I Accumulate Spirit Roots for My Next Life

Chapter 221: Chapter 121: Infiltrating the Merchant Alliance

After two months, seeing Situ Yan again, his demeanor had changed quite a bit. At least, his appearance seemed more composed compared to their initial meeting, and his arrogance had subdued somewhat.

“Greetings, City Lord!” Li Jizhou bowed and clasped his hands as a greeting.

“Hahaha, no need for formalities, Chief Shopkeeper Li. You are the backbone of Liuyun City’s commerce, and we should join hands to build the glory of Liuyun City, no need for such courtesy. Please, have a seat!” Situ Yan laughed heartily and pointed to a seat beside him.

“With City Lord Situ leading the southern ten cities, surely they will reach new heights.” Li Jizhou echoed with a smile.

Upon hearing this, Situ Yan’s expression instantly darkened.

With a heavy sigh, he said, “Alas, not everyone thinks as you do, Chief Shopkeeper Li!”

“Oh? Are there merchants among us who do not wish for the Immortal City to prosper?” Li Jizhou responded cooperatively.

Situ Yan’s face suddenly turned grim.

After a long pause, he narrowed his eyes slightly, slowly leaned forward, and said, “Do you know, right here in Liuyun City, among those major merchants who gain enormous wealth through the prosperous age of commerce built by the mercantile alliance, there are some who have been colluding with the Evil Cult!”

“Could such a thing be true?” Li Jizhou was utterly shocked.

“Tell me, don’t such people have a heart eaten by dogs? Earning the Spirit Stones of the city’s cultivators, yet engaging in activities that fund the Evil Cult, shouldn’t they be executed a thousand times over?” The more Situ Yan spoke, the more agitated he became.

By this point, Li Jizhou understood everything.

“I absolutely trust the City Lord’s wise judgment and support the City Lord!” Li Jizhou didn’t dare to continue the conversation, instead pushing it back, fearing that Situ Yan might use him as a cautionary example.

Situ Yan looked at Li Jizhou for a moment, his method having been disrupted, he forced himself to resume after a while, “Executing traitors is not difficult, but I fear it will affect the business environment of the city. The traitors have entrenched themselves in the Immortal City for years, with businesses scattered across various cities. If no major merchants take over by then, it might be inappropriate.”

Li Jizhou nodded slightly, his speculation about Situ Yan’s invitation had mostly come true.

It seems Situ Yan had already determined his target, and judging by his unruly nature, the target was likely to be substantial.

The target likely has influential stores in various Immortal Cities. Once he eliminates the target, he won’t be able to take over those stores. After all, the alliance has always maintained an image of not competing with in-city merchants. Even if they reclaim the stores, they eventually rent or sell them back out.

Just like before when the Feihong Immortal Manor’s store was in the Immortal City, they would reclaim it and then rent and sell the goods without competing with the merchants, and that was due to conflict between Feihong Immortal Manor and other forces.

Now, since he is personally taking action, it cannot be too obvious; otherwise, other merchants will worry about being the next target.

The number of reclaimed stores this time will be large, and the goods within are invaluable.

This requires someone to help take over and quickly liquidate the goods to swiftly neutralize its market impact.

Of course, the main point is probably that Situ Yan was provoked by the fundraising incident and decided to have the largest merchant in the Immortal City under his control, to forever prevent the disgrace of that fundraising episode.

But he cannot make it too obvious, so he needs an agent.

Regarding the selection of this agent, ideally, their identity shouldn’t be too poor, and they shouldn’t belong to a sect family that would be difficult to control.

Ultimately, it should be someone he can easily manipulate!

Evidently, looking across Liuyun City, Li Jizhou is the most suitable candidate.

Li Jizhou looked up at Situ Yan, his gaze filled with greed!

“If the City Lord doesn’t abandon me, I am willing to lend a helping hand and follow the City Lord’s lead!”

In Situ Yan’s eyes, Li Jizhou is a pushover who can be easily manipulated, unable to compare with those sect family merchants.

