Cultivation begins in Qingfeng Market.

The older man opposite her scoffed, "What do you know? That's because she has the power of the second-tier magic artifact, the 'Flowing Cloud Banner'."

In my opinion, among the three fairies, "Fairy of the Cold Moon" Mu Qingxue is still the best.

She didn't rely on magical artifacts; her cultivation of the "Guanghan Technique" had reached the fourth level, and it was said to be able to freeze all things, making her invincible in the early stages of Foundation Establishment!

"Hmph, Su Yao's Three Yang True Fire is the strongest."

The conversation quickly veered from the fairies' strength to their appearance and temperament, and the argument escalated to the point of red faces and near-outbursts.

It wasn't until someone from the tea house came over with a smile and said a few words of persuasion that the two sides sat down, and then glared at each other.

However, they found common ground in Mo Wenchen's strength.

In the blink of an eye, they started calling each other brothers again and discussing who, besides Mo Wenchen, was the second most outstanding beauty.

The so-called Three Fairies and Four Prodigies are the most outstanding individuals among the three major sects: Qianhuang Sect, Baicao Sect, and Heisha Pavilion.

They were all prodigies who had reached the Foundation Establishment stage before the age of thirty, and were outstanding figures who overshadowed the younger generation of the Yunxia Mountain Range.

Lin Zhao shook his head slightly, filtering out the gossip about fairies and prodigies.

These renowned figures were far removed from ordinary cultivators like him.

He was more concerned with practical information.

"The Jinsha Market and Huxiao Market have been clashing recently, with even Foundation Establishment cultivators getting involved. I heard they've discovered a new small spirit stone mine."

"Brother Wang, the batch of [Sharp Metal Talismans] you sold me last time weren't very effective. Did you cut corners?"

"Brother Li, don't talk nonsense! It must be that you're using the wrong method to activate your magic! Come, let me teach you again."

True and false news, disputes over interests, and the mediation of interpersonal relationships—all these aspects of life unfold in this teahouse.

As the sun began to set, Lin Zhao quietly got up and left.

The teahouses remained bustling, and the marketplace remained teeming with activity. Within those rumors, some true and some false, lay both danger and opportunity.

Lin Zhao had not gone far from the shop when he was stopped by a middle-aged cultivator dressed in black with a calm demeanor.

"Fellow Daoist, please wait."

The other party bowed respectfully, speaking in a tone that was neither humble nor arrogant, "My young lady wishes to invite you for a chat."

Lin Zhao sensed the other party's cultivation level of the seventh level of Qi Refining and felt a slight chill in his heart.

However, he remained outwardly calm and asked, "May I ask who your daughter is?"

"My young lady's surname is Qiao," the black-clad monk said with a hint of arrogance.

Lin Zhao's mind raced. There were many cultivators with the surname Qiao in the market, but the only one who could have a late-stage Qi Refining cultivator as a bodyguard was probably the Qiao family, which controlled the Qingfeng Auction House.

The Qiao family belongs to the direct line of the neighborhood head. The Qiao family patriarch followed Master Qingming from a young age, after Master Qingming took over the Qingfeng Market.

Under the guidance of the shop owner, the Qiao family patriarch was fortunate enough to achieve Foundation Establishment and later took charge of the Qingfeng Auction House.

They are a neutral force within the market and never participate in conflicts.

"Please lead the way, senior." Lin Zhao returned the greeting with a cupped hand.

The black-clad monk led him toward a seven-story pavilion not far away.

With its flying eaves and brackets, shimmering with spiritual light, and faintly surrounded by the phantoms of mythical beasts, it was none other than the renowned Baiwei Lingshan Restaurant in the market.

It is also one of the most expensive places to shop in the market.

The Yunxia Mountain Range is home to countless demonic beasts. This restaurant specializes in using these beasts as ingredients and employs culinary arts to prepare a variety of delicacies.

