Chapter 12: So Formidable, So Black-Hearted, and So Damn Greedy. If He Doesn't Succeed, Who Will? |
Ten days passed, and the day when the Red Lantern Illumination Sect's Merit Hall branch would station itself in Clear Stream Market drew ever closer.
The number of cultivators flooding into Clear Stream Market continued to surge. Rogue cultivators, disguised bandits, cultivators from small immortal clans, and disciples from vassal sects of major factions—they came in all varieties, their numbers impossible to count.
A market town that normally held a few thousand people year-round had been completely overrun by cultivators from hundreds of miles around.
[Taking a radius of 750 li, the actual area is roughly 3.14 * 375^2, which equals 440,000 square kilometers, about one-twentieth the size of China. Brought into the Wunan Cultivation World, which is the size of the Eurasian continent (54 million square kilometers), the Red Lantern Illumination Sect, as one of the Ten Sects, occupies one-tenth, or about five million square kilometers. Clear Stream Market, as a Qi Refining market under the Red Lantern Illumination Sect, serves as a terminal hub for commodity circulation. Considering this is a special event period, this radius of influence is quite reasonable.]
At the hitching posts of Clear Stream Market, administrators wearing temporary worker armbands were frantically dealing with the cultivators' demands to stable their horses.
Wang Rongwen had not ridden a horse here; he had arrived on the Patriarch's flying spiritual artifact. He observed the massive flow of people and clicked his tongue slightly in amazement.
Walking into Lao Gui's Beast Medicine Shop, Wang Rongwen noticed Lao Gui conversing with a middle-aged man dressed in white robes, who had a pale, beardless face. Seeing Wang Rongwen enter, the white-robed middle-aged man stopped talking.
"I leave it in your hands."
"It's only right," Lao Gui replied with a beaming smile, watching the white-robed middle-aged man leave.
First, he raised a hand to close the shop's door to prevent anyone else from entering, while Lao Gui put on a bitter face and began to play the victim.
"Sigh, I'm just earning a bit of hard-earned money." Saying that, Lao Gui poured himself a cup of tea. He had just been dealing with that rogue cultivator for a long time and his mouth was dry. He needed some spirit tea to soothe his throat.
Clan Elder Rongwen smiled and quietly looked at the teacup, waiting for Lao Gui to pour him a cup.
But for some unknown reason, after this bastard Lao Gui finished pouring for himself, he actually kept the teapot firmly in his hand. He didn't pour any for Wang Rongwen, nor did he show any intention of speaking. He just stared straight at him.
"This is?" Wang Rongwen asked, somewhat surprised.
"You people from the Wang Clan are quite something. Fellow Daoist Rongwen, if you have a matter to discuss, just say it directly."
There's no way I'm letting you drink this! If I pour even a single cup of tea for you Wang Clan people, then my years of mingling in the martial world would have been for nothing!
Finding it slightly absurd, Wang Rongwen gently frowned.
Oh, okay. So this is how we're playing? Looking down on me? Watch how I deal with you!
He picked up an empty teacup from the tray on the tea table, pushed it in front of Lao Gui's hand, and said with a distressed tone, "It's quite troublesome. Our Patriarch intends to organize a Ghost Market Auction with the Gu Clan to make a profit before the Red Lantern Illumination Sect's Merit Hall arrives. I came this time under the Patriarch's orders. He hopes you can host the distribution of the auction's invitations, but it seems Fellow Daoist doesn't welcome me?"
Lao Gui changed his expression at the speed of light. He immediately pulled a flask of eighth-grade Monkey Spiritual Wine from his storage bag and even brought out a golden wine cup—a low-grade magical artifact—filling it up for Wang Rongwen.
"Welcome! Welcome! I just had a tiny misunderstanding with Fellow Daoist Rongyuan. But toward Fellow Daoist Rongwen and the Wang Clan of Anbei Kingdom, I naturally feel incredibly welcoming, incredibly close, and incredibly trusting! Fellow Daoist Rongwen, this is eighth-grade Monkey Spiritual Wine. I just acquired it yesterday. A small token of my esteem—please, have a taste, have a taste!"
