Chapter 745: with translation of chapter title

After Yan Buji arrived at the southern part of Luohuang Zhou, he first inquired nearby.

Besides the Merchant Guild, many other forces have established garrisons here; for them, being able to trade directly with the demon race on this demon-continent land of Luohuang Zhou is naturally an excellent choice.

"Hall Master Yan, which side do you plan to approach first?"

"Let's investigate first." Yan Buji smiled.

The two Void God Stage elders beside him looked at Yan Buji: "All right, Hall Master Yan, do you need us to intervene?"

"How could I trouble the two elders? These trivial matters I can handle myself."

"All right."

They didn't say much more, just followed Yan Buji around the nearby human cultivators' garrison.

Yan Buji's purpose was naturally to inquire about the details of the Merchant Guild's affairs; although it's likely eighty to ninety percent that Yun Hua and the Merchant Guild conspired to lure him here on purpose, there's also a chance it was accidental.

Although Yan Buji didn't want to overreach, once the matter was clarified through inquiry, he could naturally judge better.

"Greetings, fellow cultivators. Who are you?"

Seeing other human cultivators arrive at their garrison, who didn't look like the local human cultivators, the Nascent Soul Cultivator guarding the gate was quite puzzled.

"Fellow cultivator, we are from the Great Sinful Sect; I am Yan Buji, and these two are our sect's elders…"

After Yan Buji gave a brief introduction, hearing the name Great Sinful Sect, the guarding cultivator dared not neglect and hurriedly asked: "May I ask what brings the three fellow cultivators to our Heavy Mountain Sect?"

We have long heard that the Heavy Mountain Sect possesses the ability to discern gold and jade, and has opened a scarlet blood jade mine here in Luohuang Zhou; we came here to discuss cooperation with the Heavy Mountain Sect.

"Cooperation?"

"Hmm, you two fellows might as well go report first; if you wish to investigate our identities, that's fine too." Yan Buji said with a smile.

The guarding cultivator hesitated, then cupped his fists and entered their own garrison.

Shortly after.

A Void Cultivation Stage cultivator leading a few Void God Stage cultivators approached, saw the three, and asked: "Are you from the Great Sinful Sect?"

"Senior, please accept my respects; I am Yan Buji, Hall Master of the Alchemy Hall of the Great Sinful Sect, and this is…"

Yan Buji gave a further introduction; the Void Cultivation Stage cultivator nodded: "I am Xiao Minghai of the Heavy Mountain Sect; I have met the three of you. Let's go inside and talk."

"Thank you, Senior Xiao."

After following Xiao Minghai into the Heavy Mountain Sect's garrison, Yan Buji saw nearby laborers hauling large quantities of scarlet blood jade ore, and felt a twinge of greed.

Although this scarlet blood jade is called a stone, it is similar to metal ore in that it requires a special technique to smelt a piece of scarlet blood jade. This scarlet blood jade is, among the Fivefold Transformation spiritual materials, a rare heaven-and-earth-produced blood-path spiritual material; even within the Great Sinful Sect there is not much of it.

Xiao Minghai, knowing they were from the Great Sinful Sect, felt much more at ease.

"What do you mean by cooperation? Aren't you here to buy this scarlet blood jade?" Xiao Minghai asked.

Yan Buji smiled: "Although our sect is a great blood-path sect, in reality there are now few cultivators practicing the blood path within the sect; Senior Xiao can simply inquire to find that out."

"Oh?" Xiao Minghai looked at Yan Buji doubtfully: "If you're not here for the scarlet blood jade, then what are you here for?"

"Senior Xiao, I've heard that within your Heavy Mountain Sect there is a peculiar water-path spiritual material called Sea Heart Stone, correct?"

"Sea Heart Stone?" Xiao Minghai nodded: "We do have it, but it's sold in the Heavenly Spirit Realm; you don't need to travel all this way."

"Actually, it's like this." Yan Buji explained with a smile: "Moreover, I won't hide it from you, Senior; our Great Sinful Sect has already obtained the right to trade with the demon race in the Luohuang Zhou region, and we have some insider information, which is why we came here specifically." Yan Buji smiled.

"Huh?!"

Xiao Minghai's eyes lit up, and he eagerly looked at Yan Buji: "Really? You're not deceiving me, are you?"

"Senior, you can simply go inquire at the garrison in the royal city; naturally you'll know the truth." Yan Buji said confidently.

Seeing that Yan Buji showed no fear of their investigation, Xiao Minghai inwardly believed him a bit. Naturally, their coming to Luohuang Zhou was certainly not merely for mining.

How much money can mining earn?

Trading with the great demon clans is what these sects and forces pursue!

Upon hearing that the Great Sinful Sect had obtained the right to trade with the demon race, Xiao Minghai's thoughts immediately sprang to life.

"In that case, Hall Master Yan, how would you like to cooperate with us?"

"It's like this: we need a batch of Sea Heart Stone as merchandise for trading with the demon race; if your sect can supply it and guarantee a steady supply, then the Heavy Mountain Sect's goods can be sold under our Great Sinful Sect's name to the demon race." Yan Buji smiled.

Such a good deal?

"Then what does Hall Master Yan need?"

Yan Buji smiled and asked: "I wonder whether the Heavy Mountain Sect has trade channels with other major realm powers?"

"This…" Xiao Minghai furrowed his brows, scrutinizing Yan Buji.

How did he know that?

Although the Heavy Mountain Sect in Zhong Tian Zhi Yu is not considered a minor power, it naturally cannot compare with forces like the Paolong Sacred Land and the Great Sinful Sect, which have top-tier Great Vehicle Stage cultivators holding down the fort; however, the sect's founding ancestor established himself through earth and stone paths, and in Zhong Tian Zhi Yu he also grasped many mineral veins, among which is the Sea Heart Stone mentioned by Yan Buji.

The Heavy Mountain Sect has abundant mineral resources, so naturally it also has trade channels with other major realm powers; however, the fact that Yan Buji knows of this makes Xiao Minghai somewhat wary.

"Senior, don't overthink it; I'm merely guessing that some of the ore your sect produces seems not to circulate in Zhong Tian Zhi Yu, and since you couldn't just pile it up in a warehouse for show, that's why I asked."

"Oh, you've even investigated which mineral veins our sect possesses?" Xiao Minghai raised his eyebrows.

"It's not that difficult." Yan Buji smiled: "I recall that major transactions like mineral veins aren't like the ancient cultivation era where whoever occupied it kept it; rather, one must still file with the three sect powers and, after notarization, transfer the transaction—these all have records on file." Yan Buji smiled.

Xiao Minghai's face twitched; Yan Buji's words clearly implied that the Great Sinful Sect could obtain some records from the three sects, or else he knew something. But the Great Sinful Sect has just been rebuilt, and only the Paolong Sacred Land has the qualification to inquire of the three sects, so their relationship with the Paolong Sacred Land appears deeper than it seems on the surface.

Xiao Minghai nodded: "Just as you said, we indeed have trade channels with other major realm powers; what is your request?"

"We have some goods that need to be sold through your sect's channels." Yan Buji said lightly.

"Oh?" Xiao Minghai's eyes shifted, then he suddenly smiled: "What kind of goods?"

Yan Buji's expression turned grave, deeply aware that they had reached the crucial moment of the negotiation!