Chapter 1031: The Shocked Crown Prince
The grand tutor was as surprised as the prince when he heard
the full story. “The Prancing Pony is a second-rate faction in Goldtower City.
At best, they might be able to claw their way into becoming a leading actor on
that stage. But it’s only the level of a city. This friend with such lofty
origins came to the crown prince for something so insignificant? Truly, it is
difficult to understand the whims of the great. He would have been able to
settle the matter easily enough just by himself.”
“He said that Steward Niu was a past acquaintance. Maybe he
thinks that it would be inappropriate for him to intervene personally.” The
crown prince was unsure.
“Hmm. The geniuses of Veluriyam Capital tend to value their
dignity. Perhaps he does not want the bad reputation that comes of interfering
in a nation’s internal affairs. Our friend is not only a genius, but a
gentleman too. He has ability and skill, but he does not exert his authority
over others casually. That is not something everybody can simply do.” The grand
tutor spoke of Jiang Chen’s actions with respect and praise.
Looking back at the short letter in the crown prince’s hand,
he asked, “Is this the introductory letter he wrote you?”
“Yes. Grand Tutor, please take a look to see if this is a
fake?” The prince had a lingering feeling of insubstantiality. Fortune had
completely bowled him over with its speed.
The grand tutor glanced over the document. From the text
alone, it looked impeccable. His gaze dwelled on the mark of the seal for a
moment. In the next instant, the tutor’s face changed color completely.
“What?” The change did not escape the crown prince, and now
he was curious and more than a little worried.
The grand tutor’s expression looked uniquely peculiar. He
tossed the guards a look. “All of you are dismissed. I’d like a few moments
alone with the crown prince.”
There was no reason for the prince to hesitate this time.
“Listen to my teacher and leave us for a bit.” He waved a hand. The prince’s personal
guardsmen knew the extent of his respect for his teacher. They complied at
once. There were no strangers present this time, hence, no risk whatsoever.
After all of the guardsmen had left, the crown prince couldn’t hold himself
back, “Teacher, what have you discovered? Why did you dismiss the guards to
tell me about it?”
The grand tutor’s face shifted through multiple shades and
hues. His eyes were glued to the letter in his hand, their pupils showing his
unadulterated shock. It was as if the communication had been written by some
long-lost family member, so excited was he.
“Your Highness, you… you missed an unbelievably wonderful
opportunity.” The tutor recovered himself only after a very long while. He
breathed a sigh of utter disappointment, akin to someone who had come out
empty-handed from a pirate’s trove.
“Why do you say that, Grand Tutor?” The crown prince was
stunned.
“Your youth has worked against you yet again. Is your mind
still stuck on the letter’s authenticity?” The grand tutor was depressed at his
student’s abject failure.
“Of course! He wrote the letter way too casually, right?
Even now, I’m a little worried it’s not the real thing.”
“Foolish, foolish, truly foolish! Do you not see this seal?”
The grand tutor hopped about in irritation.
“The seal? It looks like chicken scratch. I didn’t really
pay attention to it.” The prince couldn’t sit still anymore. He snatched the
letter from his teacher’s hands.
“Take a closer look. What does this seal look like?” The
grand tutor’s palm was quivering with anger as he pointed at the object of his
shock and awe. “This… this is a three-feathered seal. Such an exquisitely
wrought icon cannot be anything short of extraordinary. Where are your eyes!?”
The grand tutor was incensed to the point of freneticism.
“Teacher, what’s… what’s so remarkable about this seal, exactly?”
The crown prince’s expression was completely innocent. He was like a child who
had made an honest mistake.
“Ah, I don’t want to call you a fool any more than I already
have. If my guess is correct, this is a seal made by the Progeny Feather Medallion.
Do you still not recognize it at all? You… you’re the future king of Bluesky
Nation! Don’t you say everyday that you want to go to Veluriyam Capital to meet
young lord Zhen?”
It was as if a jolt of electricity suddenly passed through
the crown prince’s body. His face blanched and his voice grew shaky. “Y-you…
Grand Tutor, you… you’re saying that… this is, young lord Zhen’s, Progeny
Feather Medallion seal? Then he… he’s from Sacred Peafowl Mountain?”
“Obviously. What do you mean, ‘he’s from Sacred Peafowl
Mountain’? He… he is young lord Zhen, in the flesh!” The grand tutor was wholly
dissatisfied with the prince’s sluggish mind at the moment. He rebuked his
student further. “The Sacred Peafowl Mountain rules over Veluriyam Capital. The
Progenitor Feather Medallion is His Majesty Emperor Peafowl’s token, and as
such, the Progeny Feather Medallion is appropriately the young lord’s. These
two items represent the highest authority within the city. Even the four
monarchs of Sacred Peafowl Mountain and the Peafowl Guard must heed the Progeny
Feather Medallion’s orders. Do you think that young lord Zhen would give
something so important to a subordinate?”
The crown prince was completely stupefied. At the end of the
day, he was the heir of a great nation, not some witless dirt farmer. The grand
tutor’s explanation had been enough to unveil the truth of it all. Young lord
Zhen!
Suddenly, the crown prince reached out both hands, slapping
both of his own cheeks viciously over a dozen times. “You idiot, you bastard,
you’re absolutely blind for not recognizing someone so great! How could you not
know young lord Zhen when he was standing right in front of you? Your eyes are
thoroughly worthless!” The crown prince was filled with incredible regret. How
ridiculous he must have seemed, asking about young lord Zhen to the man
himself. The crown prince wanted to cry, but had no tears.
The other youth had said that he not only knew young lord
Zhen, but he also had a good relationship with him. Maybe they would bump into
each other, one of these days. Thinking back, there had been a number of hints
in those words. Alas, his brain had been woefully underutilized, and he had
utterly failed to decipher their meaning. Regret!!
