Chapter 57: Can I Take Home the Spirit Water I Washed My Hands In?

Ten days later, the racetrack at Qingxi Fang was once again packed with noise and bustle.

Yu An’s beloved gourd jar didn’t pull any surprises this time—it finished dead last—but Yu An wasn’t here today.

He was busy crafting the monkey-themed magic tools needed for the blind boxes.

“Fellow cultivators, the horse race is over, but I have good news to share.”

The Baibao Pavilion, a new talisman and elixir shop opened by the Wang clan of Anbei, has just launched.

If you gather three people to visit together, you can buy the Wang clan’s unique donkey-skin thousand-li talisman at a ten-percent discount.

The Baibao Pavilion also...

Fellow cultivators, don’t miss this chance—the Wang clan must be mad to offer such generous discounts.

Hurry over now, or if the Baibao Pavilion goes under, those who arrive late won’t get any deals!”

Yang Qi’s advertisement was catastrophic—but somehow, it actually worked.

After all, this was the first time such a thing had ever happened in Qingxi Fang; cultivators had no concept of advertising.

In the past, shops in Qingxi Fang would just hire people to promote at taverns, inns, and teahouses—that was the limit.

Yulou’s campaign tapped into the private traffic pool built by the Yang clan.

Leveraging the top-tier traffic from the Qingxi Fang horse race and using the Baibao Pavilion discounts as a hook, he fully activated user touchpoints, achieving breakout marketing.

This was essentially a crude version of ecosystem disruption—a dimensional strike against Baibao Pavilion’s competitors.

Cui Baihao only learned about the new Baibao Pavilion through Yang Qi’s promotion.

He was an Elder of Hongshu Sect, a low-tier sect; though it sounded absurd for a Qi Refining ninth-layer Elder, considering Hongshu Sect had only ever produced two Foundation Establishment cultivators since its founding, it made sense.

His main mission in Qingxi Fang was to sell his sect’s specialty: ninth-grade red wood. After completing his task, he came to the racetrack to watch the races.

But upon hearing the Wang clan’s shop offered discounted thousand-li talismans, he changed his mind.

His junior disciples needed thousand-li talismans—he could buy three to take back and distribute as rewards at the right moment, perfectly suited.

So he followed the crowd to the Baibao Pavilion.

Yes, the crowd—many cultivators who had come for the races had come here too.

“Fellow cultivators, please line up. Those wishing to buy the three-person ten-percent discount thousand-li talismans: you must form a group of three to qualify for the discount; no one may buy more than two per person!”

Hearing the shop assistant’s words, Cui Baihao grew annoyed.

Your Wang clan is wealthy and powerful, yet you won’t even let us buy more than two? So stingy!

He cursed inwardly, but had no intention of leaving—the ten-percent discount on Wang clan donkey-skin thousand-li talismans was too tempting.

The value of a loss-leader lies precisely in this: the Wang clan raised donkeys—they had no shortage of donkey-skin talismans, and even at ten percent off, they still profited.

Soon, it was Cui Baihao’s turn. Under the assistant’s guidance, he formed a trio with two other customers, each buying two donkey-skin thousand-li talismans.

The two other customers bought their talismans and left immediately, but Cui Baihao was stunned by the grand ancestral tablet inside the Baibao Pavilion.

Beneath the Ancestor Mangxiang, Wang Yinghua of the Wang clan stood on equal footing with Xuanduan and Danri.

Three other Wang clan Foundation Establishment cultivators had become disciples of Xuanduan, ranked among the Red Lantern Illumination’s direct heirs.

Thinking of the Red Lantern Illumination, thinking of the Anbei Wang clan, thinking of his own Hongshu Sect, Cui Baihao suddenly felt a pang of sorrow.

Cultivation is hard.

Cultivation is very, very hard.

Recluses returning to the mortal world could enjoy a comfortable life—but who would give up the hope of eternal life?

Though that hope was so faint, no one was willing to abandon it.

“New blind boxes just arrived! Twenty boxes, each containing three low-grade magic tools and three bottles of six pills each of Huaiqi Elixir.”

Huaiqi Elixir?

Cui Baihao didn’t know what a blind box was, but he knew Huaiqi Elixir.

One pill cost five spirit stones—it could boost a Qi Refining cultivator’s cultivation speed for five days, making five days of practice equal fifteen.

After learning what a blind box was, Cui Baihao stared at the wooden boxes with shining eyes, his heart burning.

Buying two boxes meant that whether he drew a Huaiqi Elixir or a low-grade magic tool, he’d break even or even make a small profit.

But among the twenty blind boxes, only six contained high-value items; to get them, you had to buy more.

He gritted his teeth and waved his hand, shouting.

“Give me five... blind boxes, yes, blind boxes—five blind boxes!”

“Sorry, we have a purchase limit: each person may buy only two, and, fellow cultivator, you called too late—there’s only one left.”

The assistant’s reply left Cui Baihao dumbfounded—already only one left?

“Fellow cultivator, still want it? If not, I’ll sell it to someone else.”

But with the crowd so large, the assistant had no time for Cui Baihao to hesitate.

“Yes, yes, give me even just one!”

Even one is fine—small bets bring joy.

Buying five at once was too risky; though the Anbei Wang clan wouldn’t ruin their reputation, caution was wiser.

Holding the blind box, Cui Baihao traced the red-lacquered wooden surface, eager to open it.

But he noticed other cultivators who had bought blind boxes were bowing before the Ancestor Mangxiang tablet—as if seeking ancestral protection?

Thinking he had nothing to lose, Cui Baihao bowed twice as well, his movements and expression perfectly sincere.

