Cultivation is just so scientific!

Chapter 379: 236 Influence

Cai Hong took his leave and departed, leaving only Li Shiming behind in the cool pavilion.

Elder Su appeared within the pavilion, looking at the disappearing figure of Cai Hong without speaking.

“Master, I have accepted Beishu Trading Company’s offer to become their guest Alchemy Master!” Li Shiming bowed as he reported.

“That’s good, with Beishu Trading Company backing you, you won’t have to worry about your cultivation resources!” said Elder Su. As he spoke, he glanced at Li Shiming, then smiled and said, “It seems Old Ma has treated you well, giving you quite a few Elixir Pills. You’ve even advanced to Mid-stage Foundation Establishment!”

Although he spoke thus, in his heart, he was somewhat puzzled about what kind of Spirit Pills Elder Ma had given Li Shiming, allowing him to advance to Mid-stage Foundation Establishment so quickly.

And Li Shiming’s body didn’t even have any leftover medicinal power. It couldn’t all be from taking top-grade Spirit Pills, could it?

What Elder Su didn’t know was that the answer he thought least likely was actually the truth.

“I just had a bit of good luck!” Li Shiming couldn’t very well explain and could only respond casually.

“That may be so, your fortune is indeed deep, but don’t become too reliant on fortune. Alchemy must not interfere with your cultivation; you must remember that cultivation is the key!” Elder Su spoke earnestly and with weight.

Now Li Shiming could be considered to be in high spirits. Although he wasn’t delayed in either Alchemy or his Cultivation Realm, he was also worried that Li Shiming might be blinded by the wealth gained from Alchemy, obscuring his Daoist heart and causing him to slacken in his cultivation.

“Thank you for the guidance, Master. Your disciple will keep your teachings in mind!” Li Shiming bowed his head, then suddenly seemed to recall something and continued, “What exactly is the Beishu Trading Company, and what background does it have? Please enlighten me, Master.”

“Even if you didn’t ask, I would have told you!” Elder Su pointed at a stone stool beside them.

Elder Su took a seat first, took out a pot of Spiritual Tea from his Space Ring, and poured a cup for both himself and Li Shiming.

Li Shiming sat respectfully at the lower seat, feeling that Elder Su’s attitude towards him had changed somewhat.

Indeed, this was easy to understand. A High-level Alchemist’s status in a large sect was somewhat higher than that of a Foundation Establishment Cultivator. Although not as high as a Golden Core Elder, the difference wasn’t much.

Not to mention Li Shiming, a High-level Alchemist who was almost certain to become an Alchemy Master. This could be inferred from the fact that the Beishu Trading Company sent a Fake Pill Shopkeeper to him.

“Beishu Trading Company was initially established by both righteous and demonic sects along with several independent Nascent Soul cultivators. As the conflicts between the righteous and demonic sects intensified, the management of Beishu Trading Company gradually fell into the hands of these independent Nascent Souls, acting as a channel for resource exchanges between the righteous and demonic sects. Everyone needed such a channel, and it has continued to this day,” Elder Su explained slowly after taking a sip of Spiritual Tea.

“Then does the Beishu Trading Company also have a share of the Shushan Sect?” inquired Li Shiming.

“Naturally, the profits of Beishu Trading Company need to be distributed among the six sects, otherwise how could it have been maintained until now!” Elder Su nodded as he said.

Li Shiming took a deep breath, shocked. With the six righteous and demonic sects as its background, as well as multiple independent Nascent Souls, no wonder the Beishu Trading Company could achieve such scale.

“In that case, doesn’t the Beishu Trading Company have no rivals?” Li Shiming marveled.

“The six righteous and demonic sects each support their own trading companies and some independent Nascent Souls have trading companies they back. Even Beishu Trading Company wouldn’t use force against these trading companies but would instead employ commercial strategies. So while Beishu Trading Company is dominant, it is still unable to monopolize the commercial world completely,” Elder Su laughed as he explained.

Although Li Shiming did not know how powerful a Nascent Soul was, he was certain that if he were to offend one, then even with so many powerful backers, Beishu Trading Company’s trade routes would be compromised.

Once back at his Sword Holding Peak abode, Li Shiming finally had time to examine his Guest Identity Card.

The Guest Identity Card of Beishu Trading Company was a Magic Artifact with multiple functions.

It was easy for Li Shiming’s Divine Thought to grasp its functions, and the Guest Identity Card could be easily refined, as if he had gained another Magic Artifact.

As the Guest Identity Card was refined, the corresponding introductions and methods of use were transmitted into his brain.

By connecting with the Beishu Trading Company’s communication network spread across the Beishu Continent, Li Shiming had previously wondered how Beishu Trading Company was able to achieve this. Now it seemed that it must be with the support of the six sects that they could cover the continent with their communication network.

Of course, not just anyone could use this communication network. Only those with a certain status within Beishu Trading Company had such privileges.

Otherwise, being able to use it freely would be opposed firstly by the six sects.

The establishment of this continent-wide communication network was intended for the business considerations of Beishu Trading Company, as well as to provide the higher-ups of the six sects with a fluid communication channel for timely exchanges in crucial moments.

The communication function of the Guest Identity Card was incredibly potent. Cultivators of the six righteous and demonic sects, upon verifying their identity, could send messages to him within the coverage area of the continent-wide communication network.

He could also use the Guest Identity Card to actively reach out to any cultivator within the coverage area of the continent-wide communication network.

The first thing Li Shiming did was use the Guest Identity Card to send a message to Yin Shilan, letting her know that from now on, this was a means of contact.

Unfortunately, Yin Shilan was probably cultivating at the moment and did not reply to him.

Lovers in the Cultivation World are like this, each immersed in cultivation. Especially at the Foundation Establishment Stage, it’s normal to cultivate for more than ten days or even a month at a time, and their contact with each other is reduced.