The private room on the second floor of the newly acquired 'Jade Wind Teahouse' – swiftly repurposed by Jin Bao into an exclusive dining pavilion suitable for entertaining Qingshan Town's elite – was a masterpiece of calculated luxury. Unlike the almost overwhelming opulence of the Myriad Treasures Pavilion or the sensual, shadowed intimacy of the Serene Phoenix, this space aimed for refined elegance, projecting an air of scholarly wealth and quiet power.
Polished darkwood panels, intricately carved with serene scenes of bamboo groves swaying gently and scholars contemplating misty mountain retreats, lined the walls, absorbing sound and creating an atmosphere of peaceful seclusion. Soft, luminous pearls, flawlessly round and radiating a gentle internal light, were embedded at intervals in the dark ceiling beams, casting a gentle, warm glow across the room, supplemented by the flickering candlelight from ornate bronze lamps shaped like auspicious cranes poised for flight.
A large window, spanning nearly one entire wall, was covered by a single sheet of translucent, high-quality silk screen, painted with a delicate, masterful ink-wash landscape of distant mountains and flowing water, overlooking a quiet inner garden courtyard exclusive to this room, offering absolute privacy while allowing muted afternoon sunlight to filter softly into the space. The very air hummed faintly, almost imperceptibly, with the subtle energy of a low-level Qi-gathering formation embedded within the room's structure – a costly addition that set me back a bit over 200 spirit stones – designed to enrich the ambient spiritual energy, making the space more comfortable and conducive for cultivators to dine and converse, while also subtly enhancing the complex flavors and invigorating potency of the foods and exclusive (and expensive!) spirit wines that were being served.
Fine porcelain dishes, thin as eggshells and painted with delicate blue motifs, laden with exquisite delicacies, covered the low, polished table positioned between myself and City Lord Zhang Wei. Tender slices of roasted spirit beast meat – deer, judging by the rich gamey aroma – marinated in rare, fragrant herbs that stimulated the Qi, glistened invitingly. Glistening river fish, likely caught fresh from the Azure Serpent River that flowed near the town, had been steamed perfectly with slivers of sharp ginger and tender jade sprouts. Vibrant green vegetables, harvested at their peak, were cooked to retain their crispness and subtle sweetness. Delicate pastries, shaped like lotus flowers and filled with smooth, sweet red bean paste, offered a counterpoint to the savory dishes.
Attentive servants, handpicked by my staff for their absolute discretion and practiced grace (and likely terrified into perfect, silent obedience by just whom they were now serving), moved like ghosts on soft-soled slippers around the periphery of the room, refilling our heavy jade wine cups almost before they were empty with a slightly glowing, fragrant amber liquid – 'Crimson Cloud Dew' Spirit Wine, the most exclusive (and the priciest) cultivator beverage I was able to get a hold of in this backwater place.
City Lord Zhang Wei leaned back heavily against the plush silk cushions lining the wide bench seat, his usually flushed face now several shades redder, partly from the potent effects of the high-quality Spirit Wine circulating through his system, and partly, I suspected, from sheer, unadulterated contentment. His earlier irritation and palpable fear from our encounter at the Administrative Palace seemed entirely forgotten, washed away by fine food, exceptional wine, and the easy bonhomie of a man thoroughly enjoying the company of someone he now perceived as an incredibly wealthy, unexpectedly powerful, and – crucially – exceedingly generous ally.
This was the kind of relationship he understood well and valued greatly.
He took another deep, appreciative sip from his jade cup, closing his eyes for a moment in pure bliss, letting the warm Qi suffuse his being.
"Ah, Young Master Jiang!" he exclaimed again, setting the cup down with a soft, satisfied click on the polished table. "This 'Crimson Cloud Dew'... truly, truly exceptional! I consider myself something of a connoisseur of the spirit wines available in this humble region, having sampled vintages from Yuhang City to the southern border, but this..."
He savored another slow sip, swirling the amber liquid, inhaling its complex bouquet. "This is far superior to the usual vintages available even through the Myriad Treasures Pavilion's private stocks here in Qingshan. The clarity and potency of the Spirit Qi contained within, the remarkable smoothness on the palate, the lingering warmth that spreads through the meridians... exquisite! Utterly exquisite! A true treasure among wines!"
