Rebuilding the Immortal Cultivator Clan Chapter 1862: 1400: Auction

So, Li Zhirui left Bianshan City just one hour following the moment he got the message.

His following stop lay in Jinzhou, within Daqian.

This thriving province stood famous for its silk production, fine brocade crafting, and bustling trade, setting it apart sharply from Daqian's other areas, which mainly fell under the sway of the Human Dao Hundred Schools, especially the Xiu Family and the merchants.

Among Human Dao circles, these two philosophies faced heavy prejudice, since one focused on women and the other on trade, both viewed as lowly in society's ranks.

Amazingly though, their alliance forged the richest State Domain across all of Daqian!

The Cloud Brocade from Daqian gained fame across the world; pieces crafted by Xiu Family experts fetched a thousand gold pieces each, an outrageous sum!

Li Zhirui had spotted Cloud Brocade back in Bianshan City as well, its silky sheen resembling drifting clouds, soft and light, with a glowing shimmer that caught the eye.

Not even he could resist a wave of wonder, and if it hadn't been already claimed, he surely would have snapped up some for himself.

That urge prompted him to head to Jinzhou right away, planning to snag some Cloud Brocade during the trip.

With no hurry pressing him, Li Zhirui savored the scenic views of peaks and streams, spending more than a month before reaching Yunbrocade City, Jinzhou's capital hub.

In truth, right after stepping into Jinzhou territory, he saw how the area brimmed with ridges and peaks, lacking any vast flatlands.

Such rugged landscape hardly seemed ideal for regular folk to settle, given the huge challenges in clothes, meals, homes, and travel!

Yet in the grip of the Xiu Family and merchants, this tough terrain burst into lively abundance, evolving into Daqian's wealthiest State Domain.

What's more, they didn't hoard every coin for themselves but shared the bulk with commoners, letting them enjoy rich lives and binding them as the fiercest supporters of both groups!

As a result, in Jinzhou, the Xiu Family and merchants held sway like never before; even government decrees paled against the commands from the two philosophy heads.

After grasping Jinzhou's ways, Li Zhirui had sighed once, “Those two chiefs of the Xiu Family and merchants in the past were absolute prodigies of their era! They built the bedrock for their philosophies to endure a millennium!”

In Jinzhou's unforgiving landscape, neither the Xiu Family nor merchants alone would suffice; the first could generate riches but struggle to cash them in, while the second could grab wealth yet lacked standout treasures.

Just their partnership lifted Jinzhou to its current glory!

A vital element involved funneling riches toward everyday people, rooting the two powers in the masses and fueling them with constant new vitality.

Through the ages, rival philosophies surely coveted this boom and schemed relentlessly to break in.

Still, to this day, none could match the Xiu Family and merchants, not even at a single step below!

Not even Daqian's mighty Four Great Schools—the Confucian, Mo Family, Legalist faction, Military Family—could rival these two inside Jinzhou.

Now, Li Zhirui stood at Yunbrocade City's grand entrance, its massive and broad portal swarming with crowds, like an endless flow of travelers streaming in and out.

Through his gaze, the scene shifted; even the plainest everyday people looked healthy and well-groomed.

This held true not for a handful, but for everyone in sight!

“Truly remarkable!” Li Zhirui murmured in admiration.

Should all Daqian dynasty citizens reach such carefree bliss, imagining the dynasty's might would chill the spine!

It might overrun other Human Dao groups outright, merging the Southern Domain's Human Clan lands and propelling Daqian to new heights.

Regrettably, achieving that level proved incredibly tough, bordering on the unattainable.

Nevertheless!

Riding the rush of the bustling throng, Li Zhirui soon approached the city gate; the watchmen checked far looser than Bianshan's, just a quick glance, and he passed right through.

Still, he sensed it wasn't so straightforward.

Under the city's majestic signboard dangled lines of big bronze mirrors, each line boasting several pieces that captured full views of incoming folks; the guards scanned these reflections, waving people in if all seemed normal.

Li Zhirui figured out the tricks at play; merchants, beyond trading and piling up fortunes, thrived on their sharp judgment!

Without keen sight and quick wits, plus wide horizons, how else would they spot rare jewels amid heaps of wares?

They'd woven this technique into the mirrors, streamlining the flow of folks through the gates.

Without it, Bianshan-style inspections on such masses would drag forever, crippling trade ties and blocking Jinzhou's vibrant growth.

Stepping within the walls, Li Zhirui again sensed Jinzhou's booming wealth!

Down a vast, stretching avenue, masses surged; amid the press, myriads of feet hurried, while shops crammed the sides: taverns, eateries, bakeries, jewelers, beauty boutiques, and more.

All imaginable needs stood available!

At every instant, crowds poured in and out of the roadside stores, grabbing whatever caught their fancy.