Nie Shiyun and Zhai Bairong were indeed busy with serious business. After a full day’s work, the dilapidated wooden house had been repaired, and at the very least, the roof no longer leaked snow. Seeing them busying themselves, several cultivators stationed in the trading area peered curiously from the street, not daring to approach rashly. However, a few recognized Nie Shiyun and began whispering to those beside them. Soon, word spread, and many guessed that this senior might be planning to sell magic treasures here—a prospect that was a cause for great celebration for them.
In the entire secret realm, Golden Core cultivators were not particularly numerous, let alone those at the Great Circle of the Golden Core stage. No one doubted that Nie Shiyun would advance to the Nascent Soul stage in the future. Consequently, everyone began calculating in their hearts, eager to leave a good impression on him.
Thus, when Nie Shiyun opened his door, he was met with a line of cultivators waiting at the entrance as if in a queue.
"You are Senior Nie from Yunqing Pavilion, correct?"
"I am," Nie Shiyun nodded, unsurprised at being recognized. He had previously considered whether to take a Disguise Pill to lower his perceived cultivation level like Zhai Bairong, but the magic treasures he crafted for clients always bore his personal mark and that of Yunqing Pavilion. He harbored the intention of promoting his sect’s reputation while doing business, so he had abandoned the idea of a disguise.
"Is Senior Nie planning to stay here long-term and open a shop?" the visiting cultivator asked tentatively. The others behind him pricked up their ears; they had all come out of curiosity regarding this very matter.
"Indeed. Though I cannot say for certain how long I will stay, that is the current plan."
"That is wonderful news! Then we juniors wish you a prosperous business! Please accept this small gift as a token of our respect." The cultivator bowed hurriedly, offering a bottle of medicinal pills with both hands.
"You are too kind." Nie Shiyun demurred briefly, but it was merely for the sake of etiquette. He eventually accepted the gift and promised that any cultivator who brought a gift could have their magic treasure repaired or modified once for free, though they would have to wait two days for him to finish setting up.
This gesture of reciprocity was far more valuable to the juniors than the gifts they had offered. The crowd was overjoyed, knowing that Nie Shiyun was giving them face. They expressed their gratitude profusely before returning to their original spots, not daring to linger and disturb him further.
"You are quite generous, promising so many people at once," Zhai Bairong remarked with a smile after the crowd had dispersed.
"It’s not many. Those seven or eight cultivators are only at the Foundation Establishment stage; the treasures they use are at most 'Treasure Tools.' It’s a simple task. Since I’ve just arrived, reputation is more important," Nie Shiyun explained.
Zhai Bairong had only been teasing and nodded understandingly. "I know you always have a plan."
Sharpening the axe does not delay the woodcutting. Since he already owed several commissions before even officially opening, Nie Shiyun was in no hurry. He leisurely arranged the interior, taking the broken furniture into the jade space to repair it and polishing stones found in the wild to create stone tables and desks. Although the style was a bit of a mix-and-match, the little shop soon began to look the part.
Nie Shiyun and Zhai Bairong agreed that Nie Shiyun would set up a restriction in the back room. When he was refining artifacts, Zhai Bairong would mind the shop in the front. At other times, they would switch, or Zhai Bairong could attend to his own affairs.
"By then, there should be cultivators using spirit herbs and the like to exchange for magic treasures, right? I can refine them into pills immediately, ensuring the medicinal properties are preserved," Zhai Bairong suggested.
"Don't just think about helping me; you need to cultivate as well," Nie Shiyun reminded him.
"Cultivating now yields twice the result with half the effort, and that’s all thanks to you," Zhai Bairong said with a smile.
He was referring to the space. Nie Shiyun understood. He felt that having Zhai Bairong act as a receptionist in a small shop was a waste of his talents, but there was no point in saying such things aloud. He simply resolved to give Zhai Bairong more materials and spiritual treasures later on.
Soon, Nie Shiyun’s little shop opened for business. The trading area lacked a mature shop system, and he didn't bother hanging a sign. One could see from one end of the street to the other anyway; a bit of inquiry would reveal what he did.
