Time flows like a river, and even the slightest moment is like a slippery fish—easy to grasp, impossible to hold onto.

Before anyone knew it, five years had passed. To the Northern Sea cultivation world as a whole, five years was nothing more than a fleeting moment. The seas remained the same, and the land did not change. The war continued and was still raging fiercely. But for low-tier cultivators, five years brought countless changes. It could mean a small breakthrough, a turning point, or even the birth of a new life.

Within Dragon Abyss Immortal City, a man with weathered eyes was rambling on as he discussed business with someone.

"Why's the price of Copper Essence different? It's up by a full twenty percent!"

"Well, Fellow Daoist Zhang, you should know Sunrise Mountain has fallen."

"Sunrise Mountain? The one with the highest copper reserves in the Northern Sea?"

"Yes. It used to be under the Blue Sea Alliance, and it produced large amounts of Copper Essence every year. But then Devil's Snare launched a full-scale invasion, and with the Penglai Immortal Sect tying things up in the rear, even a heavily defended place like Sunrise Mountain got taken. Now there's no stable supply, so of course prices have shot up." At this point, the cultivator gave a bitter smile. "And it's not just Copper Essence. Iron Essence, leadwood, and even cinnabar needed for talismans have all seen price increases due to the war."

Seeing Zhang Jiadi's expression darken, the cultivator suddenly changed his tone. "Honestly, your Azure Yang Shop isn't that big. Why do you need so much Copper Essence?"

Zhang Jiadi frowned. "That is none of your business."

After thinking it over for a while, he finally made his decision. "Fine. I'll take three thousand jin of Copper Essence at your price, but the quality must be the highest. No substandard goods."

Three thousand jin! That was a big deal. Even though Copper Essence was relatively cheap, at this quantity, the profit was no small amount. The cultivator beamed and immediately agreed.

"Oh, right. I saw a white horse displayed at your shop entrance. Just include that as a free gift for me," said Zhang Jiadi.

The cultivator froze. "That is a second-tier puppet. It can run across water and move through the air. It's worth at least five thousand spirit stones. As a free gift, that's a bit too..."

But sensing the faint murderous aura lingering around Zhang Jiadi from years of battle, he thought for a moment and agreed. "Fine. We have been partners all these years, and it's just a puppet anyway. Also, Fellow Daoist Zhang, about that earlier proposal of mine... will you consider it?"

Zhang Jiadi waved his hand without hesitation. "Forget it. Our production is limited, and our high-quality enchanted artifacts are only sold in-store. We can't supply you in bulk. Just deliver the Copper Essence to the Tempest Pavilion by Surging Island on time, and I'll send someone to pick it up. As for the white horse, I'll take it with me now."

With that, Zhang Jiadi left the inner courtyard and took the white horse from the front yard. As he walked along the street, his mind was churning. If he counted the turning points of his life, he found there were only three. The first was obtaining an immortal technique and stepping onto the path of Qi Refinement. That single step had lifted him out of a mortal life and made him a cultivator. The second was marrying Wen Xiu. She came from a great fallen family, and her broader vision set her apart from him. Because of her, they left the small island and joined the Myriad Immortal Society. With that, his horizons broadened, and his cultivation even advanced to the late stage of Foundation Establishment. The third was meeting Luo Chen. Since then, his once predictable life had been filled with hope. His daughter was born safely, and he established a cultivation family on Lotus Picking Island in Surging Lake. By relying on Luo Chen's reputation, he opened a shop in Dragon Abyss Immortal City.

This shop was named after Luo Chen, the Azure Yang Shop. He had built it through years of accumulated connections. Most of the goods sold were resold resources for a small profit. He had never expected it to grow into anything significant. It was meant to be nothing more than a steady source of income for the family.

