Chapter 140: The Shopkeeper
15:37:59
“I…”
When Zhao Wany’er heard Li Changsheng ask that, her heart suddenly began to race.
Her breathing grew faintly hurried as well.
The Young Master was considering… my feelings…
How considerate of him…
Yet I am only a servant…
Could it be that the Young Master has taken a liking to me…
No, impossible…
The Young Master is so noble. How could he possibly fall for a mere servant girl like me…
He must simply be kind-hearted and considerate toward a servant…
As this thought crossed her mind, Li Changsheng’s image in Zhao Wany’er’s heart grew even greater.
“Ding! The Nine Li Saintess has fallen for you. The Host’s bearing has increased. Reward: 3,000 Destiny Points.”
Hiss…?
What is this girl thinking about now?
Li Changsheng was somewhat bewildered as he glanced at Zhao Wany’er beside him, a faint confusion rising in his heart.
If I were merely walking along and suddenly happened upon a supreme treasure, that could still be explained as heaven-defying luck.
But for my bearing to improve every other moment… That is a little…
Tsk…
“Let’s go.”
Without further delay, Li Changsheng put an arm around Zhao Wany’er and walked straight inside.
This place was a two-story pavilion. The first floor was filled with wooden racks.
Displayed upon them were either extraordinary and mystical magical treasures or pills radiating dazzling light.
There were not many people in the shop at the moment, so it seemed rather spacious.
“What may I help the two honored guests with?”
At that moment, a middle-aged man approached them with a smile.
He was the shopkeeper.
The instant the two entered, he had already sensed their presence.
Their auras were as deep as abysses, impossible to fathom.
Their bearing was incomparably noble. At a glance, it was clear that they were no ordinary people!
They had to be distinguished guests!
The shopkeeper hurriedly stopped the attendant who was about to receive them and came forward personally.
“Our shop possesses countless treasures. Whether you seek treasures capable of communicating with the laws or Void God artifacts, we have them all.”
“Our pills come from the desert lands of the west and are inexhaustible.”
“Honored guests, what would you like to see?”
The middle-aged shopkeeper introduced the wares with a humble attitude and an enthusiastic smile.
“You only have Void God treasures?”
Li Changsheng raised an eyebrow, his patience already wearing thin.
Treasures of the Void God Realm were far too inferior.
As the heir of a supreme clan, if the treasure I give someone does not even reach the Immortal Realm, would that not be too undignified?
“Er…”
The middle-aged shopkeeper froze.
Could this person’s background be even greater than I imagined?
The shopkeeper was somewhat uncertain.
In business, knowing how to judge people was crucial.
If he accidentally offended some great person, his Treasure Pavilion would no longer be able to remain open.
“If the honored guest requires treasures above the Void God Realm, our shop has those as well.”
“It is only that, regarding the price…”
The shopkeeper’s eyes flickered thoughtfully, and his voice became hesitant.
Although he suspected that the young man’s origins were extraordinary, the more distinguished a clan’s heir was, the more arrogant and domineering he tended to be.
If the young man found the price unacceptable and decided to seize the treasure by force, the shopkeeper would likewise be unable to bear the consequences.
“Will this be enough?”
Although Li Changsheng’s status was noble, he understood the shopkeeper’s concerns.
He slowly shook his head, then waved his hand and produced several translucent white jade stones that looked as smooth as crystal and radiated dense immortal energy.
He spoke indifferently.
“What is this…”
The moment the shopkeeper saw the jade stones, his pupils abruptly contracted.
His breathing quickened, and tremendous waves surged through his heart.
Immortal jade!
The legendary immortal jade!
Something possessed only by supreme ancient clans!
By equivalent calculation, a single piece of immortal jade could be exchanged for ten thousand supreme-grade spirit stones!
Yet spirit stones were everywhere, while immortal jade was almost impossible to obtain!
The two were not even on the same level!
No one would be foolish enough to exchange immortal jade for spirit stones!
Only members of supreme ancient clans could make such extravagant gestures!
