Chapter 38: Jiang Sheng’s Fame Resounds Across the Eastern Commandery

A marketplace can generate hundreds of thousands of spirit stones in profit every year! When divided among the influential families of a county, there is naturally little left for each, but what if one person were to swallow it all alone?

Jiang Sheng couldn't help but wonder if, once he attained the Purple Mansion stage, he should establish a marketplace on Qingping Mountain. Located at the intersection of three counties, the mountain could certainly attract a great many itinerant cultivators from all three. He wouldn't even need to charge entry fees; simply taking a cut from the stalls every year would amount to a significant sum!

This idea had real potential.

Jiang Sheng was well aware that while he might not require the Purple Cloud Barrier-Breaking Pill, Purple Sun Jade, or Purple Heart Jade Marrow to open his Purple Mansion, various potent medicinal ingredients would be absolutely essential when he reached the Golden Core stage. To forge a high-grade Golden Core, one could not do without such rare medicines, and the associated expenses would undoubtedly be massive.

Setting this thought aside for the moment, Jiang Sheng and Xu Xiao entered the marketplace. Apart from the various shops, the market was filled primarily with itinerant cultivators setting up stalls. Unable to afford the high rents of permanent storefronts, these rogue cultivators had to lay their wares out on the ground to attract passing cultivators. Jiang Sheng strolled along, stopping occasionally, but he didn't see anything of real value, let alone any hidden treasures.

In the end, he entered the Zha family’s herb shop to purchase some supplies. Seeing two Foundation Establishment cultivators enter, the clerk immediately notified the shopkeeper. The manager was sixty years old and at the seventh level of Qi Refining; because of his deep knowledge of medicinal herbs, the family had appointed him to manage the shop, and he possessed a sharp, discerning eye. Having dealt with all sorts of people over the years, he could almost always size someone up the moment they walked through the door. He knew exactly how to handle everyone, from total novices to rogue cultivators and scions of powerful families, and he adjusted his service standards accordingly.

The moment Jiang Sheng and Xu Xiao stepped inside, the manager knew these two were of extraordinary origin. Ordinary rogue cultivators aside, even the children of the great families in East County rarely possessed such an aura. Furthermore, the two carried themselves with a refined, detached elegance, clearly indicating they were accustomed to high society. The manager instantly realized that these were not people to be trifled with, and he needed to proceed with caution.

"Welcome, honored guests. What are you standing there for? Go, serve them tea!" While scolding the clerk, the manager invited Jiang Sheng and Xu Xiao to take a seat, then stood to the side, smiling. "I wonder what medicinal herbs you two might require?"

Jiang Sheng pondered for a moment. "I need century-old Snake Saliva Fruit and Red Silk Flower; Wind-Bell Grass and Light-Spirit Flower aged over fifty years; Black Spirit Ganoderma and Seven-Star Grass over two hundred years old; and I also require Hundred-Grass Dew."

The manager grew increasingly astonished as he listened. These were clearly the ingredients required for refining Foundation Establishment-stage pills. Could this esteemed guest actually be a second-tier alchemist?

The manager knew all too well how prestigious an alchemist was. If the Zha family had a second-tier alchemist capable of refining Foundation Establishment Pills, why would they be forced to hand over massive amounts of spirit stones to the three great sects? The three major Golden Core sects of Qingzhou only released a batch of Foundation Establishment Pills every sixty years, and the great families of the eight counties fought tooth and nail for them. Second-tier alchemists were incredibly rare in Qingzhou; those who existed were either serving as honored guests in the three major sects or were kept securely hidden by the few Purple Mansion families. The Zha family, at least, had certainly never cultivated a second-tier alchemist of their own.

Thinking that the guest before him might be such an individual, the manager respectfully had the herbs fetched while secretly sending someone to notify the family's Foundation Establishment elders.

Xu Xiao caught the manager’s subtle movements and transmitted her voice to Jiang Sheng: "Master Yuanchen, I fear it might get lively in here soon."

