512: Chapter 512 The City Lord Hosts a Banquet

【 The fifty-seventh year, 】

【 You asked Murong Zhaozhao to help you obtain a drop of "tear of eternal frost," and with the other Materials you had gathered yourself, you quietly refined the fourth immortal slaying sword (Ice). 】

【 The fifty-eighth year, 】

【 You "Breakthrough" to Soul Transformation. 】

【 According to the rules of the Wuji Immortal Sect, after an Inner Sect Disciple achieves a Breakthrough to Soul Transformation, they must be sent out for a period of time—to serve as a shopkeeper for the Sect's chamber of commerce. 】

【 You chose the Wuji Pavilion in Ziyang Immortal City. 】

【 Wuji Pavilion is a commercial firm opened by the Sect in various places to sell some low-level supplies, incidentally gather intelligence, and also serve as a window for dealing with various forces. 】

【 You chose to go at this time because Langgan Pavilion happens to be auctioning a piece of "gale essence" this year. 】

【 After arriving at Ziyang Immortal City, you headed straight for Wuji Pavilion. 】

【 Wuji Pavilion is in the center of the city, a nine-story pavilion covering a large area, with rows of courtyards in the backyard for people to live in. 】

【 After you stepped into Wuji Pavilion, a servant greeted you with a smile: "Distinguished guest, what do you need?" 】

【 You glanced at him. 】

【 Golden Core Cultivation. 】

【 "What is your name?" 】

【 "Ximen Hao." 】

【 "From the Ximen Family?" 】

【 He was stunned for a moment, didn't answer directly, and asked in return: "And you are?" 】

【 You didn't ask again and directly revealed your identity jade token. 】

【 "Take me to see your shopkeeper." 】

【 When Ximen Hao saw that Inner Sect jade pendant, he immediately straightened his body. 】

【 The people here had long since received news—a new shopkeeper would be taking office soon. 】

【 A smile instantly piled up on his face, and while secretly sizing you up, he led you toward the top floor. 】

【 Yet he was muttering in his heart: Is this new shopkeeper easy to get along with? 】

【 I hope he doesn't punish people at every turn. 】

【 They say a new official makes a show of authority, I hope this fire doesn't burn me. 】

【 He walked cautiously, head lowered, eyes fixed on the stairs under his feet. 】

【 With his mind on other things, his footing became unsteady. 】

【 He missed a step and lurched forward. 】

【 "Ah—" 】

【 His body swayed, and he nearly fell flat on his face. 】

【 Fortunately, his reaction was quick; he stabilized himself in time and didn't actually fall. 】

【 He gave you a sheepish smile, nodded, quickly steadied himself, and continued walking up. 】

【 The smile on his face was a few degrees brighter than before. 】

【 You frowned—a dignified Golden Core Cultivator, and he can't even walk steadily? 】

【 After arriving at the top floor, you looked toward the balcony, where an old man was sitting upright. 】

【 When the old man saw you come up and looked at the appointment Jade Slip you handed over, his face immediately filled with smiles. 】

【 "So it is Junior Brother Qin, I have heard much about you!" 】

【 You plopped down across from him and waved your hand with a smile: 】

【 "Senior Brother Qian, you flatter me; you have worked hard these years." 】

【 Before coming, you had learned a little about this shopkeeper. 】

【 Qian Santong, a Spirit Transformation Cultivator from the Sect's Qian family, had worked at this Wuji Pavilion for decades. 】

【 Qian Santong smiled until his eyes narrowed into slits: 】

【 "The old man can finally return to the Sect." 】

【 "From now on, I will have to trouble Junior Brother Qin with this Wuji Pavilion." 】

【 "Easy, easy." 】

【 He leaned forward and asked: "I wonder if Junior Brother Qin needs me to explain the situation on Ziyang Star?" 】

【 "I'll trouble you, Senior Brother Qian." 】

【 In fact, you didn't need to. 】

【 You knew a little bit about Ziyang Star. 】

【 But since he meant well, you didn't refuse. 】

【 Qian Santong chattered on for more than half an hour, explaining the distribution of forces on Ziyang Star, the background of each family, and the places that needed attention. 】

