Chapter 18: Longevity: My Steady Farming-Style Cultivation Chapter 18: Monopolies Everywhere, Everyone Has No Choice

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Protagonist:

Xu Changqing

"The two of you, everything that needed to be said has been said. Whether you want to join or..." Xu Mingsheng's gaze shifted back and forth between the two.

Xu Changqing was very interested in this: "I'll join."

Xu Mingsheng's face instantly lit up with a brilliant smile: "Welcome, Dao Friend Cai. What about you, Dao Friend Lin?"

Immediately, both his and Xu Changqing's gazes fell on the third person.

Lin Mengru's willow brows furrowed slightly. After pondering repeatedly, she said: "I'll consider it a bit more."

"Of course, no problem. Even if we don't cooperate this time, it's nothing." Xu Mingsheng nodded.

The 【Nongxin Society】 controls the vast majority of Spirit Rice and Lingti.

Even if a small amount flows into the market, it won't have any impact on the overall situation.

But it was precisely because of Lin Mengru's refusal.

Along this journey, Xu Mingsheng basically only communicated with Xu Changqing.

And through this communication, Xu Changqing learned quite a bit of information.

For example, the five forces represented by the Five Spiritual Roots.

The Wood Spirit Root leads the 【Nongxin Society】.

The Water Spirit Root leads the 【Fu Shi Group】.

The Fire Spirit Root leads the 【Dan Yao Alliance】.

The Metal Spirit Root leads the 【Spirit Tool Workshop】.

The Earth Spirit Root leads the 【Array Family】.

These five forces all have trading points in Hongfeng Valley.

Actually, you can tell just from the names.

The 【Nongxin Society】 monopolizes the Lingti market.

The 【Dan Yao Alliance】 monopolizes the Pills market.

The 【Talisman Master Group】 monopolizes the Spirit Talisman market.

The 【Spirit Tool Workshop】 monopolizes the Spirit Tool market.

Only the 【Array Family】 is rather special.

Because not all Earth Spirit Root Disciples can become Array Masters.

This line of work requires extremely high comprehension to enter.

And one must admit, the majority of people's comprehension is quite average.

Precisely because they are scarce, they cannot be replaced, so the price is high.

Yet everyone needs the help of arrays; the higher the realm, the greater the demand.

Of course, it's not that there are no pure independent cultivators.

There are, but not many.

Either they are newcomers, lacking the qualifications to be recruited.

Or their strength is strong, and they look down on a certain force.

Xu Changqing asked curiously: "Xu Dao Friend, aren't most of the Spirit Farmers in our Spirit Fields, especially those Senior Brothers who have reached the Foundation Establishment Stage, in the 【Nongxin Society】?"

"Correct." Xu Mingsheng affirmed.

"I remember there's a Foundation Establishment Senior Brother named Zhang Su. Is he here?" Xu Changqing asked again.

"Senior Brother Zhang Su is not here." However, Xu Mingsheng shook his head.

"Ah?" Xu Changqing was a bit surprised.

Xu Mingsheng explained: "Senior Brother Zhang Su has some connections with the people from the 【Dan Yao Alliance】, so the Spirit Fields he plants are all Medicinal Herbs."

Xu Changqing suddenly understood.

This explains why the other party doesn't plant Spirit Rice.

"We've arrived at Hongfeng Valley." At this moment, Lin Mengru, who had been silent for a long time, spoke up to remind them.

Upon hearing this, Xu Changqing looked ahead.

He was instantly stunned by the scenery.

Truly worthy of the name 【Hongfeng Valley】.

As far as the eye could see, all were red maple leaves.

Clustered together, they resembled a blood-colored ocean.

And in the deepest position, there stood an incomparably gigantic Red Maple Ancient Tree.

Lush branches and leaves, towering into the clouds.

Its leaves were like the tender pink palms of a human infant.

A gust of wind blew, and immediately a "pop pop pop" sound rang out, as if applauding in welcome.

Soon, under Xu Mingsheng's control, the Flying Paper Crane slowly descended, and the three followed to land.

Lin Mengru didn't say much, directly walking forward.

Xu Changqing followed beside Xu Mingsheng, heading first to the 【Nongxin Society】's trading point.

Before long, an antique wooden building came into view.

There are three layers in total.

The upper two layers are unknown, but the first layer has the largest crowd.

Almost all are people queuing.

And above the transaction window, today's transaction prices are prominently displayed.

Under the deliberate hype of Xu Mingsheng and the others, the price of Spirit Rice has risen steadily.

Spirit Rice produced from Second Grade Spirit Fields, although prices differ slightly depending on quality, will not be particularly outrageous.

Originally, 2 catties of Second-grade High-Quality Spirit Rice could only exchange for one Low-grade Spirit Stone.

