Chapter 12: Grand Opening

"The shop has already been rented. Currently, Shi Ren is leading a few of the juniors in cleaning it up; it will be open for business in a few days."

Li Shile nodded. Since the matter of the grocery store had been entrusted to Li Shiren, there was nothing to worry about. Although Shiren lacked meticulousness, he wasn't incapable of handling such a small task.

Immediately after, Li Shile inquired about another matter: "What is the current situation regarding the spiritual chefs the clan has been training?"

"Li Shijin and Li Zhizhen seem to have talent; they are already able to prepare spiritual food. As for the other clan members... they can only help out as assistants when the time comes," Li Shiqing said with a smile.

The clan had initially conducted a selection process and chose five clan members for further training, but during this process, the gap between them quickly became apparent.

To avoid wasting spiritual resources, Li Shiqing could only concentrate his resources on training Li Shijin and Li Zhizhen.

However, preparing spiritual food was a rather troublesome task, so the other three were not abandoned; instead, they were tasked with helping to clean spiritual items and performing basic, simple duties.

Perhaps, through constant exposure, those three might eventually learn how to prepare spiritual food?

As for having two clan members with the talent of spiritual chefs, Li Shiqing was already very satisfied.

"But the clan doesn't have many spirit stones left right now. It won't be possible to rent another shop in the market in the short term, and the spirit stones required to open a restaurant are far more than those for a grocery store."

As the Internal Affairs Elder, Li Shile was very clear about the clan's finances. From the fact that the clan couldn't even produce those 2,500 spirit stones for Li Zhirui, one could see how desperately the Li family lacked spirit stones, let alone the amount needed to rent a restaurant.

"There is no rush for this matter." Li Shiqing was, of course, well aware of the clan's current situation, so he had never intended to accomplish this in the short term. In Li Shiqing's mind, being able to begin preparations for the restaurant in six months would already be quite good.

Li Shile nodded and then left in a hurry. His purpose for coming this time was to deliver the Jade Spirit Pill to Li Shiqing and, while at it, emphasize the current reality that the clan was out of spirit stones.

...

Time passed quickly, and a few days later, early in the morning, Big Rong Island became exceptionally lively.

Because today was the opening day of the clan's shop in the Yunqing Market, many clan members wanted to take this opportunity to stroll through the market.

During this period, the clan members who had visited the market had been constantly boasting about how wonderful and bustling Yunqing Market was, piquing the longing of the others.

It was no wonder the clan members were inexperienced; after all, back in Bailang County, due to the overbearing dominance of the Beast Taming Sect, the territories of vassal forces—aside from those directly controlled by the sect—were like remote and backward mountainous regions!

Facing the expectations of the clan members, Li Shiqing gave a grand wave of his hand, allowing Li Shiren and Li Shilian, two Foundation Establishment cultivators, to lead the group. Any clan member who wished to go to the market could do so, and since Li Zhirui needed to buy some things, he also boarded the spirit boat.

A quarter of an hour later, the spirit boat landed outside the market, and dozens of clan members filed out following Li Shiren and Li Shilian.

"Wow!"

As Li Zhirui's siblings looked at the prosperous and bustling market, many could not help but let out small gasps of amazement.

Cultivators were people with keen senses of hearing and sight; moreover, with so many of them, the noise they made was not small, drawing the gazes of surrounding cultivators. Some looked with disdain, others with curiosity; though their gazes were subtle, their emotions were quite direct.

This, in turn, made them feel extremely ashamed. Even Li Zhirui felt incredibly awkward and silently took a step to the side, hiding himself behind the tall and large frame of Li Zihao.

"Let's go." As soon as Li Shilian spoke, all eyes were instantly withdrawn. This was awe of strength and respect for Foundation Establishment cultivators.

Once the Li family members entered the market, nearby cultivators began to discuss them, speculating about their identity and origins.

"Judging by the direction they came from, they should be from overseas. But those overseas families shouldn't be so unworldly, right?"

A certain cultivator speculated, "Perhaps it's that mysterious Li family on Big Rong Island."

"The Li family of Big Rong Island?" At the mention of this, many cultivators remembered.

The reason the Li family was considered mysterious was that they had rarely appeared before the world in the past. Consequently, many cultivators did not know how many members the Li family had or what their strength was; they only knew that the family's strength was not bad and that they had Foundation Establishment cultivators presiding over them, but they knew little else.

"Is the Li family preparing to enter the secular world? Is that why they sent out so many clan members?"

But they likely could not imagine that the Li family had remained mysterious before because they did not want to expose their weakness. Now that they had sufficient strength, there was naturally no need to remain mysterious or create illusions.

Meanwhile, under the leadership of Li Shiren, Li Zhirui and the others arrived in front of a well-located shop.

"Li Clan Grocery Store!"

Li Zhirui recited the name of the shop. It was very ordinary, but it represented the Li family's re-rooting in this territory, meaning the clan was no longer like floating duckweed and could rely on this place to nourish and expand the small clan of dozens of members.

Li Shiren unlocked the shop with a key and led everyone inside. The shop was not large, only about thirty square meters, but the advantage was that it had a backyard where people could rest, so they wouldn't have to travel back and forth constantly.

Li Zhirui entered the backyard first. Looking at the three small rooms not far away, he wondered who the other two people would be besides Li Shiren.

Soon, Li Shiren announced that both were members of the "Shi" generation. The clan had carefully considered why they chose them.

First, they were older. Due to their aptitude, their cultivation levels were roughly at their limit, unlike the "Zhi" generation members who were still young and could still push themselves further on the path of cultivation.

Second, both were resourceful, intelligent, and quick-witted, having experienced the ways of the world. Unlike the "Zhi" generation members, who were too young and might be somewhat impulsive in temperament, they were very suitable candidates to serve as the actual managers of the grocery store.

As for why two people were chosen, it was because the clan was planning for the future restaurant. After all, it would be impossible to start training managers only after the restaurant had already opened, right?

In particular, the cultivators frequenting a restaurant would be a mixed crowd, requiring people with relevant experience to manage it; now was the perfect time to train them.

"Since you are here, lend a hand," Li Shiren said, casting his gaze upon Li Zhirui and the others. "While you are wandering through the market, take the opportunity to promote the clan's grocery store."

"Uncle Ren, there's no need for promotion," Li Zhirui suddenly spoke, pointing toward the door. "With so many of us coming to the market together, we have already attracted the attention of many cultivators. They will surely know this is a grocery store."

It wasn't that Li Zhirui was unwilling, but it truly wasn't necessary for them to go out of their way. Furthermore, many clan members were visiting the market for the first time; if they actually did as Li Shiren suggested, they might accidentally offend someone, which would be disastrous.

Li Shiren raised an eyebrow and turned to look outside. Indeed, many cultivators were standing there.

"In that case, there is no need for you to promote it. Enjoy your stroll through the market, but you must return here before the Hour of the Rooster, otherwise, you will be dealt with according to clan rules!" Li Shilian waved his hand, allowing everyone to move freely.

"Alright!" Everyone left the shop happily, leaving only the two shopkeepers and the two Foundation Establishment cultivators, Li Shiren and Li Shilian.

Although no cultivators dared to start a fight within the Yunqing Market, it did not mean that nothing would happen. There might still be some thugs or cultivators who deliberately made things difficult or sought ways to cause trouble.

The reason the two Foundation Establishment cultivators did not leave was to deter these ill-intentioned cultivators.