After arriving at the location, the youth left.

Gu Changhuan activated the Formation of the newly rented cave dwelling, added another layer of his own, and then plunged into the living quarters and fell straight to sleep.

He slept all the way until noon the next day.

Refreshed after his sleep, he washed and opened the guide to Linyao Market he had bought from Lin Gui.

After reading it carefully, Gu Changhuan gained a preliminary understanding of Linyao Market.

Linyao Market was different from other markets. Many rogue cultivators set up stalls here, and there was a high possibility they held good items. However, these rogue cultivators had spent years wandering the Hidden Dragon Mountains, and their eyes were sharp. Trying to take advantage of them was no easy task.

He skipped the Rogue Cultivators' Plaza on the third level and went straight to the fourth.

Gu Changhuan arrived at the fourth floor and headed straight to a somewhat remote shop named Thousand Plants Spirit Pavilion.

This shop specialized in spirit medicine and naturally sold spirit seeds as well.

Despite the grand name, Gu Changhuan found only the proprietor there to serve customers.

"Welcome, honored guest! Forgive me for not greeting you sooner. Please, sit and have some tea." The proprietor smiled and poured Gu Changhuan a cup himself.

Gu Changhuan did not decline, as most merchants operated this way. He did not actually drink the tea, however, and instead went straight to the point. "I heard that Fellow Daoist's Thousand Plants Spirit Pavilion carries over a thousand types of spirit medicine. Is that true?"

The owner's expression remained unchanged.

"A thousand? I wish! Our customers are too kind.

"We have over three hundred varieties, though only a hundred or so are in regular use.

"The name was an ancestor's wish: that one day the shop would hold a thousand varieties of spiritual herbs."

Gu Changhuan's face remained calm, but inwardly he was startled.

Possessing over three hundred different spirit medicines was already astonishing, nearly rivaling the Gu Clan's medicine garden.

"And how many varieties of seeds do you have?" Gu Changhuan asked.

"More than we have herbs—over five hundred varieties. Some are medicinal herbs, some other spiritual plants. A few are graded seeds that even I cannot identify. Are you looking to buy some?"

Gu Changhuan nodded. "However, I do not want every kind. Seeds below First-Tier High Grade are unnecessary. For First-Tier High Grade and above, as well as those unidentified seeds you mentioned, I will take ten of each."

"First-Tier High Grade and above... you want all of them?" The owner looked somewhat incredulous.

Gu Changhuan nodded. "All of them, ten seeds per variety."

Only then did the owner snap out of his stupor, hurrying upstairs in a great rush to fetch the goods for Gu Changhuan.

With this single transaction completed, he would not have to worry about his livelihood for the next half year!

After more than a quarter of an hour, the owner finally came down from the second floor carrying a bulging Storage Bag.

"Please check the contents, distinguished guest."

Gu Changhuan swept his Divine Sense carefully into the Storage Bag, finding nearly two hundred small bottles arranged neatly and densely within, each labeled with the name of the spirit seed inside.

Remarkable!

It seemed this shop truly lived up to its reputation.

"How many spirit stones in total?"

Rubbing his hands, the owner replied, "A total of seven hundred and eighty Low-Grade Spirit Stones."

Gu Changhuan nodded. Spiritual herbs were difficult to grow, so their seeds sold cheaply. Even so, he was buying a large quantity. The price was fair.

With a flick of his Storage Bag, a small mound of spirit stones appeared on the table.

After counting the stones and confirming the sum, the proprietor escorted Gu Changhuan several meters beyond the door.

Although the spirit seeds were secured and half of today's objective was met, Gu Changhuan still furrowed his brows.

He had no desire to waste his lifespan weeding and tending to spirit medicine fields.

Was there any way to resolve this dilemma?

He could kidnap cultivators and put them to work in the tower. But that would be cruel, and he would need to replace them every few years. Strangers forced to work for him would probably sabotage things, too. No, that would never do.

Was there something that could replace human labor?

In his past life, there were machines. In the cultivation world, there were...

Puppets!

Gu Changhuan slapped his thigh, flipped open the market guide, located what he needed, and turned toward a shop called Kaitian Hall.

Kaitian Hall was a renowned establishment in Linyao Market where rogue cultivators could always acquire suitable Magical Artifacts. Though the prices were slightly steeper, they were entirely worth the cost.

Behind Kaitian Hall stood the Haoran Sect, the foremost sect in Qingzhou.

Kaitian Hall's storefront was over three times as large as Thousand Plants Spirit Pavilion's. Two attendants stood at the entrance, pretty as peach blossoms, with warm, gentle smiles.

Gu Changhuan walked straight toward Kaitian Hall without looking sideways, his composure entirely undisturbed.

"Welcome to Kaitian Hall, Fellow Daoist. Would you like someone to show you around?"

The maidservant standing slightly closer stepped forward, her voice soft and smooth.

With beauty at one's side and gentle words in one's ear, how could a gentleman refuse?

"Thank you, miss. I would appreciate it."

"It's no trouble," she replied with a smile, leading him inside.

As she guided him, she spoke in a soft murmur:

"Our Kaitian Hall is one of the premier specialty shops for Magical Artifacts in Linyao Market. We offer a vast array of Dharma Treasures across all tiers, and we also accept custom commissions. It is no idle boast to say that eight or nine out of every ten daoists who enter our doors leave fully satisfied.

"What kind of artifact are you looking for? I can help you choose."

Display stands filled the hall, each holding an artifact. Sabers, swords, hammers, mirrors, bells—the variety was dazzling.

Without a guide here, finding a specific item would indeed take some time.

"Does Kaitian Hall have puppets for sale?"

Hearing this, the maidservant paused briefly before replying with a radiant smile, "We do. Please follow me to the second floor, Fellow Daoist."

The second floor of Kaitian Hall lacked the dazzling splendor of the first, and there were very few customers present.

Spotting a maidservant bringing a guest upstairs, a cultivator who appeared to be a manager hurried over to greet them.

"Welcome! My apologies for not greeting you sooner."

Looking around the second floor, Gu Changhuan noted various strangely shaped puppets arranged across the space.

"I'd like a few puppets to tend spiritual fields. What would you recommend? They don't need to be high-tier, and I don't care how they look, as long as they're durable and easy to use."

Gu Changhuan stated his requirements plainly.