Now it has become 1.5:1.

That is, 1.5 catties exchange for one Low-grade Spirit Stone.

Even First Grade High-Quality Spirit Rice has gone from the original ten-to-one to now seven-to-one.

As for Top-grade Spirit Rice, it is even more frantically snatched up.

No way around it, many people want to show their faces at the Formal Disciple Grand Competition.

With good luck, they might be valued by an "Immortal Master" and thereby become a Core Disciple.

"Hiss." Xu Changqing sees it in his eyes and cannot help but suck in a breath of cold air.

Xu Mingsheng says rather proudly: "Dao Friend Cai, do you know how wise your choice was now?"

"Then how should I trade?" Xu Changqing quickly calms down.

Xu Mingsheng smiles: "You haven't reached three years yet, so you cannot thoroughly join the Nongxin Society, but with my introduction, 1.8 catties of Second-grade High-Quality Spirit Rice exchange for one Low-grade Spirit Stone."

"1.8:1, huh." Xu Changqing is thoughtful.

This is higher than the market ratio.

That is 1.5:1.

Obviously I would be taking a loss.

"Tell you the truth, that Lin Dao Friend just now, because he refused to join, will be deliberately targeted by our people. Next time he comes it will be 1.9:1, even higher than yours." Things having come to this, Xu Mingsheng no longer disguises himself, his gaze turning fierce.

Over so many years, the market has long been monopolized by the Nongxin Society.

Even if there are some fish that slipped through the net, they cannot stir up any waves.

"Deal." Xu Changqing finds no reason to refuse.

Even if I go outside to sell, I would still be targeted.

Even not knowing how long it would take to sell.

And the ratio would certainly be even higher than now.

Better to cooperate with the Nongxin Society.

Seemingly a loss, actually not.

The market price itself is controlled by them.

Even if there were no Nongxin Society.

Two catties of Second-grade High-Quality Spirit Rice could only sell for one Low-grade Spirit Stone.

Therefore even if I sell at 1.8:1, I still profit.

If I want to break free from this situation, I can only change Spirit Plants.

High quality, price naturally expensive.

Or like Zhang Su, planting various Spirit Medicines that are inherently expensive.

Xu Mingsheng says seriously: "Dao Friend Cai, you will absolutely not regret today's decision."

Xu Changqing directly takes out three hundred catties of Top-grade Spirit Rice produced from Second Grade Spirit Fields.

Counts as an initial probe.

"Actually Top-grade Spirit Rice!" Xu Mingsheng looks at this fellow disciple with new eyes.

Originally thought reaching High-Quality would be not bad.

Now Top-grade Spirit Rice, this ratio is naturally different.

High-Quality is 1.8.

Top-grade is 1.6.

Immediately, readily hands over 187 Low-grade Spirit Stones.

Now, aside from the ten catties lent to Zhao Ziyao.

Plus the three hundred catties sold now.

Xu Changqing still has seven hundred ninety catties of Top-grade Spirit Rice produced from Second Grade Spirit Fields on him.

"This is my Communication Talisman, you can contact me anytime." Xu Mingsheng takes out a Spirit Talisman.

"Good." Xu Changqing throws it all into the Small Storage Bag, then leaves the transaction point.

Arriving outside, he soon sees Lin Mengru in a corner.

That is the Wood Spirit Root female disciple who arrived at Hongfeng Valley Market together just now.

She indeed chose to sell Second-grade High-Quality Spirit Rice herself.

Ratio 1.6:1, slightly higher than market.

And just at this time, a Wood Spirit Root disciple suddenly emerges beside her.

He also sets up a stall, ratio even higher than Lin Mengru's.

Lin Mengru 1.6:1.

This person 1.7:1.

No matter how Lin Mengru raises hers, he must be higher.

It even returned to 2:1 at one point.

That is, two catties of Second-grade Spirit Rice equal one Low-grade Spirit Stone.

Lin Mengru had all her customers snatched away, and was even cursed as a "profiteer."

Xu Zhangqing silently observed, discovering that regardless of how many places she changed.

As soon as she set up a stall, someone immediately emerged.

In the end, with no other choice, she could only honestly head toward the Nongxin Society transaction point.

"This Lin Dao Friend seems to not trust the Nongxin Society?" Xu Zhangqing was thoughtful.

Because he had the experience of his previous life, that was why he agreed to Xu Mingsheng.

If he didn't agree, the one offended would not be this person, but the Nongxin Society.

A mere small Spirit Farmer, what could he use to fight a colossus that monopolizes the market.

But for now, the Nongxin Society is siding with the Spirit Farmers.

Because as long as it doesn't return to the 2:1 ratio, there will absolutely be no loss.

It's merely a question of earning more or earning less!