Chapter 67: Purchasing At The Ji Clan Emporium

Jiang Feng adjusted his cloak as he stepped onto the bustling streets of Northern Moon City. The morning sun hung low, casting golden rays over the sprawling marketplace. Merchants hawked their wares with practiced enthusiasm, and the air was thick with the mingling scents of spices, herbs, and freshly forged metals as always. Amid the vibrant chaos stood his destination: the Ji Clan Emporium, a towering structure of intricate woodwork and shimmering jade tiles.

The Ji Clan was renowned for its wealth and influence, its shops the go-to destination for cultivators seeking rare resources. Today, Jiang Feng had come prepared, carrying a satchel of materials he had taken out of his spatial ring, as well as a modest amount of spirit stones that were still on the credit card given to him at the auction house previously.

He stepped inside, greeted by the cool, perfumed air of the shop. Rows of shelves lined the walls, displaying an impressive array of resources—spiritual herbs, beast cores, cultivation manuals, and even weapons radiating faint glimmers of spiritual energy.

There were a lot of neatly dressed young man and woman going to and from, both exchanging and buying with either smiles or frowns.

Jiang Feng approached the counter, where a clerk dressed in pale blue robes greeted him with a perfunctory nod. "Welcome to the Ji Clan Emporium. How may I assist you?"

"I'm here to exchange materials and purchase cultivation resources," Jiang Feng replied, placing his satchel on the counter.

The clerk opened the satchel, his eyes widening slightly as he examined its contents. Inside were seven rare pieces of forging materials , their quality unmistakable. "Not bad," the clerk murmured, his tone more respectful now. "These will fetch a good price, the materials are indeed rare and hard to come by in these parts. Do you have specific items in mind?"

"Yes. I need resources to expand my Essence Lake, a battle skill suited for fire cultivators, and a few herbs for body refinement," Jiang Feng said.

The clerk hesitated. "We have what you're looking for, but... it's just that—"

Before he could finish, the sound of soft footsteps echoed through the shop, followed by a voice as crisp and clear as a mountain stream.

"Is there an issue here?"

Jiang Feng turned, his gaze falling upon a young woman entering the room. She was striking—her features sharp and elegant, her long black hair cascading over her shoulders like a river of silk. She wore the insignia of the Ji Clan, her jade-green robes adorned with intricate silver embroidery.

The clerk immediately straightened, bowing deeply. "Lady Ji Moran! I wasn't aware you were inspecting the shop today."

Ji Moran waved a hand dismissively, her piercing eyes shifting to Jiang Feng. "I heard someone mention rare materials. Are these yours?"

Jiang Feng nodded, feeling her gaze appraising him as if weighing his worth in an instant. "Yes, Lady Ji. I came to exchange them for cultivation resources."

Ji Moran's expression remained neutral, but there was a flicker of curiosity in her eyes. "Essence Ingots and beast cores of this quality aren't common. You're either a blacksmith or you have connections to one. Which is it?"

"I'm a blacksmith" Jiang Feng replied evenly.

Her lips curved into the faintest hint of a smile. "Interesting. Most blacksmiths focus on crafting, yet you're investing in cultivation. Ambitious." She glanced at the clerk. "Let me handle this. You're dismissed."

The clerk bowed hastily, retreating to the back of the shop. Ji Moran stepped behind the counter, her movements graceful yet efficient.

It was widely known that Ji Moran had recently been entrusted by her father, Ji Tianyu, to manage some of the family's affairs—a significant responsibility within the prestigious Ji clan. From an early age, the children of the Ji clan were trained to excel in business, forging connections wherever they went while balancing the rigorous demands of cultivation. Ji Moran was no exception. Having just turned twenty, she was now required to take on the role of an inspector, a position that tested her mettle on multiple fronts.

Her duties extended far beyond mere supervision. Ji Moran was expected to possess an intimate understanding of the goods sold by the Ji clan, from their origins and properties to their precise pricing. She needed to master the art of negotiation, striking deals that maintained the clan's profitability while ensuring client satisfaction.

