Immortality and cultivation begin with full comprehension.

Chapter 219 Exorbitant Fees
"These items are worth 85 low-grade spirit stones! I'll pay the rest with 2 mid-grade spirit stones and 55 low-grade spirit stones. What do you think, Senior Brother Yu?"

Li Yunjing tossed out his spirit stone and continued to ask.

This time, Li Yunjing actually lost money by taking out so many supplies.

However, he cannot wait to slowly monetize it.

Li Yunjing didn't have that much time to waste.

Sometimes, spending a little more money to buy some time is worthwhile.

Of course, Li Yunjing wasn't stupid; when it came to bargaining, he still needed to talk things over.

He then suggested reducing the cost by 10 low-grade spirit stones.

This is in order to minimize one's own losses.

Otherwise, Li Yunjing would probably have lost more than 20 low-grade spirit stones.

How much risk do you have to take to accumulate 20 low-grade spirit stones?
Such a large sum of spirit stones is something even Li Yunjing cannot ignore.

When it's time to talk, we should still talk; every little bit saved counts.

"Okay! No problem!"

Old Yu understood this principle, and he readily agreed to Li Yunjing's request.

That's how trading companies operate—buying low and selling high.

Li Yunjing was already at a loss by proposing a barter system.

Elder Yu was willing to give Li Yunjing, such a promising prodigy, face and let him make up for the 100,000 low-grade spirit stones.

After all, it's worthwhile to win over big spenders with such purchasing power.

In the future, if Li Yunjing has business opportunities, he can still take care of him.

Otherwise, if Li Yunjing feels unhappy and comes to "Tian Gong Shang" to buy treasures from others in the future, wouldn't Old Master Yu suffer a huge loss?
As for Li Yunjing not coming, should we go to another shop?
Old Master Yu didn't care about this issue at all. When it comes to refining magic weapons, how many families in the entire Southern Continent are stronger than their "Heavenly Craft Hall"?
Where else could Li Yunjing go if he didn't buy from "Tian Gong Shang Shop"?
This is the confidence of a large, technologically advanced store!

We're not afraid you won't come to our door!
"Yeah! Thank you!"

There was no other way; when you're under someone's roof, you have to bow your head. Even though he knew the other party had made five or six hundred thousand spirit stones off this deal, Li Yunjing still had to put on a smiling face.

Who can blame them when "Tiangongtang" is so powerful, with such high technical skill, that their flying boats are in high demand?
Li Yunjing had no choice but to give in.

He secretly vowed in his heart: "There is great potential in weapon crafting! In the future, when I have time, I must craft more good things and earn more resources."

This time, he really suffered a huge loss.

In one go, all low-level items on your person, except for materials, will be cleared out.

Li Yunjing's previous plans had to be changed, and he was no longer able to provide support for the business of "Star Moon Trading Company".

There has been no news from Xing'er and Yue'er, which means that "Xingyue Trading Company" is operating quite well and can continue to survive.

However, being able to hold on was not the outcome Li Yunjing wanted.

Having witnessed how large shops amass enormous wealth, Li Yunjing was eager for the first "Star Moon Trading Company" in the "Red Sun Market" to become the most prestigious shop in the market.

Only when the first "Star Moon Trading Company" grows strong can Li Yunjing open a second shop in other places.

In order to enable "Star Moon Trading Company" to support his cultivation as soon as possible, Li Yunjing still needs to think of a way to gather a batch of goods to support the other side.

While lost in thought, Li Yunjing discussed the details of the enhanced "Qingyun Boat" with Elder Yu, especially the standards for modification and the choices for the interior.

"Alright! Junior Brother Li, please wait a moment. I'll prepare a contract for you. It's a big deal, so it's best to be thorough."

Half an hour later, the two sides finalized the details, and Old Yu stood up, his face beaming.

This single deal was almost equivalent to building two "Azure Cloud Boats," a huge business opportunity from which he earned a substantial profit.

Old Yu's attitude towards Li Yunjing naturally became even more amiable.

If one or two such generous guests come every month, he won't have to worry about cultivation resources.

"Yeah! That's good!"

Li Yunjing nodded, which was only to be expected.

Transforming the "Qingyun Boat" will take time; it's not something that can be done overnight, much less a simple matter of paying money and receiving goods.

"Tian Gong Shang" wouldn't have cheated Li Yunjing.

However, one should not have the heart to harm others, but one must be wary of others. If this sum of spirit stones has gone somewhere and has not ended up in the public account of "Tian Gong Shang Shop", then...

When the time comes, if "Tian Gong Shang" doesn't receive the money and simply refuses to acknowledge the debt, Li Yunjing will have nowhere to turn to for help.

Even if you win the lawsuit in the end.

