A Sect from a Spirit Vein

Chapter 40: Chapter 39: A Warm Moment

If you want to make money from the service industry, you have to find a niche and open up new markets.

Besides food and entertainment, clothing, shelter, and transportation, what else would cultivators pay for?

Just as Lu Qian was pondering this question, he suddenly heard the hurried footsteps of a nearby cultivator saying, ”Hurry, hurry, I heard the reward for this task is very generous, if we’re late, we might miss it...”

Lu Qian looked on curiously and saw many cultivators rushing towards the same place on the street.

Lin Le explained, ”It looks like the notice board in the district has been updated, maybe they’ve posted some really worthwhile tasks.”

Notice board? Because he hadn’t been frequenting the marketplace, Lu Qian hadn’t paid much attention to the functions of the notice board. Previously, his wanted notices were posted there, but what other information could there be?

As they walked, Lin Le explained that the Plum Blossom Marketplace has five workshop districts and a central square, totaling six notice boards, each with its focus.

The Fifth District mainly features commission tasks, collaboration invitations, and bounty information for the Qi Cultivation Stage.

The two followed the crowd to a three-story building. In front of the building was a prominent notice board, two zhang tall.

”Urgently seeking three fellow late-stage Qi Cultivation practitioners to go to Cangyun Mountain to slay a demon beast...”

”The Spiritual Transformation Gang is buying large quantities of Star Storage Sand, interested parties contact us...”

”There are evil cultivators wreaking havoc in Mingshi County, inviting fellow sect members to band together for a roundup, cover all travel, meals, and accommodation...”

”5,000 Spirit Stone bounty for late-stage Qi Cultivation practitioner Shang Dayou...”

The notice board was full, covered with papers of all sorts, new and old information mixed together, creating a dizzying effect.

Lu Qian also saw a notice saying, ”Sincerely seeking a Qi Cultivation Array Cultivator to explore a sect’s relic; reward of 1,000 Spirit Stones upon completion,” which reminded him of Li Zhenru’s story.

Some cultivators looked around for a while, then selected a notice and entered the small building beside it. Lu Qian also followed in to see what it was about.

In this three-story building, cultivators who took a notice could register on the first floor, and staff would help them contact the task issuer. The second floor was where cultivators could post tasks, giving a commission to the marketplace to have their notice posted. The more commission paid, the better the posting position. The third floor was where staff handled affairs.

Isn’t this just like a brokerage? The marketplace is already making money from information gaps!

Lu Qian’s heart skipped a beat, and various ideas flashed through his mind.

Indeed, besides the traditional market, there’s also the information market that can be mined.

Lu Qian made a mental note of this discovery.

As Wangshu rose in the east and the evening mist dissipated, the various shops along the street hung up lanterns, and the number of pedestrians gradually decreased.

Returning to the front of Xianhe Tower, Lu Qian smiled and patted Lin Le on the shoulder, ”Good work today, let’s meet here again at 7:00 AM tomorrow.”

Lin Le was delighted, nodding repeatedly, and after expressing his thanks several times, he ran off in a hurry.

Back at the inn, after knocking around, Qingfeng Baitao hadn’t returned yet, but Master Xuan Ji opened the door.

Seeing the old Taoist looking displeased, Lu Qian exclaimed, ”What, is the Jade Seal not repairable?”

”The Jade Seal was completely destroyed in an explosion, it can’t be repaired, can only be custom-made anew.” Master Xuan Ji shook his head, then cursed, ”So greedy! Absolutely greedy! That array base is merely a high-tier magical artifact, yet they demand at least 2,000 Spirit Stones for it!”

Lu Qian was also taken aback, ”That is quite expensive, didn’t you bargain?”

Master Xuan Ji jumped in irritation, ”The Artifact Refiners wouldn’t budge an inch, and it was the same at several other shops. It’s outrageous, bullying an old lone man, frail and helpless...”

Ignoring his complaints, Lu Qian was about to speak when Jiang Qingfeng’s voice came from outside the door, ”Junior Brother, are you and Master Xuan Ji inside?”

As Lu Qian opened the door, Baitao suddenly thrust a red object in front of his eyes, nearly poking him.

”Senior Brother, have a super-sized candied haws!” Before Lu Qian could react, a candied hawthorn stick the size of an arm was pressed into his hand, and Baitao whirled past into the room like a whirlwind.

Looking back, he saw Baitao handing another candied haw to Master Xuan Ji. The old man smiled so broadly that his mouth couldn’t close, muttering, ”Good Taotao, so nice, so nice, good granddaughter...”

Lu Qian smiled wryly, put away the candied haw, and stepped aside to let Jiang Qingfeng in.

”Senior Sister...” Only then did Lu Qian realize that Jiang Qingfeng had taken off her mask and changed into a new outfit.

Her hair was loosely tied up, her makeup was light and elegant. A silver dragonfly hairpin with blue gems adorned her temple, enhancing her serene and gentle appearance, she was exceptionally graceful.

She wore a moon-white long dress with a high collar and wide sleeves. A sash tied gently at her waist accentuating her slender figure.

Feeling Lu Qian’s gaze, she nervously twirled her hair with her slender jade fingers, ”Junior Brother, does this not look good?”

”Not at all.” Lu Qian smiled, ”Senior Sister, you are like a jade fairy, far surpassing Fairy Gushe. If I stand beside you now, I would feel ashamed of myself.”

Upon hearing this, Qingfeng lightly bit her red lips and glared at Lu Qian.

She took out a set of clothes from her storage pouch, ”Junior Brother, I bought this for you, see if it fits?”

Lu Qian quickly reached out and took the clothes, then saw the jade woman in front of him, her face flushed, her eyes glistening like autumn water, and he was momentarily entranced.

Suddenly, Jiang Qingfeng raised her eyebrows slightly and sniffed, puzzled, ”Junior Brother, why do you smell like makeup?”

Lu Qian was momentarily speechless, feeling a chill run up his spine.

The suspicion in Jiang Qingfeng’s eyes deepened, ”Where did you go this afternoon?”

At this critical moment, Master Xuan Ji exclaimed, ”Ah, it’s great to be young, no one cares about an old man like me anymore.”

Jiang Qingfeng turned around, took out a robe from her storage pouch, and handed it to Master Xuan Ji, ”Master Xuan Ji, this is for you. Thank you for your care along the way.”

Lu Qian breathed a long sigh of relief.

Now it was Master Xuan Ji’s turn to be taken aback. He cautiously accepted the robes and glanced at Baitao, who was cheerfully waving her candied haws. Suddenly, he felt a lump in his throat and his eyes grew moist.

”Don’t call me Master anymore, always calling me that is annoying. Just call me Old Zhou from now on.”

The next day at 7:00 AM, as Lu Qian and his group stepped out of the inn, they saw Lin Le already waiting there.

Lu Qian handed over five Spirit Stones, ”Xiaolin, today we’re going to the Artifact Refining District.”

As Master Xuan Ji mentioned yesterday, the price for recasting the Jade Seal was too high, Lu Qian thought they could try again today.

This time, led by Lin Le, who knew the area well, they might find a reasonably priced shop and continue their industry survey.

Today, he had to delve into understanding the biggest expenditures for cultivators: magic, pills, talismans, artifacts, arrays, pets...

This is a super market that no one can monopolize, with a bright and promising future, full of opportunities.

Originally, Lu Qian wanted Jiang Qingfeng and Baitao to continue their fun, but Jiang Qingfeng felt that half a day of leisure was satisfying enough, and that the group should work hard together next.

Thus, the five of them set off for the Fourth District, the Artifact Refining District.