Ning Zheng took a deep breath and sat down in a chair to examine the purchase list.

The hall was filled with numerous tables.

Several scattered individuals were also looking at their lists, some dressed in novel, contemporary clothing.

There were men and women.

There were also a few seemingly reliable middle-aged individuals with a group of young people in tow, seemingly introducing them to the world.

The middle-aged person noticed Ning Zheng and approached slowly, apologetically saying, "Is this your first time here..."

"Sorry."

Ning Zheng stepped back a few paces, refusing to engage in conversation.

The middle-aged man was taken aback, but smiled understandingly and left with the young cultivators behind him.

Ning Zheng was unsure if they were local ghosts in disguise or outside living cultivators like him.

But he had no interest in conversing.

Unless he was mistaken.

This place replicated ancient times entirely and was intrinsically a dangerous locale.

It naturally harbored the era's tribulation cultivators, scams, theft, et al., requiring caution.

In life a con artist, in death still a con artist.

This was another gigantic Red House!

In smaller Red Houses of local cities, it was legal for ghosts to kill.

Courtesans followed the rule to kill scholars whose knowledge fell short, and surviving the Red House test allowed them to gain fame and beauty.

Whereas this gigantic Red House surely had its trials, rules, allowing ghosts to consume people legally and compliantly.

It's likely the tribulation cultivators' modus operandi.

Being wary of strangers is never wrong.

Here, where it's hard to distinguish between the living and the dead, cautioning against dead impersonating the living is crucial.

Never underestimate the intelligence of ghosts.

Consider Li Youzhu; even in death, he knew how to woo women, seducing the Jiao princess.

Thus, Ning Zheng never underestimated any dead person.

"I don't want to end up as a meal, just another snack in this mausoleum."

Ning Zheng examined the list carefully.

The items were plentiful, yet there were no divine weapon-level arms.

Apparently, rare high-tier resources were only available at the auction, which occurred every three days.

Then he glanced at the venue introduction.

This was a super large-scale auction.

It's said to combine auction bids from several regional sectors nearby.

As long as the bids landed, specific items could be teleported to any store on this street.

Furthermore.

The items weren't all displayed here.

Ning Zheng had to personally place an order for the items to be teleported over.

His eyes skimmed over the array of items quickly.

Permanent Teleportation Array (Xinyi Continent City): One million magic coins, may be placed in designated city zones, offers teleportation, but private construction outside the city leads at one's own risk.

"Jian Xin, unexpectedly constructing an illegal teleportation array outside the city, blatantly breaking laws."

Ning Zheng was a bit speechless:

"Yet no one dares touch him; he's one of the city's top combat powers, this self-serving act."

Ning Zheng, as a benefactor, secretly used his array.

He suddenly hesitated.

Should he purchase a permanent teleportation array for himself?

The one from Jian Xin was certainly temporary.

A proper permanent teleportation array cost 800,000 magic coins, with an additional 200,000 for regional placement.

Expensive indeed, but worth it.

Casually strolling through Xinyi Continent City's simple blocks revealed its strategic significance was terrifying.

Having a teleportation array linked was like boarding a taxi straight to the mausoleum, always accessible for Tao discussions and historical viewing!

It was a high-quality mausoleum indeed.

Not much weaker than exclusive ancient sect crypts; thus, the state's generosity was shown.

The immediate access, offering knowledge gains, was extremely cost-effective!

200,000 extra magic coins.

Not seen as making money off you, it was a civic perk.

Of course, perks aside, if your family was too weak and became snack food here, apologies followed.

Opportunities and risks coexisted.

Besides, establishing your teleportation array essentially connected your household with Xinyi Continent City, enabling trade as a local merchant caravan.

Initially.

The three major families of Pingchang City jointly built Xinyi Continent's permanent teleportation array, thus forming the Pingchang Business Alliance.

Otherwise, where else would they get supplies for city trades?

Most goods were transported from Xinyi Continent City!

They served as the business core of a thousand local cities, not just a boast.

Pingchang City still underwent infighting; closing delivery arrays led Zhang Huaping to say: their alliance shut external goods exchange pathways.

Otherwise, Ning Zheng's weapon blind boxes could still sell in large bulk.

It implied transactions with other cities and local Xinyi Continent City families via these channels!

Certainly.

Generally, pouring 1 million magic coins on an array doesn't guarantee recouping.

The heavier the goods transported, the stronger cultivators crossing, the easier the array's lifespan shortens.

The distance from Pingchang City to the state city posed considerable length, leading to a higher teleportation cost per trip.

Hence.

In Pingchang City's business alliance, unless high-value lightweight goods offered high profits, trade wouldn't cover round-trip losses.

Previously, painting and weapon blind boxes were quality goods, lightweight, high-priced, with sales covering array costs.

Unfortunately, selling goods depended on Pingchang City's alliance mood.

Infighting broke out, and business ceased on whims, bullying since Sword Casting Manor was outside the city, them daring to show faces.

"Why not construct my own, break the monopoly?"

Ning Zheng's heart surged, "Then I could completely escape Pingchang City's business alliance control."

Frankly speaking, he'd seized a great opportunity.

To claim Xinyi Continent City's permanent teleportation array, one had to trek there by foot.

Teleport to nearby cities, each step taken over mountains and valleys involved countless adventures to reach the city.

Initially, Pingchang City's alliance achieved this, losing lives on arduous journeys, akin to the 81 trials of Western Heaven pilgrimage.

As for requesting Pingchang City's alliance to buy a Xinyi Continent City teleportation array slot for one's residence—

Why would they be foolish to do so?

Having paid dear prices to open paths, offering you free openings and a teleportation slot, directly competing with their business?

If interested, have cultivators trek the path to Xinyi Continent City.

Thus.

Having Jian Xin trek to Xinyi Continent City spared Ning Zheng numerous additional costs.

"It can be purchased!"

Ning Zheng noted mentally.

Upon purchase, gains were secured.

Despite the 1 million feeling like a massive expense wave.

Even the three major families in Pingchang, a single family might not easily be able to pull this liquid asset.

They likely collaborated to open this teleportation pathway.

Now tackling one solo held a blend of pain and joy.

Ning Zheng continued surveying other products.

Numerous items warranted purchase, but the overwhelming abundance was hard to cover.

"Can I purchase this product catalog?" Ning Zheng bluntly asked the front desk.

"One hundred magic coins, thank you."

The lady at the front desk smiled as if routine.

Merely an information-storage small magical artifact.

One hundred magic coins?

Ning Zheng cursed inwardly at the daylight robbery but still forked out 100 magic coins.

He didn't linger, decisively spending 1 million magic coins applying for a teleportation array.

The process was extremely fast.

Ning Zheng soon had his teleportation array, taking it to a vast area behind the business alliance.

There, arrays lined up like floor tiles, presumably other families' pathways.

This was but one area.

For it read [Scaly Gate Teleportation Point: Area 137]

After a series of operations and authentication, Ning Zheng found himself inside the teleportation array and processed his location coordinates.

Dizzy! Sound of whoosh!

Dizzy and Erya exited the teleportation array just as Ning Zheng returned to the manor.

Dizzy and Erya stepped out of the teleportation array, exclaiming that a wave of new goods had arrived!

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