For the countless beings of the Immortal Mausoleum, merely seeing a Void God Realm cultivator on an ordinary day was already profoundly shocking.
Yet now, he had encountered someone from a mysterious and unfathomable ancient clan!
It was easy to imagine how shaken the shopkeeper was.
The several attendants in the shop, however, merely stared in astonishment, utterly confused.
They were astonished because the jade stones looked extraordinarily unusual.
Judging from the shopkeeper’s expression, the items clearly had an extraordinary origin.
They were confused because none of them recognized what the jade stones actually were.
After exchanging glances, the attendants looked at Li Changsheng and Zhao Wany’er with faint awe.
These two clearly possessed an immense and unfathomable background.
They absolutely must not be offended…
“Is it enough or not? Give me a straight answer.”
Seeing the shopkeeper standing there in a daze, Li Changsheng raised an eyebrow, displeased.
This man was far too slow-witted.
If purchasing the items elsewhere had not been so inconvenient, Li Changsheng would not have bothered wasting words with him.
Besides, there were barely even any Void God treasures on display at the shop’s counter.
Li Changsheng did not believe that this place possessed any supreme Immortal Realm treasures.
“Enough, enough!”
The middle-aged shopkeeper abruptly came to his senses and hurriedly nodded and bowed in agreement.
Cold sweat instantly broke out across his back.
If he displeased this young lord, killing him would take no more than a moment!
With that thought, the man no longer dared to delay.
“My… my lord, please… please follow me…”
Fine beads of sweat appeared on the shopkeeper’s forehead, and his eyes were filled with reverence.
Stammering, he humbly ushered Li Changsheng and Zhao Wany’er toward the second floor.
The second floor was much smaller than the first, but its furnishings were exceedingly exquisite.
Clearly, it was used by the shopkeeper to receive distinguished guests.
After entering the second floor, the shopkeeper did not dare to waste any time.
He continuously formed hand seals. Before long, a deep hum suddenly resounded through the room.
A hidden compartment emerged.
“My lord, this item is the treasure that protects our shop.”
“Its exact grade can no longer be measured.”
“But I am willing to stake my life on this: it is absolutely a treasure above the Immortal Realm!”
With utmost solemnity, the shopkeeper took a plain-looking folding fan from the hidden compartment.
Spiritual energy slowly surged toward the fan from every direction.
Hum…
A faint buzzing sound rang out, and an immensely powerful restraining force suddenly emerged.
In an instant, it enveloped the entire pavilion.
“Not bad!”
Sensing the strength of the restriction, admiration appeared in Li Changsheng’s eyes.
This item’s grade was indeed above the Immortal Realm.
If his guess was correct, it should be a peak Earthly Immortal treasure.
Although it still fell somewhat short of a Heavenly Immortal treasure, with his methods, he could easily raise its quality.
In the art of refining, the Li Clan might not be the number one force in the Azure Spirit Realm, but it was unquestionably among the very best.
As the direct heir of the Li Clan, Li Changsheng naturally possessed extraordinary attainments in the field.
As for purchasing a treasure instead of refining one himself, that was simply because he could not be bothered.
With endless immortal jade at his disposal, why should he exhaust himself?
There was no reason for it.
Absolutely no reason.
To put it another way, although the Zhao Clan stood at the summit of the Immortal Mausoleum, throughout the entire Azure Spirit Realm it was merely a drop in the ocean.
The Zhao Clan Patriarch did not possess the ability to use a treasure personally refined by Li Changsheng.
Of course, Li Changsheng was not being conceited.
For a refining artifact to possess overwhelming power, countless restrictions had to be perfectly engraved into it.
The restriction techniques inherited from tens of thousands of years of the Li Clan’s accumulated essence were far beyond what the mere Patriarch of the Zhao Clan could comprehend.
An ordinary cultivator of the Ancient Mirror Realm might be able to master them after several months of study.
But the Patriarch of the Zhao Clan was simply incapable of it.
In other words, Li Changsheng’s status was so noble that his lowering himself to purchase and present a treasure was already giving the Zhao Clan more than enough face.
