Immortality begins with Becoming an Alchemy Grandmaster

Chapter 44: Chapter 44 Dao Debate Platform, 18 Death Duels _1

Once again, at another small gathering, Luo Chen arrived at the stand early.

This did surprise Elder Chen quite a bit.

”Don’t you usually show up once a month since you’ve started crafting that thing?”

”I’ve recently run out of Spirit Stones, so I need to sell some now,” Luo Chen said lightly as he placed two types of elixirs on the stone slab.

He scanned his surroundings, a bit puzzled.

”Where’s Wang Yuan?”

”You can’t be serious, don’t tell me you didn’t know about what happened?” Elder Chen’s look was exaggerated.

Luo Chen was stunned, should I know it?

I’m not the type that relishes in gossip.

Spending all my time in the Pill Room, most of my information about the outside world comes from Gu Caiyi and Bai Meiling, the two social butterflies.

”A fight is going to break out.”

”You’re speaking of the Broken Mountain Gang and the Great Lake Gang, right? So annoying, they just caused a ruckus two months ago, are they at it again?”

Elder Chen shook his head, ”No, this time is different from before.”

Through Elder Chen’s explanation, Luo Chen began to grasp the gist of the situation.

Or to put it another way, anyone who was interested in finding out could easily obtain information on the current situation.

The ceasefire two months ago was not an actual ceasefire.

It was merely the Yu Ding Sword Pavilion stepping in, organising the Foundation Establishment cultivators Mi Shuhua of the Broken Mountain Gang and Wang Haichao of the Great Lake Gang to cease hostilities.

After all, if they kept fighting, the Outer City would inevitably be turned into rubble. The Yu Ding Sword Pavilion collects rent from both the Outer City and the Inner City.

If everyone was killed, who would they collect the rent from?

However, the interests embedded in the Mountain Channels were too substantial.

Thus, the two Foundation Establishment cultivators wouldn’t easily give up.

Yet, they could not disregard the Yu Ding Sword Pavilion’s reputation as it was the city owner and represented the Yu Ding Sword Sect afterall.

As such, a martial arts competition was set.

Each side sent their nine best fighters to compete on the Yu Ding Sword Pavilion’s Dao Debate Platform, with no regard for life or death.

The level of the competing members was restricted to beneath the Foundation Establishment stage.

If the Great Lake Gang lost, they would surrender their business in the mountains, retreat and conduct their business on the Lancang River properly. Additionally, they had to cede a water channel to the Broken Mountain Gang.

If the Broken Mountain Gang lost, it was more straightforward; they needed to transfer five of their several safe channels in their control to the Great Lake Gang.

The two-month ceasefire period beforehand was provided for both gangs to recruit their best fighters.

”So, that’s why there have been so many unfamiliar cultivators in the city recently. They were the experts invited by the two gangs!” Luo Chen finally understood.

Without pausing in his actions, he casually handed a few jade bottles to a returning customer.

Upon receiving the spirit stones, he saw Chen Xiuping shake his head.

”The two gangs hold considerable influence here, but if you look at the whole of the Yu Ding Realm, they are insignificant.”

”Uh...”

”The Yu Ding Sword Pavilion’s cultivators purposely spread the news, hence they attracted many people from other places.”

Luo Chen blinked, why would the Yu Ding Sword Pavilion do that?

Don’t they dislike these incomers stirring up trouble and making things hard to manage?

But soon, Elder Chen answered his question.

”Amongst the six extreme eastern sects, all of them have their own strengths and operating areas.”

The Hehuan Sect deals in relationships between men and women, and has been prosperous since ancient times.

The Shen Fu Pavilion deals in talisman business, and is unprecedented in the realm of talismans amongst the six realms.

The Medicine King Sect handles the business of elixirs and spirit grass, and its earnings are filled to the brim.

The Five Elements Divine Sect deals in Spirit Plants and Technique business, and is also flourishing.

Tian Fan City’s business focuses on crafting magic tools and arrays. Their Wanbao Pavilion holds a monopoly across the Six Realms’ territories.

