And what's even more bizarre is that behind the city walls, there is a sky of red clouds, an intensely red hue illuminating the giant city in the valley.

At the city wall's entrance, a group of cultivators were still waiting. Ye Jingcheng was not surprised, and he took out a prepared storage bag, exchanged some spirit stones, and obtained a few tokens.

"These tokens are proof for the market; don't lose them, or it'll be quite troublesome!" Ye Jingcheng advised a few people sternly.

Although Ye Xingyi was also present, he was, after all, the one responsible for this trip.

Moreover, he didn't know whether this uncle of his, ranked thirty-fifth in the Xing generation, Ye Xingyi, had ever been to this market.

Of course, he couldn't help but recall the first time he went to Taihang Market, when Ye Xingyu and Ye Xinghe warned him of various matters to watch out for.

Now, he had become the explainer for the high-tier juniors.

These three also took notes on jade talismans whenever he spoke, just as he did back in the day.

Entering the city gate, they were unexpectedly greeted by the bustling scene; they had never seen such a prosperous market.

It's no wonder it could develop into a city.

On both sides of the streets were shops of at least three to four stories.

This indicates that each of these is at least run by a Purple Mansion cultivator or a shop set up by the Purple Mansion Clan.

In fact, every shop has indescribable relations with the cultivators from the Taiyi Sect.

For instance, the shops this time for the Ye Family and the Chu Family were found through the connection with Ming Yuan Ascendant from the Chu Family.

Even so, the Ye Family must pay an annual rent of five thousand spirit stones, plus a two percent net profit cut.

Of course, if there's need for greasing palms, it would take another ten percent of the net profit, leaving only about seventy percent in the end.

Ye Jingcheng estimated that the Chu Family might still earn a bit extra, but there was no alternative, as the Ye Family currently didn't have good channels to find a storefront.

Co-renting with the Chu Family is indeed quite satisfactory for now.

Moreover, even if the Ye Family did extremely well, they wouldn't be too conspicuous.

On both sides of the streets, numerous cultivators started emerging.

These cultivators flashed sharp looks at Ye Jingcheng's demeanor but quickly concealed it, lowering their heads.

"Senior, do you need a guide? The entire Taihang Market has four districts—east, south, west, and north. I can guide you to understand any aspect."

Unsurprisingly, all the cultivators conducting guide businesses turned their gaze as well.

However, last time Ye Jingcheng and Ye Haiyi pretended to be loose cultivators, and only one person paid attention.

This time, four or five turned up, but a tall and thin one got ahead.

Nonetheless, the rest did not leave, for sometimes cultivators have peculiar hobbies, as long as Ye Jingcheng didn't call any of them.

They all still had a chance.

Of course, they would also maintain a distance from Ye Jingcheng's group in the crowd.

There won't be any overly intrusive disturbances.

"You guide us then!" Ye Jingcheng suddenly bypassed the tall, thin cultivator, pointing at a female cultivator beside him.

This female cultivator looked ordinary, dressed plainly, and only had Qi Cultivation Fourth Layer.

"Thank you, Senior, I'll promptly clarify any doubts for you!" The female cultivator immediately nodded and bowed.

Regarding the market's cultivators, Ye Jingcheng knew that half of the prosperity here was fake. Market tokens cost three spirit stones monthly, deducted upon leaving the market.

Combined with the low living costs in the market, many Qi Cultivation cultivators would spend their entire lives here.

As for why he called a female cultivator, it was quite simple; as a Foundation Establishment cultivator, having a female guide was rather ordinary.

After all, it's just a guide.

Though other guides implied meanings that everyone understood with their eyes, after all, Ye Jingcheng had a beautiful woman behind him.

But no one dared say half a word, and they left one after another since Ye Jingcheng was a Foundation Establishment cultivator. Despite the no-fighting rule in the market, they couldn't afford to provoke him.

"May I ask what Senior wishes to know, whether it's taking juniors to participate in a sect competition, or starting a small business, finding a location?" The female cultivator cautiously asked.

