Chapter 59: Let You Scoop Up Profits, Now You've Been Slapped in the Face, and You Can't Even Fight Back!

At Zhiwei Fang, on the second floor, Wang Rongsheng sat in the head seat, speaking polite words.

By all rights, he was only at the seventh layer of Qi Refining; among the Shopkeepers, all around the high Qi Refining stage, he had no right to sit at the head.

But behind him stood the Wang Shi, and the Wang Shizi's Hundred Treasures Pavilion had been doing incredibly brisk business recently; now that he intended to place orders with peers, others naturally fawned over him.

Strength is the hard truth; the Wang Shi stood above strength, and now they also had booming business, so naturally Wang Rongsheng's spine was even stiffer.

"... I heard two days ago that certain cultivators bought talismans at the Hundred Treasures Pavilion, but found them awkward to use.

I thought, that can't be right; we Wang Shi do business, and our goods are never sold cheap.

Fellow Daoists are willing to buy, naturally trusting our goods are good; if there were any slip-ups, it would damage the Wang Shi's reputation.

As it turned out, I investigated and found that the person spreading the news was secretly engaged in the business of robbing cultivators.

Fellow Daoist Gao Jian helped me uncover the truth; it turns out they were also acting on someone's orders.

As for who gave the orders, I have also investigated clearly."

Wang Rongsheng's gaze slowly swept across the faces of the Grand Shopkeepers at the table, making several of them tremble with fear.

Good, good, good; you invited us to discuss cooperation, yet you first kill the chicken to scare the monkeys.

Truly the Wang Shi of the Anbei Kingdom; their methods are ruthless enough.

Che Zengye had a guilty conscience, but he was also a veteran old rascal, so naturally he would not show fear.

You say you have investigated clearly—I do not believe it.

The Che family and the robbers trade in secret; they absolutely do not know we are the Che family.

Che Zengye judged that Wang Rongsheng was simply bluffing!

"Originally, I intended to report directly to the Town Guardian Cultivator for handling, but the Clan Elder stopped me.

The Clan Elder said the prosperity of Qing Xi Fang relies on everyone's joint efforts; internal strife is not a good thing.

Our Hundred Treasures Pavilion does too well in business; being envied is to be expected; if one is not envied, one is a mediocre talent."

It sounded as if the Wang Shi intended to stop there and not pursue the matter further.

Wang Rongsheng suddenly bringing up this matter today was merely a warning.

But as he spoke, his head suddenly turned, looking at Che Zengye, and he shouted loudly.

"Boss Che, is what our Clan Elder said correct!"

This sudden strike made Che Zengye tremble all over; in an instant, his face turned deathly pale.

Seeing Che Zengye's wretched state, the others at the table were stunned.

Did your Wang Shi really find out?

How could the Che family's work be so crude?

Wang Rongsheng stood up, staring coldly at Che Zengye, who sat trembling in his seat, and said coldly.

"Your Che family must pay two thousand Spirit Stones as an apology; regarding this matter, we Wang Shi will not pursue it further.

Otherwise, the Wang Shi of the Anbei Kingdom will definitely take action and trample through your Che family's ancestral lands.

Regarding Master Mangxiang's ancestor seeking to form a Jin Dan, everyone who should know now knows.

Fellow Daoist Che, I advise your Che family to think clearly sooner rather than later.

Within ten days, give me an explanation!"

The reason the Clan Elder disagreed with reporting to the Town Guardian Cultivator was simple: if the Town Guardian Cultivator ate their fill, the Wang Shi would get nothing!

Rather than solving the problem through the Red Lantern Light system, it is better to act ourselves!

Having offered so many tributes to Master Mangxiang's ancestor, the Wang Shi had the qualification to pull on his tiger skin on a small scale.

Wiping the cold sweat that wouldn't stop from his forehead, Che Zengye forced a smile onto his face and played dumb, saying.

"Fellow Daoist Rongsheng, our Che family has never done anything to collude with robbers; did you perhaps get it wrong?"

Wang Rongsheng smiled; he was too lazy to explain.

"Get back and prepare the Spirit Stones!"

Only then did Che Zengye realize that the Wang Shi had indeed thoroughly investigated the truth.

He and the Che family's Clan Elder, Che Zengshu, had thought the matter too simply; they thought smearing dirt was merely a tactic, and colluding with robbers was just a bit more troublesome.

