Following the address on the property deed, Joe Di found Quentin Pooler's second store. Quentin hadn't lied; this shop was located at the intersection of two streets, not far from the main road, and was indeed a better location.
Whether Quentin Pooler forgot or did it on purpose, he hadn't given Joe Di the defensive array flags for this store.
The store was protected by a sixth-level Immortal Array. Without mastery in array formations, this barrier couldn't be opened. As for brute force attacks, unless you had a death wish, you'd never dare assault someone else's defensive array in Cauldron Haven. Even with a powerful backing, causing such trouble would bring no end of problems.
Regardless of whether Quentin Pooler intentionally withheld the array token, Joe Di didn't take it to heart.
As a seventh-level Immortal Array Master, opening this sixth-level defensive array posed little challenge for him. With just a dozen array flags thrown down, a passage through the barrier was opened.
A shop floor spanning two to three hundred square meters appeared before Joe Di. He was overjoyed—this store was indeed larger than Quentin Pooler's other one.
This was also a two-story shop—the first floor alone covered two to three hundred square meters, and clearly, the second floor was just as spacious.
The shop was completely empty, not a single item inside.
The first thing Joe Di did upon entering was to remove all the arrays in the place. As the new owner, he had no intention of using the old defensive formations.
After clearing away the old arrays, Joe Di quickly set up a fifth-level defensive Immortal Array, enveloping the shop. Then, he began arranging other formations inside.
All these formations were concealed by a hidden array. Anyone coming here would only see the fifth-level Immortal Defensive Array outside.
Quentin Pooler didn't come over, and as for Holly Chance, whether she didn't know Joe Di had gone to see Quentin Pooler or simply didn't want to disturb him, she hadn't come either.
After spending seven days setting up all the arrays in the shop, Joe Di finally called out Blackfire, Sprout, and Moria Lane.
"Big Brother, can't I just cultivate in the True Spirit World?" Blackfire complained as soon as he came out.
Joe Di waved his hand. "I know. Now that I've bought this shop, Blackfire can stay in a room on the second floor to cultivate. Remember, under no circumstances should you appear in anyone else's sight. If you can't do that, just go back to the True Spirit World."
"Big Brother, I can do it," Blackfire said eagerly. "You only kept me in the True Spirit World because I wasn't strong enough. Since your cultivation speed isn't fast, I'll just improve my own strength. Once I'm strong enough, if anyone covets me outside, I'll swallow them whole."
"Big Brother, what about me?" Sprout looked at Joe Di expectantly. Even Blackfire, who joined later, got a room and didn't have to stay in the True Spirit World anymore. Sprout had followed Joe Di for years—surely he deserved a room on the second floor too.
Joe Di nodded. "The first floor will be the shop in the future. You can live and cultivate on the first floor. You'll also need to help manage the shop..."
The more Sprout listened, the more bitter his expression became. Not only did he have to live on the first floor, but he also had to manage the shop. Wasn't Joe Di being a bit too biased? Just because he cultivated a little slower?
"However, from now on you can move freely around Cauldron Haven. Just remember not to cause any trouble."
Hearing Joe Di say he could roam Cauldron Haven freely, Sprout was so excited he nearly jumped for joy. Clearly, his status in Joe Di's heart was still higher than he thought.
After learning that Little Root was being targeted because of the void aura Blackfire tore open, Joe Di and Blackfire had already removed all traces of void aura from Sprout.
Now, when Sprout walked around Cauldron Haven, he was no different from an ordinary tree spirit—one that no one would pay attention to.
"Moria Lane, you should stay on the second floor as well. For now, we'll remain in Cauldron Haven. Although you're a disciple of the Puregate Sect, your cultivation isn't high, so you shouldn't attract any powerful attention. The weaker cultivators won't dare target you either. For now, help out in the shop, and I'll focus on searching for news about the Trueglass Elixir." Joe Di said apologetically to Moria Lane.
Moria Lane had become this way because of him. He'd brought her out for years now, yet there was still no news about the Trueglass Elixir.
