About ten minutes later, a black dot appeared in the distance, followed by a black lightning bolt. In an instant, it approached from afar, arriving in the blink of an eye. Such speed astonished everyone. Even Zhang Guodong, who considered himself "wealthy and powerful," was astonished. This person stood on a black, flat-leaf flying magical artifact, one and a half meters wide and two meters long. He wore a massive black-scaled armor, radiating a menacing, eerie light. In his hand was an axe gleaming with a blue light; the handle was short, but the blade was enormous, weighing a thousand pounds, yet it felt weightless in his hands. Even the wide black ribbon in his hair was a defensive magical artifact. He already possessed four magical artifacts, two of which were even more precious defensive artifacts. This was enough to demonstrate the immense wealth and resources of the market and its backers.
However, this person's cultivation level was only level 28!
Who is this person?
Liu Meigui and Bai Yin only felt envy, not surprise. Clearly, they were already familiar with this place and were used to it.
"Gentlemen, you've come from afar, thank you for waiting. Follow me!" The newcomer's voice boomed like thunder. His black, flat-leaf flying artifact stopped a dozen meters away from the group, and he spoke with a booming voice. Only then did the group see his face clearly. This man was a burly, tall fellow, much stronger and taller than Han Peng, standing at 2.3 meters tall. His physique was exaggerated, with bulging muscles and knots. His eyes were large and sharp, like copper bells. His bronze-colored skin was even more striking, leading one to wonder if he was a rare plant cultivator who also practiced body refinement.
"Brother Xi, you're too kind. We've only been here a short time!" Liu Meigui bowed slightly, appearing much more modest and respectful.
Xi Qinhan swept his massive eyes over the crowd with disdain. He turned and left with a leap, while Liu Meigui and the others, quite reserved, quickly followed behind. They sped through the treetops.
"There's a massive illusion and bewilderment formation here, covering an area of dozens of miles. If we lose them, we'll be trapped. Move faster!"
Xi Tiehan led the way, riding a flying artifact, without inviting the others to board. Comparing the speed of a flying artifact to that of a cultivator, one was in the heavens, the other underground. The group had traveled a long way, but dared not utter a complaint. Clearly, in their eyes, Liu Meigui and her group were hardly VIPs; their personal welcome was already a great honor.
Zhang Guodong brought up the rear, walking alongside Wu Xing along the treetops, holding the hand of Zhang Hu, whose face was pale with fright. He seemed to be exerting his full strength, yet his steps were light and effortless. The leaves swayed only slightly, so lightly that unless one looked closely, it was impossible to tell that Zhang Guodong had only used a fraction of his strength.
Bai Yin maintained a cold expression throughout, seemingly harboring great dissatisfaction with Xi Tiehan. Wu Xing, on the other hand, had shining eyes, constantly observing his surroundings. Sometimes he seemed thoughtful, sometimes puzzled, and sometimes a smile spread across his face. This man was able to multitask and was not left behind by the others.
"I see." "However"
Standing nearby, Zhang Guodong heard the same kind of talk countless times. He grew tired of it, as he understood nothing about formations and simply stopped listening. However, it was clear that this large-scale illusion-maze formation was far beyond Wu Xing's comprehension. To set up such a massive illusion-maze clearly required a high level of skill in formations. Not only was the illusion formation enormous, but an illusion formation was also incorporated within it. Wu Xing was soon engrossed in it, filled with doubt and confusion.
If no one were to guide him now, he would probably remain engrossed for a long time. What a fanatic!
Zhang Guodong shook his head helplessly, quickening his pace slightly to walk alongside Liu Meigui. Among this group, only Liu Meigui and Wu Xing could really talk to him. Bai Yin, that effeminate man, hated him, while the others looked down on him, a level 19 plant cultivator. Besides, this low-level plant cultivator even had a burden like Zhang Xiaohu with him.
This addition surprised everyone. A level 19 plant cultivator, accompanied by a... burden, could actually keep up with their speed?!
