“You’re familiar with this place. Wait a moment, and I’ll take you to meet Elder Ma Songchang. He’s the administrator of this market!”
“He used to be a Qi Refining cultivator like me. Later, he managed to develop Da Shu Market into a tremendous success, so the Taiji Immortal Sect rewarded him with a Foundation Establishment Pill. He successfully established his foundation a few years ago!” Wang Lin said solemnly.
Wang Baoling nodded and said, “Second Uncle, I don’t understand why the Xu family has to fight each other to the death. Even if they don’t share the same mother, they still have the same father!”
“Remember this: everything in the cultivation world is done for profit. I’ve more or less managed to deduce a few things.” “The Xu family should possess a priceless treasure. I don’t know exactly what it is, but it must be because of that treasure!” Wang Lin said gravely.
“So that’s how it is. Everything makes sense now!” Wang Baoling suddenly understood.
“Second Uncle, you should leave the Xu family as soon as possible. Now that Third Master Xu has broken through to Foundation Establishment, you’ve repaid the favor you owed him and fulfilled your oath. Hurry and leave the Xu family, this place of trouble.” Wang Baoling’s face was full of worry.
“Alas, Xie Yun and the others refined two Gathering Spirit Pills this time, and I have to get one of them. I’ve already reached an agreement with Xie Yun!” “The condition is that I kill Xu Lu!” A cold glint flashed through Wang Lin’s eyes.
“Second Uncle, think this through carefully. The Xu family is a complete mess. Xu Yuhui has already broken through to Foundation Establishment, and your oath has been fulfilled. There’s no need to take such a huge risk.” Wang Baoling spoke with a serious expression.
“Enough. Don’t try to talk me out of it. For the sake of Foundation Establishment, I have to take a gamble. The path to immortality is treacherous. If you don’t face difficulties head-on, you’ll never have a chance!” Wang Lin’s expression was resolute.
Seeing this, Wang Baoling could only keep quiet. He had already said everything that needed to be said, and anything more would be pointless. “Second Uncle, be careful!” Wang Lin nodded and said with a smile, “All right. I’ll take you to meet Elder Ma Songchang.”
Wang Baoling nodded and followed his second uncle to a shop on the busiest street in the market. “This is where Da Shu Market is managed.”
The enormous shop before them was bustling with people. A long golden sign hung above the entrance, bearing three bold characters: “Duo Bao Pavilion.” “Mr. Wang, Master is upstairs. I’ll show you the way!” A young man at the fifth level of Qi Refining approached respectfully.
“You’re Huang Han, right? The last time I saw you, you were only at the third level of Qi Refining. Now you’re already at the fifth level. It’s only been a few years—truly, the younger generation is catching up!” Wang Lin said in surprise.
“Hahaha, Mr. Wang, you’re too kind!” The corners of Huang Han’s mouth lifted with undisguised pride, but he still spoke very modestly. Wang Baoling followed Huang Han in through the back door and arrived on the third floor of Duo Bao Pavilion in the blink of an eye.
A short, middle-aged man greeted them enthusiastically. “Hahaha, Brother Wang, it’s been a long time!” “Greetings, Elder Ma. It has indeed been a long time!” Wang Lin replied with a smile.
“Sit, sit, sit!” Ma Songchang said to the two of them. After they sat down, a maid immediately brought them tea. Wang Lin took a small sip and couldn’t help exclaiming, “Excellent tea, excellent tea!” “If you like it, take some with you,” Ma Songchang said with a smile.
“Then thank you, Brother Ma!” Wang Lin accepted without hesitation. Seeing that Wang Lin hadn’t refused, a flicker of interest crossed Ma Songchang’s eyes. “Is this your disciple, Brother Wang?” Ma Songchang asked, turning his gaze toward Wang Baoling.
“He’s my nephew. Baoling, come greet Elder Ma,” Wang Lin said with a smile. Wang Baoling said neither arrogantly nor obsequiously, “Greetings, Elder Ma!” “Good, good, good. Sit!”
