As the group entered Azure Spring City, dusk had already settled. Yet, stepping onto the main street, Lin Feng realized the city was even livelier than Verdant Cloud City at noon. If nothing else, the street itself was twice as wide as those in Verdant Cloud City, flanked by buildings far more splendid and magnificent.
Long Chengkong initially intended to arrange accommodations for Lin Feng and the others himself. However, recalling that Lin Feng had already agreed to let Yang Ge handle it, he refrained. Though Yang Ge possessed considerable worldly wealth, the truly luxurious and high-end establishments in Azure Spring City were reserved for cultivators. Consequently, the inn he had booked was only mid-to-upper tier. Lin Feng and his companions, however, were unconcerned about such things.
After securing their lodgings, Lin Feng accompanied Yang Ge to his warehouse. There, he unloaded the goods stored within several Spatial Rings. Bidding farewell to Yang Ge, Lin Feng, led by Long Chengkong, began exploring the southern district.
Not only Lin Feng, but Zhang Fangzhou and his two brothers were also visiting a place beyond Verdant Cloud City for the first time. They gawked left and right like country bumpkins in a metropolitan city, practically begging for the label 'country folk' to be stamped on their foreheads. Unsurprisingly, they drew disdainful looks from numerous local cultivators along the way.
Lin Feng, having lived on Earth for twenty years, had witnessed the bustle of modern metropolises, which surpassed Azure Spring City's vibrancy. Thus, he remained relatively composed, avoiding the awkwardness displayed by Zhang Fangzhou and the others.
As it was getting late and they were tired from the day's journey, they only briefly toured the nearby area to familiarize themselves before ending their excursion. Before parting, Long Chengkong arranged to continue his role as host the next day. Lin Feng, however, had his own plans and suggested meeting at noon, reserving the morning for personal errands.
Long Chengkong took his leave, while Lin Feng and the other three returned to their inn to rest.
Back in his room, Lin Feng sorted through a batch of repaired magical artifacts stored in his Spatial Ring, preparing to sell them the next morning for funds. He planned to use the money to purchase other items. His visit to Azure Spring City was driven by a firm resolve to plunder the markets thoroughly; he was determined to acquire valuable treasures to take back.
Besides organizing the repaired artifacts, Lin Feng also inventoried those left unrepaired due to insufficient materials. He meticulously noted down all the required components. Only after completing these tasks did he sit cross-legged and enter a state of cultivation.
...
The night passed uneventfully. The next morning, as Lin Feng concluded his cultivation and descended to the inn's main hall, he found Zhang Fangzhou and his two brothers already there, leisurely eating porridge and side dishes.
"Big Bro!! We've ordered breakfast already. See if it suits you!"
The moment they spotted Lin Feng, all three scrambled to their feet. Zhang Fangzhou obsequiously pulled out a chair for him, grinning broadly.
"..." Lin Feng looked at them, slightly exasperated. "I told you, just call me by my name. There's no need for this 'Big Bro' stuff. It feels like a street gang..."
"Big Bro, you're so formidable! How could we dare call you by name? 'Big Bro' is just fine," Zhang Fangzhou fawned. "We three brothers have decided! From now on, we follow you, Big Bro! Whatever you command, we'll do it without question!"
"..."
Lin Feng was momentarily speechless. I guess this completes a standard transmigrator's mission checklist – without even unleashing any 'kingly aura', three lackeys have willingly offered themselves up.
Deep down, Lin Feng understood. It wasn't due to some overwhelming personal charisma. Zhang Fangzhou and the others were simply making a choice common among cultivators in this world. Minor, unaffiliated cultivators like them yearned for a powerful patron – someone to shield them from bullying and secure their access to cultivation resources.
Though initially uninterested in acquiring followers, seeing the earnest determination on the trio's faces changed Lin Feng's mind. He realized that upon returning to Verdant Cloud City, he'd likely enter a period of secluded cultivation. Tasks like trading artifacts could be delegated to Zhang Fangzhou and the others. This would free up more time for his own training... which didn't seem like a bad outcome.