Where did your arrogance from a moment ago go? You still have a misunderstanding with Rongyuan? What misunderstanding? Do you have a problem with the Wang Clan?
Thinking of this, Wang Rongwen picked up the golden wine cup. He didn't drink the wine, but instead examined the cup again and again, praising it. "This wine cup is quite nice. Fellow Daoist, this cup is truly excellent."
Lao Gui's dry smile froze, his facial muscles twitching as if paralyzed. The Wang Clan was pushing things too far! You brothers, Wang Rongwen and Wang Rongyuan, were pushing things too far!
He gritted his teeth and thought, 'If one isn't ruthless, one can't stand firm!' Only by being ruthless to oneself could one earn spirit stones!
"Since Fellow Daoist likes it, I shall give it to Fellow Daoist. Hahaha," Lao Gui said with a loud laugh. He actually managed to look remarkably generous.
"Mhm. The Patriarch and the Second Elder of the tea-producing Gu Clan are taking the lead, and Elder Zhuo Chi from Dripdrop Cave is also participating. We estimate we'll also invite the Town Guardian Cultivator, Senior Jiang. With the four of them present at this Ghost Market Auction, it will definitely be foolproof." Wang Rongwen smiled as he introduced the details to Lao Gui, but when it came to the critical point, he stopped speaking.
"How many invitations do you need me to send out?" Lao Gui asked eagerly.
Wang Rongwen acted as though he hadn't heard a word. He sighed with a troubled expression, "As for that... sigh, our Patriarch loves to drink Monkey Spiritual Wine, but unfortunately, eighth-grade Monkey Spiritual Wine is hard to come by. Even though Fellow Daoist has some here, I'd feel bad asking you to part with what you love."
A second round of grievances! He was doubling down!
Patriarch: Rongwen, I am your uncle. If you want to use my name to get some free wine, I don't mind too much, but could you not make me sound so utterly shameless?
This time, Lao Gui didn't say a word. Even his facial expression remained entirely frozen. He silently pulled another flask of eighth-grade Monkey Spiritual Wine from his storage bag, placed it on the tea table, and gently pushed it in front of Wang Rongwen. Then, he fixed Wang Rongwen with a deeply resentful glare.
Fellow Daoist, that should be enough, right? Just because I didn't pour you tea, you can go blame Wang Rongyuan... I'm completely innocent here!
"Hahaha! Since Fellow Daoist is so hospitable, I shall accept it. The auction is set for the night after tomorrow, at the usual place. As for the invitations, send out three hundred this time. Remember, look for those with high cultivation bases! The grand finales of the auction include four or five high-grade magical artifacts, over a dozen bottles of high-grade spirit pills commonly used in the Qi Refining stage, and some excellent eighth-grade spiritual materials."
Hearing the number three hundred, Lao Gui nearly fainted with joy. He could sell these invitations for at least two spirit stones each. With just this single wave, everything Wang Rongyuan had freeloaded from him, and the wine and cup Wang Rongwen had extorted, would be fully recovered with a massive profit to boot!
Of course, in doing this, he also had to bear the corresponding risks. If any authorities came to investigate for some absurd reason, he would have to take the blame.
"Rest assured, Brother Rongwen, I understand. I completely understand. Once everything is settled, there will be a generous token of my appreciation!" Lao Gui held Wang Rongwen's hand, looking as if he were about to shed tears of gratitude.
"Mhm, then I'll be leaving first. See you around." Smoothly and without a trace, Wang Rongwen swept the flask of Monkey Spiritual Wine—the one from which only a single cup had been poured—into his storage bag and departed.
Once Wang Rongwen was far away, Lao Gui muttered a few curses under his breath, grumbling that everyone in the Wang family was a pig, before happily setting off to draft the invitations.
