592: Chapter 3 Discounted Wishes

After parting ways with Jing Tian and the other two, Meng Li changed into casual clothes, toured Yu Zhou City for a while, and then planned to find a place to settle down.

However, before that, he needed to figure out a way to get some money.

The gold, silver, and even Magic Treasures he had previously accumulated were all reduced to ashes when he underwent Tribulation.

Arriving in this world, Meng Li was utterly alone; the clothes he wore were currently conjured by a Spell.

As for how to get money...

He walked along the road, casually picked up a few stones, used a Spell to transform them into silver, and then headed to the casino in the city—the Grand Triple!

It was already night, and there were very few people on the streets; many shops and businesses had closed, but the casino was still bustling with activity.

The doorman at the casino noticed Meng Li was a new face and instinctively became vigilant, but upon seeing the gleaming silver in his pocket, he let him in after only a brief inquiry.

Once inside the casino, Meng Li relied on his Divine Thought to easily pull off a successful bluff. To avoid unnecessary trouble, he didn't slaughter everyone or get too greedy; he played for the time it took for one stick of incense to burn, winning a hundred taels before wisely departing.

One hundred taels of silver was not a small sum, but for a monopolistic casino like the Grand Triple, it was nothing significant.

Furthermore, since Meng Li showed no obvious signs of cheating, the people at the Grand Triple did not pay extra attention to him.

On the contrary, a few envious gamblers had targeted him and were quietly trailing him.

Meng Li didn't waste any words addressing this; just as they appeared and before they could threaten him, he casually crumpled a silver ingot into a ball.

The gamblers immediately realized they had run into someone tough, hastily claimed they had mistaken him for someone else, and quickly turned to leave.

Meng Li couldn't be bothered to pursue them and instead turned to look for an Inn to stay at.

With gleaming silver paving the way, he was quickly ushered into a superior private room by the fawning Inn attendant.

Closing the door and setting up protective measures, Meng Li sat cross-legged on the bed and sank his consciousness into his inner landscape.

Within this inner landscape, the Dao Pill was gone, replaced by a vaguely shaped Dao Embryo. Above its head, the Jade Flower, Gold Flower, and Nine Flowers Gathering at the Crown swayed erratically according to some rhythm, emitting an aura profoundly mysterious. Flowing continuously around the body was the chaotic light of the Dao, formed by the intermingling of purity and turbidity.

In the world of Qing Yun Zhi, after Meng Li cultivated the Taiji Xuanqing Dao to its peak, his path forward was cut off, forcing him to deduce his own Cultivation Technique.

Ultimately, using the Three Pure Ones realm of the Taiji Xuanqing Dao as a foundation, and combining it with the Daoist concept of 'Three Flowers Gathering at the Crown and Five Qi Returning to the Origin,' he spent nearly a thousand years deducing the subsequent Cultivation Technique, successfully achieving a Breakthrough, surviving the Three-Nine Heavenly Tribulation, and cultivating this Dao Embryo of Three Flowers Gathering at the Crown.

He still needed to carefully comprehend the profound mysteries of this Dao Embryo.

...

Morning.

Yongan Pawnshop.

Jing Tian held a magnifying glass, carefully examining the jade pendant he had obtained the previous night.

After a while with no results, he asked Ding Shiyan, who was opposite him wearing glasses and looking on as well, "Uncle Ding, what era do you think this jade is from?"

Ding Shiyan was the oldest person currently at the Yongan Pawnshop and also Jing Tian's teacher in matters of antiques.

However, Jing Tian was naturally bright and extremely interested in antiques. Having grown up immersed in the pawnshop, he had long since surpassed his teacher in identifying ancient artifacts.

Hearing his question, Ding Shiyan shook his head slightly: "If you don't know, then I don't know either."

Jing Tian immediately grew excited: "How about we sell it for ten thousand taels?"

He had originally intended to say one hundred taels, but remembering that Meng Li, who was clearly a powerful expert, was also interested in the jade pendant, he immediately inflated its perceived value.

