Chapter 32 : A Market of Spirits and Decline

"I've heard that many cultivators make it their first priority to taste our Chen Clan's Azure Spirit Fish [a type of fish raised in spiritual waters, prized for its taste and minor cultivation benefits] upon arriving in Yu County."

Eldrin Chen listened with a smile and began harvesting the Spirit Peaches [peaches imbued with spiritual energy, consumed to aid cultivation].

The Spirit Peach Tree had grown swiftly, reaching the First Rank High Grade [a classification for spiritual objects of significant quality] this year and bearing over one hundred and sixty Spirit Peaches.

He picked one hundred and thirty. Thirty were destined for the Clan Treasury, one hundred would be sold at the Yuyang Market, and the remaining thirty-plus he kept for his own cultivation and to entertain guests.

At dawn the next day, Eldrin Chen bid farewell to the Old Granduncle and the two siblings, then set out for Spirit Isle Lake with Chen Lucius and the others.

As they needed to transport live fish to the market, the group was slowed by the rented Flame Cloud Horse [a spirit beast resembling a horse, known for its speed and affinity with fire] pulling the cart. The journey took over ten days before they finally reached Yuyang Market.

Yuyang Market was the sole Cultivation Market [a trading hub for cultivators to exchange resources, artifacts, and knowledge] within tens of thousands of Li-lengths in Yu County. The hundreds of large and small Cultivation Clans [families dedicated to the practice of cultivation across generations] in the county, along with several thousand scattered Rogue Cultivators [independent cultivators without clan or sect affiliation], all relied on this market for trade.

This market had always been jointly governed by the Six Great Foundation Establishment Immortal Clans [the six most powerful clans in the region, each led by a Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator]. By rights, the Chen Clan was one of them.

However, Sixty Years Ago, the Chen Clan's sudden decline left them unable to station a Foundation Establishment Cultivator [a cultivator who has solidified their spiritual foundation, a significant power milestone] there. Consequently, the Chen Clan's share of the market's tax revenue was lost.

The profits from Yuyang Market were immense. Annual tax revenue alone exceeded five thousand Spirit Stones [minerals that store and radiate spiritual energy, used as currency and for cultivation]. Even divided equally among the six clans, each would receive nearly one thousand Spirit Stones. Read, share, and discuss at (audio-novel.com).

Alas, precisely because the profits of Yuyang Market [a major trading hub for cultivators] were so immense, the slightest misstep could attract the covetous gaze of Demonic Cultivators [cultivators who use malevolent, often sacrificial methods to gain power] and foreign Rogue Cultivators [independent cultivators with no sect or clan allegiance]. Therefore, it required a substantial garrison of powerful individuals to defend it.

Among the six great clans of Yu County, apart from the Chen Clan, each family dispatched one Foundation Establishment Cultivator [a cultivator who has solidified their spiritual foundation, a significant power tier] to garrison the market. Since the Chen Clan contributed neither personnel nor effort, they naturally forfeited their share of that vast stream of tax revenue.

This was, in fact, Eldrin Chen's first visit to the Yuyang Market. He gazed upon it with keen curiosity.

Noticing his expression, Chen Lucius explained at his side, "Do not underestimate this Yuyang Market."

"Within the Yuyang Market, five Foundation Establishment cultivators and over five hundred Qi Refinement Cultivators [cultivators in the initial stage of refining their vital energy] stand guard. When they join forces to activate the Heaven's Sword Demon-Slaying Grand Formation [a powerful defensive and offensive array], even an ordinary Purple Mansion Demonic Monster [a powerful demonic beast or cultivator equivalent to the Purple Mansion realm] would struggle to gain any advantage."

Conversing as they walked, the two soon arrived at the Chen Clan's Evergreen Pavilion [a restaurant owned by the Chen Clan].

The Chen Immortal Clan now retained only three shops within the Yuyang Market, one of which was leased to a minor immortal clan.

The two kept for their own use were the Evergreen Pavilion and Evergreen Tower [a shop for trading cultivation resources]. The Evergreen Tower was the clan's shop for procuring cultivation resources like pills, magical tools, and similar items, while the Evergreen Pavilion was one of only three renowned restaurants within the city walls.

Ever since the Chen Clan developed the Spirit Isle Lake over a decade ago and began producing the Azure Spirit Fish [a spiritually infused fish considered a supreme delicacy], the business at the Evergreen Pavilion had flourished increasingly, gradually surpassing its two competitors.

Especially in recent years, with the rising yield of the Azure Spirit Fish, the annual Spirit Stone [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy, used as currency and for cultivation] profit of the Evergreen Pavilion had surpassed three hundred stones.

This single item alone accounted for three-tenths of the clan's annual revenue.

Coupled with the increased yield of Spirit Rice [a type of grain infused with spiritual energy] from Spirit Isle Lake in recent years, and the gradual maturation of the Spirit Medicine [herbs cultivated for their spiritual properties] the clan had been tending for centuries, the deficit had been steadily erased. Not only had they achieved a balance between income and expenditure, but they now also enjoyed a slight surplus.

If the Great Verdant Mountain Spirit Vein [a mountain vein rich in spiritual energy] had not been mortgaged, and if the clan could still operate the trade route for Five Elements Essence [a refined spiritual essence containing the power of the five elements] to Celestial Ruins Mountain, then the annual surplus in the Clan Treasury might well have reached seven or eight hundred Spirit Stone [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy, used as currency and for cultivation].

"It seems this year's harvest has truly been bountiful,"

After the group delivered the Spirit Fish [fish infused with spiritual energy, a delicacy for cultivators] to the Evergreen Pavilion, Second Elder came out to greet them.

