From a carp to a dragon god

Chapter 171 Huaishui Grand Gathering
The Water City is a secret place between heaven and earth, slightly different from the paradise of caves and blessed lands. There is no portal to be found, and one must use the corresponding secret method to enter.

The black-sailed boat driven by Luang Pu and the boat captain was made of the shadow of the lunar moon. It was a rare magical tool that moved on the water like a floating shadow.

In the early years when there was no water market, tribute salt was transported out of Shuchuan using this kind of shadow boat, which entered the water silently and could not be detected by gods or ghosts.

Yu Shuyang also gained some knowledge. He had previously deduced from Bai Dan's records that there was a private densely populated area connecting the north and the south.

He saw the name written on it as Huaishui Daji and thought it was a market town. The last time he came to Danhuang Dongtian, he even instructed his eighth brother-in-law to do business here.

Unexpectedly, it turned out to be a secret place between heaven and earth, which could not be entered or exited without secret methods. Fortunately, my eighth brother-in-law relied on his identity as a Bashe to get in touch with the head of the Shuchuan tribute salt.

After a short while, the black-sailed boat entered the water market, first passing through a cloud of mist and water, and then stopped at a water and land pier.

"Brother, we're reaching the shore."

The captain of the boat was rowing outside and shouted as they approached the shore. "Laoge" is a respectful title used in Shu to refer to the headman, regardless of gender, age or status.

When Luang Pu heard the noise, he asked the three of them to get off the boat. This land and water terminal was the unloading terminal for the tribute salt warehouse.

At this time, the place was empty with only this black-sailed boat parked there, which also explained why Huang Wenxun cast a spell with the boat talisman, since it was Luang Pu who came to pick him up personally.

"This is the dock of the tribute salt warehouse. Walk inside and pass through the workshops, and you will reach the big market of the water market.

It is said that there are as many as 100,000 shops. I will take you there to see how bustling it is."

Huang Wenxun casually introduced it to his two brothers-in-law. Looking at the scene at the dock, his heart sank. In the past, there were cargo ships coming and going here all the time.

"If you go to the market now, you won't be able to see the excitement. Most of the merchants have closed their shops, waiting for tonight's performance.

If you two want to see the excitement, why don't you come with me to the Gongyan Guildhall? It's bustling now, and you can ask around."

Luang Pu spoke with a smile, his pair of crescent eyes were filled with an indescribable kindness.

"Thank you for Luang Pu's care. We still have a shipload of goods. We have to go to the market to inquire about it first, no matter what the final result is announced tonight.

I have to contact a few first, so I don't get stuck trying to find buyers when the time comes." Huang Wenxun politely declined.

He was now extremely anxious and furious. When he saw the situation at the dock just now, his heart was completely chilled. He just wanted to find a familiar merchant to discuss business.

"You snake man, you're so unreasonable. Since I brought you to the guild hall, how can I not give you benefits? It's just a treasure ship's cargo.

I'll ask Lao Wu to go to the Canal Fair later and invite a ship captain over. I guarantee that all the goods can be taken over. When will we have trouble selling the goods from the East China Sea?

Saying you don't understand the market is a bit of a fool; it's flattering. Don't listen to him, young men."

Luang Po took the Moon Shadow Boat away and asked the boat captain to take her invitation and go to the Caohui to invite a Sanbatou. She also reminded the person to bring the white paper fan he carried with him.

The Caohui is a water shipping company, and is divided into five levels according to the number of cargo ships it owns. The third-level leader is the head of the third level, and he must have at least more than a thousand cargo ships.

Seeing that Luang Pu had made the arrangements directly, Huang Wenxun could not refuse, so he agreed on behalf of his two brothers-in-law, but he could not stop speculating in his heart.

He had known Luang Pu for several months and said that they hit it off right away. He was just trying to flatter himself, otherwise he would not have just given him a boat amulet earlier.

