Time flew by, and yet another month had passed.
During this month, profound changes once again swept across Xuanhuang Town.
The implementation of private ownership instantly revitalized the atmosphere throughout the town. The transition from stagnant waters to flowing vitality wasn't just a matter of changing systems—it was a transformation long yearned for by the people. It was as if the very spirit of the town had awakened.
With everyone cooperating, the transition proceeded remarkably smoothly.
Many townsfolk found their own means of livelihood. Even those without skills could go mining for crystals, help build houses, carry stone and timber, fish, hunt beasts in the forests, or gather medicinal herbs. As long as one was willing to work, starvation became virtually impossible. With Xuanhuang Town still in a state of expansion and reconstruction, there were endless jobs. All that was required was willingness, ambition, and effort.
And those who were willing to strive had the chance to see their dreams come true.
In the past, effort hadn't been particularly necessary.
Now, in addition to cultivation, people had to work for the resources to support their own practice. The hope they held for the future brought about a profound transformation in their mental states. A fiery determination, once rare, now radiated from them.
In just one month, the changes that occurred surpassed the transformations of all previous months combined.
It was the emergence of genuine prosperity.
The original trading district had now become the most vibrant and bustling street in the entire town.
"Such a lively street... Who would've thought that in these chaotic times, we'd see a scene like this? It's truly unbelievable."At the street's entrance, Mu Guiying, with her heroic demeanor, stood frozen in surprise as she looked upon the bustling crowd.
"You've been in closed-door cultivation all this time, Sister Mu. You haven't seen how much the town has changed. Now that you have some free time, and Big Brother Yi has no major matters to deal with, we thought we'd stroll around together. I've heard there are a lot of new shops and interesting things. There's even a boutique specializing in clothes, and I've heard they're quite fashionable—popular across the whole town,"Cai Yan said with a soft smile.
"Let's go then. It's been a month since private ownership replaced communal systems. Now's the time to see how this transition has turned out,"Yi Tianxing said calmly.
A month wasn't a particularly long or short period of time, but it had been enough for a smooth and stable transition. There hadn't been any major incidents. Everything seemed to fall into place naturally.
This was no surprise. After all, when the people arrived on the Eternal Continent, their former countries had collapsed, and families torn apart—but they had all lived their lives in civilized societies. Even those from ancient feudal systems had lived under private ownership and the rule of law, where personal property was protected.
They were not primitive beings. They understood and accepted these concepts from the outset.
So, this transition wasn't difficult to grasp. It was like fish taking to water.
Those with intelligence seized the opportunity to start planning their future.
This one-month period was nothing short of a perfect transition.
Yi Tianxing hadn't interfered in the process, nor tried to guide the change. He simply focused on cultivation and observed from a distance—waiting patiently for transformation to begin.
Today was his first personal visit to the new marketplace—this bustling street. He intended to experience the changes himself.
Originally, he had planned to come only with Cai Yan, but when she heard, she had pulled Mu Guiying along too. Naturally, Yi Tianxing had no objections.
The three of them—one man and two women—walked side by side into the street.
Given the beauty and bearing of the two women, they naturally drew plenty of attention. But most people recognized Yi Tianxing and his companions. Though they looked on with admiration, no one dared to disturb them. In fact, many subtly stepped aside to make way.
Clearly, no one wished to interrupt their peaceful stroll.
Now that the townsfolk were cultivators, they carried themselves with a poise that commoners of the past lacked.
"Sister Mu, look! That shop seems to be a jewelry store—'Luo's Accessories.' Shall we go take a look?"Cai Yan pointed to a store nearby.
The shop indeed seemed impressive. A steady stream of people entered and exited, most of them women. They entered with excitement and left with joy—or reluctant longing.
"Let's go check it out,"Yi Tianxing said with a nod.
The three stepped inside.
The store wasn't particularly large, but neither was it cramped. It was evening, and bright Enlightenment Lamps had been lit, keeping the interior well-illuminated. Everything inside was clearly visible.
