Chapter 723 - 363: Reneging (Part 2)

Chapter 723: Chapter 363: Reneging (Part 2)

"Brother Luo, I’m also doing this for the sake of the partnership between the Commerce Association and yourself. Since you won’t agree to a price increase, I’ll go back and discuss it with the upper-level Chiefs. I’ll do my best to make this deal happen."

Cheng Zongyang nodded and said, "Steward Baili, I also hope we can continue to cooperate. But regarding the price, I really cannot concede. If it truly won’t work, then let’s just forget about it. I’m sure there are still people willing to trade resources for Foundation Establishment Pills."

"Sigh! In that case, I will take my leave." Baili Xi could not stay any longer. He had no choice but to depart.

After Baili Xi left helplessly, Li Yihuo looked at Cheng Zongyang, wanting to say something but holding back.

Cheng Zongyang saw what was on Li Yihuo’s mind and said, "If you have something to say, just say it."

Li Yihuo hesitated for a moment, then said, "Boss, I can understand why the Cyan Dragon Commerce Association is acting this way. But I am worried that there will be problems with the Immortal City’s future supply of materials. The price of supplies changes daily now. If even the Cyan Dragon Commerce Association is like this, things will be even worse with the other Commerce Associations.

"Furthermore, the materials our purchasing firm acquires are just ordinary goods—Exotic Beast Flesh and Blood from the common people, as well as common Spirit Fruits and Spirit Vegetables. These are all low-level materials that Cultivators don’t value highly right now, but even so, we’re currently unable to keep the Immortal City supplied."

Cheng Zongyang smiled. "Don’t worry, I’ll solve the Immortal City’s supply problem. Although these low-level materials aren’t valued now, they will become resources in the future. Keep acquiring them; buy as much as you can. Just proceed as you see fit. Also, have you run out of Spirit Stones?"

Li Yihuo nodded. "We still have forty percent left."

Cheng Zongyang took out several Storage Pouches. "Here are one hundred thousand Spirit Stones. Take them. If it’s not enough, let me know. Where’s Li Cungang?"

Li Yihuo responded, "He took a batch of Exotic Beast Flesh to Ice City to sell and test the market."

Cheng Zongyang grunted in acknowledgment. "Tell him to be careful. The situation over in Ice City is rather complicated. The city is full of all sorts of people now. With his Qi Cultivation, carrying valuable resources, he could easily become a target."

Then, Cheng Zongyang asked about recent events. "Has anything else happened at the firm recently?"

Li Yihuo thought for a moment and said, "Business has been relatively stable. The only thing is that the price of supplies is rising too quickly, and our procurement costs have also increased significantly. Other than that, there’s nothing major."

Cheng Zongyang then instructed, "Oh, right. Discreetly look into the whereabouts of Lady Qin from the Spring Pavilion. I heard she went home. Find out what her family situation is like."

Upon hearing this, Li Yihuo’s inner gossip flared up. "Boss," he asked, "have you developed a fancy for Lady Qin?"

’He’d never known the Boss to be this interested in a woman before.’

Cheng Zongyang chuckled. "I wouldn’t go so far as to say I like her, but I do find she’s very much to my liking. Her methods, her figure, and her appearance are all of the highest caliber."

Li Yihuo chuckled slyly. "Boss, since you think Lady Qin is so great, you should marry her. You’re twenty now, aren’t you? It’s time you got married."

Cheng Zongyang shook his head, his expression calm. "It’s just a bit of attraction, nothing more. I have no intention of pursuing her. My father once told me to marry a virtuous woman. A virtuous woman is wise and gentle, and therefore understanding and reasonable. A person like that undoubtedly has great ability.

"Right now, I only have a favorable impression of Lady Qin. But marriage? It’s too soon. And it might not even be her. There’s no need to think too much about it. Just find out what her family’s situation is. Nothing more."

Li Yihuo cupped his fist. "Yes, Boss."

Cheng Zongyang continued his instructions, "I’m going away on business for a while. We can discuss what you find out after I return."

’He had absolutely no intention of looking for a woman right now.’

Li Yihuo acknowledged with a sound and watched Cheng Zongyang leave.

After Cheng Zongyang left, Li Yihuo got busy. He arranged for his people to continue acquiring low-level supplies while also sending someone to investigate Lady Qin’s whereabouts.

Meanwhile, when Baili Xi returned to the Commerce Association, he was filled with a sense of helplessness.

’He knew this failed negotiation could affect the Commerce Association’s relationship with Cheng Zongyang. But he was more worried that a rift had opened up between them, cutting off his future supply of Foundation Establishment Pills.’

