Grains City.
Big Wheat Village.
Inside the Chief’s residence.
“Are you certain about this, Zani?” “Yes, Chief.
Please name the price.” “Hehehe, the price…” A bulky man with a long, thick beard stood from his seat, pacing the room with his hands clasped firmly behind his back.
“This training ground you speak of buying…
although it was built a century ago, it remains completely intact, standing proud to this very day.” Stopping behind Zani with his heavy, imposing presence, he continued.
“Do you know why it was built in the first place, boy?” “Junior does not know,” Zani replied, maintaining a polite smile.
“Hmm.
Since your knowledge is shallow, let this Chief enlighten you.
A century ago, a great calamity swept across the entire continent.
It was known as the ‘War of Chaos.’ I do not know the exact origins of this war, nor the supreme powers involved.
But know this: the heavens wept, and it was a truly dark era for the mortal world.” “I see,” Zani replied calmly, finding it hard to picture such a catastrophic time.
The current empire was unshakably stable, and Grains City was in an era of boundless prosperity.
“It was during that chaotic era that these training grounds were established.” Chief Sythe looked deeply at Zani, his eyes flashing with the shrewd light of an old merchant trying to exaggerate the value of his wares.
“Moreover, these grounds were not built by mortal hands.
No, no, no.” Sythe lowered his voice, making it sound profound and deep.
“They were forged by the power of an Immortal.
It is said a mighty Immortal descended from the heavens, waved his hand, and boom!
In a single breath, the entire training ground was formed!” Having finished his grand tale, Sythe returned to his master chair and sat down, stroking his beard as he carefully observed Zani’s expression.
As the village Chief, he usually maintained an aloof and dignified bearing, but today was different.
He desperately needed to offload this useless, cursed training ground that had been gathering dust for a decade.
Furthermore, ever since Zani’s parents had passed to the yellow springs last winter, this youth had inherited a fertile field, essentially becoming someone with a little wealth in the vicinity of Big Wheat Village.
“Chief,” Zani spoke up.
Snapped from his scheming thoughts, Sythe jumped slightly, realizing Zani had already stood up from his chair.
“It seems this junior is far too poor to afford an Immortal’s legacy.
I sincerely apologize for taking up your valuable time.” Zani cupped his fists in a flawless salute and turned decisively toward the exit.
“Wait, little friend!” I knew it.
Rolling his eyes inwardly, Zani paused and looked back with an innocent expression.
“Chief?” Coughing dryly to save face, Sythe’s cheeks reddened slightly.
“I haven’t even stated the price yet.
Do not be so hasty as to assume you cannot afford it.” “Oh?
Then Chief, please state the price.” “Three thousand copper coins.” Without a single word, Zani turned back toward the door, his steps firm and unhesitating.
“Wait, wait!
You do not need to pay the full sum in cash!
This Chief can even extend you a generous loan!” “Three thousand is daytime robbery,” Zani replied calmly, his hand already resting on the door handle.
“Two thousand nine hundred!” “Two thousand eight hundred!” Seeing the youth still refusing to turn around, Sythe’s heart bled.
Taking a deep breath, he gritted his teeth.
“Two thousand five hundred!
That is the absolute lowest I can go!” Zani, who had already pushed the door open, pulled it shut with a soft click and turned around.
His expression was placid.
“One thousand five hundred.
Not a copper more.” SMASH!
Sythe slammed his heavy palm onto the table.
“Ungrateful junior!
This is an Immortal’s legacy!
Two thousand, and I am practically gifting it to you!” “The ‘Immortal’s legacy’ hasn’t seen a broom in ten years,” Zani countered smoothly, his tone unshaken.
“One thousand six hundred.” “One thousand nine hundred!
That is my final word!” Sythe roared, his eyes wide.
“One thousand seven hundred,” Zani replied, his eyes narrowing sharply.
“If you refuse, I will simply walk away and purchase the empty plot near the southern border.” What followed was a brutal battle of wits between an old fox and a young wolf, neither willing to give an inch.
