Zhang Yan confirmed his direction and, after circling around a few times, arrived in front of Zhenyu Building. However, upon entering, he was greeted not by Manager Wang whom he had met five years ago, but by a middle-aged scholar dressed in a simple blue robe, with white-streaked temples.
Upon seeing Zhang Yan, the man approached with a smile, bowed respectfully, and said, "Honored guest, may I ask what treasures in our building have caught your eye today?"
Zhang Yan asked curiously, "Is the former manager of this place no longer here?"
"Are you referring to Manager Wang?"
The middle-aged scholar frowned slightly, his gaze tinged with wariness.
He scrutinized Zhang Yan briefly, and the previous warmth in his demeanor subsided somewhat. In a slightly stiff tone, he explained, "Let me inform the honored guest. That man was insatiable in his greed. His younger brother even stole an external technique from the Jizhang Tan Family, earning the scorn of fellow cultivators. He has long since fled and disappeared without a trace."
The scholar, being of Ming Qi cultivation, could not discern Zhang Yan’s true depth. His caution stemmed from previous incidents in which others had arrived under the pretense of old ties with Manager Wang to provoke trouble. Thus, he subtly hinted at his Tan Family background, making it clear that he wasn’t someone to be easily bullied.
Hearing this, Zhang Yan merely sighed faintly and was unsurprised.
On the day that Wang Huan publicly revealed his technique for raising White-bearded Rats, Zhang Yan had foreseen that this would inevitably come to pass.
It was evident that the Tan Family coveted the Wang Family’s method and resorted to forceful acquisition.
Without the corresponding Daoist cultivation, even the most extraordinary Outer Dao techniques were merely treasures in the hands of vulnerable children—difficult to protect and ultimately benefiting others instead.
Shaking his head slightly, Zhang Yan asked, "When did this happen?"
The middle-aged scholar frowned, glanced at him briefly, but seeing Zhang Yan’s composed demeanor and extraordinary presence—clearly not an ordinary person—he restrained himself and replied patiently, "It’s been about four or five years now."
Zhang Yan nodded and chose not to delve further, saying, "I have a considerable number of demon birds here, acquired from Shendu Peak. Would your shop be interested in purchasing them?"
When it came to business matters, the scholar immediately perked up, his smile returning. He asked, "May I inquire how many demon birds the honored guest has brought? Please note that our building doesn’t engage in small transactions."
Zhang Yan smiled slightly and replied, "I’m not sure of the exact number, but a rough estimate would be around seven hundred or so demon birds."
Unlike common cultivators who could only capture demon birds one by one, Zhang Yan had swept entire flocks into his True Light on that day. Seven hundred was unquestionably an astonishing figure. If he were still in the Xuan Guang Realm, he might have exercised some restraint, but now that he had reached Hua Dan cultivation, there was no need for such caution. Find the newest release on NoveIꜰire.net
The middle-aged scholar initially maintained a calm demeanor, but upon hearing this number, he was visibly startled—almost thinking he’d misheard. Staring intently at Zhang Yan, he couldn’t help but confirm again, "How many did you say?"
Zhang Yan chuckled lightly and said, "If anything, the number is slightly more, not less."
Suspicion flickered in the scholar’s eyes, and he instinctively took two steps back while gazing at Zhang Yan fixedly. After a moment, he regained his composure, lowered his head to think briefly, and hesitated before saying, "Honored guest, this number of demon birds is exceptionally large. I cannot make the decision myself. Please wait a moment while I summon the owner."
Zhang Yan nodded slightly and said, "By all means, please go ahead."
The scholar hurried off into the inner hall, and shortly afterward, he returned with a young cultivator.
The newcomer, a Xuan Guang practitioner, spotted Zhang Yan and his expression shifted slightly. He was astute enough to recognize the faint swirl of smoke beneath Zhang Yan’s nose—a discreet sign of Hua Dan cultivation. Realizing this, he dared not show any disrespect and hastily stepped forward, cupping his hands in greeting. "I am Tan Zhong, a member of the Jizhang Tan Family. May I ask the honored guest’s name?"
Zhang Yan replied calmly, "My surname is Zhang, and I am a disciple of the Mingcang Sect."
Tan Zhong was taken aback and quickly bowed again. With flustered respect, he said, "Your esteemed presence graces our humble establishment with great honor. Please, allow me to escort you to the Elegant Courtyard for the seat of honor."
As he spoke, he gestured invitingly for Zhang Yan to proceed.
Although Tan Zhong was a Tan Family disciple and technically part of a Xuanmen noble lineage, he was from a collateral branch far removed from the family’s main house. Furthermore, his natural talent was mediocre, and after achieving the Xuan Guang Realm, he had stagnated for decades without advancing in cultivation. For this reason, he was relegated to overseeing this newly acquired property.
In previous years, disciples from the Mingcang Sect occasionally visited this Immortal Market, usually from subordinate sects. However, in Tan Zhong’s eyes, regardless of their specific lineage, anyone affiliated with the Mingcang Sect—a massive and formidable entity—was not someone he could afford to offend.
Zhang Yan simply waved his hand and said with a smile, "There’s no need for formality, Daoist Tan. I still have important matters to attend to. If you’re willing to purchase all these demon birds, I’ll sell them to you."