What about the Yu Ding Sword Sect then?

Is there any notable business left by the Yu Ding Sword Sect that these uninformed rogue cultivators should know about?

The answer is no!

The Yu Ding Sword Sect boasts of their battle prowess, and its main members are sword cultivators.

That’s right, Sword cultivators are indeed very strong among their ranks, but they don’t produce anything!

Although the Sword Sect possesses a decent sword casting technique, it pales in comparison to Tian Fan City.

Especially when it comes to the Sword Sect’s sword-making skills, most of their products are mainly Sword Pills, which require whole-hearted nurturing.

Most cultivators pursue various methods of battle; who would risk it all on a single sword?

On the other hand, the much more versatile Flying Sword Magic Tools resonate with more people.

As for the Dao of Alchemy, Talisman, and Array, the Yu Ding Sword Sect has dipped their feet into those disciplines, but compared to other sects, their achievements are mediocre at best.

”So you’re saying that all the cultivators of the Yu Ding Sword Sect have nothing to eat?”

Luo Chen still found this hard to believe.

”Not necessarily, they are, after all, the lords of this region.” Elder Chen spoke confidently. He was well-informed about this gossip. ”Just look at the Zhong Ding Family, the Dao Debate Platforms, all these are their sources of income.”

Restaurants? Arenas?

How much could they possibly earn in Spirit Stones?

”Our monthly rents and stall fees, all of these contribute to their income.”

”Another major source of income is that the Yu Ding Realm is closest to the Million Mountains. The majority of the Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures produced in the mountains are bought predominantly by the Yu Ding Sword Sect before they then sell these raw materials to other sects in the Six Realms.”

Luo Chen grinned, ”But it still sounds a bit pitiful!”

He pointed at the conspicuous buildings in the city center, ”If that’s the case, why doesn’t the Sword Sect just kick out all the businesses of other sects in the Yu Ding Realm and take over their ventures?”

Even if the Sword Sect’s elixir and talismans are made poorly, they’re definitely better than those of the Immortal Cultivation Clans and rogue cultivators.

With a sword in their hands, if they wish to sell, who would dare not to buy?

”They wouldn’t dare!” Elder Chen whispered, ”Initially, the Yu Ding Realm wasn’t just established solely by the Yu Ding Sword Sect, the other big sects, including the current ones in the Yu Ding Realm, also made contributions.”

Got it. Now it makes sense.

If one were to compare the Yu Ding Realm to a company, the Yu Ding Sword Sect could be considered the majority shareholder and executive director.

Other sects also hold shares in the company.

However, the company’s profit isn’t divided equally.

Everyone’s share depends on their capability.

The Sword Sect merely has the advantage of home-field.

Honestly speaking, Elder Chen’s explanation cleared up Luo Chen’s understanding of the situation.

The Dao debate platform itself is a significant source of income for the Yu Ding Sword Sect.

Now with the clash of two gangs and the enticing spectacle of eighteen top fighters battling it out, they are definitely looking to maximize the value of this tournament.

By spreading the news of the tournament, they could earn a hefty sum just from ticket sales alone.

If they were to incorporate other activities like auctions, they could earn even more.

”It’s true, there are no fools among cultivators!”

Luo Chen exclaimed.

It appeared as a clash between two gangs, but the Yu Ding Sword Sect, as the mediator, was the biggest winner.

No matter whether the Broken Mountain Gang or the Great Lake Gang wins, the resources they find from the mountains still have to be purchased by the local Yu Ding Sword Pavilion.

The meat is decayed in the pot, so why not stir up sweet smells to attract even more wild dogs that can be slaughtered?

Unfortunately, this has nothing to do with Luo Chen, who was at the Fourth Level Qi Refinement Stage.

Wait, it does have some relation.

His brother Wang Yuan was the head of the Broken Mountain Gang’s leading fighters.

Right, he’s one of the leading fighters of the Broken Mountain Gang!

”Should I go and support Wang Yuan when the time comes?”