’He could, of course, trade for them in the Realm of Ten Thousand Races, but the resources required for a single Foundation Establishment Pill were worth even more than buying one with Spirit Stones. It was just simpler to buy from Cheng Zongyang.’

’But there was nothing he could do. He could only try his best to communicate with the Chiefs and push for this deal to go through.’

After leaving Zi’an County, Cheng Zongyang began to execute his new plan to acquire Spirit Veins.

A year had passed. He figured no one would remember his first trial run.

This time, his targets were all the First to Sixth Grade Spirit Veins across the entire Cultivation Immortality Realm.

He wasn’t going to take all of them. He would space them out, primarily targeting the First to Third Grades while making an effort to acquire the Fourth to Sixth Grades.

Fourth to Sixth Grade Spirit Veins were located in the territories of families that had Golden Core Cultivators, or even Nascent Soul Great Power Cultivators. Therefore, he had to be cautious at first. He would start by acquiring the easier-to-handle First to Third Grade Spirit Veins to supply his Immortal Mountain.

This time, with a year of preparation under his belt, he was much more adept.

Arriving at the territory of a family with the nearest Third Grade Spirit Vein, Cheng Zongyang immediately cast the Hidden Breath Technique, which could completely conceal his aura and Cultivation level, undetectable even by a Nascent Soul Cultivator. This was a Secret Technique he had bought from a market, worth twenty thousand Points.

He then made his way to the spot he had scouted out earlier.

He released two Mole Beasts and began digging according to the original plan.

Most families with a Third Grade Spirit Vein also had a Golden Core Cultivator presiding over them. After all, if they couldn’t seize a higher-grade Spirit Vein, they could always settle for the next best thing.

The trio—two beasts and one man, all disguised—followed the planned route, delving some thirty meters underground before tunneling straight toward the family’s territory.

Two hours later, Cheng Zongyang saw a curtain of light from an Array.

Same as always, he used the Array Entry Order to create an opening, slipped inside, and then restored the Array.

Drawing on his past experience, he first checked if there were any residences within the Spirit Vein, or if anyone was in seclusion.

If there were, he’d set up an Array. If not, he’d begin absorbing immediately. He had changed his approach this time. Even if someone was in seclusion, he wouldn’t back down. As long as he laid down an isolation Array, he wouldn’t need to worry about being discovered.

"Very good. No one’s here. A great start." Cheng Zongyang smiled, took out his Earth Treasure Gourd, and began the absorption process.

Afterward, he set up a Teleportation Array just in case.

It would take about an hour and a half to absorb the Third Grade Spirit Vein. While he waited, he brought out his second Soul Gathering Stele, which had not yet Promoted, to see if it could absorb any local Foundation Establishment Realm Divine Souls.

However, Cheng Zongyang never would have guessed that the moment he took out the Soul Gathering Stele, a massive number of Divine Souls from within this Four-Star Family would be drawn toward it as if by some unseen force.

The Soul Gathering Stele needed Tier Two Divine Souls to Promote, but that didn’t mean it wouldn’t absorb Tier One Souls or even the souls of ordinary people.

These types of souls and Divine Souls just had no effect on the Soul Gathering Stele’s advancement, but once absorbed, they would increase the power of the Yin Realm.

The Zhou Family was the master of Cinnamon Peak.

Within a cave-residence on Cinnamon Peak, a Divine Soul was instructing a young man.

"...The path of Cultivation Immortality is fraught with peril. Therefore, your Dao heart must be firm. If you’re faltering because of that girl, then there’s no need for you to discuss Cultivation Immortality with me any further."

"Master, don’t worry! I won’t think about her again. Without you, how could I possibly distinguish myself in the family’s grand competition a year from now!" the young man said with a determined expression.

"Good. That’s more like it. But remember, under no circumstances can anyone find out about my existence... Hmm? What’s that?"

The old man’s expression suddenly changed. He gazed downward, as if he could see through the very earth itself.

"What is that?" the old man exclaimed in surprise. He could feel an inexplicable force pulling at him, yet he couldn’t see what was underground.

"Disciple, focus on your Cultivation. I’ll be right back." Without saying more, the old man sank into the ground and vanished.

The youth didn’t overthink it. He simply nodded and continued his Cultivation as his master had instructed.

His life had changed three years ago, ever since he’d discovered his master living inside a ring.

He was no longer timid or mediocre. His Cultivation advanced steadily, drawing the attention of his family.

All he had to do was break into the top ten out of several hundred peers in the family’s grand competition a year from now. If he succeeded, he would become a core disciple, receive the family’s full support, and even be able to marry the girl he had long admired.