Jiang Sheng chuckled. "And what is wrong with things being a bit lively?"

Before long, the manager seemed to have received word and spoke respectfully to them: "Honored guests, second-tier herbs are of immense value; please, follow me to the second floor."

Jiang Sheng did not refuse. Accompanied by the manager, he and Xu Xiao ascended to the second floor. Upon arriving, Jiang Sheng saw a middle-aged Foundation Establishment cultivator. This was Zha Liangping, an elder of the Zha family. Although he was only at the early stage of Foundation Establishment, he was the younger brother of the Zha family’s Purple Mansion ancestor, Zha Liangcai, and thus held a distinguished position. Zha Liangping was not particularly strong in combat, but he was exceptionally sharp-witted; whether in business or assisting with family affairs, he excelled, earning him great respect within the clan.

The moment Zha Liangping saw Jiang Sheng and Xu Xiao, he knew today would be difficult. It wasn't just that both were at the mid-Foundation Establishment stage; it was because he recognized Xu Xiao. As the personal disciple of Elder Kong Lan of the Lanyue Sect and the young mistress of the Xu family of Qing County, how could he, an elder of a Purple Mansion family, fail to recognize her?

"I heard from the manager that two Foundation Establishment cultivators had arrived—a gentleman of refined grace and a lady as beautiful as a goddess, both with such extraordinary auras. I was wondering when such a pair had appeared in East County. I never expected it to be Fairy Xu. Forgive my lack of a proper welcome," Zha Liangping said with a smile, inviting them to sit.

Xu Xiao was accustomed to such scenes and replied with a gentle smile, "I was merely passing through. I hadn't expected the purchase of some herbs to trouble you so. It is my fault, really."

Zha Liangping quickly replied, "Fairy Xu, how can you say that? The Xu and Zha families have been friends for generations. If you came to East County and my family failed to receive you properly, I would have no way to answer to your father."

After exchanging more social pleasantries with Xu Xiao, the conversation finally turned to Jiang Sheng. Zha Liangping looked at him. "And this is..."

Jiang Sheng bowed slightly. "I am a practitioner from Qingping Mountain, Jiang Sheng."

Jiang Sheng! The name was like thunder in the ears of those in the county seat! Who hadn't heard of the prodigy hiding on Qingping Mountain, who had struck out to overcome a Purple Mansion cultivator while still in the Foundation Establishment stage, his sword light shaking the heavens?

Zha Liangping immediately stood to return the bow. "So it is Daoist Jiang! Forgive my rudeness." He added, "I should have known that someone in Fairy Xu's company would be no ordinary person. I never imagined that Daoist Jiang was not only an extraordinary swordsman but also well-versed in alchemy."

"Alchemy is nothing I have mastered; I merely dabble in it when I have nothing better to do," Jiang Sheng said with humble modesty.

But how could Zha Liangping underestimate him? In all of East County, the only person capable of fighting a Purple Mansion cultivator was his own brother, Zha Liangcai. And now, there was Jiang Sheng—a prodigy who had actually defeated a Purple Mansion elder while at a lower stage. How could such a person be ignored?

Knowing that Jiang Sheng wanted to refine pills, Zha Liangping waved his hand grandly. "For a prodigy like Daoist Jiang to visit our shop is an honor for the Zha family. Today, all the herbs you require will be provided at half price. I hope you will not stand on ceremony."

"In that case, I shall accept with thanks."

Seeing Jiang Sheng accept, Zha Liangping was even more delighted. He ordered spirit tea and pastries to be brought out and chatted with Jiang Sheng about the happenings in East County. As they talked, Jiang Sheng said, "Actually, I have another matter. Meeting you here is fate, and I believe it would be more appropriate to entrust this to you, Daoist Zha."

Zha Liangping was surprised. "Oh? If there is anything I can help with, Daoist Jiang, please, just say the word."

Jiang Sheng produced a stack of blue talismans. "I crafted these myself, and I have been wondering where to sell them."

