Chapter 83: Selling Puppets
Chapter 83: Chapter 83: Selling Puppets
After leaving the Bixia Pill Workshop, Lu Zhao didn’t hurry back to Guiyun Residence. He strolled along, asking Zhao Xiaoshu questions from time to time. Zhao Xiaoshu would furrow his brow or fall into thought; some questions he could answer, but others were clearly beyond his scope of knowledge.
After leaving the Bixia Pill Workshop in the East District Changchun Square, the pair made their way to the North District Golden Treasury Workshop. At last, they arrived at their destination: the Spirit Puppet Tower.
According to Zhao Xiashu’s hushed explanation, this was the largest puppet retailer in Bixia Marketplace and held a considerable reputation throughout the Cultivation Realm of Chen Country.
This trip hadn’t been part of Lu Zhao’s original plan. He had intended to spend the next few years in arduous cultivation and refining his Puppetry skills, relying on his ample supply of Spirit Stones and stockpiled Spiritual Materials.
However, the recent purchase of Pills had cost him a full 375 Spirit Stones—nearly half his entire reserve. The expense completely shattered his financial illusions.
A new sense of urgency pressed upon him. He had to gauge the actual market prices and sales prospects for Puppets in Bixia Marketplace immediately. The Spirit Puppet Tower, being the most prominent of its kind, was naturally his first stop.
The Spirit Puppet Tower was located in the Golden Treasury Workshop of Bixia’s North District. Though its facade was not particularly magnificent, it exuded a solemn air. On the ebony plaque, the words "Spirit Puppet Tower" were written in a powerful, elegant script that faintly glowed with Spirit Light.
The moment Lu Zhao and the silent Zhao Xiaoshu stepped through the door, a middle-aged man in a navy-blue robe immediately came forward to greet them.
The man was around forty, with a gaunt face, slightly high cheekbones, and eyes that held a sharp, restrained glint. With a habitual smile on his lips, he cupped his hands in greeting. "Welcome to my humble shop, sir. How may I be of service?"
Lu Zhao’s gaze swept over the variously shaped Puppets displayed inside. He returned the greeting. "I’m looking to purchase a few Puppets for personal protection. However, I’m new here and not familiar with what your establishment has to offer. Would the Shopkeeper be so kind as to give me an introduction?"
The middle-aged man’s smile remained, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes. "You’re too kind, sir. I am Lin Yuanshan, and I have the honor of being the master of this tower." He gestured for them to follow. "Please, come with me. We can talk as we walk."
Lin Yuanshan led Lu Zhao through the somewhat crowded shop, his voice steady and clear. "While I can’t claim my shop has everything, our selection of Puppets of all grades is quite comprehensive. Take a look at this row," he said, pointing to a high wooden shelf against the wall. On it sat several Puppets the size of a human head, shaped like spirit cats and covered entirely in soft black fur. "These are Tier One Lower-Grade Puppets, the ’Night Cat Puppet.’ They have an exquisite Stealth Array embedded within and excel at scouting and surveillance in dark or complex environments. Their claws are tipped with a mild poison, making them excellent support for a Scout..."
Without breaking stride, Lin Yuanshan continued his tour. When they reached the central area, the Puppets on display were noticeably larger, their auras stronger.
"These are Tier One Middle-Grade Puppets. This one is called the ’Iron Bear Wolf.’ Its bones are cast from Profound Iron, and it has the body of both a bear and a wolf. It’s incredibly strong and tough, excelling in both close combat and defense. The price is one hundred and eighty Spirit Stones..."
Finally, he stopped before a solitary wooden pedestal at the very back of the shop. On it stood a single, humanoid Puppet half a man’s height, its entire body gleaming with a dark gold luster and exuding a deep, heavy aura.
"This is one of the treasures of my shop: the ’Profound Gold Warrior,’ a Tier One High-Grade Puppet! Its body is forged from an alloy of Profound Gold and Refined Iron. Its strength is immense, its defense astonishing, and it can even activate a Protective Golden Aura that not even a Foundation Establishment Cultivator could easily breach. The price is four hundred and fifty Spirit Stones." Lin Yuanshan’s voice held a hint of pride.
