Chapter 25: The Counterattack of the Earthfire Sect

"So this is the Liuyun Market. It doesn't look as bustling as the rumors suggested," Song Changsheng muttered, looking at the cluster of buildings in the distance, covered in the dust of travel.

"Is this your first time here, Fellow Daoist?"

Song Changsheng looked toward the voice and saw a clean, stout man walking toward him. The man wore golden brocade robes and had a round face with small eyes, looking quite honest and simple.

*I actually can't see through this person's cultivation level,* Song Changsheng thought, narrowing his eyes as his guard immediately went up.

The man appeared to be roughly his age, but his aura felt as if it were being masked by something, making him impossible to read.

"What can I do for you, Fellow Daoist?" Song Changsheng asked with a casual, polite cupped-hand salute.

"I am Zhu Yiqun. I mean no harm; I simply saw that you possess an extraordinary bearing and exceptional temperament, and I wished to make your acquaintance," Zhu Yiqun said with an honest smile.

"Zhu Yiqun? Is there actually someone with that name?" Song Changsheng's expression turned strange, but he continued to spout nonsense: "I am Shen Changsong. It is a pleasure to meet you, but one of my elders is waiting for me in the market, so please excuse me."

With that, Song Changsheng turned decisively and walked into the market.

Although the fat man didn't look like a villain, he could skip the whole "making friends" part.

It was like walking down the street one day and having some old man suddenly jump out, grab you, and claim you have extraordinary bones and talent so he could take you as his disciple.

Wasn't that just pure nonsense?

If he hadn't been unable to gauge the man's cultivation, Song Changsheng wouldn't have even bothered to strike up a conversation.

Watching Song Changsheng's retreating back, Zhu Yiqun rubbed his rounded chin and mused, "Not old, yet possessing the cultivation of the eighth level of Qi Refinement, and his spiritual energy is exceptionally vast. He likely isn't a rogue cultivator.

However, in this territory of Lingzhou, I haven't heard of such a young talent surnamed Shen. Shen Changsong... interesting. I hope that next time we meet, I can truly become your friend."

Having said that, he also waddled toward the market with his large belly...

The Liuyun Market covered a significant area, shaped roughly like a circle. There were entrances at the north, south, east, and west, all leading into wide, straight stone-paved streets.

Various shops and inns lined both sides of the streets, but at this moment, they were quite desolate, lacking the bustle described in the rumors.

With only a few people on the streets, Song Changsheng lost interest in wandering. Recalling the map in his mind, he headed straight for his family's shop.

The family had once owned over twenty percent of the shops in the market, but due to various reasons, most had been traded away. Now, only twelve remained.

However, these shops were located in prime locations within the market, generating nearly ten thousand spirit stones in annual income for the family, making them one of the family's main economic pillars.

"Treasure Seeking Pavilion. This is the place." Song Changsheng glanced at the name on the plaque and, after confirming it was correct, stepped inside.

The shop was quite spacious, spanning three floors. In the center of the first floor was a mahogany counter, which appeared to be the checkout area.

Surrounding the counter were glass display cases about half a person's height, similar to the layout of jewelry stores on Earth.

They were filled with various goods. The left side mostly contained finished magical tools, as well as various smelted metal ingots and ores.

The right side held materials from demon beasts, all processed and ready for direct use in crafting magical tools.

These items were open to Qi Refinement cultivators. What Foundation Establishment cultivators wanted was generally found on the second floor, but since the path of immortality was not flourishing in Lingzhou, Foundation Establishment cultivators were rare; one might not encounter a single one for months.

Compared to the desolation elsewhere, it was a bit livelier here, with about a dozen cultivators in various attire browsing the goods.

Three cultivators wearing family uniforms were introducing products to the customers. Perhaps because they were too busy, no one noticed him immediately.

Song Changsheng was in no hurry; he walked up to the display cases and began to browse on his own.

The variety of goods in the shop was very rich.