It should be noted that the Iron Man was pushing the black, flat-leaf magic weapon to its limit, which was five times the speed of everyone else. Even if it was slowed down to one-fifth the speed of the flying magic weapon, it was still the limit for everyone else.
Unexpectedly, Zhang Guodong, despite being a burden, kept up with the pace of the group and even managed to accelerate.
Could it be that Zhang Guodong possesses a magical artifact capable of enhancing abilities? While magical artifacts capable of enhancing abilities cannot match the durability of flying artifacts, they can still provide enhancements in a short period of time and are extremely valuable.
The group including Liu Meigui and Bai Yin from the Hundred Flowers Sect, several people from the Red Leaf Sect, two people from the White Jade Temple, and three rogue cultivators all wanted to see Zhang Guodong's strength, so they didn't offer any help. And sure enough, they found something wrong with him.
Zhang Guodong is no ordinary person! At least the sect behind him is extraordinary! They never imagined that Zhang Guodong's main strength lay in physical cultivation.
Liu Meigui sensed Zhang Guodong approaching, turned her head, and exclaimed in surprise.
"Guodong, your sister was right after all. You have quite the background, don't you, little brother?" Liu Meigui suddenly put on a charming smile and said in a slightly lowered voice, her eyes seeming to speak volumes, trying to read something from Zhang Guodong's face.
Recalling their encounter in the mountain stream, Zhang Guodong mentioned that he had a senior brother who was also in the mountains at that time. He also had a master, but he didn't reveal his name. To enable a newly recruited disciple to reach level nineteen within just over six months is something only top-tier experts, besides powerful factions concentrating resources on training, could achieve.
Those words, "brother" and "sister," made Zhang Guodong stagger, almost rolling his eyes. Liu Meigui was also a member of the enchantress class, a beautiful one at that. Although she wasn't as promiscuous, her voice and smile were undeniably alluring. Coupled with her stunning face and figure, her charm was even greater.
"But, sister, please don't say things like that in a situation that's inappropriate for children," Zhang Guodong thought to himself, glancing around.
Holding Zhang Xiaohu's hand, whose eyes were closed and face was deathly pale, Zhang Guodong felt the boy was becoming quite a burden. Fortunately, Zhang Xiaohu kept his mouth shut and didn't shout or yell. That was already quite good.
"Sister Rose, this..." Master didn't allow me to say, but Master is indeed very powerful! Zhang Guodong hesitated, then nodded firmly when talking about his master's power, his face showing admiration and boundless respect.
It seemed Zhang Guodong truly had a fabricated master and a fake senior brother behind him, leaving Liu Meigui unable to find any flaws. In reality, Zhang Guodong had thought of the person who built the nine-story pagoda. Such a person was no less capable than the Grand Elder, right? Therefore, if that person were alive, they could be considered half a master, someone who had nurtured him.
"Senior Sister Rose, whose sect is this giant? I don't think he takes us seriously," Zhang Guodong said in a low voice, changing the subject. Without even looking up, they could see Xi Tiehan, who was leading the way a thousand meters ahead, frowning and cursing, clearly dissatisfied with their speed. This sight might have escaped the notice of the others, but it couldn't hide from Zhang Guodong's mental energy.
If it were just a matter of stepping out, that would be one thing. But for a level 28 plant cultivator to look down on a group of level 30 and above plant cultivators, and even swear at them, Zhang Guodong began to frown.
Alright.
When observing the others, although they appeared dignified and kept silent, focusing on getting on their way, one could still detect the occasional flashes of dissatisfaction in their eyes.
Speaking of the other party's identity, Liu Meigui glanced at Xi Tiehan, who was far ahead, and cautiously whispered, "This Xi Tiehan has very high talent and a great physique. He's also skilled in body cultivation, making him practically invincible among his peers. That's why he was taken in as a disciple by an elder from Blackstone City. This elder has also come to the outside world this time and is one of the behind-the-scenes owners of the Southwest Imitation Market. Because the Southwest Imitation Market is short-handed, they've recruited someone like Xi Tiehan."