Moria Lane smiled gently. "To gain it is fortune, to lose it is fate. Senior Brother, just treat things with a calm heart; there's no need to search deliberately. Sometimes, the more you chase something, the more likely it slips away. Before my fall, being able to peacefully spend this journey in Cauldron Haven, to know you, Blackfire, and Sprout, is already enough for me."
Joe Di knew Moria Lane was comforting him, not wanting him to take risks. He didn't try to explain.
Trueglass Elixir was a treasure—getting it with a calm heart would be a miracle. He handed the array flags to the three, gave a few more instructions, and then left the shop.
He hadn't seen Holly Chance for nearly a month now. He really was a rather unqualified honorary alchemist.
Star Demon Palace was undoubtedly a top-tier immortal sect on the Magic Garment Immortal Continent.
The Palace Lord of Star Demon Palace, Marlon Jace, was a true Immortal Emperor, at the seventh layer of the Immortal Emperor realm. Across the Magic Garment Immortal Continent, his word was law.
Though Xie Wanleng was powerful and Star Demon Palace flourished, his lineage was not. To this day, he had only one son and one daughter.
Marlon Jace's only son was named Aaron Jace. Perhaps his name played a part, but Aaron Jace had always been wild and unruly. At eight, he began tormenting the maids around him; at ten, he seduced the daughter of an Immortal Emperor, nearly causing a fatal incident.
As he grew older, things improved somewhat, but he remained obsessed with women. As a result, while his sister Celia Jace had reached the mid-stage Da Luo Immortal realm, Aaron Jace was still at the early stage of Grand Immortal.
Xie Wanleng dominated his region, but when it came to his son Xie Huang, he was helpless and could only let things be.
At this moment, in the Young Lord's Manor of Star Demon Palace, a pale-faced youth lounged lazily on a white jade bed, speaking carelessly, "Shawn Anson, you came back so quickly—does this mean the task is nearly done?"
As he spoke, he kept fondling a beautiful woman beside him. This pale-faced youth was none other than Aaron Jace, Young Lord of Star Demon Palace.
Standing before the pale-faced youth was a man of average build, who quickly replied, "That matter isn't settled yet, but I've discovered something even more important."
Aaron Jace, who was about to lose his temper, just grunted and leaned forward. "What important thing did you find out? Is it really more important than what I ordered?"
Shawn Anson answered respectfully, "I met an alchemist in Cauldron Haven who solved the question Master Luan set..."
Aaron Jace asked carelessly, "Which question did Master Luan set? Can you just explain things clearly in one sentence?"
Shawn Anson paid no mind to Aaron Jace's tone and continued, "It was the theoretical medicinal question you asked Master Luan to set for the Cauldron Haven Alchemist Conference..."
"So what..." Aaron Jace replied absent-mindedly, but suddenly jumped up from the jade bed, grabbing Shawn Anson in excitement. "Are you saying someone solved the Breaking Array Pill formula without using Decision Stone?"
Shawn Anson didn't dare move, still speaking respectfully, "Yes, that alchemist scored ninety-nine points. He didn't use Decision Stone for the last question, so he was docked eleven points."
"Good, good..." Aaron Jace paced barefoot around the room, his eyes filled with excitement.
The theoretical medicinal test at the Cauldron Haven Alchemist Conference was supposed to be out of a hundred points. Aaron Jace wanted to add a ten-point question, but the conference refused. Even with Master Luan and his father, Marlon Jace, supporting him, they only allowed one question worth one point.
Aaron Jace had another idea—why not make that one point into eleven? Maybe it was because his father, Marlon Jace, was so powerful, the conference eventually agreed to this odd proposal. Thus, the total score for the theory test became one hundred and eleven, with a hundred questions.
"I originally planned to invite that alchemist to Star Demon Palace, but he said he was busy and didn't have time to come..." Shawn Anson explained cautiously.
Aaron Jace waved his hand, "Anyone capable can say that. That alchemist is truly talented. In that case, I'll go to Cauldron Haven to find him myself."
"But the Palace Lord hasn't returned yet..." Shawn Anson reminded.
Aaron Jace's enthusiasm suddenly faded several degrees. Without his father's permission, he couldn't leave Star Demon Palace.
"Sigh, I'll just wait for my old man to come back." Aaron Jace sighed, sulking as he sat back down.