But in front of the Wang Shi of the Anbei Kingdom, if you dare to hand the evidence of your dark deeds into the Wang Shi's hands, the Wang Shi naturally has the qualification to weigh the matter's weight!

Che Zengye fled in a wretched state; the Che family must quickly gather two thousand Spirit Stones, otherwise the Wang Shi might truly trample through their family's ancestral lands.

The chicken was killed; Wang Rongsheng looked at the monkeys.

"Now, we can discuss the matter of placing orders, Fellow Daoists."

After seeing off Gao Jian, Wang Rongsheng shook his head and instructed Yulou.

"He is a venomous snake; when dealing with such people, there must be clear boundaries; do not let the snake's enemies think you have any special relationship with him."

The reason the news of the Che family's behind-the-scenes scheming could be obtained so easily was naturally inseparable from the help of the Qing Xi Fang Security Maintenance Team; Gao Jian contributed, so the Wang Shi naturally had to show gratitude.

"Yulou understands; it's just that with people like Gao Jian, we cannot easily make enemies; little devils are hard to deal with," Yulou said bitterly.

Mu Yingxi was very easy to talk to; even if Mu Chunze's eating style was ugly, he was still decent on the surface.

Gao Jian was different; this mad dog wrote hysteria on his face and had been running rampant for decades in Qing Xi Fang.

"He is indeed hard to deal with; after so many years without anyone taking dark hands against him, it cannot be just good luck.

However... the battle between Miao Feng Mountain and Gu Shen Zong is fierce; the prices of various talismans have all risen a small bit.

Yulou, the selling prices of the Hundred Treasures Pavilion's many goods must be adjusted in time; we cannot suffer losses!"

After Wo Long Fang was breached, Gu Shen Zong essentially slapped Miao Feng Mountain in the face, slapping the faces of Miao Feng Mountain's Purple Foundation cultivators until they were red and swollen.

Let you scoop up profits, causing the sect disciples to frequently change their sects.

Now that you have been slapped in the face, you cannot even fight back!

The Xian Alliance laws are supreme; no Purple Foundation cultivator may act lightly; if they act, they will definitely be targeted.

After being targeted by the Xian Alliance, the minimum consequence is a heavy financial loss; those who overstep will be directly imprisoned in the Demon-Subduing Pass.

Below the Purple Mansion realm, Foundation Establishment cultivators may duel, but if someone dies, they must pay with their life—a life for a life.

No matter how high your cultivation, as long as you are not a Golden Core, the Xian Alliance will not allow any cultivator to easily disrupt the stability and grand scheme of the Wunan Basin Cultivation World!

Thus, although the Gu Shen Zong and Miaofeng Mountain are fighting until their brains are exposed, their duels are restricted to the Qi Refining stage.

How to put it? They fight until the heavens and earth are dark, yet it is not particularly intense.

So far, not a single Foundation Establishment cultivator has dared to intervene; only Qi Refining cultivators are grinding against each other.

The sole impact of this war on Qing Xi Fang is that prices for talismans, magical artifacts, and various other goods have risen slightly on the spot.

Miaofeng Mountain has posted a bounty: any rogue cultivator who helps Miaofeng Mountain kill Gu Shen Zong cultivators can exchange their war merit for all techniques, treasures, talismans, spirit pills, and more below the Purple Mansion realm of Miaofeng Mountain.

Consequently, rogue cultivators have begun spending lavishly, seeking to enhance their strength to seize opportunities in the war.

"When the Wolong Workshop changed hands before, did both sides fight as well?" Wang Yulou asked.

Wang Rongsheng, who operated in Wolong Workshop, heard Wang Yulou's question and said with deep meaning.

"Over three hundred years ago, the sect across the Wolong River was the Huishan Mansion, but later the Huishan Mansion was crushed by Miaofeng Mountain.

The Gu Shen Zong was established through the cooperation of the Ning clan, the legitimate lineage of the Huishan Mansion, and the Gu Shen clan, a Purple Mansion great family under the Tianshe Sect; they actually have a generational feud with Miaofeng Mountain.

When such a generational feud erupts, it is hard to say when it will end."

Seeing Wang Yulou remain silent, Wang Rongsheng found it strange.

"What is wrong? Why do you not speak? Are you worried?"

Wang Yulou smiled and explained.

"No, the clan leader previously intended for Wang Yuan to join Miaofeng Mountain after reaching the Qi Refining stage.