Being able to call him here and speak so clearly means he is fully confident in his plan.

If Li Jizhou were to refuse or not align with his intentions, Situ Yan might instantly change his expression.

Additionally, now that Li Jizhou is aware of the alliance’s dealings with the Wei Kingdom’s Demon Sect, for the peace of his path and to prevent being born in a Demon Sect pasture in the next life, he has already decided to secretly support Ye Jingyu and the Wuxiang Sect.

At this moment, it is the perfect opportunity to smoothly infiltrate the alliance.

“Hahaha, Shopkeeper Li is a smart man, very good, I like smart people!” Situ Yan was immensely satisfied, very pleased with his machinations.

He wouldn’t consider this as Li Jizhou sensing the trends, only that he had thoroughly calculated everything.

“It is all thanks to the City Lord’s wisdom!”

“Good, I hope we can cooperate sincerely in the future, unite as one, and create a golden age for the southern ten cities!”

“Certainly!”

No further words were exchanged, and Li Jizhou tactfully took his leave.

After Li Jizhou exited the City Lord’s Mansion, Situ Yan’s old servant came forward.

“How is it? I had already dug into his origins and grasped them thoroughly.”

“A loose cultivator from a small place like the Qi Kingdom, perhaps having stumbled upon some small fortune, barely reaching Core Formation, is already his peak. Additionally, with his recent high-priced acquisitions of Longevity Fruits, he is merely struggling to survive knowing his path is hopeless.”

“To hang on for dear life, he needs a large amount of Spirit Stones to purchase Longevity Fruits. Such people are the easiest to manipulate!”

“When I support him to become the top merchant of the southern ten cities, then there will never again be the disgrace of the fundraising incident!”

Situ Yan glanced sidelong at his old servant, speaking with satisfaction.

The old servant chuckled awkwardly, ultimately nodding in agreement.

Being able to persuade Situ Yan, avoiding a killing spree that day, was no easy feat.

Now, although there are still some future troubles with this approach, it is already quite good.

Li Jizhou had just returned to his residence, immediately summoning Xiaoguo.

He issued directives to expand recruitment of store staff in various cities.

Also, he reiterated that every consignment business must be settled immediately.

Three days later, a massive upheaval shook the southern ten cities of the Yan Kingdom.

The Seven Sects Alliance of Jindui Mountain was discovered to have colluded with the Evil Cult, providing them with long-term war supplies and Talismans, acting as spies for the Evil Cult in the Immortal City. With a hundred masters from the headquarters, City Lord Situ Yan obliterated them overnight with thunderous force.

The public rejoiced!

All their stores within the ten cities were sealed.

Instantly, the ten cities were in an uproar.

Especially those merchants in Liuyun City who sided with Jindui City and embarrassed Situ Yan during the fundraising incident were on edge.

Everyone kept their guard, even those who secretly formed alliances with others.

However, after a few days of anxiety, Situ Yan did not take further action, and instead, broadly invited major merchants to discuss the rental and sale of the recovered properties in Jindui City.

The major merchants felt slightly relieved.

However, they became more wary of the alliance and completely changed their impression.

Thus, the warning effect had been achieved.

A few days later, another piece of news shocked the major merchants once again.

Previously deemed insignificant by these first-class merchants, with no core craftsmen or Honored Guest Elders, the Taobao Pavilion suddenly acquired all the Immortal City properties of Jindui Mountain,

And was instantly upgraded to a first-class cooperative merchant by the Immortal City.

The Taobao Pavilion was in the limelight.

Yet, at this moment, Li Jizhou felt no joy.

Because on this day, Ye Jingyu and his companions finally returned to the border between the two countries.

“Halt!” Master Han suddenly called out to the three who intended to slip through like they did on entry.

At this moment, the group was just five hundred miles from the border. Even though it appeared unchanged ahead, Li Jizhou’s age-ring senses alerted him to multiple Late Stage of Core Formation Demon Cultivators secretly lurking at the border, laying a large ambush, waiting for their prey to walk right into it!