Chapter 272: Struggle for Slots

Dan Mansion.

"Brother Gu, this is my Dan family's alchemy workshop. We can produce all elixirs needed by warriors below the Entry level; for those above Entry, it depends on the herbs."

"Depends on the herbs?"

"All elixirs consumed by Entry-level warriors require extremely expensive herbs. Yet price is secondary—what matters more is that some ingredients are nearly impossible to obtain."

Dan Muxing held up a green pill and explained: "Take this Nourish Soul Pill—its production requires the cooperation of three nations."

"Three nations?"

"The main herb for the Nourish Soul Pill comes from Liang, while the auxiliary herb comes from Wu. Usually, Wu buys the main herb from Liang, adds its own auxiliary herb, and produces a semi-finished product, which is then shipped to our Zhao state—to my Dan family."

"So complicated?"

Lin Chen raised an eyebrow. A single pill required cooperation among three nations?

Liang had the main ingredient and chose to sell it to Wu; Wu had the auxiliary herb and could process it—he understood that. But what did Zhao offer?

Why didn't Wu finish the pill themselves and instead sell the semi-finished product to Zhao?

"Wu can produce the Nourish Soul Pill too, but their success rate is only thirty percent. My Dan family achieves seventy percent."

Dan Muxing's face glowed with pride. In alchemy, the Dan family ranked among the top in all of Zhao.

Hearing this, Lin Chen finally understood why Wu didn't produce the pills themselves—they lacked the technique, their success rate was too low, so it was better to let the Dan family handle it.

"Under normal circumstances, the prices of alchemical herbs across nations remain fixed, with minimal fluctuation. But unexpected events happen. Take yesterday: Liang suddenly issued an edict that all Wu merchants purchasing Liang's martial resources must pay thirty percent more."

"Why?"

"I don't know. I just received word from the clan. After this batch of Nourish Soul Pills is finished, the clan will temporarily halt production."

Dan Muxing shook her head. Why Liang had suddenly targeted Wu, the clan had many theories—and she believed the other nations were speculating too. Yet strangely, Wu showed no protest, as if accepting the fact.

Remember, the Nourish Soul Pill's herbs were just one of Liang's many martial resources. Among the nine states, only Han was smaller; Liang had the largest territory and the most martial resources. When Liang raised prices on all resources sold to Wu by thirty percent, it meant Wu's warriors now had to spend thirty percent more on cultivation.

Previously, advancing from Qi Refining to Entry might cost ten thousand taels; now it would cost thirteen thousand.

Trade of martial resources among the nine states was governed by Han, under a strict order.

Logically, Liang's unilateral price hike should have prompted Wu to seek Han's intervention, forcing Liang to retract. But Wu remained silent.

Dan Muxing recalled her father's analysis: Wu must have done something to provoke Liang—and since Wu was in the wrong, it could only endure Liang's wrath.

"Hmm, little sister, is this the warrior you brought for the contest?"

A voice sounded behind Lin Chen and Dan Muxing. Lin Chen turned to see several young figures appearing down the corridor. Dan Muxing spoke:

"Brother Gu, these are my two cousins. The other three are the prodigies they've brought to compete."

Lin Chen said nothing. From the condescension in Dan Muxing's cousin's tone, he could deduce much.

The Dan family wasn't united.

That was normal. A large clan was no different from a sect—it naturally had internal rivalries.

Dan Dan Mufeng and his group approached, their eyes scanning Lin Chen.

"You're the prodigy my little sister brought?"

His gaze and words dripped with doubt.

"Dan Dan Mufeng, I invited Lin Young Master. The clan elders approved."

Seeing Dan Dan Mufeng's skepticism toward Lin Chen, Dan Muxing's expression darkened.

She called him "Lin Young Master" not because Lin Chen revealed his true identity, but to prevent the Zhuang family from immediately recognizing him—she'd changed his surname.

The Zhuang family only knew "Gu Fei." A mismatched surname would prevent them from connecting the two immediately.

