Is It Reasonable for Me to Start a Sect at 12?

Yuan Zhiyun still felt somewhat unwilling to accept the situation, but she said nothing further. She simply took the Heart-Testing Stone out of her storage bag and handed it to her father.

Yuan Bi, aware of his daughter's stubborn temperament, didn't push her further. He sighed softly, took the Heart-Testing Stone, and left the room.

Meanwhile, back in Yuanling City, word spread quickly once those rescued from the ice caves by Lin Xiao returned to the city. The news of the ice caves within the Icefield Secret Realm, where one could only enter but not exit, sparked intense interest throughout the city.

Since the Icefield Secret Realm had existed for over a hundred years, the news caused a huge stir in Yuanling City. Many who had lost friends or family to the secret realm began speculating that their loved ones might have perished in those very caves.

Some even sought out those fortunate enough to escape, hoping to hear any information about their lost friends and relatives. Within just a few days, the story of the Icefield Secret Realm, which had claimed the lives of countless cultivators over the years, became the hottest topic in the city. Even Golden Core cultivators couldn't resist indulging in the gossip.

However, none of this had anything to do with Lin Xiao.

When the five-day delivery period agreed upon with Duobao Pavilion arrived, Lin Xiao made his way to the store early in the morning.

At that time, Duobao Pavilion had just opened its doors. As always, Shopkeeper Zhong stood behind the counter with his kind expression, going over the account books.

Seeing Lin Xiao enter, Shopkeeper Zhong smiled at him. "Good morning, young friend. Your Heart-Testing Stone has arrived."

Lin Xiao returned the smile. "Good morning, Shopkeeper Zhong."

Nodding in acknowledgment, Shopkeeper Zhong called out to the store assistant, "Changsheng, fetch the Heart-Testing Stone from the newly arrived shipment."

"Got it! Please wait a moment, honored guest," the assistant replied cheerfully before heading to the back room to retrieve the stone.

While waiting for his Heart-Testing Stone, Lin Xiao strolled around the shop, casually browsing. Unexpectedly, Shopkeeper Zhong spoke up, "Young friend, Duobao Pavilion not only sells goods but also buys them."

Lin Xiao was momentarily taken aback, unsure of what the shopkeeper meant. After a brief pause, he cautiously replied, "If it's some basic cultivation items, would Duobao Pavilion be interested in purchasing them?"

Seeing that Lin Xiao had quickly grasped his meaning, Shopkeeper Zhong smiled in satisfaction and nodded. "As long as the quality is good, we will. Rest assured, the price will be fair."

Hearing this, Lin Xiao was pleasantly surprised. It turned out that Shopkeeper Zhong was subtly letting him know that Duobao Pavilion would be willing to buy from him! Although he wasn't sure why the shopkeeper would make such an offer, Lin Xiao had a good impression of him and trusted the reputation of Duobao Pavilion in Yuanling City. He didn't believe they would deliberately take advantage of a young cultivator like him.

Still, he didn't agree immediately. Instead, he responded with a grateful expression, "Thank you, Shopkeeper Zhong, for your consideration. I'll discuss it with my elders and give you a definite answer tomorrow."

"Of course," Shopkeeper Zhong replied.

Just as they finished their conversation, Changsheng, the assistant, returned with a storage bag. "Shopkeeper, the Heart-Testing Stone is here!"

Taking the storage bag, Shopkeeper Zhong handed it over to Lin Xiao. After confirming the transaction, Lin Xiao paid the remaining 1,050 spirit stones, and with the deal done, he left Duobao Pavilion with his purchase in hand.

As Lin Xiao exited, the assistant Changsheng asked the shopkeeper, "Why are you trying to win over such a young cultivator, Shopkeeper?"

Shopkeeper Zhong smiled but didn't answer directly. Instead, he asked, "What do you think this young friend plans to do with the Heart-Testing Stone?"

"Well, Heart-Testing Stones are typically used to assess one's heart and mind," Changsheng replied.

Shopkeeper Zhong nodded in agreement. "Indeed. I've been a shopkeeper in Yuanling City for many years, observing the comings and goings of countless people. Yet, this young man seems unfamiliar to me, so I suspect he's not from Yuanling City."

Changsheng pondered this for a moment.

Shopkeeper Zhong continued, his gaze following the flow of people outside the store. "A young man with no visible cultivation aura, yet able to spend over a thousand spirit stones on a Heart-Testing Stone... Changsheng, it seems a new power is emerging near Yuanling City."

Meanwhile, Lin Xiao had already begun discussing the matter with Liao Pantu as they made their way back.

"What do you think, Senior?" Lin Xiao asked.

Liao Pantu, who had listened carefully to the conversation between Lin Xiao and Shopkeeper Zhong, knew that Lin Xiao had refrained from giving an immediate answer to consult with him first. He responded, "Duobao Pavilion's backing isn't particularly strong. They've managed to establish themselves in Yuanling City through the quality of their goods and their reputation. You don't need to worry about being deceived. After all, there's nothing you possess that would be worth them risking their five hundred years of reputation over."

Lin Xiao didn't feel the slightest bit offended by this. In fact, he nodded in agreement. "That's why I didn't reject them outright."

"I believe our sect shouldn't rely solely on the mining resources we have. We need other sources of spirit stones, right? I think selling our sect's own pills and talismans to Duobao Pavilion would be a good start."

"Plus, Duobao Pavilion has been a long-established name in Yuanling City. Building a good relationship with them will definitely benefit our sect. And with their caravans traveling far and wide, they likely have access to a wealth of information, something our sect lacks."

Hearing Lin Xiao's enthusiasm, Liao Pantu couldn't help but roll his eyes, though Lin Xiao couldn't see it. "If you've already thought it through, why bother asking me?"

Lin Xiao chuckled as he walked back to the inn. "Well, having an experienced elder is like having a treasure. I wanted to make sure there wasn't anything I overlooked."

After a brief pause, Liao Pantu transmitted another message, "While I can't say for sure why this shopkeeper wants to do business with you, it seems like a good opportunity. My guess is that he's realized you're likely tied to a new sect or force about to be established."

"Then it seems Shopkeeper Zhong thinks we're preparing to establish a sect and wants to establish a connection," Lin Xiao mused. After a moment, he added with a grin, "Or maybe he just sees potential in me!"

Liao Pantu couldn't stand his self-satisfied expression and urged, "Alright, alright, just deal with this quickly so we can return to the sect. My disciple is still waiting for me to teach him alchemy."

The next day, Lin Xiao returned to Duobao Pavilion and gave Shopkeeper Zhong his affirmative response. The two then engaged in a detailed discussion about the terms and conditions of their future transactions, eventually reaching a mutually beneficial agreement.

Before leaving, Shopkeeper Zhong handed Lin Xiao a token that would serve as proof of their future dealings.