the light, the young Cultivator forgot about resting. The flying sword beneath his feet carved a slight arc as he sped toward the source of the radiance.
Only when he drew closer did the young Cultivator realize that the light was not from so rare treasure, but from a cluster of multicolored words twinkling in mid-air.
Looking at the words, the young Cultivator couldn’t help but read them aloud:
"Yuanling Square Marketplace! Beast Taming services, Spirit Pills and Spirit Grass, Spirit Tea and Spirit Beasts! Lodging, dining, and post-al entertainnt! Everything 10% off! High quality at low prices, honest with all custors! Don’t miss out as you pass by!"
’What is this nonsense?’ Anger flared up in the young Cultivator’s heart. ’Is this any way to attract custors? Luring all the way over here for this.’
But anger was one thing; stumbling upon a Marketplace was another. The young Cultivator was tempted. After all, who would want to camp out in the wilderness when a proper room was available?
After a few monts of thought, the young Cultivator flew toward the source of the words. After flying for a short while, he saw a sowhat simple and crude Marketplace, enveloped by an Array, appear before him.
When he arrived at the Marketplace entrance, two Qi Cultivation Cultivators ca forward to greet him. After the young Cultivator presented his identification token, he was handed a wooden plaque, inford of the rules, and allowed inside.
Upon entering the Marketplace, the young Cultivator could tell that it wasn’t very popular. The Cultivators milling about before him numbered just over a hundred in total.
The foot traffic was light, but the Marketplace seed quite respectable. It lacked the sordid atmosphere of the White Mountain Marketplace, and he couldn’t even see many Female Cultivators around.
The young Cultivator was in no mood to wander aimlessly. He headed straight for the crossroads and went to the inn with the largest sign. After getting a room inside, he finally felt up to going downstairs to order so food and treat himself.
Just as the young Cultivator was waiting for his food to arrive, a sudden commotion from nearby caught his attention.
"This food has gone bad, and you still want to pay? It upset my damn stomach! Hurry up and compensate with Spirit Stones."
The one shouting was a fierce-looking Qi Cultivation Cultivator. Judging by his deanor and dress, he seed to have co from the White Mountain area. Now that the Southern Border Beast Taming Sect had opened up this part of the Wilderness Forest, many White Mountain Loose Cultivators had also been drawn over, catching the scent of opportunity.
The waiter was just a mortal. When the Qi Cultivation Cultivator yelled at him, whatever ans the Cultivator used, the waiter was frightened to death on the spot.
Seeing that soone had died, the Shopkeeper stepped forward and said:
"Fellow Daoist, why did you act so heavy-handedly? If there was a problem with the food, we would have compensated you. Now that soone is dead, you must give an explanation."
The White Mountain Cultivator laughed heartily and said dismissively:
"It was just a mortal who died. What’s the big deal? As it happens, you don’t need to compensate for the food. We’re even."
At these words, the Shopkeeper’s face turned ashen. He said angrily:
"Do you think this is White Mountain? You think you can just kill soone and walk away? Is it that easy?"
The Shopkeeper was only at the Mid-stage of Qi Cultivation, while the White Mountain Cultivator was at the Late-stage. So, when the Shopkeeper spoke, the White Mountain Cultivator’s face was full of indifference.
But in the next mont, the White Mountain Cultivator’s expression changed. Five Cultivators had walked in through the door. The leader was dressed in the attire of the Beast Taming Sect, and by his side followed a Tai Chi Bear Beast.
That mber of the Beast Taming Sect was none other than Fang Qingyuan. He had business to attend to in the Marketplace today and never expected to encounter such a thing. Seeing how arrogant this White Mountain Cultivator was, Fang Qingyuan said coolly:
"According to the Marketplace regulations, anyone who kills a mortal shall be struck fifty tis with an iron mace, pay a compensation of three hundred Spirit Stones, and then be expelled from the Marketplace, banned for life from re-entry."
After Fang Qingyuan finished stating the punishnt, the White Mountain Cultivator imdiately shouted:
"What kind of ridiculous rule is that? I’ve been to so many Marketplaces, and I’ve never seen one as harsh as yours."
"Well, now you have. Guards, seize this maniac for ."
At Fang Qingyuan’s command, the four She Family Qi Cultivation Disciples beside him attacked without hesitation. The White Mountain Cultivator, seeing this, did not choose to surrender peacefully. Instead, he summoned a Magical Artifact to protect himself.
"Daring to resist arrest? That makes your cri even worse. Forget taking him alive—kill him on the spot!"
User Comments
0 comments from readers