As soon as the Section Head finished speaking, the seniors approached.

  It seemed they were thinking the same thing as I was.

  Senior Ling Xuan spoke first.

  “Junior Xuanyuan. We’d like to work together with you. What do you think?”

  Senior Yang Dongwu also nodded vigorously in agreement.

  “That’s right. If Junior Xuanyuan is willing, let’s do this together as a team of three. With someone as talented as you, we’ll feel much more at ease.”

  There was sincere anticipation in both of their eyes.

  Being chosen first in a group assignment like this… it had never happened since elementary school.

  For some reason, I felt oddly proud.

  “Then please take care of me, Seniors!”

  After confirming that everyone had formed their groups, the Section Head pointed at the pile of baggage sacks in front of him.

  “Alright, each group leader come forward and receive your sacks. There are fifty Flowing Residue Formation Plates inside each, so handle them carefully.”

  Senior Ling Xuan stepped forward and brought back our sack.

  Once everyone had taken theirs, the Section Head formed a hand seal for the Transmission Technique.

  It looked like he was contacting someone.

  Senior Yang Dongwu poked my side with his elbow.

  “A Formation Master is probably coming for the demonstration, right? I wonder what kind of formation plate it is.”

  Senior Ling Xuan chimed in.

  “That’s probably the case. We’ll only know how to improve it after seeing it in person.”

  My heart fluttered slightly.

  Someone was coming to demonstrate a formation plate I had made.

  Soon, the door of Department Seven opened, and a cultivator walked inside.

  He possessed the cultivation of Qi Refinement Stage 10.

  It looked like he hadn’t slept for several nights straight—his beard was unkempt, and his eyes were bloodshot.

  At a glance, his condition was terrible.

  He had clearly been worked to the bone.

  “Greetings. I am Tian Nong, a Formation Master from the Formation Path Pavilion. The Flowing Residue Formation Plates here are…”

  Cultivator Tian Nong began explaining the formation plates in a voice that sounded half-dead.

  “Now, like this, you inject spiritual power along the circuit… no, no, wait. First insert the spirit stone… ah… inject spiritual power and then the spirit stone? Anyway…”

  The explanation was extremely long-winded and disorganized.

  The formation plate wasn’t even that complicated…

  All you had to do was insert a spirit stone, set the desired time, the amount of water, and the size of the spiritual field, then deploy it along the circuit.

  I had made the mana circuit slightly more complex to minimize errors, but…

  Well… fifty per group.

  He must have made at least six hundred formation plates within just a few days.

  Considering that, it made sense he looked half dead.

  He was probably just exhausted…?

  “Here, use the needle in the center to set the time, the amount of water, and the size of the water output… and that’s it. Very simple, right?”

  Judging by the explanation alone, it didn’t sound simple at all.

  More importantly, didn’t the person explaining it look like he was about to collapse?

  Since I was the one who made the formation plate, I understood it perfectly.

  But everyone else looked completely baffled.

  And that was only natural.

  He was just vaguely pointing at the formation plate in his hand while talking—he hadn’t even demonstrated it.

  Shouldn’t he at least show a demonstration?

  Don’t tell me…

  He didn’t even have time to gather spiritual power?

  If that’s the case, that’s just pitiful.

  “Um… excuse me, but could you show us a demonstration?”

  Unable to watch any longer, one of the officials cautiously raised his hand.

  But Cultivator Tian Nong had already closed his eyes and was nodding off like a sick chicken.

  Just how much had they overworked him?

  When the Section Head cleared his throat, Tian Nong suddenly jolted awake and bowed respectfully toward him.

  “Well then, I’ll be going now. I’m the youngest in the Formation Path Pavilion… so I have a lot of work. Haha… well… I probably won’t die… anyway, please take care of the rest…”

  With that, he staggered out like a zombie.

  Seeing that miserable sight, no one could say another word.

  To think someone could become like that from overwork.

  Good grief, that’s terrifying.

  This was exactly why black companies were scary.

  If I wanted to learn Formation Art or formation techniques, I’d better enter a sect.

  If I became an official, I’d probably die from overwork.

  Watching Tian Nong’s retreating figure, the Section Head cleared his throat.

  “Ahem. It seems the Formation Path Pavilion has been quite busy lately. Although we couldn’t see a demonstration, I believe in all of you. If it doesn’t work after one try, then study it two or three times.”

  Everyone’s faces turned pale.