The implication was that it was only natural for them to look down on us. They had the backing of the Great Boat Platform and were practically the master of the Southwest Imitation Market, their magical artifacts dazzling. No one could possibly look down on someone from a small sect.
Zhang Guodong thought about it and realized that, including himself, no one really came from a prominent family. The Qingxuan Sect in Fengdu City was considered a major sect, but he wasn't a member of the Qingxuan Sect.
Zhang Guodong shook his head slightly and didn't ask any more questions.
After testing many things, you can basically guess about 70-80% of the situation. In the short time they were talking, Liu Meigui's forehead was slightly sweaty. Zhang Guodong, seeing that he wasn't sweating, suddenly held his breath and forced out a few beads of sweat.
Traveling so quickly overshadowed Liu Meigui and the others, making Zhang Guodong slightly smug. However, he needed to conceal his true strength, so he appeared to be working harder.
After traveling for several minutes, the group had covered hundreds of miles. The terrain seemed to have risen somewhat, and a vast expanse of clouds appeared among the forests on the mountainside. This seemed quite normal in the dense forests and peaks of the southwestern mountain range.
Just then, Xi Tiehan, piloting his black, flat-leaf flying magical artifact, plunged into the clouds. Zhang Guodong and the others behind him were stunned for a moment, then quickly followed. Could these clouds be fake? Had they already arrived?
A formation?!
Everyone's spirits lifted; they were finally almost there!
"Everyone, keep up!" Liu Meigui shouted. Getting lost in the illusionary array would be dangerous. If it were just an illusionary array, it wouldn't be a problem; at least you wouldn't die. But with a mind-controlling illusionary array that could trigger inner demons, it would be extremely dangerous.
But beyond the clouds lay a completely different world. Xi Tiehan waited there with a frown; only after the group appeared did he boom, "Stay close to me! If you get lost or encounter danger, good luck!"
Led by Xi Tiehan, the husband's family entered smoothly this time.
After a short while, the group finally entered the interior, which had undergone a complete transformation. They had finally arrived at their destination!
This place resembles a vast basin, where much of the virgin forest has been cleared away, replaced by rows of wooden, bamboo, and stone buildings. There are also some rather large-scale wooden and stone complexes. The architectural style is ancient, and the moment the group entered, powerful auras emanated from it, sweeping over them.
Everyone's expression changed, as if they themselves were naked, and they became even more reserved.
Those powerful auras showed no sign of concealment, proclaiming the strength of this southwestern city to everyone present. Zhang Guodong was deeply moved, and even more so, filled with apprehension, fearing that the other party would discover his secret.
These auras were in no way inferior to those of the Starwood Old Monster. One of them was the most powerful, causing one's soul to tremble, and it seemed to be above level seventy?! It lingered on Zhang Guodong for a moment longer before leaving.
Zhang Guodong was quite startled. The other party seemed oblivious to anything amiss. But that brief second of lingering felt like an eternity.
The streets were paved with bluestone, but countless runes were carved into them. Zhang Guodong had heard of these runes before; they were said to prevent people from traveling underground or lurking in the shadows. The runes served to block and seal, making them most useful for preventing disturbances or assassinations. Even if a powerful expert were to infiltrate the area, these simple runes would act as a warning, allowing the guards to sense it first.
Similar runes are found on and around newly built buildings such as shops and houses, all for the purpose of protecting the safety of the area.
Quite a few people had already entered; Zhang Guodong glanced around and saw at least six or seven hundred people! He was a little puzzled. Of course, Zhang Guodong only paid attention to this matter and didn't ask any questions. Overall, compared to the trading market where experts from the plant cultivation world were stationed, the scene here was more like a bustling market outside—too much.
Fortunately, there were stalls and several shops selling talismans and ritual implements, and the area was finally showing signs of prosperity.