I beamed with well-practiced performative pleasure, playing the role of the magnanimous host whose refined taste was finally being recognized and appreciated.
"Ah, City Lord Zhang truly possesses a discerning palate! It warms my heart immensely, truly, to finally meet someone in this somewhat... rustic... town who can properly appreciate the finer things in life!"
My words were flattering, subtly reinforcing his sense of superiority over the common populace while simultaneously highlighting my own access to such 'finer things'. I signaled one of the silent attendants hovering discreetly near the door with a flick of my eyes.
"You enjoy it then? Excellent! Then you simply must have more! I insist!" I leaned forward conspiratorially across the low table, lowering my voice slightly as if sharing a confidence.
"In fact," I added casually, as if struck by a sudden idea, "I believe we received a large shipment of this vintage just recently – a matter of settling a rather… substantial debt owed to the family by a prominent vintner down south, you understand." I chuckled lightly, projecting the air of someone burdened by excessive wealth.
"Alas, having so much of the stuff cluttering up the cellars." I gestured vaguely downwards. "I shall have my resourceful new aide, Jin Bao – a most capable young man, you simply must meet him – arrange for two or three barrels -"
– I waved a hand dismissively –
"- to be sent directly to your manor first thing tomorrow morning. A small token," I smiled warmly, radiating sincerity, "of our newfound friendship and mutual understanding. May it warm your evenings, Lord Zhang."
City Lord Zhang looked genuinely shocked at this, his eyes widening, perhaps sputtering slightly on his wine in surprise.
"Two barrels? Young Master Jiang, surely you jest!" He quickly composed himself, adopting a tone of polite protest, though his eyes gleamed with unconcealed avarice.
"This vintage... its market price..." (He glanced towards Ruolan, who stood impassively near the wall, though I could have sworn I saw her eyebrow twitch almost imperceptibly). "...it must cost at least two low-grade spirit stones per bottle! I couldn't possibly … it is truly too much! Your friendship itself is reward enough!" His protest was meticulously polite, adhering perfectly to social conventions, but the desire shining nakedly in his eyes told a different story.
Free, high-quality spirit wine?
Delivered by the barrel?
It was a significant perk, a luxury a provincial City Lord like him couldn't normally afford – even on a salary that has been greatly "augmented" with regular off-the-books contributions from other interested parties.
I waved away his polite protests with a hearty laugh, projecting effortless, almost careless wealth.
"Nonsense! Mere trifles, my friend! Absolutely insignificant! As I said, we received a large shipment – the supplier owed my family a significant favor, and sometimes payment in merchandise is far more convenient than dealing with cumbersome gold or spirit stones."
I leaned back against my own cushions, swirling the wine in my cup nonchalantly.
"Honestly, storage space is becoming a genuine issue at my properties here in town. Last time I checked, we had twenty-five barrels of the stuff aging nicely in the cellar right beneath us,"
-- a complete fabrication, of course, but delivered with the absolute conviction of truth as I pointed vaguely downwards again –
"and dozens more stacked high at the newly acquired Jiang warehouse outside the northern market district -- just off the main road! Truly, it's nothing more than surplus stock to me, taking up valuable space."
I focused my intent again, reinforcing the belief in his mind, picturing rows upon rows of dusty barrels. Vast stores of Crimson Cloud Dew exist. Now shut up and believe it, you greedy Son of a Bitch.
"Please," I urged warmly, "consider it a humble gift between friends. A symbol of our future cooperation. Enjoy it! Compliments of myself and the Jiang family!"
The City Lord, already slightly inebriated from the potent spirit wine, thoroughly flattered by the praise and the implication of close friendship, overwhelmed by my consistent displays of impossible wealth over the past few days, and genuinely desiring to get his grabby paws of the absolutely exceptional wine, readily accepted the lie without further protest. His skepticism, if any remained, was completely drowned in alcohol, greed, and the sheer force of my performance.
[Qualified Belief Detected: City Lord Zhang (Foundation Establishment - Mid Stage). BQT Level 6 Met!]
