147: Finding bargains, establishing authority, and the midnight visitor

The 50th floor of Tianxing City, Yun Zhu Courtyard.

Before the first rays of dawn could penetrate the perennial mist, a long line had already formed at the entrance of "Qingyun Recycling Station."

"Old Liu, are you serious? Can this rundown shop really repair my 'water splitting thorn'? This is a Low Grade Magical Artifact I saved Spirit Stones for three years to buy."

"Nonsense! Look at my sword!"

At the front of the line, the Cultivator who had been covered in blood earlier was now full of Divine Qi and vigor, waving his repaired Scarlet Copper Essence Fire Sword. Red light flowed across the blade, and a faint heat wave emanated from it.

"Only fifty Spirit Stones! Other places want two hundred! And this boss's craftsmanship is superb; its power increased by twenty percent after the repair!"

"Really? Then would he take this pile of rotten sea beast bones too?"

"He takes everything! As long as it has Spiritual Qi, even if it's a piece of crap, this Boss Han can give you a price!"

Inside the shop.

Ling Yunxiao wore a specially made mask with a look of disgust, holding a long pair of tongs as he processed a pile of foul-smelling Yao Beast Materials on the counter.

"Third-Tier Sea Snake Skin, severely damaged, only the tail is usable. Three Spirit Stones."

"Blue Light Stone Ore, too many Impurities. Two Spirit Stones."

"What's this? A rotting turtle shell? Take it away, take it away; this thing is only good for making soup!"

As the former Young City Lord, Ling Yunxiao felt his dignity was being trampled upon. But turning to see Old Man Han lying on a rattan chair, eyes closed and humming a little tune, he could only swallow his resentment.

Although Zhou Wannian (Old Man Han) appeared to be sleeping, his Divine Sense actually blanketed the entire area.

His "Spiritual Sight Technique," combined with the appraisal knowledge from the "Record of Star-Crafted Creations," was rapidly scanning every piece of "trash" brought forward.

"Wait."

Just as Ling Yunxiao was about to throw a black, charred wood-like lump into the scrap bin, Zhou Wannian suddenly spoke.

"Leave that piece of wood."

"Huh? Old Man Han, this is just a piece of rotten shipwreck wood; it doesn't have any Spiritual Qi at all," Ling Yunxiao said doubtfully.

"If I tell you to keep it, keep it. Give that Fellow Daoist... ten Spirit Stones."

The Cultivator who brought the wood had intended to throw it away. Hearing he could sell it for ten Spirit Stones, he was overjoyed, took the money, and left with a thousand thanks.

After the man left, Ling Yunxiao picked up the black wood and looked it over.

"Old Man Han, what exactly is this?"

Zhou Wannian sat up, his finger lightly brushing the surface of the wood, a speck of starlight lighting up his fingertip.

*Crack.*

The black outer layer peeled off, revealing a core as crystal clear as amber, with a golden beetle Sealed inside.

"This is 'Golden Cicada thunder struck wood'."

A sharp glint flashed in Zhou Wannian's eyes. "And it's a variety from ten thousand years ago. That beetle is an ancient exotic species, a 'Gold-Devouring Insect' larva. Although it's dead, the Geng Metal Qi it devoured before death remains."

"If this were taken to a major auction house, it would be worth at least five thousand Spirit Stones. If it's a Lightning Cultivator who knows his stuff, they'd scramble to buy it for ten thousand."

"Hiss—"

Ling Yunxiao sucked in a breath of cold air, his hand trembling so much he almost dropped the wood.

"Bought for ten, sold for ten thousand?! Old Man Han, isn't this too shady... oh no, too profitable?"

"This is called finding a bargain."

Zhou Wannian calmly put away the lightning-struck wood. "In Tianxing City, eyesight is Spirit Stones. We're profiting from this information gap."

Just then.

"Move! Everyone get out of the way!"

A sudden commotion came from outside the shop.

The Loose Cultivators in line were like startled quails, scattering to both sides.

Seven or eight shirtless, burly men walked in arrogantly. The leader was One-Eyed Dragon, with an Early Foundation Establishment Stage cultivation, rotating two iron balls in his hand, his face full of flesh.

"Qingyun Recycling Station?"

