[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-grain-of-mountains-and-rivers":3,"chapter-the-grain-of-mountains-and-rivers-the-grain-of-mountains-and-rivers-chapter-184":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Mountains and Rivers of the Imperial Granary",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":20,"prevChapterSlug":21,"totalChapters":22,"novelImage":23},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":16,"volume":17,"translator":18,"content_hash":19},2231600,4184,"Chapter 184: Preparations on All Sides","the-grain-of-mountains-and-rivers-chapter-184",184,"\u003Cp>The Profound Heaven Sword Sect established its own hall for the circulation and sale of resources, not only handling its own supplies but also accepting external orders.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once the news broke, the entire commandery was shaken.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A simple business move might not seem like much, but those with a keen eye could see it was a direct attempt to snatch the rice bowl from the East River Gang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the past, it would have been useless for the Profound Heaven Sword Sect to compete for this; after all, East River was the commandery seat, and resources from all over were concentrated there. Who could a mere county-level sect in Xiazhou threaten?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the situation had changed—Xiazhou had become the commandery seat, and future resources would inevitably flow there. It was the East River Gang that was now stuck in a mere county, trying to solicit orders.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With the Profound Heaven Sword Sect pulling this stunt, the very foundation of the East River Gang’s existence was at risk.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The East River Gang had just been preparing to relocate the entire sect when they heard the news. Gang Leader Shi Tielong stood frozen on the spot, his face shifting between shades of green and white.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I regret it.\" After a long silence, Shi Tielong said hoarsely to his subordinates, \"We shouldn't have cooperated with the Profound Heaven Sword Sect to destroy the Incense Burning Tower back then. No matter how provocative the Incense Burning Tower was, they lacked ambition and capability; they were only good for being a nuisance. The Profound Heaven Sword Sect, however, is a fierce tiger crouching at our side, ready to devour anyone the moment it finds an opening.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Elders on either side sighed, \"This cannot be blamed on the Gang Leader; we all agreed to it at the time. Who could have foreseen the geographical changes and the relocation of the commandery seat...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shi Tielong looked up at the ceiling for a long time before saying, \"The most headache-inducing part is that even though everyone can see their goal is to seize the top spot, on the surface, it is merely a legitimate 'restoration of the sect's former business,' which is beyond reproach. If we were to tear off the mask and resort to force, we would be the ones in the wrong.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Doesn't the Cangshan Sword Sect face the same trouble? In the past, when the Profound Heaven Sword Sect was weak, they claimed they only made high-grade flying swords and wouldn't compete with the Cangshan Sword Sect for the common low-grade business. Now, their sword-casting hall has been making low-grade flying swords for two or three months. Previously, it was limited to Xiazhou County, and the Cangshan Sword Sect barely tolerated it, but now? Xiazhou is the commandery seat.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If the Cangshan Sword Sect goes to them now and says that according to previous agreements, the Profound Heaven Sword Sect is only allowed to make high-grade flying swords, what point would it have?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shi Tielong was silent for a long time, then took a deep breath. \"Going to them individually is meaningless. Only by joining forces can we build momentum and make the Profound Heaven Sword Sect feel a degree of apprehension.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Elders looked at each other. If they joined forces to pressure them, it would no longer be a matter of building momentum.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It is a falling out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet, such a falling out would be useless... You couldn't exactly attack their mountain gate like they did to the Incense Burning Tower and fight a war of extermination. The only thing to do was the martial arts strategy used during their sect-founding ceremony; if they could suppress the experts of the Profound Heaven Sword Sect, then naturally, they wouldn't dare to act out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if they were shameless and continued to act out, others in the commandery would naturally know which side was more reliable, and goods would continue to be routed through the East River Gang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the business of logistics, safety and protection come first. With everyone's strength laid out in the open, the choice is the most intuitive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But did they have the confidence to suppress them through martial arts?