The cultivators who had visited earlier soon returned for formal business. Nie Shiyun put out some Spirit-grade magic treasures he no longer needed. Whether they truly took a fancy to them or simply wanted to leave a good impression, the group swept the shelves clean. Nie Shiyun watched his empty shelves by noon, caught between laughter and tears, unsure of what to say.
He still remembered the faces of those few cultivators and asked each of them what they wanted to have refined, matching their requirements to their treasures. Seeing him so meticulous, the juniors were overwhelmed with trepidation. They didn't dare make too many demands, mostly giving brief instructions in a few words. The most common phrase was, "Senior, please just do as you see fit."
More and more people came to know Nie Shiyun. Beside him, Zhai Bairong remained silent, disguised as a junior disciple from the same sect. Truly, from beginning to end, no one noticed his true identity. People came and went in this trading area; as it grew more crowded, disciples from the Moon-Reflecting Sect would inevitably pass through. Though he had been slightly anxious at first, Zhai Bairong was now much more at ease. It seemed he could discuss business with customers at the front of the shop without leaking his secret.
While Nie Shiyun entered the jade space to begin refining, Zhai Bairong prepared a list of spirit herbs suitable for boosting cultivation and refining pills, along with several types of spirit food that Meiqiu wanted to eat, and informed the visiting cultivators. Soon, the news that Nie Shiyun accepted items in exchange for magic treasures—not just spirit stones—spread far and wide.
It didn't take long for Nie Shiyun to return the repaired treasures to the cultivators. They had assumed that free repairs would be pushed to the back of the queue, so the juniors were incredibly surprised and thanked him repeatedly.
Since they were stall-holders themselves, they spared no effort in advertising for Nie Shiyun to the cultivators who visited their stalls, speaking nothing but praise. Soon, business picked up even more easily than Nie Shiyun had imagined.
Unlike the demon cultivators in Profound Blossom City, who were somewhat skeptical of artifact refining, human cultivators understood very well that magic treasures were precious. Nie Shiyun didn't even need to raise his prices; the customers who came to his door were experts in the trade. Following the customs of the human race, those seeking to have treasures refined all came prepared with ample materials, and the rewards they offered were even higher than the prices Nie Shiyun quoted.
Perhaps because it was the first time they had found a cultivator who accepted spirit food as payment, no one took it seriously at first. However, later on, a cultivator who was short on funds but quite skilled at cooking arrived. This skill, which was considered essentially useless in the cultivation world, earned Nie Shiyun's high praise, leaving the man flattered and overwhelmed. He felt that although Nie Shiyun’s cultivation was high, he did not look down on things outside of cultivation as mere trifles. Deeply moved, the man went into the wild to hunt several edible beasts and made dried meat jerky to gift to him.
This made Meiqiu very happy. Although Nie Shiyun also enjoyed eating, he only had a small taste. Most of the food went to Meiqiu.
"It’s all thanks to my hard work as a receptionist! I earned this!" Meiqiu said, his mouth already stuffed with meat, speaking indistinctly. "Remember to drop more hints to them that they can give more spirit food..."
"Bairong is clearly the one doing the receiving. You only come out to cause a ruckus in the shop," Nie Shiyun pointed out heartlessly.
Meiqiu snorted disdainfully. "But last time two female cultivators came, they kept squealing when they saw me and even rubbed my face! Hmph, but in the end, I made them spend a lot of money in the shop. That was my contribution!"
"Yes, yes, you've worked hard, selling your charms even though you're just a fledgling..." Nie Shiyun said coolly.
Meiqiu gnawed on his meat and ignored him. However, he was just complaining for the sake of it; in truth, he was very satisfied. A while ago, when he made his first sale, Nie Shiyun had used that money to buy him a high-grade storage bracelet. Although he usually relied on Nie Shiyun for everything, Meiqiu felt the thrill of earning his own money for the first time. He was incredibly smug about it, dangling the bracelet in the most conspicuous way every time he came out.
The only thing that left him somewhat dissatisfied was that, from time to time, Nie Shiyun would make him stay in the shop alone, saying it would help him learn to stand on his own. Although Meiqiu was occasionally a bit thick-headed, he understood the underlying reason—Nie Shiyun just wanted to go into the jade space to be intimate with Zhai Bairong!
