Who wanted to be inferior to the strong?
There were quite a number of elites, as well as some second- and third-generation experts with powerful backgrounds in the sect. They were all fighting for a position in Misty Cloud's outer court. They wanted to leave Misty Cloud Mountain and take charge of their own sect.
Although such a sect would belong to the Misty Cloud Sect, they had a great deal of autonomy. They could expand their territory or even become independent and ally with the Misty Cloud Sect.
The cultivation sects were so strong because they had been spreading their branches and leaves for countless years. They had taken root, sprouted, and passed down their heritage.
Xu Zhaonian's heart stirred.
Didn't the Misty Cloud Sect's outer court recently assign missions and transfer guards to the mortal world?
All of that required the same basic materials needed to build a new sect.
As for guarding mortals in the city, it was the outer court's task to provide for the elderly, so he automatically ignored it.
Building a new sect was a huge deal! If this business deal was successful, not only would they be long-term business partners, but he could also take the opportunity to befriend a Gold Core expert from the Misty Cloud Sect.
In the cultivation world, connections were often more important than wealth.
"The Red Moon Tower has everything I want, right?" Zhang Li was getting a little impatient. He waved his hand, and spirit light scattered. Immediately after, at least 30,000 spirit stones landed neatly in front of him.
Xu Zhaonian's eyes were filled with light, he became even more certain that his judgment was correct.
Only second-generation and third-generation cultivators with affluent backgrounds could spend so much money without a care.
"Yes, Red Moon Tower has everything that you need, Young Master Zhang."
Xu Zhaonian waved his hand with a smile on his face, and another middle-aged cultivator in green robes walked over.
"Prepare all the materials that Young Master Zhang needs." Xu Zhaonian handed over the Jade Slip and whispered a few words into his ear.
The middle-aged cultivator nodded and went downstairs.
"Haha, Young Master Zhang, please have some tea." Xu Zhaonian smiled and raised his hand.
Zhang Li picked up the teacup and took a sip. He frowned slightly and said, "The Red Moon Tower doesn't even have 30-year-old Red Cloud Eyebrow?"
Red Cloud Eyebrow was a spirit tea produced in a valley full of spirit energy behind Misty Cloud Mountain.
This tea was produced in low quantities, but it could open up a cultivator's meridians. It would contain a trace of spirit energy, especially when it was produced by a tea plant that was more than 10 years old. However, it was only for the sect elders and usually not for sale.
"Young Master Zhang, I have never seen 30-year-old Red Cloud Eyebrow." Xu Zhaonian shook his head with a bitter smile, but the delight in his eyes was growing.
Only third-generation cultivators who grew up with Gold Core cultivators would have the chance to taste such good tea.
As expected, there was arrogance in Zhang Li's expression when he heard Xu Zhaonian's words. "My grandfather has plenty of it."
Right then, he paused for a moment, raised his hand to his forehead, and muttered in a low voice, "What a pity. I wonder when I'll be able to return to Misty Cloud Mountain after following my second uncle to that bitterly cold place…"
A bitterly cold place?!
Xu Zhaonian had long heard that the Misty Cloud Sect occupied several million kilometers of land to the north. Were they going to open new territory?
This piece of information alone was worth at least 100,000 spirit stones!
Xu Zhaonian clenched his fists tightly.
Zhang Li finally heaved a sigh of relief when he saw Xu Zhaonian's reaction.
In the past two days, he had gone to various shops to trade spirit stones, Spirit Crystals, and Chalcedony Beads. He had also deliberately chatted with those well-informed shopkeepers.
As a gold trader who controlled trillions of funds in his previous life, Zhang Li was great at integrating resources and information.
He always gained good insight by putting all kinds of information together.
He could also shield himself and make it impossible for people to tell if he was telling the truth or not.
At this point, Xu Zhaonian was already convinced of his fake identity and background.
This was exactly what Zhang Li needed.
A moment later, the middle-aged cultivator, who had left earlier, returned. He stood behind Xu Zhaonian with three storage bags in his hands.
Xu Zhaonian accepted the three storage bags, and a faint spirit light flashed across his body.
It was the spirit will of someone in the Foundation Establishment Realm!
The Red Moon Tower's assistant manager was actually a Foundation Establishment expert.
A Foundation Establishment expert had a lifespan of at least 300 years. Their cultivation was vast and powerful. They were already considered elders in ordinary small sects.
Only a large sect like the Misty Cloud Sect would send their Foundation Establishment experts out.
"Young Master Zhang, take a look. Are these the supplies you want?"
Xu Zhaonian handed Zhang Li one of the storage bags.
Zhang Li took the bag and carefully poured his spirit energy into it.
Spirit energy detection was not as detailed as divine telekinesis, but it was not very different.
This storage bag had a volume of 10 cubic meters, and it was already filled with supplies.
There were bundles of blank talisman papers, Low-grade talisman papers of various attributes, small jade bottles filled with Low-grade medicinal pills, Marrow Cleansing Pills, Spirit Condensation Pills, and so on.