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shi Tielong recalled the performance he had observed when he attacked the Incense Burning Tower with Shen Tang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This woman was young, yet incredibly strong... Now that she had reached the mid-stage of the Third Realm, Shi Tielong knew he had no certainty of a sure victory. With Zhang Shaoyou, Qin Buwang, and Zhao Guishan all having reached the Third Realm, the Profound Heaven Sword Sect was at its peak; the days when they relied solely on Shen Tang were long gone. Even if they opened it up to a grand martial arts competition, the Profound Heaven Sword Sect wouldn't fear anyone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The only plan now is to seek outside help,\" Shi Tielong said in a low voice. \"I will go and ask my uncle to come and help.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Elders all said, \"In that case, we will go and ask the Lingyun Gate and the Cangshan Sword Sect to see if they should also move their backers.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hmm... and ask the old acquaintances of the Incense Burning Tower... although we were the ones who destroyed their sect, if we are willing to apologize and compensate, perhaps there is a way...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shi Tielong’s uncle was an Elder of the Canglan Sect, a renowned First Realm powerhouse, and was himself a Second Realm expert. It was because of this backing that Shi Tielong had risen in East River and built the East River Gang into the largest gang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Cangshan Sword Sect and other sects would have their own networks; having lived a lifetime, who didn't have some connections or favors? The Incense Burning Tower should have had the most connections, but unfortunately, they were suppressed and unable to use them; otherwise, destroying their sect would have been absolutely impossible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Elders went off to carry out their orders.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shi Tielong looked out the door, his heart still uneasy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was the second time in just half a year that the various forces of East River had united against the Profound Heaven Sword Sect, and each time the momentum was greater than the last.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the last time, it had completely served to establish the Profound Heaven Sword Sect’s prestige, and the Incense Burning Tower was subsequently destroyed. What about this time?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Last time, there was Yang Dechang secretly coordinating, but this time, there wasn't even anyone coordinating from behind the scenes. It was said that Lu Xingzhou’s conflict with the Huo family in the capital had become even sharper, and he even had a rivalry with the Prince of Jin over a romantic dispute, so why was there no reaction from them?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was it because the Emperor’s decree of \"support\" was still pressing down on them?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a moment of contemplation, Shi Tielong called for a trusted aide again. \"Take my private letter and rush to the capital to find the Prince of Jin and Marquis Huo; see what their thoughts are.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The aide accepted the order and left.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the capital was far away, and he didn't know if there would be enough time for the round trip...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So Shi Tielong’s backer is actually the Canglan Sect.\" Lu Xingzhou looked at the information in his hand and said in a low voice, \"This information is still not detailed enough, because it hasn't probed the influence of Shi Tielong’s uncle, Shi Zhong, within the Canglan Sect. This relates to whether Shi Tielong’s backer is just his uncle personally, or if he can bring along several fellow disciples of similar strength, or even bring a large number of Canglan Sect experts... that is a completely different concept.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Tang sat in front of him, her face slightly flushed, and she muttered in a low voice, \"The time has been short, and we find it difficult to probe the internal information of a First Realm sect.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The Commandery Governor has spoken; the possibility of a large number of experts entering the commandery should be ruled out. As for the rest...\" Lu Xingzhou flipped through the documents for a long time, then suddenly smiled. \"The Cangshan Sword Sect’s backer is the Flying Star Sword Sect, and the Flying Star Sword Sect is an affiliated sect of the Huanhua Sword Sect. The Huanhua Sword Sect owes me a personal favor... I’m wondering if I need to use it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Tang said, \"You don't even need to explicitly say it. Since the favor from above exists, at the very least, the Flying Star Sword Sect won't dare to cause trouble, and there might not even be anyone on this path.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The Lingyun Gate’s connections seem to be able to link to the Chunshan Sect... tsk, the world is quite small.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What’s wrong with the Chunshan Sect? A Second Realm sect, far less stressful than the Canglan Sect, right?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The Chunshan Sect has a Chen Yu, who was my classmate at the Alchemy Academy and once tried to plot against me. I’ve long wanted to get rid of him, but it was really hard to make a move at the Alchemy Academy. The last time I pretended to be lame and failed to ambush someone, it was against him. If that had succeeded, I would have killed him directly, and there would be so many fewer future troubles. Unfortunately, this guy is quite capable.