A team arrived from the west, riding sand hawks, and circled above Nanling City.

Finding a large open space, they landed.

This sight was quite spectacular because sand hawks, a fierce desert flying beast, were rarely seen in Nanling.

Cultivators usually used flying artifacts for travel, or at most, tame winged birds for long-distance journeys.

Sand hawks were known to be tamed only by those from the Western Ridge.

After dismounting from the sand hawks, which flew off to find food, the team started walking towards the city.

They were all tall and muscular except for their leader, who was slender and elegant, more fitting the aesthetic of Nanling.

They were a merchant team from the Western Ridge, intending to purchase a batch of Pills and other cultivation materials they needed.

“Elder brother, I’ve been to Nanling a few times in previous years. Three major clans dominate here, with the Zhang and Han families being the oldest local clans, while the Qin family has the weakest foundation. If we’re buying Pills, we should go to Zhang’s Medicine Workshop,” said one of them.

The leader didn’t immediately agree and simply said, “Let’s first visit the market here.”

A big man wearing a bone necklace nodded, “The market is about a mile ahead on this main road. It’s Nanling’s largest market. All three major clans have shops there.”

Upon reaching the Southern Street Market, it was bustling with people.

Yang Wenxu’s team found a teahouse to rest.

When the waiter brought tea, Yang Wenxu asked, “If we want to buy Pills, where should we go in the market?” He placed a pile of spirit gold on the table, totaling about a dozen pieces.

The waiter’s eyes lit up immediately upon seeing the spirit gold, lingering on it for a moment.

Without hesitation, he said, “If you want to buy Pills, you should naturally go to the Qin’s Pills Workshop.”

The big man exclaimed, “Qin’s? Why would it be Qin’s? Shouldn’t it be Zhang’s?”

The waiter, also surprised, happily explained, “Everyone in Nanling knows that the Qin family is a famous clan in the elixir/Pills industry.

Their Pills are not only fairly priced but also of excellent quality…” Seeing their confusion, he quickly added, “You must be newcomers from outside!”

Even wandering cultivators knew of the Qin family’s reputation after living in Nanling for a while.

Yang Wenxu nodded politely without revealing where they came from, saying, “We just arrived from the north.”

Since Nanling was already at the southernmost point, everywhere else was considered north, which was a safe answer.

The waiter didn’t mind; Nanling was generally friendly to wandering cultivators.

Tea houses like this saw countless new faces every day, many from out of town, eager to gather information.

He went on to explain everything he knew without hesitation.

“Nowadays, the Qin family in our Nanling is…” the waiter raised a thumbs up, “thriving with three Foundation Establishment cultivators. Even the old-established Zhang family is now somewhat overshadowed. If you want to buy Pills, go to the East and West markets. There are whole streets lined with Qin family shops, very convenient for medical advice and herbal medicine.”

“I see. Thank you,” Yang Wenxu suppressed his surprise and picked up the spirit gold from the table, handing it to the waiter who left happily.

Leaving the teahouse, the group headed straight towards where the waiter had mentioned.

As they walked towards the West Market, the big man couldn’t help but remark, “I haven’t been to Nanling in over a dozen years. The changes here are astonishing… The Qin family, with three foundation establishment cultivators?”

He clicked his tongue in admiration, “Three Foundation Establishment cultivators! This family must have the qualifications to challenge the Silver-tier clans.”

In their Western Ridge, there was only the Tang Clan as a Silver-tier family.

While they talked, they arrived at the West Market.

The crowd here was noticeably denser.

At the entrance of the market stood a tall flag with a red background and golden patterns, representing the Qin family crest.

The first building they entered was the Qin’s Medical Hall.

“Huh? What’s a medical hall?” Yang Wenxu and his team exchanged glances.

Yang Wenxu gestured for them to wait outside while he entered first.

The layout of the ordinary commercial building was unexpectedly adorned with many curtains, dividing the interior into small compartments where silhouettes could be vaguely seen, likely used for partitions.

Approaching the counter, seated in the middle was a very young-looking girl, around twenty, with a sweet and beautiful face that carried an air of elegance.

However, what didn’t fit was the sword placed within easy reach beside her, contrasting with her sweet demeanor.

The girl looked up and smiled skillfully, “Are you here for medical consultation?”

Yang Wenxu didn’t answer directly but instead asked, “What kind of medical consultation are you offering?”

The girl was momentarily surprised, then examined him seriously.

