Two Realms: I Will Become the Immortal Emperor

Chapter 428: Chapter 397: Evil Dragon Burned Warehouse

”Fifty percent?”

Even Meng Qianxun couldn’t help but furrow his brow.

”This has always been the rule.”

Qiu Tianshui glanced at the expressionless Lord Valley Master and said, ”Within the territory governed by the Primordial Sect, half of all resources Tier Three and above must be handed over to our Sect in exchange for our protection.”

”But isn’t the Black Tortoise Calm Sea outside of the Primordial Sect’s jurisdiction?”

Meng Qianxun was so incensed he almost laughed, unable to hold back any longer.

”Besides, fifty percent is far too much. Can’t you be a little more lenient?”

’If the Primordial Sect had conquered this land through war and bloodshed, and Jinyun Valley had come to develop the ore vein, we wouldn’t have said a word if you took fifty percent. Hell, we wouldn’t have complained even if you took seventy.’

’But Jinyun Valley discovered this ore vein ourselves. The Primordial Sect just has to say the word, and they walk away with fifty percent of the profits.’

’It’s highway robbery! And that’s fifty percent of the ’profits’ *before* accounting for the Cultivators’ salaries, the cost of establishing the Array, and future maintenance fees. If you factor all that in, the Primordial Sect is taking sixty percent!’

What’s more, the Black Tortoise Calm Sea wasn’t even Primordial Sect territory; it’s a lawless zone.

’That was precisely why the Primordial Sect and the Star-Picking Sect went to war in the Black Tortoise Calm Sea, to fight over ownership of the Undersea Palace.’

”The fifty percent share was set by the Sect Leader. We are merely following orders. If Fellow Daoist Meng is dissatisfied, he can take it up with the Sect Leader.”

Qiu Tianshui bluntly rebuffed him, his gaze then sweeping over to Chen Che.

”While the Black Tortoise Calm Sea is not under Primordial Sect jurisdiction, Tributor Chen is a member of our Sect. Besides, a major mine like this is bound to attract the attention of many outside forces. With the Primordial Sect stationed here, we can naturally deter any external threats. Why wouldn’t you want that?”

He wasn’t entirely lying.

Resources below Tier Three were left for the subordinate factions to handle themselves. If something was of value, the Primordial Sect would naturally purchase it with Spirit Stones. This was, to a certain extent, a way to support the growth of their subordinates, a public display to show the world that:

The Primordial Sect ”loved its people as its own children.”

As for resources Tier Three and above, the profits accumulated over centuries of mining would be enormous. If left unchecked, they could, over time, shake the very foundation of the Sect’s rule.

That was why they took half in the name of ”protection.”

”Chief Qiu is absolutely right. Since this rule was set by the Sect Leader, my ’Senior Brother,’ it would be improper for me to violate it.”

Chen Che mused for a moment, then nodded in agreement, feigning a sense of helplessness.

’Che’er, you can’t agree to this! It’s easier to invite a god than to send one away! And fifty percent is too much...’

Meng Qianxun’s heart skipped a beat when he saw Chen Che actually agree, and he hurriedly sent a voice transmission.

’Besides, during his survey, he had also discovered large deposits of associated ores. The Tier Three Low Grade Anomalous Copper Ore was only a small part; Tier Three Middle Grade Mysterious Copper was the real prize. Every bit they could keep for themselves would deepen Jinyun Valley’s foundation.’

Having expected to haggle for a while longer, Qiu Tianshui was a bit stunned by how readily they agreed, but he quickly let out a soft chuckle.

”Tributor Chen is a straightforward man. But rest assured, since the Primordial Sect is overseeing this place, we will ensure its safety. There will be no repeat of Loose Cultivators like Dan Xuanzi besieging the island reef.”

”Tang Linli!”

Qiu Tianshui called out, and Tang Linli stepped forward from behind him.

”From now on, he will be stationed here, responsible for overseeing the accounts of the Anomalous Copper Ore.”

Noticing Chen Che’s slightly stunned expression, Qiu Tianshui secretly shook his head and sneered inwardly, ’I knew it. The only reason he agreed so readily was because he planned to cook the books. Did he really think the Sect had no way to deal with that?’

In the beginning, the Primordial Sect had dealt with such things before. Factions would clearly mine countless resources, but when it came time for collection, they would claim to have suffered losses. Even if heads rolled, it was no use; there would always be someone willing to take the risk.

Therefore, the Primordial Sect started stationing its own people directly at the sites. No matter how the other party kept their records, the Sect would keep its own strict ledger, preventing anyone from lining their own pockets.

Tang Linli also stepped up, a smile plastered on his face. ”Tributor Chen, I’ll be in your care...”

Chen Che’s face was devoid of expression.

Seeing that the purpose of his trip had been achieved, Qiu Tianshui had no intention of remaining underwater. He spoke up, ”Tributor Chen, follow me back to the island. I need to plant the flag...”

With a wave of his hand, he swept Tang Linli up and returned to the surface.

Chen Che and Meng Qianxun followed them out of the sea.

After emerging from the water, Qiu Tianshui waved his hand, and a triangular Command Flag appeared. Under everyone’s watchful eyes, he planted the flag in a corner of the island reef. As he formed a Seal Technique, the flag grew in the wind, transforming in the blink of an eye into a massive flagpole seventy or eighty feet tall.

On the flag’s surface were two characters: Primordial.

Chen Che swept his Divine Sense over it and found that the Command Flag had no special properties; it was merely a marker.

