Chapter 22: Taking Over a Shop

Su Yuan spent two days helping Niu Bin finalize all the procedures and rent a shop through Niu Bin's efforts.  Now they stood before a shop in the Seven Extremes Market outside the Seven Extremes Sect.  The shop wasn't small—the front area covered a hundred square meters, while the back had four separate rooms that could be converted into forging workshops.  Su Yuan stared blankly at the plaque above the shop.  The plaque read "Su Yuan's Forging" in bold characters.  Beside it was another line: "This shop is established by Seven Extremes Sect inner disciple Su Yuan."  Su Yuan turned to Niu Bin with twitching lips. "Senior Brother Niu, is this what you meant by 'using my name'? Isn't this too high-profile?"  Niu Bin waved his hand. "High-profile is exactly what we need! How else will people believe in our capabilities? With this plaque up, customers will come flocking!"  Su Yuan sighed. "I think you're doomed to fail."  Niu Bin confidently declared, "Don't worry, business will boom! I'm ready to make it big!"  Full of confidence, Niu Bin decorated the shop with previously forged magical artifacts and other low-cost procured items, quickly making it look like a proper business.  Three days later.  Niu Bin and Su Yuan sat on either side of the entrance, counting birds on a tree branch.  The hundred-square-meter shop stood completely empty.  "Brother Bin, I think running a shop requires skill. You're too rough—maybe you shouldn't do this," Su Yuan said bluntly.  Niu Bin looked utterly confused. "How is this possible? Other shops immediately attract rogue cultivators just by displaying an inner disciple's name! What's going on?"  He seemed to be questioning his life choices.  "Could it be... they hired people to fake customers?" Su Yuan hit the nail on the head.  "What? Why would they do that?"  "It's a business tactic—herd mentality. Crowded shops attract more people, while empty ones repel them."  "Maybe you should run a promotion," Su Yuan suggested offhandedly.  "A promotion?"  "Like discounts—buy three get one free, or offer freebies like pills or talismans."  Niu Bin immediately shook his head. "No way! These are carefully forged artifacts, and the procured ones weren't cheap either. Discounts would mean losses! As for pills? I don't have connections for cheap ones! Same with talismans."  "Ugh, you were so sharp before—what happened to that flexible mind?" Su Yuan remarked.  Niu Bin sighed. "Fine, let's try it."  Three more days passed.  The 10% discount promotion failed to work miracles—still no customers.  Su Yuan watched curiously as rogue cultivators passed by the shop, glancing inside before walking away without hesitation.  When Niu Bin stopped one to ask why they weren't buying, the answer left him speechless:  "Who's this Su Yuan? Never heard of him! And since it's an inner disciple's shop, it must be expensive—I can't afford it!"  Niu Bin stood stunned—this wasn't what he expected.  Su Yuan finally understood: not just any inner disciple could successfully open a shop—only those with established reputations could attract customers.  Niu Bin dragging him into this was practically a joke—people weren't fools.  Starting with a hundred-square-meter shop in this prime market location naturally gave an expensive impression, which matched reality since Niu Bin's artifacts were pricey even after discounts. Worse, Niu Bin had no reputation in forging—empty shops were inevitable.  Still, Niu Bin persisted for two more days before finally admitting defeat.  He packed up his artifacts, returned the procured items, and left dejectedly.  Su Yuan asked incredulously, "Brother Bin, what about the shop?"  "Closed! But I've already paid two months' rent. Play around with it if you want, or just leave. The market will reclaim it if rent and taxes aren't paid—won't affect you!"  With that, Niu Bin left Su Yuan standing bewildered in the empty shop.  After a long silence, Su Yuan shook his head, locked up, and returned to the sect.  Let someone else deal with this shop!  Meanwhile, in the Pill Extremes Peak's servant area:  Zhou Wuyou carefully sorted spiritual herbs, preparing them for alchemists. A year of servitude had made him more composed.  After finishing, he delivered the herbs to various refining rooms. Passing one room, he overheard two servants whispering:  "Look, it's Zhou Wuyou! Said he'd become an outer disciple, but he's still here with us at Qi Refining Level 2!"  "Pfft, thought he had connections, but his patron disappeared. A year later, he's finished! I almost followed him back then."  Zhou Wuyou heard every word but remained calm—he'd grown accustomed to such talk. Initially angry, he'd eventually understood the fickleness of human nature, even from his own family who'd cut his resources by 99%.  He'd once resented Su Yuan but later realized cultivation world uncertainties were common. All he could do was focus on his own path.  This year, he'd solidified his alchemy foundations through practice. With some saved spirit stones for materials, he could attempt pill refining—if only servants had more free time.  Suddenly, a paper crane landed on his shoulder.  Tapping it, he heard:  "Zhou Wuyou, an inner disciple has recommended you for direct outer disciple promotion. Come to the Immortal Mystic Hall for processing."  The two gossiping servants froze upon hearing this.  One quickly congratulated him: "Brother Zhou! An inner disciple's recommendation means better benefits than regular outer disciples!"  The other immediately fawned: "Brother Zhou, I've long admired you! Are you accepting subordinates?"  Zhou Wuyou smiled. "Let's talk later—I mustn't keep the steward waiting."  After he left, the two dropped their smiles.  "Damn, he actually had connections!"  "An inner disciple! Those require late Qi Refining strength and combat prowess! How'd he stay so quiet?"  "Probably looked down on us. Who was his patron again?"  "Su Yuan, I think?"  At the Immortal Mystic Hall, Zhou Wuyou smoothly became a Pill Extremes Peak outer disciple with five monthly spirit stones—two more than standard—and a free technique.  When he asked which inner disciple recommended him, the steward said, "You don't know? Su Yuan from Mysterious Extremes Peak."  Su Yuan?  Overwhelmed, Zhou Wuyou realized Su Yuan had kept his promise. He rushed to Mysterious Extremes Peak to thank him but couldn't locate Su Yuan.  After informing his family, his resources were not only restored but doubled. Immediately, he focused on alchemy.  Surprisingly, he successfully refined a batch of low-grade Fasting Pills on his first attempt.  "Am I... actually talented at this?" he wondered aloud.  Encouraged, he tried Qi Condensing Pills, succeeding after two failures. Realizing his genuine talent, he now needed to sell his products—difficult for a newcomer.  Meanwhile, in Artifact Extremes Peak's outer disciple area:  Zhang Wei carefully forged a low-grade artifact sword, sparks flying as he inscribed patterns. A fellow disciple marveled:  "Zhang Wei, your forging talent is exceptional! So fast to independently craft an artifact!"  Zhang Wei boasted, "I'm from a forging family—years of exposure plus natural talent made this easy. This is actually my seventh artifact! How about you?"  The flattering disciple stiffened. "I... have things to do."  As the disciple left, Zhang Wei muttered, "Tch, can't handle the truth."  Storing his seventh sword, he pondered how to sell them when a paper crane arrived—Zhou Wuyou's message:  "Zhang Wei, Su Yuan recommended me as an outer disciple. He must be back—let's meet at Mysterious Extremes Peak's base to find him."  "Su Yuan's back?" Zhang Wei exclaimed, immediately heading out.