Seeing his neat attire and lack of injuries, she explained, “For injuries or illnesses, this medical hall is for cultivation practitioners seeking treatment and medicine.”

So, it was a medical hall specifically for cultivators. That was rare.

Yang Wenxu asked, “I want to buy Pills. Where should I go?”

The girl remained composed, “There are many places to buy Pills. Every street corner in this Southern Street Market has shops selling Pills. It depends on how you choose.”

Yang Wenxu said, “I’d like to buy from the Qin family.”

The girl smiled again, “That’s convenient. Turn right when you leave here, and you’ll find the Qin family’s Medical and Pill shops connected.”

Yang Wenxu nodded thoughtfully, about to speak when a clear voice came from behind the medical hall, “Sister, are you done? It’s time to go home.”

Yang Wenxu looked up and was visibly startled.

The curtain was pulled aside to reveal an impeccably delicate face.

Her hair was simply tied back in a high ponytail, enhancing her sharp profile and the aloofness in her eyes.

Yet when she turned her face, her round and expressive eyes sparkled with a smiling warmth, softening her earlier aloofness and giving off a stunning allure.

Qin Ruqing walked up beside Qin Luwei.

She noticed the new patient seemed a bit dazed upon seeing her.

Unsurprised, she turned to Sister and asked, “Third Sister, do you have a patient? Should I wait?”

A patient.

Yang Wenxu finally realized.

This young woman in red seemed to be Third Sister’s sister, the physician behind the counter.

That meant they were both from the Qin family?

Lu Wei shook her head gently and replied warmly, “He’s not a patient. He’s here to buy…”

“Come to buy Pills?” Qin Ruqing asked casually upon seeing the customer in the medical hall.

Sitting down casually on a stool, she added, “You can speak freely. No need to find a manager. I have some authority over these shops. Tell me your needs, and I’ll see if I can offer you a discount. I have some time to spare.”

Lu Wei smiled faintly at her sister’s claim of having “some authority,” knowing full well that Qin family had significant influence.

Yang Wenxu also sensed the girl in red was no ordinary person.

Not wanting to ask directly who she was or why she had such authority, he simply pulled out a list and said, “I want all the types of Pills listed here. If the price is right, I’ll take a large quantity.”

Qin Ruqing took the list and quickly scanned it, then chuckled to herself.

She looked up at Yang Wenxu and asked, “Are you in the wholesale business for pills?”

Yang Wenxu felt a bit uneasy for some reason.

Despite the girl’s casual demeanor, she seemed to see right through him.

He replied, “Not exactly. I’m not reselling. I just have a large demand.”

Qin Ruqing stood up, stroking her chin, and circled around him playfully. “I know you’re not reselling. The types of pills you’ve listed are all basic. If you were reselling, basic pills wouldn’t yield much profit. It would be easier to ambush some wandering cultivators on the roads of Nanling.”

“Let me think. Although you dress like a local from Nanling, there are a few things that stand out. You wear scattered bone ornaments, a habit not common in either Nanling or Beiling. You also carry at least three storage pouches, suggesting you’re on a long journey. Your features are sharp and mysterious, giving you an exotic air… Hmm, are you from West Ridge?”

Yang Wenxu started sweating on his forehead.

The girl seemed to have effortlessly figured him out.

Qin Ruqing smiled kindly, “Don’t be nervous. We in Nanling are quite friendly to guests from afar. Today, just because you’re from West Ridge, I’ll give you a 20% discount! Follow me.”

Yang Wenxu followed skeptically.

He couldn’t believe such a large order could be discounted so generously on a whim.

Could this girl really decide such matters just like that?

Without saying a word, he followed her for a while and discovered that the medical hall had a passage leading directly to the adjacent Pill shop.

The Pill shop had a different layout—a four-story high cylindrical tower with a central courtyard-like open design.

Towering cabinets filled with drawers lined the walls, reaching all the way to the ceiling.

Each small drawer had a red label with the name of an Pill.

People who seemed to be employees of the Pill shop sat atop alchemy furnaces, deftly flying through the towering cabinets.

They found the right drawer, extracted the Pill, and brought it to customers.

The activity wasn’t confined to the air; the ground was just as busy.

Customers queued up, stating their needs at the counter.

Some appeared to have just come from the adjacent medical hall, holding uniform diagnosis sheets which they handed to the alchemists behind the counter.

After a quick glance to confirm the condition, the alchemists would say, “Please wait a moment,” and instruct someone behind them to retrieve the elixirs.