The price Li Yunjing had to pay was also enormous.

It even affected Li Yunjing's image within "Tiangongtang," and will have a negative impact on Li Yunjing's future development.

To avoid trouble, Mr. Yu's approach of signing a contract was exactly what Li Yunjing wanted.

Actually, even if Old Yu hadn't brought it up, Li Yunjing was prepared to bring it up anyway.

The fact that someone brought it up saved Li Yunjing some trouble and saved him some words.

Just as Old Master Yu went out to prepare the contract, Li Yunjing took out the "Ten Thousand Mile Communication Talisman" and contacted Xing'er and Yue'er.

"Xing'er, Yue'er, how have you been lately? How's business at our trading company? Have you two been focusing on your cultivation?"

When Xing'er, who was far away in the "Red Sun Market" on the second floor of the "Star Moon Trading Company", suddenly sensed the "Ten Thousand Mile Communication Talisman" vibrating, she was overjoyed and immediately took out the talisman to examine it carefully.

As expected, it was a message from Brother Yun Jing.

"Moon, look, it's a message from Brother Yunjing!"

After Xing'er finished reading, she quickly called out to Yue'er, who was doing the accounting.

The voice was filled with surprise.

"Hmm? Let me see!"

Upon hearing this, Yue'er's eyes crinkled into crescent moons with laughter. She quickly put down the accounts, stood up, went to Xing'er's side, picked up the "Ten Thousand Mile Communication Talisman," and began to examine it.

"Brother Yun Jing! We're all doing well! 'Star Moon Trading Company' is doing well too! Business has been good lately! Brother Yun Jing, when are you coming to see us? We miss you so much!"

The moon carried the message.

Li Yunjing had not contacted the two women for a long time, which made them feel uneasy. They didn't know if Li Yunjing was cultivating, and they didn't dare to send him a message so as not to disturb his cultivation.

Today, upon receiving a message from Li Yunjing, the two women finally put aside their worries and showed joy on their faces.

"Hmm! I guess it will take a while! I just advanced to the Foundation Establishment Realm and still need to complete a sect assessment mission. After I finish the mission, I will come to 'Crimson Sun Market' to stay for a while and spend some time with you all."

Upon seeing the reply that everything was fine on the other end, Li Yunjing smiled and quickly sent a message back.

When the news of Li Yunjing's Foundation Establishment reached Xing'er and Yue'er, they were greatly surprised. They hadn't expected their brother Yunjing to cultivate so quickly.

The two women also felt a sense of urgency. If they wanted to stay with Li Yunjing for a long time, they would at least have to break through to the Foundation Establishment Realm.

Otherwise, 170 or 180 years later, both women would be nothing but bones, while Li Yunjing would be at the height of his power. This is not the ending that Xing'er and Yue'er wanted.

Of course, Li Yunjing's advancement to the Foundation Establishment Realm also had a huge benefit.

That was the mastermind behind "Star Moon Trading Company," a powerful figure at the Foundation Establishment stage.

It can intimidate other shops and make those who are envious of the development of "Star Moon Trading Company" afraid to mess with "Star Moon Trading Company" because of Li Yunjing's prestige.

The three kept sending messages, and in no time, they had spent all their hundreds of spirit stones.

However, Li Yunjing didn't care about these spirit stones anymore. After comforting Xing'er and Yue'er, he discussed with the two women the matter of opening a branch store in the future.

Li Yunjing's initial idea was to open his shop in "Ten Thousand Swords City," which he considered an excellent choice.

He also had several friends in the "Ten Thousand Swords Sect" and had met the sect leader, Tian Jianzi, a few times.

If he were to establish a shop in "Ten Thousand Swords City" under his own identity, Li Yunjing believed that with the "Ten Thousand Swords Sect" around, no other force would dare to bully his new shop.

Li Yunjing had also decided on the person in charge of the new "Wanjiancheng" store: Feng Xueting.

This woman has been staying in "Red Sun Market" ever since she came to rely on him.

The "Red Sun Market" is entirely the territory of the "Divine Firmament Dao Sect," so whether or not Feng Xueting, a Foundation Establishment cultivator, exists is of little concern.

If the Star Moon Merchant Guild in "Ten Thousand Swords City" were to have an additional Foundation Establishment cultivator in charge, it would likely attract much more attention from all sides.

Of course, Li Yunjing did not send a message to Feng Xueting directly to assign the task.

This matter should still be handled by Xing'er and Yue'er. The two women will be responsible for making arrangements. One purpose is to give the two women more experience so that they can handle things independently. The second purpose is also to get Feng Xueting used to obeying Xing'er and Yue'er's orders.