Equally important was her training in de-escalation, a skill vital for managing disputes and diffusing tense situations with tact and poise. Networking was another pillar of her education—an unspoken requirement for any member of the Ji clan aiming to thrive in the competitive business world.

Ji Moran approached these challenges with unwavering focus, her sharp intellect and composed demeanor serving as her greatest assets. Whether dealing with unruly clients or negotiating high-stakes transactions, she carried the weight of her family's reputation on her shoulders, determined to prove herself worthy of the trust placed in her.

"Let's see what we can do for you," Ji Moran said, gesturing for Jiang Feng to follow her to a side room.

Inside, the air was cooler, and the walls were lined with shelves holding the shop's most prized items. Ji Moran moved with practiced ease, retrieving items as Jiang Feng listed his needs.

"For expanding your Essence Lake," she began, setting down a small box, "these are Cloudroot Crystals—five in total. Condensed from spiritual energy over hundreds of years, they are extremely potent. They enhance spiritual energy absorption, accelerating the growth of your Essence Lake while contributing their own essence energy. Expensive, but highly effective."

Next, she retrieved three scrolls sealed with golden emblems. "For fire-based battle skills, we have the Blazing Fang Strike, the Three Sun Fists, and the Volcanic Sword Dance. These are advanced battle skills designed for cultivators in the Essence Condensation Stage up to the Golden Core Realm. They deliver high attack power but require precise control of your flame."

Finally, she placed a pouch filled with fragrant herbs on the table. "These herbs are for body refinement. They'll strengthen your meridians and increase your endurance—ideal for fortifying the internal organs. Just soak in a tub with them for as long as your body can handle."

Jiang Feng examined the items, his expression thoughtful. "How much for all of this?"

Ji Moran tapped her chin, calculating. "The crystals are 85,000 low-grade spirit stones, and the herbs total 105,000. Together, that's 190,000. I can give you a five percent discount." She smiled, watching Jiang Feng's expression shift. He looked like he wanted to bolt out the door.

"And what about this one?" Jiang Feng pointed at the Three Sun Fists, bracing himself for what he knew would be a shocking price. Ji Moran noticed his grimace and chuckled lightly.

"Advanced martial techniques are costly because they can be used even into the Golden Core Stage, unlike lesser-grade techniques tied to a single realm. We only have ten copies of the Three Sun Fists. The cost for one is 230,000 low-grade spirit stones—or two medium-grade spirit stones and 30,000 low-grade ones."

Jiang Feng swallowed hard, his expression stoic, though his sharp eyes betrayed his struggle. Ji Moran's lips curved into an amused smirk. Men who approached her usually flooded her with flattery or flaunted their family's wealth, but this young man seemed a bit stingy. He tried to mask it, but his twitching lips gave him away. 'Who is this guy?' She stifled a laugh, maintaining her professional demeanor.

She carefully placed the Cloudroot Crystals, the Three Sun Fists, and the body-refining herbs into a pouch.

"With the materials you brought today, my staff appraised them at 537,000 spirit stones. The items you've chosen total 420,000 spirit stones. With the five percent discount, it's 399,000. That leaves you with 138,000 remaining, and with your credit card holding 152,000, you still have 290,000 spirit stones left."

"Do we have a deal?" Ji Moran clasped his hand briefly, her smile confident. She was a master of her trade, skillfully highlighting benefits while downplaying the cost. She sold a vision of the future, not just resources—a subtle tactic Jiang Feng caught onto immediately. With his high comprehension, it didn't escape his notice. But in the end, business was business.

"I trust your family's reputation. If you say the price is fair, then it is fair. You have yourself a deal." Jiang Feng wanted nothing more than to leave this money-draining establishment. His heart ached. 'When did I become so stingy? Is Lin Rou stingy? Maybe he's rubbing off on me. Yeah, that's it', he mused, a faint smile crossing his lips as he thought of Lin Rou, whom he hadn't seen in weeks.

If Lin Rou could hear him, he would explode with rage.