One-Eyed Dragon walked to the counter, stepped on a stool, and looked at Ling Yunxiao askance.

"New here? Do you know the rules? Opening a shop in this area, have you paid your respects at the 'Black Tiger Gang's' pier?"

Ling Yunxiao's gaze turned cold, and he was about to draw his sword.

"Ahem."

Zhou Wannian coughed twice and slowly stood up from the rattan chair, still waving that tattered cattail leaf fan.

"Fellow Daoist, this old man has just arrived and indeed doesn't know the rules. I wonder... how does one pay respects to this pier?"

One-Eyed Dragon sized up Zhou Wannian. Seeing his weak aura (disguised) and no decent Magic Treasures on him, he immediately showed a contemptuous smile.

"Simple."

"A monthly 'security management fee' of five hundred Spirit Stones. Additionally, for any good items your shop receives, our Black Tiger Gang has the right of first refusal at a price... with a seventy percent discount."

"Five hundred Spirit Stones? And a seventy percent discount?"

Zhou Wannian smiled, the wrinkles on his face bunching together. "Fellow Daoist, that's too expensive. This is a small business; please give us a way to live."

"Cut the crap! If you don't pay, believe it or not, I'll trash your shop today!"

One-Eyed Dragon waved his hand, and the burly men behind him immediately sacrificed their Magical Artifacts, surrounding them menacingly.

The surrounding Loose Cultivators shook their heads and sighed. This Black Tiger Gang was a tyrant of the 50th floor, supposedly backed by big shots above, specializing in preying on new small shops. It seemed this Old Man Han was in for some trouble.

"Sigh."

Zhou Wannian sighed and shook his head.

"Fei Yu."

"Here."

Li Feiyu, who had been standing in the shadows like a statue, stepped out. He carried the long saber wrapped in black cloth on his back, his muscles bulging like iron blocks.

"Don't dirty the floor; we still have business to do," Zhou Wannian instructed nonchalantly.

"Understood."

Li Feiyu grinned, revealing a row of stark white teeth.

"You... what do you want to do?!"

Looking into Li Feiyu's beast-like eyes, One-Eyed Dragon's heart suddenly skipped a beat.

Before he could react.

Boom!

Li Feiyu moved.

No saber, no Spiritual Qi.

Pure Physical Body explosion.

Like a wild bull, he instantly charged into the crowd.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

Several muffled sounds.

The burly men who were just acting arrogant were sent flying like sandbags, straight out of the shop door and onto the street. They clutched their chests, wailing, unable to even crawl up.

Only One-Eyed Dragon remained, held in the air by Li Feiyu's single hand around his neck, like a small chicken.

"Cough... let... let go..."

One-Eyed Dragon struggled desperately, sacrificing a Flying Sword to attempt a sneak attack.

*Clang!*

Li Feiyu extended two fingers of his other hand and steadily caught the incoming Flying Sword.

*Snap.*

With a burst of finger strength.

The Low Grade Magical Artifact-level Flying Sword was snapped in two.

The entire place fell silent.

"A Body Cultivator?! And a Second-Tier Peak Body Cultivator?!"

The eyes of the spectating Cultivators almost popped out.

"Fellow Daoist."

Zhou Wannian walked up to One-Eyed Dragon, still wearing a kind smile.

"Now, can those rules... be changed?"

"Yes! They can be changed! Sir! You are the rule!" One-Eyed Dragon was scared witless. This wasn't a soft persimmon; this was a solid iron plate!

"That's more like it."

Zhou Wannian waved his hand, signaling Fei Yu to throw the man out.

"From now on, your Black Tiger Gang will be responsible for collecting the discarded Magical Artifacts on this street for me. The price will be ninety percent of the market value. Do well, and I'll reward you. If you dare to cause trouble again..."

Zhou Wannian didn't finish his sentence, merely patting One-Eyed Dragon's face lightly.

An extremely subtle yet abyss-like, terrifying Divine Sense pressure flashed and vanished.

One-Eyed Dragon froze, his very Soul trembling.

"Scram."

"Yes, yes, yes! Thank you for sparing my life, Senior!"

One-Eyed Dragon scrambled away with his subordinates, faster than rabbits.

