Chapter 128: Picking Up Cultivation Again

Chen Ci was not shooting without a target; no matter the faction, if they are recruiting retainers on a large scale, and the compensation is not particularly low, it always boils down to a few reasons.

Either they are newly founded, rapidly expanding, or have suddenly encountered a disaster that caused heavy losses in manpower.

The recruitment scene at the Yongxing Pavilion just now had quite a few people, and it did not look like a normal job vacancy.

"Reporting to you, Master, that Yongxing Pavilion was originally a small firm in the Sea Market. In the past, they mainly dealt in ores, weapons, and curios, and had some reputation. However, they seem to have prospered in the last two years; they acquired a Treasure Ship, rumored to be called the 'Yongan', and simultaneously started doing business with sea guests and sea nations."

He Cheng reported cautiously: "However, Yongxing Pavilion does not usually deal with casual customers, so I am not very clear on the specific situation, but their reputation in the Sea Market is good, and I have never heard of any major disputes."

"What power is behind this Yongxing Pavilion?"

Chen Ci thought for a moment and followed up with a question.

"This, the small one does not know, I hope Master Chen will forgive my sin."

He Cheng hurriedly lowered his head to plead for mercy. A runner like him makes a living by being thorough, but given his status and knowledge, it is impossible for him to know everything. 'Know-it-all' is just a nice title; he does not truly know everything. Although the fault was not his, his attitude had to be kept low.

"It is fine."

Chen Ci picked up an apple and took a bite; it was very crisp: "Tell me about the major merchant forces in the Sea Market."

"Yes, Master. There are quite a lot of firms in the Sea Market, big and small, inside and outside, new and old; I fear there are over a hundred. However, the most important ones are the Four Seas Chamber of Commerce and the Xixing Pavilion."

He Cheng began to introduce them to Chen Ci. Behind the Four Seas Chamber of Commerce is Liuyun Palace, while behind Xixing Pavilion is the Liang Kingdom officialdom, or rather, Longhu Mountain. Nearly half of the ore, treasure, curio, and exotic beast trade in the Liangjiang Sea Market is monopolized by the Four Seas Chamber of Commerce, while Xixing Pavilion has a better reputation for medicinal herbs, pills, and Dharma Artifacts. Although other firms are not weak in strength, they lack the home-field advantage of these two, and their reputation is always two points weaker.

"Is there any firm established by cultivators of the He Mountain Sect?"

"This, the small one also does not know."

He Cheng gave a sheepish smile. Seeing that Chen Ci did not press or blame him, he breathed a sigh of relief and continued to wait by the carriage door.

Chen Ci wiped his hands and pondered something.

This trip out was both to purchase some items and to understand the prices in the Sea Market to see if there were any business opportunities. He had wanted to see if there were any fellow sect members to provide a template, but now it seemed there was no hope.

But then again, He Mountain Sect cultivators are fine at killing people to refine techniques, but they are probably not very good at doing business. Even if that Jiao Zhenren has some foundation in the Sea Market, he probably would not use the He Mountain Sect's name, fearing it would have the opposite effect.

"Of the hundred arts of immortal cultivation, the only ones that can truly make money are pills, talismans, artifacts, and arrays. I wonder if the unranked health-preserving pills have any market competitiveness. But it is not like I must be a self-employed individual; didn't the Yongxing Pavilion just now recruit pill-refining boys?"

Chen Ci rubbed his chin. Working for others is impossible; he could never work for others in this life. However, if he could steal a few tricks of the pill-refining trade, he would be willing to give it a try.

"But if there really were such a good thing, it wouldn't be the turn of an outsider. It's probably just drudgery for fanning and controlling the fire, at most requiring a little less strength in waving the fan."

Chen Ci shook his head and temporarily put the matter to the back of his mind.

For the whole day, Chen Ci wandered around the Liangjiang Sea Market, watching and asking, until he understood the overall layout of the Sea Market quite well. He also visited several famous firms and truly broadened his horizons.

Take the Four Seas Chamber of Commerce, for instance; the maids inside were all sorts of demon beauties. One of the jade-skinned demon maids had shell-like ornaments that looked like emerald stones behind her back—she was actually a clam spirit. After being stared at by Chen Ci for a long time, a rosy cloud rose on her face, looking as tender as water, and she almost earned some money from Master Chen's purse.

Such demon beauties are servants that can be sold within the Four Seas Chamber of Commerce, starting at a price of one hundred Spirit Pearls.

"These demon beauties are things that disturb one's Dao Heart; better not to look."

Chen Ci wiped his face and decisively went to a smaller firm called 'Suixin Workshop'. He purchased two hundred drops of Essence Refining for the price of two Spirit Pearls and ten taels of gold, then prepared to head home.

