Star Martial Era: The Way of Star Light Cultivation-Chapter 443 - 193 Evolution

Wanyi, Four Seas Weapon Forging Shop.

Apprentices Qian Duo and Zhou Si had shared a large pancake with cold water before lying down to chat idly.

"Brother Qian, are we still waiting? It’s been half a month, and we’ve spent our last five copper coins on pancakes. If the manager doesn’t show up soon, we’ll starve to death," Zhou Si said, his stomach rumbling in agreement.

Both were around eighteen or nineteen years old, getting by on half a pancake each day, hanging onto life by a thread.

"We could leave, but who would settle our three months’ wages? The former owner said the next owner would handle it. If we leave now, wouldn’t all our work have been for nothing?" Qian Duo said worriedly.

Suddenly, Zhou Si whispered, "The person who delivered goods today also didn’t know when the new owner would arrive. Why don’t we sell a piece of Iron Essence and get everything we need?"

"Have you lost your mind? Is that something we should touch?"

"Let’s wait a bit longer. Since someone delivered goods today, it means the new owner still remembers this place. He should be arriving soon," Qian Duo said.

"Alright, but Brother Qian, I’m so hungry."

Outside the shop, the invisible Xu Jin observed the two for a full 15 mins and inspected the interior and exterior of the shop, detecting no hidden presence.

All clear.

After some thought, he went to buy a roast chicken and a large bag of pancakes before returning to the exterior of the shop.

He knocked on the door and, facing the astonished apprentices, he took out the land deed to prove his identity.

The two apprentices hurried to pay their respects to Xu Jin.

In this era, apprentices were not so different from half-slaves.

After asking a few questions, Xu Jin learned that Qian Duo was the apprentice in charge of the front of the shop, while Zhou Si was a blacksmith apprentice who had been learning for several years but hadn’t acquired much skill, only managing to forge kitchen knives and mend pots.

"You must be starving. Eat up."

Xu Jin handed over the food he had just bought. Zhou Si was thrilled and ready to devour it but was stopped by Qian Duo.

"Thank you for your concern, owner. Did you come late at night to take inventory of the shop?"

"Yes, let’s do a count."

"Please follow me, owner."

In 15 mins, Qian Duo gave Xu Jin a clear overview of the entire Weapon Forging Shop.

Apart from the land and the shop itself, there were roughly one hundred taels of Silver worth of goods.

Additionally, there were recently received batches of Iron Essence and Copper Essence.

Qian Duo was quite a talent—clever, knowing when to advance or retreat, and understanding his limits. Xu Jin saw promise in him.

The shop could potentially be operational.

Without rent, even if it didn’t make a profit, the loss wouldn’t be much. But in critical moments, it could be useful.

"Qian Duo, would you like to be the manager of the shop?"

"Yes!" Qian Duo answered immediately, but then hesitated, "I’m just worried I might not do a good job."

"You won’t know until you’ve tried."

In a swift turn, Xu Jin announced, "From this moment, you are the manager of this shop. A monthly salary of five taels of Silver."

Qian Duo expressed his gratitude, but a hint of disappointment flickered in his eyes. He had been earning four taels of Silver as an apprentice for three full years. Now, as a manager, his salary hadn’t increased much.

But what Xu Jin said next stirred his spirit.

"Starting next month, you will also receive one-tenth of the shop’s net profit as part of your monthly salary," said Xu Jin.

"This...is this true, owner?" Qian Duo was genuinely excited.

If the Weapon Forging Shop did well, earning a hundred taels of Silver in net profit per month in the Imperial City was not difficult.

If that was included in his salary, he would be earning more than the usual experienced managers.

"Indeed!"

"Here are two thousand taels of capital. Handle the rest as you see fit, recruit the master, and send the account books to the National Taoist Institute once a month. Also, pay yourself and Zhou Si the outstanding salaries you’re owed."

"The National Taoist Institute." When Qian Duo took the command, he became instantly stern.

If the owner was from the National Taoist Institute, he was undoubtedly no ordinary man.

For most ordinary people, the Dachen National Taoist Institute was as mysterious and sacred as the Imperial Palace.

Zhou Si, who had been enviously watching Qian Duo become the shop manager, eagerly stepped forward, but there didn’t seem to be much for him to do.

After giving a few more instructions, Xu Jin departed.

Before leaving, he casually mentioned that the Iron Essence and Copper Essence had been picked up by his people.

In reality, Xu Jin had taken them himself.

Because he remained invisible the whole time, it took him half an hour to return to the National Taoist Institute.

After stealthily returning to the institute, Xu Jin finally made it back to his quiet room and let out a long sigh of relief.

The Iron and Copper Essences weren’t extremely rare, but obtaining them had been tricky.

In the next moment, Xu Jin’s thoughts sank into the Candou Platform.

He promptly took out three pieces of thousand-year-old Dragon Turtle Shell and placed the smallest one on it before observing the Jade.

No reaction.

There was no prompt for an Upgrade.

He then replaced it with the medium-sized piece of the thousand-year-old Dragon Turtle Shell, where faint natural square patterns could be discerned.

Instantly, Xu Jin saw changes in the Candou Platform’s Jade.

The words "Can Upgrade" changed to "Upgrade." ƒrēewebnoѵёl.cσm

Overjoyed, Xu Jin understood the significance of a piece of thousand-year-old Dragon Turtle Shell.

[Upgrade]

In a blink, in Xu Jin’s field of vision, Starlight from the Candou Platform burst forth, piercing the skies.

In the cosmos, the region where the North Dipper Stars resided became illuminated by the ascending Starlight. Nine stars shimmered at once, and almost simultaneously, an immense Starlight gathered from the North Dipper Stars, hurtling down at an inconceivable speed, piercing straight into Xu Jin’s Candou Platform.

The Candou Platform shone with starlight, serene as the moon.

At that very moment in the Pill Dawn Academy, National Master Cheng Yuxiao, who was Cultivating in a quiet room, suddenly opened his eyes, stepped out, rushed towards the heavens, and the Nine Bright Chime expanded with the wind, radiating light.