Chapter 48

Qingxi Market is a well-known marketplace within a radius of hundreds of li, though its main customers are Qi Refining and Foundation Establishment cultivators, whose spending power is not high.

But little by little adds up, and Qingxi Market’s profits are quite substantial—this is why Hongdengzhao has long stationed a Foundation Establishment cultivator here as guardian.

Thanks to Hongdengzhao’s endorsement, Qingxi Market’s reputation and safety have been greatly enhanced.

Perhaps the goods here are slightly more expensive than those at irregular markets like Jinbi Cliff or Wolong Market, but at least it’s safe.

Here, you don’t have to worry about getting robbed the moment you step out after spending.

Thus, lone cultivators and those from small clans are often willing to pay a premium to shop here.

Because the Wunan cultivation world is tightly controlled by the “Immortal Alliance–Ten Sects” system, Qingxi Market effectively functions as an endpoint node of that system’s institutional protection.

Property prices are influenced by location; under the protection of the “Immortal Alliance–Ten Sects” system, even moderately good plots in Qingxi Market are not cheap.

There are many mortal residences here, but these residences were established to house mortals who serve cultivators.

You may live here, but illegal business is forbidden.

If anyone dares to overstep, Gao Jian’s Qingxi Market Security Team will make them understand what Hongdengzhao’s favor truly means.

Therefore, for the Wang Clan, opening a new shop in Qingxi Market is no small matter.

Leaving aside the cost of buying land, the annual fees the new shop must pay are a massive expense.

“Clan Chief, we must pay 145 spirit stones annually—this doesn’t even include labor costs. To be honest, the pressure is immense.”

Yulou gazed at the newly risen Baibao Pavilion and voiced his concerns to the Clan Chief.

“Hahaha, no payments for the first three years—don’t worry. I believe that with your ability and three years of diligent management, you can establish Baibao Pavilion.” Wang Xianmao replied.

Behind them, Tang Nianqiu’s eyes flickered with a hint of contempt.

He admitted that Wang Yulou had a bit of cleverness—his low-price room scheme had been fairly successful.

But success in such minor, trivial projects doesn’t mean Wang Yulou can manage a large shop like Baibao Pavilion well.

When it came to choosing the shopkeeper for Baibao Pavilion, the Clan Chief distrusted this seasoned veteran and instead gave the opportunity to the greenhorn Wang Yulou—he found this utterly unreasonable.

You from the main lineage can go ahead and tinker—all the losses when Baibao Pavilion starts bleeding money will still fall on me or Wang Rongsheng to clean up.

In truth, Tang Nianqiu didn’t understand: Wang Xianmao never expected Yulou to make Baibao Pavilion wildly successful—he simply wanted to give Yulou an opportunity.

In his eyes, the position of shopkeeper for a new shop was important—a notion as absurd as a frog at the bottom of a well gazing at the moon.

The Clan Chief was thinking: whether Wang Rongsheng can reach Foundation Establishment is still uncertain; let Yulou manage it for now, and later, depending on circumstances, hand it over to Wang Rongsheng or someone else.

“I dare not be complacent. My idea is to frequently seek advice from Uncle Nianqiu and Uncle Rongsheng—they have far more experience managing market shops than I do.”

The Clan Chief clearly intended to test him, using the Baibao Pavilion shopkeeper position as a training ground to cultivate his abilities—Yulou naturally wouldn’t refuse.

But he understood clearly: young people must learn humbly from their elders and never grow arrogant.

Past-life experience is past-life experience; now, living in a world where power resides in the individual, many things require humble, earnest learning.

Hearing Wang Yulou say this, Tang Nianqiu no longer dared to look down on him.

Simply being willing to settle down and learn—if he can do this, Wang Yulou’s path as a greenhorn shopkeeper won’t end in total failure.

“Yulou, good. Our Wang Clan has endured through storms for so many generations precisely because of unity. Still, I hope you’ll rely more on yourself to face challenges.”

Jade must be carved to become an artifact. By entrusting this shop to you, I aim to temper you. For our Wang Clan to continually produce talent, we must dare to believe in you young ones.

Only when our young Wangs grow and thrive will our Clan’s future stretch farther.”

Wang Xianmao was exceptionally gifted from childhood; aside from his family’s deep scholarly roots, he later served for decades as an outer-court official of Hongdengzhao—his ability was still very high.

He did not believe that pouring abundant resources into talented descendants was a losing investment.

Besides, Qingxi Market’s scale is what it is—so long as Wang Yulou doesn’t mess things up, Baibao Pavilion won’t lose too much.

“Clan Chief, I’ve done some research on how to build Baibao Pavilion’s reputation.”

There are seven similar shops in Qingxi Market; Baibao Pavilion’s location is average, but not the worst.

Among these seven, our Wang Clan’s talismans and elixirs are mid-tier—roughly ranked third or fourth.

If we operate only through traditional methods, we might turn a profit, but clearly won’t earn many more spirit stones.

Therefore, we need special methods to boost Baibao Pavilion’s fame—but I’m unsure if my idea is appropriate.”

Hearing Yulou’s words, Wang Xianmao nodded approvingly—the boy had gathered information on competitors and understood the characteristics of similar shops in the market.

From this alone, Yulou was clearly diligent—his decision to appoint Yulou as shopkeeper was correct.

One must boldly use the young—see what fresh ideas they have, even if they’re unconventional. With Wang Rongsheng and Tang Nianqiu watching, no major problems will arise.

“Rongsheng, come here. You managed a general goods shop in Wolong Market—talk with Yulou. He has some new ideas.”

Wang Rongsheng stepped forward, puzzled, staring at Yulou.

Kid, are you really that confident?

He had assumed Yulou’s shopkeeper position was merely a facade—that the Clan Chief had assigned him actual management duties while using the title to subsidize Yulou with spirit stones.

This wasn’t because he underestimated Yulou—it was simply that Wang Rongsheng knew nothing about him.

“Uncle Rongsheng, Baibao Pavilion primarily sells talismans and elixirs. Our Wang Clan’s talismans are excellent, and our elixirs are of top quality.”

But even fine wine fears a deep alley—good goods mean nothing if no one knows about them. Making customers aware of Baibao Pavilion is the key to success or failure.”

“I plan to organize a special opening event, using certain discounts to establish Baibao Pavilion’s reputation right away.”

“We can select two popular items and offer them at a ten percent discount off their original price.”

“But this discount isn’t free—it requires customers to come in groups of three to qualify.”

“Thus, to get this discount, customers will actively promote Baibao Pavilion for us.”

“Meanwhile, we can also set up a flash sale—just...”

“Flash sale? You’re going to kill your customers?”

Wang Rongsheng seemed overly combative—his ridiculous question left Yulou speechless.