[{"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-9":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},2231425,4184,"Chapter 9: Tenant and Landlord","the-grain-of-mountains-and-rivers-chapter-9",9,"\u003Cp>Although this world is a world of cultivation, based on Lu Xingzhou’s years of observation and understanding, he feels it can at most be considered low-Xuan or low-Immortal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At Lu Xingzhou’s current level as a seventh-grade Daoist cultivator, he is still quite far from being able to fly, and curing a mere broken leg is like a life-and-death struggle... Those so-called mountain-moving and sea-filling feats only exist in legends, let alone exploding stars or planes. The top-tier cultivators are all pursuing \"ascension to immortality,\" which is the only time one can be considered an immortal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whether immortals have sects and how sects operate resources is currently unknown. In short, at the current low-immortal level, everyone is just a worldly person, and gold and silver currency are still very useful most of the time. Every sect or sect naturally needs to earn money and resources, and individuals also need \"work\" to accumulate resources for cultivation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If Lu Xingzhou were to describe it, sects are similar to various companies, and schools are similar to various private universities. Disciples who graduate from schools join various sects or join various departments of the imperial court, and of course, many \"stay at school\" to take a position or continue their studies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chambers of commerce are also a type of sect, whose main business is doing various resource circulation businesses; high-end ones will involve heavenly treasures.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, these are the righteous paths. There are also demonic sects and sects that do the work of burning, killing, and looting, or some gray industries. The principles of the two worlds can still be connected.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What Lu Xingzhou previously assisted Yuan Muyu in establishing was the \"Yama Hall,\" the most feared assassin organization in the Great Qian, which is a typical demonic path.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Yama Hall assassin who suddenly came to assassinate him must have been hired by the Danxia Sect. If an opponent within the Yama Hall wanted to kill him, they certainly wouldn't have sent just a low-level assassin. Come to think of it, the Danxia Sect is quite interesting: they kicked someone out only to find it was their landlord, and hired an assassin only to find it was an organization veteran. This \"victim\" luck is top-notch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And the Heavenly Travel Sword Sect is a very orthodox sword cultivation sect, with many disciples choosing to join imperial court departments after graduation. With the cultivation direction of swordsmen, they are mainly concentrated in the Demon Suppression Division and the army. Therefore, the Heavenly Travel Sword Sect has a certain influence in the officialdom, but on the surface, it appears relatively grassroots.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Tang knew what Lu Xingzhou meant by \"what is the business model,\" so she said: \"In the past, the Heavenly Travel Sword Sect was secretly one of the imperial merchants, helping the royal family handle goods and manage private treasuries.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Xingzhou was extremely surprised by this answer, and his heart stirred: \"So the reason you were exterminated for offending someone was actually because you were involved in the royal succession struggle? I heard that the eldest princess went missing last month; does this have anything to do with it?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The soft smile that Shen Tang always wore finally solidified somewhat: \"Your news is well-informed. The imperial court hasn't made this public; how did you know?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I have my own channels. This is not important; what is important is whether you were involved in the royal succession struggle?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The reason is unknown, and the imperial court is also investigating this case. In any case, we dare not openly seek refuge in the capital, fearing that if we enter the capital, we will die even more inexplicably.\" Shen Tang sighed: \"Currently, only I know the channel to contact the royal family, so even if they are unwilling, they can only serve me as their master. Otherwise, how would it be my turn, a cripple?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This channel is not easy to hide. The royal family transporting goods to you, and you sending wealth back—this line is too obvious.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Tang originally thought that Lu Xingzhou’s questioning about the succession struggle was more of an intention to retreat, but unexpectedly, his attitude didn't seem like that, so she breathed a sigh of relief: \"Not only that, I don't want to be targeted by enemies again. So in the short term, I won't contact them; I need to open up the situation myself first.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"At least clear the internal affairs first?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Correct.