16: Liuyun Market

A flying boat landed in front of Ye Zhiqiu. Ye Zhiqiu called everyone to board the flying boat with him. After everyone boarded, the flying boat slowly took off. Under the leadership of Martial Uncle Ye, Lin Feng and a group of twelve people successively boarded the flying boat.

Seeing that all the people had boarded the flying boat, Ye Zhiqiu piloted the flying boat towards the northwest. The people Ye Zhiqiu brought were all old acquaintances of his. While piloting the flying boat, he introduced the other seven people to Lin Feng and the others.

The twelve people slowly got to know each other on the flying boat, no longer feeling unfamiliar with one another. Among these seven, the one who left the deepest impression on Lin Feng was Ye Qingfeng. This Ye Qingfeng was originally from Ye Zhiqiu's own family.

Ye Qingfeng had a handsome appearance. Though he was only eighteen years old, his cultivation had already reached the eighth level of Qi Refining. He was the most highly cultivated among this group, apart from Ye Zhiqiu. He appeared gentle and refined, and conversing with him gave one a feeling of being bathed in a spring breeze.

The flying boat traveled very quickly. Along the way, Lin Feng did not speak much, but instead watched the Great Xin Country below the flying boat. After flying for a long time on the flying boat, Lin Feng realized that the Great Xin Country was not small.

Lin Feng roughly estimated the distance traveled and found it was equivalent to the distance from south to north of the Blue Star country in his previous life. This Great Xin was actually larger than the Blue Star countries he remembered from his previous life, which Lin Feng had not expected.

Along the way, Lin Feng looked at some villages and cities they passed below, all appearing very peaceful. Finally, the flying boat flew towards a series of continuous mountains. The mountains here were steep and rugged, and after flying for some time, they reached a mist-shrouded valley. Ye Zhiqiu stopped the flying boat in front of the valley's mist.

After the flying boat landed, Ye Zhiqiu informed Lin Feng and the others that they had reached their destination.

Looking at the mist before them, Lin Feng and his group were all puzzled. Seeing the expressions on their faces, Ye Zhiqiu merely smiled faintly, led Lin Feng and the others to the mist, and simply cast a Talisman into the mist. The mist dispersed, revealing a path.

Ye Zhiqiu smiled and told everyone, “Follow me!”

Lin Feng and his group followed Ye Zhiqiu to an archway with four large characters written on it: Liuyun Market.

Just as Ye Zhiqiu was about to enter, a hearty laugh from an old man came from afar:

“Brother Ye, you’ve finally arrived?”

Lin Feng and his group looked in the direction of the voice. Not far ahead, a red-robed old man had appeared at some point. He looked to be about sixty years old, with some graying hair, but appeared exceptionally energetic. He was already striding towards the Liuyun Market archway.

Ye Zhiqiu also smiled at this moment.

“Who do I see? It's Brother Zuo from North Wind Valley! My apologies for not recognizing you sooner.”

The two met and immediately began to converse warmly, as if they were old friends who hadn't seen each other in years, a friendship spanning generations.

While the two were conversing, Ye Zhiqiu did not forget to call Lin Feng and his group to follow them into Liuyun Market. As two Foundation Establishment Seniors conversed, junior Disciples like Lin Feng naturally couldn't interject, but Lin Feng, following behind, generally understood the content of their conversation.

Liuyun Market is jointly managed by the Four Great Sects of Great Xin. Each major Sect sends a Foundation Establishment cultivator to be stationed here. With these four Foundation Establishment cultivators overseeing it, no major problems arise here, so these four Cultivators simply work together to operate and manage the place.

Upon entering the market, Lin Feng found it to be very large, with shops lining both sides of the street and various stalls filled with all kinds of Materials, Medicinal Pills, and Magical Artifacts. Lin Feng even saw Spiritual Artifacts for sale, used by Foundation Establishment cultivators.

Cultivators came and went in an endless stream, some selecting items, others bargaining, creating a lively atmosphere. Lin Feng and his group followed behind Ye Zhiqiu and the red-robed old man, curiously observing everything around them.

Along the way, Lin Feng continuously observed the Cultivators present and found that their cultivation levels were not high. Some, like their Utility Disciples, only had two or three levels of Qi Refining cultivation, while there were also some Middle Stage Qi Refining Cultivators, and even a few Late-Stage Qi Refining Cultivators.

