It had been a day since the Celestial Heavenly store was opened.
The news about a ring that could allow an individual to communicate with each other, no matter what, was propaganda that most people did not believe.
Those in the inner city were even more skeptical than those in the outer city. They were more enlightened than those in the outer city, believing such a device couldn't exist.
And if it were going to exist, it wouldn't be in the hands of the declining Cao clan.
The city lord's mansion heard this news and scoffed at such idiotic propaganda.
If they thought such impossible news would allow them to reduce the pressure on them, they were bound to fail.
The Crimson Jade Pavilion, who only cared if the Celestial Heavenly store would have something important to compete against in the market, didn't even bat an eye at their absurd claim.
Almost all the somewhat powerful clans didn't care about such a stupid device.
The elite clans in the core city were disappointed but still continued in their plan to force the Cao clan to relinquish their found wealth.
The Cao clan continued their work quietly. Since the opening of the shop, they stopped spending lavishly, and their clan activity was reduced.
Only the Celestial Heavenly store was operating, but barely could anyone see anyone from the Cao clan.
Each of the people operating the store was a new face that had never appeared in the city before.
Nevertheless, various eyes monitored the stores in darkness. Everyone wanted to know how far they were going to go with their gimmick.
In the inner city, the store was devoid of any customers. Everyone passing on the street avoided the store like the plague.
The two women that advertised the Spirit Comms didn't come out from the second day onward.
It was as if the store had given up on their gimmick. Still, it was opened for business every day.
Time went by quietly, and it had been a week since the Spirit Comms appeared in Baiyun city.
Everyone's clans were expecting the Celestial Heavenly store to close down after a week of no sale.
But to their shock, more and more people trooped into the stores. They were from the lower rung of society with nothing to lose.
The Spirit Comms only cost fifty silver coins. It was expensive and not expensive.
Slowly, a trend began to appear in the outer city. People began to gather in groups, discussing in hushed voices.
Their faces filled with smiles as they spoke with one another.
"Do you see how beautiful they are?" a boy asked his friend.
Shortly, the boys arrived in front of the Celestial Heavenly store.
"What are we doing here?" she asked with a slight puzzlement.
"To buy the Spirit Image Crystal," a boy responded.
"Don't you know it is not good to enter the store? They are not good people. They are deceiving with such an impossible thing," she said with her voice laced with fury.
"Who says they are not good?" a boy countered. "Don't believe what other people tell you until you confirm it yourself."
"They are good people. What they are selling is good. I don't know why many people are not buying the Spirit Comms," another boy added.
The girl looked at the boy with a conflicted expression on her face. Her parents had warned her about the bad people in the city, and this store was one of them.
Seeing the four boys defending the store, she didn't know what to make out of it. She only got out of their clan mansion to play.
What the four boys were discussing seemed fun, and she wanted to try it.
"Are you serious that these people are not bad people?" she asked in a low voice.
"Of course. If they were not, why would we come back here?"
"Besides, it's not only us that buy something from this place. A lot of people are now buying it but choose not to talk about it."
"Really!"
"Yes. Let's go; we've wasted a lot of time already."
Just as the group wanted to enter the store, a middle-aged woman appeared out of nowhere, "You, miss, you must not enter that place."
"Why?" she turned to look at the woman.
"You know why, and don't forget about your father," she reminded with a deadpan expression.
"I know. I just want to take a look. If it is as bad as what people say, I will return immediately."
"Still, I don't want you to enter. You know what would happen if your father finds out."
"He won't if you don't tell him. Besides, it's not like you're not going to follow me inside?" Her big round eyes looked at the woman.
The boys looked at the girl and her maid without uttering a word, waiting for them to make a decision.
"Fine. But if I detect anything bad from there, I'll bring you out at once," she announced, giving no room for argument.
*****
[AN: Please, don't forget to support this book with your golden ticket and power stones]