Chapter 51: The First Day of Setting Up a Stall

After leaving school, Chen Mobai came to the Changqing Pharmacy.

He originally wanted to help, but Qingnü said that the final step of the water method for refining pills required her to do it alone, so she could focus better and be more efficient.

With no choice, Chen Mobai could only wish her good luck and then leave.

Since he couldn't help much here, he decided to go to the Tianhe Realm to earn money.

After getting home, he first unpacked the delivered package. As expected, it contained the spirit talismans he had bought from the Wood Spirit Talisman Shop. The shopkeeper had neatly bundled them by type and placed them in an elegant wooden box.

Chen Mobai took one of each to feel them, confirmed there were no issues, and then used his phone to confirm the delivery.

With a click, he teleported to the Water Mansion.

He hadn't meditated here for a while, and he felt that the spiritual energy seemed a bit more concentrated.

Now that he had cultivated his divine sense, he could focus on practicing the Five Elements Technique again. Today, he also brought the other bottle of Qi-supplementing spirit water he had purchased but not yet used.

However, he looked at the sky and decided to go to Nanshi Market first.

The market was closed at night, as cultivators preferred to meditate and practice Qi at night and wouldn't waste this golden time on business.

When he arrived at the market again, Chen Mobai met Qi Er at the entrance. The latter immediately came over to greet him, and since he had something to ask, he inquired about setting up a stall.

"If you want to set up a stall, you need to apply to the market manager first, pay a spirit stone as a handling fee, and receive a mat. Then, you can find your spot according to the mat's number and start your business."

After listening to Qi Er's explanation, Chen Mobai understood that setting up a stall wasn't as free as he thought; it was still under the market's management.

Moreover, one spirit stone only lasted for a month. If you wanted to continue after a month, you had to pay another spirit stone.

The only good thing was that no deposit was required. Most of the cultivators in Nanshi Market were scattered cultivators, who were very poor. Many of them obtained goods from unspeakable sources, set up stalls to sell them, and could usually sell them all within a month.

After earning spirit stones, they would retreat to their rented caves to cultivate. When their spirit stones were used up, they would come out again to restock and set up stalls.

Hearing this from Qi Er, Chen Mobai couldn't help but sigh at the carefree and content nature of the cultivators in the Tianhe Realm.

The market stall manager was named Wu Hong, a cultivator from the Wu family, one of the four major cultivator families in the area, at the ninth level of Qi cultivation.

To such a person, a small stall was nothing. After Chen Mobai paid a spirit stone, he received the mat.

"Wu Senior is one of the six managers of Nanshi Market and the one who dislikes trouble the most. However, if there's trouble at your stall, his methods are the most ruthless. He will directly expel the troublemaker from the market. If you have no background, you won't see the sun the day after being expelled."

Qi Er didn't notice Chen Mobai's silent expression.

"This Tianhe Realm really has no order."

Having grown up in the orderly civilization of Diyuan Star, Chen Mobai always felt out of place in the cultivator environment of the Tianhe Realm.

However, he could only console himself to mind his own business, do his business honestly, and not cause trouble or meddle in others' affairs.

"Senior, there's one more thing. Are the spirit talismans you're selling made by yourself or acquired from elsewhere?"

Qi Er led Chen Mobai to the area where talismans were sold and asked as they walked.

"They are from a friend of mine who asked me to sell them."

"Here's the thing: in the market, each trade has a stall leader. The spirit talisman trade's leader is named Jia Sui. He is also an excellent talisman maker. If you want to sell high-quality first-grade spirit talismans, it's best to let him know."

Although Qi Er didn't say it clearly, Chen Mobai understood the implications.

High-quality first-grade talismans were traded with spirit stones, and this market was clearly already occupied. If Chen Mobai wanted to get a share, it was best to let him know first to avoid misunderstandings.

"Who is this Jia Sui?"

"He used to be a helper at the Spirit Wood Sect's talisman paper shop. After his master returned to the sect, he started setting up stalls on his own. Because of his connections, he can get talisman paper, talisman skin, and spirit ink at cost price. Most cultivators who make talismans in the market buy their materials from him. It's said that he gives a kickback to each shopkeeper of the talisman paper shop, and we consider him part of the Spirit Wood Sect."

After listening, Chen Mobai fell silent again.

Is it appropriate to talk about kickbacks in public?

"Senior, we're here."

At this moment, Qi Er pointed to a corner on the east side of the market.

On the road paved with blue bricks, there was a rectangular area marked with white lines, with "East 19" written in the middle.

Chen Mobai took out the mat he had rented for a spirit stone and placed it in the marked area, fitting perfectly.

Next to him, three other stalls selling spirit talismans were set up, with two male and one female cultivators all looking over.

"Cough, I am Chen Guixian, a newcomer. I hope to earn a living here and look forward to your guidance."

Chen Mobai used the name he had thought of and greeted the three stall owners, receiving three cold stares in return.

"Senior, I'll leave now. If you need anything, find me at the market entrance."

After leading him, Qi Er immediately left. Chen Mobai immediately gave him 10 taels of gold.

The money from selling the crossbow, 400 taels, was exchanged for vouchers, and the remaining 50 taels were for daily use. He had spent 30 taels on books yesterday, leaving 20 taels.

Qi Er didn't refuse and took it with a smile.

Chen Mobai stood on the street and laid out two of each of the five types of low-grade first-grade spirit talismans he had bought from the Wood Spirit Talisman Shop, and then added a medium-grade first-grade Green Arrow Talisman.

He originally wanted to put the Wood Armor Talisman on display but decided to wait. He planned to unlock these talismans when his business improved.

Moreover, this was a life-saving talisman, and he didn't want to reveal it yet.

However, it turned out he was overthinking.

By sunset, the three stall owners next to him had packed up, but he hadn't sold a single talisman.

On the first day of setting up his stall, Chen Mobai's income was zero. He packed up the spirit talismans, rolled up the mat, and left the market with his head down.

However, when he returned to the Water Mansion, he composed himself.

He took the Qi-supplementing spirit water and began his long-awaited meditation and Qi practice.

Under the control of his divine sense, the colorful adaptive spiritual energy corrected some minor deviations and routes, following the techniques taught by Qingping Shangren, and completed the Grand Circulation.

The pale blue spiritual energy, like a mist, enveloped Chen Mobai in the center of the Water Mansion, making him look like a celestial being dining on the morning dew.