The items were subdivided into over a dozen categories based on different characteristics such as attack, defense, and support. Song Changsheng saw many uniquely shaped magical tools for the first time, which gave him quite a bit of inspiration.

However, the quality of these tools was relatively low, mostly being first-grade low or mid-tier, and many didn't even have formations inscribed upon them.

There were usually two reasons for this: either the shop's blacksmiths weren't skilled enough, or the shop primarily catered to rogue cultivators.

After all, only rogue cultivators with tight finances would choose such low-quality magical tools.

As he was looking with great interest, several young cultivators in black robes walked in. The leader, a dark-skinned youth, shouted loudly as soon as he entered: "Shopkeeper! Where is the shopkeeper?"

A female cultivator in her twenties immediately went to meet them, her tone somewhat cold: "Members of the Qiu clan, please do not shout so loudly, lest you disturb the customers in the shop."

As soon as Song Changsheng heard "the Qiu clan," his brow furrowed instantly.

In Lingzhou, there were six major powers. Besides the Song clan and the Earth Fire Sect, there were the Qiu, Wang, Li, and Yu clans.

Among them, the Qiu and Yu clans followed the Earth Fire Sect. However, they had always been at odds with the Song clan; even speaking a word to them was considered a waste of breath. For them to show up at a Song clan shop now, it looked suspicious no matter how one viewed it.

"Fine, fine, fine, I get it," the dark-skinned youth agreed verbally, but his volume never actually dropped.

"The deacon is not here today. If you are not here to purchase goods, please leave," the female cultivator blocking their path said, her tone turning unfriendly.

"Hey, Fellow Daoist Song, you've got that wrong! We are here to place an order for a custom magical tool. What, is your Treasure Seeking Pavilion going to kick us out?" the dark-skinned youth said, looking at Song Changqian with an exaggerated expression.

Song Changqian suppressed her anger: "We run a business with our doors open; naturally, we won't drive customers away. What kind of magical tool do you wish to have crafted?"

A playful smile appeared on the youth's face. "I've long heard that the Treasure Seeking Pavilion has superb crafting skills. I want to craft a first-grade high-tier pearl, but it needs to balance three characteristics: attack, defense, and recovery.

As long as you can complete it according to my requirements, I am willing to pay five hundred low-grade spirit stones."

"Simultaneously possessing three different characteristics? Qiu Wenxiu, are you joking?" Song Changqian said coldly.

"Joking? Or is it just that you can't do it? So, the famous Treasure Seeking Pavilion is nothing more than this," Qiu Wenxiu said loudly, provocatively.

The customers in the shop immediately took on the expressions of people watching a show.

"Hmph, besides the Eight Directions Pavilion, there are only five first-grade high-tier blacksmiths in the entire Liuyun Market. I've never heard of anyone being able to do that," another male cultivator from the Song clan said indignantly.

The onlookers nodded silently. Although they weren't blacksmiths, they knew that most magical tools could only possess one characteristic, and the difficulty increased exponentially with each additional one.

To possess three characteristics simultaneously, one would generally have to hire a second-grade blacksmith.

"Is that so? Then look at this!" Qiu Wenxiu nonchalantly produced a green pearl. As he channeled his spiritual energy, three distinct, layered formations immediately appeared.

"It actually possesses three abilities!" The crowd was stunned.

"This was crafted by a very young master blacksmith from the Earth Fire Sect's Hundred Treasures Pavilion. You say it's impossible, so then what is this?

In my view, your Song clan is merely famous in name only, yet you still claim your blacksmithing skills are unrivaled in Lingzhou. You truly have no shame," Qiu Wenxiu mocked loudly.

Seeing Song Changqian's shocked expression, Qiu Wenxiu felt a surge of satisfaction. He had investigated beforehand; none of the blacksmiths in the Treasure Seeking Pavilion were capable of reaching this level.

He wanted to humiliate the Song clan as the most powerful counterattack against their trade sanctions!

...

(End of Chapter)