As Lin Feng and his group observed these Cultivators, the Cultivators naturally also saw Ye Zhiqiu and the red-robed old man. Upon seeing the two, these Cultivators all lowered their heads and busied themselves with their own affairs.

Lin Feng arrived at this place and followed Ye Zhiqiu to a very grand courtyard. Above the main gate of the courtyard, three large characters were carved: Liuyun Pavilion. After Lin Feng and the others were settled into their accommodations by the Cultivators here, Lin Feng, Xiong Hu, and two others were assigned to four adjoining small courtyards.

The four did not wander around, but rested in their respective small courtyards for a day. On the second day, they were summoned by Ye Zhiqiu. Ye Zhiqiu had discussed something with the red-robed old man yesterday. Seeing Lin Feng and the others arrive, he sat leisurely on the main seat, asking the four to sit down first. Only after the four were seated did he slowly inform them:

“Now that everyone has arrived at Liuyun Market, since you all followed me here, you know that we are not here to enjoy ourselves. We have missions to accomplish.” Saying this, Ye Zhiqiu looked at the four.

Lin Feng and the four young lads nodded.

Seeing the four nod in agreement, Ye Zhiqiu assigned them tasks. Xiong Hu and two others would be responsible for regularly collecting the spiritual field rent from the back mountain of Liuyun Market, along with Zuo Huokilin's subordinates, and also for mediating issues concerning Loose Cultivators renting spiritual fields.

Lin Feng's task, however, was very simple: he only needed to craft a certain number of Talismans each month to sell to the Talisman building opened by Cloud-Soaring Pavilion here.

Lin Feng naturally had no objections, but Xiong Hu and the other two were a bit hesitant. They had never collected rent before, and their cultivation was not high enough.

At this moment, Qi Liang, who was more quick-witted, asked somewhat nervously, “Junior Martial Uncle Ye, we have never collected rent before. What should we do?”

Ye Zhiqiu waved his hand and smiled slightly, informing the three, “You three don't need to worry. The spiritual fields in Liuyun Market are rented by honest Loose Cultivators, so there won't be too many problems. As for collecting rent, you also don't need to worry; Zuo Huokilin has been here for many years, and his subordinates will guide you.”

At this moment, Lin Feng noticed that only the four of them were present and curiously asked Ye Zhiqiu:

“Junior Martial Uncle Ye, why haven't I seen Senior Brother Ye Qingfeng and the others?”

Ye Zhiqiu smiled and informed Lin Feng and the four, “Qingfeng and the others are liaising with the Disciples of Yu Ling Sect and Danxia Faction. Once you get familiar with your respective duties, it will be easy. For now, familiarize yourselves with your responsibilities. Additionally, the Sect also has some stewards here, and you should get to know them as well.”

After Ye Zhiqiu finished speaking, he dismissed the four, telling them to go and familiarize themselves with their tasks. After Lin Feng and the four left Ye Zhiqiu's residence, they began to move around Liuyun Market, getting to know the environment.

Lin Feng was responsible for Talismans crafting. He first arrived in front of the Talisman building opened by Cloud-Soaring Pavilion, looking at the plaque hanging above the building, pondering silently.

He walked into the Talisman building. Inside, various Talismans were displayed, some shimmering with light, others emitting a faint medicinal fragrance. Lin Feng conversed with the person in charge of the Talisman building, understood the demand and specifications for Talismans, and then made his plans.

In the following days, Lin Feng began to work on Talismans crafting. Every day, besides Cultivating, he was immersed in the crafting of Talismans. Lin Feng's Talismans crafting skills were already strong, and now with a clear goal, he crafted with even greater ease. The Talismans he crafted were of superior quality and quickly gained recognition from the Talisman building.

Meanwhile, Xiong Hu and the two others were responsible for collecting spiritual field rent and mediating issues concerning Loose Cultivators renting spiritual fields. Initially, they were indeed somewhat flustered, but under the guidance of Zuo Huokilin's subordinates, they gradually became familiar with the process. The three of them had different personalities, but they cooperated tacitly in their work, handling matters in an orderly fashion.