Then, three years ago, Luo Chen suddenly handed him an enchanted artifact to sell. It was only low-grade, but its quality was excellent. Even among low-grade artifacts, it stood out. After that, more artifacts followed. Over the past three years, both the number and the quality had steadily increased. Most recently, Luo Chen gave him a shield-type artifact. Though only top-grade, its defensive power rivaled that of supreme-grade artifacts. The moment it was displayed, it became the shop's prized treasure and drew much attention. If not for a steward of Dragon Abyss Immortal City suggesting it be included in the next auction, Zhang Jiadi would have already sold it off at a high price.

In short, the once ordinary shop now stood out thanks to Luo Chen's contribution. He had gradually secured his footing in the big city. At the same time, other products also benefited from the tide and flourished.

The profits keep rising, and more and more spirit stones are coming in. And with Senior Azure Yang giving me the occasional guidance... maybe one day, I will have a chance to go for Golden Core.

With these thoughts, Zhang Jiadi returned to the small shop in the south of the city. Before entering, he saw a constant stream of people going in and out. A smile broke across his face.

"The shopkeeper is back?"

"Senior Zhang, how have you been?"

"I heard you voluntarily gave up your three-star demon hunter position? That takes some real courage!"

Zhang Jiadi's last mission had seemed simple but was actually extremely dangerous. It was through that mission that he advanced from a two-star to a three-star demon hunter. To outsiders, giving up such a rank seemed wasteful. However, Zhang Jiadi did not regret it. If he kept holding onto the demon hunter title, he would be bound to follow orders from the Society. By giving it up, he secured the lease to this shop. It was a fair trade in his eyes. After greeting a few Qi Refinement cultivators and Initiates, he went up to the second floor.

Wen Xiu, who had been going over the accounts, looked up instinctively. "Did you manage to get the Copper Essence Senior needs?"

"I did," Zhang Jiadi replied, though his expression was grim. "But the price has gone up again. I am not sure how to explain it to Fairy Heavenjade."

After giving birth and resting for several years, Wen Xiu had recovered perfectly, and her cultivation had not declined in the slightest. In fact, with a stable life and the support of a high-quality spirit vein, she advanced from the third to the fourth stage of Foundation Establishment.

Over the years, managing the shop had also made her bearing more refined. The noble grace she had already possessed was now even deeper, accompanied by great composure.

She set down her brush and said calmly, "You don't need to worry. Senior Heavenjade may seem hard to approach, but she's very protective of her own. Last time our caravan was robbed, she personally stepped in to deal with it. It's just a price increase; if we explain the situation truthfully, she will not blame us."

"Let's hope so!" Zhang Jiadi shrugged.

In front of Fairy Heavenjade, he never felt at ease, even though he had reached the late stage. Heavenjade in particular made him uneasy. Her overwhelming cultivation and inexplicable aura made him keep his distance.

He pointed downstairs. "Business is pretty good today!"

Wen Xiu smoothed her hair and walked to the window, a smile appearing on her delicate face. "Most of them are here for the enchanted artifacts refined by Senior Azure Yang."

Zhang Jiadi was surprised. "But hasn't the Nine Dragons True Fire Shield already been reserved by the officials from the city?"

Wen Xiu shook her head. "Even if they can't buy them, it's still worth taking a look. Besides, the other artifacts in the shop are also excellent quality. For rogue Qi Refinement cultivators, they're rare treasures they don't often come across."

She could not help but sigh. "I didn't expect Senior Azure Yang to be a master artisan too...."

Zhang Jiadi sighed as well. "Seriously... And if he only made random stuff every now and then, that would've been one thing, but... In just three years, he's produced more than thirty enchanted artifacts, and they're all ridiculously good quality. Among the rogue artisans I know, only the master of Devil's Cloud Cave can surpass him."

The master of Devil's Cloud Cave was a top artisan of the Society. He had produced many high-quality enchanted artifacts and also a considerable number of low-grade enchanted treasures. He even took commissions to create life-bound enchanted treasures. Even imagining his yearly income was enough to make others question their own life choices.