156 Chapter 155: Free Trade Stree (1/2)

Tushan City was a renowned city of immense size, despite being hemmed in by huge walls and crackling forcefields of qi. The circular city that stemmed from the Flame Volcano as its center was divided into twelve districts, and each district had its own speciality. The central district, where the Nine-Tailed Fox Sect was located, was essentially the administrative and government district, where officials and bureaucrats worked alongside the blacksmiths, Spirit Engravers and martial artists of the ruling Nine-Tailed Fox Sect.

There was the art and cultural district, a historical district, an industrial district, a district reserved for the airport, hoverport and other transportations from other cities, and a commercial district. Needless to say, there was also a shopping district.

Right now I found myself in the shopping district, tagging along with Tang Qi Hong in her shopping trip.

On the border of Tushan City, at the edge of that shopping district, there were branches from the other sects who set up their shops, such as those from the Divine Shadow Sect, the Dark Asura Sect, the Kun Lun Sect, the Snow Valley Sect, the Heavenly Way Sect, and even the four Celestial Creature Sects. As Tushan City was known as the city of blacksmiths and Spirit Engravers, many of the sects took the opportunity to set up shops in here, selling Spirit Materials they did not need. They would then use the profits to buy whatever resources they required, such as Spirit Medicine and Spirit Pills. It was a win-win situation.

I did the same in my previous timeline, selling off the Warhammer 40,000 miniatures I didn't need in order to buy new models that I wanted. It encouraged the flow of an otherwise sluggish economy, and helped capitalism. Supposedly.

Anyway, that was exactly why the Blood Blades couldn't act yet. Even though the Water Margin Town was within their jurisdiction, without any evidence, they couldn't just attack a suspected Divine Shadow Sect base. While they might hold suspicions as to the nefarious intentions of the Divine Shadow Sect members gathered inside the secluded house, without any evidence that proved beyond a doubt that they were plotting against the Nine-Tailed Fox Sect, the Blood Blades couldn't find any justification to attack them. After all, many sects had branches conducting businesses in Tushan City. If they were to attack each and every one of them on vague grounds of suspicion, they would damage the reputation and thriving business environment of the city, which would affect the lives of many normal residents living and working there.

The Nine-Tailed Fox Sect was not a group of tyrants. It was precisely because of their benevolence and their willingness to embrace free trade and a market economy that Tushan City was able to prosper today. Thanks to that, the shopping district flourished as many sects set up branches of their shops there, which in turn provided ample opportunities of employment for the residents in Tushan City and improved their standard of living.

The shopping district comprised of an agglomeration of such shops. It was possible to buy almost anything you needed from here, the shops ranging from those selling a vast variety of Spirit Materials of all qualities to those selling Spirit Pills and Medicine. Of course, there wwas also fashion shops that sold fancy clothing, and several modern cafes and restaurants for youngsters to hang out in. Those Spirit Materials or products that the shops lacked, they could order them almost immediately. There was where missions and requests for aspiring young martial artists or experienced veterans came in – like that time with the Void Whale. If they required a specific Spirit Material that they did not have, they would put in a request to the martial arts sects to obtain them in return for high rewards. In Tushan City's case, they would request martial artists from the Nine-Tailed Fox Sect's Blood Blades to obtain the Spirit Materials for them.

I roughly recalled Zhao Shi and Da Ge helping me hunt the Ice Soul Python a year ago.

As part of the Nine-Tailed Fox Sect who owned Tushan City, Tang Qi Hong was clearly familiar with the various shops in the shopping district, moving through it like a fish in water as she guided me by hand. It didn't take her long to find the shop with the Spirit Materials she wanted. Or at least the shop that sold them at the best prices.

”This is the place?”

I stopped and stared when Tang Qi Hong abruptly halted in front of one of the shops. It was a small building with the logo, ”Great Nature's Heart” stenciled across its front. When the employees inside spotted Tang Qi Hong, they reacted in shock.

Even though we were wearing the Wu Ling Academy uniforms, we did pin a small insignia of our sect to our collars. While I was missing the Heaven and Earth Sect (Heaven forbid that people found out about my direct relation to it), I had acquired the Nine-Tailed Fox Sect badge, which was a cute nine-tailed fox, and like all other disciples of the sect, was required to pin it to my collar. Even though it was tiny, it was flashy and eye-catching, and the staff's eyes immediately fell upon it. The nine-tailed fox mascot was unique to the inner sect disciples of the Nine-Tailed Fox Sect, but while I wasn't an inner sect disciple, I was a member of the Blood Blades, which granted me equal status. Consequently, the nine-tailed fox pin on my collar was sporting a crimson-red sword, something that was missing from Tang Qi Hong's nine-tailed fox pin.

”You are the inner sect disciples from the Nine-Tailed Fox Sect!” one of the staff approached, bowing his head respectfully. He wasn't entirely accurate, but I was too lazy to correct him over such a trivial mistake. ”Please wait. I will ask the owner to tend to you.”

”Thanks,” Tang Qi Hong responded with a bright smile.

The male employees inside the shop immediately came to life, their expressions glowing in delight. The person who had come to greet us personally flushed a deep crimson, and he shook his head frantically.

