The Prodigies War

The next morning, Wang Lin left the Stone Cauldron Alms in a hurry and headed towards Great Eight Hundred Street.

He was a little distracted as he was constantly thinking about the Golden Jade Hall’s background and how they dared to lie about having a peerless treasured blade for sale.

Why haven’t I heard about a store called the Golden Jade Hall on Great Eight Hundred Street?

When Wang Lin heard the news that caused quite a stir, he, at first, thought it was a tactic made by an unscrupulous businessman to draw people’s attention, but after a deeper thought, he realized that the Golden Jade Hall was quite extraordinary.

A little unknown store had become famous in just one day and had caused a huge sensation. This itself was already abnormal.

In Wang Lin’s view, the “peerless treasured blade” was just a promotion tactic but no ordinary businessmen could think of something like that.

So, Wang Lin had to check out the Golden Jade Hall.

The Golden Jade Hall had announced that they would reveal the true face of the “peerless treasured blade” at noon, and so, Wang Lin wanted to find out who the owner of the store was and whether the rumors regarding the blade were true.

A gorgeous, jewel-adorned carriage pulled by four golden-mane white deer clattered across the street and came to an abrupt halt next to Wang Lin.

The curtains inside the carriage were lifted up, revealing a kind-looking middle-aged man. He said with a smile, “Aren’t you Brother Wang Lin from Stone Cauldron Alms?”

Wang Lin indifferently gave him a cupped fist salute. “Nice to see you here, Manager of Boundless Treasure Pavilion.”

The kind-looking middle-aged man was called Xiao Yuanzhong and he was the boss of Boundless Treasure Pavilion, one of the largest mercantile businesses in Donglin City. He was known for being shrewd and unscrupulous.

In addition, Boundless Treasure Pavilion and Stone Cauldron Alms were competitors, and so Wang Lin and Xiao Yuanzhong weren’t on friendly terms.

“Haha, could Brother Wang Lin also be making a trip to check out Golden Jade Hall?” Xiao Yuanzhong said with a smile.

“Yes.” Wang Lin nodded calmly. “Golden Jade Hall has caused quite a stir yesterday and even I couldn’t help but feel a little curious.”

Xiao Yuanzhong agreed. “That’s right. I heard that Golden Jade Hall only opened a few months ago. I thought it was just a little shop. Who would have thought that the owner would be that extraordinary?”

Xiao Yuanzhong continued meaningfully, “Everyone of the same trade in Donglin City has been alarmed. Brother Wang Lin, you should know that having one more powerful competitor is equivalent to competing with one more hungry wolf. I wonder what Miss Wansu would think about this situation?”

Wang Lin shook his head. “I can’t read Miss Wansu’s mind.”

Xiao Yuanzhong acknowledged his response with a nod and then he smiled and bid farewell.

“It seems that Golden Jade Hall has already made other merchant businesses increase their vigilance. It likely won’t be easy for Golden Jade Hall to gain a foothold in the future,” uttered Wang Lin ruminatively.

Today, Great Eight Hundred Street was particularly bustling. In addition to ordinary people, cultivators were also flocking to Golden Jade Hall.

All that Wang Lin heard along his way were discussions about the peerless treasured blade. It seemed that not everyone believed in the rumors and some were doubtful, but that only made people more curious.

Besides Xiao Yuanzhong of Boundless Treasured Pavilion, Wang Lin also ran into many influential figures of other trading businesses, all of whom were well-known in Donglin City.

For example, Wu Yongtai from the Wu Corporation and Shi Wenfeng of Profound Gold appeared to be mere business owners on the surface but a strong clan was supporting them both from behind.

In addition to businessmen, Wang Lin also saw many Spirit Dipper cultivators, some of whom were high-ranking figures in Donglin City, such as Lei Qigong, a senior teacher of Donglin Academy, and Sun Zhan, the chief instructor of Violet-Gold Martial Arts Hall.

Wang Lin sighed inwardly. The boss of Golden Jade Hall is indeed impressive to manage to attract so much attention with a little promotion tactic. He must be an expert businessman.

However, Wang Lin also knew that there would be consequences if the so-called “peerless treasured blade” turned out to not exist.

The foundation of a business was credibility. If Golden Jade Hall dared to deceive the public in front of everyone, it would be impossible for them to gain a foothold on Great Eight Hundred Street!

Wang Lin soon arrived at Golden Jade Hall.

Everywhere was packed with people, and impenetrable crowds had long surrounded the store and filled the street with ceaseless clamor like the roaring of waves.

“Peerless treasured blade? What grade could it be? Human, earth or heaven? It can’t be a pure yang aeth tool because that’s a supreme treasure that only Cyclic Derivation cultivators could control!”

“I think the peerless treasured blade can’t be classified according to the known grades. The reason why it’s called peerless may be that it has a very unique mysterious effect and power.”