[Analyzing Belief: Jiang Li Possesses Vast Stores of Crimson Cloud Dew Spirit Wine]
[Threshold Met! Manifestation Initiated! Targets: Restaurant Cellar & Jiang Warehouse - Inventory Added: 25 + ~85 Barrels Crimson Cloud Dew]
[Belief Meter: +350 (High Quality Belief - Resource Manifestation)]
I felt the subtle confirmation hum from the System, a quiet pulse of energy flowing outwards in my mind. Somewhere beneath our feet in the teahouse cellar, and elsewhere, in a dusty warehouse Jin Bao purchased just for such a purpose, dozens upon dozens of heavy barrels filled with an expensive, Qi-infused spirit wine winked into existence.
The sheer absurdity of it all, the casual middle finger my System was showing to reality itself, almost made me laugh out loud again.
"Well... if Young Master Jiang insists..." Zhang demurred finally, already beaming again, his earlier reluctance completely forgotten. "Such generosity is truly characteristic of the honored Jiang family! This humble official is deeply honored by your friendship! Deeply honored indeed!"
He raised his cup high.
"To our continued cooperation and prosperity! May our friendship last for ten thousand years!"
We drank, sealing the 'friendship' built upon manifested wine, mutual convenience, and carefully constructed illusions. As he savored the drink, likely already anticipating the arrival of his barrels and perhaps contemplating other ways to benefit from my apparently boundless resources, I reflected inwardly, with detached amusement, upon the man across the table.
This Zhang Wei... is a surprisingly agreeable guy, almost charming in his own way -- once you get past the initial layers of official bluster and the stench of corruption clinging to him, that is.
City Lord Wei wasn't like the driven, ambitious cultivators Jiang Li's memories depicted from the main family or the ones described in Sarah's novels – those figures were obsessed with further advancements, with breakthroughs, with seeking immortality at any cost – constantly challenging the heavens and each other. No, Zhang Wei's ambitions seemed far more practical.
Grounded.
Limited entirely to earthly comforts, the accumulation of usable wealth, and the secure maintenance of his cushy, powerful position here in Qingshan Town, far from the intense political pressures of the regional Capitals and the lethal dangers of the larger cultivation world. He knew, with a pragmatism bordering on cynicism, that his own cultivation talent was mediocre at best. His status as a Foundation Establishment cultivator was likely achieved through sheer resource consumption provided by whatever family connections or backroom political deals got him this official post in the first place – and he seemed entirely, almost refreshingly, at peace with the near certainty of never reaching the Golden Core realm that lay beyond his own.
Why strive fruitlessly against fate?
Here was a man who was clearly at peace with his limitations and was content to enjoy the simple, albeit extremely expensive, pleasures life offered: fine wine like this Crimson Cloud Dew, exotic foods prepared by master chefs, the unquestioning deference of those beneath him, the easy exercise of authority within his domain, and undoubtedly, a substantial, continuous flow of off-the-books income derived from 'administrative fees', 'facilitation taxes', or, perhaps, even outright embezzlement from the city coffers.
His only fear in life wasn't of being murdered by a rival, falling in battle to a demonic arts practitioner, or failing to advance his cultivation, but simply of losing his comfortable lifestyle.
On-point threats -- like my earlier thinly veiled mention of Imperial Auditors arriving from the Capital – did terrify him into immediate, almost comical compliance. But threats were no way of securing a long-term alliance.
Now, lavish generosity, on the other hand? Appealing directly to his ingrained, habitual greed and his deep desire for an easy, luxurious, and uncomplicated life?
That had worked wonders!
All it took, I mused, swirling the amber liquid in my cup, was the promise of funding several large-scale, highly visible 'civic improvement' projects in the city – projects that would make him look good to his superiors while offering ample opportunities for graft. Paving the city streets with expensive flagstone instead of packed earth. Constructing a brand new, expansive warehouse district near the river docks (which would, conveniently, be owned and managed by a newly formed Jiang business overseen by my own household). Even funding a new public housing initiative in the slums (again, to be built and ultimately owned by myself, offering the common folk quality stone dwellings at an absolute pittance in monthly rents). That, combined with a hefty, discreet 'administrative fee' paid directly to him in untraceable gold taels delivered by Ruolan, and the man became my staunchest, most enthusiastic ally in Qingshan Town overnight.
