Qin Lu’s trade in medicinal liquids went exceptionally well.

In just three days, he sold out his entire stock of over a hundred bottles. His net profit exceeded six hundred Spirit Stones.

Such high-profile success naturally attracted the attention of many cultivators. Even a few pill shop owners came sniffing around to inquire about his activities.

This made Qin Lu feel somewhat uneasy.

However, he remained resolute. His long sword never left his waist, and combined with the forceful display of drawing his blade on the very first day, no one dared to cause trouble at his stall.

In the end, having earned a substantial amount of Spirit Stones, Qin Lu hurried to the talisman shop. He purchased one hundred Spirit Stones’ worth of materials and quickly returned home to lie low.

But unexpectedly, on the very next day, the Wuji Sect’s long-awaited resident Foundation Establishment cultivator finally arrived at the Wuji Market.

As soon as he arrived, he flew conspicuously through the sky above the market, openly declaring his identity.

The cultivator appeared to be a young man in his thirties. Qin Lu inquired and learned that his name was Li Qingdu, a cultivator at the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment.

With Li Qingdu’s arrival, the market patrol team became even more stringent, resorting to violence and verbal abuse whenever dealing with Loose Cultivators.

Paradoxically, this brutality resulted in unprecedentedly good security within the market.

However, Li Qingdu soon began issuing new regulations, causing numerous cultivators to curse inwardly.

First was the matter of rent.

Rent had to be paid anew; the so-called “three months’ rent” previously paid to Sun Jing was declared completely invalid, as it was unrelated to Li Qingdu himself.

In addition to rent, there were new rules for commerce: henceforth, setting up a stall required a fee of one jin of gold. Those who failed to pay were prohibited from selling.

Lastly, taxes for market shops were increased by an additional ten percent.

These harsh regulations naturally provoked widespread opposition. Some even publicly cursed Li Qingdu in the taverns.

Yet, amidst the rising public outrage, Li Qingdu struck swiftly. He killed a shop owner who had spoken recklessly right there on the street.

After that, the uproar subsided significantly. Though people were furious, they were powerless. Gradually, they were forced to accept the new rules.

In short, the Wuji Market had undergone a complete transformation.

Qin Lu, whose purse had grown considerably fuller, didn’t react much to the changes. After all, the stall fees were merely trifles to him now.

As he strolled through the market streets, witnessing the bustling crowds, a faint smile unconsciously touched his lips. regardless of the methods, Li Qingdu’s arrival had revitalized the entire market.

Qin Lu walked leisurely and, after a while, arrived in front of a familiar shop.

Sanbao Hall.

It was here that he had last sold his spoils of war.

“Fellow Daoist, is Shopkeeper Zhou in?” Qin Lu asked the attendant at the door.

“He is. Please follow me.”

The attendant led the way, quickly bringing Qin Lu to a reception room.

Inside, there were two cushions and a black table in the center. A faint, delicate fragrance permeated the air. The decor immediately evoked a sense of comfort—it was a truly elegant chamber.

Qin Lu waited for about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea before Shopkeeper Zhou pushed open the door.

“Fellow Daoist Qin, it’s been quite some time since we last met!”

“Hehe, Shopkeeper Zhou, you’re as dashing as ever!”

The two exchanged pleasantries for a moment before getting down to business.

Qin Lu waved his hand, and six magical artifacts floated out, arranging themselves neatly on the table.

“Shopkeeper Zhou, take a look—would your shop be interested in purchasing these?”

“Let me see…”

Shopkeeper Zhou approached the table, picking up each artifact one by one for examination.

As a magical artifact shop, Sanbao Hall not only sold items but also provided services such as recycling, repairing, inspecting, grading, and appraising.

After a while, Shopkeeper Zhou raised his head and spoke slowly.

“Fellow Daoist Qin, these six artifacts all have damage. This ‘Tiger Head Blade’ is in the worst condition, and this one too… After a comprehensive assessment, our shop can offer two hundred and ten Spirit Stones for the lot.”

Qin Lu nodded slowly. This price was exactly what he had anticipated.

Recently, due to the constant battles in the market, transactions involving looted magical artifacts had become increasingly frequent, leading to a slight drop in market prices.

“Deal!”

“Fellow Daoist Qin is always so straightforward!”

Shopkeeper Zhou’s eyes lit up. He waved his hand, and Spirit Stones flew continuously from his sleeve, stacking neatly on the table.

Qin Lu quickly counted the stones, confirmed the amount was correct, and swept them all into his Storage Bag.

“A pleasure doing business! I hope you’ll return to our shop for your next transaction, Fellow Daoist Qin!”

Shopkeeper Zhou rose and spoke with a smile, subtly hinting that the meeting was over.

“Of course!” Qin Lu also stood up, glanced toward the upper floors, and smiled. “Shopkeeper Zhou, I’d like to ask something else—do you have any flying magical artifacts to recommend?”

Hearing this, Shopkeeper Zhou’s face brightened instantly.

“Of course! Please, come with me!”

“Good!”

The Spirit Stones earned from selling the medicinal liquids and the stolen goods had pushed Qin Lu’s wealth beyond a thousand. regarding the flying magical artifact he had long desired, he no longer hesitated.

After all, humans have always held a mysterious obsession with flight.

Qin Lu followed Shopkeeper Zhou upstairs and stopped in front of a display shelf.

On the shelf sat six or seven exquisite little objects resembling tiny toys. Arranged in an orderly manner, each emitted a faint spiritual glow. Their shapes varied—birds, cranes, flying boats, paper sheets, and so on.

“Fellow Daoist Qin, take a look. These are the flying magical artifacts currently in stock. Which one catches your eye?” Shopkeeper Zhou introduced cheerfully.

Looking at these tiny toys, barely the size of a palm, Qin Lu wasn’t surprised. All flying magical artifacts came equipped with a special formation called “Ruyi Size.” Seemingly unremarkable, once activated with spiritual energy, they could expand dramatically to accommodate several people.

“What are their prices? And how far can they fly?” Qin Lu asked.

“Take this one, the Flying Cloud Paper. It is a First Rank High-Grade artifact, priced at five hundred Spirit Stones. It is capable of carrying three or four people without issue…”

“This is the Wind-Controlling Crane, a Second Rank Low-Grade artifact, priced at one thousand Spirit Stones. It is larger, able to carry five or six people…”

“And this one…”

Shopkeeper Zhou pointed to each exquisite object, giving a detailed introduction.

Qin Lu had already heard about the exorbitant prices of flying artifacts, so he wasn’t shocked.

After a moment, Shopkeeper Zhou finished his pitch. “So, Fellow Daoist Qin, which of these do you prefer?”

“Hmm…”

Qin Lu pondered for a moment, then pointed to the small piece of paper. “I’ll take this one!”

The Flying Cloud Paper.

Priced at five hundred Spirit Stones.

It was the cheapest flying artifact in the shop.

There was no helping it; the others were simply too expensive. Even with Qin Lu’s current savings of over a thousand Spirit Stones, the higher-tier items were out of reach.

If the other flying artifacts were luxury sedans, then the Flying Cloud Paper was a budget cart—low-priced, but still a vehicle.

It was perfectly suited for Qin Lu, who had just started his business and made a small profit.

Moreover, Qin Lu’s decision to buy the inexpensive artifact was part of a larger plan—to upgrade his offensive weapon.

He intended to buy a sword!