"Senior Brother Xi, you've worked hard!" Xi Tiehan led the group to a stop outside a stone gate, no longer flying into the city. The two gatekeepers immediately bowed respectfully to him, but Xi Tiehan snorted and left without a word of farewell. Zhang Guodong and the others were kept outside by the two gatekeepers.
"Entry fee: two low-grade crystals per person!" one of them said coldly. His change of attitude was faster than a chameleon's. He held a weapon in his hand, seemingly ready to kick people out at any moment. (The identity of Manager Zhang is unclear.)
Everyone entering the city had to hand over two low-grade crystals, a fee that wasn't cheap outside. Although Zhang Guodong and the others objected, they still paid. Even Zhang Xiaohu, this "burden," was paid by Zhang Guodong on his behalf.
So much so that when Zhang Guodong looked at Zhang Xiaohu, his eyes gleamed with golden light, which terrified the little brat. However, once he saw the plant cultivator's small world, the little brat couldn't hide the excitement on his face.
Perhaps because he came from a humble background, always living in the circle of servants, this is where the little devil saw him.
see.
Zhang Guodong ignored him, completely disregarding his feelings.
After entering the city gate, Yi Tianshi, one of the three rogue cultivators, said to Liu Meigui and the others, "Since everyone has arrived here and is safe, I think it would be better to part ways here and travel together again after the transaction is completed. What do you think?"
"Alright!" Willow Rose nodded and said. The people from Red Leaf Sect and White Jade Temple also agreed.
Seeing that everyone had separated, Zhang Guodong hesitated, wondering where he should go. Liu Meigui brushed a strand of hair from her forehead and said with a charming smile, "Little brother, are you a little confused?"
Zhang Guodong smiled sheepishly, acknowledging that he didn't understand why everyone wanted to separate. Wouldn't it be safer to stay together?
This only confirmed Liu Meigui's belief that Zhang Guodong was an outsider, so she explained, saving Zhang Guodong from having to explain further.
Liu Meigui recounted in detail that, to this day, no crystal mines, or other refining material mines, or even more precious medicinal resources have been found in the outside world. However, there are many ancient ruins in the outside world, and some lucky people have stumbled into these ruins and picked up some broken items, or some rare but extremely precious materials, ores, and even magic techniques and magical treasures!
For cultivators specializing in cultivation techniques, incantations are extremely rare, having existed primarily in ancient times and possessing immense power. Magic treasures, on the other hand, are weapons of an even higher level than magical artifacts!
I've never heard of anyone seeing this!
However, rumors have spread that someone has obtained a fragmented magical artifact. This news is quite astonishing. Among the people who came to this place, can you guarantee that no one has obtained a magical artifact or anything of value?
In a dog-eat-dog world, you can't even reveal your secrets to your own people. Zhang Guodong finally understood everyone's concerns. Good thing, Zhang Guodong himself had an even bigger secret, and with fewer people watching, there was less trouble.
In the Southwest Spinning Stone area, the main items traded today are from archaeological sites. Of course, there are also commonly used consumables such as talismans and ritual implements made from stored materials.
Even when people are in a group, they usually don't go out together to hunt for bargains. Each person relies on luck and opportunity, and after the transaction is over, whether they get satisfactory items or leave empty-handed, they leave together.
"Remember, little brother, after you've traded for something you like, send a message to let us know. It'll be good if we rent out the whole yard so we can look out for each other."
Zhang Guodong nodded hastily. He was finally free from Liu Meigui's unabashedly ambiguous gaze. Zhang Guodong wasn't so narcissistic as to have unintentionally conquered this woman.
But Liu Meigui was just too good at seducing him.
After Liu Meigui and her fellow disciple Baiyin entered the crowd, Zhang Guodong and Zhang Xiaohu also went out onto the street and strolled around.
Although the number of people here is currently small, the territory is quite large. Moreover, people are constantly entering and exchanging crystals, so the number of people here is increasing.
