Bombarding Cultivators with Cluster Artillery

Lingbao Commerce Association.

Occupying an entire street within Beast Spirit Immortal City, one could find everything from Talismans, Magic Tools, Treasures, to Flying Boats.

Even more, in front of many shops, there were beautiful young girls, handsome young boys, as well as members of the Fox Tribe, Rabbit Tribe, and other furnace cauldrons bound by chains of law, openly displayed outside the shops for customers to choose from.

Beyond that, corpses with specific Spiritual Roots and birth dates, human skin, white bones, and flesh were laid out everywhere, and the pungent smell of blood and stench did not make specific Cultivators feel disgusted but instead was the ultimate enjoyment, the best kind of advertisement.

With the smoky scent of the King’s Court war filling the air, there was an endless stream of passersby. Foundation-building and Golden Pill Monks were a common sight, making for a booming business.

”This filthy world...”

Jiang Ding gazed at the piles of human skins and corpses for a moment before stepping into the threshold of the Lingbao Commerce Association.

He had only walked a few steps when, before any maids or servants could greet him, a kindly-faced fat man hurried over, bowing deeply from a distance, ”It has been many years, Business Friend, and yet your elegance remains unchanged; truly enviable.”

”Shang Sanwu, I’ve seen Business Friend.”

”I’ve seen Shang Business Friend.”

Jiang Ding was slightly surprised.

Twelve years had passed, yet this man could still recognize him and came forward with such a gesture of welcome, indeed a pleasant surprise.

Of course, he also knew.

This was certainly a function of the Lingbao Commerce Association’s Formation Method, a rule that recorded customers from years ago, so that when they visited again, familiar faces would be sent to welcome them—it was not a matter of personal acquaintance.

As expected of the leading business clan of the Northern Plains, every move was methodical.

Mid Jindan Stage Shang Sanwu personally led him to a quiet room, where two graceful maids served third-order Spiritual Tea, with mist swirling and the fragrance of the tea light and elegant.

”Business Friend, what brings you here this time?”

Shang Sanwu said with a smile, tinged with an apology, ”I must tell you, Business Friend, due to the approaching war of the King’s Court, there has been increased chaos everywhere, and the prices have gone up a bit, please understand.”

”Gone up a bit...”

Jiang Ding furrowed his brow.

”The abundance of wars makes the trade routes arduous...”

Shang Sanwu’s body bent even lower, his face adorned with an apologetic smile as he repeatedly explained various reasons, appearing extremely subservient.

Seemingly humble,

But everyone knew that this was just the standard behavior of the Shang Clan of the Northern Plains; it did not mean they were truly subservient.

”Business Friend, it’s still Gold Copper Stone, ten million jin.”

Jiang Ding, not one for idle chatter, got straight to the point.

”Ten million jin!”

Shang Sanwu’s spirits lifted, and then he made a more humble apologetic smile, ”Business Friend, with war prevalent in the Northern Plains, the price has risen a bit. As you know, we are all small business people, taking many risks, often with clan members injured or killed. The last price of fifteen million Low-grade Spirit Stones might be difficult to...”

He said quite tactfully.

”How much did it increase?”

Jiang Ding had a bad feeling in his heart.

He didn’t believe a word Shang Sanwu said.

Gold Copper Stone was just a common First-order Spirit Mine, commonly found near the King’s Court, merely a typical material. Transported here, they could easily earn more than ten times the profit.

This was already high, with a profit margin of one thousand percent, which by reason, should cover all risks.

”Please understand, Business Friend, the journey is long, and we truly have no other choice...”

Shang Sanwu’s expression of apology and difficulty grew greater, and he was almost bowing: ”Sincere discount, you only need to pay one hundred and fifty million Low-grade Spirit Stones, and I will bring you ten million jin of Gold Copper Stone.”

The atmosphere quieted.

A hundred times!

Jiang Ding stared intently at the benevolent fat man before him, his gaze cold, the slight fondness quickly vanishing.

Shang Sanwu maintained his subservient posture, continuously offering a humble smile.