After this incident, the reputation of "Qingyun Recycling Station" was thoroughly established.

Not only was the technology good, but there was also a powerful bodyguard on site.

Busy until late at night, the shop finally closed... The night was deep and quiet.

The protection Formation of Yun Zhu Courtyard was activated.

Zhou Wannian sat at the stone table in the backyard, tallying the day's earnings.

"A net profit of three hundred Spirit Stones. Plus that lightning-struck wood bargain."

Although Ling Yunxiao was exhausted to the point of backache, he was also somewhat excited looking at those Spirit Stones.

"Old Man Han, at this rate, we'll soon have a firm foothold in Tianxing City."

"This is just small change."

Zhou Wannian took a sip of spiritual tea, looking out at the pitch-black night beyond the courtyard gate.

"The real big business only comes calling at night."

"Eh?"

Ling Yunxiao and Fei Yu were stunned.

Just then.

*Knock, knock, knock.*

The courtyard gate was gently knocked.

Rhythmic, three long and two short.

"Who is it?" Fei Yu asked alertly, hand on his saber hilt.

"I heard that things others can't fix can be repaired here."

A low, somewhat raspy female voice came from outside the door.

"As long as you pay, anything can be fixed," Zhou Wannian said calmly. "The door is unlocked; come in."

*Creak.*

The door opened.

A figure completely shrouded in a black cloak, wearing a veil that blocked Divine Sense, walked in.

She glanced at the three people in the courtyard, didn't remove her veil, but walked quickly to the stone table and took out a brocade box Sealed with a Restriction from her robes.

"Can this be repaired?"

The box opened.

A bone-chilling Yin Qi instantly permeated the air.

Inside the box was a white jade pendant broken into two pieces.

A lifelike Nine-Tailed Fox was carved on the jade pendant, but strangely, the eyes of the Nine-Tailed Fox were blood-red, and... the aura it emitted wasn't Spiritual Qi, but pure Devilish Qi!

"This is... the token of 'Extreme Yin Island', one of the six Demonic Path sects of the Chaotic Star Sea?"

Ling Yunxiao's face changed drastically. "You're a Demonic Cultivator?!"

In Tianxing City, the Star Palace and the Demonic Path were irreconcilable. Once a Demonic Cultivator was discovered, they were killed without mercy.

The woman's body stiffened, seemingly ready to act at any moment.

Zhou Wannian, however, held down Ling Yunxiao's hand.

He picked up the broken jade, examined it carefully for a moment, and even leaned in to sniff it.

"It's not from Extreme Yin Island."

Zhou Wannian looked up, watching the woman with a half-smile.

"Although this is a demonic artifact, the refining technique is the authentic 'Star Palace Style'."

"If I'm not mistaken... someone inside the Star Palace is secretly practicing a Demonic Technique, and as a result of Qi Deviation, they blew up this Magic Treasure that suppresses Heart Demons?"

The woman's body shook, a hint of horror appearing in her eyes.

"You... how do you know?"

"I run a recycling station; what kind of trash haven't I seen?"

Zhou Wannian put down the jade pendant and held up three fingers.

"It can be fixed. But I want three thousand Spirit Stones. Plus... I want to know if the owner of this thing is 'that person' living above the 30th floor?"

The woman was silent for a long time.

Finally, she took out a heavy bag of Medium Grade Spirit Stones from her Storage Pouch and placed it on the table.

"Don't ask what you shouldn't ask."

"I'll come to collect the goods at this time tomorrow night."

After saying that, she turned and left, disappearing into the night.

Watching her back, the smile on Zhou Wannian's lips deepened.

"Old Man Han, who was that?" Ling Yunxiao was completely confused.

"That is our 'benefactor'."

Zhou Wannian Collapse Spirit Stones and the jade pendant.

"The Star Palace is not a monolith. Someone practicing Demonic Techniques means there's a problem at the top of the Star Palace."

"As long as we hold this leverage, or rather... become their indispensable 'repairman'..."

"Then we will no longer be rootless duckweed in Tianxing City."

"Let's get to work."

Zhou Wannian picked up the jade pendant radiating Devilish Qi.

"Tonight, we're going to mend the heart of that 'big shot'."