Su's General Store

After Lin Xiao had nearly recorded every type of goods and their market prices within Yuanling City, several more days had passed.

During this time, with the city under martial law and the matter concerning the Wu family resolved, no further strange incidents occurred. As a result, the heavy gloom that had hung over the city gradually dissipated with the passage of time.

The atmosphere in the city grew livelier with each passing day.

On this particular day, Yuanling City was greeted by a long-awaited heavy rain.

Although cultivators were unfazed by getting wet, the number of pedestrians braving the rain was noticeably fewer.

Inside a room of an inn, Lin Xiao and Jiang Youfu sat facing each other by the window, a Go board placed between them on the table.

One held the black stones, the other the white, and they were engaged in a game of Gomoku.

Liu Chun sat nearby at a round table, carefully examining the Yue family jade token that Lin Xiao had lent him.

Across from him, Liao Pantu leisurely leaned back in his chair, sipping tea as he admired the rain outside.

Earlier, when he saw Lin Xiao pull out the board and stones, suggesting a game with “Little Chubby,” Liao Pantu had been somewhat surprised — he hadn’t expected this seemingly carefree young man to have such a refined hobby.

But as Lin Xiao explained the rules to Jiang Youfu, Liao Pantu began to sense something was off.

After taking another look at their opening moves, his interest in spectating completely faded.

Better to just enjoy the rain.

During a pause as Jiang Youfu placed a stone, Lin Xiao glanced outside and said,

“I wonder how Yuan Qing’s family patriarch is doing.”

Hearing this, Liao Pantu shot him a glance and reiterated,

“My Icefield Spirit isn’t for sale. If you don’t want it, just give it to Yigao.”

At that moment, Jiang Youfu finally made his move. Lin Xiao followed with a wry smile,

“Don’t worry, I won’t sell it.”

In recent days, as the people of Yuanling City gradually regained their vitality, the once-silent gossip channels began buzzing again.

Among the rumors, the news that the Yuan family’s patriarch was on the verge of death spread most fervently.

It was so widespread that Yuan Qing himself could hardly avoid hearing it.

Alongside this news came stories of how the head of the Yuan family had been working tirelessly, running everywhere in search of medicine, but to no avail.

Yuan Bi, the head of the Yuan family and Yuan Qing’s adoptive father, had taken him in along with his wife years ago — without them, Yuan Qing often wondered what his fate would have been.

So upon hearing the news, he couldn’t sit still. After getting Lin Xiao’s approval, he set off alone for the Yuan family’s residence.

Liu Chun had been admiring the jade token for quite some time before finally pausing, still reluctant to put it down.

Hearing their conversation turn to the Yuan family, he suddenly seemed to recall something and turned to Lin Xiao.

“By the way, Sect Leader, you mentioned before that you wanted to make contact with some Foundation Establishment cultivators, right?”

He remembered Lin Xiao had brought this up earlier.

Having just won another round of Gomoku against Jiang Youfu, Lin Xiao helped tidy up the stones while nodding,

“That’s right. Do you have any reliable friends you could introduce me to?”

Liu Chun replied,

“Do you still remember I told you before that after leaving the Wu family, I temporarily stayed at a friend’s place?”

Seeing Lin Xiao nod, he continued:

“My friend is also a Foundation Establishment cultivator. He’s a native of Yuanling City, but he’s not from any prominent family. His family is small—back home in Yuanling City, they run a modest little grocery shop. Usually, they rely on him going out to hunt to support the family and his cultivation. He and I have been close friends for years. He’s reserved by nature but extremely loyal and honorable.”

Hearing this, Lin Xiao looked at him with some interest:

“His family runs a grocery shop?”

Xiao Liu noticed his curiosity and nodded:

“The shop isn’t large, but because of its good reputation, business is quite decent. The catch is that all the income depends solely on what he brings back from hunting. One person’s effort has its limits, so the earnings are just enough to get by.”

Lin Xiao responded cheerfully:

“That’s great, that’s great. I’ll have to trouble Elder Liu to act as a go-between and inquire. If he’s willing, I’d certainly like to make his acquaintance.”

Xiao Liu smiled:

“No need to be so polite, Sect Leader. This is a small matter. I’ll speak with him tomorrow—I’m sure he’ll be more than happy to befriend the Sect Leader.”

Nearby, Liao Pantu shook his head with a sigh and said to Xiao Liu:

“Xiao Liu…”

But Lin Xiao, having already guessed that he was about to say something bad about him, cut in decisively:

“By the way, Senior Liao, do you know how those functions in that bookstore work?”

Liao Pantu, interrupted, glanced at him, snorted lightly, and turned away without looking back:

“You don’t really think those functions rely on formation arrays or some kind of mystical seals, do you?”

“Isn’t that the case?” Lin Xiao asked, puzzled.

Even Jiang Youfu, who had been engrossed in playing Go nearby, perked up his ears.

Liao Pantu explained:

“Of course not. Those functions are created by large formation arrays layered over smaller ones, combined with that turtle shell. Without that turtle shell, it’s impossible to create a system that can isolate and control the spiritual energy of every entrant—unless your formation skills are strong enough to crush every single person who enters.”

Otherwise, if you opened a self-service shop like that, it’d be a matter of time before someone just cleared it out.

Hearing this, Lin Xiao asked:

“Do you know how to get that turtle shell used for the bookstore?”

“No idea!” Liao Pantu answered confidently.

After a pause, he turned back to Lin Xiao and added:

“That Yin Xuanzi having that thing wasn’t because he got it himself—it was a gift from someone else!”

So it’s not that Yin Xuanzi is more capable than himself!

“Alright then.”

Not getting any leads on the turtle shell, Lin Xiao felt a bit disappointed. His dream of opening a self-service shop would have to be put on hold for now.

That night, Yuan Qing didn’t return to the inn.

Lin Xiao and the others ate and slept as usual, not particularly worried.

After all, in Yuanling City, the Yuan family were the local tyrants. Rather than worrying about Yuan Qing’s safety, it was more pressing to be concerned about whether they might accidentally offend someone while walking the streets.

Early the next morning, Xiao Liu set out to visit his friend.

These days, Elder Zhang hadn’t sent any news, and Xiao Liu couldn’t stay idle—he would occasionally disguise himself and slip out for brief strolls.

In fact, Liu Chun had visited his old friend several times before, but since he hadn't had the chance to consult Lin Xiao, he was reluctant to reveal too much to others. He simply told them that he had made a new acquaintance who was willing to take him in, so there was no need for anyone to worry about him.

Liu Chun’s old friend was named Su Yaoguang, a seventy-two-year-old cultivator at the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment.

Although such an age would be considered extremely elderly in the mortal world, in the realm of cultivation, his appearance was no older than that of a man in his fifties.

When Liu Chun arrived at Su’s general store and saw his old friend busy at work inside, he stepped in and greeted him warmly.