19: High-priced sweet potato balls

Changing the subject, Lin Chengyuan's tone suddenly became fervent and full of temptation.

"However, the Heavenly Dao rewards diligence, and it also rewards my grandson! In recent years, Grandpa has sought opportunities to go there annually, and I can sense that the power of the Formation protecting the Inner Perimeter... is declining year by year! As of today, its might is not what it once was!"

Lin Chengyuan's gaze was fixed firmly on Lin Jingxie's face, tangible and filled with reckless desperation and expectation:

"With your current Qi Refining Fourth Layer cultivation, the knowledge and methods you learned at Qinglan Sect, carrying this map, and taking the several Barrier-breaking Talismans Grandpa prepared for you, there is great hope that you can break through the Remnant Outer Formation, enter the Inner Manor's Core, and seize that Foundation Establishment Legacy!"

"Foundation Establishment Legacy!"

These four words completely ignited Lin Jingxie! He felt the blood in his body boil, and an unprecedented sense of power and ambition filled his limbs and bones!

Family constraints, the humiliation of being a Qinglan Servant—in the face of the Foundation Establishment Dao, none of it was worth mentioning!

As long as he became a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, Qinglan Sect would open its doors and let him become a high-ranking Deacon.

Without any further hesitation, he fell heavily to his knees with a "thump," burying his head deeply. His voice trembled uncontrollably due to extreme excitement:

"Grandson... Grandson thanks Grandpa for bestowing this heaven-reaching Opportunity! This grace of rebirth, I shall never forget! Grandson swears here that I will do my utmost, even if my body is ground to dust, to bring back that core Legacy, and I will definitely not let down Grandpa's high expectations!"

"Good! Good! Good!" Lin Chengyuan exclaimed three times in succession. A sickly red flush appeared on his sallow face, and his eyes shone with a gambler's fanaticism.

"Go quickly! Immediately hand over your Family Duties, cast aside all distractions, travel light and simple, and set off in secret! The map is here, along with these three 'Barrier-Shattering Talismans' and a bottle of qi-restoring pill that I spent a fortune collecting. Take them and keep them safe!"

He solemnly handed over the beast skin map and the various items. "When you return successfully, Grandpa will exhaust this old body to definitely find a treasure land for you, allowing you to Cultivate wholeheartedly and aim straight for the Foundation Establishment Dao!"

...Between the Outer Perimeter and the Inner Perimeter of Southeast Market Town, there was a circular long street, and stalls could also be set up on this street.

Moreover, the flow of people was much greater than in the Outer Perimeter.

It was just that the stall fee was a bit more expensive.

In the Outer Perimeter, it only cost two pieces of Broken Spirit Stone per day, while here it required ten pieces of Broken Spirit Stone per day.

And the best part was that there were two competitors selling sweet potato pills here who had been established for quite some time, renting their stalls monthly.

Lin Jingyu rented a spot less than one zhang away.

He was going to resort to any means necessary to steal customers!

Although two members of the Black Wind Stockade had already been wiped out by the talisman treasure.

But there was no guarantee that the IOU was safe and sound.

Or perhaps the Black Wind Stockade could forge a new IOU.

He absolutely had to have those fifty Spirit Stones and be able to produce them, otherwise, they would have the legitimate right to seize his Family's house.

After this matter was resolved, he would make the Black Wind Stockade and the Third Elder repay him a hundredfold, a thousandfold!

Lin Jingyu borrowed a table from the Market Town Management Office, took out the white cloth he had prepared earlier, spread it over the table, and gently smoothed out every wrinkle.

As for himself, he had already taken off his disguise, changed into clean, new clothes, and wore a tall white hat, tucking all his hair inside.

He looked exactly like a chef.

He then placed the jade box containing the sweet potato pills on the cloth-covered table.

He placed a sign on top: lins sweet potato balls, ten pills per box, one Spirit Stone.

Then he straightened his chest, standing proudly with a smile.

The stall owners nearby, watching Lin Jingyu meticulously arrange everything with such a cautious demeanor, thought he was about to sell some earth-shattering treasure.

Unexpectedly, it was just sweet potato pills.

