As Sun Yongxing spoke, he became even more deferential toward Lei Dong. Lei Dong, in turn, showed him deep respect, and the two chatted amiably over tea for quite some time. Lei Dong was exceedingly tactful in his speech, constantly flattering Sun Yongxing with every other word. Only after a significant period did Lei Dong casually bring up his purpose: “Your junior and his wife recently married, and our Master bestowed upon us a considerable amount of Spirit Stones.

To avoid simply consuming them until they vanish, your junior considered venturing into some investments and trade. Since you, Senior, are an expert in this area, your junior has taken the liberty of coming here to humbly seek your counsel.” Sun Yongxing inwardly confirmed his suspicion; this was indeed the matter at hand. Yet, frankly, his impression of Lei Dong after this exchange was quite favorable. Despite his origins in the Yin Sha Sect and his own considerable cultivation strength, he remained polite and courteous toward Sun Yongxing, showing no hint of arrogance stemming from his powerful backing.

Thus, he laughed heartily: “My worthy nephew, what kind of business were you considering? Tell me about it. I, Sun, am a few years your senior and can offer some advice.” He thought to himself that since this young man showed boundless potential, it would be wise to do him a favor while he hadn't fully risen to prominence. Perhaps this favor would prove useful to him in the future.

The moment Sun Yongxing uttered those words, Lei Dong knew he had a chance. He rose and bowed respectfully: “In that case, your junior thanks you in advance, Senior*……” “My worthy nephew, you are too polite.” Having managed a cultivation marketplace for so long, perhaps some of the air of a businessman had rubbed off on Sun Yongxing. He exhibited more finesse in worldly affairs than most Golden Core cultivators in ordinary sects. He waved his hand dismissively: “Although I have only met your Master a few times, I have always admired your Master’s reputation for clear-cut justice regarding favors owed and received.

Speak freely, worthy nephew; whatever I can manage, I will certainly do without hesitation.” He mused that since he had decided to grant a favor, he might as well commit to it fully, lest he appear indecisive and fail to earn genuine goodwill, potentially breeding resentment instead. “Your junior wishes to open a specialized elixirs shop. Does the Senior have any recommendations*……” Lei Dong stated his request without pretense: “To be honest, your junior scouted the Black Mountain Market a bit before coming here and took some interest in the shop currently run by the Wang family.” In his mind, he was already prepared for Sun Yongxing to demur. To his surprise, Sun Yongxing burst into laughter without a second thought: “Done.

I will arrange this for you; there’s no need for you, worthy nephew, to handle the proceedings personally.” Lei Dong was utterly astonished and looked at Sun Yongxing with burgeoning shock, which significantly improved his already good opinion of the man. Though Lei Dong was experienced enough to know Sun Yongxing was intentionally currying favor to deepen the debt owed, he couldn't help but feel that this Sun Yongxing was far more impressive than that Li Yijian from the Heavenly Dao Alliance. Li Yijian, when granting a favor, was hesitant and indecisive, which had left Lei Dong displeased. This suggested that Sun Yongxing was likely a well-connected man with many friends—someone worth cultivating deeply.

However, Lei Dong also understood that Sun Yongxing could afford to grant this favor for two reasons: first, he and his wife were both rising stars among the younger generation with bright futures, making them a worthy investment; second, his background was excellent, being an elite disciple of the Yin Sha Sect, backed by a powerful figure like the Myriad Ghosts Ancestor. If he lacked these credentials, he certainly wouldn’t be so amiable to a mere Foundation Establishment Sixth Layer cultivator knocking on his door. “However, there are a few things I must mention first, worthy nephew,” Sun Yongxing said solemnly while sipping his tea. “The former head of the Wang family, who died from qi deviation, was an acquaintance of mine—practically one of my nephews.” “But this world has always been one of the jungle, where the strong prevail and the capable take charge.

Though I wished to protect them, I was constantly on guard against those who coveted their position. Thus, I agreed that they should sell off that prime location. But I hope that if you, worthy nephew, are financially capable, the transfer fee should be handled according to protocol. This isn't favoritism; it's just that the Wang family has suffered this calamity.

We shouldn't truly kick them while they are down, should we? In my conduct, utility is secondary; righteousness comes first. No one can guarantee smooth sailing their entire life, after all.” Lei Dong replied with solemn earnestness: “Senior, please rest assured. Your junior understands protocol and knows the meaning of repaying kindness*……” His face serious, Lei Dong continued: “Your Senior’s noble demeanor truly earns my admiration.

Should Senior ever require anything in the future, your junior will not hesitate. As for the transfer fee, it is entirely at your discretion*……” Sun Yongxing felt a slight ease in his heart, thinking that although Lei Dong had a good background, he was still a person who understood propriety. Sun Yongxing most disliked those young men from great sects who relied on their strong backing to act arrogantly and without regard for the immensity of the world. His favorable impression of Lei Dong deepened further.