He is so eager now. As the saying goes, when you show courtesy to others, there must be some ulterior motive. Thinking back to what was said in the cabin just now, he is targeting his two brothers-in-law.

Yu Shuyang and Li Zhenhun didn't notice anything and acted as if nothing had happened, especially Yu Shuyang, who controlled Bai Dan's business relationships and was not in a hurry at all.

Moreover, he also wanted to see where the guild halls of the Five Associations and Eight Trades were, which was the core of Shui City. The current turmoil was also caused by the Five Associations and Eight Trades.

A group of four monsters came out of the tribute salt warehouse. There were large warehouses all around. Places like medicine associations, grain associations, and tea associations all needed inventory.

When I walked out of the warehouse, I saw an open space with many horse-drawn carriages parked there. It seemed that the carriages were not used to transport goods, but people.

"It seems that we can only walk now, and the rickshaw drivers have all closed their businesses." Luang Pu sighed inexplicably.

The current scene of the water city is depressed and somewhat dilapidated. Luang Pu has been here for hundreds of years and feels quite sad.

"It's a good opportunity to go for a walk around. We haven't been to the water market yet." Yu Shuyang said nonchalantly.

"Yes, let's go to the Water Market." Li Zhen also said.

The four monsters walked along the path, and not far away they came to the Xiabahang workshop, which was quite busy.

There were all kinds of knocking sounds and the aroma of cooking. Compared to the quietness in the warehouse, this place was bustling with activity, with guys and chefs coming in and out at any time.

"This is really lively."

Li Zhen sighed after seeing it. He had seen big scenes before, but it was very rare to see a scene like this where everything was handmade.

"It's already halfway through. Most of the workshops in the back have stopped. Right now, they're just putting things up for show, or maybe they're working on unfinished orders from earlier."

Huang Wenxun explained that he had a lot of work, all inherited from this place. The village had been busy smashing lotus pods and peeling seeds for the past two months. The eight trades in the Five Associations and Eight Trades were divided into upper and lower sections. The upper eight trades were similar to the Five Associations, and they were all big businesses, like cloth shops, oil shops, and leather goods shops.

The lower eight trades are small businesses. There are more than eight of them. If you count carefully, there are thirty-six trades and seventy or eighty crafts, such as needlework, bamboo weaving, furniture making, ceramics, etc.

Most of Bai Dan’s connections with the demon clan are here. After all, they lack a source of craftsmen. Most of the craftsmen in the lower eight trades come from the craftsmen clan.

Yu Shuyang looked around and searched for the corresponding shop. After all, he did not take over Bai Dan's incense burner and did not have any connections with those craftsmen. He only had two records and had to guess most of the things.

Walking out of the workshop, you will encounter a big river. The river looks wider than the Huai River, and cargo ships are shuttling back and forth on the water.

An arch bridge rises high into the sky above the river. The most amazing thing is that this bridge was not built but grown from a vine.

"This is the vine bridge from Tiangongfang. It's like planting a tree. Once it's planted, it grows into a bridge. What you see now is more valuable than a magic weapon. It's equivalent to a first-grade spiritual root."

Huang Wenxun introduced the bridge to his two younger brothers-in-law. It was his first time seeing it and he was also shocked. It was not the height of the bridge, but the fact that no matter how many people entered or exited, it never felt crowded.

This vine bridge is alive. It can grow and widen the bridge deck at any time according to the flow of people on the bridge, and it can also automatically adjust its height according to the ships passing underwater.

"The secret technique of building a building by nature? Brother-in-law, this should also be considered as building a building, right?" Li Zhen said excitedly.

Among the Shinto cultivators, in addition to the Divine Sect and the Demonic Sect, there is another type of incense and fire cultivators. The Golden Snake Boy in Danhuang Cave Heaven is an incense and fire cultivator.

The incense and fire gods do not enter temples to worship gods like the Shenzong, nor do they enforce justice like the demons. Most of them practice several natural arts.

The most famous method is the building planting method. Just like planting a building, you plant the spiritual root tree and it will eventually grow into a building or a palace.