Recently, the number of cultivators in Clear Stream Market had skyrocketed. They had all come for the Red Lantern Illumination Sect's Merit Hall, planning to spend heavily there. Spending required capital, so these people had brought plenty of spirit stones and other treasures.
Why did the Wang Clan Patriarch and the other Foundation Establishment powerhouses pick this exact time to hold a Ghost Market Auction? They wanted to seize the prime window to harvest these premium sheep, fleecing them of a fortune before the Red Lantern Illumination Sect's Merit Hall even arrived!
Lao Gui had a bold idea—for this auction, he should charge three spirit stones per invitation!
*
"Yulou, do you think Master's attainment in the artificing path is actually high or low? I watched him refine low-grade magical artifacts today, and he ended up destroying three whole pieces."
In the evening, having finished their day of studies, the two brothers walked back toward Fortune Source Residence. Yu'an complained to his older brother.
"You don't understand. Master has real skill," Yulou replied, genuinely administrative of Hongmei. The man was practically a genius at doing business.
When it came to cutting costs and increasing efficiency, Hongmei's methods were on a completely different level.
"A single piece of Cold Refined Iron can be cut into six portions to make artifacts. Making two pieces breaks even, three pieces yields a small profit, and four pieces means a massive profit. Today, he made eleven pieces and only broke three. He's already made a fortune."
"Do people actually buy those low-grade magical artifacts? Our family's Donkey Mane Sachets have at least four layers of restrictions..." Yu'an truly couldn't wrap his head around it.
Just where was Hongmei so formidable? He would take a fist-sized piece of Cold Refined Iron, cut it down, mix it with leftover scraps of other spiritual materials, and somehow manage to forge three or four layers of restrictions into a finger-sized low-grade magical artifact. He had even managed to squeeze five layers into one of them. Of the three that broke, two had shattered while he was attempting to forge a sixth layer!
So formidable, so black-hearted, and so damn greedy. If Hongmei didn't succeed, who could?
"Lately, the number of cultivators in Clear Stream Market has been growing. Low-grade magical artifacts with three or four layers of restrictions are exactly what those who can't afford better items are looking for. The ones Master refines, even if they only have three layers of restrictions, use Cold Refined Iron as a base. In a real fight, if used well, they could even shatter my Black Jade Oil Bead."
Yulou and Yu'an chatted all the way back to Fortune Source Residence.
Bailu, who was leaning over the counter reading a web-novel, noticed their return. She jogged over to remind them, "The Patriarch has arrived. Yu'an, your parents are here too. They said to go see them as soon as you get back."
Wang Rongwen explained the situation to Lao Gui with a smile, but stopped abruptly just as he reached the crucial point.
"How many invitation letters do you need me to send out?"
Lao Gui pressed eagerly. Wang Rongwen acted as if he hadn't heard him, murmuring in distress, "Well..."
He let out a sigh. "The Patriarch loves drinking Monkey Spiritual Wine, but unfortunately, eighth-grade Monkey Spiritual Wine isn't commonly seen.
"Although Fellow Daoist happens to have some here, I'd feel bad asking you to part with such a treasure."
Feigning distress for a second time, he was striking again! Wang Rongwen was still on the offensive!
If the Patriarch were there, he would surely say: Rongwen, I'm your uncle. If you want to borrow my name to leech some free wine, I don't really mind, but could you not make me sound so tasteless?
This time, Lao Gui didn't say a word. Even his expression remained completely unchanged.
He silently retrieved another flask of eighth-grade Monkey Spiritual Wine from his storage bag, placed it on the tea table, and gently pushed it toward Wang Rongwen. Then, he shot the man a look of deep resentment.
Fellow Daoist, isn't that enough? So I didn't pour you tea—go blame Wang Rongyuan for that...
I'm innocent here!
"Hahaha, since Fellow Daoist is so hospitable, I'll gladly accept it," Wang Rongwen said, seamlessly changing his tune.