Zha Liangping was truly shocked. He looked at the talismans—they were all high-grade second-tier talismans! He finally recalled the rumors about Jiang Sheng: it was said that every cultivator from Penglai was skilled in talisman-making, and talismans produced by Penglai were at least thirty percent more effective than those made by ordinary makers. The value of this stack of second-tier talismans was not to be underestimated! These were assets that could serve as a family's foundation. Not to mention, if a family member were to travel abroad with a Penglai-crafted talisman for protection, it would provide an extra layer of security.

Without hesitation, Zha Liangping bought the entire stack at a price thirty percent higher than the market rate, making it clear he wanted to befriend Jiang Sheng. Jiang Sheng was naturally pleased and used the spirit stones to purchase the herbs, also asking Zha Liangping to help him acquire a second-tier alchemy furnace.

Zha Liangping was very enthusiastic, personally bringing out a three-legged, two-handled furnace. "Daoist Jiang, this furnace is made of Earth-Spirit Gold, Thought-Copper Essence, Red-Fire Essence, and Forest-Spirit Copper. It is of high-middle quality among second-tier furnaces. If it meets your approval, please, take it."

After inspecting it, Jiang Sheng accepted the furnace and finished purchasing all the herbs he needed, with quite a few spirit stones still left over. After some thought, he added, "Manager, please fetch me another hundred portions of Tranquil Grass, Sky-Blue Flower, Silver-Moon Flower, Flowing-Heart Grass, and Earth-Yellow Ginseng."

The manager quickly fulfilled the request, finally satisfying Jiang Sheng's appetite. Once the transactions were complete, Zha Liangping tried to invite Jiang Sheng to be a guest at the Zha estate, but Jiang Sheng politely declined, citing the fact that his Taoist temple was left unattended.

Zha Liangping did not press the matter. After seeing Jiang Sheng and Xu Xiao off, he hurried back to his family estate.

"Is the elder brother in?"

"Second Elder, the ancestor is in the backyard."

Rushing to the backyard, he saw Zha Liangcai fishing. Zha Liangping stepped forward immediately. "Brother, do you know who I met today?"

"Who?" Zha Liangcai asked, somewhat distracted.

"Jiang Sheng and the Xu family's Xu Xiao," Zha Liangping said.

Zha Liangcai’s hand, holding the fishing rod, paused. He sat up straight. "What were they doing here?"

"Xu Xiao is returning to the Lanyue Sect, and Jiang Sheng came to purchase a batch of medicinal herbs," Zha Liangping explained.

Zha Liangcai smiled. "As expected of a prodigy from Penglai—not only is his swordsmanship extraordinary, but he also understands the way of alchemy."

"It's more than that. Jiang Sheng is also proficient in talisman-making. These are the ones he crafted—all high-grade second-tier. I bought them all, and I gave him the herbs at half price," Zha Liangping said, handing the stack of talismans to Zha Liangcai for inspection.

Zha Liangcai felt their energy and nodded. "You did well. Give these to the youngsters in the family; it will give them an extra layer of protection when they travel. If Jiang Sheng comes to buy herbs in the future, continue to sell them to him at half price."

Zha Liangping nodded, feeling a bit regretful. "It would be wonderful if we could make Jiang Sheng one of our own."

Zha Liangcai laughed. "What are you dreaming about? Jiang Sheng is a prodigy of Penglai who defeated a Purple Mansion cultivator while still at the Foundation Establishment stage. He is destined to attain the Golden Core. How could such a person remain trapped in this mere East County for long?"

"A person like this has no conflict of interest with us. We need only maintain a good relationship with him; that alone is a foundation for our family."

Thinking of the mysterious River God in the Taiping River, and then of himself, Zha Liangcai sighed deeply. "The Zha family has reached a bottleneck; it is hard to see much development without outside help. Who knows? Perhaps one day in the future, we will truly need this prodigy from Penglai..."