It is said that there are branches in seventeen markets, and its backer is very likely the Qianhuang Sect, the leader of the three major sects.

Although Lin Zhao had passed by many times, he had never gone inside.

Following the guards, we went directly up to the third floor, pushed open a carved wooden door, and the guards stood outside.

Lin Zhao stepped inside and saw a woman dressed in a light blue silk dress with her face covered by a light veil sitting there.

A maid in green stood beside him. There was nothing on the table except a pot of tea.

Lin Zhao stepped forward and bowed, saying, "Greetings, Miss Qiao."

This young lady of the Qiao family is Qiao Yanran, the most beloved granddaughter of the Foundation Establishment Ancestor. In order to maintain neutrality, the Lin family once specially arranged for their cousin Lin Xuan to befriend her.

He just didn't know why this young lady had suddenly come to him today.

"Fellow Daoist Lin, please have a seat." A clear and melodious voice came from behind the veil.

Lin Zhao sat down in the opposite seat as instructed, waiting for what was to come.

Miss Qiao held the teapot in her delicate hands and poured Lin Zhao a cup of spiritual tea. The tea was fragrant and refreshing, with a faint flow of spiritual energy.

"I have invited Fellow Daoist Lin here today because I have something to tell you."

Her voice came through the veil, carrying a hint of coldness, "It concerns your cousin Lin Xuan and Liu Yifeng of the Golden Feather Demon Hunting Team."

Lin Zhao's expression hardened, and he said, "I would like to hear the details."

"Liu Yifeng has been making a lot of moves lately."

Miss Qiao tapped the table lightly with her fingertip. "He used the names of the Golden Feather Demon Hunting Team and the Foundation Establishment Master of the Liu family to form a chamber of commerce."

"I don't know if you've heard, but Jinsha Market and Huxiao Market have been clashing recently over a spirit stone mine."

I heard that even Foundation Establishment cultivators have intervened, causing a shortage of supplies in the market.

Liu Yifeng is an extremely restless person; he used the name of the Liu family's Foundation Establishment cultivator to...

Taking advantage of the situation, a Flowing Cloud Merchant Guild was established, and caravans were organized to travel to and from Qingfeng Market to buy and sell spiritual materials and supplies.

He is now an outcast of the Liu family.

Caravans traveling between markets are generally only organized by Foundation Establishment cultivators.

To protect himself, he recruited over a hundred people to join him.

The Liuyun Chamber of Commerce now has net assets of several thousand spirit stones, and Lin Xuan has also joined it.

Although the chamber of commerce is full of young people, it has already brought in the influence of most of the market.

This chamber of commerce has now touched upon the core interests of the market and will inevitably be eliminated.

Lin Zhao's heart sank upon hearing Miss Qiao's words. "Miss Qiao just said that this chamber of commerce has touched upon the core interests of the market and will inevitably disappear."

Lin Zhao pondered for a moment and said, "Then I wonder what kind of method this 'disappearance' will take? Will it be a forced disbandment, or something else?"

Qiao Yanran gently shook her head: "That depends on the outcome of the power struggle between the various parties. It might be absorbed by a powerful force."

It could also have collapsed naturally after the funding chain broke, or it could have been shut down by law enforcement for disrupting market order. But the most likely explanation is...

She paused, then continued, "When it grew large enough, it was devoured by the calamities in the wild and then disappeared completely."

Lin Zhao immediately grasped the key point: "Therefore, the major powers now tacitly approve of its existence, and even secretly fuel its growth."

Is it so that as much profit as possible can be divided up before it disappears?

Will Liu Yifeng, the initiator, ultimately become the scapegoat?

"Fellow Daoist Lin is indeed perceptive." Qiao Yanran nodded approvingly.

"Liu Yifeng rose to prominence by borrowing the Liu family's reputation, but now the Liu family has abandoned him. If something happens, he will be the first to be affected."

For the young people participating, it serves both as a learning experience and a way for each family to test the abilities of their younger generations.