Chapter 119 - 89: Divine Techniques Advance Again, A New Innate Talent, Dominating the Earth Dragon Cave, Coming to Hunt Demons, Awing the Magnates Outside the County

Chapter 119: Chapter 89: Divine Techniques Advance Again, A New Innate Talent, Dominating the Earth Dragon Cave, Coming to Hunt Demons, Awing the Magnates Outside the County

Liao Yuanhua of the Whale-Slaying Saber Hall, Instructor Wang of the Overlord Spear, and even Instructor Hua, with whom Ji Xiu had never interacted...

...were all stunned.

General Leader of the Eighteen Mountain Towns??

One had to understand.

Although the eastern side of Anning County was near the sea, it was a world away from the East Canghai near Jiangyin Prefecture.

That vast Spirit Sea had been formed when the Outer Dao Mirage opened wide long ago, creating an ecosystem that concealed countless underwater Earth Treasures, Celestial Materials, and Treasure Fish rich with Spiritual Qi.

To the east of Anning County, the currents were treacherous, and the shallows were devoid of fish. Ordinary fishermen couldn’t survive, so no fishing businesses could be established.

The area was simply used for building docks to connect with other counties and prefectures.

Under these circumstances, in such a remote and impoverished place, what did the Martial Artists of Anning County rely on for their cultivation and survival?

They relied on the five-hundred-li Earth Dragon Cave Mountain Dao to the west!

That place had also once been steeped in the influence of an Outer Dao Celestial Universe, connected by an Outer Dao Mirage.

It was just that a portal had not opened wide, so no colossal entity like the Water Monarch’s Mansion—formed by the gathering of Dragon Species in the depths of the East Canghai—had taken up permanent residence there.

The demons living in the Earth Dragon Cave at the end of the Mountain Dao did reproduce and multiply, but as long as the rift to the Outer Dao Celestial Universe didn’t leak again, they could never become a major threat.

Since before the founding of the Great Xuan Territory, the concept of the Outer Dao Celestial Universe had existed. People had grown accustomed to incursions from these other Grand Realms, even at the county level, and the phenomena were well-documented in books.

Though they were ordinarily referred to as the Outer Dao,

one had to admit that without the influence of these Outer Dao Spiritual Lands, or Evil Soils,

Great Xuan would not be able to produce enough Earth Treasures and Celestial Materials to support the countless Martial Artists practicing the Human Immortal Martial Dao.

And the five-hundred-li Mountain Dao to the Earth Dragon Cave was, without exaggeration, Anning County’s most valuable asset.

In the past, the Three Great Gangs had opened up trade with the outer mountain towns and hunting manors, establishing county-town commerce and making a fortune.

It was every bit as profitable as their Three Major Professions—butchering and selling meat, chopping wood and selling charcoal, iron refining and forging, and so on.

Ji Xiu!

A sixteen-year-old boy...

He was all alone, merely the Medicine Hall Master of the Wind and Cloud Association, with no real manpower or authority to speak of.

Now, in a single leap, he was about to become a Boss, a figure with real power in the county, putting him on equal footing with everyone else in this room!

And all this had happened in just three months!

Three months. From a mere groom to one of the county’s formidable powerhouses...

Could he really keep the town leaders and Manor Masters of the Eighteen Linked Mountain Towns in line? Could he make them submit to him as their ’Boss’ and establish a trade network?

However,

after only a moment’s daze, the young man, far from being intimidated, broke into a smile. He seized the opportunity to grasp Zhao Jiu’s hands, his eyes fervent and his tone sincere.

"Brother Zhao, since you think so highly of me, I will definitely do my utmost for the future of our Anning County!"

"Rest assured, I will coordinate the Eighteen Mountain Towns and Hunting Manors. I will ensure Anning County’s trade in mountain goods continues as usual, bringing prosperity to the entire county. The results won’t be any worse than what we had with the Central Yellow Remnants!"

As he said this, their gazes met, full of sincerity, and they both smiled.

This caused the corners of the mouths of all the renowned county figures present to twitch in unison.

’These two... one of them was really bold enough to offer it, and the other bold enough to take it!’

’Do they even care if he can handle such a position?’

「After a long moment.」

In the County Yamen, the various county Bosses and Instructors who had gathered because of the Central Yellow Sect affair were now preparing to leave, each lost in their own thoughts now that the matter was concluded.

However, just before they left,

Ji Xiu called out to the three leaders of the Wind and Cloud Association, as well as the venerable Liao Yuanhua of the Whale-Slaying Saber Hall.

"Everyone, I’ve signed a contract with Boss Lin Zhenhai of the Lin Residence. From now on, I will be managing the Lin Residence’s businesses and shops."

"With the order I just received from the County Magistrate, it’s the perfect opportunity. I plan to convert all of them, focus exclusively on the mountain goods trade, move everything to West Street to take over the storefronts of the Three Great Gangs, and establish my own enterprise."

"But... the Eighteen Mountain Towns and their manors... I have few connections and am not familiar with their town leaders and Manor Masters."

"However, I have a good relationship with Uncle Lu and you, Instructor Liao. This cake is too big for me to eat alone."

"So, for the sake of your relationship with the County Magistrate and our masters, would you all be willing to cooperate with me?"

Ji Xiu’s words made Lu Chengfeng, Liao Yuanhua, and the others pause, their eyes lighting up.

’This was a great opportunity!’

The mountain goods and mountain ginseng from the outer mountain towns and hunting manors used to be sent to Anning County and pass through the hands of the Three Great Gangs to be sold.

But now, Ji Xiu alone held the monopoly.

Since he was short on manpower, he was willing to share a piece of the pie and give his old friends a little sweetener.

They would provide the manpower while he reaped the benefits, only needing to use the shopkeepers from the Lin Residence’s shops to collect and sell the goods, then distribute a portion of the profits...

With that, he could tie most of the factions in the newly reshuffled county to his ship, creating a community of shared interests!

’How could they pass up a piece of a deal this good?’

It’s just...

’There was no need to use Zhao Jiu’s and Duan Chenzhou’s names to pressure them!’

The men exchanged wry smiles, while Ji Xiu held up four fingers.

"The four of you just need to handle those town leaders and Manor Masters, and I’ll split off forty percent of the profits, one share for each of you."

Lu Chengfeng and the others had no objections. Even though they would be doing the work... after all, Ji Xiu had the official authority.

If Zhao Jiu hadn’t spoken up, none of them would have been able to get a piece of this pie, let alone a single share of the profit.

"Re-establishing and maintaining the trade routes with the mountain towns and hunting manors, and supplying Anning County with mountain goods won’t be difficult, but..."