Eternal Tale

Chapter 317: Stocking Up on Local Goods

Today, Chen Xun was shopping at a branch of the Sansheng Pavilion, accompanied by a few Golden Core cultivators who attended to him with utmost respect.

Occasionally, cultivators passing by on the third floor would catch a glimpse of the scene, their eyes flashing with surprise, though they offered respectful nods. Yet they couldn’t help but feel puzzled. Even for a Nascent Soul cultivator, such special treatment from Sansheng Pavilion seemed unusual—especially since a Deity Transformation Stage master backed the pavilion. Not even their own masters received such a grand reception.

"Folks, I was wondering if you could offer a better price on these pill formulas. I need to purchase quite a few of them."

Chen Xun walked along the aisles, carefully examining the merchandise. "I imagine you can make copies of the pill recipes, right? And I’ll need quite a few herbs as well, so we’re talking at least a million low-grade spirit stones here."

The Golden Core cultivators winced at the figure, bowing politely. “Senior, as a valued guest of the Sansheng Pavilion, you’re already receiving the lowest price we can offer…”

They exchanged worried looks, wondering why such a wealthy senior was bargaining. After all, revealing his identity alone had made it clear he possessed both power and wealth. So why haggle?

"Lowest price? Hardly," Chen Xun said, his gaze steady and calculating as he clasped his hands behind his back. “You’re charging at least forty percent more than other shops. But I trust in the quality here.”

The cultivators hesitated before one of them, a woman in a green dress, furrowed her brow, biting her lip as if making a tough decision. “One more ten percent discount, but that’s as low as we can go. We’ll forgo any profit, just for you.”

The others held their breath, admiring the manager’s bold move but figuring they’d still make some profit on the sale.

"Excellent! For that, I’ll take all the pill formulas and herbs you have here!"

Chen Xun grinned, his voice booming. "Prepare everything for me, please. Payment and goods will be exchanged in one go."

The women couldn’t hide their surprise, their expressions lighting up with excitement as they bowed. “Yes, Senior.”

Half an hour later.

Chen Xun walked out, satisfied, having spent two hundred thousand mid-grade spirit stones on treasures that couldn’t even be found in Qian Country.

If he got into the trading business, he’d be swimming in wealth.

The group of women saw him off, nearly escorting him all the way to the end of the street. Their enthusiasm drew the envy of other cultivators nearby, as if Chen Xun were the hero of some grand parade, surrounded by celestial maidens!

At the edge of the street, Chen Xun suddenly stopped, an idea flashing in his mind. “Wait a minute… As a traveling trader, with Brother Ox’s Five Elements Teleportation Array, I’d practically eliminate all travel costs!”

“With storage rings, there’s no shipping cost either. The Three Thousand Great Worlds… haha!!”

Excitement gleamed in his eyes at the thought of endless possibilities, and with a flash, he vanished into the crowd.

…

Three days later, on the edge of Heaven’s End Ravine.

Brother Ox and Xiao Chi were still hard at work setting up the large teleportation array, using rare materials not found in any market.

Xiao Chi was carefully embedding materials, meticulous and focused, leaving no room for error.

Having consumed the millennia-old Chaoyuan Scarlet Fruit, he finally felt his bottleneck loosen, allowing him to break through to the late Nascent Soul stage. His physical and spiritual powers had greatly increased, fulfilling his elder brothers' expectations.

Brother Ox had already laid the foundation of the array. The surrounding space fluctuated intensely, occasionally emitting a low hum.

The massive teleportation array formed a circle nearly half a mile in diameter, with intricately carved patterns and large Five Elements Stones placed at the edges, infusing the area with Five Elements energy.

A hundred miles around, Brother Ox had set up a protective Five-Pole Formation, allowing entry but barring exit. Occasionally, a few low-level spirit beasts, in the Qi Refining or Foundation Establishment stages, wandered in, only to be redirected back.

The beasts looked confused as they were rerouted. This was a remote area, so why were they circling back to where they started? Puzzled, they ambled off in other directions.

“Moo moo!”

Brother Ox excitedly pulled out his communication jade slip, which was glowing faintly. It was a signal from Big Brother Xun—he was on his way back!

“Haha, Brother Ox, Brother Xun’s back with the goods!”

Xiao Chi practically bounced with excitement, fully at ease now. “Let’s finish setting up the array, or Brother Xun might accuse us of slacking.”

With that, he doubled his efforts, his movements more animated.

Xiao Chi had heard Brother Ox mention that Qian Country was their homeland, a place with few Nascent Soul cultivators, which made it only slightly safer than the Heaven’s End Plains.

“Moo moo!” Brother Ox snorted, gazing intently in one direction, holding his ground.

"Brothers, I’ve bought quite a haul, haha!"

A loud, boisterous laugh echoed from the distance as Chen Xun streaked across the sky, his figure becoming visible as he approached. “Back home at last!”

“Moo~~~”

“Brother Xun!!”

Brother Ox and Xiao Chi practically jumped for joy, shouting back in unison, turning their secluded spot into a lively scene of reunion.

Boom!

With a thunderous landing, Chen Xun arrived, excitement radiating from him as he held up a small storage ring. “Brother Ox, Xiao Chi, come take a look!”

They rushed over, with Brother Ox eagerly nudging Chen Xun, who laughed heartily and gave the ox’s head an affectionate hug, the atmosphere warm and joyful.

“Brother Xun, you bought so many things, but they don’t seem that useful for you,” Xiao Chi remarked, tilting his head in confusion. “Most of this is meant for Foundation Establishment and Golden Core cultivators.”

“Moo!” Brother Ox snorted, giving Xiao Chi a sharp swat with his hoof for questioning Big Brother Xun.

“Eheh.” Xiao Chi let out a nervous laugh, realizing he’d almost forgotten Brother Xun’s pride as a dignified person.

“These are for the folks back home. You’ll understand when the time comes,” Chen Xun replied, waving his hand in good spirits, saying nothing about his dealings with the three major factions. “Brother Ox, when will the teleportation array be ready?”

“Moo moo~”

“Two days? Perfect. Right now, all of Da Li’s factions are in war preparation mode, and it’s intense.”

“Brother Xun, let’s hurry back to Qian Country!” Xiao Chi’s voice trembled slightly with worry. “With human cultivators preparing for war, who knows how many spirit beasts will be hunted and used as resources?”

“No need to worry. I spoke to the Bai Li Clan, and they won’t be targeting the Flameglow Ancient Lions any longer. Xiao Chi, you’re safe now.”

“Moo?!”

“Brother Xun… really, truly?”

“Heh, don’t believe in my reputation?”

“Of course I do, Brother Xun!”

Xiao Chi’s joy was palpable, his paws dancing in excitement. From now on, he wouldn’t have to worry about human cultivators hunting him, or constantly running and hiding.

He moved closer, placing a paw on Chen Xun’s arm, gratitude filling his gaze. Brother Xun probably hadn’t just gone out shopping.

Chen Xun gave a soft smile, patting Xiao Chi’s head, though its texture wasn’t quite as smooth as Brother Ox’s.

“Moo?”

Brother Ox’s eyes showed a mix of curiosity and admiration before he nodded firmly. “Moo!”

In his heart, Brother Ox thought that with the heavens, celestial beings, and deities all honoring Big Brother Xun, those human cultivators had no choice but to follow suit.

With that, they resumed their preparations, their movements brisk and confident under Big Brother Xun’s presence. His return filled them with a sense of security, making their tasks fly by.