CHAPTER 366: TRADING AREA

[We will put the wine gourds on inscribed shelves and place inscribed plates in front of each gourd. For each transaction, the customer will place the correct number of spirit stones on the plate, triggering the exchange teleportation inscription.]

[Exchange teleportation?] Shen Xu asked.

[The spirit stones will change places with the wine gourd. That is, spirit stones will move to the shelf and the wine gourd will appear on the plate.]

’So, it’s a self-service wine shop?’ Shen Xu thought, but suddenly frowned.

[What if someone takes the wine and leaves without paying?] He asked, and Zhen Yuan chuckled.

[The shelves will be within a formation, while the plates will be outside. Unless someone has higher formations achievements than me, they can only pay to get the wine.] Zhen Yuan said, but Shen Xu was not convinced.

[Ayuan, the Tianxuan sect has a level nine formation master.] He reminded.

Although Zhen Yuan could arrange a level nine formation when they fused their soul power, he was not a true level nine master after all.

At best, he could arrange simple formations with maps similar to their lower-level versions, but couldn’t arrange complex level nine formations.

[Have you forgotten..., I am not just a formation master.] The man said, and Shen Xu immediately understood.

[You plan to arrange a fusion formation with talisman and inscription runes?] He asked, and Zhen Yuan nodded.

[A level eight fusion formation will not lose to a level nine formation master.]

[What if a formation master, talisman master, and inscription master cooperate to break the formation?]

[Xiaoxu, cultivators have studied formations, talismans, and inscriptions for billions of years. However, how many can fuse the three disciplines into one? Also, the inheritances in the cultivation world have nothing on my inheritance.]

[What you mean is....]

[Working together is not enough to break a fusion formation.]

[I never thought I would establish a self-service shop in the cultivation world.] Shen Xu said with a nostalgic expression.

[Although we could employ an outer sect disciple to take care of the wine shop, I think it’s best not to involve other people. After all, our identity and intentions aren’t simple.] Zhen Yuan said, and the double nodded.

[I agree.] He said.

Soon after, the two arrived in the trading area.

The sect’s trading area was like a small city.

It had streets, businesses, a market, restaurants, and many other establishments.

Seeing the place, Shen Xu nodded with a satisfied expression.

"It’s a good place for business." He said.

"It is." Zhen Yuan agreed.

After that, the two found a popular restaurant and booked a table on the second floor.

As usual, they began eavesdropping shortly after sitting down.

"I heard senior brother Chen has returned." Someone said in a voice filled with admiration.

"How did he do?" Another asked.

"He received a level seven swordsmanship inheritance."

"As expected of senior Chen. Has he already sold the inheritance to the sect?’

"Part of it is already in the library."

Listening to the conversation, Shen Xu suddenly remembered all the inheritances they found in the Black Lake.

’We should really find time to study them.’ He thought, sighed, and continued to eavesdrop.

"Did you hear about Ancestor Song?"

"What about Ancestor Song? Isn’t he marrying Xuanyuan Xing in eight months?"

"Everyone knows about the wedding." The speaker said and rolled his eyes before continuing.

"I am not talking about the wedding. I am talking about the apprenticeship."

"Apprenticeship? What do you mean?" Someone asked, and the tablemates looked at the knowledgeable person in curiosity.

"Ancestor Song teaches a general class every time he visits the sect, but this time is different. I heard he plans to accept a disciple."

"Is what you said really true?" Someone asked in an excited voice.

"Why are you so excited? Are you thinking that you have a chance of becoming the disciple of a level nine inscription master?"

"Are you looking down on me? I have consistently ranked in the top one thousand inscription masters in the sect."

"Do you think a rank within the top one thousand is enough to become Ancestor Song’s disciple?"

"I..."

"Stop dreaming." Someone interrupted and quickly continued.

"I think Ancestor Song’s disciple has already been chosen."

"What do you mean?"

"The sect master’s son, senior Xuanyuan Ze, is an inscription master. Do you doubt Ancestor Song will pick him?"

"Ancestor Song is marrying his half-brother. It makes sense that senior Xuanyuan Ze will be chosen."

"But senior Xuanyuan Ze..." Someone muttered, and everyone sighed.