Finally, after a heavy, suffocating silence, Sythe sighed heavily and waved his hand in defeat.
“Fine.
One thousand eight hundred copper coins.” Returning to the table, the tense atmosphere vanished like smoke.
The two began chatting and laughing warmly, looking exactly like sworn brothers.
“These are the land deeds of my field,” Zani said, retrieving the official documents from his robes.
“Chief, please appraise them.” “Hmm.” Accepting the deeds, Sythe’s eyes narrowed to expertly inspect the imperial seals.
Only after confirming they were genuine did he set them down.
“I am well aware of where your field is located, and how rich the soil is.
According to the official imperial rate, they are worth one thousand five hundred coppers.” Stroking his beard, he offered a magnanimous smile.
“However, if you are selling them to me privately, I am willing to give you one thousand six hundred coppers.” “Deal.” “Good.
So, settling the accounts for the training ground, you now owe me two hundred copper coins.
Or rather, two silver.” “Hmm.
Chief, I also have the deeds to my ancestral home.
Please appraise them as well.” Zani handed over another stack of worn papers.
Sythe flipped through them, shaking his head with a pitying sigh.
“Your courtyard is in severe disrepair, and the Feng Shui of the location is far from ideal.
If you sell it to the imperial office, you will only receive five silver coins.
But, if you wait and find a truly desperate buyer, perhaps you could squeeze out six silver.” Zani smiled faintly in his heart.
Who in this village would buy my ruined courtyard?
“I thank the Chief for his profound guidance,” Zani said, neatly taking the deeds back.
“But I will simply sell it to the imperial office to save time.” Sythe’s expression stiffened for a fraction of a second before he smoothly recovered.
“Very well.
Then, adjusting the balance, I now owe you three silver.” After collecting his silver, firmly securing the deed to the training ground within his robes, and politely declining the Chief’s invitation to a banquet, Zani stepped out of the residence.
Huff.
His heart ached slightly.
Selling off all his earthly possessions in this world was exhausting work.
If the ancestors of this family knew he had just uprooted their entire foundation, they would surely crawl back from the yellow springs just to curse him.
Well, they are the ancestors of this body, not mine.
Thinking of this, a relaxed, pragmatic smile surfaced on Zani’s face.
The foundation was finally laid.
Now, onto— GRRRR.
Feeling his stomach growling like a starved beast, his grand ambitions paused.
“I need food.
Let’s go to the tavern first, and I can pack some dinner so I won’t need to return.” Heading toward the only tavern in the village, he ate a quick, hearty meal and had his dinner packed securely.
Then, he set to work.
First, he returned to the old courtyard, hiring an ox cart to transport his meager furniture and belongings.
Next, he headed straight toward his newly acquired domain.
By the time evening arrived and the sun was starting its descent, Zani was standing before the old training ground with two hired laborers behind him.
From the outside, one could only see towering stone walls and a massive set of rusted iron gates.
Legends said that when this place was first established, it sat in utter isolation at the desolate edge of the village.
But as time flowed like a river, the mortal world prospered, and the village expanded.
Now, residential buildings pressed tightly against three sides of the high walls, leaving only the front gates facing the main street.
It had been decades since these heavy gates were unsealed.
So, the moment word spread through the village that the orphan Zani had actually bought the cursed grounds, a commotion broke out.
Villagers swarmed the main street like a tide.
Some wanted to mock his youthful foolishness, some wanted to satisfy their lifelong curiosity about what lay hidden inside, and others simply came for the spectacle.
A massive, whispering crowd had gathered by the time Zani stepped forward and placed his hands on the cold metal, pushing the heavy iron gates open.
Creak…
As the dust of a decade settled, the true scene was finally revealed: an expansive, desolate courtyard completely overrun with wild, waist-high weeds, leading up to a grand, silent hall sitting like a dormant beast at the very end.
[Ding] [Quest: Own an enclosed domain larger than 5,000 square feet] [Status: Completed] [Host, Name the Sect (Changeable) to claim your reward]