"I occasionally go back to see my elder brother and parents."
"Business is good; many cloth shops are willing to cooperate long-term."
"The honey is directly cooperated with the Yang Family, who brew Spiritual Wine with it."
"I heard it sells well in Xianghe Courtyard and Qingyin Garden."
After briefly introducing the Lu Family's situation, Lu Hong fell silent for a moment.
Seeing her expression, Su Bai couldn't help but ask, "What's wrong? You suddenly stopped talking."
At this moment, Lu Hong's eyes were slightly red.
"The last time I saw my parents, their hair was already completely white…"
"The family business has been entirely handed over to my elder brother, and they've returned to Ebony Island to retire."
Hearing what Lu Hong said, Su Bai fell silent.
Indeed.
When Lu Ning and Shen Fang chose to have children, it was when they had no hope of Foundation Establishment.
Now, the Xu Family has already produced a new Foundation Establishment Cultivator.
Lu Ning and Shen Fang are both over a hundred years old.
Perhaps in another ten years, they will pass away.
Su Bai didn't quite know what to say.
She could only sigh, "Go back and visit them more often; Xingluo Market isn't far from Ebony Island."
"…Mm, thank you, Aunt Su."
Facing Lu Hong's gratitude, Su Bai stood up and stroked her head.
She didn't say anything more.
Seeing the somewhat heavy atmosphere at the dining table, Yu Rou chuckled and placed a dish in front of Lu Hong.
"We Cultivators all know that once we embark on this Dao, we will encounter such situations sooner or later."
"If you cling to separation, you won't go far."
Yu Rou didn't offer comfort.
She merely clarified that this was reality.
Lu Hong naturally understood.
But after all, it was her closest relatives whose Lifespan was nearing its end.
She just hadn't reacted immediately.
After composing herself, she resumed her smile.
"Sister Yu Rou is right; I won't cling to it. I still want to continue Cultivating, hehe."
After saying this, Lu Hong secretly glanced at Su Bai beside her.
Yu Rou naturally saw Lu Hong's small action.
She just smiled.
Su Bai was already prepared.
When Old Daoist Yang passed away, she knew that as she continued on this Dao, her path was not yet finished.
She didn't know how many bonds would remain to accompany her to the very end.
…
The next day.
Su Bai and Lu Hong left early.
"Then we'll be off. If you encounter any trouble, wait for me to return and handle it."
"Shopkeeper, take care."
Yu Rou gently waved her handkerchief.
Walking on the street, they saw the vibrant and bustling surroundings.
Everyone passing by had Cultivation.
A hint of divine light was in everyone's eyes.
Those who could enter the Inner City must have some background.
The Outer City of Xingluo Market was sufficient to meet all the Cultivation needs of Qi Refinement Stage Cultivators.
Those who came to the Inner City were undoubtedly seeking an opportunity to Breakthrough to Foundation Establishment.
Or they had deep pockets and simply wanted to enjoy the better Spiritual Qi in the Inner City for Cultivation.
Just walking along, Su Bai had already sensed several Qi Refining Peak Cultivators.
Their purpose here was simple.
There were Yao Beasts in the northern peaks of Xingluo Market and it bordered the sea to the south.
There were many Materials.
Whether it was land-based Yao Beasts or sea beasts from the ocean, as long as one could obtain a Yao Core, they could refine a Foundation Establishment Pill.
Of course, if one didn't want to take risks, they could wait.
During the recruitment of disciples by the Six Upper Sects, not only would they test Immortal Seed with Aptitude, but they would also undoubtedly bring out Foundation Establishment resources from their Sects for auction.
This would create an even greater buzz.
These Qi Refining Peak Cultivators were here for that.
Su Bai could imagine how lively the Immortal Ascension Ceremony of the Six Upper Sects would be.
However, the current surroundings held little attraction for Su Bai and Lu Hong.
When Su Bai was a Patrol Team manager, she idled around every day.
The neighbors were all familiar with Su Bai's face.
Lu Hong had not left Xingluo Market since she arrived.
In her free time, she would wander around.
There were several shops nearby.
She knew exactly which alley led to which place the fastest.
"Aunt Su, which auction house are we going to?"
There were several trade associations in the Inner City.
Trade associations regularly held auctions.
However, the auctioned goods varied in value, some high, some low.
The scale of the auctions also differed, and even the publicity varied.
If any auction house at this time were to acquire, not to mention a Core Formation treasure, but even a Foundation Establishment Spirit Medicine, the Outer City would surely be abuzz with rumors.
The streets would be crowded with Qi Refining Ninth Layer, and even Qi Refining Peak Cultivators.
Based on the rumors heard so far, no auction house had leaked such news.
They still mainly auctioned Spiritual Artifacts, Cultivation Techniques, and various rare treasures.
And Su Bai mainly wanted to try her luck to see if there were any Legacy Jade Slips or similar items.
"Let's go to Wanbao Trade Association."
Wanbao Trade Association was a trade association under Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion.
Their items weren't necessarily precious, but they were definitely comprehensive and varied.
The auctioned items ranged from ancient fragments to unorthodox Spiritual Artifacts, and they even sold Evil Path Magical Artifacts from Evil Path Cultivators.
The two were not in a hurry.
Auctions generally started in the afternoon.
They strolled leisurely, slowly making their way to Wanbao Trade Association on foot.
When Su Bai and Lu Hong arrived, they saw scattered Cultivators still entering.
They also stepped inside.
Upon reaching the entrance, a waiter with a smiling face said to Su Bai, "Fellow Daoist, entry requires two hundred Low-Grade Spirit Stones per person."
Looking at the Storage Pouch the waiter held out, Su Bai swiped her finger across her own Storage Pouch, transferring four hundred Low-Grade Spirit Stones into the other party's Storage Pouch.
After checking the Storage Pouch, the waiter said to Su Bai and Lu Hong, "Fellow Daoists, please come in. These are your seat numbers."
After receiving their seat numbers, Su Bai led Lu Hong inside.
As they walked, Su Bai transmitted a message to Lu Hong: "Look, the entry fee alone is so expensive. Who knows how many Spirit Stones they earn just from these fees for one auction? Not to mention they also charge a commission for the auctioned items."
Lu Hong nodded repeatedly.
Those four hundred Spirit Stones, just for first-tier Medicinal Pills, their Danfu Pavilion would have to sell about ten bottles to earn that much, not counting the raw Materials.
In terms of pure profit, it would probably take half a month, and that's under good business conditions.
Su Bai was now accustomed to a life where resources could be bought freely.
She had forgotten the days when she had to haggle over prices for Spirit Medicine at stalls.
Back then, she would waste half a day arguing with a vendor for ten Spirit Stones.
Now that she was a Shopkeeper, spending four hundred Low-Grade Spirit Stones didn't even make her feel a pang of regret.
At most, she would just grumble that others earned Spirit Stones much easier than her.
They walked all the way into the auction house.
Wanbao Trade Association truly lived up to its name, being under Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion.
Their auction house alone covered about twenty mu, roughly the size of a sports field.
As Su Bai and Lu Hong took their seats, the personnel in the auction house gradually filled up.
When the time came and no more people entered, the auction began.
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