The Zhao Clan Patriarch should be overwhelmed with gratitude.
Personally refining the item would have been entirely unnecessary.
Sometimes, differences in status and level determined how different people interacted with one another.
In this world where strength reigned supreme, the Li Clan was a god in the eyes of every being in the Azure Spirit Realm.
They could only reach upward and curry favor. They must never harbor presumptuous thoughts!
As the direct heir of the Li Clan, Li Changsheng’s status was self-evident.
“Name your price.”
“I’ll take this.”
After a brief pause, Li Changsheng looked at the shopkeeper and spoke calmly.
A glint flashed deep within the shopkeeper’s eyes.
He clasped his fists and bowed deeply toward Li Changsheng, his posture almost servile.
His voice rang out with utter sincerity.
“I would not dare charge the Young Master even a single coin for this item. I, Wang, present it to you free of charge.”
“I ask only that the Young Master show some consideration to Wang’s Treasure Pavilion in the future.”
Shopkeeper Wang’s eyes were filled with reverence, and his posture was nearly groveling.
If this great person truly showed some consideration to the Treasure Pavilion, how could he ever need to worry about the shop’s safety again?
One had to understand that a single word from an ancient clan could make the entire Azure Spirit Realm tremble!
And protecting an insignificant Treasure Pavilion would be even easier!
If he were fortunate enough to establish a connection with such a powerful figure, Wang’s Treasure Pavilion would surely become famous throughout the Azure Spirit Realm.
“You certainly think highly of yourself.”
Li Changsheng looked at him with disdain and sneered inwardly.
“The Li Clan does not accept just anyone.”
“If there is a next time, do not expect to leave here alive.”
As his indifferent voice rang out, the illusory River of the Netherworld behind Li Changsheng trembled.
A dark and sinister aura emerged. With a light flick of his finger, he sent the immortal jade in his hand flying toward Shopkeeper Wang.
With his other hand, he gently held Zhao Wany’er around her slender waist.
He took one step forward, and his figure vanished without a trace.
The exquisite folding fan in Shopkeeper Wang’s hands vanished with him.
“Yes… yes…”
Only long after Li Changsheng had departed did Shopkeeper Wang suddenly shudder.
Fear flooded the depths of his eyes, and his clothes were already drenched in sweat.
His trembling voice emerged as he stared at the immortal jade before him, his heart unable to calm for a long time.
What had I just done?
With a mere Immortal Realm treasure, I actually tried to make a supreme ancient clan guarantee my safety…
Had I lost my mind?
And that thread of aura the man released…
How terrifying had it been?
That absolute control over his own fate was like facing life and death itself. It had made his soul tremble in terror.
Shopkeeper Wang’s entire body shook. The fear in his heart had reached an indescribable extreme.
Only after a long while did he tremblingly rise and descend the stairs.
He hurriedly closed the doors of Wang’s Treasure Pavilion and shut the shop for the day.
Several months passed in the blink of an eye.
By then, the shop already had a new owner.
Of course, that was a matter for later.
Even if Li Changsheng knew about it, he would not have cared.
A single piece of immortal jade could be exchanged for ten thousand supreme-grade spirit stones.
At an auction, however, one piece of immortal jade could fetch more than a hundred thousand supreme-grade spirit stones.
Perhaps even several hundred thousand!
In the Azure Spirit Realm, cultivators and mortals lived alongside one another, and cultivators were extremely numerous.
By comparison, spirit-stone resources were relatively scarce.
Among the cultivators were no shortage of geniuses gifted in both talent and experience.
There were formation sects, pill-refining immortal schools, mysterious witch clans, and even sacred battle grounds everywhere.
Whether pills or magical treasures, there was no shortage of them.
Under such circumstances, exchanging one piece of immortal jade for a peak Earthly Immortal treasure was already a bargain beyond measure.
Yet compared with a single favor from the Li Clan, immortal jade was no better than dog excrement.
The fact that Li Changsheng had not killed Shopkeeper Wang already felt like an act of immense mercy to him.
