Chương 36: Arrival in Langya County Town

The Next Day, Early Morning! Zhang Huaijin bid his parents farewell and set out from Green Bamboo Mountain, carrying several dozen Tier 1 Spirit Artifacts that he and his father had forged together. Two hours later, he arrived in Langya County Town. The journey was entirely uneventful. As a late stage Qi Refining Realm cultivator, Zhang Huaijin had nothing to fear from reckless rogue cultivators looking for trouble. Moreover, the Zhang family of Green Bamboo Mountain was growing in reputation.

The number of late stage Qi Refining Realm cultivators within the family was steadily increasing. Langya County Town was built atop a tier 2, low grade spirit vein. With over three hundred years of history, it was called a county town, but in truth, it functioned more like a massive marketplace. Within the town stood three major Foundation Establishment families: the Yan family, the Gao family, and the Tian family.

The Yan and Gao families were the old guard, having produced multiple Foundation Establishment cultivators over generations. The Tian family, by contrast, was the newcomer, having achieved Foundation Establishment status only fifty years ago. They currently had two Foundation Establishment cultivators in residence. Beyond these three families, several rogue Foundation Establishment cultivators also drifted through the town.

Twenty percent of the market's revenue was sent up the chain to a Purple Mansion Realm family in the prefecture. The remaining eighty percent was divided among the three Foundation Establishment families according to their respective strengths. Just from the county town market alone, each family could collect several thousand lower grade spirit stones annually, and that was without counting the resources from their own territories.

Each of the three families stationed one Foundation Establishment cultivator in the town, while their main family compounds were located on spirit mountains within the Purple Dusk Mountain Range. Crucially, those mountains boasted Tier 2 spirit veins. Zhang Huaijin showed his family's merchant pass, which identified him as a worker at the Zhang family's shop, and was exempted from the entrance fee. Each shop was allowed three free entries for its personnel.

The Zhangs had two shops but only four cultivators stationed in town, so they had two slots to spare. Of course, this rule applied only to Qi Refining Realm cultivators. If a Foundation Establishment cultivator wanted to enter Langya County Town, who would dare demand payment? In the end, everywhere you go, strength speaks the loudest. Langya County Town was sprawling, with three main streets paved in blue stone, crowded with a constant flow of people, all of them cultivators.

Shops lined the streets in a dazzling display of wares. Besides the three Foundation Establishment families, various Qi Refining Realm families also had their own shops. Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. The Zhang family's wine shop was particularly famous. When Zhang Huaijin arrived outside, five cultivators were already lined up, waiting to buy spirit wine. A testament to the popularity of their brew.

Next door stood the Zhang family's artifact forging shop, which also saw excellent foot traffic. The Spirit Artifacts Zhang Huaijin crafted were of superior quality, and cultivators who bought them could tell. Word spread, and a reputation was built. Both shops did good business, providing a steady, reliable stream of income for the family. Zhang Huaijin entered the artifact forging shop. Inside, several assistants were busy, rushing off their feet.

They enthusiastically introduced and promoted items to customers, genuine smiles plastered on their faces, making everyone feel welcome. Dressed in white robes, Zhang Huaijin drew attention the moment he stepped inside. One sharp eyed assistant quickly approached and gave a respectful bow.

"Are you, by chance, Young Master Huaijin?"

"That's right," Zhang Huaijin nodded. The young man had spotted the Zhang family's green bamboo emblem on his sleeve. Zhang Hong, having known Zhang Huaijin was coming, had already arranged for an assistant to wait.

"Please, follow me," the assistant said, his manner respectful. These were all rogue cultivators hired by the Zhang family, most of them only at the first level of the Qi Refining Realm. Zhang Hong himself came down to greet him.

"Huaijin, you're here! Our family has found its worthy successors!" Looking at the white robed young man and sensing his cultivation level, the old man's face showed deep emotion. Zhang Huaijin was only twenty one. Not only was he a Tier 1, Upper Grade Spirit Artifact forger, but he had also reached the seventh level of the Qi Refining Realm. A worthy successor indeed! The family's rise was truly in sight!

Zhang Hong knew he owed his own recovery and his advancement to the late stage Qi Refining Realm, entirely to Zhang Huaijin. Although Huaijin was of a younger generation, in Zhang Hong's heart, he was no different from a savior.

"Uncle Hong, you're too kind. It's because of your hard work and sacrifice that the family is doing so well." Zhang Huaijin meant every word. Zhang Hong truly worked himself to the bone for the family. Just then, a young boy appeared from behind Zhang Hong.

"Second Brother, you're here!" This was Zhang Hairun, the ninth ranked member of the third generation. A five-spirit-root cultivator at the second level of the Qi Refining Realm. As the family's operations expanded, they were short on hands, so he had been brought in to help with odd jobs. For Zhang Hairun, though, this was a fantastic opportunity. The county town had no shortage of ambient spiritual energy, and after his daily cultivation, he could learn about artifact forging.

"Keep up the good work," Zhang Huaijin said.

"Aim for the mid stage Qi Refining Realm and become a Tier 1, low grade Spirit Artifact forger. If you have any questions, feel free to ask me." Zhang Hairun was deeply interested in artifact forging. Though he couldn't try forging one himself yet, he could learn the theory.

"Thank you, Second Brother!" A spark of passion lit up in his eyes. After a few more words with Zhang Hong and Zhang Hairun, the two went back to their own tasks. The Zhang family's artifact forging shop was essentially a general store. They sold Spirit Artifacts and talismans, bought spiritual herbs and Spirit Beast materials, and had now even started buying Spirit Beasts. All of this was thanks to Zhang Huaijin. The family's Spirit Beast hunting team was fully formed.

It was led by Zhang Huaijin's younger uncle, Zhang Liwei. Born in the same year as Zhang Huaijin, Zhang Liwei was a mutually complementary three spirit root cultivator. He had already reached the peak of the sixth level of the Qi Refining Realm and could break through to the seventh level at any moment. He had no interest in forging Spirit Artifacts or other arts; his sole passion was battle.

He led a team of five other cultivators, all from the Zhang family's third generation, who had only started cultivating a few years ago. Without exception, their parents were mortals. Born into ordinary circumstances, they had to fight for their own resources. In the cultivation world, if you don't have a craft like artifact forging, you hunt Spirit Beasts. These cultivators often ended up slightly stronger in combat than their peers. They were called Combat Cultivators.

Those who made their living by robbing others were called Plundering Cultivators. Zhang Huaijin lingered at the artifact forging shop for a while. When he saw the line at the wine shop next door had shrunk and things were less busy, he walked over to see his eldest brother, Zhang Hanren.