Now it seems Wang Yuan probably cannot go to Miaofeng Mountain after all."

Dizzy from Wang Yulou's train of thought, Wang Rongsheng laughed helplessly.

"You have good aptitude and the opportunity to join a sect. As for me in my youth, hahaha, let us not speak of it, let us not speak of it.

I will go cultivate. Wang Yulou, I entrust the Hundred Treasures Pavilion to you; the clan leader indeed chose the right person.

But the current situation is complex; you must not be arrogant. When encountering difficult or major matters, do not make decisions alone; consult with me first."

That evening, at the second quarter of the Xu hour, the Hundred Treasures Pavilion, which had been open all day, finally closed its shutters.

Wang Yuan, exhausted, plopped down into a chair and complained.

"Brother, shouldn't our focus now be cultivation? Let the clerks handle the Hundred Treasures Pavilion matters.

With Bai Lu watching, if anything happens you will know in time; why must you bring me here to stand guard every day?"

This young man Wang Yuan was actually seeking his own suffering.

As Wang Yulou's younger brother, he possessed a stubborn refusal to admit defeat; whatever Wang Yulou did, he followed suit.

Yet Wang Yulou slept only at the end of the Hai hour late at night, rose before the Mao hour in the morning, and cultivated for an hour and a half immediately upon waking.

In the morning, he went to Huafeng Residence to learn from Hong Mei; in the afternoon, he watched the shop at the Hundred Treasures Pavilion; at night, upon returning, he did not rest but cultivated another hour and a half.

Wang Yulou's intensity belonged to the "597 never stop" type; Wang Yuan simply could not endure it.

"Hahaha, you speak lightly, young man.

Come, let us return together.

Bai Lu, you have worked hard as well. I will give you tomorrow off; rest well."

Wang Yulou's words frightened Bai Lu; she explained in a panic.

"Ah, Young Master Wang Yulou, I am not tired; it is all my duty. No need for rest, no need for rest!"

Having been plucked from Tang Nianqiu's care by Wang Yulou, Bai Lu received spirit stones for the first time at the Hundred Treasures Pavilion.

To her, the work at the Hundred Treasures Pavilion was simply wonderful—she could actually receive a wage!

Therefore, she did not feel tired at all; when Wang Yulou told her to rest, she instead worried she was being disliked and deemed incapable.

"If she does not rest, then I, Wang Yuan, will not rest either!"

Such is the nature of a stubborn person; Wang Yulou merely lightly provoked Bai Lu, and he obediently returned to his path of being a grinding king.

Taming Wang Yuan? Wang Yulou is a professional.

Upon returning to Fuyuan Residence, Wang Yulou was surprised to find Tang Nianqiu actually sitting behind the counter in the main hall, seemingly balancing the accounts.

Seeing the group enter, Tang Nianqiu looked up and said.

"Still so late. Wang Yulou, do not work yourself too hard."

Wang Yulou saw Wang Yuan dive into the rear courtyard without looking back, so he turned to Tang Nianqiu and said with feigned enthusiasm.

"We, the Wang Shizi, naturally take the prosperity of our family as our duty; Wang Yulou is not tired.

Uncle Nianqiu, there is actually a matter I wish to entrust to you."

Tang Nianqiu's expression did not change; he glanced imperceptibly at Bai Lu behind Wang Yulou, who was bowing her head to look at the floor tiles, and already understood.

"Oh? What is it? We are all family; Uncle will certainly do his utmost to help you."

Wang Yulou stepped aside, pulled the nervous Bai Lu forward, and explained.

"Bai Lu is a promising candidate for a senior clerk. I wish to borrow her for the Hundred Treasures Pavilion for a few years to cultivate her properly; perhaps in the future she will even have the opportunity to advance to Qi Refining."

Tang Nianqiu shook his head internally, but nodded repeatedly on his face.

"Hahaha, good. That my adopted daughter is valued by you is a good thing, a very good thing."

Having resolved Bai Lu's affiliation issue, Wang Yulou was in high spirits; after chatting a few words with Tang Nianqiu, he returned to cultivate.

For a long time, the main hall of Fuyuan Residence remained empty; Bai Lu showed no intention of returning to explain.

Behind the counter, Tang Nianqiu snorted coldly and slammed the account book down heavily.

"Ungrateful wretch, cold-hearted! The Wang Shi are like this; even raising a daughter turns out the same!"