Mi Xiaojing said, “This place? It’s not a general store!”
Yong Ji chuckled, “Of course, it’s what we call his family’s… general store.”
Luo Bo remarked, “Yun Jian Fang actually has a nice ring to it.”
Mi Xiaojing agreed, “Yeah, it sounds quite imposing. General store, on the other hand, is just unpleasant to the ear.”
As Yong Ji walked inside, he continued, “You shouldn’t underestimate a general store. In Tian Yuan Market, there aren’t many that can be called a general store. This name signifies that they have everything!”
Having everything meant the shop was powerful. Mi Xiaojing asked, “This must be a shop opened by a Cultivation Sect, right?”
Yong Ji replied, “Almost all the larger shops are run by Cultivation Sects, with only a very few being operated by Rogue Cultivators.”
“Rogue Cultivators can open shops too?”
“Of course they can. A few Foundation Establishment cultivators working together can open a decent shop. If it’s several Elemental Infant Rogue Cultivators, they can definitely open a large shop, one that even Cultivation Sects wouldn’t dare to provoke lightly.”
“That’s possible? No wonder, Rogue Cultivators lack resources the most. In this way, they can indeed obtain good cultivation resources.”
“Yes, for example, some Elemental Infant Rogue Cultivators specialize in Refining Tools, some in talismans, and some in Alchemy. Once they join forces, even Cultivation Sects would come to purchase from them, trading resources. For both parties, it’s a win-win situation. Although there aren’t many such shops in Tian Yuan Market, there are five or six, and one or two of them are quite famous.”
Yun Jian Fang, aside from the archway in front of the shop, the entire building was also quite exquisite and imposing. A three-story building made of brick and stone, with two Qi Refining cultivators standing at the door, clearly showing the shop’s grandeur.
Having Qi Refining cultivators at the door and Foundation Establishment cultivators as shopkeepers indicated that a powerful Cultivation Sect was behind them. The Heart Sect also had shops, but they could only be considered medium to small-sized. In Tian Yuan Market, the Heart Sect was not considered a powerful sect.
Thanks to Yong Ji’s connection, as the three walked into the shop, a shopkeeper immediately came out to greet them. This was a young woman, at least she appeared young, with a cultivation level at the early stage of Foundation Establishment. Seeing Yong Ji enter, she hurriedly stepped forward to greet, “Wei Zhen pays respects to the senior, and to this fellow brother and junior brother.”
Being able to discern someone’s cultivation level at a glance, Mi Xiaojing was quite impressed by her keen eyesight.
Yong Ji smiled, “Zhen, don’t you recognize me anymore?”
Wei Zhen stared at Yong Ji in surprise, and after a moment, she suddenly laughed, “It’s Brother Yong Ji! How long has it been since you last visited…”
Yong Ji replied, “Not too bad, you see, I still remember you, but you’ve already forgotten me, haha.”
Mi Xiaojing and Luo Bo were dumbfounded, watching the jovial Yong Ji. When did this guy ever show such a side? It was simply unbelievable.
Wei Zhen hurriedly said, “Brother Yong Ji, please come inside! Please!”
From the shop’s main hall, through the central hall, all the way to the backyard, this was the place for VIPs to conduct business, decorated lavishly.
Yong Ji barely qualified as a VIP. Generally speaking, Foundation Establishment late-stage cultivators were the entry-level to be allowed into the backyard, and that was only if they were accompanied by someone familiar. If a stranger came, they wouldn’t be eligible to enter the backyard on their first visit unless they spent a large sum. Perhaps then they would earn such a privilege.
However, if it was a Foundation Establishment Great Perfection cultivator, they could enter the backyard on their first visit. As for Elemental Infant cultivators, there was no need to mention it. As long as they came, not only would the shopkeeper come out to greet them, but even the big boss would come out to exchange pleasantries. The Cultivation World was a society with clearly defined levels.
Such a luxurious place was new to both Mi Xiaojing and Luo Bo, who became extremely cautious. The intricately carved and inlaid tables and chairs, the thick floral carpets on the floor, and the walls adorned with many shelves holding various magical treasures and tools. The quality, in Mi Xiaojing’s view, was just average, but the room’s design was luxurious and grand, something he had never seen before.
Luo Bo was dazzled, his head spinning with excitement at everything so novel and fresh, muttering, “Wow, such beautiful tables and chairs, such a beautiful room…”
Yong Ji said, “Sorry, they’re from the countryside, they don’t know much about these things.”
Wei Zhen covered her mouth and laughed, “No problem, no problem.” She was used to it; not everyone was worldly and knowledgeable. She had even seen an Elemental Infant cultivator take away the tables, chairs, and carpets after a transaction, simply because he liked the luxury.
“Brother Yong Ji, please take a seat.”
The four sat down, and soon a shop assistant brought over tea and spirit fruits, placing them on the table.
Wei Zhen smiled, “We just got some spirit tea in the shop, quite rare. It’s from Wulong Mountain, made with spirit spring water from Wulong Mountain. Longyan Spirit Tea, everyone can try something new.”
Wei Zhen scooped a spoonful from the silver tea canister with a jade spoon into four transparent crystal cups, then poured in boiling spirit spring water before placing the cups in front of everyone.
Mi Xiaojing was familiar with spirit tea, though the one he knew had an extra word, Immortal Spirit Tea. He neither dared to speak of it nor bring it out, but he knew what the tea was.
The jade spoon was tiny, a spoonful containing only four or five refined tea leaves. Once brewed with boiling spirit spring water, the rich aroma of the tea wafted out. Taking a sip, one instantly felt refreshed and invigorated; it was indeed no ordinary product.
Yong Ji laughed, “Zhen knows me well, knowing I like this. This tea… I’ll buy a pound.”
Wei Zhen said, “There’s not that much, only about a dozen pounds came in. It costs thirty Spirit Stones a pound, and it’ll be gone once everyone gets a share. How about this, I’ll make an exception and give half a pound to Brother Yong Ji.”
Yong Ji didn’t argue, simply saying, “Alright, then thank you.”
“Brother Yong Ji, what brings you here this time?”
Wei Zhen looked inquiring.
Yong Ji said, “I wanted to ask if there are any small Flying Boats for sale. I’m thinking of buying one…”
Wei Zhen was startled, “You want to buy a small Flying Boat? That’s not cheap. To my knowledge, it’s at least tens of thousands of Spirit Stones…”
Suddenly, both Yong Ji and Mi Xiaojing were taken aback, neither expecting it to be so expensive.
“That expensive?”Yong Ji hesitated in his words, and Wei Zhen understood immediately. She said, “Big brother, what do you need the Flying Boat for? To become a long-distance merchant?”
Mi Xiaojing replied, “We need to transport someone over, and the distance is too great to travel by foot. Only the Flying Boat can make the journey.”
Wei Zhen, puzzled, said, “But there’s no need to buy a Flying Boat, right? Can’t you just rent one?”
Yong Ji and Mi Xiaojing were stunned again. Yong Ji quickly asked, “We can rent? Where?”
Wei Zhen’s lips curled up, and with a playful point of her thumb to her nose, she said with a giggle, “You can rent one right here from me!” (To be continued.)