The shop featured shelves lined with delicately carved wooden boxes, each containing a beautiful accessory.
Yi Tianxing casually swept his gaze over the items, and couldn't help but nod inwardly in approval.
There were bracelets made from the heartwood of ancient trees, each bead exquisitely carved. One set had the Twelve Zodiac Animals, each bead forming part of a complete set. The carvings were so lifelike, they seemed to pulse with energy—almost alive.
They were stunningly crafted—so beautiful that one wouldn't want to put them down.
There were also phoenix-head hairpins crafted from silver, along with bangles and other trinkets. It was clear the artisan behind these items was highly skilled. Even if they hadn't been this skilled before, becoming a cultivator meant enhanced strength and precision, which allowed their craftsmanship to improve dramatically.
"What a beautiful phoenix hairpin. Sister Zhaoji, if you wore this, you'd look even more beautiful,"Mu Guiying said, pointing to one of the hairpins.
"Here, let me help you try it on."Yi Tianxing smiled, stepping forward and picking up the hairpin.
Cai Yan blushed slightly but didn't resist. She lowered her head and let him fasten it for her.
The silver phoenix glimmered with light, adding a touch of noble elegance to her already refined beauty.
"It's beautiful. It suits you perfectly,"Yi Tianxing said with approval. The craftsmanship was exceptional—lifelike and tasteful.
"Yes! You look amazing, Sister,"Mu Guiying said with admiration.
"Sister Mu, choose one too. It's my treat,"Cai Yan said, delighted, gently touching the hairpin. To her, this was the first piece of jewelry Yi Tianxing had ever given her. Though not a treasure or artifact, it was more precious than any magical tool.
"I like this bracelet—the one with the zodiac animals. They're wonderfully detailed. I'll take this one,"Mu Guiying said directly, slipping it onto her wrist and shaking it playfully. She seemed very fond of it.
"Shopkeeper, how much for these two?"Yi Tianxing asked as he glanced around at the rest of the shop. All the items seemed to be crafted by the same person. The materials weren't particularly rare, but it was the craftsmanship that held the true value.
A middle-aged man hurried over with a beaming smile.
"Town Lord, you flatter me. Having you visit my humble shop is an honor. Since Miss Cai and Miss Mu like the pieces, they're gifts—how could I possibly take your money? Without your protection, I would've died long ago."
Clearly, he had no intention of accepting payment.
He wasn't a fool. The pieces were made by him, and he didn't consider them that valuable. They weren't magical artifacts. If he gave them away, he could just make more. But if word got out that Cai Yan and Mu Guiying wore jewelry gifted from his shop, the reputation boost alone would be worth far more.
"Business is business. We pay for what we buy. Once we step into your shop, we're just customers—nothing more. I'm the town lord, which means I need to set an example,"Yi Tianxing said, shaking his head with a smile.
Money can be returned. Favors are harder to repay. Even if this wasn't a major favor, he didn't want to set a precedent.
As someone in power, he had to uphold standards—what you allow from yourself becomes the rule for others. Better to maintain the boundary.
"I see… Very well then. The phoenix hairpin is five wen, and the zodiac bracelet is three wen. That makes eight wen total,"the shopkeeper said after a moment's hesitation.
"Wen? Isn't Eternal Coin the standard currency? When did we switch to wen?"Yi Tianxing asked, eyes flashing with curiosity.
"Town Lord may not know,"the shopkeeper began."Eternal Coins are far too valuable—each one is like a high-grade spirit pill. Their value is hard to quantify for regular goods. So someone came up with an idea…"
"They realized that when Eternal Coins are used during cultivation, the golden portion of the coin fades as energy is absorbed. Once depleted, the coin turns white and vanishes into nothingness. So, people began dividing an Eternal Coin into ten parts based on how much golden color remains. If nine parts are still gold, that's worth nine wen. If only one part is gold, that's one wen."