Meiqiu, who had not yet reached that stage of life, was utterly perplexed as to what pleasure there was in such activities.
"Little friend, are you minding the shop today?"
As he spoke, someone entered. Meiqiu already recognized this cultivator; he ran a talisman stall at the street corner and was always asked about Nie Shiyun. When business was slow, he would simply bring people to Nie Shiyun’s shop. He was very friendly, though it was more likely he just wanted to gain some familiarity in front of a senior.
"Mm. Senior Nie and Senior Yu are busy," Meiqiu said truthfully. As for what they were busy with, it was not convenient for him to disclose.
Nie Shiyun had taught him a method to suppress his cultivation. Meiqiu had learned it after only a short period of practice. Now, to outsiders, he looked like a toddler who had just entered the Qi Refining stage. Although it was the lowest stage of cultivation, any family whose child could reach Qi Refining at such an age would truly consider them a talent with great potential.
"This fellow Daoist also heard that Senior Nie opened a shop here and came specifically to visit."
Nie Shiyun had previously made a name for himself at the Cultivation Grand Assembly, and both Yunqing Pavilion and his name had been passed around by word of mouth. Although the Hantian Secret Realm was vast, the cultivators traveling to and from the trading area went their separate ways and met others, gradually spreading his fame. Many cultivators sought out the Hot Spring Valley and, hearing that there was a senior doing artifact refining business in the nearby trading area, came specifically for him.
According to the rumors, this Daoist Nie would be behind the counter most of the time. However, there were occasional busy periods when a taciturn junior named Yu would receive guests, and from time to time, a child would appear in the shop. It was said that a cultivator had once been bold enough to ask Nie Shiyun if the child was his, but the latter had denied it with a smile. No one knew what their actual relationship was.
"Did you also come from the Hot Spring Valley?" Meiqiu asked, standing on a small stool behind the counter; otherwise, he wouldn't even be able to show his head.
"No, I came from the Frozen Plains to the south. I wonder if this little Daoist friend has heard of it?"
Meiqiu shook his head. "I haven't. So his fame has already spread that far?"
"Indeed. After all, in the secret realm, there aren't many people willing to do business long-term, let alone an artifact refiner with such skilled techniques." The newcomer’s attitude was very polite even when facing a child. After all, who knew what the background of this kid was?
"True. Who wouldn't want to go search for opportunities and take some risks?" the cultivator who brought him chimed in. "But I don't have the ability, nor do I dare to take the risk. Senior Nie probably feels there’s nothing in this secret realm that catches his eye. As expected, he is on a different level from us..."
"You overpraise me, Daoist."
The man was in the middle of flattering him when Nie Shiyun’s own voice rang out. Seeing him walk out from the inner room, the cultivator hurriedly exchanged a few pleasantries.
"Are you finally finished?" Meiqiu looked at him and asked bluntly.
The two people present simply assumed Nie Shiyun had been refining artifacts and had just reached a stopping point.
"..." Nie Shiyun cleared his throat and picked Meiqiu up from the chair, telling him he didn't need to involve himself further.
Meiqiu scurried off to the back room. Only then did Nie Shiyun put on a smile and ask, "I couldn't hear very clearly from the inner room just now. I thought I heard that this Daoist friend came from the south?"
"Yes. I don't know if you've been there, but it's quite far. I traveled for two months, stopping and starting along the way."
Nie Shiyun let out an "Oh?" "So my little shop has already been heard of so far away?"
The man opposite him quickly smiled. "Senior, what are you saying..."
"Let’s not talk of other things. Since you’ve come all this way with great difficulty, let’s get down to business." Nie Shiyun shifted the conversation back to artifact refining.
"Ah, ah, alright." The cultivator nodded, feeling that Nie Shiyun didn't seem particularly happy or proud of his far-reaching fame. He couldn't quite describe the expression that had just flashed across Nie Shiyun’s face; in any case, it wasn't something he could speculate on.
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Transmigrated into a Total Shou Novel as a Cannon Fodder, but Ended Up 1v1-ing the Male Lead | Chapter 84 | A Thriving Little Shop | Novela.app | Novela.app