This made her understand that this Foundation Establishment cultivator was also a servant to Xing'er and Yue'er, specifically responsible for protecting the shops and Xing'er and Yue'er.

After explaining everything, Old Yu returned to the reception room.

Li Yunjing then said goodbye to Xing'er and Yue'er, ending his conversation with the two little girls.

"Junior Brother Li, take a look at the contents of this jade slip."

Old Master Yu handed the jade slip to Li Yunjing and asked him to take a look.

"Hmm! Let me see!"

Li Yunjing nodded, took the jade slip, and examined it carefully.

The above content basically describes the price, delivery time, and parameters of the enhanced "Qingyun Boat" in this transaction.

It also includes a comparison of the original "Qingyun Boat" parameters, making it easy to understand at a glance.

Of course, the most important thing was the seal of "Tian Gong Shang Pu".

The mark of a Golden Core Realm expert was on it, indicating that the higher-ups at "Tian Gong Shang" had confirmed the transaction.

Li Yunjing was quite satisfied with everything, but the fact that the "Qingyun Boat" would take six months to deliver made him somewhat uneasy.

Six months later, Li Yunjing had long since finished participating in the great battle on the border.

Isn't he missing a major weapon?
"Mr. Yu, everything else is fine. Could the delivery time be brought forward a bit?"

Li Yunjing pondered for a moment before continuing to ask.

"This... I'm afraid it will be very difficult! Even if we work overtime for you, it will probably take four or five months."

After pondering for a moment, Old Yu said with a troubled expression.

That's not a lie. Li Yunjing's requirements were too high, requiring a comprehensive upgrade of parameters. How could "Tiangongtang" possibly complete such a task ahead of schedule?
This is a serious issue.

A group of weapon refiners must be gathered together to devise a reasonable plan before work can begin.

Six months is actually quite a tight timeframe.

The weapon refiners at "Tiangongtang" are extremely busy with a lot of things to refine, so it's already an exception that they were able to modify the "Qingyun Boat" for Li Yunjing.

Of course, Tiangongtang was not dissatisfied either.

After all, the price of modifying the "Azure Cloud Boat" is so high that even weapon refiners can't resist the temptation of spirit stones.

"Well, that's all it can do!"

“Elder Yu, then I shall take my leave first. If I do not have time to come and receive the ‘Azure Cloud Boat,’ I will have Yu Yunyi, the true disciple of ‘Chaoyang Peak,’ come and receive it!”

Li Yunjing nodded helplessly before taking his leave.

"No problem! I've written it down! As long as the jade slip is brought out when the time comes, anyone can take over the 'Azure Cloud Boat' without any issues!"

Old Yu smiled and saw Li Yunjing downstairs.

On the second floor, Li Yunjing glanced around and saw that there were quite a few cultivators there as well.

This floor is filled with top-grade magical artifacts and similar items.

Li Yunjing did not leave immediately, but instead went to the second floor and carefully examined the magical artifacts there.

Some of these ritual implements are of very high quality.

It can be considered the best of the best.

Since he had already spent a lot of money, he didn't care about a little more. Li Yunjing purchased more than a dozen magical artifacts, including Taoist robes, jade hairpins, leather boots, necklaces, etc.—two sets of top-quality magical artifacts, all for female cultivators.

These magical artifacts were all prepared by Li Yunjing for Xing'er and Yue'er.

With these magical artifacts protecting them, even a Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator at the first level wouldn't be able to kill Xing'er and Yue'er in one or two moves.

After leaving "Tian Gong Shang Shop", Li Yunjing strolled around the market, especially visiting the talisman-making shop and buying some second-tier talisman paper.

After strolling around the "Donghua Market," Li Yunjing spent nearly four million low-grade spirit stones.

Such enormous spending even made Li Yunjing's heart tremble.

"Sigh! I still need to go to the 'Scripture Pavilion' to exchange for some books later. My meager savings aren't enough to last! I've almost run out of spirit stones!"

Li Yunjing stood on the main street, looking at the bustling street with people coming and going, and sighed repeatedly.

As for the third-tier materials he possessed, Li Yunjing was unwilling to give up a single one.

First- and second-tier materials can be bought with spirit stones in the cultivation world. At worst, you can just go to a few more markets and you'll find a shop that has these materials.

However, materials of tier three and above are considered scarce resources.

Even collecting just one item is incredibly difficult.

This is also one of the reasons why Tier 3 materials are so expensive; without high-grade spirit stones, sellers simply won't trade with you.

The good stuff that Li Yunjing worked so hard to get is becoming increasingly rare, so it can't be wasted.

Even if Li Yunjing were so poor that he didn't have a single spirit stone, he would never sell those good things.

At worst, Li Yunjing would just have to tighten his belt and make ends meet!
(End of this chapter)