In fact, we had just finished finalizing the preliminary plans for these mutually beneficial projects before the wine arrived, along with discussing the finer details of the upcoming Jiang-sponsored martial arts exhibition I had 'suggested' the city hold, – featuring the mysterious and notorious 'Shadow' (now hinted by Jin Bao's agents as a Jiang family elite "death guard" that has been trained by me personally). City Lord Zhang had enthusiastically endorsed the idea as an excellent way to boost local trade, attract visitors (and their money) from surrounding towns, provide prime entertainment for the populace (and himself), and, undoubtedly, offer further opportunities for lucrative kickbacks and associated fees related to licenses, security, and betting. To my utter delight, we seemed to be forming a truly symbiotic relationship, one built entirely on mutual self-interest and my unique ability to manifest reality according to the City Lord's eager, high-quality belief.
With the local groundwork now firmly laid and my increasingly warm relationship with the City Lord properly cemented with Spirit Wine toasts, I steered the conversation towards the next item on my agenda, the upcoming auction.
"Speaking of rare items and opportunities, City Lord Zhang," I began casually, refilling his cup yet again with the exquisite beverage, "you received the invitation for the Myriad Treasures Pavilion auction in Fallen Star City as well, I presume? A rather significant event for our neck of the woods, it seems. The Pavilion seems determined to make a splash this time."
Zhang nodded, swirling the amber liquid in his cup, his expression becoming slightly more thoughtful again, perhaps even a touch melancholy as the conversation shifted back towards the world of cultivators.
"Indeed, Young Master Jiang. 'Tis an impressive affair for a town like Fallen Star, usually more known for its proximity to the Meteor Lake's strange energies than its commerce. The Pavilion is clearly trying to elevate its regional profile, attract bigger fish. But..."
He sighed, a sound perhaps tinged with genuine wistfulness this time, or perhaps just more performance for my benefit, playing the role of the contented official above such striving.
"...I don't usually attend such cultivator-centric gatherings. These auctions… filled with intense young geniuses from the sects and ambitious scions from powerful families, all trying to show their superiority in a most dramatic fashion, all haggling fiercely over pills that promise breakthroughs they likely won't achieve, artifacts they can barely control, rare materials they hope will give them an edge... frankly,"
-- he shrugged --
"all of it is rather tedious for someone like myself, who has accepted his limitations in this life." He took another slow sip, savoring the wine.
"My own cultivation path, alas, has reached its likely terminus many years ago."
He sighed again, more dramatically this time, perhaps enjoying the tragic air.
"Foundation Establishment is a respectable enough milestone out here in Qingshan. My status allows me to maintain order and enjoy certain... privileges." He patted his ample belly contentedly.
"But you must surely understand, the resources needed for even a chance at breaking through to the Golden Core realm... are simply immense, truly astronomical! And the odds for someone with my limited aptitude," he tapped his chest ruefully, "are negligible at best. Why waste all of that effort, resources, and peace of mind chasing an impossible dream? Better to enjoy the tangible fruits of my current position, wouldn't you agree, my friend?"
His pragmatic, almost resigned attitude towards his own cultivation ceiling was striking, so different from the desperate, often self-destructive ambition driving most cultivators depicted in stories or even in Jiang Li's memories of his own family.
His words triggered another cascade of reflections in my own mind, drawing upon Jiang Li's integrated knowledge, further solidifying my understanding of this world's brutal, stratified power system.
+++
Limited aptitude... he knows himself well. Unlike so many cultivators who chase impossible dreams until they bankrupt their families or die in Qi deviation while trying to force a breakthrough. This world's power system... it's fundamentally unfair, built entirely on the bedrock of innate talent – the quality and nature of one's spiritual root.
First comes the Qi Gathering realm, with its minor Stages One through Nine. This is the entry point for those starting the journey towards transcendence. It requires possessing the elusive 'spiritual root', that innate connection, that resonance with the heavens and earth allowing one to sense and draw in the ambient Spirit Qi, the Ling Qi, that permeates the world like an invisible, life-giving ocean. Under conventional wisdom, without such a root, one remains utterly mortal, forever bound by mundane limits, no matter how strong your will or how tempered your body through martial arts.