"Let's go take a look over there." As they walked, Zhang Guodong saw a large building with a distinctive sign. It was a rather large storefront, or perhaps a large lobby.
Outside the gate, groups of disciples in uniform attire patrolled, matching the iron-willed man's own attire, primarily in black and green.
This is where the Southwest Fang City now handles business and deals.
What is a good business sense?
Once the trees in this basin are cleared, the land stretches for dozens of miles, it's quite large. It would be a real shame not to make use of such a vast expanse of land.
Therefore, the Southwest Imitation Market not only rents out stalls and shops, but also opens some shops itself. It also provides protection services to some people, building courtyards and guest rooms for a fee. As long as you are within the protection area and have enough crystals, you can stay as long as you want.
The owner has also built an exceptionally precious spirit-gathering array in these guest rooms and courtyards, making cultivation here much faster and safer than outside.
As the two people, one older and one younger, approached the entrance to the hall, the patrolmen gave them hostile looks.
After I explained my purpose, the other party's attitude improved somewhat, but they were still not very enthusiastic.
"With a few top experts backing me up, my disciples will have an easy time!" Zhang Guodong thought to himself.
"Brother Zhang, should we rent a stall too?" Zhang Xiaohu couldn't help but ask.
Zhang Guodong looked at the kid with surprise. The kid had been very well-behaved the whole way. He'd thought the kid was terrified of him, but now he'd actually made a sound.
Zhang Guodong didn't want to keep a silent, unassuming guy as a subordinate, so he didn't scold him. Instead of answering, he asked, "What do you think is needed here?"
Zhang Guodong scanned the surrounding area thoroughly, gaining a thorough understanding of it. However, perhaps due to its initial establishment, many businesses were not yet fully stocked. Only businesses dealing in items related to safety and cultivation were prioritized.
Zhang Guodong came here with the idea of starting a business. He didn't come specifically to trade goods.
Liu Meigui had mentioned the idea of finding a bargain, and Zhang Guodong had been tempted. But who was he? He was just a novice in cultivation, and his understanding of various kinds of knowledge was very limited. Asking him to find a bargain was a risky proposition for him.
Compared to finding a bargain, which is purely a matter of luck, starting a business is a safer bet.
Zhang Xiaohu seemed a little flattered. He tilted his head and thought for a moment, then hesitated before shaking his head. Well, this kid seems to have something to say, but doesn't dare to.
Zhang Guodong didn't press him, smiled slightly, and entered the hall.
Compared to the fierce disciples outside, the "business people" in the main hall were enthusiastically soliciting points. …But Wan immediately started recommending various "investment projects" to Zhang Guodong. This female salesperson addressed Zhang Guodong as "boss" from the start, leaving Zhang Guodong stunned. Was this still a plant cultivator?
"Wait, you all call the people who rent shops 'bosses' here?" Zhang Guodong said with a strange look in his eyes.
The average-looking saleswoman smiled and said, "When in Rome, do as the Romans do!"
I'm so sweaty!
Zhang Guodong couldn't take it anymore. He decided to stop talking about it and get down to business. However, it turned out that while plant cultivators revered nature, they were also quite adaptable to the outside world. That was indeed true. Here, the saleswoman's use of outside terms was probably a way to attract customers.
"You want to rent a five-story restaurant?" the saleswoman exclaimed in surprise as soon as Zhang Guodong explained his purpose.
The sound attracted other people as well.
"What, is there a problem?" Zhang Guodong frowned, disliking being watched. "Someone has already rented it?"
Zhang Guodong remembered that there was a single five-story stone building here. This wasn't a tower; each floor was very large, even the top floor was over 100 square meters, and the bottom floor was 300 square meters. Zhang Guodong had his eye on that one tallest building.
"Oh, no!"
Zhang Guodong secretly breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this. The woman's gaze towards him was rather strange, as if she were looking at an idiot. However, Zhang Guodong ignored this matter; taking down the only tallest stone building was the important thing.