"I don't know about that. You have to ask Luang Pu. She has been in Shui City for a long time and knows a lot of inside information." Huang Wenxun touched his head and smiled.

“And Snake Man, it’s really rare when you don’t understand. This bridge and this building look similar, but they actually have nothing to do with each other.

This is the remains of a Vine Immortal, one of the elders of Water City. The current High Priest of the God of Goods Temple is his reincarnation."

Luang Pu gave a few casual explanations, but there was actually a complicated story behind it, the relationship between the Water Market and the Temple of Goods.

The Water Market of the Huai River is the secret realm of heaven and earth where this vine fairy grew up. Because of the isolation of the secret realm, it was able to grow into a first-grade spiritual root.

Also because of the isolation of the secret realm, Tengxian's body was unable to escape the calamity and ascend to heaven. In desperation, he turned to practicing the Divine Sect's method.

It was impossible to practice the Divine Sect's methods in the secret realm without incense and offerings. Finally, Tengxian made a vow to the gods, begging them to let him leave the secret realm.

Finally, Xuantian Duobao Zhenjun responded to his wish, extracted his soul, and helped him reincarnate as a human. This led to the later Water Market and the Temple of the God of Goods.

When the Five Societies and Eight Trades came, they wanted to build a few temples. After all, merchants who practiced the Way of the God of Wealth and signed contracts involved the Five Gods of Wealth.

Every industry has its own ancestor to worship, and places with markets also worship the God of Wealth. Compared with the God of Wealth, the God of Department Store Trade always feels a little lacking.

There were several fights over this matter. On the surface, the dispute was about building a temple for the God of Wealth, but in reality it was a dispute over the control of the Water Market.

However, without the support of the vine bridge, they could not enter the secret realm of Shui City. Finally, the Five Associations and Eight Trades collectively bowed to the God of Goods.

These things are secrets of the Five Associations and Eight Lines. Later merchants did not know the inside story, so Luang Pu naturally would not tell them.

After crossing the Teng Bridge, you will reach the Huaishui Market, which is a bit similar to Xiyu’s Beifang. There are stalls outside and a street of shops inside.

More than 100,000 shops are like a city.

"The buildings here are built using the secret building-building technique I just mentioned. The shops are like spiritual root trees, which can grow and be transplanted." Luang Pu said.

Li Zhen was not very enthusiastic about Tiangong Building Construction. He just mentioned it briefly just now. On the contrary, Yu Shuyang was watching it with great interest.

The secret technique of Tiangong's building construction is to refine the spiritual roots and the magical prohibitions together. As the spiritual root tree grows, the magical prohibitions also grow. Finally, the tree is refined into a living building.

This idea is very similar to the Wuzhi Yaocao Sword. The difference is that the Wuzhi Yaocao Sword is a magic sword and can no longer grow. It needs to collect the Wuzhi Yaocao Qi.

Yu Shuyang wondered what would happen if he followed this method and studied a secret sword technique?
He immediately dismissed the idea. Buildings only need to be inhabited, and there are not as many details as those required for magic swords.

Moreover, the swords that can be grown are all of the wood type, and have many limitations. Later, we have to find a way to refine their shape and quality, otherwise the sword body will be too brittle and will break as soon as it touches the magic weapon.

His mind was full of these questions, and he had no mood to go shopping at the Huaishui Fair. Unlike Li Zhen, he was not so enthusiastic and went around to various shops and chatted with the shop owners.

It can be seen that Li Zhen has grown a lot. He can talk like a proper businessman and does not look like an amateur at all.

Many shop owners knew Luang Pu and greeted him warmly after seeing him. This may have a lot to do with this.

It took an hour to leave, and Luang Pu was getting impatient, but Li Zhen was still not satisfied.

　I originally wanted to write 4200 words, but it was really too difficult. I stayed up late last night and felt tired all day. I couldn't concentrate when I was writing. I really have to change it next time. The impact is too bad.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)