Chapter 534

“Once you receive our signal, all you need to do is place this formation disk near that mysterious talisman master's cultivation cave and activate it.

As for the rest, there's no need for you to get involved.”

Master Qiu recalled the words of that mysterious figure as he looked at the formation disk sealed in his hands.

Yet a faint sense of unease stirred in his heart.

He could vaguely sense that something ominous was sealed within the disk.

Once unsealed, it might unleash something beyond imagination.

But then he remembered the terms promised by that mysterious man, and how that wretched woman had been suppressing him lately.

Master Qiu forcibly suppressed the unease in his heart.

Since that vile woman had treated him like this, then she shouldn’t blame him for being heartless.

A vicious gleam flashed in Master Qiu’s eyes.

While Master Qiu harbored hatred due to the drastic reduction in his income…

Elsewhere in the city, many businesses were also unhappy with their earnings from the previous month.

In Tianji Workshop, the Workshop Master wore a grim expression as he looked through the ledger in his hands.

“Our income last month was cut in half?”

“Workshop Master, our talismans from Tianji Workshop used to be the most popular in all of Canglan City.

But after Treasure Pavilion launched their new line of talismans last month, most cultivators in the city have gone there instead.

Not only are our talismans barely selling now, even our sales of magical artifacts and pills have been severely impacted,” explained a glamorous woman.

“Treasure Pavilion!”

The Workshop Master of Tianji Workshop spat the name through gritted teeth.

“What about the matter I had you handle earlier? Is Qiu Rong willing to cooperate?”

“It’s been taken care of. The item has already been delivered to him. But Qiu Rong is extremely greedy—he demanded a full hundred thousand lower-grade spirit stones before agreeing to work with us.

And he insists on receiving the payment first.”

“A hundred thousand lower-grade spirit stones? Quite the appetite!”

Upon hearing this, the Workshop Master’s expression turned even colder, a hint of killing intent flashing through his eyes.

He hadn't expected a mere appraiser at the mid Golden Core Realm to be so bold and demand such a price.

Still, considering the current circumstances, he suppressed the killing intent—for now.

“Agree to his demand for now. Tell him that once he takes the spirit stones, he must carry out the task flawlessly. Otherwise… he should already know the consequences.”

“Yes, I’ll make the arrangements right away.”

The glamorous woman acknowledged and was about to turn to leave.

Just then, someone came rushing in from outside, looking panicked.

“W-Workshop Master! The S-Supreme from the Upper Realm has arrived! He’s already outside!”

“What did you say?!”

This was no trivial matter—the Workshop Master sprang to his feet, face full of shock.

“According to the usual schedule, there should still be five days left. Why has he come so early this time?”

“I don’t know either, but the Supreme is indeed here. And he’s not alone—he brought along a young supreme and an old servant. Judging by his demeanor, he treats that young supreme with great respect.”

The subordinate replied in a terrified voice.

“A young supreme?”

The Workshop Master’s heart trembled with dread, a foreboding sense welling up.

He rushed out hastily, and upon reaching the grand hall, saw a noble young man with starry eyes and sword-like brows, dressed in magnificent and mysterious robes, seated at the main seat.

Behind him stood the Supreme who had come every three years to collect spirit stones, now waiting respectfully.

To the side stood an elderly servant with a wrinkled face.

“Young Master Yu!”

When the Workshop Master got a clear look at the young nobleman, his body trembled and he hurriedly bowed deeply.

His heart was overwhelmed with fear.

He never imagined that the one descending this time would be Young Master Yu from the main family.

Why would such a minor matter as collecting spirit stones warrant the attention of someone like him?

“Uncle Qian, it’s been a long time. I heard you were assigned to manage the business in the Xiao Cang Realm over twenty years ago.

You’ve done an excellent job handling things here.

Since I happened to exit seclusion recently and Steward Cai was coming down to collect dues, I figured I’d tag along out of curiosity.

Might as well take the opportunity to observe the customs and scenery of the lower realm, to broaden my horizons.”

The noble young man smiled as he spoke.

But the Workshop Master of Tianji only felt cold sweat dripping down his back.

Especially after hearing the compliment, his heart quivered with dread.

He knew all too well the temperament of the man before him—beneath this calm and cordial exterior lay a temperament that could erupt into terrifying fury.

If he lost his temper, blood could rain for a thousand miles. Even in the Upper Realm, many powers trembled at his name.

There was no help for it—after all, the Gongshu Clan was one of the Thirty-Six Supreme Clans of the Tianyuan Great World.

“Young Master Yu flatters me… This old servant is unworthy,” the Workshop Master replied with a forced smile.

“But Uncle Qian,” the noble young man’s tone suddenly shifted, “as I entered earlier, I noticed there weren’t many customers outside. Is something going on in the city today that has kept everyone away?”

The Workshop Master froze.

He wanted to come up with an excuse, but he knew better—if he were caught lying in front of this man, the consequences would be even more dire.

After some hesitation, he dropped to his knees with a thud.

“Young Master Yu, I am guilty!”

“Oh? And what is your crime?” The noble youth asked with a calm tone.

“I have failed in my management. Business at Tianji Workshop has declined sharply. Fewer and fewer customers come to purchase our goods. I am ashamed to have disappointed the main family’s expectations.”

Tears welled in the Workshop Master’s eyes as he spoke in a sorrowful tone, his face full of remorse.

In the corner, the glamorous woman and others stared in shock.

Never had they seen their Workshop Master in such a state.

Even when the Upper Realm Supremes came to collect debts in the past, he had never looked this frightened.

But the noble young man showed no sign of sympathy.

His expression didn’t change in the slightest, and he simply asked in a calm voice, “Tell me, what exactly happened?”

“Yes, Young Master Yu. Last month, a firm called Treasure Pavilion launched a new line of talismans…”

The Workshop Master recounted everything that had happened in the past month.

Of course, as he explained, he exaggerated Treasure Pavilion’s violation of trade norms and their aggressive undercutting of talisman prices.

“There was such a thing?”

A flicker of surprise passed across the noble youth’s face as he listened.

Even the two elders with obscure auras behind him revealed looks of astonishment.

“What kind of talismans did the Treasure Pavilion produce that made them so popular?”

“Here they are, Young Master Yu, please take a look.”

The Workshop Master took several talismans from his storage artifact and presented them.

As the noble youth examined them, he continued:

“These talismans are nothing special in terms of power—they’re about on par with our own.

But Treasure Pavilion priced them absurdly low, and they had clearly prepared in advance.

They stockpiled large quantities of these cheap talismans and completely took over the talisman market in Canglan City.

Not only us—other merchants in the city have also suffered. Hardly anyone is buying talismans anymore.”

“These talismans are quite interesting,” the noble youth commented. “To be able to refine lower-grade spiritual jade into talismans of this level—whoever crafted them is indeed talented.”

As someone with profound cultivation and knowledge passed down from his clan, he saw through the talismans’ intricacies at a glance and couldn’t help but praise them.

But after the compliment, his expression grew colder.

“But this Treasure Pavilion… they’re clearly overstepping. Do they truly think they can seize business that belongs to the Gongshu Clan?”