Vol. 1 - Ch. 316 - Quarrel

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With these thoughts in mind, Zhao Qimeng found a seat and waited quietly.

Soon, the light in the room dimmed suddenly. The crowd, who had been chatting and forming alliances among clans, fell silent at once.

At that moment, a figure slowly stepped onto the high platform under the gaze of everyone present.

It was none other than Chen Tianjing. His expression was calm, and his eyes were confident. His fresh clan robes, along with the insignia embroidered on his cuffs, immediately drew attention.

Soon, Chen Tianjing reached the center of the platform and began to speak:

"I am Chen Tianjing, the current Clan Leader of the Chen family. I am delighted to welcome all of you who have come from afar.”

Hearing his introduction, many of the clansmen below narrowed their eyes, surprise flickering within.

The Chen family Clan Leader... was only at the early stage of the Innate Realm.

This stood in stark contrast to the strength the Chen family had previously displayed. Eyes shifted and thoughts churned—many seemed to be entertaining new schemes.

Chen Tianjing paid no heed to the varied gazes cast upon him. He continued calmly, “The family has long been aware of everyone’s purpose in coming here. So let us not waste any more time!”

With those words, he clapped his hands.

Clap! Clap!

Numerous clan members immediately began carrying bag after bag of Blood Rice and stacking them beside the high platform.

Though the crowd could not see what was inside the sacks, the dense surge of Qi and Blood emanating from the rice made everyone's spirits stir. Several people rose from their seats, eager to catch a glimpse of the contents.

Before Chen Tianjing could speak again, a voice rang out from below.

“Clan Leader Chen, how will your Blood Rice be sold?”

"Of course, thirty jade coins per jin."

At this answer, murmurs rippled through the assembly. Then, a man from one of the smaller families shouted, "Clan Leader Chen, I arrived in Yong’an City half a month ago!

"Clan Leader Chen, I arrived in Yong'an City half a month ago! By my calculations, I should be the first to buy!"

The speaker was a martial artist from a minor family in the Innate Realm. Though his clan lived not far from Yong’an City, they had always remained obscure. Seeing such a vast quantity of Blood Rice, he could no longer suppress his desire.

Before Chen Tianjing could respond, a disdainful voice cut through the air.

"Haha... You claim that first arrival means first purchase? If you buy everything, then what about the rest of us?"

Chen Tianjing turned his gaze toward the speaker and quickly recognized him. It was Yao Feng of the Yao family from Xiangshui City. Because Xiangshui was quite far away, his journey had taken longer.

Yao Feng’s cultivation was only at mid-Innate Realm, and he was already advanced in age. Clearly, the Yao family was a minor clan. Seeing the other families attempt to secure the Blood Rice based on order of arrival naturally displeased him.

Several other families nodded in agreement with Yao Feng’s rebuttal:

“Exactly!”

Soon after, another voice rang out:

"I don't care how you divide this Blood Rice. My Mo family will buy dozens of bags!”

"Hmph! What right does your Mo family have? I am from the Yu family of Dongling. Our Yu family will be buying just as much!”

…

The crowd descended into chaos as countless family representatives argued over who should have priority in purchasing the Blood Rice.

Zhao Qimeng sat quietly to the side with a faint, mocking smile in his eyes.

Driven solely by profit, these petty families could not even distinguish what was truly important. They were already tearing at each other over mere Blood Rice.

So be it. Let them fight amongst themselves. I’m curious to see how the Chen family intends to resolve this mess.

With so many Innate Realm martial artists gathered, the Chen Clan will surely struggle to suppress the situation if they lack sufficient strength.

As he watched the chaos unfold, Zhao Qimeng grew even more relaxed. His body leaned back slightly as he sought a more comfortable position.

Just as he prepared to remain a detached observer, the corner of his eye caught sight of a man seated not far away. The man was calm, composed, and utterly unshaken by the commotion.

The man's expression was tranquil and his posture steady, as if the uproar around him had nothing to do with him.

What unsettled Zhao Qimeng most was that he could not see through this man. Moreover, he was certain he had not noticed him earlier, meaning this figure did not belong to any of the present families.

A trace of suspicion crossed Zhao Qimeng’s face, and his previously reclined back straightened at once.

As if sensing his gaze, the man turned his head. A faint, serene smile appeared on his lips.

Zhao Qimeng nodded in return, though he became more cautious inwardly.

"From my perspective, why not let the highest bidder have it? The Yu family is willing to pay thirty-one jade coins per jin!"

A bold voice suddenly rang out from within the quarreling crowd.

The speaker was young, and his cultivation was only at the early Innate Realm. His words still carried weight, though, as the Yu family was well-known among those present.

The Yu Clan possessed a fine iron mine. The weapons forged from its ore were excellent, and rare veins of silver iron were occasionally unearthed—a material that could be used to craft superior weapons.

It was precisely because of this mine that the Yu family had risen from obscurity to become wealthy and influential.

Upon hearing his declaration, many family representatives glared furiously.

Using jade coins to suppress others was truly despicable.

The quarrels that had filled the air moments before fell silent. Now, all eyes turned toward Chen Tianjing on the high platform.

“Clan Leader Chen, how will this Blood Rice be sold?”

"Yes, Clan Leader Chen! We have waited so long, yet you give us no clear answer. Are you trying to deceive us?"

"Clan Leader Chen, say something!"

The crowd, who had been pointing fingers at each other moments ago, now turned their gazes toward Chen Tianjing. They had finally realized the truth: if they wanted to buy Blood Rice, arguing with each other was useless. Ultimately, the decision rested with the Chen family.

“Everyone, please be patient!”

On the high platform, Chen Tianjing raised both hands, signaling for calm.

He had observed the quarrel, yet he had deliberately refrained from intervening. Naturally, he wanted to see which families were strong and ambitious so that he could choose suitable partners for cooperation.

Once the crowd quieted, Chen Tianjing spoke.

"You have all come from afar for the Chen family’s Blood Rice. To ensure that none of you have made the journey in vain, every family present will receive a share this time. Our clan will sell equal portions of Blood Rice to each of you, so there is no need to worry.

"The price remains thirty jade coins per jin. This is the price set by the family, and it will not change.”

Upon hearing this, many faces lit up with joy. With such an arrangement, they no longer feared being unable to obtain Blood Rice.

Yet, several families among them wore dark expressions, clearly dissatisfied with the decision.

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