Chapter 522: The Great Sun Sword Disciple Is a Law-Abiding Good Citizen

Cluster Heavy Artillery Bombardment Killing Cultivators Main Text Volume Chapter 554: The Great Sun Sword Disciple Is a Law-Abiding Good Citizen — Spirit Treasure Commerce Guild.

Within Tushan Xiancheng, it occupied an entire street, with talismans, dharma artifacts, dharma treasures, flying boats and the like available in abundance.

In front of quite a few shops, there were even beautiful young girls, handsome youths, as well as fox clan, rabbit clan and other furnace cauldrons, bound by dharma chains, openly displayed outside the shops for customers to pick and choose.

Besides these, corpses, human skins, white bones, flesh and blood of specific spiritual roots and specific birth dates were displayed everywhere; the overwhelming stench of blood and foul odor was not disgusting to certain cultivators, but rather the ultimate enjoyment, the best signboard.

As the smoke of the Wang Ting war spread, travelers came and went in a steady stream, Foundation Establishment and Jin Dan cultivators a common sight — business could truly be called flourishing.

"This filthy world…"

Jiang Ding's gaze lingered for a moment amid the piles of human skins and corpses, then he stepped across the threshold of the Spirit Treasure Commerce Guild.

He had only taken a few steps when, before the surrounding maids and attendants could come out to greet him, a plump man with a kindly face came hurrying over with heavy footsteps, and from a great distance bowed deeply: "It has been many years since we last met, Daoist friend, your bearing is still as splendid as ever — truly enviable."

"Shang Shang Sanwu, at your service, Daoist friend."

"Greetings, Daoist friend Shang."

Jiang Ding was mildly surprised.

Twelve years had passed, yet this person could still recognize him, and had put on such a proper show to come welcome him — it did indeed make one feel favorably disposed.

Of course, he also knew.

This must be a function of the Spirit Treasure Commerce Guild's array formation, a kind of regulation — it would record customers from many years prior, and when they came again, dispatch familiar people to greet them; it was not because of any personal connection.

Truly worthy of the foremost commercial clan of the Northern Plains — every move followed protocol.

Jin Dan Zhong Qi's Shang Shang Sanwu personally led the way to a quiet chamber, where two elegant maids served third-tier spiritual tea; white mist drifted, the tea fragrance faint and refined.

"What does Daoist friend require on this visit?"

Shang Shang Sanwu smiled, then said with a hint of apology: "I won't hide it from you, Daoist friend — because of the approaching Wang Ting war, chaos has intensified everywhere, and prices have risen somewhat. I ask for your understanding."

"Risen somewhat…"

Jiang Ding's brow furrowed.

"Too much warfare, trade routes are difficult…"

Shang Shang Sanwu bowed and scraped, wearing an apologetic smile, hurriedly explaining various reasons, his posture exceedingly humble.

It looked low,

but everyone knew this was merely the usual bearing of the Shang clan of the Northern Plains — it did not mean they were truly humble.

"Daoist friend Shang, still golden copper stone, ten million jin."

Jiang Ding had no patience for empty pleasantries, and said directly.

"Ten million jin!"

Shang Shang Sanwu's spirit lifted, then his apologetic smile grew even more humble as he said with difficulty: "Daoist friend, the Northern Plains are plagued by war, so the price has risen somewhat. As you know, we run only a small business and must brave many risks; clan members are often injured or killed. I'm afraid the previous price of fifteen million low-grade spirit stones may no longer be feasible…"

He put it very tactfully.

"How much has it increased?"

Jiang Ding had a bad premonition.

As for everything Shang Shang Sanwu had said,

he did not believe a word of it.

Golden copper stone was merely an ordinary first-tier spirit ore, common near Wang Ting — just an ordinary material. Transporting it here could easily earn a markup of more than ten times.

That in itself was already very high — a thousand-percent profit — which, by all reason, should be enough to cover every risk.

"I ask for Daoist friend's understanding — the journey is long, we truly have no choice…"

The apology and difficulty on Shang Shang Sanwu's face deepened, his waist nearly bent double: "If you'll be so kind, you need only pay one hundred fifty million low-grade spirit stones, and I shall fetch your ten million jin of golden copper stone right away."

The air around them went still.

A hundredfold!

The price had risen a hundredfold!

