"My seniors, about this matter of transactions in the market... may I, a junior, say a few words?"
Yang Shi puffed up his chest and spoke with the loudest breath possible at the sixth level of body refining, his voice echoing down the streets.
Seeing Yang Shi speak, the disciples of the Xuan Stone Sect and the loose cultivators present gave him face and stopped talking.
Yang Shi bowed slightly.
"I have something to say, let us all listen and see if it is correct."
"You all come to this market to trade, and after exchanging for spirit stones or the magic artifacts you desire, would you be willing to have them stolen by another cultivator of higher cultivation?"
The crowd immediately became fervent.
"Of course not!"
"Such deceitful villains, I will not share the same sky with them!"
"Everyone involved should be punished!"
Yang Shi nodded and continued:
"If you saw a cultivator weaker than yourself in possession of treasures that could be easily taken, would you wish to claim them as your own?"
This time, most of the loose cultivators fell silent.
A few loose cultivators shouted hesitantly:
"I would not rob!"
"I am a good person, I never oppress others."
"Robbing others' treasures is what people of the demon path do!"
On closer inspection, they were all cultivators of low strength.
Mostly at the third layer of the Fetal Breathing Stage, similar to Jiang Xiaobai.
No one else immediately answered the question.
Seeing this, Yang Shi spread his hands:
"It seems that while no one wants to be plundered by a cultivator of higher strength, they also dare not promise not to plunder those of lower strength. What is the reason for this?"
The loose cultivators muttered, not knowing how to rebut for the moment.
The three fellow disciples of Bai Heyu also did not quite understand.
"It's just some spirit stones and magic artifacts, what's there to rob back and forth. The sect issues them every month..."
"Senior sister said that they are impoverished cultivators."
"Then why don't they ask themselves, why after so many years of cultivation can they not save up some spirit stones? Haven't they worked hard to cultivate their spirit fields? They could have sold the unused spirit beasts to other cultivators..."
"Sigh..." Bai Heyu sighed. He had spent the most time with the loose cultivators in recent days and had learned a lot about the real situation of the cultivators at the bottom.
"If there were so much immortal cultivation supplies to distribute, there would be no demon path."
As for this issue, the demon cultivator Ding Zhen showed disdain.
"Hmph! If not for oneself, heaven and earth would annihilate one! Cultivating immortality is a struggle against heaven and man. If I don't plunder, someone else will plunder him, might as well claim it directly to aid my path to immortality!"
"In my eyes, respect the seniors, stay away from fellow Daoists, seize from the ants!"
"If you're inferior in skill, you must accept being robbed. I'll sum it up with a phrase I just learned: if you're weak, just practice more!"
His speech garnered the agreement of many cultivators.
As expected, Yang Shi smiled at Ding Zhen and said, "Senior is a Qi Refinement Realm Immortal, right?"
"That's the reasoning of mundane people. Little Qi Cultivation, how dare I claim to be an Immortal? Since the Yang family has stepped into the cultivation realm, just calling me a cultivator will suffice."
The other loose cultivators nodded as well; in their eyes, Yang Shi was considered their peer, and no one looked down upon him.
A person capable of coming up with so many creative forms of entertainment must be backed by great power!
The senior sister of the Xuan Stone Sect, who is of extremely high cultivation, looked down on the Qi Refinement scattered cultivators, so why did she personally preside over the tea house every day?
It couldn't be just to indulge in that mundane beverage, could it?
Clearly, she saw something different in Yang Shi.
Yang Shi bowed slightly: "Senior is a Qi Refinement Realm cultivator, with high cultivation. You may plunder other cultivators' treasures, but... are you certain you are the strongest? What if the inconspicuous beggar on the ground is a higher-level Qi Refinement Realm cultivator than you?"
While sipping coffee, Old Beggar Joe rolled his eyes at Yang Shi.
You sure have a way with comparisons, kid!
If not for you being a mere mortal, I might have thought you had seen through my identity.
Ding Zhen's brow furrowed, he considered himself unmatched by anyone present except for this Bai Heyu, but... was that really so?
His Blood Soul Valley was not skilled in the art of investigation.
Yang Shi continued, "If Senior cannot be sure that there are no cultivators of a higher rank present, then how can you assume you're not an ant in someone else's eyes?"
"Even if Senior's cultivation suppresses everyone here, what if other cultivators band together to fight against you?"
Ding Zhen's frown deepened. Although he was at the seventh layer of Qi Cultivation, if several Qi Cultivation Stage cultivators grouped together to bind him, it was uncertain he could gain any advantage, not knowing what strange magic artifacts they might have.
Aside from Ding Zhen, others too pondered along Yang Shi's lines, each uncertain about their invincibility. Were the brothers they drank with yesterday in cahoots with others?
An old loose cultivator, who had experienced such situations multiple times, sighed now.