"Is that so?"

Dan Dan Mufeng smiled and shook his head. "Little sister, I forgot to tell you—our five slots may not be enough. The prodigy you brought cannot represent the Dan family in the contest."

"Dan Dan Mufeng, do you think the Dan family now answers to your branch alone?"

Dan Muxing's eyes held scorn. Her grandfather had three brothers; her father was the second. She had an elder uncle and a younger uncle. Dan Dan Mufeng was the eldest son of the elder uncle; the man to his left, Dan Li Muyun, was the younger uncle's son.

"Little sister, you misunderstand me. I don't choose who competes. But yesterday, I invited Lord Yun. Surely you won't object if he takes one slot?"

As Dan Dan Mufeng mentioned "Lord Yun," the young man to his right wore a modest, self-satisfied smile.

"Lord Yun?"

Dan Muxing's mind raced. Then her voice rose sharply: "Lord Yun Yun Zhongjin?"

"Indeed."

Yun Yun Zhongjin nodded gracefully. "I came at Brother Dan Mufeng's request, to represent the Dan family in the contest."

Dan Muxing's expression shifted. She knew Yun Yun Zhongjin's name.

Especially after the Martial Garden released the Qianlongbang, and with the Four Clans Contest approaching, she'd researched the prodigies on the list—focusing on the Earth List.

Yun Yun Zhongjin ranked twenty-sixth on the Earth List.

"Lord Yun's willingness to represent our Dan family fills me with gratitude."

Dan Muxing bowed in thanks. Yun Yun Zhongjin's strength certainly qualified him. But…

Her gaze flickered to Lin Chen beside her. She didn't know how strong Gu Fei was, but even if he couldn't match Lord Yun, he was certainly no weaker than the other three the clan had invited.

"Dan Dan Mufeng, there are five slots total. Even if Lord Yun takes one, four remain. I believe Lin Young Master's strength is more than enough to claim one."

Hearing this, Dan Dan Mufeng and his brother turned their gazes back to Lin Chen. Lin Chen stood calmly, expression unchanged.

"Little sister, there are five slots. You brought this one last. Now that Lord Yun is willing to represent us, someone must step aside. By order of arrival, it should be this Lin brother."

Dan Dan Mufeng looked at Lin Chen. "Lin brother, we're not stingy. The reward the clan promised you? We'll pay it regardless."

No contest. Still get paid.

To Dan Dan Mufeng, this offer was generous. Any fool would know what to choose.

Though the ruins' contest carried no lethal risk, nearly half of each cohort returned injured.

Lin Chen looked at Dan Muxing. He agreed to represent the Dan family for three reasons: to seek revenge on the Zhuang family, to obtain demon cores, and thirdly, Dan Muxing's reward.

"I'm sorry. I was invited by Miss Dan. If she asks me to withdraw, I will."

Lin Chen shook his head. His meaning was clear: unless Dan Muxing ordered him out, he wouldn't relinquish the slot.

"Dan Dan Mufeng, I won't let Lin Young Master give up his slot."

Dan Muxing quickly declared her stance. She'd feared Gu Fei might accept Dan Dan Mufeng's offer and withdraw.

Hearing Lin Chen refused, she exhaled in relief—and immediately made her position known.

To some extent, the allocation of outsider prodigy slots reflected one's status and influence within the clan.

"Since little sister insists, the fairest way is to let strength decide."

Dan Dan Mufeng smiled. He'd anticipated Dan Muxing's resistance—and had already prepared his counter.

"Wait!"

Just as Dan Dan Mufeng finished speaking, Yun Yun Zhongjin suddenly spoke up.

"Lord Yun, you don't need to participate."

Dan Dan Mufeng, thinking Yun Yun Zhongjin misunderstood, quickly explained.

"No need for such trouble. Let each of them take three of my strikes. Whoever stands firm after three strikes earns the slot."

(End of Chapter)