Chapter 1039

Chapter 1039: Settling Down

“Master, what do you think of this residence?”

A Purple Palace cultivator dressed in a blue robe spoke respectfully to Wang Chen. “If it does not meet your expectations, the Lesser Steward can assist you in finding another suitable dwelling.”

Wang Chen surveyed the building before him and glanced around. He found the surroundings quite pleasing.

Now, as a registered cultivator in Luodu Immortal City, he held a B-ranked city license.

With this B-ranked city license, Wang Chen was entitled to purchase property and establish shops within and around the immortal city, managing various enterprises.

However, the cost he incurred was substantial.

Possessing the city license naturally necessitated acquiring property in Luodu for a stable residence; otherwise, it would be a futile endeavor.

Being new to Luodu Immortal City and unfamiliar with its intricacies, Wang Chen sought the assistance of the most reputable pawnbroker in the area to find a suitable house.

The pawnbroker promptly recommended an immortal residence to him.

This residence was situated in the eastern part of the city, nestled beneath a distinctive peak, surrounded by spiritual trees and numerous spiritual springs. Compared to the bustling and congested urban areas, the cultivation environment here was significantly superior.

According to the Pawnbroker, such immortal residences were scarce and seldom available for sale; many were heirlooms, regarded as the foundation of a family for millennia.

Yet, unforeseen circumstances always arise.

Wang Chen was fortunate to encounter such a residence upon his arrival; it seemed like fate.

Regarding the pawnbroker’s persuasive talk, Wang Chen remained noncommittal.

However, he was genuinely captivated by this residence.

At that moment, a wave of mournful cries and a cacophony of voices emanated from the courtyard.

The pawnbroker immediately appeared embarrassed and hastily said, “Master, please wait here while I go inside to speak with the owner.”

Wang Chen nodded, “Proceed.”

Earlier, the pawnbroker had mentioned that the owner of this immortal residence was a mid-tier Golden Core true master who had tragically perished while exploring Fulong Mountain not long ago.

As the family’s pillar, the true master’s demise was akin to the heavens collapsing, inflicting immense pain on the family and leaving behind numerous complications.

For instance, the influx of creditors.

The registration fee in Luodu Immortal City was exorbitant, and the housing prices in the city were astronomical, making the daily cost of living quite steep as well.

Cultivators residing in the immortal city were required to pay an annual head tax, and property owners had to pay deed taxes, which together amounted to a significant expense.

Coupled with daily expenditures and the procurement of cultivation resources, a family that had lost its pillar could scarcely afford to maintain the residence, hence the widow entrusted the pawnbroker with its sale.

Previously, the pawnbroker had informed Wang Chen that several potential buyers had inspected this immortal residence, but the price negotiations had faltered due to the high asking price.

Originally, they had arranged to view the residence at this time, but it seemed the owners were facing some issues.

Wang Chen naturally refrained from interfering. He and Su Ziling sat down by a small creek in a bamboo pavilion.

Su Ziling had also obtained her Luodu city license, albeit a C-ranked one.

This meant that Wang Chen would have to pay two head taxes annually.

The head tax in Luodu Immortal City was calculated based on cultivation level; Yuan Ying cultivators had one rate, Golden Core another, and Purple Palace yet another, with variations also based on the rank within the same level.

It can be considered a firm deal.

This makes sense since Luodu Immortal City possesses a vast protective formation, which not only safeguards the cultivators within the city but also gathers spiritual energy from all directions and the earth’s veins, providing an excellent environment for cultivation.

Maintaining such a massive formation consumes an unimaginable amount of resources.

Thus, taxing the townsfolk is quite reasonable.

In fact, Wang Chen was in a relatively good position, just him and Su Ziling.

If it were a large clan, the head tax they would pay each year alone would be an astonishing amount.

However, as a Di-level immortal city, Luodu’s prosperity rivals that of Qianxing. Although the overall business atmosphere isn’t as strong as the latter, such a place surely offers many opportunities.

For Wang Chen at this moment, there truly was no better place to settle down.

Under an elegant bamboo pavilion, a clear small creek flowed gently by, with fish swimming, teeming with spiritual resonance and vitality.

Just the concentration of spiritual energy here could satisfy the cultivation needs of a Purple Palace cultivator!

Wang Chen and Su Ziling waited for about the time it takes to brew a cup of tea when the Pawnbroker arrived, accompanied by a woman in a plain dress and a stern-faced middle-aged cultivator.

“Greetings, Master. Thank you for your patience.”

The woman in the plain dress was a higher-level Purple Palace cultivator, looking weary and sorrowful, her beautiful face exuding an air of vulnerability.

The middle-aged cultivator wore a serious expression, as if someone owed him a million spirit stones.

The Pawnbroker introduced the woman as the widow of the immortal residence’s owner, while the middle-aged cultivator was her brother-in-law.

Wang Chen did not hesitate and spoke directly, “For this residence, I’m willing to offer 135,000 Intermediate Spirits. If you agree, we can trade now; if not, that’s fine. I don’t enjoy bargaining.”

Earlier, the Pawnbroker had informed him that the initial asking price was 150,000 Intermediate Spirits, later reduced to 138,000, but no one was willing to accept it.

After all, while this immortal residence was indeed nice, it certainly wasn’t the best in Luodu Immortal City, likely only mid-tier; the true top-tier residences were on unique peaks, said to be blessed lands.

The Pawnbroker had also guessed that 135,000 Intermediate Spirits was probably the owner’s bottom line.

Thus, Wang Chen made a straightforward offer.

As for the possibility of the Pawnbroker colluding with the owner to deceive him, that possibility couldn’t be completely ruled out, but it was quite low.

Wang Chen was a higher-level Golden Core and the pawnbroker valued their reputation highly in business.

It was different from the real estate agents in Wang Chen’s past life.

The woman in the plain dress and the middle-aged cultivator exchanged glances; the latter clearly wanted to try bargaining again but, noticing Wang Chen’s expression, swallowed those words in the end.

After a moment of hesitation, the woman asked, “Master, is this all in cash?”

Could it be that they offered mortgage loans here?

Wang Chen inwardly scoffed, then answered decisively, “Of course.”

With a wave of his hand, a pile of spirit stones appeared on the stone table before him.

All high-grade spirit stones!

Wang Chen didn’t intend to use these high-grade stones to pay for the house; instead, he wanted to showcase his financial strength to them.

Sure enough, the expressions of both individuals changed.

The woman gritted her teeth and said, “Then as you wish, Master!”

“Alright.”

Wang Chen collected the spirit stones and stood up, “Let’s go now; the sooner we settle this, the better.”

There was an official office in the city specifically for property transactions. After paying a deed tax, Wang Chen received a new Deed to the house, officially making a property investment in Luodu.

The payment was also completed on-site, and additionally, Wang Chen paid the Pawnbroker a commission.

By the next morning, he moved into his new home!