Ding Shiyan's mouth twitched: "Are you going crazy for money?"

Jing Tian chuckled.

Just then, Xu Maoshan's voice came through: "A messenger from the Tang Clan is here!"

Jing Tian and Ding Shiyan were momentarily stunned, then dared not delay. After tidying up slightly, they went out to meet the person.

In Yu Zhou City, the Tang Clan reigned supreme, and the Yongan Pawnshop was under the Tang Clan's jurisdiction.

When someone important arrived from above, they naturally dared not be negligent.

Soon, the two arrived in the front hall and saw the Tang Clan messenger. He Bi Ping, who had heard the announcement, also came over, holding a white cloth to dust off the messenger, showing excessive enthusiasm: "Your Excellency, you've worked hard!"

Jing Tian also transformed into a lackey, stepping forward with a smooth series of flattering moves: bowing, cupping his hands, forcing a smile, and uttering auspicious words.

"Your Excellency, may you be prosperous!"

The messenger glanced at him and asked: "Are you Jing Tian?"

Jing Tian replied with a smile: "That's right, I am he. May I ask what business Your Excellency has with me?"

The messenger said: "Sixth Uncle, the manager of the Yongan Pawnshop, resigned to our head last night and has immediately returned home."

This news greatly surprised Jing Tian, He Bi Ping, and the others.

"Sixth Uncle left without saying goodbye?"

"Why the sudden departure?"

The messenger replied: "Sixth Uncle's son, the only heir through nine generations, has finally had a boy. He is eager to return home to hold his grandson."

He Bi Ping immediately asked: "Did Sixth Uncle leave any instructions? He said he was going to give me a raise this month."

Jing Tian, however, was confused: "Then why did your hall master summon me?"

The messenger said seriously: "The hall master has decided to promote you to be the manager of the Yongan Pawnshop."

Saying this, he handed Jing Tian an envelope containing the letter of appointment.

The surprise came too suddenly, and Jing Tian froze on the spot. After realizing what happened, he quickly accepted the envelope, bid the messenger farewell with kind words, and then, suppressing his excitement, took Xu Maoshan with him to the back hall to pay respects to the spirits of his deceased parents, sharing the good news of his promotion with them.

After the memorial service, he followed custom and divided the right to enjoy the sacrificial offerings with Xu Maoshan.

For the roast chicken, Xu Maoshan ate the head and the tail end, and the rest went to him.

For the steamed buns, he ate the meat, and Xu Maoshan ate the skin.

Xu Maoshan was somewhat dejected but didn't dwell on it too much.

After all, having something to eat was better than having nothing.

Just as things were settled, a burst of firecrackers, gongs, and drums suddenly sounded from outside.

Jing Tian, invigorated by the good fortune, quickly pulled Xu Maoshan outside to watch the excitement.

However, right after watching the commotion, the half jade pendant on his body reacted to the half jade pendant carried by Tang Xuejian, who was out shopping, and the two attracted each other.

Under the influence of the jade pendant, the two became entangled physically in the street, eventually ending up together in a sedan chair.

Because they were back-to-back, Jing Tian did not know Tang Xuejian's identity, and under her arrogant and sharp-tongued attacks, he fiercely retaliated.

Finally, the sedan chair landed, and Tang Xuejian fell unconscious.

Jing Tian was greatly alarmed upon seeing her condition, secretly thinking, 'This is bad,' and quickly used the Chaos to slip away.

Halfway through his escape, he suddenly recalled Meng Li's words from the previous night.

Becoming manager today, offending the Tang Clan's Eldest Young Miss—he wouldn't last long, and his wish would be discounted...

It actually came true!

No! He had finally become the manager of the Yongan Pawnshop; he absolutely could not be reduced to his original state before he even got comfortable in the seat.

The jade pendant! Giving the jade pendant to that Grandmaster Meng might offer a chance for remedy.

Yes, that's right!

Just then, a hand landed on Jing Tian's shoulder from behind...