Chapter 51: First Day of Setting Up a Stall

After leaving school, Chen Mobai arrived at Evergreen Pharmacy.

He had intended to help, but Qing Nv said she wanted to perform the final harmonization step of the water method alchemy by herself. She explained that this would allow her to focus completely and work more efficiently.

Left with no choice, Chen Mobai wished her good luck and then departed.

Since he couldn't be of help there, he decided to go to the Tianhe Realm to earn money.

Upon returning home, he first unpacked the delivered package. As expected, it contained the spirit talismans he had purchased from the Wood Spirit Talisman Shop. The shopkeeper had neatly bundled them by type and placed them in an exquisite wooden box.

Chen Mobai drew one of each type to inspect them. After confirming everything was in order, he contentedly confirmed receipt using his phone.

Clicking 'teleport,' he found himself back in the Water Mansion.

It had been some time since he had meditated and cultivated qi here, and he inexplicably felt that the spiritual energy seemed a bit denser.

However, now that he had successfully cultivated divine sense, he could once again focus on practicing the Five Elements Art. Today, he had also brought along the other tube of qi-replenishing spiritual water, which he had bought in a rush and hadn't used yet.

However, checking the time, he decided to visit Nanxi Market first.

Markets typically closed at night, as cultivators prioritized meditating and cultivating qi during these hours, not wanting to waste such a valuable time on business.

Upon arriving at the market again, Chen Mobai encountered Qi Er at the entrance. Seeing him, Qi Er immediately came over to greet him, mentioning he had something to discuss, and then inquired about the procedures for setting up a stall.

"Senior, if you wish to set up a stall, you must first apply to the market administrators, pay a one-spirit-stone processing fee, and collect a mat. You can then find your designated spot by matching the mat's number and begin your business."

After listening to Qi Er's explanation, Chen Mobai realized that setting up a stall wasn't as straightforward as he thought; it was also under the market's strict management.

Furthermore, one spirit stone only covered a month, and if he wished to extend his stall after that period, he would have to pay another spirit stone.

The only positive aspect, however, was that no deposit was required. After all, most cultivators in Nanxi Market were rogue cultivators, often dirt poor. Many acquired goods through unspeakable channels, then set up stalls to sell them, typically managing to sell almost everything within a month.

Once they earned spirit stones, they would retreat to their rented cave dwellings to cultivate. After their spirit stones were depleted, they would emerge again to restock and resume their stalls.

Hearing Qi Er describe how most cultivators here lived this way, Chen Mobai couldn't help but lament the Tianhe Realm cultivators' 'take what you can get' attitude and their tendency to be content with their lot.

The administrator of the market stalls was a cultivator named Wu Hong, from the Wu family—one of the four major cultivation families in the area—and he was at the ninth level of Qi Refinement.

For someone of his standing, trivial stalls were beneath his notice. After Chen Mobai paid a spirit stone, the mat was issued to him.

"Among the six administrators of Nanxi Market, Senior Wu is the one who dislikes trouble the most. However, if any incident occurs at a stall, his methods are the most ruthless; he will directly expel the troublemaker from the market. Furthermore, if the person has no backing, they typically won't see the light of day the day after being expelled from the market."

As Qi Er spoke, he seemed completely oblivious to Chen Mobai's solemn expression.

The Tianhe Realm truly lacked order.

Having grown up in the orderly civilization of Diyuan Star, Chen Mobai always felt out of place in the cultivation environment of the Tianhe Realm.

However, he could only console himself with the thought that it was best to mind his own business, conduct his affairs honestly here, avoid trouble, and not meddle in others' business.

"Senior, one more thing: are the spirit talismans you're selling self-made, or did you acquire them from elsewhere?" Qi Er asked as he led Chen Mobai towards the section with talisman stalls.

"A friend of mine entrusted them to me for sale."

"Here's the thing: in the market, every trade has a 'stall leader,' and the one for the spirit talisman business is named Jia Sui. He himself is an excellent talisman maker. If you intend to sell top-tier, first-grade spirit talismans, it's advisable to inform him first."

Though Qi Er's words weren't overly explicit, Chen Mobai pondered them for a moment and understood.

First-tier, top-grade talismans were traded for spirit stones, and this market was clearly already cornered. If Chen Mobai wanted to get a slice of the pie, it was best to give a heads-up first to avoid any misunderstandings later.

"Do you know Jia Sui's background?"

"He used to be an assistant at the Divine Wood Sect's Talisman Paper Shop. Later, after the shopkeeper who brought him there returned to the sect, he came out to set up his own stall. Because of his connections, he can acquire talisman paper, talisman skins, and spirit ink at cost price. Most cultivators who make their own talismans in the market procure their supplies from him. It's rumored that he gives kickbacks to every successive shopkeeper of the Talisman Paper Shop, so we consider him to be affiliated with the Divine Wood Sect."

Chen Mobai fell silent again after hearing this.

Could matters of kickbacks really be discussed so openly?

"Senior, we've arrived. It's right here."

At that moment, Qi Er pointed to a corner on the market's east street.

Beside the road paved with blue bricks, a rectangle outlined in white chalk marked a spot, with 'East Nineteen' written in its center.

Chen Mobai took out the mat he had rented for one spirit stone and laid it within the white chalk outline. It fit perfectly, without an inch to spare.

Nearby, three other stalls also displayed spirit talismans. The two male and one female cultivators running them all turned their gazes towards him.

"Ahem, I am Chen Guixian. I’m new to this place and just trying to make a living. I hope for your guidance, my friends."

Chen Mobai used the alias he had prepared beforehand, raising a hand to greet his three fellow spirit talisman vendors. This gesture earned him three eye-rolls.

"Senior, I'll be taking my leave now. If you need anything, you can find me at the market entrance."

After completing his guidance, Qi Er immediately bid farewell and departed. Noticing this, Chen Mobai promptly handed him 10 taels of gold.

Of the money he earned from selling crossbows, 400 taels had been converted into vouchers, and 50 taels were set aside for daily expenses. He had spent 30 taels on books yesterday, leaving him with 20 taels.

Qi Er accepted it with a smile, without any pretense of politeness.

Standing on the street, Chen Mobai displayed two of each of the five types of first-tier low-grade spirit talismans he had purchased from the Wood Spirit Talisman Shop. He then added a first-tier mid-grade Green Arrow Talisman to the display.

He had initially considered putting out the Wood Armor Talisman as well, but decided to hold off for now, planning to introduce those talismans later when his business picked up.

Furthermore, these were life-saving talismans, and he preferred not to reveal them for the time being.

However, as it turned out, he had overthought the situation.

By sunset, his three fellow vendors had packed up their stalls, yet he still hadn't managed to sell a single talisman.

On his first day of selling, Chen Mobai's earnings were zero. He dejectedly packed up his spirit talismans, rolled up his mat, and left the market, feeling disheartened.

However, upon returning to the Water Mansion, he quickly composed himself.

He consumed the qi-replenishing spiritual water and began his long-awaited meditation and qi cultivation.

Under the control of his divine sense, the colorful, adaptive spiritual energy corrected subtle deviations in its pathways, meticulously completing each grand circulation according to the techniques taught in Venerable Qingping's lecture materials.

Pale blue spiritual energy, like mist, coiled around the center of the Water Mansion's main hall, enveloping Chen Mobai and making him appear like an immortal who consumes the essence of dawn and dew.