Beneath the bustling trade district,
Every day, numerous merchant guilds arrived, yet the caravan led by Shen Lie and Lu Qingqing did not attract much attention.
After all, there were countless cultivators hoping to profit from the busy market.
In just three days, Shen Lie and Lu Qingqing had quickly selected a location, paid their spirit stones, and opened their shop.
With the market so lively, wasting even one day meant losing a day's worth of spirit stones.
Under the banner of disciples from the inner sect of the Li Huo Palace, their shop opened swiftly and smoothly.
Inside the shop:
"Brother Lin, Brother Li, we really owe you thanks."
"Brother Shen, it's not really my doing; the clan asked me to come."
Li Erniu's cheeks flushed slightly. His fellow clansmen already knew about these matters — the procurement list was just the Zhou family using his name.
But Lin Chang'an watched quietly, deep in thought.
It made sense that the Zhou family wanted to maintain good relations with Yun Yao — after all, it's easy to be a friend when things are going well, but harder when help is truly needed.
Though Yun Yao had not yet achieved Foundation Establishment, building good relations early was never a loss; even if she failed, she was still a disciple from the inner sect of Li Huo Palace.
If she succeeded, it would be a great gain.
"But recently, the Zhou family's moves seem a bit excessive."
Lin Chang'an frowned slightly. Over the past few days, he noticed the Zhou family's recruitment of cultivators was becoming rather aggressive.
"Brother Lin, thank you so much."
Little junior sister Lu Qingqing smiled warmly, and beside her, Li Erniu nodded honestly.
"Brother Lin, as a talisman master, you've met far more people and built more connections over the years than I have."
"Junior sister, you're too kind."
Lin Chang'an waved his hand with a smile. Whether out of gratitude for Lu Lao's introduction, the junior sister's kindness in gifting books, or personal interest, he was happy to help.
During this time, Lin Chang'an had introduced many ordinary talisman masters and other cultivators.
After all, a shop run by inner sect disciples of Li Huo Palace was far more trustworthy than random street vendors.
However, Lin Chang'an's face flickered with hesitation, a gesture caught by Lu Qingqing.
"Brother Lin, is there something troubling you?"
Shen Lie and Erniu laughed awkwardly, pretending not to notice and trying to avoid the topic.
But Lin Chang'an shook his head gently.
"It's nothing serious. It's just that recently the market's become a real mix of good and bad — some illicit talismans and pills… I don't know."
Though he didn't say it outright, Lin Chang'an's meaning was clear.
"Brother Lin, no need to worry."
Hearing this, Lu Qingqing didn't show surprise but instead smiled brightly.
"As long as the quality is reliable, I'm sure no one dares to mess with the Li Huo Palace."
This junior sister was formidable — her soft-spoken words all hinted at the powerful backing behind her.
Yun Yao, after all, was an inner sect disciple. Her formation of the merchant guild had naturally been reported to the sect.
With the sect's support, many problems could be avoided.
"That's good."
Lin Chang'an nodded softly. The cultivation world was full of troublemakers, those hiding from enemies, or corrupt cultivators.
These people were neither high nor low enough to join great clans, nor bold enough to appear openly — they had to hide within the market.
Having roamed this market for twenty years, Lin Chang'an knew many cultivators of all kinds, though he had only met a few late-stage Qi Refiners.
"Still gotta rely on you, Brother Lin."
Shen Lie and Lu Qingqing smiled as they discussed prices with Lin Chang'an.
Human relationships and favors made cooperation last longer.
Lin Chang'an agreed and quietly calculated that for now, he would sell his talismans in small quantities through Shen Lie's channel — safer that way.
But to secure a long-term path, he really needed to learn a new type of mid-grade first-level talisman.
Otherwise, always flooding the market with mid-grade golden light talismans would sooner or later raise suspicions.
"Brother Lin, do you think the young lady will achieve Foundation Establishment this time?"
On the way back, Li Erniu couldn't help but ask.
Lin Chang'an shook his head and sighed deeply.
"Erniu, even the competition among inner sect disciples of Li Huo Palace is so fierce. Imagine how hard it is for us ordinary cultivators to achieve Foundation Establishment."
Li Erniu blinked in confusion.
"Luckily, we're only at Qi Refining Fourth Layer. No need to think so far ahead."
Lin Chang'an smiled wryly at Erniu's optimism, then looked up at the bustling market, his eyes filled with a complicated, inscrutable expression.
How many came for the Foundation Establishment pills, and how many would truly succeed?
If not for his awakened 'golden finger,' he probably wouldn't dare hope for Foundation Establishment at all.
The calm before the market's opening was shattered one night, ten days later.
Lin Chang'an, cultivating inside his room, was suddenly startled awake by a thunderous roar from the market.
"Impossible!"
The familiar sound made Lin Chang'an's face change drastically — it was the protective formation of Qingzhu Mountain Market.
He vividly remembered it last sounding fifteen years ago during a beast outbreak.
Quickly drawing a low-grade artifact sword, Qingzhu Sword, he stepped outside and saw the formation's protective barrier illuminating the night sky over the market.
"Brother Lin! What's going on?"
Next door, Li Erniu hurried over, dragging his family and children, terrified.
"Someone is attacking the market! Erniu, hide now!"
Lin Chang'an's heart tightened — at this moment, the greatest danger wasn't the attackers, but those within the market.
Under the night sky, the formation's flashing light bathed the market, and Erniu's fearful eyes recalled scenes from fifteen years ago.
At the same time, the entire market erupted into chaos.
Before the protective formation was fully activated, a bloodied cultivator rushed in, panic-stricken.
"It's beasts! Beasts from the Yunwu Mountain Range are charging through!"
At the market's outskirts, howls of wolves echoed, driving countless beasts toward the market.
Meanwhile, at the Wang family's estate:
"Ancestor, these beasts have finally arrived."
The Wang family's elder laughed heartily.
"With the market's formation activated, I want to see how many medium-grade spirit stones the Zhou family can spare to maintain it."
The two second-stage beast cubs used earlier were just bait.
Beast attacks on the market were common, but if the formation were to fail, that would be serious.
The Wang and Zhou families, both under the rule of Li Huo Palace, bore the responsibility for the market's safety.
Qingzhu Mountain Market was split east and west between the Wang and Zhou families, each managing one half of the formation.
This level of formation consumed medium-grade spirit stones, which were precious to Foundation Establishment cultivators.
At the Zhou family's estate, the Beast-Taming elders sounded a bronze bell, and countless spirit beasts roared anxiously.
"Defend the market formation!"
The Zhou family patriarch, furious, finally understood the Wang family's malicious intent.
So ruthless!
They aimed to cut off their lifeline.
"Summon all Zhou family cultivators to prepare for battle!"
At the same time, some mysterious cultivators who had infiltrated the market stared wide-eyed at the chaos.
"What's going on? We haven't even started, and the market is already in turmoil?"
Their leader smiled grimly.
"Doesn't matter — our Divine Sword Sect will start a war with Li Huo Palace sooner or later. This is a godsend opportunity."
In the Kingdom of Yue, three major sects existed: Divine Sword Sect, Li Huo Palace, and Xuan Yin Pavilion.
Among them, the Divine Sword Sect was the strongest.
Yet the chaos in the market had not been caused by their hidden agents.
The formation had just been activated, and the market was already in chaos.
Cultivators showed excitement, restlessness, and many twisted, ferocious expressions.
Looting, smashing shops, naked greed and fights among cultivators were on full display.
Someone shouted "Foundation Establishment Pills," and countless cultivators' eyes reddened with desire.