Chapter 63: Langlang Mountain Elixir Workshop
Chapter 63: Chapter 63: Langlang Mountain Elixir Workshop
The former main peak of Black Crow Mountain, now the Lujiao Mountain Marketplace.
The large black cloth slowly descended, and the group of demons from Langlang Mountain stepped off it.
"What a huge change!"
Jin Ling’Er couldn’t help but exclaim the moment she stepped off.
She had been here before, when the three-mountain alliance besieged Black Crow Mountain.
Returning now, the contrast struck her deeply.
After the demons from Langlang Mountain disembarked from the black cloth, the Sparrow Spirit did not join them.
Instead, the Sparrow Spirit drove its Magical Artifact and flew off in a certain direction.
Clearly, a Foundation Establishment Great Demon had its own business to attend to upon arrival.
On a stone face of a small mountain peak were carved the large words: Lujiao Mountain Marketplace.
Clouds and mist swirled around it, a clear sign that an Array had been set up.
A few Demons stood guard before a heavy Stone Gate.
All of them were at the Mid-stage Qi Refining Realm.
The Marketplace had just been established and wasn’t open to the public yet.
However, the Langlang Mountain demons showed their tokens to prove their identity and purpose, gaining easy entry into the Marketplace.
As they walked further in, they saw numerous Spirit Plants growing all around.
Although they were not of a high Grade, the Spiritual Qi they breathed in and out created a dense, spiritual mist, adding a touch of elegance to the atmosphere.
Large Spirit Fields were cultivated on the mountainside, with Spirit Rice, Spirit Medicine, and Spirit Grass planted among them.
Their Grade wasn’t particularly high either; most were entry-level or Lower Grade.
They were likely meant to supply the daily needs of some Little Demons.
Further up, they could occasionally see some caves.
The vast majority were still vacant.
By the looks of it, they were probably meant to be rented out when the Marketplace opened.
The closer they got to the peak, the more impressive the caves became.
Some even had Arrays set up outside for warning, Defense, and soundproofing, to ensure the peace and quiet needed for the Demons cultivating inside.
Rows of shops began to appear on both sides.
Under the unified direction of a Langlang Mountain Elder, who explained the layout and shop locations, the demons dispersed to their respective duties and got busy.
As the Chief Alchemist, Xu Chang’an naturally led his Alchemists and apprentices toward Langlang Mountain’s Alchemy Workshop.
For some reason, Jin Ling’Er decided to go with him.
"Grey Rat, look there!"
Jin Ling’Er said to Xu Chang’an, pointing to the very top of the mountain peak.
Xu Chang’an looked up and saw cave residences faintly visible at the highest point, surrounded by clusters of Spirit Plants, looking extremely elegant.
"That area is covered by a Tier Two Spirit Gathering Array. The Spiritual Qi is so dense that even a Foundation Establishment Great Demon would benefit greatly from cultivating there."
A hint of envy was in Jin Ling’Er’s tone.
Xu Chang’an gave Jin Ling’Er a slightly surprised look.
Come to think of it, Jin Ling’Er had already reached Qi Refining Seventh Layer Cultivation back at the Wave Valley gathering.
Now, eleven years had passed, but her Realm was still at the Qi Refining Seventh Layer; she had yet to break through to the Qi Refining Eighth Layer.
’Is it because of a poor cultivation environment?’
’Or is it something else...’
Xu Chang’an guessed silently.
"This is it, Grey Rat."
Jin Ling’Er said, pointing to a rather large pavilion.
Pushing open the pavilion doors, the demons started to get busy.
With the subordinate demons busy, Xu Chang’an and Jin Ling’Er had little to do.
They would be stationed here for a long time to come.
Taking it very seriously, Xu Chang’an toured the pavilion’s layout.
The pavilion had a total of four floors.
The first floor was a sales area for common Elixirs and also sold some miscellaneous cultivation items.