There were piles of semi-magical weapons that were also called mortal weapons. They were the kind of weapons that had been tempered thousands of times and engraved with one or two runes.
Such mortal weapons could activate the power of runes with spirit energy. They were either incomparably sharp or able to attract the power of water and fire. They were quite mystical.
However, these mortal weapons were only useful at the early and middle stages of the Spirit Refinement Realm. At the late stages, cultivators could already fly in the sky and move freely on the ground. Their bones and muscles would be as strong as steel, and these mortal weapons could no longer hurt them.
Of course, when one's true cultivation reached the late stage of the Spirit Refinement Realm, one would always have a genuine magic weapon to protect themselves.
After all, a Low-grade magic weapon was only worth 1,000 spirit stones.
A late-stage Spirit Refinement cultivator would already be an elite or executive disciple in the sect. A thousand spirit stones was equivalent to three to five years of salary.
Most of the late-stage Spirit Refinement disciples would already consider buying Medium-grade magic tools that were worth thousands of spirit stones or High-grade ones that were worth tens of thousands of spirit stones.
Only such treasures could truly increase their combat strength.
Zhang Li checked the storage bag and calculated that the market price for the items within had exceeded 30,000 spirit stones.
He nodded and handed Xu Zhaonian the Chalcedony Bead he had just taken out.
Xu Zhaonian smiled as he accepted it and handed Zhang Li another storage bag.
This storage bag still has 10 cubic meters of space, but it contained an armored war chariot, a few array disks, and several other large artifacts.
These were all rather valuable items that were placed separately.
Everything was ready, and Zhang Li was delighted.
Although these things cost him nearly 100,000 spirit stones, they were worth it.
Most of these things were for his own cultivation, and some of them were not worth much. He was prepared to use them in the mortal world to buy people's hearts.
It was worth it to protect himself and allow him to cultivate in peace.
Money was an external object, but cultivation was his foundation.
Wealth, merits, and land were not enough for cultivation. There were other things that he could not lack.
"Young Master Zhang, you're not an outsider. The Red Moon Tower will give you a 20% discount on these supplies."
Xu Zhaonian handed over the last storage bag in his hand and said in a low voice, "These are all things that you can use, Young Master. Consider them a small token of our appreciation."
With a 20% discount, Zhang Li would have at least 10,000 spirit stones left.
Was there treasure worth 10,000 spirit stones in the storage bag, and was it suitable for him?
He was receiving a kickback...
In an instant, Zhang Li was reminded of the most hated practice in his previous life.
Well, looking at it now, it seemed pretty good.
Zhang Li took the storage bag and poured spirit energy into it. A smile soon appeared on his face.
In the storage bag, there were two greenish-gray swords, one High-grade magic weapon, and one Medium-grade magic weapon.
The other types of armor and weapons were all magic tools.
There were also a few bottles of elixirs and a stack of talismans. They were obviously High-grade goods.
On top of that, there were 20,000 spirit stones in the storage bag.
It was a little expensive and a little over the top.
However, it would be a waste not to take it.
In any case, he was going to the mortal world to guard it for 300 years. He would decide what to do with them when the time came.
"Shopkeeper Xu... Elder Brother Xu, thank you." Zhang Li revealed a grateful expression.
Xu Zhaonian laughed and reached out to hold Zhang Li's arm. "Young Master Zhang... No, Brother Zhang, remember to visit me when you return to the sect."
'Alright, wait 300 years,' Zhang Li thought as he smiled and nodded.
Xu Zhaonian and the burly man behind him smiled at each other when they saw Zhang Li empty the first two storage bags in front of them. Then he stored the contents in his own storage bag.
As expected, this young master had become a lot less guarded. A storage bag worth 100,000 spirit stones was revealed before them.
From the looks of it, not only did Xu Zhaonian receive a big order today, he also secured a hardcore future customer.
A steady stream of money was the real profit in trade.
Perhaps he was in a good mood, but when Xu Zhaonian sent Zhang Li off, he even forgot to take back the two storage bags that were worth more than 1,000 spirit stones.
Of course, it was more likely that he was too embarrassed to ask for them.
He would just treat it as an investment.
Zhang Li left the Red Moon Tower, and after a few turns, he stepped into another trading company.
After spending more than 300,000 spirit stones to fill up his 100-cubic-meter bag, he left quietly.
He would not step foot in this place for the next 300 years.
Instead of returning to his own courtyard, he went to the Foreign Affairs Hall, which was responsible for the exchange of mission contribution points.
It was already afternoon, and there were not many people in the Foreign Affairs Hall.
He took out a greenish-gray identity token, and following a moment of silence, he handed it to someone behind a window. "Could you help me check how many mission contribution points I have left?"
The person reached out from behind the windowsill and took the token. After a moment, he handed it back to Zhang Li. "Disciple Du Jiang, you have 32 points from sect missions. Would you like to exchange them for 320 spirit stones?"
Zhang Li shook his head and handed him a storage bag. "No, please exchange these spirit stones for mission contribution points," he said softly.