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So your so-called chamber of commerce currently has no source of goods at all... Perhaps you have some money, so you plan to acquire medicinal herbs in Xiazhou and refine alchemy yourself, which is starting from scratch. For this, you specially hired Bai Chi, an alchemist from the famous alchemy sect Burning Incense Tower, and the next stage of the plan is centered around him. As a result, you were intercepted by the Danxia Sect?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes.\" Shen Tang gave a wry smile: \"Bai Chi is from Xiazhou, originally quite suitable. But we didn't expect him to be childhood sweethearts with Liu Yan'er, and he was hooked away in a few words...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Xingzhou tapped the armrest of the wheelchair lightly and pondered: \"The Danxia Sect has its own herb mountain, but you need to acquire medicinal herbs. The alchemy costs of the two sides are not on the same level. If you compete with them from this angle, you will surely lose. If you trust me, my suggestion is to abandon the alchemy plan and find another solution.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Tang sighed: \"How could I not know... But we really don't have any other plans available in the short term.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Since I have made such a suggestion, naturally there is another plan for you to gain a foothold. In fact, there are too many people doing this kind of business in Xiazhou. Even if Bai Chi were still here, at most it would make you the second Danxia Sect. What’s the use of that... Your original plan is wrong.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Tang nodded: \"We know the truth, and originally we just thought it would be good to settle down first. Since we arrived in Xiazhou, of course, the first reaction is related to medicinal herbs.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This is a misunderstanding. Who says that places with high herb production must do herb-related things?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But if we do something else, why choose Xiazhou?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Xingzhou smiled: \"Xiazhou is one of the Great Qian’s medicinal herb bases, yet there are few high-level alchemists here. Do you know why?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Tang said: \"Naturally, it is because the medicinal herbs here are just ordinary crops, suitable only for refining low-grade pills, and high-grade alchemists don't look down on this place.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But correspondingly, low-grade alchemists like me flock here in large numbers. The quantity of low-grade pills produced here is the best in the Great Qian, and the price becomes lower as competition increases. Many chambers of commerce purchase pills here and sell them elsewhere to earn the price difference, and local cultivators even eat low-grade pills like candy.\" Lu Xingzhou blinked: \"The problem is, since Xiazhou people eat so many pills, why is their cultivation not faster than elsewhere?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Tang blurted out: \"First, eating the same type of pills too much makes the effect worse. Second, their pill poison accumulation is too much!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Every medicine has three parts poison, and pills are naturally the same.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The reason why top-grade and excellent-grade pills are more valuable than ordinary good-grade ones is not so much because the efficacy is stronger, but the real key is that there is less pill poison. So-called top-grade pills are almost free of pill poison and are hard to come by. However, top-grade pills are few, excellent-grade pills are expensive, and the vast majority of people still eat normal good-grade pills.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pills elsewhere are much more expensive than in Xiazhou, and even good-grade ones are not eaten too much, so pill poison can basically be self-discharged, which is not a big problem. But Xiazhou people eat too much, and more or less have accumulated some pill poison deep in their bodies, but because the atmosphere is like this, few people reflect on this point.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In fact, it is not just Xiazhou people; the vast majority of Daoist cultivators are extremely dependent on pills, and even knowing they are poisonous, they are willing to eat them. On the contrary, sword cultivators are more repulsed by this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sure enough, he heard Lu Xingzhou say: \"The Sword Sect is the most pure; sword bones are like jade, and the sword heart is clear. They are often the most disdainful of relying on medicine and have more experience in discharging these messy impurities than other families. If your sect uses some special mental method to achieve this, can this technique be engraved on talismans or magic ornaments, allowing people to carry them for a long time to purify pill poison?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Tang was stunned, went through it in her heart, and her eyes gradually became bright.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pill poison can of course be solved by detoxifying pills. For those with serious accumulation, using high-grade detoxifying pills is enough, which is not a problem. The problem is that it is expensive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And making this kind of purifying sword talisman is very cheap; it just requires people to carry it for a long time, and it is not as immediate as detoxifying pills, but it is just right for the situation in Xiazhou.