"Yang Boss makes sense, but... this is how it has always been in the Loose Cultivation Market. Everyone can only be cautious, better to leave quickly if possible. If robbed, then it is a disaster foretold."
The crowd nodded, resonating with this voice of experience.
Yang Genshuo, who had been closely watching the situation from outside, clenched his fists!
[Manifestation]!
"Has it always been like this, so it is right?"
Yang Shi said loudly, "Has it always been like this, so it is right!?"
The hearts of the Loose Cultivators trembled, and all their gazes simultaneously turned to Yang Shi standing on the stone table.
"Strife and plunder are eternal pits, and in the end, no one can profit."
"If everyone could exchange useless items for useful ones, then everyone could profit."
"A friendly, mutually beneficial, and cooperative approach is the only way that can benefit all the Loose Cultivators of the Danai Dynasty!"
"I have a dream — to return the market to its purest original intent!"
Yang Shi followed the words manifested by Yang Genshuo, reading them sentence by sentence, heating his blood to a boiling fervor.
All Loose Cultivators seemed to see a spiritual giant in Yang Shi, crushing them on the path of understanding.
After the shock, the cultivators gathered their senses again.
"What Boss Yang said makes sense, but… going to White Water River Market, who can guarantee that everyone will act like that?"
Yang Shi pointed at the wooden stalls lining the streets of Qingshi County.
"Who said the Loose Cultivation Market has to go to White Water River? When people gather, there is a market. Everyone has already converged in Qingshi County, why not just exchange goods here and trade for the items you desire?"
"With a Foundation Establishment elder from Xuan Stone Sect stationed here, what else is there to fear?"
The third-floor window of Yang's Tabletop Game Tea House opened, and the ice-cold Murong Ziyuan raised her hand, a silver talisman traced a streak of light through the air and landed in Yang Shi's hand.
It bore four large characters:
"Xuan Stone Walk."
The Loose Cultivators were astounded!
Xuan Stone Walk represented Xuan Stone Sect's authority to manage an area, holding this talisman could command the guardians of a county!
Could it be… this Xuan Stone Sect disciple has been here these recent days specifically to support Yang Shi!
Did Xuan Stone Sect want to take over the Loose Cultivation Market?
After some deliberation, the crowd realized… the well-regulated and secure market Yang Shi proposed wasn't too bad!
If the market was to be reopened, having it backed by Xuan Stone Sect in Qingshi County indeed sounded like a good location!
Seeing that many Loose Cultivators were nodding their heads, Yang Shi seized the moment to say:
"Today, my Yang Family will inaugurate the first 'Qingshi Fang Market' here in Qingshi County for all of you!"
"Our slogan is: Standardization, Transparency, and Oversight!"
"I respectfully ask all elders to supervise!"
"Today, the market officially opens! Everyone, please head towards the stalls that I have arranged for you to sell your goods."
After a brief moment of contemplation, all the Loose Cultivators dispersed in cheers to find the best stalls.
The Qingshi Fang Market, led by the Yang Family, was successfully established!
"Nice! It's done!"
All of Yang Genshuo's plans were perfectly implemented!
He brought the Loose Cultivation Market to Qingshi County and also reached a non-aggression pact with the Loose Cultivators.
From hosting a competition to gather popularity, increasing prestige, to delivering a speech in one go, Yang Shi's execution impressed him once again.
"We are both truly strong!" he grinned broadly and laughed heartily.
Gratefully, Yang Shi walked to the third floor, gently knocked on the door, and bowed towards Murong Ziyuan inside.
"Thank you, elder, for making this possible."
Murong Ziyuan coolly replied:
"I granted you the title 'Xuan Stone Walk'; do not tarnish the reputation of our Xuan Stone Sect. Manage this Qingshi Fang Market well and prevent any infiltration by the Demon Path…"
"Should you encounter trouble, activate this talisman, and the disciples of Xuan Stone Sect nearby will naturally come to assist."
Yang Shi bowed deeply: "Your disciple understands."
Meanwhile.
Thirty li west of Qingshi County, at White Water River.
Looking at the sparse ten stalls set up, the Loose Cultivator organizers were puzzled.
"Wait, where is everyone?"
...
Emerald Bamboo Forest, Ge Family.
Family Head Ge Xiangying led a fierce large wolf to Ge Tan, who had just advanced to the Qi Refinement Realm.
"This is the Iron-spined Grey Wolf, Qi Refinement First Layer. Its body is as hard as steel, impervious to sword and blade, immensely strong, and capable of swift carriage. Running at full speed, it's as fast as lightning. Let it aid you on your journey."
Ge Tan mounted the Iron-spined Grey Wolf, and his whole demeanor became fiercer. He waved goodbye to Ge Xiangying who saw him off.
"With this Spirit Beast, I can reach Qingshi County in three days."
"Heh, even a mere innate master deserves our attention, to think it has come to this."
"I must retrieve the Grain Avoidance Cake formula for the family."