40: Chapter 40 The bustling Cloud Hidden Market

Three sets of Grade Three Formation Plates, including a Grade Three Tiangang Formation for defense, a Grade Three Wind-Thunder Formation for offense, and a Grade Three Spirit-Locking Formation for barriers.

These three Formations—one for offense, one for defense, and one for entrapment—could basically hold off a Late Golden Core Stage powerhouse for the time it takes an incense stick to burn.

Luo Yunkai generously gave each of his sons a set, moving the two of them to tears.

Even with Shopkeeper Mo's 'friendship price,' these three sets of Formation Plates cost Luo Yunkai thirty million Spirit Stones.

Just like that, Luo Yunkai had already spent sixty million Spirit Stones. Half of the Spirit Stones he had previously taken out to divide between his two sons, thinking he was certain to die, were now gone.

His behavior of throwing Spirit Stones around did not stop there.

Middleman He followed Ye Wang to the outside of Cave Residence Number One, trembling with fear.

Seeing his old friend Luo Yunkai, he wore a mournful expression. "O-Old Luo."

Luo Yunkai smiled and stroked his beard. "Little He, I'm here to give you some business performance. Why do you have that expression?"

Shopkeeper Mo hadn't left yet. His round, chubby face was also full of smiles as he teased Luo Yunkai, "Fellow Daoist Luo, you've ruined the cave residences like this. He has to answer to the people behind him; how could he not be terrified?"

Luo Yunkai acted as if he had just realized. "Is that so? Little He, you don't need to worry. I'll buy all these destroyed cave residences."

Middleman He's eyes immediately lit up, and his body stopped shaking. "Truly?"

Luo Yunkai nodded. "Name a price. I'll buy all the cave residences affected by my Foundation Establishment Lightning Tribulation. After that, you can help me find someone to renovate them."

Middleman He immediately beamed with a smile. "Leave the renovation of the cave residences to this Junior. I guarantee it will be done beautifully!"

"How about this: thirteen million Spirit Stones to sell these five cave residences affected by the Lightning Tribulation as a package to Old Luo!"

This was a rock-bottom price.

One must know that Luo Yunkai's Cave Residence Number One cost three million. Even if the neighboring cave residences were worth slightly less, the difference was limited.

Thirteen million for five cave residences meant 2.6 million per residence. Being 400,000 Spirit Stones lower, there was definitely a discount included.

Luo Yunkai didn't care about that small amount of money, but Middleman He's attitude made him very satisfied.

"Fine. Storage Pouch."

Middleman He flusteredly took out three Storage Pouches and handed them to Luo Yunkai.

Luo Yunkai packed the Spirit Stones and returned them.

Holding the three Storage Pouches, Middleman He felt as if thorns were at his back.

If it weren't for the fact that the cave residence management office also had a background, he probably wouldn't even dare to breathe at this moment.

"Old Luo, regarding the renovation, I'll find someone to handle it immediately. Then, Old Luo, I'll... leave first?" Middleman He asked cautiously.

Luo Yunkai waved him off, but just as Middleman He turned around, he suddenly remembered he didn't have a place to stay yet.

"Wait."

Middleman He's spine stiffened instantly.

"Little He, I want to buy another cave residence to stay in temporarily."

"Phew!" Middleman He's rigid spine relaxed slightly.

Turning back, his head was lowered even further. "Old Luo, how about Cave Residence Number Seven, which is closest to you?"

Luo Yunkai casually agreed. "That's the one. Storage Pouch."

Middleman He respectfully took out another empty Storage Pouch. "For Cave Residence Number Seven, Old Luo can have it for 2.5 million."

To Luo Yunkai, this was just pocket change, a mere pittance.

Su Xin wanted to stop him several times, as there was really no need to buy so many cave residences.

But seeing that Xiao Tian, who had recognized their father before him, didn't say anything, he could only play dumb.

Luo Yunkai seemed to have become addicted to throwing money away.

