Chapter 166: Trading Cassiterite

Leibao Pavilion was the most well-known traditional material shop within the Four Directions Alliance. Not only did it have numerous branches across the alliance's territory, but it also enjoyed a certain reputation even in Linjiang Prefecture.

Looking at the storefront before him, Bai Qingzhou could not help but recall the description of this shop in the *Langya Rankings of Lizhou*.

According to the records, Leibao Pavilion had expanded all the way from other prefectures. Much like the Incomparable Inn, it was a relatively large-scale chain store in the Jiuzhen Realm, rather than being affiliated with a specific sect of the Four Directions Alliance.

"Selling things here should not be a problem..." Bai Qingzhou muttered to himself.

Chain stores of this magnitude possessed immense backing, far beyond what a single alliance could provoke. In any marketplace, no one dared to cause trouble at chain outlets.

After glancing at the entrance, he lifted his foot and stepped inside.

"Welcome, Senior!" The moment he drew near, a graceful young maid hurried over, bowing deeply to Bai Qingzhou.

Bai Qingzhou nodded slightly, his lips moving as he said, "I'm here to sell some items."

"Understood. Please follow me, Senior." The maid answered respectfully, turning around to lead the way.

Bai Qingzhou stepped forward, and He Zuo and He Li hurriedly followed behind, their eyes darting around in curiosity as they walked.

The main hall held seven or eight tall shelves laden with numerous materials for artifact crafting and alchemy. Names and descriptions were posted beneath each item, making everything clear at a glance.

It was the first time He Zuo and He Li had ever entered such a material shop, and they were filled with curiosity, observing their surroundings intently.

However, mindful of Bai Qingzhou's instructions, neither of them dared to wander off, sticking closely to his heels.

Passing through the main hall, Bai Qingzhou followed the maid into a private room.

The chamber was small, with a long table placed in the center holding several spiritual fruits that emitted a faint, spiritual aura.

"There's fruit!" Seeing the spiritual fruits, He Zuo immediately ran over to the long table, sat down, grabbed a piece of fruit from the tabletop, shoved it into his mouth, and began to chew.

"Senior, please wait a moment. I will go invite the appraiser down," the maid said, bowing respectfully as she backed out of the room.

"Make it quick," Bai Qingzhou urged.

"Understood." With that, the maid closed the door and left.

Sensing the minor array inscribed within the room, Bai Qingzhou noticed it had soundproofing qualities, exactly the same as the private room he had visited back at the Benevolent Fate Pavilion. It seemed that private rooms intended for transactions were all equipped with such simple arrays.

"He Li, try this. This fruit is so sweet!" He Zuo held up a red, apple-like fruit and offered it to He Li.

"No thanks, you eat it," He Li refused, shaking her head.

"Hmph! You really don't know how to enjoy good food!"

With that, He Zuo pulled back his arm, opened his mouth wide, and resumed crunching on the fruit.

Bai Qingzhou smiled, walked over to sit on the central mat, and began to wait.

Most shops employed their own appraisers to evaluate the worth of various artifact materials. A good appraiser could greatly enhance a shop's reputation.

However, if a shop possessed its own artifact crafter, it demonstrated an even greater level of strength.

After all, an appraiser was merely an expert who observed without practical crafting skills. An artifact crafter, on the other hand, possessed not only superior discernment but also the ability to manufacture items themselves—a value that could not possibly be compared.

Thinking of artifact crafters, Bai Qingzhou's mind drifted to Meng Li, who was far away at Fire Camp Workshop. By now, she should be a successful artifact crafter as well...

Before Bai Qingzhou could ponder further, footsteps sounded outside the door.

His ears twitched, and a mental image formed in his mind: this cultivator was likely around the late Qi Condensation stage, with steady footsteps, perhaps hovering near the eighth layer of Qi Condensation...

A moment later, the door was pushed open, and a middle-aged man walked in.

Upon seeing the three people seated inside, he paused in surprise, clearly not expecting so many visitors.

Yet immediately afterward, he sensed the towering, majestic spiritual aura emanating from the young cultivator sitting in the middle.

A Foundation Establishment cultivator!

The middle-aged man immediately stepped forward, cupped his fists, and bowed. "Greetings, Senior!"

In the world of cultivation, seniority was rarely determined by age; everything was ranked according to cultivation level. Even between master and disciple, as long as they reached the same realm, they could address each other as fellow Daoists.

"No need for formalities. Please take a seat, fellow Daoist," Bai Qingzhou said, gesturing for him to sit.

"Yes!" The middle-aged man cupped his fists once more, then sat down on the opposite side of the long table, asking cautiously, "I wonder what items Senior wishes to sell today?"

Without beating around the bush, Bai Qingzhou went straight to the point. "Does your esteemed shop purchase tin stone?"

"Of course! Such precious materials are always in high demand and short supply at our shop..." Pausing for a moment, the middle-aged man asked, "How many catties does Senior have?"

"Around five hundred catties or so."

"Over five hundred catties..." The appraiser nodded, cast a cautious glance at Bai Qingzhou, and asked, "I wonder where fellow Daoist managed to acquire such a large quantity?"

"That, I must decline to answer," Bai Qingzhou said expressionlessly.

"Ah..." The appraiser continued, "We can certainly handle over five hundred catties, but... would Senior allow me to inspect the goods first?"

"Naturally!" Bai Qingzhou flicked his wrist. His storage bag opened, and under the precise control of his spiritual power, pieces of tin stone continuously flew out from the bag's mouth, landing slowly upon the table.

The tin stones were entirely silver in color, looking no different from ordinary silver, yet the spiritual energy shimmering within them was something entirely unseen in worldly goods.

The appraiser retrieved a small lens from his robe and began to observe the table closely.

Silence fell over the room. The three of them quietly watched as the middle-aged man picked up pieces of the tin stone, turning them over and over to examine them.

Before long, the appraiser put away the lens, cupped his fists, and said, "Judging by these tin stones, they must have been unearthed less than two months ago. They are quite fresh materials. Does Senior have a minimum price in mind?"

"Naturally, market price will suffice." Seeing the appraiser display no unusual reactions, Bai Qingzhou breathed a sigh of relief.

"Well then, how about two catties for one spirit stone?" The middle-aged man raised his head, stole a subtle glance at Bai Qingzhou, and spoke slowly.

"What..." Hearing this, He Li's face filled with astonishment. Unable to hold back, she interjected, "Isn't the market price one spirit stone per catty? Why is it suddenly two catties per stone here?"

He Li had learned from Wu Haoming that the market price of tin stone was one spirit stone per catty. Yet from this man's mouth, the price had suddenly doubled in terms of weight, cutting the value directly in half. This was something she found impossible to accept for a moment.

At this, the appraiser narrowed his eyes slightly, a flash of light crossing them. However, he instantly returned to normal, looking bewildered as he said, "This... I have never heard of such a cheap market price..."

"You—" He Li started to speak.

"No matter! We shall trade at this price," Bai Qingzhou interrupted He Li, signaling with his eyes for her to say no more, and agreed on the spot.