Under the bustling market.
Every day, many merchant guilds arrive, and Shen Lie and Lu Qingqing's caravan did not attract any attention.
After all, there were too many cultivators wishing to make a profit amid the bustling market.
In just three days, Shen Lie and Lu Qingqing chose their location, paid Spirit Stones, and opened a shop, very swiftly.
Seeing the current bustling situation in the market, wasting one day is losing a day of earning Spirit Stones.
Using the name of an Inner Sect Disciple of Li Huo Palace, the shop opened very quickly.
Inside the shop.
"Brother Lin, Brother Li, it's really thanks to you."
"Brother Shen, this isn't my credit, it's the family that sent me."
Li Erniu's face reddened slightly; his family knew their matters well. This procurement list was just something the Zhou family did using his hand.
However, this scene fell into Lin Chang'an's eyes, making him ponder secretly.
It makes sense for the Zhou family to befriend Yun Yao, as it's easy to add flowers to the brocade but hard to send charcoal in the snow.
Even though Yun Yao has not yet reached Foundation Establishment, it's never a loss to proactively befriend; even if she doesn't succeed, she's still an Inner Sect Disciple of Li Huo Palace.
In case she does succeed in Foundation Establishment, it's never a loss no matter how you look at it.
"But recently, the Zhou family's actions seem a bit too large-scale."
Lin Chang'an frowned secretly, noticing that in recent days, the Zhou family was recruiting cultivators, apparently on a large scale.
"Senior Brother Lin, it's really thanks to you."
Little Junior Sister Lu Qingqing said with a smile, and beside her, Li Erniu also nodded honestly, saying:
"Brother Lin, being a Talisman Master, you've known and networked with more people over the years than I have."
"Junior Sister, you're too kind."
Lin Chang'an waved his hand smilingly, whether out of gratitude for Elder Lu's introduction or the gift of books from this Little Junior Sister, or personal interest, he had to help with this matter.
During this period, Lin Chang'an introduced many ordinary Talisman Masters and some other cultivators.
After all, a shop opened by an Inner Sect Disciple of Li Huo Palace is more reliable than some random street stall.
However, Lin Chang'an's face soon revealed a hint of hesitation, which Lu Qingqing noticed.
"Senior Brother Lin, could there be something you're concerned about?"
Next to them, Shen Lie and Erniu played along, pretending not to notice and preparing to back away.
However, Lin Chang'an shook his head gently.
"It's nothing significant, just recently the market has become a mix of characters, with some questionable talismans and elixirs, I wonder..."
Although he didn't finish, Lin Chang'an made it clear.
"Senior Brother Lin need not worry."
Upon hearing this, Lu Qingqing did not show surprise but rather delight, nodding and smilingly saying:
"As long as the quality is fine, I doubt anyone dares to challenge Li Huo Palace."
This Little Junior Sister, Lu Qingqing, had remarkable skills, speaking softly but revealing her reliance behind the scenes with each word.
Yun Yao, after all, was an Inner Sect Disciple, and the matter of setting up a guild was naturally reported to the inside of the Sect.
Having the Sect as a support avoids many problems.
"That's good then."
Lin Chang'an nodded gently, as the Immortal Cultivation Realm had many cultivators who had offended someone, were hiding from enemies, or were of poor character.
These kinds of people, neither good nor bad, were not welcomed by Immortal Cultivation Clans, nor did they dare to reveal themselves easily and could only hide within the market.
Having mingled in the market for twenty years, although he hadn't come to know several Great Cultivators in late-stage Qi Refining, he knew quite a lot about the various cultivators.
"It's still thanks to you, Brother Lin."
Both Shen Lie and Lu Qingqing smiled broadly while discussing the baseline price with Lin Chang'an.
In relationships, mutual interactions and favors between people lead to longer-lasting bonds.
Lin Chang'an also nodded in agreement, while calculating in his mind to channel his talismans temporarily through Shen Lie's path for relative safety.
But for long term, he really needed to quickly learn another Tier One Middle Grade talisman.
If he kept making just Tier One Middle Grade Golden Light Talismans in large numbers, it would eventually raise suspicions.
...
"Brother Lin, do you think the little Commandery Princess will reach Foundation Establishment this time?"
On the way back, Li Erniu couldn't help but ask curiously.