While everyone thought he would go back to Cave Residence Number Seven to properly enter secluded meditation to stabilize his Foundation Establishment cultivation, on the very next day, he took his two sons out of the cave residence and headed toward Duobao Tower.

By then, the news that Duobao Tower was going to open a branch in Yunyin Market was already known to many Cultivators.

Many powerful Loose Cultivators, Sect Disciples, and children of great families passing through the area had come to Yunyin Market to witness the establishment of the new city.

At the same time, they also intended to vie for the position of Yunyin City's City Lord.

Luo Yunkai, the Loose Cultivator who had influenced Duobao Tower's bet, appeared and attracted the gaze of countless eyes.

Even a Golden Core expert like Di Yuzong found it somewhat unbearable and simply hid in the shadows to provide protection.

Without the barrier of a Golden Core expert, those gazes became increasingly bold and blatant.

"I heard that Duobao Tower suddenly built a new branch this time because of him?" A shiftless and somewhat disdainful voice drifted from the third floor of the tavern into the ears of the father and sons as they passed by.

Xiao Tian's face immediately darkened as he looked over.

He met a pair of provocative eyes.

As Xiao Tian's toes turned slightly, a hand rested on his shoulder.

"Big Brother," Su Xin called out softly.

Xiao Tian gave the person on the third floor a fierce glare and turned his feet back.

"Heh!"

"I hope Duobao Tower didn't misjudge this time. If they hollow out this old fellow and still can't make a profit, and Duobao Tower can't sustain itself, they'll become the laughingstock of the Cultivation World."

Clack!

At the neighboring table, a fair and fat young man slammed down his teacup. His voice sounded soft but was actually sharp and confrontational. "Whether my Duobao Tower becomes a laughingstock is not for Brother Zhong to worry about."

Zhong Ziqi raised an eyebrow. "Jin Fugui, I'm truly worried for your Duobao Tower. Why do you mistake my good intentions?"

Jin Fugui: "Then we shall wait and see if my Duobao Tower has misjudged this time!"

After saying that, Jin Fugui, who was fully armed with equipment worth ten million Spirit Stones, stood up and left leisurely.

Zhong Ziqi stared at Jin Fugui's back as he caught up with Luo Yunkai and his sons, a cold sneer appearing at the corner of his mouth.

"A man's words are kind when death is near. Fairy Miaojian said that this old thing took out over a hundred million Spirit Stones before he died, so that must be all he has!"

"A hundred million Spirit Stones is indeed enough to support the early construction of a Duobao Tower, but..."

"Heh, to protect themselves, this father and his sons already gave away half yesterday. Even if your Duobao Tower digs out all the remaining Spirit Stones, it won't be enough for the expenses of your new branch."

Listening to Zhong Ziqi's analysis, a lackey beside him hesitated and said, "Then what if the three of them have other channels for Spirit Stones?"

The lackey carefully observed Zhong Ziqi's expression. "I heard that the old fellow surnamed Luo gives his two sons a monthly allowance of one million. Not only that, he even paid a monthly commission of one million to hire Golden Core Stage Market Guards as bodyguards."

"If he didn't have a channel for Spirit Stones, he probably wouldn't dare to make such big boasts."

Zhong Ziqi's brow furrowed deeply. "He's just a Foundation Establishment Cultivator. How big of a Spirit Stone channel could he possibly have?"

"But he had over a hundred million Spirit Stones on him back in the Qi Refining Stage," the lackey said truthfully.

Zhong Ziqi's brow furrowed even tighter. "What you say isn't entirely unreasonable."

"In that case, take a few people and keep a close eye on Luo Yunkai. Once you find any suspicious movements from the people around him or anyone approaching him, immediately capture them for interrogation. We must dig out Luo Yunkai's channel for Spirit Stones!"

Zhong Ziqi wasn't the only one who had doubts about Luo Yunkai's unscrupulous spending of Spirit Stones.

And they had already taken action early on.

As a result, as soon as Ye Wang left the Yunyin Market, he noticed that he was being followed.