Over the following half-day, the two traveled through several small towns and the city near Creekmoon Town.
They purchased a large number of Immortal Realm treasures.
News of a mysterious young lord buying magical treasures in bulk soon reached the ears of both the Zhao and Wang Clans.
At that moment, in another small town not far from Creekmoon Town, Li Changsheng and Zhao Wany’er were strolling leisurely.
Zhao Wany’er held a candied hawthorn in her hand, her cheeks faintly flushed as she lightly hooked her arm around Li Changsheng’s sleeve.
This was the first time the Young Master had gone out to enjoy himself.
It seemed that she was also the first person he had ever brought along.
A gentle light filled Zhao Wany’er’s eyes, and genuine joy shone through her features.
“This girl…”
Li Changsheng merely shook his head and chuckled softly, saying nothing.
“Beat him! Hit him as hard as you can!”
“How dare you steal something in broad daylight? Are you tired of living?”
“Beat him! Beat him to death!”
Suddenly, a coarse voice rang out.
Li Changsheng focused his attention and looked over.
In a secluded alley, countless discarded bamboo baskets lay scattered in disarray.
Several burly men were savagely kicking a thin young boy.
The boy’s clothes were ragged, and blood had already trickled from the corner of his mouth. He looked utterly miserable.
Yet he clung tightly to a cloth bundle held against his chest, refusing to let go even at the cost of his life.
Not only did he refuse to release it, but even with blood at the corner of his mouth, the boy did not utter a single sound.
“Steamed buns?”
Li Changsheng swept the area with his divine sense and could not help feeling somewhat surprised.
He would normally have paid no attention to such a matter, but unintentionally he noticed something strange.
Every time the boy was struck, a mysterious force appeared around his body and gathered with perfect precision at the place where the blow landed.
It was precisely because of this strange power that the boy had not yet died beneath the fists and kicks of the several men.
“Why are they doing this, Young Master?”
Zhao Wany’er looked on in confusion and murmured softly.
If the boy had stolen someone’s possessions, receiving a beating would have been understandable.
But he had merely stolen some food because he was starving.
These people were being far too cruel.
Besides, after stealing the food, the boy could easily have run away.
Why had he remained in this corner instead of going anywhere?
There was something that did not make sense.
“It is not that simple.”
Li Changsheng slowly shook his head and spoke calmly.
As spiritual energy began to circulate faintly around his body, he released a wave of power that sent the several burly men flying.
“Show mercy whenever mercy can be shown.”
Li Changsheng’s expression remained calm as his indifferent voice rang out. Behind him, the River of the Netherworld faintly manifested as well.
“An… an immortal!”
Sensing the strangeness of Li Changsheng, the burly men stared in terror, their entire bodies suddenly trembling.
As frightened cries escaped their mouths, they scrambled away on their hands and knees.
Only after they had fled far into the distance did the boy finally manage to stand.
Suppressing the urge to cough up blood, he waited for a long while before finally steadying his breathing.
He wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and, trembling, supported himself against the wall as he made his way toward the heap of bamboo baskets at the end of the alley.
“Tingting, Big Brother is back…”
“Come out… Big Brother brought you something delicious…”
The boy’s voice was weak but gentle.
Although his clothes were tattered and his aura faint, a trace of warmth remained in his eyes.
“Big Brother…”
“Tingting is scared…”
At that moment, an overturned bamboo basket suddenly flipped open.
A little girl in simple hemp clothing, seemingly no more than five or six years old, groped her way out.
Her skin was as smooth and lustrous as white jade, while her features appeared to have been carefully sketched by the heavens themselves.
She was incredibly adorable.
Yet the little girl’s expression was panicked, her steps weak, and both her eyes were tightly closed.
Clearly, she was blind.
“Don’t be afraid… Big Brother is back…”
“Here, eat this…”
“Big Brother found lots of food… Tingting won’t have to go hungry anymore…”
The boy struggled over to the little girl and sat beside her, drawing her close.
With great care, he took steaming hot buns from the cloth bundle and placed them in the little girl’s hands.