Lin Chang'an shook his head and sighed:
"Erniu, even the Inner Sect Disciples of Li Huo Palace face such fierce competition; imagine how difficult it is for ordinary cultivators like us to seek Foundation Establishment."
Li Erniu shook his head in confusion.
"Luckily, we are only at the Qi Refining Fourth Layer, so we don't have to worry about it too much."
To Erniu's optimistic attitude, Lin Chang'an smiled wryly, looking up at the bustling market with a complex emotion in his eyes, something hard to decipher.
How many people have come for the Foundation Establishment Pill this time, and how many will actually succeed?
If it weren't for his Golden Finger awakening, he wouldn't dare to dream of Foundation Establishment either.
...
The calm before the exploitation of Cyan Bamboo Mountain Market was suddenly shattered on a night ten days later.
Initially cultivating inside the house, Lin Chang'an was suddenly awakened by the rumbling sound from the market.
"How can this be?!"
The familiar sound made Lin Chang'an's face change drastically, as this was the sound of the Mountain Protection Array of Cyan Bamboo Mountain Market.
The last time it sounded was during the beast tide fifteen years ago, an event he remembered vividly to this day.
Quickly taking out the Lower Grade Magical Artifact, Cyan Bamboo Sword from his Storage Bag, he had just stepped out of the house when he saw the array barrier covering the market under the night sky.
"Brother Lin, what's happening?!"
The neighboring Li Erniu was terrified, urgently dragging his family and kids along.
"Someone is attacking the market! Erniu, hide quickly."
With his heart startled, Lin Chang'an knew that at this time, the most dangerous weren't the attackers outside but rather those within the market.
Under the night sky, the flickering light of the array over the market illuminated everything, and Li Erniu's fearful eyes recalled the scenes from fifteen years ago.
Meanwhile, the entire market was in turmoil and became extremely noisy.
Before the market's array barrier fully activated, a blood-soaked cultivator rushed inside, shouting in terror:
"It's demon beasts! The demon beasts from the Cloud Mist Mountain Range have broken out."
At the outskirts of the market, amidst the howls of wolves, numerous demon beasts charged toward the market.
...
Meanwhile, at the Wang Family.
"Patriarch, those beasts have finally arrived."
The Great Elder of the Wang Family couldn't help but laugh aloud.
"With the market's great array activating, let's see how many Middle Grade Spirit Stones the Zhou family has to maintain the array this time."
The two Tier Two demon beast cubs were merely bait.
Demon beasts attacking the market isn't significant on its own, but if the market's array encounters problems, then it's a serious issue.
Both the Wang Family and Zhou Family were clans under the control of Li Huo Palace, and being established in the market meant they were responsible for the market's stability.
In Cyan Bamboo Mountain Market, the Wang family and Zhou family managed the market array from the east and west respectively.
And this level of array consumed Middle Grade Spirit Stones.
Middle Grade Spirit Stones were precious even to Foundation Establishment Cultivators.
...
The Beast Taming Zhou Family sounded the Copper Bell, causing numerous spirit beasts of cultivators to roar in agitation.
"Guard the market's great array."
The ancestor of the Beast Taming Zhou Family was filled with rage, realizing at that moment the Wang family's malicious intent.
Too ruthless!
This was cutting off support from under!
"Gather all Zhou Family cultivators to prepare for defense!"
...
At the same time, some mysterious cultivators who infiltrated the market were left staring at each other in surprise.
"What's happening? We haven't even begun our operation, yet the market's already in chaos?"
The leading cultivator, looking at the chaotic scene, revealed a sinister smile.
"Anyway, our Divine Sword Sect will eventually go to war against Li Huo Palace; this is a godsend opportunity."
In the Yue Kingdom, there are three major sects: Divine Sword Sect, Li Huo Palace, and Profound Sound Pavilion.
Among them, Divine Sword Sect is the strongest.
However, within the market, there's no need for the hidden cultivators from the Divine Sword Sect to create chaos.
As soon as the market's great array activated, chaos erupted internally.
All cultivators bore expressions ranging from excitement to agitation, with many displaying twisted and ferocious faces.
Looting, arson, and shop smashing abounded, and naked greed and fighting among cultivators were laid bare.
Someone yelled 'Foundation Establishment Pill,' which drove countless cultivators mad with desire.