I put a Spell on You

Fang Shi woke up an hour earlier than usual, and prepared to head into the inner city. While he could sit back and wait for customers to trade the required items to him, he did not want to wait that long. When his home was originally renovated, and the shop was added, it had a curious design where the first floor was much larger than the second. He came to like this decision later because the system used some of the space to make a balcony. The scenery was not much at the time, but this morning was different.

As Fang Shi sat went out on the balcony this morning, he saw a small pond surrounded by bamboo. This was the plans he submitted last night for the system, and Fang Shi nodded in satisfaction with his choice. The small pound had lotus flowers on the surface of the water, and a gazebo that could seat a few people sat in the middle of the water. After finishing breakfast, he went downstairs to leave. As he exited the stairs, the door to upstairs was blocked, and a message appeared from the system.

[Upstairs remodel in progress]

Fang Shi realized what happened, the system would not renovate a location if living beings were inside. Now that he left, he had to stay downstairs until everything was complete. This did not bother him too much since he was headed out anyways.

As he left his house to head to the inner city, he turned around and was pleasantly surprised when he saw his place. The previous building was made of brick and stone, but now the system had used the bamboo and trees that he had planted to remodel the place using wood, stone, and bamboo. The only part that was made of clay was the shingles on the roof.

The trip into the city was faster than before thanks to his increased strength. Ever since he was able to eat all this food of high quality Qi and vitality, he noticed his Body Perfecting realm had started to advance much quicker and soon he would reach the late stage of the realm.

When he reached the gate that separated the inner and outer city districts, he found he had to pay the guards extra to pass. This gave him the idea that he should also purchase a few things on the way home, namely, cotton, silkworms, and hemp. It didn't take too long to reach the cultivation pavilion, and under the watchful eyes of the staff, he purchased the beginner's scrolls for weapon refining, alchemy, talisman drawing, and puppet refinement.

Fang Shi waited for a minute after purchasing the scrolls to hear a notification ring in his mind, but was confused when nothing came. Confused, he returned to the outer city, only stopping to get the silkworms, cotton, and hemp.

Fang Shi returned home, but just as he stepped on his land, the notifications he expected earlier surprised him. Hurrying inside, he placed the container with silkworms on a table, and went to check his panel. Two more achievements had appeared, so he quickly went to the tab to check them before it was time to opened the store. The screen displayed:

[New! Fashion week

New! Why don't you go get a job?]

He selected the first one:

[Fashion week

Acquire a source of wool, cotton, hemp, and silk.

Wool 1/1

Cotton 1/1

Hemp 1/1

Silk 1/1

Reward: 1 of 2 qualifications for a new shop (clothing), Loom]

Fang Shi accepted the reward, and checked the second entry:

[Why don't you go get a job?

Acquire scrolls or manuals for 4 professions

4/4

Reward: Beginner's knowledge of the 4 professions selected, minor tasks started.]

Fang Shi did not accept this reward yet, he reasoned that if he did, he might be stunned for an unknown amount of time while the system 'taught' him. He sat in his seat behind the counter, and waited the welcome the customers as the doors swung open for another day.

Peng Hui and Gao Ying had both finished meditating for a few days, and both of them were ecstatic about their results.

"Daoist Gao, I see you had many gains since a few days ago", Peng Hui teased his junior brother, "I wonder if you still doubt my words about that store?"

Gao Ying remembered his words, and felt embarrassed, "Senior Brother is most wise, it was my mistake to doubt you. Fortunately for senior brother, he planned correctly, and purchase many spiritual fruits unlike me. If you excuse me, I have to return to the shop to make up for my mistakes."

"Junior Brother, it just so happens that I also wish to visit that shop again", Peng Hui remarked, "Let's head off, considering the location, you should not go alone."

The two were about to leave the sect again when they heard someone calling them. When they looked over, they saw Chen Jian and Zhuo Xin walking over to them. After everyone greeted the others, Chen Jian said, "Brothers, I could not help but overhear that you were talking about acquiring spiritual fruits. Pardon my rudeness, but is what you say true?"

Peng Hui clicked his tongue before smiling, "Yes it is, there has been a new store that recently opened in the outer city. Not only do they sell excellent items, but they are very flexible in what they accept as payment. If you happen to have items that you have been carrying for a long time with no purpose, I would suggest using them to purchase items beneficial to your cultivation."

Peng Hui was not angry, he had just hoped to keep this store a secret for a bit longer. The two newcomers looked at Peng Hui and Gao Ying suspiciously for a moment before accepting the invitation. Soon after the four men left the sect gate, and was making their way towards the outer city. They did not make it very far when they were blocked by a large crowd that were following a carriage. They waited for the group to move, and once the way was clear, they were about to dash to make up for lost time.

"Excuse me", the four men heard causing them to stop and turn around.

The four them saw the large group giving them hostile stares, and when they looked at the uniform, they recognized it. It was from the Fading Star sect, and 2nd rate sect that was subordinate to the Azure River sect.

The four men from the Dusty Peak sect respectively bowed, and Peng Hui stepped forward, "How can I assist you today, friends?"

One of the men close the carriage waded through the crowd, "Now you know to respect us, why did you not show that same respect to our saints when we crossed your path?"

Peng Hui started to have a terrible feeling, but he endured, "My apologies for not recognizing the Saintess of the Faded Star sect. To show my sincerity, please accept this basket of spiritual fruits as a gift."

He really did not want to do this, but he knew he could get more at the store, so he figured this would be the smartest move."