He took a sip of tea and stated: “I had someone estimate the transfer fee previously, and the figure arrived at was 2.7 million Spirit Stones, which includes some inventory of elixirs and herbs. Let us settle on that price, worthy nephew.” Upon hearing this, Lei Dong realized the price was significantly lower than he had anticipated. Ah, Sun Yongxing had already pushed the price down on his behalf. The worst thing a person can be is insatiably greedy and ungrateful.

Lei Dong frowned slightly: “Senior, your junior does not wish for you to be criticized behind your back. Given the internal family dispute that existed, the final price would surely have exceeded that figure by much. Therefore, your junior believes 3.5 million Spirit Stones would be a more appropriate price.” It wasn’t that Lei Dong was foolish and offering to give away 800,000 Spirit Stones unnecessarily. It was because Sun Yongxing had shown such integrity in his dealings that Lei Dong felt compelled to continue investing in him.

Hence, he offered the extra 800,000 Spirit Stones. Whether Sun Yongxing pocketed this sum or passed it to the Wang family, Lei Dong wouldn’t concern himself with it. He was buying favor with the Golden Core expert, Sun Yongxing, not the fallen Wang family. If he could satisfy Sun Yongxing, Lei Dong felt the 800,000 Spirit Stones was a worthwhile return.

Realistically, in this remote place, if he encountered a formidable enemy, would he really run back to trouble his Master? Lei Dong believed that any Golden Core expert in this world was worth befriending and pleasing, provided that expert was willing. When Lei Dong made this statement, a look of surprise flashed in Sun Yongxing’s eyes, and his goodwill toward Lei Dong increased yet again. After a moment of thought, he smiled: “If that is the case, I will have the two Foundation Establishment cultivators from the Wang family come to Black Mountain Market.

Then, worthy nephew Lei, you can exchange the payment and the deed with them directly. They should arrive in a few days. If you don’t mind, you can stay at my humble residence in the meantime.” By doing this, Sun Yongxing naturally wished to show Lei Dong that he was not merely greedy, but a man of integrity who took no illicit cut. At the same time, he would remember that Lei Dong was indeed a good person, worthy of his investment in goodwill.

The matter concluded happily for all involved. After thanking him, Lei Dong stayed there, occasionally cultivating, and occasionally strolling through the marketplace. Perhaps because he was about to own property here, Lei Dong felt an unusual sense of closeness toward Black Mountain Market. Sun Yongxing’s efficiency was indeed thorough.

In just three days, the two Foundation Establishment cultivators from the Wang family arrived. Under Sun Yongxing’s supervision, they transferred all the deeds and the account books from the past ten years to Lei Dong. In return, Lei Dong paid 3.5 million Spirit Stones. Of course, this 3.5 million Spirit Stones was merely the transfer fee.

Ownership of the shop building and real estate remained jointly held by Sun Yongxing and the Hundred Flowers Fairy. Lei Dong was required to pay 50,000 Spirit Stones annually as shop rent and taxes. These were established rules, which Lei Dong had no intention of breaking. For Sun Yongxing, who received the rent and taxes, this was not pure profit.

A portion had to cover the operational costs of the entire marketplace, and another twenty percent had to be remitted to the Yin Sha Sect, the region’s overlord. The remainder was what he and the Hundred Flowers Fairy split between them. Especially concerning the portion owed to the Yin Sha Sect, failure to pay or underpayment could result in the sect sending forces to raze the marketplace the very next day. However, the Yin Sha Sect also served as the ultimate protective umbrella for this market.

For instance, if enemies arose that Sun Yongxing and the Hundred Flowers Fairy couldn't handle, the Yin Sha Sect was obligated to step in. Otherwise, the sect’s influence in the area would diminish severely, leading to collective resistance. These complex relationships were tangled webs of interest and represented the rules of survival in this world. Anyone attempting to shatter these conventions would likely face elimination.

After acquiring the shop, Lei Dong immediately began reorganizing the premises. On this matter, Lei Dong held some unique perspectives, being a transmigrator. The world he came from was one with the most advanced information networks, where commerce had been perfected with countless evolving business strategies. Firstly, he was dissatisfied with the shop's current décor.

While it possessed an antique charm, which might seem novel to someone from his original era, in this world, it was utterly commonplace and unremarkable. Although Lei Dong had never worked in design in his previous life, the saturation of information meant he had passively absorbed numerous design styles and concepts just by browsing online. Therefore, a thorough redesign was necessary. After all, this shop wasn't just about immediate profit; Lei Dong harbored the ambition to open more branches while cultivating.

Given his aptitude, the further he progressed in cultivation, the greater the need for resources. Relying solely on robbery or selling Spirit Ghosts was not a sustainable long-term plan. Especially selling high-grade Spirit Ghosts—one who ventures into the mountains too often is bound to meet a tiger; one mistake and a life could be lost. Furthermore, high-grade Spirit Ghosts were inherently scarce resources; such potent weapons were best kept in one's own hands.

Furthermore, Lei Dong began summoning the manager and clerks of the shop one by one. Seeing the staff standing there, trembling, brought a subtle satisfaction to Lei Dong’s heart. He had never been a boss in his past life, but now, that ambition was realized in this world.

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