"Alright then. You can follow me for now," Lin Feng nodded at the three. "After we return to Verdant Cloud City, there will be some tasks I need your help with. In return for your service, I'll ensure you have the cultivation resources you need." He cut straight to the point, avoiding hollow pleasantries – fair exchange: effort for reward.
"Thank you, Big Bro!!"
Zhang Fangzhou and his brothers beamed, their faces lit with visions of a bright future. They were certain following Lin Feng would bring immense benefits. Just yesterday, the spoils from the yellow-robed cultivator included over two thousand spirit stones – more than they'd ever seen in their lives. And Lin Feng had handed them over without a second thought.
...
After breakfast, Lin Feng gave Li Sha's severed head to Zhang Fangzhou. He instructed the trio to collect the bounty from the Li family and then meet him at the Southern District's Free Trade Market.
This was the first 'mission' assigned by their 'Big Bro', and it involved collecting a whopping 50,000 low-grade spirit stones! The sense of trust bestowed upon them filled Zhang Fangzhou and his brothers with profound satisfaction. They thumped their chests in assurance, vowed to complete the task, and left brimming with excitement.
This was also a small test from Lin Feng. If Zhang Fangzhou and the others truly ran off with the 50,000 stones, he would consider it a lesson learned – a loss of unexpected windfall to prevent greater future losses. It would be a worthwhile trade.
After the trio departed, Lin Feng wandered the streets alone. His plan was straightforward: first, visit artifact shops to sell a batch of repaired treasures; second, purchase the materials he'd listed the previous night, along with some scrap artifacts; and finally, browse the Free Trade Market, hoping to stumble upon hidden gems.
Lin Feng currently possessed nine fully repaired magical artifacts. Four were mundane artifacts, while the other five were treasure artifacts: three low-grade, one mid-grade, and one extremely precious high-grade treasure artifact. All originated from cultivators like He Wenyang. While Lin Feng had a decent stockpile of materials, these were all he could repair; the rest remained incomplete due to missing components. The best among them, the high-grade treasure artifact, was precisely He Wenyang's Thunder Arc Treasure Blade. Lin Feng had no interest in keeping this particular weapon for himself and decided to sell it. Selling it in Verdant Cloud City might have caused trouble if someone recognized it as He Wenyang's. Here in Azure Spring City, it was the perfect place to 'fence the loot'.
The value of the Thunder Arc Treasure Blade alone surpassed the combined worth of the other eight artifacts by several times. Lin Feng had once inquired about the price of a high-grade treasure artifact at Verdant Cloud City's Myriad Treasures Pavilion and was stunned to hear 60,000 low-grade spirit stones. He wasn't sure if the Thunder Arc Blade could fetch that much, but he expected it wouldn't fall far short.
Selling this batch should net him around fifty to sixty thousand stones. Combined with the twenty thousand he already possessed and the potential fifty thousand from Li Sha's bounty, Lin Feng's funds could reach an unprecedented over one hundred thousand low-grade spirit stones. However, his shopping list was extensive. The prices of advanced combat techniques and items like a third-grade Spirit Gathering Array formation plate were still unknown. He'd have to assess the costs when the time came. If funds fell short, he could always sell more treasure artifacts later.
...
Smaller shops might struggle to purchase his entire inventory at once. Therefore, Lin Feng aimed for a larger, more established artifact emporium for a bulk sale.
Walking several streets towards the bustling city center, Lin Feng bypassed two mid-sized artifact shops along the way. Finally, he stopped before an imposing, four-story building covering a vast area.
Seeing the sign above the entrance, Lin Feng paused in mild surprise. It read: Myriad Treasures Pavilion.
"They have a Myriad Treasures Pavilion here too?"
His initial surprise quickly gave way to realization. I'm being overly astonished. The Myriad Treasures Pavilion's influence naturally spans the major cultivation cities across the southern region of the East Serpent Continent. If even a small city like Verdant Cloud City has a branch, then Azure Spring City having one is utterly commonplace.
Choosing the Myriad Treasures Pavilion should pose no issues. Lin Feng promptly decided this was the place. He stepped through the grand entrance...