With a root, even a "trash" one like mine, one can begin the arduous, lifelong process: circulating the absorbed Qi through the intricate network of pathways called meridians that exist both within and subtly out of phase with a cultivator's physical body, refining the raw, chaotic energy of the world in the core center located below the navel, the Dantian.
The initial sub-stages of Qi Gathering, One through Three, barely elevate one above strong, healthy mortals – perhaps granting better health, slightly enhanced senses like sharper hearing or vision, and marginally increased strength and stamina. Enough to impress commoners; perhaps, enough to handle a few untrained thugs; but easily overwhelmed by any skilled martial artist relying on Xue Qi.
But the progression from there, if one possesses sufficient talent and resources, is exponential, not linear. Stage Four, where I supposedly started after my 'awakening', marks the beginning of true superhuman potential, where Qi can start to subtly influence the physical body consistently. Stage Five, where I am now thanks to the household's belief, grants significantly enhanced physical prowess – speed, strength, resilience far beyond mortal limits, which is even enough to easily dominate most martial artists without even needing to overtly channel Qi, as my 'Shadow' persona has proven time and time again.
By the late stages – Seven, Eight, Nine, the realm occupied by figures like Elder Miao, Alchemist Chen, or my own fiancée Su Lian – one becomes a veritable Spiderman in the physical sense, capable of shattering solid stone walls with a casual blow, leaping across rooftops as if weightless, reacting with blurring speed faster than arrows, possessing stamina that allows for days of exertion without rest…
And that's just the result of passive physical enhancement derived from Qi nourishing the body, before one even considers the active manipulation of Qi through cultivator techniques.
Ah, the Techniques. Now that's where the real power, the terrifying versatility, the sheer magic of cultivators truly lies. "Techniques" refer to the ability of cultivators to actively manipulate their refined Spirit Qi, channeling it through specific meridian pathways according to complex methods recorded in manuals, to produce overtly supernatural effects that defy mortal comprehension. The variety of possible techniques seems limitless, constrained only by imagination, available Qi reserves, the quality and complexity of the technique manual being studied, and crucially, one's inherent elemental affinity dictated by their spiritual root.
Shooting fireballs like a wizard from Earth's fantasy stories? A basic Fire affinity technique.
Summoning shards of razor-sharp ice or creating walls of frost? Easy with a standard or mutated Water affinity.
Manipulating earth to create barriers, tremors, or stone projectiles? Simplicity itself with an Earth affinity….
Thousands upon thousands of these techniques, and variations upon them, exist in the world: techniques for offense, defense, movement, healing, sensing, crafting, alchemy, and more besides – all recorded in complex diagrams and esoteric language on precious jade slips, passed down secretly through powerful sects and ancient families, guarded jealously.
But simply having access to a technique manual isn't enough. Efficiency in learning and executing techniques is key.
And efficiency hinges almost entirely on the nature of one's Spiritual Root itself, the innate talent one is born with, the conduit through which Spirit Qi is absorbed and channeled. Everyone's spiritual potential, their connection to the world's energy, seems to possess an elemental leaning, an affinity. These affinities are typically measured across the traditional Chinese five elements that form the basis of this world's cosmology: Fire, Water, Earth, Metal, and Wood. The strength of these affinities always adds up to one's total potential, usually represented by dedicated scholars who study such things as 100%.
Perhaps counterintuitively, specialization – i.e., having a high affinity for one to three elements and low affinity for others, is paramount for rapid advancement and reaching higher realms. For instance, a cultivator born with a 75% Fire affinity and minimal affinity for the other elements? Such a person would be considered a rare, one in a thousand year genius, blessed by the heavens! They would be able to absorb Fire-attributed Spirit Qi from the environment exponentially faster than someone like me, who was unfortunate enough to be born with a balanced root. Such an individual would also learn and master Fire techniques with astonishing ease, their power in those techniques far exceeding others at the same cultivation stage. Their potential for reaching higher realms like Foundation Establishment and Golden Core would be considered nearly limitless provided they could secure the right Fire-attributed resources (such as pills, herbs, and exclusive cultivation locations rich in fire energies).
