Citywide Racing

Although the items here were of rather low grade and hardly considered top quality, they were exceptionally cheap. They were so affordable that even cultivators short on funds could casually pick up a bottle of Little Rejuvenation Pills and say with great gusto, “I’ll take two bottles!”

Number One Street had only a little over twenty shops, but to these cultivators, who had not properly browsed a marketplace in a very, very long time, that was already more than enough variety to make the trip worthwhile.

Today was the first official day of business for Number One Street in the commercial district, and business was booming. Quite a few sects and imperial households were watching with undisguised envy.

When senior figures from sects who had traveled from afar saw the “For Rent” signs hanging on the idle shops in the unopened streets behind the commercial district, their hearts began to stir.

Following the directions on the signs, they found their way to Xiushui City’s Transaction Affairs Center and began inquiring about shop rentals.

When they heard that rent was completely waived for the first year, many of them immediately made up their minds and declared that their sect wanted ten shops!

Han Weishu, one of the officials in charge of shop rentals, could only helplessly emphasize, “Each party is limited to one shop, and you must confirm the shop’s business direction and guarantee an adequate supply of goods.”

Now that more than twenty shops had already begun preliminary cooperation, the framework of the commercial district could be said to have stabilized. As a result, the Transaction Affairs Center had set a few requirements for shops rented later. Although rent was still waived, these shops could no longer be rented without conditions, as the first twenty-odd shops had been.

The senior figures did not consider these requirements excessive. They promptly agreed, saying that they would return and bring out goods from their sects’ storehouses to fill the shops.

This was where the effects of those twenty-odd shops became apparent.

Once those shops opened and displayed the various goods they had in stock, other groups began to realize that many of the items in their own storehouses no longer needed to remain hidden away. They could selectively bring them out and exchange them for spirit stones. After all, even if they urgently needed something later, they could often purchase a substitute from another shop.

In short, as long as spirit stones and goods could circulate, no one had to worry about emptying their warehouses of their surplus stock.

Han Weishu therefore told them that as long as the goods they transported met the Transaction Affairs Center’s minimum requirements, they could receive a rent-free shop. She also produced the center’s sales list and informed them that the Transaction Affairs Center itself had many stable sources of supply.

The senior figures took one look at the list and exclaimed inwardly, Good heavens, there are so many things on it!

If everything on this list was truly available, wouldn’t that mean they had even less to worry about? They could empty their sects’ storehouses without fear!

“Our Transaction Affairs Center has a stable supply of goods, and both the categories and quantities can be reserved and ordered in advance. In addition, we purchase goods in bulk. If any of you are interested, you can go to the external trade office next door for more information,” Han Weishu helpfully explained.

The senior figures were nearly dizzy with shock.

Not only did this place provide free shops, it also offered inexpensive sources of goods and purchased all kinds of items in large quantities? As long as they worked hard to produce goods, wasn’t this practically the same as being handed spirit stones?

Their excitement was exactly like that of the sects and imperial households who had learned the news after the auction. They could barely contain themselves.

“Is that really true?”

“Of course. If you don’t believe me, you can ask the Crimson Firmament Sect or Luoshen Mountain. They can vouch for it.” Han Weishu named two renowned sects, while secretly grumbling about those who had already benefited. They were enthusiastic enough when it came to promoting Xiushui City’s commercial district, but when it came to matters involving profits, they certainly kept their mouths shut.

After receiving Han Weishu’s assurance, how could the senior figures still doubt her? The Crimson Firmament Sect and Luoshen Mountain were both operating shops on Number One Street, and their minds quickly turned. They immediately understood why those sects had kept the benefits offered by Xiushui City’s Transaction Affairs Center a secret.

If they were in the same position, they would have done the exact same thing.

There was no time to waste. Everyone hurriedly departed to arrange for people to transport goods, then turned around and rushed into the external trade office next door.

Li Zhouxuan and his two assistants had just finished handling a wave of visitors and finally managed to catch their breath. Now, seeing another group pouring in, they immediately straightened up and prepared to face a new round of work.

Many of the cultivators who had enjoyed browsing the commercial district also noticed the agricultural district next door.

They were not entirely sure what was sold there. Some assumed it was merely a place for ordinary agricultural products and left without interest. But many others, driven by curiosity, walked over to take a look.

The moment they arrived, they found themselves unable to move on.

The spirit fruits laid out at the stalls smelled incredibly sweet and fragrant!

And those spirit grains—why did they look so different from the ones grown in their own sects’ fields? Why were the grains so plump? Why were their colors so lustrous? Why did they look as though they contained far more spiritual energy than their own spirit grains?

Some cultivators could not resist any longer and pulled out their spirit stones to buy a spirit fruit and taste it.

On the first day of the second lunar month, Xiushui City used the attractions it had to make a powerful splash throughout the mortal world once again.

Everyone had originally thought that this was the entirety of the city. Then, in the afternoon, a citywide announcement was broadcast—one that caused a sensation among low-level cultivators.

That evening, a small auction would be held in Underground Hall Five of Xiushui City. The main auction items would be suitable for Qi Refining and Foundation Establishment cultivators.

However, attendance was limited to one hundred people. Registration would begin immediately at the entrance of the Transaction Affairs Center, and places would be assigned on a first-come, first-served basis.

The instant the broadcast ended, the entire city erupted into a race.

Foundation Establishment cultivators naturally had a slight advantage, though it was not much of one.

The problem was that most Foundation Establishment cultivators did not know where the Transaction Affairs Center was. They had to stop and ask for directions wherever they went.

Many Qi Refining cultivators in the city, on the other hand, were rogue cultivators who had only recently come to settle in Xiushui City. After settling down, the first thing they had done was familiarize themselves with the city’s general layout and learn what could be found where. Naturally, they knew exactly where the Transaction Affairs Center was.

In fact, many Qi Refining cultivators did not even run there themselves. They simply spent a single copper coin to take a public carriage to the Transaction Affairs Center.

The public carriages were much faster than traveling on foot.

In this race between Qi Refining and Foundation Establishment cultivators, the Qi Refining rogue cultivators ultimately secured victory in numbers thanks to their familiarity with Xiushui City.

Those who failed to get a place did not need to despair. Xiushui City soon issued another announcement stating that small auctions would be held once every month from then on.

Only then did the cultivators who had missed out leave in disappointment.

But when they thought about the auction being held again next month, quite a few began considering whether they should remain in Xiushui City instead of leaving.

Today was destined to be an unforgettable day for every cultivator who had come to Xiushui City.