140 Lineage (2/2)

However, he was also worried that he had made a mistake. He struggled with the thoughts for a while and gritted his teeth.

I can't care much anymore, since I am now the main team leader of the Inspector main team!

With this thought, Wang Baole no longer focused on why Chen Yutong was particularly good to him. However, Wang Baole had a life principle—he would always remember the favors that others have given him. This was a point that had been drilled into him by his father since he was a young child.

At the same time, it was also mentioned several times in the high officials' autobiographies. Therefore, this view point of Wang Baole was as deeply ingrained in his mind as the grudges that he held and could be considered his life principle.

Now, Wang Baole was in a cheery mood as he thought about how he had not only advanced to become an Armament Disciple but had also become one of the leaders of the College Administrative Department. He was joyous but also conscious that the majority of those working in the College Administrative Department, especially those from his Inspector main team, were still unaware of his identity. However, the news would spread, and it would only take a few days before the entire College Administrative Department heard of it.

I need to treasure this period of peace where my abilities are not known to others… Wang Baole thought as he planned to remain humble and low-key. On his way back to the cave abode, he stopped momentarily when he passed the market in the valley, which was also where the attic that he had once lived in was located.

It was now evening, the time when the market was busiest. Amid the sounds of activity, there were also waves of fragrant scents spreading. Wang Baole took a whiff, and his appetite was whetted, but he struggled with his desires.

Forget it. Since something joyous has happened today, I'll treat it as giving myself a reward!

With that thought, Wang Baole instantly felt that his stress was relieved. A light flashed across his eyes as he dashed straight toward the market.

Before long, in the busy market, Wang Baole was hugging a pot of braised eggs while munching happily on fried potatoes as he explored the market with lightness in his steps. He looked at all the stores around and noticed that there were several disciples who were of similar body shapes as him, and he began to think that the market was a good place.

Besides food, there were also many other miscellaneous items, including daily necessities, being sold there. Not only that, they all came in many varieties, so even though they were on the pricier side, it was still acceptable as it helped save some traveling time to Ethereal City for many disciples.

Wang Baole enjoyed himself fully as he picked up a braised egg and put it into his mouth. He had wanted to leave but noticed a snack store, the very one that he would visit time and time again when he lived nearby.

What caught his attention most was that it was advertised on the banner outside the store that a new product had been launched. Wang Baole's eyes lit up, and he immediately walked over. The owner of the store was a middle-aged man who had been on Upper Academy Island for seven years. However, he was still an ordinary disciple as a first level True Breath expert. When he noticed Wang Baole, he immediately greeted him enthusiastically.

As soon as Wang Baole stepped into the store, he waved his hand and spoke forthrightly. ”Old Liu, how has business been so far? Give me a hundred packets of this new snack!”

The middle-aged store owner was also delighted. Wang Baole was generous with his purchases every time he visited his store, which made him extremely happy. Now, as he prepared the snacks for Wang Baole, he spoke with a big smile.

”Senior Brother Wang, long time no see! I'll give you three additional packets on the house!”

Wang Baole nodded happily as he heard the offer. Even though he had not been out since he was admitted to Upper Academy Island, he was aware through the Spirit Intranet that majority of the disciples who were setting up stores there did not have a high caliber and made it onto Upper Academy Island purely due to sheer luck. They were real True Breath experts, but most had achieved breakthroughs at only the one- or two-inch Spirit Root stage.

These people were still considered exceptional to ordinary folks, but on Upper Academy Island, where geniuses were in abundance, they were considered low ranked. Every type of cultivation there required expensive materials that they could not afford, which explained the emergence of markets like that. Such markets allowed them to earn some income to offset the costs of their cultivation.

The only issue was that the market was formed by the disciples of their own accord and were not considered legitimate. Even if they had registered with the College Administrative Department, the items that were permitted for sale comprised mostly of raw materials and other equipment for refinement.

In the Dharmic Armament Pavilion, there were numerous people selling raw materials and other items. The cost was exorbitant, and there was also competition as there were direct sales made by the Dharmic Armament Pavilion for the disciples. Therefore, it was more profitable to sell snacks and other food items in the market, and eventually, the poor disciples started selling food and beverages in the market.

The College Administrative Department turned a blind eye toward this, but occasionally, it would raid the area in order to control the law and order of the area where the market was located. This was unavoidable due to the regulations set by the College Administrative Department and their disapproval toward it.

Thinking of that, Wang Baole empathized with the difficulties faced by the store owners as he smiled.

”Old Liu, you sure know how to run a business. Hmm, give me three boxes of those Ice Spirit Water as well!” Wang Baole spoke and looked around, trying to see if there were any snacks that he had not tried before.

The middle-aged store owner was even more delighted, hearing Wang Baole's additional purchase. He hurriedly packed everything for Wang Baole, and before long, he placed the hundred and three packs of snacks as well as the three boxes of Ice Spirit Water in front of Wang Baole.

Wang Baole was satisfied. He was about to retrieve his Spirit Stones when suddenly messy sounds of footsteps and sounds of shock spread from outside.

”The College Administrative Department is here!”

”Damn it, didn't they just come yesterday? Why are they here again today?”

In the chaos, the middle-aged store owner standing beside Wang Baole instantly turned pale. Wang Baole also turned to look outside bewilderedly, and immediately, he saw tens of disciples donned in robes from the College Administrative Department entering the market following the lead of several Armament Disciples. It was chaotic, and the entire area was thrown into a tizzy everywhere they passed.

The disciples from the College Administrative Department looked extremely fierce. As they passed, they ruthlessly wrecked the stores. The store owners were extremely upset but did not dare prevent them from doing so and could only suppress their anxiety as they spoke urgently in gentle tones.

This very scene made Wang Baole frown.