But the so-called 'Five Elements Spirit Root' – like the one Jiang Li was born with – where affinities are roughly balanced across all five standard elements? Such a root is widely considered to be absolute trash by the cultivation world: the worst kind of spiritual root imaginable. Yes, it is perfectly versatile -- in theory – and yes, one with such a root is able to learn any basic elemental technique through slow, painstaking effort, lacking any major elemental weaknesses.
But.
But the cultivation speed for such unfortunates is abysmal.
Torturously slow.
Trying to absorb ambient Qi with a balanced spirit root is like trying to fill five leaky sieves simultaneously – inefficient, frustrating, and yielding minimal gains. Even for individuals with a high intelligence and comprehension, progress is glacial.
In fact, even with an investment of veritable mountains of expensive resources poured onto them by a wealthy family hoping for a miracle, the subject's chances of ever breaking through the immense bottleneck to Foundation Establishment are vanishingly small. That was Jiang Li's curse, the source of his family's deep disappointment, his talented brother's open contempt, and his own crippling, deeply ingrained sense of inadequacy and failure.
But standard spirit roots aren't the whole story. There exist the rarer variations, the so-called Mutated Roots. Spirit roots that possess affinities leaning towards aspects related to, but distinct from, the core five elements.
A Metal root developing the means to wield destructive Lightning.
A Water root changing towards chilling Frost, or -- even rarer – "taboo" paths such as Blood or Darkness affinity.
A Wood root mutating towards direct Life energy manipulation for healing techniques, or even towards a concept like Poison.
Such "mutated" roots often grant unique, exceptionally powerful abilities right from the start, setting their possessors apart from the common cultivators. But they come with their own significant challenges – often requiring specific, rare, and sometimes dangerous resources found only in perilous locations in order to cultivate effectively, or facing unique, poorly understood cultivation bottlenecks later on, as standard, widely-available cultivation manuals can never address their specific needs.
And beyond the roots themselves, influencing everything from cultivation speed, technique affinity, and overall potential, there are also the Special Physiques – innate body or spiritual characteristics, often passed down through specific bloodlines or triggered by rare celestial phenomena or unique environmental exposure. These can grant unique advantages independent of one's spiritual root. Some physiques, like the rumored 'Undying Body,' may grant enhanced regeneration, thus making one incredibly hard to kill. Others, like the relatively common elemental physiques, provide innate resistance and affinity to specific elements like fire or ice. Others still might grant enhanced comprehension speed, making learning techniques or understanding of certain Daos easier.
My own partially-manifested 'Unknown Special Constitution (17%)' with its supposed 'Cold or Toxin Tempering' effect clearly falls into this category – a convenient, belief-fueled excuse for my survival and, perhaps, future resilience and increased advancement speed -- though its true potential currently remains unknown.
Truly, the paths to seeking the Dao, the ways to cultivate power in this world, are more numerous than the stars in the night sky…
+++
I snapped out of my internal reflections as City Lord Zhang sighed again dramatically, swirling the last drops of the Crimson Cloud Dew in his jade cup. His resignation regarding his own cultivation future was palpable, almost comical in its sincerity.
Time to reel him back in, play on his more tangible desires.
"Tedious, My Lord?" I echoed his earlier sentiment, leaning forward again, my expression shifting to one of friendly persuasion, conspiratorial camaraderie.
"Perhaps the haggling can be tiresome, I'll grant you that. But also, think of it as an undeniable opportunity! Think of the connections to be made! Rubbing shoulders with sect representatives, Foundation Establishment experts! The chance to acquire unique treasures not usually seen here in Qingshan, items that could perhaps benefit your esteemed household immensely, or secure significant favor with higher officials if… gifted appropriately! And besides,"
I lowered my voice conspiratorially again, playing the friendship card heavily, knowing his ego would respond,
"as my newfound friend and most trusted confidante in this city," (laying it on thick now, watching his chest puff out slightly) "your presence at the auction would be most welcome. It would give this Young Master considerable face if the esteemed City Lord Zhang accompanied him as his honored guest."
I paused, letting the flattery sink in, then delivered the clincher, the irresistible bait for this particular, greedy fish.