"The auction is scheduled for the night after next, at the usual place. As for the invitation letters, hand out three hundred of them this time.
"Remember, try to find people with high cultivation bases!
"The finale items include four or five high-grade magical artifacts, a dozen bottles of high-grade spiritual pills commonly used in the Qi Refining stage, and some top-tier eighth-grade spiritual materials."
Hearing the number 'three hundred', Lao Gui almost passed out from joy. He could sell these kinds of invitation letters for at least two spirit stones apiece.
With just this single batch, he would completely make up for the tea Wang Rongyuan had freeloaded and the wine and cups Wang Rongwen had extorted. He would even turn a massive profit on top of it all!
Of course, he also had to bear the corresponding risks. If anyone looked into the matter, he would have to take the blame.
"Brother Rongwen, rest assured, I understand everything. I understand it perfectly! Once the matter is settled, there will be a generous reward!"
Lao Gui gripped Wang Rongwen's hands, stopping just short of shedding tears of emotion.
"Mhm, then I'll take my leave. See you later."
Seamlessly storing the newly poured cup of Monkey Spiritual Wine into his storage bag along with the rest, Wang Rongwen departed. Watching him walk away, Lao Gui muttered two curses under his breath—
"Everyone from the Wang Clan is a pig."
Then, he happily went to prepare the invitation letters. Recently, the number of cultivators in Clear Stream Market had skyrocketed. They had all come for the Red Lantern Illumination Sect's Merit Hall branch, planning to spend their wealth there. Spending required capital, and these people had certainly brought plenty of spirit stones or other treasures.
Why did the Wang Clan's Patriarch and the other Foundation Establishment realm bigwigs choose this specific time to hold the Ghost Market Auction? It was to seize this prime window to harvest these high-quality 'leeks', sweeping up a fortune before the Red Lantern Illumination Sect's Merit Hall opened for business!
Lao Gui had a bold idea—this time, each invitation letter should definitely be sold for three spirit stones!
"Yulou, do you think our master's artificing path proficiency is high or low? I watched him refine low-grade magical artifacts today, and he completely shattered three of them."
It was evening. After finishing their studies for the day, the two brothers were walking back to Fortune Source Residence when Yu'an complained to his older brother.
"You don't understand. Our master has real skill," Yulou replied. "Slicing a piece of Cold Refined Iron into six portions to craft magical artifacts—making two means breaking even, making three is a small profit, and making four is a huge profit.
"Today he made eleven pieces and only shattered three. He's already made a massive killing."
Yulou genuinely admired Hongmei. The man was an absolute genius when it came to doing business.
In terms of cutting costs and boosting efficiency, Hongmei was on an entirely different level.
"Are people really going to buy those low-grade magical artifacts? Even our family's Donkey Mane Sachets have at least four layers of restrictions."
Yu'an simply couldn't wrap his head around it. What was so formidable about Hongmei?
He had sliced apart a fist-sized piece of Cold Refined Iron, mixed it with leftover scraps of other spiritual materials, and stubbornly managed to forge three or four layers of restrictions into a finger-sized low-grade magical artifact. For one of them, he had even crammed in five layers.
Out of the three that shattered, two of them broke while he was trying to forge a sixth layer! So formidable, so black-hearted, and so damn greedy.
"If Hongmei doesn't succeed, who will? Recently, the number of cultivators in Clear Stream Market has surged," Yulou reasoned.
"Low-grade magical artifacts with three or four layers of restrictions are prepared exactly for those who can't afford better gear.
"Even for the ones our master forged with only three layers of restrictions, the base material is still Cold Refined Iron. Used well in a fight, they could even shatter my Black Jade Oil Bead."
Yulou and Yu'an chatted all the way back to Fortune Source Residence. Bailu, who was leaning on the counter reading a storybook, noticed them arriving and jogged over to greet them.
"The Patriarch has arrived. Yu'an, your parents are here too. They said you should go see them as soon as you returned."
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