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This kind of idea is very simple to say, and many sects can do it, not limited to the Sword Sect. But other places are not like Xiazhou, where low-level pills are eaten like candy, so pill poison is not a big problem, so naturally, no one studies this. This is a specific strategy for Xiazhou’s customs, but Xiazhou people themselves do not have this consciousness to do it!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In other words, they will be the first to do this business. As long as it can be promoted, this will be a business with huge profits.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Tang took a deep breath and couldn't help but ask: \"In fact, using our resources to refine alchemy and compete with the Danxia Sect is more satisfying for you, isn't it? Why do you always refuse to do that, and instead give such a golden idea to me?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Xingzhou smiled: \"You have never realized that alchemy competition is not competing with the Danxia Sect, but falling into the vast ocean of Xiazhou’s pill competition. For the Danxia Sect, at most it is just making them a little uncomfortable, which has no practical significance.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Tang wondered: \"Don't you really intend to ignore them?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The anger I originally wanted to vent has been vented. If they don't trouble me, I really am too lazy to ignore them.\" Lu Xingzhou smiled very warmly: \"But now that they don't want me to live in Xiazhou, then I have to let them not be able to live first.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Tang clearly saw that the man was smiling, but his eyes flashed with heart-stopping murderous intent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He wants to make the Danxia Sect unable to live?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His cultivation is not high, he is alone with a child, how can he do it?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Tang hesitated for a moment and whispered: \"With our current situation, it is very difficult to have a violent conflict with other sects.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"When did I say you need a violent conflict...\" Lu Xingzhou’s murderous intent had already faded, and he was still smiling: \"If Miss Shen thinks my idea just now is worth some money, then you might as well help me purchase a batch of Cold Crystal Grass, the more the better.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cold Crystal Grass is quite effective for removing rot and generating muscle, often mashed and applied externally to treat skin ulceration, corrosion, burns, etc. Because it is not very useful for alchemy, not many people in Xiazhou grow it, and the price is not high.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Tang didn't know why Lu Xingzhou wanted this for alchemy, but she didn't say anything, just nodded: \"I will raise it. Thank you, Mr., for your guidance.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After speaking, she rowed the wheelchair to the door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Xingzhou watched her slowly move away, silent for a long time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Anu’s voice sounded from his side at this time: \"Master, what are you doing, Master? You actually taught them...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Xingzhou came back to his senses and said with a straight face: \"That gentle look, saying words of accommodation and understanding... Clearly I am the landlord, but it makes it seem like she took me in. Don't you say it's annoying?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Anu scraped her face: \"If the result of being angry is giving the other party a golden idea, then please be angry with me, Master.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Xingzhou reached out and grabbed her cheeks and pulled them horizontally, then suddenly let go, and they \"thumped\" back, the fat meat trembling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In Anu’s resentful gaze, Lu Xingzhou was expressionless: \"That’s just to put myself back in a high posture. This idea sounds simple, but in fact, they probably can't implement it by themselves, and there will be more requests for me later.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Anu sighed: \"Why bother, Master...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Xingzhou said coldly: \"Because I never want to experience the feeling of being under someone else’s roof again in my life.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Anu whispered: \"Master, you are so good at human heart games, then you must have many girlfriends?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Bang!\" The Little Daoist was rolled into a ball and thrown out the door.\u003C\u002Fp>",2256,"2026-06-18T01:46:09.112Z","2026-06-18T03:18:02.290Z",1,"Gemini 3.1 Flash Lite","ccd1634775ed3627288d56184c4f0153c7f74d4d769d1cef18e95e9ffab38290","the-grain-of-mountains-and-rivers-chapter-10","the-grain-of-mountains-and-rivers-chapter-8",325,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fmountains-and-rivers-of-the-imperial-granary-cover.jpg"]