  For someone without talent in formations, even handling a formation plate wasn’t easy.

  Figuring out how to deploy it would probably take two or three days of nonstop effort.

  The Section Head continued with a solemn expression.

  “Due to this incident, there will be no orders for spiritual herbs for the time being. The lower-ranked officials will handle cultivation, so you should focus solely on selling the formation plates.”

  Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.

  Seeing how obsessed they were with the formation plates, it seemed many experienced spiritual farmers had died in this incident.

  To maintain the same production of spiritual rice, as many people as possible would need to use formation plates.

  Water was scarce in Qingliu City.

  They couldn’t force people to buy them, nor could they give them away for free.

  So we ended up playing the role of merchants.

  Well, as long as I could rack up achievements and earn rewards, I was more than willing to work hard.

  ***

  I brought the seniors to Huami Inn.

  I always felt bad about constantly being treated to meals, so I wanted to properly treat them to one this time.

  If people keep treating you, you might start freeloading.

  I didn’t want to become that shameless, thick-skinned type of person.

  Of course, that wasn’t the only reason.

  I also planned to gather information from the Plum Blossom Elder.

  Senior Yang Dongwu asked with a puzzled expression.

  “Is that information broker really that capable?”

  “Yes. You know the Qingluo Exchange Gathering, right? He knew exactly which items sold and at what price the very next day.”

  Senior Ling Xuan exclaimed in admiration.

  “Oh? That impressive? Well, if he’s staying at Huami Inn, he’s definitely no ordinary information broker.”

  Senior Yang Dongwu sighed.

  “What a pity. If those demonic cultivators hadn’t invaded, the connections we built among the spiritual farmers would still be intact. We wouldn’t need to search for information, and selling would be much easier.”

  Senior Ling Xuan nodded.

  “Well, that’s life, isn’t it? Still, we’re better off than most. The other officials don’t even know how to use the formation plates.”

  At that, Senior Yang Dongwu patted my shoulder and praised me.

  “This is all thanks to Junior Xuanyuan. How did you understand how to use the formation plate just from that explanation? Truly impressive.”

  Senior Ling Xuan agreed.

  “That’s right. Because of that, we’re already ahead of everyone else. I asked around—other groups said they’ll need a few more days before they can even depart.”

  When selling the same product, at the same price, to the same target audience, what is the most important factor?

  Outstanding eloquence?

  Or strong personal connections?

  No.

  The most important thing is speed.

  You must attack the target faster and more accurately than others.

  That was why I showed a bit of talent this time.

  Seeing the admiration in the seniors’ eyes made my shoulders lift toward the sky.

  Being praised felt surprisingly good.

  ***

  When I met the Plum Blossom Elder again after a long time, he had lost quite a bit of weight.

  For someone who loved wandering everywhere, being stuck inside the inn for such a long time must have been torture.

  “Ah, Elder Brother. Long time no see. How have you been?”

  The Plum Blossom Elder smiled so brightly his eyes nearly disappeared.

  “Thanks to the innkeeper, I’ve been doing well. My granddaughter is also fine. But you’ve become half the man you used to be.”

  Haha…

  I smiled awkwardly while stroking my sharp chin.

  Lately I had been through a lot mentally and physically, so I had lost quite a bit of weight.

  I should nourish my body soon.

  “These two are my seniors from the Spiritual Agriculture Pavilion. Senior Yang Dongwu and Senior Ling Xuan. Seniors, this is the greatest information broker in Qingliu City—the Plum Blossom Elder.”

  Both sides exchanged polite greetings.

  “I’ve heard much about you. Please take care of us.”

  While they greeted each other, I signaled the inn servant and ordered food.

  Then I immediately got to the point.

  “We’ve been assigned a new mission. We’re supposed to forcibly—no, sell formation plates developed by the city to spiritual farmers. We came to ask about the situation outside the city.”

  As expected of an information broker, the Plum Blossom Elder immediately caught on.

  “Oh, then you came to the right place. The villages around the city have completely changed—their locations and residents alike.”

  Senior Ling Xuan asked in surprise.

  “It changed that much?”

  “Of course. The city suffered heavy damage, but the villages suffered even more. Their locations were already exposed to demon beasts, so the settlements were relocated and new spiritual farmers were brought in.”

  I had heard something similar.

  People who lost their homes in the incident were resettled in new villages.

  The Plum Blossom Elder added quietly.

