Chapter 179: Chapter 179 - Closing the Store

"Senior Brother, Ling and I have saved a total of 200,000 spirit stones, and we’re planning to buy top-grade or near second-stage weapons in preparation for the Beast Tide!" Ming explained.

"Very well, you should at least get two good weapons. Even if you don’t, Liling, who will be taking us today, is a very good weapon refiner. It’s just that her weapons are special and might not be suitable, so it’s better to try the auction first."

Fengyu chatted with Ming as he walked out of the field.

Many cultivators passed him by, their steps hurried.

’It seems the news already arrived fully in the eastern gate districts. I wonder how many cultivators in the north know it already? Shanqing said that only superficial news would be distributed, so the farmers north likely haven’t packed their bags yet, or are even trying to prepare for the Beast Tide.’

Imagining the wave of farmers that would storm the city if such news were revealed... Fengyu could understand why the city didn’t tell them just yet. And even if they did, these people would only die in the defense of the city.

So, what these people would do is run away and hide in some corner.

But such a matter, no one in the city welcomed. Having farmed in the city all this while, paying no tax or anything, you should at least defend it to the best of your ability. If you just run away, why would the city need you?

In the first place, all of these were weeds the city grew to delay the beasts from coming.

As he thought of these things, he had already entered the eastern gate and walked towards Liling’s store. His steps slightly hurried, unwilling to delay the matter even a single second. Ming saw his attitude and quieted down, his steps no slower.

"Fellow Daoist Fengyu, you’re even earlier than I thought!" Liling was surprised to see them so early. While she was saying this, she continued packing away the weapons and cleaning up the store.

"Fellow Daoist Liling is so diligent, how dare I be late? But... is Fellow Daoist going to close the store so soon?" he asked, as even when she went out, she could simply activate the formation. There was no need to pack everything. 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

"I would like to go to your field and build my own refining and sewing station right away. Once the Beast Tide begins, it will last at least a week. But the longest Beast Tides weren’t declared over even after several years. Although such Beast Tides formally develop into a Beast War, we never really know when a Beast Tide is a tide and when it’s a war.

So most inner citizens like us prepare for a tide at least a year long.

The tide comes in waves - between the waves we can work and trade, only during the tide will we have to activate the formation. We never know when a wave will hit, so we will try to build a full station wherever we stay." Liling explained this - although she didn’t participate in the last Beast Tide, she had many friends who did, so she knew a thing or two.

Fengyu was grateful to receive such precious information, so he listened attentively while standing at the door.

He would help her if he could, but he knew that each item here was bound by the formation. Taking one wrong step would result in being attacked, so it’d be better to sit still and wait.

As he waited, he saw the ice-princess Han arrive.

"Fellow Daoist Han," he called out while cupping his fists.

She merely nodded before turning to Ming, who also greeted her.

"I will introduce you to the gathering this time, so I will have to explain the rules -" she started.

Ming quickly nodded and listened while thanking Fengyu in his mind. If it wasn’t for him, this princess would never talk to him!

"First, this gathering is a private gathering that will only be for fellow cultivators. Any information about the gathering cannot be shared with those who aren’t part of the gathering, except when explicitly stated.

Second, all trade and exchanges will have to be held through private barter.

Third, this gathering is a kind of mutual aid alliance, but regardless of how we aid each other, we may not harm the city, whether intentionally or not.

Finally, this gathering is only for inner citizens and can’t be mentioned to non-inner citizens."

Fengyu also listened to these rules and thought they were quite reasonable. Especially the third rule - clearly these gatherings were allowed under the city’s laws. These rules were likely a set of special rights and regulations by the city.

"Thank you for explaining it to me!" Ming bowed to Han.

Fengyu also cupped his fists in thanks.

"Alright, I’m done. Let’s go." Liling said after some time, having taken away and packaged all items in the store. Her courtyard had been cleared already, she only kept the store open to sell a few last items.

"Fellow Daoist, Ming here is going to buy weapons for himself and his sister. Could you help him identify which item would be most suitable for them?" Fengyu asked as he walked out of the store with the three.

"A weapon? No problem. I felt both of your auras last time, so I have a general idea about which weapon would suit you." Liling agreed and activated the formation fully - she had placed thousands of spirit stones inside. Even if she’d abandon it, she didn’t want to make it easy for others.

Delaying the fortune of robbers or stopping beasts would be a great merit.

"The gathering is going to be held in a tea house in the inner city," she explained, "you don’t have to be nervous. All the cultivators there are going to be at the same cultivation level as us."

"Same? Who is going to host it?" Fengyu was curious.

"These gatherings are generally held by those who have missed the window for breakthrough or have failed. After all, no one else has time to manage it. They also use these gatherings to gather materials and resources for their descendants and disciples."

"Oh, that’s understandable then."