Chapter 63: The Money Wasn’t Even Warm Yet
The shops on both sides of Treasure Street were all owned by major forces within the Qinshan Base. Ordinary people or small factions had no right to meddle in the profits here.
Not to mention the quality of the goods they sold—just maintaining a constant supply was already no small challenge.
The first store Zhou Ming saw upon entering Treasure Street was the Exotic Beast Pavilion, which, according to his knowledge, was operated by the Bai Family of Qinshan Base.
The Bai Family was a century-old clan within the base. The family possessed several Official Rank Beast Tamers and even held a seat in the Qinshan Base Council.
In all medium-sized and above bases of the Blue Star Alliance, to prevent anyone from monopolizing authority, a nine-member council system was adopted for management.
Each council member held the right to vote and the right to propose.
Among them, the Council Leader possessed three votes and a single veto right, while the other members each had one vote.
Whether a base’s council functioned as a system of mutual checks and balances or as a dictatorship under the Council Leader depended entirely on the abilities of those involved.
It could be said that to open a shop on Treasure Street, one needed sufficient power and backing—otherwise, it was impossible even to think about it.
Zhou Ming knew very well of Treasure Street’s existence, yet he still visited the Black Market.
Aside from saving money, it was also because the Black Market offered access to rarer resources—like the Amethyst Potion he had previously obtained.
If a potion like the Amethyst Potion appeared on Treasure Street, it would have long been snatched away by well-informed upper-class figures, leaving no chance for someone like Zhou Ming to buy it.
Some things couldn’t be purchased merely with money. Status and identity often served as the true passport to acquiring precious resources.
However, this time Zhou Ming wasn’t seeking any rare resources or shady goods, so he didn’t need to go to the Black Market.
Besides, the Black Market’s opening period had already passed, and Zhou Ming couldn’t afford to wait until next month.
With a clear goal and full awareness of what he needed, Zhou Ming headed straight to Dawn Apothecary, a shop specializing in selling potions, backed by Dawn Pharmaceuticals, the same organization that issued long-term missions through the Hunter Guild.
“Welcome, sir. May I ask what you’re looking for today?”
As soon as he entered the shop, a saleswoman in a tight-fitting uniform that perfectly outlined her curvaceous figure came forward to greet him.
As expected of a store owned by a major faction—even the ordinary sales attendants were stunningly beautiful.
No need for heavy makeup; just a touch of light cosmetics, paired with alluring black stockings, a form-fitting skirt that invited imagination, and a low-cut blouse revealing a teasing cleavage—all of it enough to put customers in a pleasant mood the moment they stepped in.
Of course, if the customer was wealthy, strong, and had a powerful background, these attendants weren’t just for show.
After all, not all—but most—of the women working here were hoping to catch a golden husband.
Having visited Treasure Street a few times before, Zhou Ming naturally understood the merchants’ use of such simple yet effective methods.
When he first came here, even Zhou Ming had felt somewhat tempted—after all, men were simple creatures who liked beautiful things.
However, no matter how enticing the beauty, to Zhou Ming it was no more than a skeleton covered in flesh. Having meditated daily on the White Bone Contemplation Meditation Method, he was now nearly immune to temptation.
When he saw the woman’s deliberately displayed figure, his first thought was—what kind of bones lay beneath that near-perfect body?
If the attendant knew what Zhou Ming was thinking, who knew how she would react.
“Hello, I need potions for calming the mind, treating mental injuries, nourishing the body—oh, and also potions that can enhance beast power.”
Zhou Ming didn’t waste words. As soon as she asked, he directly stated his needs.
“Of course, sir, please follow me inside.”
Her professional smile instantly turned warmer and more inviting.
Customers who came into this store were either wealthy or Beast Tamers—she’d seen plenty of both.
But the man before her was different: handsome, tall, and broad-shouldered—and possessing both money and strength, a combination that was rare indeed.
Her gaze softened, carrying a hint of flirtatious allure.
Zhou Ming, however, ignored her coquettish glance and followed her to a neatly organized shelf section.
Each shelf was categorized by potion type, allowing customers to freely choose whatever they needed.
The shelves were all made of transparent bulletproof glass, displaying the potions clearly.
Every potion was placed inside an exquisite packaging box, with soft lighting around them to accentuate their value.
No matter how beautiful the presentation, Zhou Ming cared only about the effects—that was the mark of a mature Beast Tamer.
“Could you give me a detailed introduction?”
Zhou Ming asked calmly as he surveyed the array of potions before him.
“Of course. Providing service to our customers is our duty.”
Noticing how Zhou Ming ignored her beauty, the saleswoman secretly wondered whether something was wrong with his orientation. Still, hearing his request, she immediately responded professionally.
“Sir, please look here—the first potion on this shelf is the Low-grade Ice Rain Potion. Its primary effect is to calm the mind, clear away distractions, and help Beast Tamers enter meditation more efficiently. Repeated use can slightly enhance Spiritual Power.”
“The second potion is the Low-grade Azure Potion. It mainly soothes the mind and enhances a Beast Tamer’s control over Spiritual Power, preventing accidents during meditation.”
……
Although the saleswomen all harbored their own small ambitions, their basic professional competence was impeccable.
Not only did they understand the effects of each potion thoroughly, but they could also offer Zhou Ming reasonable suggestions and explain the weaknesses of each type.
Of course, Zhou Ming had to ask first—no salesperson would voluntarily reveal the flaws of their own merchandise.
But when Zhou Ming inquired, the attendant didn’t hide anything, clearly explaining which potions had drawbacks and what the specific side effects were.
That was the benefit of buying from a legitimate store—guaranteed quality, good service, and honest answers.
Since Zhou Ming needed to purchase a wide range of potions this time, it took nearly an hour before he finished going through everything he required.
“Please prepare three Ice Rain Potions, two Azure Potions, four Spirit Nourishing Potions, one box of Superior Focus Incense, ten Low-grade Nutrient Potions, and two bottles of Spirit Nurturing Pills.”
After confirming Zhou Ming’s order, the saleswoman quickly arranged for the store to prepare everything, without attempting to use her looks to upsell him further.
As a professionally trained attendant, she knew not every customer fell for such tactics. Overly aggressive flirting could easily offend someone. She had enough sense to read the room.
Lowering herself too much would only invite contempt—even if she managed to “catch” someone, she might end up as nothing more than a plaything. After all, what she sought was a lifelong partner, not a fleeting indulgence.
Thus, there were no cheap tricks like slipping him a note.
After receiving his items, Zhou Ming paid and left directly.
The only thing that changed—was his bleeding heart.
The reason?
No bargaining, no discounts—the store followed transparent, standard pricing. When Zhou Ming left, his Gold Card balance had shrunk by three million, seven hundred and fifty thousand Alliance Coins.
His total assets were now back down to just over a million.