The date of the Seven Star Examination was getting closer and closer. Even Pine Creek Town at the foot of Big Dipper Mountain was bustling with activity.
Not many people knew when Pine Creek Town had been formed. This was the last stop before entering Big Dipper Mountain and heading to the North Style Academy. The people who lived here were already used to seeing cultivators, and the ones they saw were often extraordinary cultivators. On this point, the people of Pine Creek Town were even prouder than the people of Eastern Capital. Because Eastern Capital was just a political power center, while Big Dipper Mountain was a holy land for training, a place where the best practitioners gathered.
Therefore, on the widest and most bustling street of Pine Creek Town, if one were to find some cultivation items, soul force props, or even divine weapons that were rarely seen in the east, it wouldn't be strange at all. As the saying goes, rely on the mountain, rely on the water to draw on the water. This saying was not said casually. This neighboring town of North Style Academy was filled with people who relied on practitioners for a living.
Now that the Seven Star Examination was at hand, Pine Creek Town would be bustling with activity at this time every year. Some were residents of the town, and some were visitors from other places. To appear here at this time, they must have something worth peddling in their hands. They wanted to make a move while the students of North Style Academy were busy dealing with the Seven Star Examination.
Zhuang Yong specialized in this kind of business. He was at the eleventh level of the Perception realm, so he would stand out in an ordinary deserted village or small town. But in Pine Creek Town, he was an extremely unremarkable small character.
But Zhuang Yong already had seven years of experience in this kind of business. On the way here, he met people of the same trade and exchanged goods. Zhuang Yong was ridiculed. From their point of view, the goods Zhuang Yong was peddling were of low quality. How could the experts of North Style Academy be interested in equipment or tools of this level?
Zhuang Yong dismissed this with a laugh and did not explain himself.
With his current level, it was indeed difficult to get his hands on higher quality goods, but it was not impossible. But Zhuang Yong had been doing business for seven years and had already noticed it. Although the North Style Academy had many powerful people, in this bazaar before the Seven Star Meeting, the things that were in high demand and sold well just happened to be those toys that weren't too high ranked.
Zhuang Yong observed carefully. He finally saw some clues. Those who would run over to Pine Creek Town to cram for help at the last minute before the general examination were mostly not experts from the North Style Academy. Most of these people's realms were below the realm of the Three Spirits Connected. They were unable to fully utilize the power of equipment and tools that were too high-grade. It was exhausting and not beneficial. He was a decent fellow. Only then would it be like adding wings to a tiger.
And among them, the business of the North Style Academy's newcomers was the best. These newcomers were participating in the Seven Star Trials for the first time and did not know their limits. Their hearts were perturbed and they did not want to miss the one in ten thousand chance to increase their strength. This year, Zhuang Yong completely placed the focus of his business on this batch of newcomers. Zhuang Yong walked along the commercial street of Song Xi Town and looked at the goods displayed by the various families. He found that no one was as targeted as he was. He couldn't help but smile and quickly found an empty seat. Then, he began to manage his stall.
While laying out the things one by one, Zhuang Yong also paid attention to the passers-by. There were already many practitioners from the North Style Academy among them. There was still a week before the Seven Star Trial, and this week was the peak of the season. If they sold well, they would not have to worry about a year's worth of business. They might even have a turnover for the next year.
Zhuang Yong looked for the newcomers he was looking forward to. But as he looked, he noticed something different.
The atmosphere this year seemed a little off! Zhuang Yong pondered. His realm was only at the eleventh level of perception. His eyesight was extremely good, but he was at the sixth level of perception. He was also very good at observing people's words and body language. Although he had not talked to anyone from the North Style Academy yet, he could see their expressions. They were less arrogant in front of the Seven Star Trials, but more solemn and serious. This really puzzled him.
Just as he was pondering, Zhuang Yong finally saw a familiar face.
He would come to Song Xi Town every year to do business with the North Style Academy. After a long time, he naturally got to know a few people from the North Style Academy. Zhuang Yong did not seek to climb up the social ladder. He only wanted to help his business a little. And the person in front of him was the one who could help him the most.
"Senior Brother Ji."
Zhuang Yong took a step out from behind his stall. He grasped the perfect timing and appeared in front of this person. But he did not seem to be rude at all.
That person naturally stopped. It was the senior brother Ji who was in charge of the Northern Mountain New Courtyard. He was originally a steward, but over time, both inside and outside, he had been regarded as the leader of the Beishan New Courtyard. Since Zhuang Yong wanted to do business with newcomers, there were many advantages and no disadvantages in currying favor with senior brother Ji. So when he saw this person, he did not dare to be negligent.
Senior brother Ji was extremely indifferent towards Zhuang Yong. He did not even raise his eyelids and casually replied, "You're here?"
"The Seven Star Trials are around the corner. Naturally, I have to come and join in the fun. How is senior brother Ji recently?" Zhuang Yong said as he fumbled around in his pocket. Senior brother Ji was the person he wanted to make friends with. Naturally, he had already prepared some gifts. He knew that this senior brother Ji did not have much ambition on the path of cultivation. He was more interested in enjoying himself. So he did not prepare any training supplies, but some expensive and exquisite toys.
Such meticulous preparation was exactly what senior brother Ji wanted. He casually took an agate snuff bottle the size of a thumb from Zhuang Yong and immediately couldn't let go of it. When he saw Zhuang Yong take out a big bag from behind the stall, he even smiled.
"Oh, you do remember my preferences." Senior brother Ji said.
"That's right. I can't miss senior brother Ji's business!" Zhuang Yong said.
"You're the most cunning kid." Senior brother Ji played with the snuff bottle and looked at the big bag in Zhuang Yong's hand. He shook his head and showed a somewhat helpless look. "Tell me, how much do you want to scam me this time?"
"I don't dare to. It's just that it's not easy to come all the way here. Senior brother Ji should at least help me with the travel expenses, right? "Zhuang Yong laughed.
"Come on, you've put everything into the travel expenses." Senior brother Ji scolded.
"Senior brother Ji is a reasonable person." Zhuang Yong still smiled.
"Take it." Senior brother Ji slapped a banknote over and took the big bag from Zhuang Yong's hand with an expression that said, "I'll grant your wish."
Zhuang Yong opened the banknote and looked at it. Suddenly, his face was full of surprise. "Senior brother Ji is so generous!" After saying that, he quickly folded the banknote and stuffed it into his pocket. He usually wouldn't even look at a banknote if it fell on the ground, but now he was afraid that someone would snatch it away.
"Alright, I'm going to look at other places." Senior brother Ji said.
"Senior brother Ji, don't you want to look at other things?" Zhuang Yong gestured to Senior brother Ji to his stall.
"I've looked at them long ago. They're all junk used by newcomers." Senior brother Ji said disdainfully.
"Sure enough, they're not good enough for Senior Brother Ji." Zhuang Yong said regretfully, but in his heart, he knew that Senior brother Ji understood his purpose of coming here. What he wanted was naturally for the housekeeper of the Northern Mountain New Courtyard to introduce more newcomers to him. His goods that were worth a thousand taels of silver but were sold cheaply for one tael were all here!
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