It was a bustling scene of efficient commerce in the Qin family’s Pill shop.

The bustling scene was busy yet orderly.

Yang Wenxu found Qin’s Alchemy Hall refreshing.

He had never seen such a layout before, so innovative and new.

Just as he was about to ask something, he noticed a person dressed like a manager of the hall looking over, their face lit up with a friendly smile.

Yang Wenxu unconsciously straightened his back, thinking, “Could they have recognized me as an important customer? No wonder they’re smiling so brightly.” But to his surprise, the manager walked past him and approached…

a young girl in a red dress nearby, bowing with a flattering tone, “Miss, is there anything you need?”

Yang Wenxu felt awkward, seeing the girl casually point towards him and say, “This customer will be attended by me. The manager only needs to find me a seat, then can go about their business.”

The blind manager followed the direction of her finger, as if just noticing Yang Wenxu standing there.

With a nod, he bowed and gestured for someone to move a seat for the young lady.

After she was seated, he hurried away.

Feeling a bit embarrassed at first, Yang Wenxu soon relaxed, thinking the girl might indeed have the authority to offer him a discount.

The girl handed his order to a waiter and said, “This is what our customer needs. Please prepare the medicines as listed.”

The waiter glanced at the order, looking surprised.

He bowed respectfully to the girl before approaching Yang Wenxu, who wondered what could be wrong.

The waiter said, “Sir, the amount of medicine you’ve requested is quite large. It’s not easy to carry. Do you have storage bags? If not, the hall can provide them for an additional fee.”

“Oh,” Yang Wenxu finally understood, reaching for two storage bags at his waist and saying, “Here they are.”

Taking the bags, the waiter bowed again and went towards the warehouse at the back.

About fifteen minutes later, he returned with the same bags Yang Wenxu had handed him.

Instead of giving them back to him, he handed them to the girl and stood behind her.

The girl said to Yang Wenxu, “Sir, please check the quantity. If everything is correct, sign and settle the bill.”

Yang Wenxu was surprised.

Could it really be this straightforward?

Considering the amount of Pill he had ordered, most alchemy halls would need at least three days to prepare it.

Could Qin’s Alchemy Hall really have such a large stock of medicines?

Opening the bags and scanning them with his spiritual senses, he quickly confirmed that everything was there.

Not a single pill was missing!

Meanwhile, the waiter had swiftly calculated the total cost and handed Yang Wenxu a long bill. “Sir, please verify. We’ve already given you an 20% discount.”

Yang Wenxu glanced at the bill and was stunned. “Is this… really an 20% discount?”

Qin Ruqing smiled, “Is something wrong? Do you think it’s too much?”

Yang Wenxu wanted to say it was much less than he expected, but he held back.

In business, it’s not common to complain about paying less. So, he swallowed his words.

Qin Ruqing asked, “If everything is alright, please sign and pay the bill.”

As Yang Wenxu signed, he noticed the girl resting her chin on her hand, suddenly asking, “Isn’t West Ridge quite closed off? How come there are still caravans going out to buy alchemy goods?”

Yang Wenxu felt the gaze on his face and hesitated to look up. “West Ridge is indeed isolated, with few alchemists, but basic pills are still necessary. Therefore, periodically, family caravans venture out to reduce risk and costs.”

Qin Ruqing nodded, “I see.”

Yang Wenxu ventured a further question, “Miss seems quite interested in West Ridge?” Despite realizing he was from there, she not only didn’t raise prices but also offered a discount, showing a keen curiosity about West Ridge.

Qin Ruqing smiled, “I’ve heard West Ridge has beautiful scenery. I’d like to visit when I have the chance.”

“Beautiful scenery in West Ridge…” Yang Wenxu twitched his mouth.

West Ridge was mostly desert and barren, with little vegetation.

He figured Qin Ruqing preferred not to elaborate on her reasons.

Nevertheless, he pulled out a waist token.

“This is a gift for you. If you ever visit West Ridge again… sightseeing, you’re welcome at my Yang family’s estate. We’ll treat you as an honored guest.”

Qin Ruqing accepted the plain copper token with a ‘Yang’ engraved on it.

She smiled, “We are not acquainted, nor related. Why is Mr. Yang so courteous?”

Yang Wenxu replied frankly, “In visiting Qin’s for elixirs, I found your prices and quality to surpass others outside. With Qin’s strength, our clan naturally seeks collaboration. If long-term trade could be established…”