"To start a business! Tell me the rules of this Taihang Market, explain what's frowned upon, mention a few places to conveniently and affordably buy treasures, and, additionally, where the loose cultivator stall area is?" Ye Jingcheng asked directly.

He had been to the market before and was indeed very familiar with these, but firstly, he didn't want to reveal that he had been before, and secondly, having them explain would be more comprehensive, as seven years had passed, and he'd like to know if anything new had appeared.

For Ye Jingyu and Ye Jingyun, it was time for urgency.

For now, they needed to memorize the rules, and in a few days when the store settled, they would have to remember the cultivators, which family's chief steward was who in the market, who they couldn't offend, and even which Purple Mansion or Golden Core cultivator resided permanently—all of these they must remember.

The female cultivator soon started speaking eloquently, and Ye Jingcheng also passed by the Chu Family Market but didn't enter immediately, allowing the female guide to explain while they gathered more information about the market's layout, scouting for locations.

After all, guides here cost at least three spirit stones for two days, while this female guide cost five spirit stones for two days.

Naturally, Ye Jingcheng wanted to learn more from her.

After most of the explanation, they arrived at the Independent Cultivator Square.

"Senior, this is the Independent Cultivator Square, where pitching a stall does not require rent, except for the gazebo at the very center which does!" the guide continued introducing.

"Which storefront is better here? Also, I've heard both the Chu Family and the Mo Family have shops here—how are their shops performing right now?" Ye Jingcheng asked again.

This question made the female cultivator pause slightly.

"Senior, those are Purple Mansion Clans..."

"What, can't discuss matters in the open?" Ye Jingcheng's tone turned heavy.

"Of course, we can!" The female cultivator nodded repeatedly.

"Senior, the Chu Family hails from Taihang Commandery, a newly elevated Purple Mansion Clan who started by refining artifacts. Currently, their shops consistently sell Tier Two Spiritual Artifacts, and they can also facilitate custom orders for such artifacts. Apart from that, the family's Profound Iron is rumored to be excellent and seems to control one Profound Iron Ore, while their family's connections in the Taiyi Sect are quite good."

"Moreover, the shop is currently managed by an extremely charming fairy, who is well-known within the market..." The female cultivator stopped here, without further elaboration.

After all, Chu Xiyu from the Chu Family had attached herself to Ming Yuan Ascendant.

Arranging for a beautiful cultivator in this was suggestive of certain implications, which was better left unsaid.

"As for the Mo Family, they are also a Purple Mansion Clan from Taihang Commandery, an old-established Purple Mansion Clan, selling and renting restaurants and array discs in Taihang Market. However, their restaurants were openly marked for sale a year ago and have since been sold, and they currently trade in array discs, though reportedly there have been frequent issues with their recent array discs, with the most feedback on issues coming from the young lord of the Taichang Li Family..."

The female cultivator spoke with much detail, but she glossed over some hidden messages.

The biggest taboo in guiding is to invite disaster upon oneself.

This female cultivator's explanations were actually quite comprehensive.

"That's enough, the guiding stops here!" Ye Jingcheng took out five spirit stones and handed them over directly.

"Senior, there's still over a day left..."

"No need, by the way, how is spirit stone collected in guiding cultivators here?"

"This..."

"Don't worry, I'm here to do business too. I understand these tricks; I'm also an Alchemy Master, having others bring business rather than ourselves. You can even bring associates! Like, if you bring someone and make a deal with us, I'll give you three spirit stones. If you get other guides to bring a person to us, I'll additionally reward you with one spirit stone! Of course, I hope this remains confidential!" Ye Jingcheng transmitted privately. His words made the female pause only for a moment before nodding vigorously.

"Senior, I have another piece of information that might be useful to you. The Mo Family rented a few rooms in the ordinary flat area, with the scent of wine, under my friend's name, which has since lost contact long ago!"

"Also, regarding the Chu Family, they also rented their shop together with another Ye Family this time, but that Ye Family has not shown up yet."

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