Jiang Ding stared fixedly at the kindly-faced plump man before him, his gaze cold; the little goodwill he had felt vanished in an instant.

Shang Shang Sanwu still wore his bowing-and-scraping look, smiling apologetically without cease.

Within that humble apologetic smiling and bowing, there seemed to be a certain coldness, a certain certainty, and a certain condescension toward outside-surname loose cultivators.

After a long while,

came a long sigh.

"I really am not cut out for doing business."

Jiang Ding Zi said self-deprecatingly.

He knew this was because, without realizing it, he had revealed his absolute determination to obtain the golden copper stone. Though he had hidden it somewhat, against an old cultivator who had been steeped in the ways of commerce for several hundred years, the effect was minimal.

This was a difference of expertise — just as the sword Dao was to outsiders.

"Shopkeeper, a hundredfold extortion — aren't you afraid I won't buy?"

Jiang Ding took the lesson to heart and asked calmly.

"The customer jests."

Shang Shang Sanwu smiled apologetically: "Buying and selling — a Long Long Xingshang lays out goods on the stall; if you fancy them, you pay and take them away; if not, you take one look and leave. That is the natural order."

"I see."

Jiang Ding nodded slightly.

This meant there was a fair degree of certainty — time to gamble.

If he lost, these golden copper stones wouldn't be stuck in his hands either; he could just store them in the warehouse and sell them slowly.

If the gamble succeeded, the extra hundred-plus million spirit stones would be pure profit; even after the Commerce Guild took its share, he could still make a fortune — no matter what, he wouldn't lose out.

"Daoist friend Shang has a good eye."

"So be it."

Jiang Ding showed no anger. With a casual wave, he placed a storage bag full of spirit stones on the counter, revealed a kindly smile, and said, "Also, send me a copy of the latest intelligence from the Northern Plains — any major events."

Apart from the Lingbao Commerce Guild, there was no force around Tushan Xiancheng capable of providing large quantities of gold copper stones.

With that single slash, he could only be slaughtered helplessly.

Business is business,

willing buyer, willing seller.

Quite ordinary.

He was not angry.

Not one bit angry.

Nothing of the sort.

Once Master Dinghai Master Dinghai Zhenjun dies, perhaps he could consider investigating the criminal activities of Tushan Xiancheng — human trafficking, organ trafficking, and the like — along with the crimes of those involved.

For such heinous crimes, the relevant practitioners,

the death penalty,

would be more appropriate.

"Friend Daoist, how straightforward!"

For some reason, Shang Shang Sanwu, who had victory in his grasp, suddenly felt a jolt of unease in his heart.

He then laughed at himself inwardly.

This person's strength was undoubtedly greater than his own.

Even his divine soul instinct had already issued a warning omen.

However, backed by the Shang Clan, what could these outsider Jin Dan cultivators possibly do?

Nothing more than impotent resentment.

In fact, were it not for the Shang Clan's strict rules, he would only need to wag his tongue, and people would swarm out to surround and kill the man the moment he stepped outside — even a late-stage Jin Dan cultivator would be useless; he could sit in the shop and watch this person die.

Cultivation was not everything.

"Friend Daoist, wait a moment."

Shang Shang Sanwu put away the spirit stones, scanned them with his divine sense, smiled, bowed respectfully once more, and turned to leave.

A moment later, he returned, bringing a storage bag and a jade slip.

Jiang Ding put away the gold copper stones and picked up the intelligence jade slip.

"... The Wang Ting blood curse has been broken. The Darifa Sect's heir and the Lieyang Sword Sect's heir have both raised armies, proclaimed themselves kings, established the Darifa Army and the Great Sun Sword Army, and gained the protection of the Wang Ting dragon qi..."

Seeing the first piece of intelligence, Jiang Ding's heart gave a jolt.

The Wang Ting War — this was a war game set up ten thousand years ago by the invincible ancestors of the twenty-eight clans for their descendants. Though not without bloodshed, only their direct bloodline could participate, gaining qualification and the protection of dragon qi — this was an iron law.

Now, this iron law had been broken.

After spending who knows how long, the Darifa Sect and the Great Sun Sword Sect had successfully broken through its restrictions and were participating in the Wang Ting War.

One could even imagine that their ultimate goal must be Wangting Wangting Fudi — to uproot and destroy this place that endlessly produced Nascent Soul cultivators for the twenty-eight clans.