“Hmph, it’s too early to say. The Golden Jade Hall isn’t huge, but the people there talk big. The peerless treasured blade is most likely a lie!”

“How is that possible? Which business would dare to joke around with that kind of thing? If it turns out to be a lie, Golden Jade Hall wouldn’t be able to bear the consequences.”

Standing on the periphery of the crowd, Wang Lin intently listened to the discussions and he grew increasingly curious about how the owner of Golden Jade Hall would deal with the situation.

The Golden Jade Hall had soared to fame but would it gain a foothold in Dongling City or did it stage a farce and end up packing up in embarrassment?

……

Meanwhile, Lin Xun left his house and navigated the twists and turns of the dark alleys, leaving the chaotic slums.

He was planning on stocking up on ordinary tools and rune ink to pave the way for him to continue in making aeth tools.

The profit margin in making tools was tremendous. Additionally, the process of making aeth tools could help Lin Xun hone his rune art skills, which was extremely beneficial for him as he hoped to become a true rune master. It could be said that he was killing two birds with one stone.

From what Lin Xun knew, some rune masters would choose to take refuge with major forces because they could hone their rune art skills while making aeth tools for them and get paid at the same time.

Along the way, Lin Xun had heard news about the Golden Jade Hall’s upcoming sale of a peerless treasured blade and he couldn’t help but feel a little baffled.

He had seen that Golden Jade Hall had limited financial powers and a weak foundation, and it was akin to an empty shell, so how would it have a peerless treasured blade for sale?

Lin Xun was still perplexed after thinking about this deeply. Although he had sold an Explosion Blade to the Golden Jade Hall yesterday, it was just a lower human grade aeth tool and couldn’t possibly be related to the “peerless treasured blade”.

Lin Xun shook his head. He had no interest in wasting time in following the crowds.

Moreover, given Lin Xun’s current financial situation, there was no way he could purchase the peerless treasured sword even if Golden Jade Hall had one for sale.

Lin Xun walked into a shop on the corner of the street that specialized in selling ordinary tools.

……

Meanwhile, inside Golden Jade Hall.

Gu Liang was restless. It wasn’t due to nervousness but excitement. The street outside their store was packed with people and the buzz in the street was sweeping into the store like waves. It made his blood bubble and he all fired up.

He clenched his fists. Today will determine whether or not our Golden Jade Hall can establish itself and become famous!

“Is such a scene worth being so excited for?” Gu Yanping walked out from the inner room holding a delicately beautiful jade box. He couldn’t help but shake his head when he saw his son’s expression.

“Uh—” Gu Liang scratched his head in embarrassment.

“When you gain more experience in the future, you won't lose your composure so easily. As they say, sages are calm even in major events. A qualified business cultivator must also possess such a character.”

Gu Yanping wore a calm expression on his average face and said leisurely.

Business cultivator!

The title for a cultivator who entered the Dao through business and pursued the cultivation path with wealth!

This title stunk of money and was often despised and spurned by true cultivators, but in the young Gu Liang’s eyes, business cultivation was the most sacred path!

His father was a business cultivator and also the person he admired the most.

In Gu Liang’s view, only one person in the entire empire could be compared to his father—the renowned master of Stone Cauldron Alms, Fortune God Shi!

“Let's go, don’t let our customers wait too long.” Gu Yanping turned around and strode out of the shop.

Gu Liang hurriedly followed him.

“They came out!”

“Is that the boss of Golden Jade Hall? I thought he would be very capable. He’s just an average middle-aged man.”

“Look at the jade box in his hands. Could it be housing the peerless treasured blade?”

When Gu Yanping and his son emerged from the shop, the crowd that had been waiting in front of Golden Jade Hall for ages broke into clamor.

Wang Lin narrowed his eyes and carefully studied Gu Yanping, only to find that he was very unfamiliar looking. He didn’t recognize him.

However, his relaxed and calm bearing was indeed superior to that of ordinary people.

Wang Lin was also full of anticipation. Could the boss of Golden Jade Hall really have a peerless treasured blade?

It wasn’t only Wang Lin, Xiao Yuanzhong and other influential figures from major businesses in Donglin City were also furtively watching the scene.

As Gu Yanping waved his hand, the buzzing atmosphere immediately calmed down.

Without any opening remarks, Gu Yanping directly opened the jade box and took out an aeth blade glistening all over with a scarlet luster.

The blade was three feet and four inches long and around three fingers wide.

Shua!

All eyes were fixed on the blade, but when everyone saw the blade and the aura around its edge, the atmosphere instantly stilled. Many people’s expressions changed, turning to surprise and disbelief.

Before Gu Yanping could say anything, someone thundered, “What an unscrupulous businessman! Is this the peerless treasured blade you spoke about? It’s clearly just a common Explosion Blade!”