’Like a wild dog pissing to mark its territory.’

Chen Che sneered.

...

”You are to keep a proper record of the accounts here. Every single piece of Anomalous Copper Ore mined is a resource of our Sect. Remember, not one bit can go missing.”

After planting the flag, Qiu Tianshui didn’t leave immediately. Instead, he stayed on the island reef to instruct Tang Linli on a few matters. ”If anything comes up short, you should know the consequences...”

”Chief, I understand.”

Tang Linli cupped his hands.

The Internal Affairs Hall was responsible for managing such things. But wherever there were people, there would be greed. Deceiving superiors, falsifying accounts, lining one’s own pockets—even Cultivators were no different.

”Anomalous Copper Ore is a Tier Three Lower Grade Ore. It’s possible it will have some associated Middle Grade or even High Grade Ores.”

Qiu Tianshui analyzed calmly,

”If the quantity is small, so be it; the Sect won’t bother with it. But if there’s a lot, its value will be immeasurable. I trust you understand this. From now on, the profits from this Anomalous Copper Ore mine will be handed over annually. I will only be looking at the ledgers!”

”I understand.”

Tang Linli nodded.

High-tier Materials were already scarce resources, to say nothing of an ore vein of this kind. Since ancient times, countless factions had risen to power on the back of a single large-scale mine. Even the Primordial Sect itself was no exception back in the day.

If these Ores were to fall into the hands of a few Casting Masters, they could be turned into Tier Three Magical Artifacts.

One or two wouldn’t affect the grand scheme of things, but ten or a hundred would be terrifying.

”Good that you know.”

Qiu Tianshui nodded slightly. ”The Sect Leader has been attempting Nascent Soul Formation recently. If he succeeds, the Primordial Sect will be blessed with several more millennia of prosperity. The Sect is in urgent need of these resources. If we can one day crush the Star-Picking Sect, you will surely have a share of the credit.”

”I understand!”

Tang Linli cupped his fists, his voice filled with excitement.

Ever since its founding, the Primordial Sect had always considered the Star-Picking Sect its hypothetical enemy. Now, the two sects’ strengths were closer than they had ever been. Perhaps one day they really would annihilate the Star-Picking Sect and double the Sect’s territory!

Qiu Tianshui stayed on the island reef for a day, looking around the area. Tang Linli, however, remained behind to select a site for an office.

”Just like that, with a few empty words, he took fifty percent of the profits. And he even left a man behind specifically to watch the books and prevent fraud.”

Watching them leave, Meng Qianxun was so furious he nearly ground his teeth to dust.

This ore vein was too important.

It was Tier Three!

Moreover, the two-hundred-year mining estimate was just a preliminary one; after all, underwater surveying was difficult. And yet, Qiu Tianshui had used the fact that Chen Che was a member of the Primordial Sect as an excuse to take fifty percent.

”Che’er, he’s gone. If we don’t act now, it’ll be too late. From now on, we’ll have to hand over fifty percent of the profits every year.”

Only after Qiu Tianshui was completely gone did several figures emerge from various spots on the island reef.

There was Meng Changtu, Chen Xi, and the couple, Lu Qinglian and Lu Yuntian. Meng Qianxun had summoned them all. Clearly, if Qiu Tianshui had pushed his luck even a little further, he likely would not have left the island reef alive.

Chen Che didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

’After following me to wipe out Thousand Eyes and the Ye Clan, the old man’s gotten much bolder. To think he’d dare set an ambush for the Chief of the Primordial Sect’s Internal Affairs Hall.’

’Besides, even if they killed Qiu Tianshui, could they really hold onto this mine? The Primordial Sect would just keep sending more people.’

Shaking his head with a smile, Chen Che said,

”Who said I was going to hand it over?”

”But!?”

Meng Qianxun was confused.

’Is he planning to stall?’

However, stalling would only buy them ten days or half a month at most. Once the Primordial Sect sent someone, they wouldn’t be able to short them by a single cent. Meng Changtu had guessed this as well, so he immediately voiced his confusion.

”Besides, Tang Linli is still here. That man is a nail hammered into this place.”

Meng Changtu frowned as he watched Tang Linli scouting for a location on the island reef from a distance.

”He comes from the Primordial Sect and is Qiu Tianshui’s direct subordinate. He definitely won’t be on our side. He wouldn’t dare hide any news from the island from the Primordial Sect.”

Everyone nodded.

Don’t be fooled by Tang Linli sucking up to Chen Che; between the Primordial Sect and Jinyun Valley, he would definitely choose the former. They couldn’t even stall for ten days, let alone cook the books.

”We’ll just pull a ’Fire Dragon Burned Warehouse’.”

”But that’s a mortal’s trick...”

Lu Yuntian couldn’t help but interject.

The implication was that it probably wouldn’t fool the Primordial Sect.

Catching their stunned gazes out of the corner of his eye, Chen Che smiled and added,

”Mortals came before immortals. A normal ’Fire Dragon Burned Warehouse’ naturally wouldn’t fool the Primordial Sect, but what about an ’Evil Dragon Burned Warehouse’? Don’t forget, we still have Xiao Chan. No matter how much we prepare to hand over, we can take it all back.”

A Rebel Disciple of the Primordial Sect stole something that belonged to the Primordial Sect.

What did that have to do with the ever-loyal Jinyun Valley?

From the moment Qiu Tianshui arrived on the island reef, Chen Che had already formulated a countermeasure.