The man was about to take the basket from Peng Hui's hands when a beautiful voice stopped him, "Li Wei, this is not the proper way that disciples of the Faded Star act."

Everyone turned towards the carriage and saw as a beautiful woman exited it.

"Daoist friend, there is no need to offer such a precious gift", the woman said, "Excuse my Junior brothers for their actions."

"Saintess, this is just a small token and I can easily gather more", Peng Hui boasted, "Do not feel burdened in accepting these excellent gifts."

The woman was confused, spiritual fruits could only normally be collected during missions or from contribution points. Even though she received plentiful resources, she would never call these fruits a token.

"I wonder if this Daoist friend can tell us about how to easily obtain spiritual first such as these?", the woman questioned Peng Hui.

When he heard this question, he felt something wrong for a moment, but immediately felt it was reasonable to share what he knew about the store.

"Saintess, there is a new shop in the outer city called the Heaven and Earth Pavilion", Peng Hui informed the woman, adding, "The owner sells many excellent items very beneficial to cultivation, and we are already going that way. I invite the Saintess to join us."

The Saintess became curious, a shop that sold spiritual fruits in the outer city. She was not doing anything important at the moment, so she responded, "I would be happy to accept your invitation."

The other three men were surprised at Peng Hui's actions but as they discussed things between each other, they concluded that he was trying to peacefully resolve the issue. Soon the three men plus the Saintess and her group all followed after Peng Hui.

Fang Shi's day was about the same so far, mostly poorer customers were in the shop buying the cheapest rice bags or the rice snacks. But in the afternoon, he received a big surprise when a group of over thirty people came into the the shop. He was about to internally celebrate his good fortune when several system messages appeared:

[Warning!

The system has detected multiple instances of cultivators affected by charm.

Warning!

The system detects the source of the Charm skill.

Advise: the host should take the wooden ring in his sleeve pocket, and wear it to prevent being charmed.]

This cause Fang Shi to fret, because he knew in the novels he read in his past life that cultivators that could charms others in this manner never treated their victims well. He searched his sleeve until he found the ring, and slipped it onto his left index finger. He watched as the large group of cultivators walked around the shop marveling at all the products on the shelves. He suddenly felt a pair of eyes on him, and when he turned to look, he saw a beautiful woman looking at him with a gentle smile.

'It's always a female cultivator', he screamed in his head.

The woman noticed him looking over, and took the action as an invitation to walk over.

"Greeting owner, I am Mao Qingyue", she introduced herself, "I must compliment your shop, you certainly have so many wonderful products here."

"Miss Mao, the senior who watches over this shop has informed me that you tried to charm me", Fang Shi stated, "He says that he does not mind what you do in your sect, but ask that you refrain from trying to do so here."

Fang Shi snapped his fingers, and suddenly all her followers held their heads, like they woke up from a dream. Mao Qingyue immediately grew fearful at this and kept her back to the crowd so they did not recognize her suddenly.

"Sorry Miss", Fang Shi admonished the woman, "I do not mind if you and your simps shop here, but your mistake was assuming that all men would fall for you."

He could tell from the troubled look on her face that Mao Qingyue was worried about a more powerful cultivator appearing to punish her, so he decided to say words of comfort.

"This is a first offense, so this punishment will be enough", Fang Shi commented, "Please leave and do not return for a week. But if you try to charm me again, I can only warn you that the senior will destroy your cultivation, and break your limbs."

The woman's eye opened in shock, but she knew that Fang Shi was serious and quickly left. Perhaps because her entourage had been under her control for some time, they were still recovering from having the charm spell broken. Once they finally cleared their head, and notice Mao Qingyue missing, many of them angrily left the store to search for her. But Fang Shi was pleased when a few stayed, and ultimately purchased some high quality goods.

At the end of the day, the doors closed at sundown like always, and Fang Shi grabbed a few things to use for dinner. As he approached the door he noticed the obstacle the system placed there this morning to prevent him from entering during the remodel was gone, so he headed up. After dinner and a bath, Fang Shi opened his status panel and accepted the reward for [Why don't you go get a job?]. Multiple task notifications appeared in the task tab, so he selected it next.

Fang Shi saw many tasks in the tab, so he started from the top:

[New! I want to be a real boy!

Using available resources, create a puppet to operate a business 0/1

Reward: puppets created will greatly resemble humans]

[New! Put the Hammer down!

Requirements

Produce puppet or hire employee to manage shop 0/1

Establish a system to procure materials 0/1

Reward: Artifact Refinery, Mining artifact]

[New!I don't like the Drugs, but the Drugs like Me

Requirements

Produce Puppet or Hire Employee to manage shop 0/1

Acquire Furnace to produce pills (Can be made in Artifact Refinery) 0/1

Reward: Alchemy Shop]

[New! Rodeo Drive

Requirements

Secure the materials to produce clothing 1/1

Acquire Loom 1/1

Produce Puppet or Hire employee to manage shop 0/1

Reward: Clothing shop]

[New! You actually believe in that!

Requirements

Produce puppet or hire employee to manage shop 0/1

Secure source of talisman materials 1/1

Rewards: Talisman shop]

[New! Inconceivable!

Requirements

Produce puppet or hire employee to manage shop 0/1

Secure source of array formation patterns and tools 0/1

Reward: Inscription Shop]

[New! The lamb is raw!

Produce puppets of hire employees to manage restaurant 0/3

Secure source of ingredients 1/1

Reward: Restaurant]