What procedures are required?
"The stone building is for whatever purpose, but it must not be damaged. If it is damaged, you will have to pay the full price, plus five years' rent of 20,000 low-grade crystals. There are no refunds for the lease term, and either party who breaches the contract will be required to pay ten times the amount in compensation. Finally, once you accept the stone building, you have the right of first refusal to renew the contract." The saleswoman composed herself, picked up a memory talisman and handed it to Zhang Guodong, then began to explain the details efficiently.
Zhang Guodong scanned the memory symbol, which was basically similar to a modern contract.
However, the oath of the plant monks, "Contract," is a binding law, even more stringent.
The annual rent for that stone building is four thousand low-grade crystals. For plant cultivators in the outside world today, this is an extremely high rent. Because once your crystals are used up, they cannot be replenished. This indirectly increases the value of crystals. The current value of four thousand low-grade crystals is at least equivalent to eight thousand low-grade crystals in the plant cultivation world, or even more.
The agreement outlines the obligations and rights of both parties in a rather formal manner, within the boundaries of the Southwest Imitation City. Security here is the responsibility of the owner of the imitation site. Any actions detrimental to those renting this land are considered a provocation. Zhang Guodong is quite confident about security.
Although paying five years' rent upfront is very expensive, it will take away nearly half of Zhang Guodong's total crystals. He'll pay with low-grade crystals. Zhang Guodong will then have about 11,000 low-grade crystals left. Of course, Zhang Guodong is reluctant to pay for mid-grade and high-grade crystals.
After successfully signing a five-year contract, Zhang Guodong finally felt relieved as he watched the oaths of the previous owners merge with his own.
The aura emanating from this oath is identical to those other auras, indicating that the contract is genuine.
The saleswoman was extremely pleased after completing this large contract. She could pocket five hundred yuan worth of crystals for this successful deal.
"Boss Zhang"
"Just call me Manager Zhang, the restaurant manager!" Zhang Guodong raised his hand to stop him. The word "boss" sounded awkward here.
"Manager Zhang, does the restaurant need some setup? Are you short-staffed? We can provide that; they're all low-level disciples with low cultivation levels, guaranteed to be strong!" the saleswoman enthusiastically introduced. "Manager Zhang, if you need anything, you can contact me via message. My name is Yu Simu!"
"Take over that stone building first, then we'll talk about it."
The two sides exchanged communication tokens, and a butler-like man came over shortly after. Zhang Guodong then followed the man to accept the White Stone Building.
As Zhang Guodong approached his now-owned territory, he could sense faint fluctuations of runic patterns emanating from the five-story white stone building, presumably protecting it from external impacts. Otherwise, the building wouldn't have withstood such powerful attacks from the plant cultivators.
"This building was personally reinforced with array runes by several elders. Whether inside or out, it can withstand ten full-force attacks from a level 50 expert. Furthermore, the building itself possesses a soul imprint. Once the owner refines it, they can control the stone building to defend against enemies and also gain access to information about floors one through four. However, this soul imprint has a time limit; after five years, it will automatically disappear. To regain control, one must renew the contract," the steward surnamed Xu explained indifferently.
In fact, this soul mark is also a profound mystery formed from the condensation of life force and demonic energy; its function is merely auxiliary.
In the cultivation industry, many people use Soul Imprints when renting shops to control the inside and outside of the shop and prove their identity, which is extremely convenient.
After the handover, the disciples guarding downstairs all left. But before leaving, the steward left a plaque with Zhang Guodong's personal aura imprint on it, and Zhang Guodong also had an additional jade identity token on his person, which could further prove his identity as the owner.
Bi: I apologize for the long delay. This was a special case, and my classmate was too enthusiastic. I won't say more. I'll resume small updates starting today, two chapters of 7,000 words each. I'll be writing with all my might. I hope you all continue to support me. I'll strive to avoid another hiatus. Go! Go!
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