The front of the second floor was a large Reception Hall, while the back was divided into several private rooms for discussing custom Elixir orders and prices.
Large-scale procurement negotiations could also be held in the second-floor private rooms.
The front, street-facing half of the third floor was Xu Chang’an’s living and cultivation quarters.
The back half had been specially modified to be suitable for Alchemy.
When Xu Chang’an accepted commissions for custom Elixirs, he could work here.
The fourth floor was a semi-open space. Half of it consisted of elegantly decorated private rooms, and the other half was an open-air sky courtyard.
Many Spirit Plants were grown in the courtyard, their breathing filling the air with a dense mist.
A winding stream flowed through it, flanked by intricately placed, exquisite carvings.
This was a place for regular business networking and receiving important guests.
Behind the pavilion was a sizable courtyard with many living quarters.
The Alchemists and Alchemy Apprentices of the Elixir Workshop could all live in the back.
After a full tour, Xu Chang’an was very satisfied with the living environment where he would be stationed.
It had both the liveliness of the Marketplace and the quiet elegance of a courtyard.
Though still under Langlang Mountain’s banner, this, to a certain extent, was already quite similar to his second-stage goal.
To establish multiple channels and run a business of high-end, custom Elixirs.
To enjoy a leisurely and contented cultivation life.
Jin Ling’Er chatted with Xu Chang’an for a long time before taking her leave.
As one of the Elders in charge of the Marketplace, she would also be stationed here for most of her time in the future.
After a few days of tidying up and cleaning, the Langlang Mountain Elixir Workshop was officially ready for business.
However, the Lujiao Mountain Marketplace had not yet opened to the public.
So even though the Elixir Workshop was ready, there was almost no business.
Xu Chang’an was happy with this.
After all, an Elixir Workshop in a Marketplace operated differently from the Alchemy Hall, whether in terms of supply, Refining, sales, inventory, or maintenance.
Having a buffer period was convenient for internal adjustments, allowing all the different parts of the operation to run more smoothly.
This would prevent them from being thrown into chaos once business officially began.
As soon as he settled into the Lujiao Mountain Marketplace, Xu Chang’an sent out letters to Yu Ruyan, the Yellow Wasp Spirit, and other demons.
He informed them that he would be staying at the Lujiao Mountain Marketplace for a long time to come.
If they needed to contact him in the future, they could send letters to this location.
And so on and so forth.
More and more shops set up in the Marketplace, and it grew increasingly lively.
Some of these shops were operated by Lujiao Mountain itself, some belonged to factions from mountains ruled by Foundation Establishment Great Demons, and others were branch stores opened by large merchant guilds.
There were also some well-connected demons who opened small storefronts to do their own business.
About two months passed like this, and then the Lujiao Mountain Marketplace announced its official opening to the public.
On the opening day, the Marketplace was incredibly bustling.
Many demons from the surrounding mountain factions of Foundation Establishment Great Demons came to browse the Marketplace.
Independent Cultivator Demons and demons from smaller mountain factions traveled thousands of miles to make purchases.
The surrounding area was a near-vacuum for trade and commerce; previously, one had to travel thousands of miles to buy anything.
The opening of the Lujiao Mountain Marketplace now brought great convenience to all the surrounding demons.
With such high demand, one could imagine that the Lujiao Mountain Marketplace would remain incredibly lively for a long time to come.
The shops within the Marketplace, like the Langlang Mountain Elixir Workshop, were set to become cash cows.
And holding down the fort in this particular cash cow was Langlang Mountain’s Chief Alchemist, Xu Chang’an, a Gray Rat Demon!
With the opening of the Marketplace, the Langlang Mountain Elixir Workshop also hung up festive decorations and announced its grand opening.
Several Sequence Elders from Langlang Mountain personally came to the Marketplace for the ribbon-cutting ceremony for Langlang Mountain’s various shops.
Some allied factions also sent representatives to offer their congratulations.