  “As new people were accepted, security was strengthened. Five households were grouped together to monitor each other. It hasn’t even been long since it was implemented, but quite a few spies have already been caught.”

  Oh…

  So they had implemented something like a mutual surveillance system.

  Someone knowledgeable about administration must exist inside the city.

  Or…

  Could it be another gamer like me?

  Startled, I received a notification from the system.

  [...Among all dimensions, you are the only being from another world.]

  Right.

  Sorry for being suspicious.

  I refocused on the Plum Blossom Elder’s words.

  “They also reorganized clan-based villages by sending cultivators from the city. Every village now has at least one Foundation Establishment cultivator stationed there. Considering the circumstances, the city has done its best.”

  Among the cultivators living in the city, there were many who kept multiple wives and concubines and enjoyed expanding their families.

  They had probably been sent to those villages.

  A Core Formation Zhenren would never appear just to invade a small village.

  But a Foundation Establishment cultivator would be more than sufficient as a protector.

  Even in Yun Xian’s old cultivation village, the strongest person had only been the Village Head at Qi Refinement Stage 12.

  I lowered my voice and asked quietly.

  “Then… do you happen to know the locations of the new villages?”

  Since spiritual farmers lived around spiritual fields, they were probably nearby.

  But finding them without a map would be exhausting.

  I silently cursed the Section Head for sending us outside without even giving us a map.

  The Plum Blossom Elder narrowed his eyes, raised his hand, spread his fingers wide, and shook it three times.

  Understanding the hint, Senior Ling Xuan immediately took out fifteen spirit stones.

  “Here. Have a drink with this.”

  The Plum Blossom Elder chuckled and snatched the spirit stones.

  His speed was astonishingly fast.

  The old man’s hand movements were improving day by day.

  “Much appreciated. Now then… shall I draw the locations of the new villages?”

  While he smiled, the food we ordered arrived.

  All kinds of delicacies filled the table.

  Every dish was made from expensive demon beast meat.

  We also ordered the spiritual wine the Plum Blossom Elder liked.

  “Well then, let’s eat first. There’s plenty of time.”

  The meal was lavish.

  As expected of the finest inn in Qingliu City—the cooking was exceptional.

  Having received both information fees and a full meal, the Plum Blossom Elder completed the map at incredible speed and handed it to us.

  Then he whispered quietly.

  “You must never show this map to anyone. Memorize it and destroy it immediately.”

  I nodded right away.

  Naturally.

  If it ever fell into the hands of demonic cultivators, it would be disastrous.

  While the seniors admired the map, I casually asked the Plum Blossom Elder something else.

  I already knew he also worked as a broker.

  “Could you introduce us to someone good at selling things?”

  Neither I nor the seniors were particularly thick-skinned.

  And we had zero experience in business.

  After coming to the cultivation world, I realized every type of experience could be useful.

  Why had I never even tried selling those jade mattresses back in the day?

  While I was briefly reflecting on my life choices, the Plum Blossom Elder smiled with narrowed eyes.

  “Oh? You really do think ahead. In that case… shall I introduce someone skilled in speech and business?”

  That was wonderful news.

  I nodded enthusiastically.

  With good products, faster movement than others, and a talented merchant…

  It would be perfect.

  “Hehe, then wait a moment.”

  As the Plum Blossom Elder used the Transmission Technique, I ordered some tea.

  Perhaps because they overheard my conversation with him, Senior Yang Dongwu exclaimed in admiration.

  “Wow, that’s a great idea. I was honestly nervous about selling things in front of people.”

  Senior Ling Xuan also praised me.

  “You did very well. This puts us far ahead of everyone else. Once the person arrives, let’s move quickly.”

  Being praised repeatedly made me feel proud.

  Was I slowly becoming an attention seeker?

  After a short while, a man with a plump face and large ears entered the inn.

  “Greetings. My name is Jiang Aoye.”

  At a glance, he looked like someone who could sell anything.

  The kind of friendly face older people would instantly like.

  After finishing negotiations with Jiang Aoye, we headed toward the nearest village.

  We agreed to pay him fifteen spirit stones for each formation plate sold.

  Of that amount, five spirit stones would probably go to the Plum Blossom Elder.

  Just in case, I also secretly applied a tracking incense on Jiang Aoye.

  Ahem.

  It wasn’t that I didn’t trust people.

  I was just being cautious.

  After all, it’s better to tap the stone bridge before crossing it.

  …Or am I the only one?