The Storm Approaches

Li Family Shop

A young attendant stared at the sea of people outside, his face falling as he turned to Li Kongyun.

"Master, do we truly have to keep buying?"

In just a single day, a massive throng had gathered upon hearing the news. If this continued for a few more days, there was no telling how many more would rush in to sell.

For now, most of the arrivals were Rogue Cultivators. The scattered bits of spiritual materials they offered were few and cost only a handful of Spirit Stones. But soon, the various Immortal Clans would arrive. By then, their wealth would flow out like water.

"How many Spirit Stones are left?" Li Kongyun asked calmly.

"Altogether, we only have about three hundred Spirit Stones left. We spent over fifty this morning alone," the attendant said mournfully. The main family had given them Spirit Stones to purchase spiritual materials here. At this rate, their Li Family shop would be entirely emptied of funds in two or three days. What would they use to keep their doors open then?

Who could have anticipated that this small, remote market would suddenly be flooded with so many medicinal herbs and spiritual plants?

Li Kongyun said in a deep voice, "Continue buying. As long as we endure through today, the clan elder will arrive to manage everything."

He had already received word. An elder from the War Hall was rushing over. Once he arrived, the dust would settle. Besides, hoarding these spiritual materials came at no loss. Later, when the elder refined them into Pills, the profits would multiply several times over.

Helpless, the attendant could only open the doors.

Instantly, the frantic crowd surged inside.

"Shopkeeper Li, take a look at this Blood Ganoderma of mine! How is it?"

"Attendant! Over here! Check my Sleeping Green Lotus and give me a price!"

"Shopkeeper, look at the quality of this Golden Origin Fruit!"

...

Identical scenes were playing out at the Song Family shop.

Baixi Residence

Zhou Minghu sensed another Qi Condensation aura brushing against the edges of the market. His expression grew heavier.

Right now, over a hundred cultivators had gathered in the market, including several at the Qi Condensation realm. The Zhou Clan was weak. If they were drawn into this churning vortex, they would be torn apart and devoured in an instant.

Lowering his voice, Zhou Minghu addressed the gathered servants. "Disguise yourselves. You have one hour to sell all these medicinal herbs. Once done, gather here. We are going home."

"When this matter is settled, I will reward you all handsomely."

These words sent a jolt of ecstatic surprise through the servants. Zhou Hu's inclusion in the clan register, stepping into the true Zhou lineage, had left them all burning with envy.

None of them expected the Zhou Clan's promise to be genuine. Even they, mere house-servants and adopted sons, had a chance to become masters. With the undeniable proof laid bare before them, their blood boiled with excitement.

If they were told right now that laying down their lives would earn a true clan lineage for their descendants, these servants would charge forward without hesitation.

Trading one worthless life to secure eternal prosperity for their bloodline-it was too damn worth it!

"Third Young Master, we await your command!" the servants shouted in unison.

At Zhou Minghu's order, they began unloading the spiritual plants and herbs from the carriages.

The bumpy journey and constant, forceful cramming had battered the spiritual plants. Many were bruised or crushed, looking no better than rotting cabbage leaves.

Reduced to such a state, their value had plummeted. They wouldn't fetch many Spirit Stones.

But as long as they were dumped before the conflict between the three great families erupted, every piece sold was pure profit.

Zhou Minghu had already braced for the absolute worst: that after today, this market-and perhaps even Madam Huang herself-would be no more!

Half an hour later, the Zhou Clan members reconvened at the Baixi Residence. Many spiritual plants remained unsold.

"Third Young Master, the quality is too poor. The Li and Song families refuse to take them," a servant reported with a heavy sigh.

"Then destroy them all," Zhou Minghu commanded coldly.

"Ah?"

"Grind down the rest and burn them," Zhou Minghu elaborated, his tone leaving no room for argument. "Do not leave a single trace."

Left with no other choice, the servants obeyed. They mashed the remaining spiritual plants to pulp and set them ablaze, reducing them to ash.

As for the goods they had managed to sell, their theoretical value was over a hundred Spirit Stones. However, the Li and Song families had ruthlessly suppressed the price, handing over a mere eighty-seven Spirit Stones.

Because both the Li and Song families controlled spirit veins within their territories, they settled the transaction with genuine Spirit Stones, conveniently sparing the Zhou Clan the burden of carrying cumbersome mortal currencies.

The Spirit Stones were only the size of a thumb, crystal clear, with a hazy spiritual mist swirling within. Just holding one in the palm sent a refreshing coolness seeping into the flesh.

Zhou Minghu tucked the small boxes of Spirit Stones securely into his robes. He sealed the doors of the Baixi Residence, rendezvoused with Zhou Xuanya, and led their contingent of clan guards out of the market.

Their departure did not go unnoticed. Many arriving Immortal Clans, including several from the four counties, spotted them.

"Hahaha! This Zhou Clan is truly as timid as a mouse. As the saying goes, wealth is sought in danger. Yet they flee at the first gust of wind," a Wei Clan cultivator mocked.

Beside him, a Meng Clan cultivator sneered. "Who could say otherwise? To think they had the gall to occupy such a massive storefront. How ridiculous."

The Zhou Clan's occupation of the best location in the market had long been a sore spot for these Immortal Clans, drawing endless scorn. They simply hadn't expected the Zhou Clan to tuck their tails and run so quickly.

"You shouldn't speak so harshly. The Zhou Clan is small, their numbers few. If any mishap occurs, their entire lineage could be severed. Caution is their only sensible course," a Zhao Clan cultivator interjected, offering a rare word of defense.

Over the past two years, the Zhou Clan had sold them a massive volume of talisman paper. Speaking a single good word on their behalf cost nothing.

Zhou Minghu ignored the jeers. He merely cupped his hands toward the crowd. "My clan's affairs are heavy, and I truly cannot linger. I will take my leave."

Without a backward glance, he led his younger brother and their men away from this den of brewing chaos.

The market was a chaotic mix of dragons and snakes. Watching the Zhou Clan retreat, several Rogue Cultivators felt dark greed stir in their hearts and quietly slipped into the shadows to follow them.

At the four corners of the market, multiple Qi Condensation cultivators concealed their presences, silently surveying the domain.

Among them were righteous cultivators from the Immortal Clans, dispatched to protect their kin. There were Rogue Cultivators, lingering like vultures for a scrap of the spoils. And hidden deeper still were Demonic Cultivators, infamous for their cruelty.

Having caught wind of the escalating blood-feud between the Huang Clan and the Li and Song families, they had crossed hundreds of li to lie in wait. If the Li and Song families shattered the Huang Clan today, they would swarm the market, turning it into a playground of slaughter and pillage.

If the great families somehow maintained a fragile peace, they would simply descend upon the lesser Immortal Clans and Rogue Cultivators below. No matter the outcome, they refused to leave empty-handed.

As more Immortal Clans and Rogue Cultivators poured in, the entire market swelled with unprecedented fervor. Even within a one-li radius outside the gates, countless carriages and camps had taken root, all hungering for a piece of the profit.

The sharper Immortal Clans saw the truth of the situation. Like the Zhou Clan, they intended to scrape together a few Spirit Stones and flee immediately.

But the vast majority were Rogue Cultivators blinded by greed. They surged blindly into the fray, convinced this market was a treasury of Fated Chances. They did not realize they were merely marching into the maw of the beast, destined to become food for others.

Right now, the market was the eye of a terrifying, brewing storm. All this deafening prosperity was merely a final, fleeting gasp before the slaughter began.

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