”No, no. You're too polite.”

Mumbling, he bowed and hastily retreated to the back of the shop, presumably to where the owner resided.

I looked around curiously, studying the expensive wares that lined the shelves of the shop. Noticing my curiosity, Tang Qi Hong smiled mischievously.

”This store is a branch belonging to the Cloud Sky Mounain Sect. that place is an excellent producer of Earth-type Spirit Materials. We will definitely be able to find the Earth Magnets that we need here.”

Tang Qi Hong paid no attention to the burning gazes of the male employees around her, probably having gotten used to it long ago. She sat down in a chair and relaxed, before gesturing for me to do the same in a nearby chair.

I demurred, preferring to stand and look around. Tang Qi Hong shrugged, as if to say, ”suit yourself.”

She gazed around, a tinge of nostalgia taking over her eyes.

”Junior Pang Yun grew up in Cloud Sky Mountain and is very skilled in forging earth-type Spirit Artifacts. Much like how you have an affinity in forging ice-type Spirit Armaments.”

”That doesn't change the fact that I still suck at forging ice-type Spirit Armaments…at least the permanent ones.”

I shook my head and scowled. Tang Qi Hong's delicate brow creased a little, but she continued as if I hadn't spoken.

”Oh, right. Pang Feng is Pang Yun's brother. You seem to be very good friends with him.” Tang Qi Hong nodded. ”He also lived in Cloud Sky Mountain in the past.”

”Yeah, I know. He told me.”

Pang Feng and I were good friends because we were both members of Blood Blades. Tong Xue too, for that matter, and the three of us usually hung out during Blood Blades gatherings. Funnily enough, we hadn't taken many missions together.

Meanwhile, several of the employees in the store seemed to be overawed as they listened to us mention Pang Yun and Pang Feng.

Pang Yun and Pang Feng had quite the reputation back in Cloud Sky Mountain, and even before they joined the Nine-Tailed Fox Sect, Pang Feng was known as one of the strongest and most talented in his generation. That was why almost all of the youths in Cloud Sky Mountain knew of his power.

”Mss Tang Qi Hong! You have arrived!” A few minutes later, a slightly plumped man in his forties ran out of the back, flustered. He stopped and smiled when he caught sight of her, bowing politely. ”The Earth Magnets that you have already ordered are ready. I've already sent the order, and one of our staff from the main Cloud Sky Mountain Sect will be arriving here shortly to deliver it. I hope you don't mind waiting. It shouldn't be more than thirty minutes.”

”Thanks.” Tang Qi Hong returned the smile and nodded. Evidently she had placed the order online last night, and perhaps selected the Express Delivery function. Since the sect was paying the expenses, there was no reason for her to skimp on the delivery charges. Right now, time was of the essence.

”Our pleasure.” The shop owner beamed, and then he glanced at the staff from earlier, who nodded and retreated to the back. ”Would you like some tea or wine as you wait?”

”Uh…you do realize that we are underage, right? Why are you offering us wine? We're not even eighteen yet.”

If I wasn't mistaken, we could only drink when we were twenty. Or was it when we were eighteen? I couldn't remember.

The plump shop owner's vein twitched in his temple, but he maintained his façade of politeness. Cpughing politely, he cleared his throat.

”My, is that so? I apologize. The both of you look a lot more mature than your age suggests.” He glanced at the backroom where his employee had disappeared into. ”Then I suppose you would have to make do with tea, if you don't mind?”

”That won't be necessary,” Tang Qi Hong assured him gently. ”We will be leaving immediately after we get the Earth Magnets.”

”Oh, I see. I understand. Don't worry, they will be here soon.” The shop owner took out his smart phone and clicked on the app, using the Tracking Order function. ”Very good! How coincidental! They're just a few blocks away!”

A few minutes later, the deliveryman came in and dropped off a package. A couple of employees quickly brought the package to the counter and opened it, before presenting Tang Qi Hong its contents. I caught a glimpse of what looked like copper-colored rocks, but the fact that the surrounding metal artifacts began vibrating violently the moment they were unsealed was testament to their magnetic strength. Without the protective seals in the surrounding shelves, the metal artifacts would all have been drawn to the powerful magnets.

”That's great!” Tang Qi Hong looked pleased. Standing up, she hurried over to inspect the Earth Magnets, and then nodded in satisfaction. ”I'll take them.”

”Would you like a bag?” one of the employees who was unwrapping the Earth Magnets asked. Tang Qi Hong shook her head.

”That won't be necessary. I'll take them with me.”

I half-expected her to ask me to carry them, but instead Tang Qi Hong merely picked up the Earth Magnets and placed them inside her spatial device. Resembling a ring, Tang Qi Hong's spatial device glowed softly as it devoured the shrinking Earth Magnets, the latter disappearing from sight as they were sucked into the gemstone.

Yeah, of course Tang Qi Hong would have a spatial device of her own, being one of the two inner sect head disciples who were candidates to be the future sect leader.

”You have received the payment online, I believe? There are no problems with the electronic transaction, I hope?”

Tang Qi Hong had evidently made an electronic payment online yesterday, using Paypal or her debit card. The shop owner nodded.