Xuanyuan Ze was an extremely talented cultivator and inscription master.

Unfortunately, the person was more concerned about drinking and whoring than cultivating or studying inscriptions.

As a result, the sect master decided to pass his position to his daughter, Xuanyuan Yan.

"Speaking of the sect master’s position..." Someone whispered and looked around before continuing.

"Senior sister Xuanyuan Yan is an alchemist and can’t protect the sect with her ability. The sect master intends to marry her to one of his disciples before naming her the next sect leader."

"Which disciple?" One of the tablemates asked but didn’t wait for an answer.

Instead, he began analysing the sect master’s disciples.

"Senior brother Luo is the oldest and most powerful disciple among the sect master’s apprentices. Unfortunately, he practices the ruthless way and can’t marry Senior sister Xuanyuan."

"The second disciple practices the way of love, but he is too carefree and has countless confidants. He is not suitable to be senior sister Xuanyuan’s Taoist partner.’

"The third disciple is not a swordsman but a talisman master. I doubt the sect master will entrust the sect to him."

"The fourth is a double, and the fifth is a female cultivator. Neither is suitable to marry senior sister Xuanyuan."

"The sixth is a male cultivator but was disfigured in an accident many years ago. Finally, senior brother Mo Ling."

"Isn’t senior brother Mo Ling engaged to Xuanyuan Xing?"

"What engagement?" Someone sneered and quickly continued.

"Neither the Mo family nor the Xuanyuan family recognises the engagement. No matter how much they love each other, Senior Mo will have to give up when Xuanyuan Xing marries Ancestor Song."

"Does this mean that the sect master intends for Senior Mo to marry senior sister Xuanyuan?"

"Exactly." One of the people nodded and continued.

"I heard the marriage is already a done deal. Unfortunately, senior brother Mo doesn’t know what’s good for him and keeps resisting."

"Senior brother Mo has always been the sect master’s favourite disciple. I am afraid he won’t be able to escape this matter."

"It makes sense that the sect master favours him. After all, senior brother Mo is a natural swordsman. He will become very powerful in the future, and with him as the sect master, the sect will be safe for hundreds of thousands of years."

At another table, Shen Xu narrowed his eyes when he heard that Xuanyuan Han intended to marry Xuanyuan Yan to Mo Ling.

’Disgusting.’ He thought and couldn’t help but look down on Xuanyuan Han.

Although the man was the most powerful cultivator in the Tianxuan continent, he lacked wise judgment, and the way he treated the triplets was abhorrent.

[Don’t be angry.] Zhen Yuan said, rubbing the double’s hair.

[We can’t let this happen.] Shen Xu said in a determined voice.

He normally wouldn’t interfere in other people’s lives.

However, Mo Ling was the man Xuanyuan Xing loved.

For that reason, Shen Xu planned to interfere and make sure Mo Ling wasn’t forced into marrying Xuanyuan Yan.

After all, he was a sucker for happy endings, and the triplets deserved that.

Most importantly, everything he had heard about Mo Ling showed that he cared deeply for Xuanyuan Xing.

Knowing that, Shen Xu was willing to help them achieve the future that they yearned for.

[Since we are here, we won’t let anyone take advantage of the triplets. What is theirs will always be theirs. No one else can have it unless the triplets no longer want it.] Zhen Yuan said, and Shen Xu nodded.

After listening to mostly irrelevant gossip, the two left the restaurant and walked to the elder’s building.

Each sect area had a supervising elder.

The elder was responsible for protecting the area and managing the situation within their territory.

In the case of the trading area, the elder was responsible for issuing business permits, collecting fees, and protecting people.

After arriving at the elder’s building, the two looked around and finally found the office responsible for renting shops and issuing permits.

"How can I help you?" A junior elder asked, looking at the two.

"We want to rent a shop." Shen Xu said, and the elder nodded.

"What kind of shop? What business do you want to set up?"

"We want to open a wine shop."

After a few more questions, the junior elder instructed a disciple to introduce the two to several shops.

In the end, Shen Xu and Zhen Yuan chose a relatively large shop that was near the outskirts of the trading area.

"Are you sure you want this place? There are better places near the centre." The disciple advised, but the two shook their heads.

"This place is perfect." The double said.