When the two competitors saw the price tag—ten pills for one Low-Grade Spirit Stone—their faces contorted.

Was this person crazy?

They also sold sweet potato pills, one Broken Spirit Stone per pill. If you bought the equivalent of one Low-Grade Spirit Stone's worth, you wouldn't be able to finish eating them all.

Ten Broken Spirit Stones were only one-tenth of a Low-Grade Spirit Stone, meaning one Low-Grade Spirit Stone was equal to one hundred Broken Spirit Stones.

And one Mid-Grade Spirit Stone was equal to one hundred Low-Grade Spirit Stones.

Usually, if the words "Broken" or "Mid" are not added before "Spirit Stone," it is defaulted to mean Low-Grade Spirit Stone.

One of them, a man wearing a gray cloth cultivation robe, with messy hair scattered loosely and several scars on his face, curled his lip and spoke in the tone of a seasoned veteran:

"I say, Fellow Daoist, are your sweet potato pills made of Spirit Stones, or is the box made of Spirit Stones? Selling them this expensively, you must be crazy for money!"

Lin Jingyu glanced over and said indifferently:

"There is no need for Fellow Daoist to concern yourself; I know what I'm doing."

Not to mention that he used the precious hundred-year mountain sweet potato as the main ingredient, just this clean, hygienic, and high-end appearance alone...

...is worth at least half a Spirit Stone.

And the customers he was targeting were not the poor Cultivators who constantly patronized these competitors.

A gentle and sweet Female Cultivator with a bit of wealth happened to want some sweet potato pills and walked over to buy some.

On one side was the extremely greasy Gray-Robed Middle-aged Stall Owner, whose fingernails were stained with black dirt, guarding a large basket of sweet potato pills piled up without any cover.

On the other side were sweet potato pills sold by a handsome, dashing, clean, and tidy vendor—whose hair was tucked entirely into his hat—with the pills placed inside exquisite jade boxes.

Who to choose? It went without saying.

Just like how many people drink lemonade sold for ten-plus yuan at beverage stores, people will also queue up for more expensive coffee sold for dozens of yuan.

This was the concept of packaging!

What's more, his sweet potato pills were genuinely high quality.

"Tsk tsk, ignore an old man's advice and suffer the consequences. Let's see who buys your sweet potato pills!"

The Gray-Robed Stall Owner scoffed at this.

Before he finished speaking, a Middle-aged Cultivator was attracted by the conspicuous jade box and the price tag. He walked over, his face full of curiosity and confusion.

"Fellow Daoist, your sweet potato pills are indeed a bit expensive." He pointed at the sign and tentatively asked, "Could you... lower the price slightly?"

Lin Jingyu's smile remained gentle, but he shook his head firmly: "Apologies, my master has strict orders. The price is set in stone, and there is absolutely no negotiation."

Packaging "quality" as "master's strict orders" added mystery and prestige.

"This..." The Cultivator hesitated. Trying a sample for ten Broken Spirit Stones was acceptable, but spending a whole Low-Grade Spirit Stone? He weighed his money pouch. "Then... can I just buy one to try?"

"I am truly sorry," Lin Jingyu refused again, maintaining an elegant posture. "The treasures of this shop are only sold by the box to properly reflect their value. Selling single pills would be undignified." He was screening for his true target customers.

The Middle-aged Cultivator shook his head, ultimately unwilling to pull out a whole Spirit Stone. He turned and prepared to leave.

"Hey! Fellow Daoist, wait!" The Gray-Robed Stall Owner immediately called out enthusiastically, his voice booming, "Sweet, soft, and glutinous sweet potato pills! Two pills for one Broken Spirit Stone! Cheap and affordable, honest dealing! Everyone can afford them!"

The Middle-aged Cultivator walked over, looked around, and asked for twenty pills.

The Gray-Robed Stall Owner quickly wrapped the sweet potato pills in oiled paper and handed them over.

Taking the ten Broken Spirit Stones, he deliberately weighed them in his hand, producing a crisp sound.

Immediately, he looked provocatively toward Lin Jingyu, his lips curling into a triumphant smile, as if saying, "See that? This is how you do business!" The tossed Broken Spirit Stone drew a dazzling arc in the sunlight.