In this display of humility and bowing, there seemed to be a mix of indifference, certainty, and a kind of condescension towards Loose Cultivators of foreign surnames.

After a long while,

A deep sigh.

”I, indeed, am not suited for business,”

Jiang Ding said, self-deprecatingly.

He knew that, unwittingly, he had revealed his strong desire for the Gold Copper Stone. Although he had concealed some of his eagerness, it wasn’t very effective in front of an experienced cultivator who had been immersed in commercial dealings for hundreds of years.

It was a matter of different professions, just as the Sword Dao is to others.

”Shopkeeper, aren’t you afraid I’ll walk away with a hundredfold markup?”

Jiang Ding took the lesson in stride and asked calmly.

”You jest, sir.”

Shang Sanwu said with a forced smile, ”Business is business, as a merchant, I display my wares on the stall. If you fancy something, you pay and take it away; if not, you simply look and leave. It’s only natural.”

”I see.”

Jiang Ding nodded slightly.

He felt confident, ready to take a gamble.

If he lost, it wouldn’t be as if the Gold Copper Stones were a dead weight; he could simply store them and sell them off slowly.

If the gamble paid off, the billions in extra Spirit Stones would be pure profit. Even after dividing the proceeds with the commerce association, he would make a fortune. Either way, he would not lose out.

”Business Friend has a good eye.”

”Let it be so, then.”

Jiang Ding didn’t show any signs of irritation. With a casual gesture, he placed a storage bag full of Spirit Stones on the counter, revealing a friendly smile as he said, ”Additionally, please send me the latest intelligence on the Northern Plains, including any significant events.”

Besides the Lingbao Commerce Association, there were no other forces around the Beast Spirit Immortal City capable of supplying large quantities of Gold Copper Stone.

This time, he simply had to accept being overcharged.

It’s a transaction, after all.

Willing buyer, willing seller.

Quite ordinary.

He wasn’t angry.

Not in the slightest.

Nothing of the sort.

Should Divine Crow Immortal meet his demise, perhaps he could consider looking into the human trafficking, organ selling, and other criminal activities in Beast Spirit Immortal City, along with the crimes of the individuals involved.

For such heinous crimes, the perpetrators

deserve nothing less than

the death penalty.

”Business Friend is straightforward!”

For some reason, Shang Sanwu, who felt confident in his success, suddenly felt an unease.

He then laughed at himself inwardly.

It was undeniable that this person’s strength surpassed his own.

His Divine Soul instinctively sounded an alarm.

But with the backing of the Shang Clan, what could these foreign Golden Pill Monks possibly do?

At best, they were powerless and resentful.

Indeed, were it not for the strict rules of the Shang Clan, he could just give the word and someone would besiege and kill this man upon leaving the shop, rendering the Post-golden Alchemist useless and enabling him to witness his death right inside the store.

Cultivation Base isn’t everything.

”Please wait a moment, Business Friend.”

Shang Sanwu took the Spirit Stones and checked them with his Divine Sense. His face broke into a smile and he bowed respectfully before turning to leave.

After a short while, he returned with a storage bag and a Jade Slip.

Jiang Ding put away the Gold Copper Stones and picked up the intelligence Jade Slip.

”...the blood curse of the King’s Court has been broken, both the Army of the Great Sun Dharma and the Scorching Sun Swordsman have raised their troops, declaring themselves kings and establishing regimes, forming the Army of the Great Sun Dharma and the Great Sun Sword Army, both protected by the Royal Court Dragon Qi...”

Upon reading the first piece of intelligence, Jiang Ding was shocked.

The King’s Court war was a war game set up by the invincible ancestors of the twenty-eight families ten thousand years ago for their descendants. Although it wasn’t without bloodshed, only their direct lineage could participate, earning the right and protection of the Dragon Qi. It was a law.

Now, this law had been broken.

After spending countless years, the Great Sun Dharma Sect and the Great Sun Sword Sect had successfully deciphered the restrictions and were preparing to join the King’s Court war.

One could even foresee their ultimate goal: to uproot and destroy the Court’s Blessed Land, the ceaseless source of Nascent Souls for the twenty-eight families.