Lu Zhao listened intently, nodding from time to time and occasionally asking a question or two about the details. The two conversed easily. Lin Yuanshan’s explanations were extremely thorough, and he spoke frankly about everything from materials and crafting methods to ideal use cases, strengths, and weaknesses.
However, just as Lu Zhao looked away from the Profound Gold Warrior and prepared to speak, Lin Yuanshan’s smile remained, but his tone took a sharp turn. His keen eyes fixed on Lu Zhao. "Mr. Lu, forgive my forwardness, but may I ask what grade of Puppet Master you are?"
A wry smile touched Lu Zhao’s lips. He looked at Lin Yuanshan. "You have a keen eye, Master Lin. I wonder what gave me away?"
Lin Yuanshan laughed heartily and stroked his short beard. "Please don’t take offense, Mr. Lu. To be frank, I had my suspicions from the moment you walked in and asked me to introduce all the Puppets, rather than asking about a specific type."
"Here in Bixia Marketplace, and indeed throughout all of Chen Country, the art of Puppetry is ultimately a niche field. Ordinary Cultivators who buy Puppets usually do so for emergencies or specific uses. Their objectives are clear, and they only ask about what they need. Only a fellow practitioner, someone like yourself, would so painstakingly examine the details and prices of every type of Puppet, especially a High-Tier one like that Tier One High-Grade. I presume your purpose today was to gauge the market conditions and sales prospects, was it not?"
Lu Zhao nodded candidly. "Your insight is remarkable, Master Lin. I’m impressed. But..." He paused. "Since you already guessed my identity, why give me such a detailed tour? Aren’t you afraid I’ll steal your business?"
"Hahaha!" Lin Yuanshan’s laughter was rich and hearty. "That’s where you’re wrong, my friend! First, while the Spirit Puppet Tower’s main business is selling Puppets, our inventory isn’t entirely self-produced. The majority of our stock is acquired from fellow practitioners."
"Second, market prices are transparent by nature. Anyone determined enough can find them out with a little digging; it’s impossible to keep them secret. And finally..." He gave Lu Zhao a meaningful look. "A Puppet Master with your level of skill is precisely the kind of honored supplier the Spirit Puppet Tower is most eager to befriend!"
"There is a sea of Cultivators in Bixia Marketplace, and their needs are many and varied. How could I possibly satisfy all that demand on my own, or even with a few fixed suppliers? I wonder, would you be interested, Mr. Lu, in letting my tower handle the sale of your Puppets? I can guarantee that I will purchase them at the fairest prices in the Marketplace!"
Lu Zhao was at a loss, not knowing whether to laugh or cry. He had come here simply to scout the market in preparation for selling his Puppets in the future. He had even expected to be brushed off or given the runaround. He never imagined that not only would he learn the market rates, but he would also end up being courted as a potential supplier.
"You’re a direct man, Master Lin." Lu Zhao shook his head with a chuckle. His exasperation was mixed with a strange sense of validation. Since the man had extended an olive branch so openly, there was no need for him to be evasive either. "In that case, what specific types of Puppets is your tower interested in buying? And at what price?"
Lin Yuanshan visibly brightened, realizing he had a real chance. "That," he said immediately, "will depend on your grade as a Puppet Master and what you can create."
Lu Zhao then listed the Puppets he could create, one by one, not even omitting the Ice Wind Wolf Puppet.
After listening, Lin Yuanshan pondered for a moment.
"For an Ironwood Guard in perfect condition, my tower is willing to pay seventy Spirit Stones apiece! As for the Ice Wind Wolf Puppet, the price would range from one hundred and sixty to one hundred and eighty Spirit Stones. The exact amount is negotiable."
Lu Zhao grumbled to himself. ’This Master Lin is truly shrewd. So passionate about recruiting me, yet so ruthless when it comes to pushing the price down.’