Chapter 25: The Earthfire Sect Strikes Back

"So this is Liuyun Market? Doesn't seem nearly as lively as the rumors claimed." 

Covered in dust from travel, Song Changsheng looked at the buildings in the distance and muttered to himself. 

"Is this your first time here, fellow Daoist?" 

Song Changsheng turned toward the voice and saw a chubby young man with a fair, clean face walking over. The man wore a golden brocade robe, and had a round, flat face and small eyes, giving off a rather honest and harmless appearance. 

"I can't see through this guy's cultivation…" Song Changsheng narrowed his eyes, instantly becoming alert. 

The man looked about the same age as him, but his aura was completely concealed by something, making it impossible to discern his level. 

"What can I do for you, fellow Daoist?" Song Changsheng asked politely, cupping his hands in greeting. 

"I'm Zhu Yiqun. I mean no harm," the chubby man replied with a sincere smile. "It's just that you carry yourself with an extraordinary bearing and have a remarkable presence I'd like to make your acquaintance." 

Zhu Yiqun? (lit. "Pig - One Herd") That name can't be real... 

Song Changsheng's expression turned a little odd, but he responded smoothly with a made-up name, "I'm Shen Changsong. A pleasure to meet you, fellow Daoist. However, my elder is waiting for me inside the market, so you'll have to excuse me." 

With that, he turned decisively and headed toward the market. 

Although this chubby guy didn't seem like a threat, making friends with strangers on the street wasn't his thing. 

This was just like walking down the street and having some random old man jump out and declare you have exceptional bones and immense talent and that he wants to take you as a disciple. 

What utter nonsense. 

If it weren't for the fact that he couldn't gauge the man's cultivation, Song Changsheng wouldn't have bothered talking to him at all. 

Zhu Yiqun stroked his round chin as he watched Song Changsheng's departing figure and murmured, 

"He's young, yet already at the eighth layer of Qi Refining, and his spiritual energy is unusually robust not a rogue cultivator. 

But in all of Lingzhou, I've never heard of a prodigy named Shen Changsong. 

Interesting. I hope I get the chance to befriend you next time." 

With that, he waddled off toward the market himself… 

.... 

Liuyun Market covered a large area and was laid out in a circular shape, with wide, straight stone streets extending from gates on its east, south, west, and north sides. 

Shops and inns lined both sides of these streets. However, things were rather quiet at the moment, far from the bustling scenes that rumors had painted. 

There were only a handful of people visible, which quickly dampened Song Changsheng's desire to stroll around. Recalling the map in his memory, he headed straight for the family's shop. 

The clan had once owned over 20% of the shops in the market, but for various reasons, most had been sold off. Only twelve remained. 

That said, all the retained shops were located in prime areas of the market and brought in nearly ten thousand spirit stones in annual revenue. These shops were one of the clan's main economic pillars. 

"Treasure-Seeking Pavilion… This is the place." 

Song Changsheng glanced at the name on the plaque and, confirming it was correct, walked inside. 

The shop occupied a sizable area and had three floors. In the center of the first floor stood a redwood counter in the checkout area. 

Around it were half-human-tall glass display cases, reminiscent of jewelry stores back on Blue Star. 

Inside the cases were all sorts of items. On the left side were finished magical artifacts and smelted metal ingots or ores. 

On the right were materials harvested from various beasts already processed and ready to be used in artifact forging. 

These items were geared toward Qi Refining cultivators. Foundation Establishment cultivators typically sought goods found on the second floor. 

However, since cultivation wasn't particularly prosperous in Lingzhou, Foundation Establishment cultivators were rare sometimes months would pass without one appearing. 

Compared to the rest of the quiet market, this place was a little livelier. At a glance, a dozen or so cultivators were browsing the goods, each dressed differently. 

Three clan disciples were helping the customers, likely too busy to notice Song Changsheng's arrival. 

He wasn't in a rush and began leisurely examining the display cases on his own. 

The shop had an incredibly wide selection of merchandise. 

From offensive, defensive, and supportive types, the products were divided into more than a dozen subcategories. 

