Rent a Shop

Since Wang Yanran had started selling spirit stones, Ye Chuan could now implement his second step plan—

That was to sell his equipment forging skills on the Tianxuan Continent in exchange for spirit stones.

This was like stepping on one's own foot to climb higher, creating a direct cycle to the heavens.

"This way, how could I ever worry about money for forging and enhancing weapons?" Ye Chuan stroked his chin in thought. Since he had logged out at the save point in Xuanjing City, opening a shop there seemed like a good idea.

Moreover, Xuanjing City had quite a few cultivators. If word could spread, he would have a steady stream of spirit stone income.

This was faster than outright robbery. Those poor cultivators didn't have much money anyway; the truly wealthy ones were all in hiding.

Of course, this didn't mean Ye Chuan liked robbing. He inherently preferred fair transactions and never engaged in plundering or banditry. If someone insisted on handing things over, well, there was nothing he could do about that.

He also shared his idea with Bai Qianshuang.

Upon learning that Ye Chuan planned to open a shop on the Tianxuan Continent, Bai Qianshuang was clearly surprised. However, since it was Ye Chuan's idea, she chose to support it.

"Ye Chuan, if you plan to open a shop in Xuanjing City, you must obtain the deed for a commercial property, or rent a storefront," Bai Qianshuang said.

Ye Chuan asked, "Just rent directly?"

"That is a good method. After all, with so many eyes watching, killing shop owners and seizing their stores isn't very realistic, right? You still need to do business, don't you?" Bai Qianshuang inquired.

Uh...

I wasn't planning to kill anyone and seize a shop anyway. Why are Qianshuang's ideas all these convenient shortcuts?

Business relies on reputation. Ye Chuan had no reason to do things that would provoke public outrage; he wasn't truly the number one under heaven.

Being hard to kill was the real truth.

"So, will you come with me into Tianxuan tonight?" Ye Chuan asked Bai Qianshuang.

"I still need to contemplate the Female Emperor's legacy..." Bai Qianshuang blinked her beautiful eyes beneath her straight black bangs, then narrowed them slightly, reaching out to tug on Ye Chuan's sleeve.

"However, I can accompany you until midnight..."

"How would you like to accompany me?" Ye Chuan smiled.

"Anything you like, I'm willing to do..." Bai Qianshuang said softly, then rested her chin on Ye Chuan's shoulder, nuzzling his cheek like a small animal.

"Ye Chuan, I want to cultivate~"

"Alright..."

As midnight approached, Bai Qianshuang, filled to the brim with spiritual liquid, returned to the training room to contemplate the Female Emperor's legacy, though she glanced back at Ye Chuan with reluctance.

Although they could afford to slow down now, Bai Qianshuang still urgently wanted to improve her own cultivation.

...

Meanwhile, Ye Chuan directly entered the world of the Tianxuan Continent.

Never mind, start it up, start it up, start it up—

When he opened his eyes again, Ye Chuan found himself at the entrance to the Xuanjing Abyss. There weren't many people around at the moment, and after Ye Chuan concealed his aura, none of them noticed his presence.

With a teleportation flash, Ye Chuan left the entrance of the Xuanjing Abyss and arrived directly at Xuanjing City.

Since it was nighttime and not a good time for business, Ye Chuan found an inn to rest for the night.

The night passed without incident. X happened.

The next day, Ye Chuan went to the front desk early and directly asked the inn attendant,

"I'm new to Xuanjing City and wish to rent a shop to do some business. May I ask where I should inquire about such matters?"

Seeing that Ye Chuan did not seem like an ordinary person, the attendant quickly clasped his hands and replied,

"Sir, if you wish to rent a shop, you could go ask at the Treasure Pavilion. They are well-informed, and many of the city's shop rental matters go through their hands."

Treasure Pavilion?

So, the Treasure Pavilion can provide information?

"Alright then." Ye Chuan tossed a spirit stone to the attendant, who immediately looked overjoyed and hurriedly thanked the immortal master.

Ye Chuan soon arrived at the Treasure Pavilion once again.

The last time he was here was... well, the last time.

After all, he had bought an entire volume of ores, making him a veritable VIP among VIPs.

Ye Chuan walked up to the counter, took out his token to prove his identity, and said,

"Have Qian Duoduo... oh no, Mu Qianqian come over."

"Respected honored guest, please wait a moment."

Upon seeing Ye Chuan's token, the attendant immediately turned and disappeared down a corridor. After a while, a familiar face in a cheongsam appeared. The moment she saw Ye Chuan, her eyes lit up.

"Immortal Master Xi Xi, have you come today to purchase something?"

Mu Qianqian loved customers like this—those who didn't mince words and directly bought an entire volume.

From an outsider's perspective, the shapely Mu Qianqian in her cheongsam was batting her peach-blossom eyes at Ye Chuan, sending flirtatious glances his way.

Unconcerned with Mu Qianqian's attitude, Ye Chuan went straight to the point,

"It's like this. I want to rent a shop, preferably in a street-front location with high foot traffic. I heard the Treasure Pavilion can arrange this?"

"Oh?" Hearing that Ye Chuan wanted to rent a shop, Mu Qianqian was somewhat surprised. "Xuanjing City is a major town; people from the Qingyun Sect also come here."

Mu Qianqian was an old acquaintance of Ye Chuan's, after all; he had previously sold cultivation techniques through her.

Mu Qianqian could guess a few things, so she offered a friendly reminder.

"It's fine," Ye Chuan smiled.

Upon hearing this, Mu Qianqian fetched a ledger, flipped through it, and said,

"Immortal Master, shops in Xuanjing City are always in high demand, but it just so happens there's a shop in the West City commercial district that is about to be rented out. The location is excellent, built facing the street, surrounded by popular shops, with extremely high foot traffic."

Ye Chuan became interested. "How do I contact them?"

Mu Qianqian continued, "The interior of that shop is well-decorated. The monthly rent is five hundred low-grade spirit stones."

Five hundred low-grade spirit stones was no small amount, but it was a drop in the bucket for Ye Chuan.

"Since the Immortal Master is interested, why don't I accompany you there?" Mu Qianqian chuckled coquettishly.

"Alright," Ye Chuan said.

Having Qian Duoduo's help could save a lot of trouble.

Her identity as the person in charge of the Treasure Pavilion was established, making negotiations simpler.

As Ye Chuan and Mu Qianqian walked out of the Treasure Pavilion, many people cast surprised glances their way.

Mu Qianqian's status was no simple matter, yet she was attending to a man like this. What was his background?

With Mu Qianqian leading the way, Ye Chuan and she soon arrived at the entrance of a residence.

Mu Qianqian knocked on the door, which soon opened, revealing an elderly man with graying hair and a haggard face.

"Hello, sir. I am Mu Qianqian from the Treasure Pavilion," Mu Qianqian said. "Did you list a shop for rent with the Treasure Pavilion?"

"Yes... please, come in first." The old man looked at Ye Chuan and Mu Qianqian, then invited them into the courtyard, pouring them a cup of tea. However, the old man kept sighing incessantly, his face full of worry.

Ye Chuan and Mu Qianqian exchanged a glance.

They hadn't even started discussing business, so why all the sighing?

"Sir, are you feeling unwell somewhere?" Mu Qianqian asked.

"I, I... sigh." The old man spoke. "My daughter is missing. I truly have no heart to discuss the shop matter with you..."