"In fact," I declared, my tone magnanimous, almost careless, "to show my sincerity and celebrate our burgeoning friendship, please allow me to make you an offer: attend the auction with me, as my guest, and I shall purchase for you any one item that catches your fancy. Anything at all. Within reason, of course," I added with a chuckle, though the implication was that 'reason' was defined by my vast resources, "but if something truly speaks to the City Lord's refined tastes, you may consider it yours! A small gift between allies."
The City Lord's eyes lit up like twin lanterns suddenly ignited in the dim light. The flattery about friendship and face was appealing enough to his considerable ego, but the outrageous offer of a free item – any item, potentially even the rumored Middle-Grade artifact which could be worth thousands of spirit stones! – was simply too much for his greedy, comfort-loving nature to possibly resist. His earlier reluctance vanished completely, replaced by beaming enthusiasm.
"Young Master Jiang!" he exclaimed, his voice booming with newfound energy, perhaps ever so slightly slurred from the potent spirit wine he'd been steadily consuming all evening.
"Such generosity! Such... true friendship! How could this humble Zhang possibly refuse such a sincere and gracious invitation? Why, to witness the auction alongside a discerning eye like yours would be an education in and of itself!" He beamed, leaning forward eagerly across the table, perhaps already mentally browsing the potential treasures, imagining acquiring some rare, age-extending spirit elixir he could hoard for himself, a luxurious defensive artifact he could otherwise never afford, or perhaps something valuable he could discreetly sell later for a massive profit to fund his other... appetites.
"Excellent! Excellent! I shall attend! It would be my distinct honor to accompany you!"
I smiled inwardly. Mission accomplished!
"Wonderful!" I exclaimed outwardly, raising my own cup in a toast. "Now, regarding the practicalities... how do you intend to travel to Fallen Star City for the auction, my Lord? The roads through the Blackwood Pass can be rather uneven this time of year, I hear. Infested with annoying bandits too, if the rumors are true. And the journey takes the better part of a full two-day by even the fastest carriage, does it not? Terribly inconvenient, dusty, and frankly, beneath someone of our esteemed position."
The City Lord sighed dramatically again, the practicalities momentarily dampening his enthusiasm.
"Indeed, indeed. Carriages are slow, tedious, uncomfortable... Alternatively," he mused, stroking his chin, "I could simply fly myself, of course." He puffed his chest out slightly again, reminding me of his Foundation Establishment status.
"My Cloud-Piercer Sword artifact is reasonably swift for personal travel. However," his expression turned slightly sour, "it's rather… exposed to the elements. Uncomfortable for long distances, especially if the weather turns. And, --"
he glanced towards Lin Ruolan, then back at me, lowering his voice slightly,
"--frankly, carrying passengers on a flying sword is somewhat… undignified. Cramped. Not suitable for esteemed guests like yourself and your steward!"
He seemed genuinely conflicted, weighing the speed and status of flying himself against the discomfort and awkwardness of potentially bringing us along that way. Perhaps he was subtly angling for me to offer to pay for a luxurious carriage and mercenary escort for our entire entourage?
Before he could voice such a suggestion, I stepped in casually, smoothly, as if discussing the most mundane of travel arrangements, seizing the perfect opening he'd provided.
"Oh, but why trouble yourself with dusty carriages, expensive beast rentals, or uncomfortable sword flights, my friend? Such unsightly methods are for common merchants or solitary cultivators too poor to know better." I chuckled dismissively. "You, my friend, deserve far better treatment! You are most welcome to accompany me on the Jiang family flying boat."
Lord Zhang stared, momentarily speechless again, his jaw slackening slightly, his eyes widening in fresh disbelief.
"A... a flying boat?" he stammered, the words catching in his throat, disbelief warring heavily now with the alcohol and his desperate desire to believe in my limitless resources.
"Young Master Jiang, you possess a flying boat? Here, in Qingshan?"
He knew, as everyone with any standing did, that flying boats were rare, prohibitively expensive artifacts, symbols of immense wealth and power equivalent to owning a private jet back on Earth. Such things were usually used only by major sects like Azure Cloud for transporting disciples, or the wealthiest of the wealthy families for transporting important personnel or high-value goods swiftly and safely across vast distances. They were far beyond the means of a mere backwater City Lord or – for that matter – of even most sect-affiliated cultivators. Someone possessing such a thing here, in this middle of nowhere town, was outrageous…
…But, crucially, not impossible, given the wealth I've demonstrated so far.