After glancing at Wang Baoling, Ma Songchang turned his gaze back to Wang Lin. “Brother Wang, now that Xu Yuhui has broken through to Foundation Establishment, you’re free. Would you be interested in joining Da Shu Market?”
“The benefits would be the same as those of an inner disciple of the Taiji Immortal Sect.” Ma Songchang smiled broadly.
Only then did Wang Baoling realize that Ma Songchang intended to recruit his second uncle. That explained why a Foundation Establishment cultivator was being so courteous to a rogue cultivator at the seventh level of Qi Refining.
“Hahaha, Brother Ma, this is the second time you’ve tried to recruit me. Last time, I was bound by an oath. If I refused again, I’d be an ingrate. I’m willing to join Da Shu Market!” “But first, I need to settle things with the Xu family,” Wang Lin said.
“Good, good, good. I’ll wait for you!” Ma Songchang said with a broad smile. “I brought my nephew here to meet you, Brother Ma. He’ll be managing a shop here in the future,” Wang Lin said with a smile.
“Don’t worry. I’ll protect him here. No one will be able to hurt him!” Ma Songchang said with a smile. “Thank you, Brother Ma. Once I’ve dealt with the Xu family, I’ll immediately return to Da Shu Market!” Wang Lin said with a smile.
“Take this command medallion. At a critical moment, it might save your life. I don’t want to end up with a dead alchemist!” Ma Songchang said with a laugh. “Hahaha, thank you, Brother Ma!” Wang Lin accepted the command medallion without ceremony.
“No need to thank me. I’ve opened a two-hundred-and-forty-thousand-mu spirit orchard behind Da Shu Market. I’ll be entrusting it to you.” Ma Songchang’s expression turned serious. Wang Lin’s mouth twitched. Two hundred and forty thousand mu of spirit orchard—wouldn’t that work me to death? Would I have any time left to cultivate?
“Brother Wang, there’s no need to be surprised. Someone from the sect will manage the spirit orchard with you. Each year, you can take three percent of the spirit medicines and spirit materials it produces,” Ma Songchang explained.
“Good, good, good! I’ll be off, then. Once I’ve dealt with the Xu family, I’ll come right back!” Wang Lin agreed at once. “Take care! Little Han, see them out!” “Yes, Master.” With that, Huang Han respectfully escorted Wang Baoling and Wang Lin out of Duo Bao Pavilion.
A short while later, Huang Han returned to the third floor after seeing the two uncles and nephew off. “Did you see them out?” Ma Songchang asked. “Yes, Master. Why were you so courteous to a mere Qi Refining cultivator, and why did you even give him three percent of the profits?” Huang Han asked, wincing.
“Heh, the sect actually provides five percent. Without lifting a finger, I make a tidy two-percent margin.” “Don’t be dissatisfied. If you’re capable, go manage that spirit orchard yourself.”
“Managing such a huge spirit orchard properly takes skill. A Foundation Establishment cultivator can’t possibly handle it personally.”
“Only a handful of Qi Refining cultivators can manage such a large spirit orchard well. Of those who know the place inside and out and have the necessary skill, he’s the only one.” Ma Songchang laughed. “So that’s how it is. Master really has thought everything through.”
Ma Songchang glanced at Huang Han and explained, “The spirit orchards within the sect are reserved for inner disciples and direct disciples.” “The spirit orchard at Da Shu Market is for outer disciples to cultivate with. We can’t treat it carelessly!”
Huang Han nodded, then said, “All right. I’ll cooperate with them to the best of my ability!”
Meanwhile, Wang Baoling escorted Wang Lin out of the market. “Once I’ve dealt with the Xu family, I’ll come back. With the command medallion Ma Songchang gave me, the Xu family won’t dare touch me!” Wang Lin said with a smile.
“All right, Second Uncle. Be careful.” Worry showed on Wang Baoling’s face. “Go back!” With that, Wang Lin’s figure vanished at the entrance to the market.