【 After finishing, he stood up to take his leave, walking away with such decisiveness. 】

【 It was clear that he really didn't want to stay here anymore. 】

【 From today on, you are the shopkeeper of this Wuji Pavilion. 】

【 On the surface, Wuji Pavilion is for doing business and selling some low-level supplies. 】

【 In secret, you have to keep an eye on the movements of the entire Ziyang Star and maintain good relations with various forces. 】

【 However, there is one rule—you cannot interfere with matters outside of Wuji Pavilion. 】

【 This is the tacit understanding of the various major forces' external commercial firms, and no one will break this rule. 】

【 So this kind of life is quite boring and also delays Cultivation. 】

【 Once Qian Santong left, you called all the staff to the top floor. 】

【 More than twenty people stood in a row. 】

【 You swept your gaze over them. 】

【 The lowest cultivation was Foundation Establishment, and the highest was Nascent Soul. 】

【 You were the only Soul Transformation. 】

【 Of course, there were over a thousand people lurking elsewhere on Ziyang Star, with cultivation levels ranging from Foundation Establishment to Nascent Soul. 】

【 These people all came after accepting Sect tasks in order to earn contribution points. 】

【 Besides contribution points, there was double the salary, which was more than what they got within the Sect. 】

【 But the downside was—it was not as safe as being within the Sect. 】

【 Everyone looked at you, their eyes serious, not daring to even breathe loudly. 】

【 No one knew what the new shopkeeper's temper was like. 】

【 You smiled and spoke: 】

【 "Everyone, we are all brothers of the Immortal Sect." 】

【 "In the future, just go about things as usual, no need to be formal." 】

【 "I just arrived, and I don't have any gifts for everyone." 】

【 "I am a rather vulgar person, so there is just one thing—" 】

【 You paused, your gaze sweeping over everyone: 】

【 "Everyone go find the accountant and collect an extra ten years of salary each." 】

【 "Consider it a reward for your contributions to the Sect over these years." 】

【 As soon as these words fell, the entire top floor exploded. 】

【 "Thank you, Shopkeeper Qin!" 】

【 "Shopkeeper Qin is amazing!" 】

【 "Shopkeeper Qin is generous!" 】

【 You waved your hand with a smile. 】

【 Anyway, the Sect doesn't lack this bit of Spirit Stone. 】

【 And as a shopkeeper of a pavilion, your authority is huge—this Wuji Pavilion is basically yours to decide. 】

【 To put it plainly, as long as it doesn't go bankrupt, it's fine. 】

【 The Wuji Immortal Sect doesn't care about such small money—unless it is targeted, then the Sect will send people to audit the accounts. 】

【 But the people below are different. 】

【 The previous shopkeepers all thought about skimming money into their own pockets and were never willing to share with the people below. 】

【 You are different. 】

【 You are not interested in money. 】

【 Everyone was excited for a while, and you waved your hand, letting them go about their business. 】

【 Time passed like this for three days. 】

【 The City Lord's Mansion knew that Wuji Pavilion had changed shopkeepers, so they specially hosted a banquet and even sent someone to deliver an invitation. 】

【 You did not decline and attended the banquet on time. 】

【 Relying on your identity jade token, a servant led you into the main hall. 】

【 In the main hall, nearly a hundred elegant seats were neatly arranged, and the representatives of the major forces who arrived one after another also numbered nearly a hundred. 】

【 When City Lord Jia saw you enter, he immediately smiled, walked up, and cupped his hands: 】

【 "Fellow Daoist Qin, I have heard much about you!" 】

【 You waved your hand with a smile: "City Lord Jia, you are too polite. To specially host a banquet for me—this is a small token of my appreciation, please do not mind." 】

【 You raised your hand and handed over a jade box, which contained a Heaven And Earth Treasure you had casually taken from Wuji Pavilion; it was suitable for a Spirit Transformation Cultivator to use, so it was not lacking in etiquette. 】

【 Other representatives of the forces saw you arrive, and many stood up to greet you. 】

【 There were also some who acted as if they didn't see you, drinking on their own. 】