With a warm smile, he instructed them to release the Spirit Fish into the rear courtyard's pond for rearing, as these prized fish would not be sold off in a single day.

Compared to ordinary Demonic Beast Meat [meat from magical beasts, consumed by cultivators for its energy], the Azure Spirit Fish were not only exquisitely tender but were also slaughtered fresh upon order, making them far more delectable.

Many cultivators within Yu County yearned to taste this delicacy. However, with the Azure Spirit Fish being limited in supply, the Evergreen Pavilion could only offer them for sale in limited quantities every ten-day period. One simply could not purchase them outside of the designated days.

After releasing the fish, Eldrin Chen made another trip to the Evergreen Tower. He consigned one hundred Spirit Peach [peaches grown on spiritual trees, valued for their energy-boosting properties] for sale there, which were valued at four hundred and fifty Spirit Stone.

He had conducted this business for several years now. Although he forfeited one-tenth of the Spirit Peach profits to the clan, it saved him the trouble of direct sales and expanded the clan's commercial ventures, making it a favorable arrangement for all.

After completing these tasks, he had an acquaintance guide him to the Xuanming Pavilion.

The Xuanming Pavilion was an enterprise of the Mu Clan, one of the six great immortal clans of Yu County. The Mu Clan was the oldest family in Yu County, with a lineage stretching back over six hundred years.

Though the Mu Clan had not produced a Purple Mansion Ancestor in those six centuries, they had never lacked for Foundation Establishment Cultivator across successive generations. Through their diligent management over the ages, the Mu Clan had cultivated the largest Spirit Medicine Garden in Yu County.

It was said they possessed nearly one hundred *mu-area* [one Mu-area equals six hundred sixty-six point six seven square meters] of Spirit Farmland, growing several times more Spirit Medicine than the Chen Clan. Relying on this Spirit Medicine Garden nurtured for centuries, they had fostered the only Second Rank High Grade Alchemist in Yu County.

Even the high-ranking members of Jiang the Ancient Ancestor of Heaven's Ruin Mountain and the Green Sun Sect occasionally required their high-grade Spirit Medicine.

Precisely because of this, the Mu Clan always had ways to procure Foundation Establishment Pill [a precious pill that aids in breaking through to the Foundation Establishment realm]. Counting the three Mu Clan Foundation Establishment cultivators on the Green Sun Sect side, their clan boasted a total of seven Foundation Establishment Cultivator. Immerse yourself in the complete world at audio‑novel.com.

Their Clan Patriarch, Marcus Mu, was also a Foundation Establishment eighth-layer great cultivator, second in strength within Yu County only to the mighty Lin Immortal Clan.

Eldrin Chen was currently lacking one supplementary herb to advance his Alchemy [the art of refining spiritual pills and elixirs], so his thoughts immediately turned to this Xuanming Pavilion.

A cultivator with such outstandingly handsome features as his often drew attention. Coupled with his snow-white robes, a countenance as refined as jade, and an aura of extraordinary grace, he caught the shopkeeper's eye the moment he stepped into the Xuanming Pavilion.

Similar to the Heaven's Ruin Pavilion, a Spirit Medicine shop like the Xuanming Pavilion saw few customers throughout the day. Those who purchased Spirit Medicine were usually regular patrons, so at this moment, only a single shopkeeper was present in the establishment.

The shopkeeper was a middle-aged female cultivator. Her eyes lit up the moment she saw Eldrin Chen, mistaking him for a major client, and she hurried over to attend to him.

"You seem unfamiliar, Fellow Daoist. Is this your first time at the Yuyang Market?"

"Indeed," Eldrin Chen nodded. "I am a disciple of the Chen Clan from Verdant Chariot Mountain. This is my first visit to the Xuanming Pavilion, and I wish to purchase some Spirit Medicine [plants imbued with spiritual energy, used in alchemy and cultivation]."

"So you are a cultivator from the Chen Clan. My apologies for not recognizing you sooner."

A flicker of disappointment crossed the woman's face. Foundation Establishment [the second major realm of cultivation, where one builds a solid spiritual foundation] Immortal Clans like the Chens typically maintained their own Spirit Medicine Garden [a cultivated garden for growing spirit herbs], so they seldom needed to purchase Spirit Medicine from outsiders.

If they did buy, it was usually only high-grade Spirit Medicine, or merely to fill small gaps in their own supplies.

The former generally referred to Spirit Medicine of the Second Rank or higher, which the Mu Clan was reluctant to sell casually. The latter, however, rarely brought significant profit.

Though disappointed, the woman maintained a courteous smile.

"Might I inquire what the guest wishes to purchase?"

"For a certain pill I am refining, I am still missing one portion of Bellheart Herb."

"Please wait a moment, honored guest. I shall fetch it for you now."

With those words, the female shopkeeper turned and went to the back room to retrieve the Bellheart Herb [a spiritual herb whose leaves resemble tiny bells].

While waiting for the female cultivator to bring the herbs, Eldrin Chen sat in the main hall sipping tea. It was then he noticed a youth of perhaps seventeen or eighteen summers enter.

The newcomer was clearly a Rogue Cultivator [an independent cultivator without sect or clan backing] on his first journey, his cultivation barely at the second layer of Qi Refinement. A trace of timidity colored his expression as he stepped into the medicinal shop.

The young man glanced at Eldrin Chen. Mistaking his distinguished bearing and unfathomable cultivation for that of the Xuanming Pavilion's proprietor, he sidled closer and spoke in a hushed tone.

"Shopkeeper, do you purchase Pill Formula [secret recipes for crafting alchemical pills]?" Immerse yourself in the complete world at audio-novel . com.