Many of the oddly shaped magical artifacts were things Song Changsheng had never seen before and they gave him quite a bit of inspiration. 

However, most of these magical artifacts were of relatively low quality mainly lower- and mid-grade Tier 1 items. Many didn't even have formations inscribed on them. 

There were usually two reasons for this kind of situation: either the shop's artifact crafters lacked skill, or the target clientele was mostly rogue cultivators. 

After all, only cultivators with limited resources would settle for such low-quality artifacts. 

Just as Song Changsheng was browsing with interest, several young cultivators in black robes entered the shop. The dark-skinned one in front immediately shouted with no regard for his surroundings, "Shopkeeper! Where's the shopkeeper?" 

A young female cultivator, about twenty years old, quickly stepped forward and said with a cold tone, "You members of the Qiu Clan, please keep your voices down. You're disturbing the other customers." 

Upon hearing that they were from the Qiu Clan, Song Changsheng's brows furrowed instantly. 

In Lingzhou, there were six major powers: the Song Clan, the Earthfire Sect, and the Qiu, Wang, Li, and Yu Clans. 

Among them, the Qiu and Yu Clans were aligned with the Earthfire Sect. They had always been hostile toward the Song Clan. Exchanging even a single word with them usually felt like a waste of breath. 

Now they had shown up at a Song Clan shop? 

No matter how you looked at it, this didn't seem like a friendly visit. 

"Alright, alright, I hear you," the dark-skinned youth replied but made no effort to lower his voice. 

"The steward isn't in today. If you're not here to buy anything, please leave," the female cultivator blocking their way said, her tone growing increasingly sharp. 

"Hey now, Song Daoist, that's not very hospitable. We're here to place an order for a custom artifact. What are you kicking out paying customers now?" 

The dark-skinned youth exaggerated his expression as he looked at her mockingly. 

Song Changqian suppressed her anger and said, "Our doors are open for business. We naturally won't turn away customers. What kind of artifact would you like us to craft?" 

A playful grin spread across the young man's face. "I've heard the Treasure-Seeking Pavilion has outstanding artifact craftsmanship. I'd like to commission a high-grade Tier 1 orb. 

But it must combine offensive, defensive, and healing properties. 

If you can meet my specifications, I'm willing to pay five hundred low-grade spirit stones." 

"Three different functions in one? Qiu Wenxiu, are you joking?" Song Changqian said coldly. 

"Joking? Sounds more like you can't do it. So this is the famed Treasure-Seeking Pavilion, huh? Seems pretty overrated to me," Qiu Wenxiu taunted loudly. 

The other customers in the store immediately perked up with interest, clearly ready to watch the drama unfold. 

"Hmph. Aside from the Eight Directions Pavilion, there are only five high-grade Tier 1 artifact crafters in Liuyun Market," another male cultivator from the Song Clan said angrily. "And I've never heard of any of them managing something like that." 

The onlookers all nodded silently. They weren't forgers themselves, but everyone knew that most magical artifacts could only have one main function. 

Adding another trait multiplied the difficulty tenfold, and three traits? That was generally only possible with the skill of a Tier 2 artifact crafter. 

"Oh? Is that so? Then take a look at this!" 

Qiu Wenxiu casually took out a green orb. As soon as he infused it with spiritual energy, three clearly defined formations flared into view. 

"It does have all three abilities!" 

The onlookers were stunned. 

"This was crafted by a young artifact master from the Earthfire Sect's Hundred Treasures Pavilion. 

You said it couldn't be done then what's this? 

From what I see, the Song Clan's reputation is just smoke and mirrors. Claiming your forging arts are unmatched in Lingzhou? What a joke!" 

Qiu Wenxiu burst out laughing in mockery. 

Watching Song Changqian's shocked expression, Qiu Wenxiu felt a surge of satisfaction. 

He had done his homework none of the forgers in Treasure-Seeking Pavilion could craft such an item. 

This was his move to utterly disgrace the Song Clan a perfect counterstrike against their trade restrictions. 

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