Chapter 13 Go to the Market to Purchase Items

"Hm…"

Arius stood with his hands clasped behind his back, his gaze sweeping over the gathered family members and De Molinos family guards. He gave a slight nod before speaking again.

"There is no need to panic."

"The matter with the Ashfell family will be handled by me."

"When this is over, the De Molinos family of Nezier Town will officially take its place in Purple River City, reigning supreme over a Hundred miles of land!"

Though his tone was calm and measured, his words carried an undeniable weight of authority. The sheer dominance in his voice reverberated through the hearts of everyone present, steadying their unease.

As Arius's piercing gaze moved across the crowd, it eventually settled on Simon, the family patriarch. He continued, his voice laden with purpose.

"Simon…"

"You need not concern yourself with the Ashfell family of Purple River City. From this moment forward, I want you to mobilize our family's resources and start searching for children under the age of ten—infants included."

"Especially orphans and vagrants. Bring them all back to the family."

"If they possess spirit roots, I will personally teach them the ways of cultivation. If they don't, they will be trained in martial arts to serve the De Molinos family."

"Our De Molinos family has lingered in Nezier Town for far too long. It is time we step out—not just into Purple River City but into the lands beyond, a Hundred miles in every direction."

Arius's tone was even, but his words crashed into the ears of Simon and the others like thunderclaps.

His ambition was unmistakable, his vision clear. To replace the Ashfell family of Purple River City and expand the De Molinos family's influence far beyond its current boundaries.

The idea sent a surge of exhilaration through the younger generation. Their hearts burned with fervor. Youthful spirits were always restless, eager to carve their names into the annals of history with the edge of their swords.

"Yes, Patriarch…" Simon replied, his tone filled with reverence and anticipation.

The blueprint Arius had painted was one that Simon himself longed for. As the family patriarch, he dreamed of strengthening the De Molinos family and leaving behind a legacy that would echo through the ages.

However, not everyone shared his enthusiasm. The older generation of the De Molinos family, their ambitions dulled by the passage of time, remained silent. They valued stability and feared the risks of expansion.

But none dared to voice their dissent.

In terms of seniority, Arius was the family's patriarch—their most ancient, longest-living member.

In terms of authority, his position in the family was unshakable.

And in terms of strength, he was an immortal cultivator.

"There is one more issue," Arius said, his voice cutting through the crowd once more. "Our family's population is far too small."

"Spread the word: encourage the family to bear children."

"Those who bring new offspring into the world will be handsomely rewarded by the family. And if their child possesses spirit roots… I will personally bestow them with a grand reward."

"Furthermore, any descendants of the De Molinos family who have spirit roots shall have the privilege of training under me."

The moment Arius finished speaking, a fire ignited in the eyes of many De Molinos family members.

Having children? That was an easy task.

Beyond the allure of the family's rewards, the prospect of having a child with spirit roots—earning the patriarch's favor and giving their offspring a chance to train as immortal cultivators—was a dream worth chasing.

The atmosphere among the De Molinos family surged with excitement, a wave of enthusiasm spreading rapidly through the crowd.

But Simon felt the crushing weight of responsibility settle heavily on his shoulders.

The family's territory and resources were limited. Over the years, he had implemented various policies to strictly control the family's population growth. Without such measures, the De Molinos family would have long since exceeded twenty thousand members.

Having children was easy, but feeding and supporting a growing population required resources—resources the family couldn't afford to squander.

Of course, Arius was well aware of this.

But he already had plans in place.

If Nezier Town's resources and territory were insufficient… then they would simply claim Purple River City and the surrounding towns and villages within a Hundred miles.

After all, within the Aragon Kingdom, the methods of agriculture—its cultivation, transportation, management, and storage—were still woefully outdated.

Once the Ashfell family of Purple River City was dealt with, Arius planned to use the knowledge from his previous life to compile an extensive Compendium of Knowledge.

With that as a foundation, he would oversee the construction of roads connecting Purple River City to the surrounding ancient towns and villages.

The lands within a Hundred miles of Purple River City held rivers and fertile plains. With proper management, the population of the region could multiply tens—if not hundreds—of times.

And with more people, the likelihood of children born with spirit roots would naturally increase.

Building a thriving mortal base was an indispensable step in creating a powerful and enduring family.

However, developing Purple River City was only the first step in Arius's grand plan.

With the Mirror of Immortal Appraisal in hand, Arius sought not only the highest realms of cultivation but also to establish a glorious, eternal immortal clan.

Once the De Molinos family members dispersed, Arius took a final glance around Nezier Town. Then, like a fleeting shadow, he disappeared into the night.

His destination was the Immortal Market

He knew the Ashfell family's Second Elder would report everything to their clan upon his return.

And when that happened, whether for revenge or to protect their family's reputation, the Ashfell family of Purple River City would undoubtedly launch an all-out assault on Nezier Town.

Time was not on Arius's side.

At most, he had three or four days before the Ashfell family made their move.

In the meantime, Arius had to make full preparations.

But despite the looming threat, Arius remained calm.

As long as he could plan ahead and set the stage, he was confident he could kill the Ashfell family's "Organ Tempering Realm" patriarch, along with their "Bone Tempering Realm" cultivators. At that point, the Ashfell family would be no more than fish on a chopping block.

The night stretched on as Arius moved with incredible speed, his figure a blur beneath the dark canopy of stars.

The Immortal Market was a hub of mixed intentions and hidden dangers. To avoid drawing unnecessary attention, he chose not to travel on his ferocious tiger mount.

For rogue cultivators conducting transactions in such a place, the more inconspicuous one appeared, the safer they would be.

The Immortal Market, situated one hundred miles from Nezier Town, was one of the few powers within a Hundred miles of Purple River City capable of rivaling the Ashfell family.

The market's mysterious owner, an Organ Tempering Realm cultivator, rarely revealed himself. Since the market's establishment, he had shown no interest in expanding his territory, resulting in an unspoken truce between him and the Ashfell family.

On the rugged terrain of Aragon Kingdom, separated by mountains and rivers, one hundred miles was neither far nor near.

After traveling at full speed, Arius finally reached the Immortal Market at the break of dawn, just as the first rays of sunlight touched the earth.

The exterior of the Immortal Market was concealed by an illusory formation. To ordinary mortals, it appeared as an impassable cliff face, deterring anyone from approaching.

However, as Arius stepped forward, his body did not fall into an abyss. Instead, it gradually vanished, swallowed by the formation.

Once inside, a bustling marketplace emerged before his eyes, resembling a mortal bazaar but entirely populated by cultivators.

There wasn't a single mortal in sight.

Every stall owner, merchant, and passerby was a cultivator, and the items being traded included rare materials, pills, and cultivation manuals.

"Come and see! Body Refining Pills crafted by a Level 1 Alchemist—three for just one spirit stone fragment!"

"Fine iron chainmail! Capable of withstanding a million pounds of force. Wear it, and even a Bone Tempering cultivator's attack won't leave a scratch! Fixed price: ten spirit stone fragments."

"Ten-year Spirit Purification Herb! Freshly matured and just harvested! Five spirit stone fragments per stalk—don't miss out!"

The market was lively and chaotic, filled with cultivators haggling and trading. Stalls lined the streets, with treasures displayed for all to see.