Chapter 580 - 473: Chance Encounter in Nocturnal City

Chapter 580: Chapter 473: Chance Encounter in Nocturnal City

In January of the 374th year of Jia Shen, after an in-depth conversation with Lu Qian and other mentors, Lin Le sighed repeatedly. Despite feeling pity and concern, he could only understand and respect his decision. In the end, Lin Le insisted on severing ties with Wu Yan.

In May that same year, after surviving a great battle, one of the two Qi Cultivation Perfection defense Honored Guest Elders from the Yunshan Sect sensed a Foundation Establishment opportunity. Lu Qian immediately took out the thick stack of Golden Core Paper left by Guh Niqiang, drawing one as a guide, and assigned Yang Jiye to protect the Foundation Establishment.

But ultimately, the Foundation Establishment failed.

In October that same year, Zhou Chao’s Foundation Establishment opportunity arrived. Lu Qian gifted a Golden Core Paper and appointed Xiao Tianci as the protector, to cross the state commandery and find a place for Foundation Establishment.

In December that same year, Zhou Chao successfully returned after Foundation Establishment, and the Zhou Family finally rose to a Foundation Establishment Sect again.

In March of the 375th year of Jia Shen, Ji Yunrou, the Sect Leader of the Divine Flood Dragon Sect, visited Minglong Mountain, earnestly requesting to become a Daoist partner with Lu Qian, practicing the "Dragon and Snake Harmony Secret Technique" together to help her overcome obstacles and the innate deficiencies of the Snake Spirit Secret Technique, aiming to advance to Foundation Establishment Perfection.

But Lu Qian still declined her. Although Ji Yunrou was charming and unparalleled in beauty, Lu Qian always had reservations and concerns about her. Moreover, he only thought of his senior sister and Guh Niqiang and didn’t want to form another Daoist partnership.

Thus, Ji Yunrou left in resentment, and Lu Qian had no other choice.

In September that same year, another Qi Cultivation Perfection defense Honored Guest Elder in the Yunshan Sect also encountered a Foundation Establishment opportunity, and Lu Qian assisted in the Foundation Establishment just the same. This time the Foundation Establishment was completed smoothly, and a new Foundation Establishment Honored Guest joined the Yunshan Sect.

This person’s surname is Ding, first name Shu. He was Xiao Tianci’s opponent at the first martial arts competition of the Shuangye Alliance in the past. He specializes in Water Element Techniques and has some adept Water Escape skills. After succeeding in Foundation Establishment, Lu Qian granted him half a volume of the Water Escape Secret Technique, which inspired him to decide to perform well and earn the remaining secret manual.

In June of the 376th year of Jia Shen, the Exotic Treasures Workshop in the new marketplace at Yongcui Valley was completed and opened. This time, the establishment of the new marketplace advertised to the nearby county mansions in advance, collaborated in discussions with major businesses in Meihua Square, and deeply linked with the Fifth Shuangye Square’s "Six-Six Festival," and also applied to the Spirit Beast Sect for a temporary flying beast transport route.

However, the situation was not ideal; there were many onlookers but few transactions, and later on, even the spectators dwindled. It was only because the treasures sold at the Exotic Treasures Workshop were inherently expensive that they could maintain, giving a sense of eating for three years from one feast.

Overall, it resulted in only a slight profit, much lower than expected.

Lu Qian concluded that the so-called "high-end" aspect of the Exotic Treasures Workshop was not high-end enough. The treasures sold here, no matter how precious, could only reach Golden Core Level; Nascent Soul Level items were exceedingly rare, and there was significant overlap with the premium market in Meihua Square.

It’s now reliant on additional market content, like various novel service experiences, to slightly attract some customer flow.

In short, this attempt was neither hot nor cold, and not considered a success.

In March of the 377th year of Jia Shen, Lu Qian visited Xi Chan Daoist of the Spirit Beast Sect. He is a True Disciple of the Nascent Soul Spirit Monarch in the Spirit Beast Sect and, despite various reasons, not an Elder, but he holds a superior position and considerable authority there.

As a visiting gift, Lu Qian presented a pillow. Upon trying it, Xi Chan Daoist was very pleased and returned several Golden Core Papers, promising Lu Qian he could visit the Spirit Beast Sect’s Mountain Gate anytime as a guest.

This pillow took Tao Boliang four years to craft, utilizing the wondrous methods in the "Ten Thousand Refinements Golden Touching Wondrous Method," and the materials used were all rare and precious treasures.

The material cost alone for this pillow was one hundred thousand Spirit Stones.

In June of the same year, the new marketplace, Nocturnal City, was built and opened in Tieyuan, quickly causing a sensation. It was a city of entertainment, gambling, customs, and food.

The novel indulgences made cultivators who entered for the first time feel like bumpkins.

Nocturnal City became one of the latest topics in Cangzhou for a time, with Spirit Stones flowing like a river into the pockets of the three sects.

The business at Exotic Treasures Workshop didn’t do very well initially, and Ye Xiao had doubts about Lu Qian’s plans, but now with the bustling scene in Nocturnal City, she couldn’t help but smile.

However, the explosive success of Nocturnal City truly affected Meihua Square’s interests, and Meihua Square’s comprehensive district saw a significant drop in customer flow. Just when Lu Qian felt deeply uneasy, a letter from Xi Chan Daoist brought the Yunshan Sect, Mingyu Sword Sect, and Huanggen Sect together again.

After discussions, the three sects reallocated equity. From then on, thirty percent of Nocturnal City’s shares were given to the State Primordial Spirit Sect and the Xuanwei Sect, and twenty percent to the Spirit Beast Sect. The remaining fifty percent was divided, with the Huanggen Sect holding twenty-five percent, the Yunshan Sect fifteen percent, and the Mingyu Sword Sect ten percent.

But the daily management of Nocturnal City still remained the responsibility of the three sects, with the Xuanwei Sect and Spirit Beast Sect not intervening.

In the year 380 of Jia Shen, the Yunshan Sect completed the crafting of four Flying Snake Daoist Soldiers and ten Void-Soaring and Distant-Guarding Divine Ships. Thus, the Void-Soaring and Distant-Guarding Divine Ships were now made available for sale to the Yunshan Sect’s partner sects.

The artifact refining level at the New Castle led by Tao Boliang kept improving. Lu Qian selected eighteen designs from the one hundred and eight diagrams in one of the three inherited treasures of the Dianjing Sect, "Treasure True Mirror," to focus on. These cleverly conceived and mighty Spiritual Artifacts will enter the market in the future, establishing Yunshan Sect’s artifact refining reputation.

In that same year, Tao Boliang reached Qi Cultivation Perfection.

In August of the 381st year of Jia Shen, Zhou Chao’s cousin, Zhou Ang, succeeded in Foundation Establishment, granting the Zhou Family dual Foundation Establishment power from then on.