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"He dared to plot against you!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"On the day of our sect-founding ceremony, this Lingyun Gate was also the one that offended us the most; people died.\" Shen Tang had some killing intent in her eyes. \"Then this time, we will take him as a primary target.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"We need to pay more attention to them. Although the East River Gang is the core, the ones who cause big trouble might not necessarily be them.\" Lu Xingzhou put down the documents and stretched. \"It doesn't matter; we are the home team now.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Tang looked at him with sparkling eyes. She really couldn't imagine that after Lu Xingzhou went out for a turn, the Commandery Governor became one of their own, and Wan Cheng, the Commander of the Demon Suppression Division who had previously ignored her, had once again become one of their own—a true home team. Now, she actually hoped the other side would cause more trouble by breaking the rules, so the official authorities could strike directly; that would be comfortable, without them even having to move a finger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, having said that, with the Incense Burning Tower incident in the front and the East River Gang’s collusion in the back, these two events in just half a year already showed that the imperial court’s deterrent power in the hearts of the sects had lowered significantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If powerful First Realm sects like the Huanhua Sword Sect or the Canglan Sect really wanted to do something, they wouldn't give face to local officials. Not to mention demonic paths like the Lustful Joy Sect or the Yama Palace; they were the ones playing with you bureaucrats.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>People like the East River Gang and the Incense Burning Tower only gave a bit of face on the surface; in reality, they were still doing whatever they wanted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This is how practitioners are when they rely on their strength to be unruly. If it’s already like this with the imperial court’s suppression, what kind of chaotic situation would the world be in if the imperial court’s deterrent power collapsed?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Would sects just kill and destroy each other at will, speaking only with their fists?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The thought flashed through her mind, but she naturally wouldn't derail the conversation while Lu Xingzhou was pondering the enemy. Lu Xingzhou picked up a pen and circled a few key points on the documents, but didn't dwell on it for long. He soon put down the files, smiled, and opened his arms. \"I'm tired, give me a hug.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Tang spat, looked left and right to make sure no one was there, and then slipped into his arms, leaving only the wheelchair spinning in place.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Why isn't your Master standing there with a straight face today?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"We are talking about the Profound Heaven Sword Sect; what does it have to do with her? It's not like she’s going to listen forever; she’s not that idle.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I think she is just idle. When you went to visit the Commandery Governor, she followed secretly; isn't that boring? I didn't even follow...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Xingzhou scratched her cheek. \"Are you complaining that she’s meddlesome, or do you want to take her place?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I don't care. You finally came back, and I haven't been intimate with you many times; I just see her standing on the side like a big lantern. Look at how sensible Anuo is; she hasn't had any presence since you came back.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Xingzhou couldn't help but laugh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thinking back to Lady Ye, it seemed she hadn't appeared again after he said, \"Smile more.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This sounded disrespectful... anyway, they were usually disrespectful, but in essence, they were still concerned about her. He just didn't expect the effect of this concern to exceed expectations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This Master looked cold and aloof, but in fact... was she quite lacking in care?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This trick didn't have much effect on Pei Chuyun, who had lacked love since childhood, but it unexpectedly caused a change in the mood of a Master who looked very high and mighty. It was truly strange.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Xingzhou didn't say much about this, only saying, \"The real conflict will wait for the East River Gang to officially move into Xiazhou as a fuse. Currently, everyone is in a preparatory stage, and there are no major events for now. I should go and ask Master how long she plans to stay here and whether it will conflict with her trial plan.\"\u003C\u002Fp>",2325,"2026-06-18T01:46:09.112Z","2026-06-18T03:18:02.290Z",1,"Gemini 3.1 Flash Lite","99b2047bccd774119cddf7e6f143983c84d6ad0950ca9cb8b963714b3a18d534","the-grain-of-mountains-and-rivers-chapter-185","the-grain-of-mountains-and-rivers-chapter-183",325,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fmountains-and-rivers-of-the-imperial-granary-cover.jpg"]