It was, without doubt, the most respectful moment he had ever shown toward Ancestor Mangxiang.

Since he’d bowed to the ancestor, washing his hands was obviously not to be skipped—everyone else washed; if he didn’t, wouldn’t his luck be just a little worse?

But as Cui Baihao reached for the water basin, the assistant stopped him.

“Spirit-water handwashing tickets: one spirit stone for five washes. Fellow cultivator, you haven’t bought a ticket yet, have you?”

Cui Baihao’s eyes widened as he pointed at those who had just washed their hands and were preparing to open their boxes.

“Did they all buy tickets?”

The assistant swiftly pulled out a carved wooden card, engraved with the Baibao Pavilion’s relief.

“Yes, look—this is the spirit-water handwashing ticket. Each wash gets a punch mark. Would you like one?

Of course, we also offer free plain water—it’s just ordinary tap water, but we can give you that for free.”

Looking at the assistant’s carved wooden handwashing ticket, Cui Baihao, from a modest household, was about to refuse.

“Eh! I won! I won! Hahaha I won!”

The lone cultivator who had just washed his hands had drawn a low-grade purple-copper Breaking-Devil Mace and was now dancing joyfully around the Baibao Pavilion’s main hall.

Cui Baihao’s words died in his throat.

“Can I take home the spirit water I washed my hands in?”

Hongshu Sect was poor; Cui Baihao might be an Elder, but he still had to save where he could.

The water used to wash hands was perfect to take back and brew tea with.

“Of course! We’ll pack it for you free of charge, fellow cultivator—would you like to buy?”

“I’ll buy it!”

Soon, Cui Baihao washed his hands, picked up the packed spirit water, and left with his blind box.

He was an old hand—he wouldn’t open the blind box in public; if he drew a low-grade magic tool, others would envy him.

Back in his rented room at Fuyuan Inn, Cui Baihao sat on his narrow bed, barely able to turn over, staring at the red-lacquered blind box in his hand.

His heart raced, his hands trembled.

Inside the box, perfectly centered, rested a jade vial.

He’d struck it rich!

Uncorking the jade vial and holding it to his nose, inhaling the elixir’s fragrance, Cui Baihao sighed.

“So this is what Huaiqi Elixir smells like—so fragrant. Elixirs truly are extraordinary, truly extraordinary.”

He’d only ever used Huaiqi Powder, never dared buy Huaiqi Elixir.

He poured one pill into his palm, gazing at its deep-brown, cherry-sized form, swallowed hard, then placed it back.

I’ll take it back to the sect to consume!

With these six pills in hand, his path to Qi Refining tenth layer would advance faster.

On the second floor of the Baibao Pavilion, Wang Rong smiled broadly.

“Yulou, I never expected these blind boxes to sell so well—hahaha, I was blind to their potential.”

Today’s booming business at Baibao Pavilion was clearly thanks to Yulou’s efforts.

The three-person discount group, timed auctions, and horse race ads were all traffic drivers.

Only the blind box sales genuinely expanded profits.

With these four moves, Yulou’s position as shop manager was now secure—he no longer needed to fear being fired for poor performance.

But lack of foresight invites immediate trouble.

“Cousin, Baibao Pavilion’s success owes everything to your strong support, but we now face a new problem.”

Yulou first flattered his cousin, then pleaded for help.

“The blind boxes sell well because their total value, averaged out, is sold at a 98 percent discount.

Thus, cultivators who get lucky become repeat customers, naturally boosting sales.

But selling too fast isn’t entirely good—I predict Baibao Pavilion will soon face supply shortages.

We’ve taken so much business from other shops; we should negotiate with them—we can’t rely solely on our own supply. What do you think?”

Stabilize the supply chain while avoiding being seen as monopolizing.

Yulou’s blind box strategy effectively increased sales volume per unit time through high turnover, thereby boosting overall profit.

But market demand is limited; when Baibao Pavilion thrives, competitors go hungry.

Therefore, certain methods are needed to achieve mutual benefit.

Someone like Mang Xiang has a vast faction and profound strength—even if he leaves only bones for others, he has nothing to fear.

But the Wang clan doesn’t have such a big mouth; eating too much invites disaster!

Facing Yulou’s suggestion, Wang Rongsheng felt deep emotion and nodded.

“Yulou, I finally understand why the clan chief appointed you as shopkeeper of Baibao Pavilion.

You’re right, but leave these matters to me—those old devils aren’t easy to deal with.

Luckily, I’m an old hand and can still lend you some help, hahaha.”

At that moment, a spirit crane raised by the Wang clan flew to the window of the second floor of Baibao Pavilion.

It looked impatient, pecking repeatedly at the window, signaling the two inside to open the door quickly.

Wang Rongsheng raised his hand in surprise, and the window opened; the spirit crane flew in.

After dropping a bundle, it stepped to the table and drank the spiritual tea there—still the one Wang Rongsheng had prepared for Yulou.

“Is this Elder Crane Two or Elder Crane Three?”

Elder Crane Two and Elder Crane Three looked too much alike; Yulou couldn’t tell them apart at first.

The spirit crane pecked Yulou twice more, then proudly opened its beak—Master is hungry.

Wang Rongsheng picked up the bundle, inspected it, and said.

“It’s the seven-stringed qin custom-ordered by Mu Yingxi; the clan chief made it himself and specifically instructed you to deliver it to the garrison officer’s residence in Mu Chunze.”

Yulou, who was feeding Elder Crane Three with snacks, was surprised—me? Deliver the qin?

Then he finally realized something was off.

Indeed, every Foundation Establishment cultivator deemed worthy enough by the Purple Mansion to become a true disciple is no fool.