He is currently practicing the Five Ghosts Transportation Method, which consumes seven drops of Essence Refining every day. Two hundred drops are not even enough for a month's supply. A year ago, an offering of two hundred drops of Essence Refining a month would have made him feel like he was in heaven, but now, the amount he consumes for his monthly cultivation of techniques is more than that. Truly, times have changed.

The difference between the upper and lower strata is not just the level of cultivation, but also the acquisition of various resources and the blockade of cultivation knowledge.

Chen Ci has finally managed to break through this blockade a little bit.

By the time he returned to the Qingyun Ward by carriage, the sky had completely darkened. After walking the streets all day, even a cultivator would feel a little tired.

Chen Ci stretched his limbs a little, jumped off the carriage, tossed two taels of silver to He Cheng—not too much, not too little—and nodded slightly to the runner to show his satisfaction before leisurely entering the courtyard.

Summoning the five ghosts to serve tea and water, Chen Ci sat before the table, pondering what he had seen and heard during the day.

This Liangjiang Sea Market indeed has many rare treasures, but with people coming and going, not everything traded is an immortal item. More often, they are mundane goods. From coarse grains costing a few coins a catty to iron ore costing a dozen coins a catty, or even things like bone powder and sand, all can be goods that sell for money. Truly, they can handle business worth thousands of Spirit Pearls as well as business worth a few coins; the main theme is compatibility and inclusiveness.

And for cultivators, even if they only have a few apertures of cultivation, as long as they are willing to lose face and do manual labor, even going to the docks to unload or load cargo can earn them a sum every month. Getting rich might be out of reach, but earning a thousand taels of silver a month is simple. At the very least, they can make a living without needing any cultivation skills.

With True Qi cultivation in one's body, even moving cargo is a hundred times better than an ordinary person.

"Health-preserving pills can make money; not to mention health-preserving pills, even Bigu Pills have profit potential. The docks of this Sea Market are very prosperous; the brothels, gambling dens, and casual goods markets are much better than Xishan Market. The demand for pills is also much higher, though the competition is also greater, so the profit is lower."

No matter which world, to make money, one must have core competitiveness.

Chen Ci currently only has Bigu Pills, health-preserving pills, and Yellow Sprout Pills, as well as one Soul Fixing Talisman. How to have core competitiveness is something he still needs to ponder.

"It has been some days since I practiced the Five Ghosts Transportation Method. Practice the technique first, then talk about other things."

Chen Ci let out a long breath, extracted seven drops of Essence Refining from the Spirit Nourishing Bottle, and began to practice the Five-Ghost Wonderful Technique.

The five little ones were also very sensible; they consciously jumped into the Ancient Bronze Lamp and began to cooperate with the practice, their faces full of enjoyment.

The night passed without incident. When Chen Ci slowly opened his eyes, the Five Ghosts Transportation Method, which had been stagnant for some days, finally advanced a step.

Five Ghosts Transportation Method: Great Success/3/100

However, after cultivating the Nether Yin True Qi, although the total amount of True Qi was less than before, after finishing the practice, even the five ghosts could feel that they were strong enough to fight fifty.

Five Ghosts: We five little ones owe our achievements today entirely to our talent and hard work... Master Chen, fill us up!

"Three months. Whether this Five-Yin Demon Magic is truly the start of the path to Longevity, we will know in three months."

Chen Ci spat out a breath of turbid air, stood up, pushed open the door of the quiet room, and walked out slowly.

Perhaps because it was the Sea Market docks, even though the Qingyun Ward where he lived was somewhat remote, there was still a humid sea air in the atmosphere. Though slightly salty, it was also fishy and sweet, which was somewhat refreshing.

At this time, the sky was only just brightening, but the entire market had already come to life. Many cultivators and mortals who made a living in the Sea Market were rushing out, preparing to go to work, bringing a noisy bustle to the Qingyun Ward as well.

Glancing at the rising sun, Chen Ci felt a bit of regret; it was a pity he was not here to enjoy this bustling life.

"Greetings, Master Chen."

He Cheng popped out from some corner, saluting with both hands, very respectfully: "Does Master wish to stroll through the Sea Market again today?"

Chen Ci scanned him without replying. After walking a dozen steps, seeing that He Cheng was still following not far behind, he stopped and asked curiously: "It is only just past the hour of Mao (5-7 AM), you are up quite early?"

"The small one came early to wait. If Master needed someone, wouldn't it delay your important business?"

He Cheng smiled very honestly.

"Heh."

Chen Ci also smiled, walked a few more steps, and then calmly instructed: "I need five hundred catties of fresh beast meat, ten catties of high-quality wrought iron, and two hundred catties of aged bones, human bones are best. Can you deliver them today?"

He Cheng was stunned for a moment, then his eyes lit up, and he hurriedly saluted in agreement: "Yes, yes, the small one will certainly not fail your commission, Master!"

My apologies.

There is no holiday tomorrow, ribbit, time for a massive update~

(End of chapter)