I nodded confidently, casually tapping the jade storage bracelet on my wrist.
"But of course!" I said, as if it were the most natural thing in the world, a trivial possession. "Naturally, it's not one of the grand flying ships the main family uses for transporting large trade deliveries across provinces," I clarified quickly, making the claim slightly more plausible, grounding the outrageous lie in a sliver of comparative modesty. "Those require large crews and must consume mid-grade spirit stones to operate. No, this is just a small, swift vessel suitable for personal travel. It seats perhaps half a dozen comfortably. Quite luxurious inside, surprisingly fast, and gets the job done efficiently without attracting undue attention from bandits or rivals."
I patted the bracelet again, projecting absolute certainty, leveraging his previous belief in my demonstrated wealth, forcing him to connect the concepts of 'storage artifact' with 'contains flying boat'.
"It's right here," I added with a confident smile, "conveniently shrunken down for storage using standard spatial compression formations. You are most welcome to catch a ride with myself and Steward Lin. We shall depart the day after tomorrow, at dawn. It should make the journey to Fallen Star City a matter of mere hours, rather than a tedious two-day trip."
The City Lord, already primed by the spirit wine, the flattery, the previous impossible displays of wealth, and now the irresistible offer of a luxurious, face-giving, incredibly fast transport, readily accepted my outrageous claim.
A small, personal flying boat?
For a favored wealthy family heir?
It fit the rapidly evolving narrative perfectly now. His eyes gleamed with excitement and, perhaps, relief at avoiding an uncomfortable sword flight or carriage ride.
[Qualified Belief Detected: City Lord Zhang (Foundation Establishment - Mid Stage). BQT Level 6 Met!]
[Analyzing Belief: User Possesses Flying Boat Artifact (Small, Personal, Luxurious, Swift Type)]
[Threshold Met! Manifestation Initiated!]
[Attribute Updated: Middle-Grade Storage Bracelet Inventory Added: 1x Small Flying Boat Artifact (Shrunken, Swift Type)]
[Belief Meter: +1200]
Once again, I felt the subtle confirmation resonate from the System, a quiet pulse of spatial energy flowing into the bracelet on my wrist as the idea of a flying boat – small, swift, comfortable, shrunken – solidified into reality within the expanded spatial pocket. I grinned inwardly at the sheer, exhilarating ease of it all, fueled by the Foundation Establishment Lord's easily manipulated belief, and further amplified by my rising reputation.
The man was practically a portable belief point generator for me at this stage, especially when plied with good wine and appeals to his vanity, greed, and desire for comfort. There was no way I was missing the chance to take someone like him along to the auction!
"Excellent!" I exclaimed outwardly, raising my wine cup high in a final toast. "Then it is settled! To a swift journey, good company, and," I added with a conspiratorial wink, "a most profitable auction, Lord Zhang!"
He beamed, raising his own cup enthusiastically, all of his earlier doubts completely forgotten in the face of my overwhelming generosity and convenience.
"Indeed! To friendship and fortune! And," he added with a chuckle, "to comfortable travel!"
We clinked cups, sealing our travel plans.
As I sipped the exquisite, warming spirit wine, savoring its complex notes and the potent Qi within, my mind was already racing ahead, contemplating the next stage of the performance – the auction itself. The rumors Jin Bao was spreading would be reaching fever pitch soon, setting the stage for the next phase perfectly. To prepare, I needed to select or manifest the right pieces of junk to serve as props for the 'artifacts' I would be offering for sale.
The audience at the auction would include Foundation Establishment experts representing sects like the Azure Cloud and Celestial Iron – they might be harder to fool than mortals or cultivators like Ruolan or the City Lord. But conversely, their belief would be quite valuable; perhaps – when combined with the City Lord's own – it would be capable of manifesting truly powerful things.
The potential rewards were immense. But the risks were equally fearsome. Failure now, on such a public stage, wouldn't just be embarrassing; it could attract lethal attention from truly powerful entities, and bring my entire performance thus far crashing down. Yet, the thrill of the challenge, the potential power waiting to be manifested from thin air... was utterly intoxicating.
I wasn't about to give that up.