“Grand Tutor, do… do you think that there’s still time if I
look for him now?” The crown prince couldn’t help but ask, hopefully.
“No, I do not. It is quite possible that the young lord has
already left Bluesky Nation. A young lord acts in unpredictable ways, and his
thoughts are unfathomable. You being able to meet him a single time was him
giving you face. Is he going to let you seek him out a second time? Without the
matter of the Prancing Pony, the young lord would not have graced you with his
presence at all,” the grand tutor sighed.
“The Prancing Pony… Steward Niu must have a pretty good
relationship with him, then? Say, why not ask a little about him over there?’
“Definitely not,” the grand tutor’s face quickly changed
hues again. “Superiors despise gossipy information hoarders as subordinates.
The smartest thing for you to do right now is to carry out his instructions
impeccably, then take care of Steward Niu and his inn as well as you can. It is
best, in fact, if you can help the Prancing Pony become one of the strongest
factions in Goldtower City. Young lord Zhen will take notice of your efforts
sooner or later. Actively gathering information is inappropriate.”
After mulling things over, the crown prince had to agree. If
he went to ask now, he would find it difficult to avoid leaving an unreliable
impression in young lord Zhen’s heart.
“Grand Tutor, I will do everything related to this myself.
Dong Sheng must give up his stake, and Steward Niu must be the only person in
charge at the Prancing Pony.”
“Yes, naturally. You need only command Goldtower City’s vice
city lord to attend to these insignificant details, but you can keep a close
personal interest as well to ensure no problems arise. The vice city lord
should be made aware that you have a vested interest of your own in the matter.
Indeed, it isn’t bad to directly say that the crown prince cares a lot about
Steward Niu.”
“You are right, Grand Tutor. I shall do as you say.”
…...
The personal involvement of Bluesky Nation’s crown prince
neatly took care of the matter.
When the prince made contact with the vice city lord, the latter
was scared into a cold sweat by the former’s words. He spouted profuse
apologies for his son’s unworthy behavior and sent his men to retrieve his son
at once. The vice city lord’s son was partying and drinking with a group of
fairweather friends at some brothel, among them Grand Steward Dong Sheng.
As the vice city lord’s son was enjoying himself, his
father’s personal guardsmen knocked on the door to fetch him home. The vice
city lord gave his son a severe beating right in front of the crown prince.
There was no holding back in any of the vice city lord’s blows, even as his
good-for-nothing son shrieked and howled in pain. Knowing that the vice city
lord was showing his attitude on the matter, the crown prince intervened. “No
more, no more. Discipline in moderation is sufficient. Continuing with the
beating would be life-threatening.”
The vice city lord’s cooperation made the crown prince
disinclined to hound him further. The beating was actually as painful for the
vice city lord as it was for his son. He stopped immediately when the crown
prince spoke. “You scoundrel. If the crown prince hadn’t called me off, I would
have beat you to death today for sure! Listen to me, and listen well: if you
keep on doing these underhanded things with those dishonest friends of yours,
then I won’t have a son anymore. Are we clear?”
The vice city lord was fuming with exasperation. Any matter
that disturbed the crown prince personally was far from insignificant. He knew,
of course, about some of his son’s poor behavior. However, a faction like the
Prancing Pony did not warrant his attention. Any associated issues were minor
at best.
He certainly hadn’t expected it to involve the very crown
prince of Bluesky Nation. Moreover, from the sound and look of things, the crown
prince was very close with Steward Niu Wuhua of the Prancing Pony. Without an
intimate relationship to defend, why would the crown prince attend to this kind
of matter in person? Why would he be here in the vice city lord’s residence for
an exclusive interrogation?
Having received a beating from his angry father, the dandy
was like a frosted-over eggplant. Still, he was entirely perplexed. What had he
actually done to deserve his dad’s ire? Had he unknowingly upset the crown
prince somehow? He pondered over the puzzling subject, but he couldn’t make
heads or tails of the situation. He had done his fair share of dastardly deeds,
but he couldn’t think of anything that would catch the prince’s attention.
“What are you stuck there for, you idiot? Come over and
apologize to the crown prince. Ask him to forgive your capital crime!” The vice
city lord roared in fury. His son was largely ignorant of most things, but he
knew enough about politics to behave himself. The crown prince was too high up;
both he and his father were like ants before someone so prominent.
“I’m just an idiot, Your Highness. If there’s anything I’ve
done to upset you, I’m really sorry. Please let someone worthless like me go.”
The young man groveled before the prince.
The prince’s tone was even. “Never mind. For your father’s
sake, I’ll forgive you this time. However, this is something I’ll be paying
close attention to in the future.”
Having said his piece, the crown prince waved before heading
out, his personal guardsmen streaming out behind him. He had said enough. The
vice city lord would have to be stupider than a block of wood to not know the
rest. The crown prince trusted the vice city lord’s intuition and own judgment
on what to do next.
Seeing the crown prince leave, the vice city lord hastily
chased after him, smiling ingratiatingly all the way. He maintained his
simpering expression until the crown prince had left eyeshot before storming
back inside in a fit of rage. The sight of his son standing up so casually was
too much for him to bear. A surge of displeasure rose up like a newly tapped
spring, and the vice city lord vented his ill temper thoroughly, kicking his
good-for-nothing son back onto the floor.
Chapter 1032: Pillfire City
“You worthless scoundrel! You’ll be the death of me one
day!” The vice city lord was thoroughly infuriated by his fop of a son.
His henchmen immediately ran up to hold him back from
lunging forward. “City Lord! Stop! Stop!”
“He might die if you go on!”
Stymied by the efforts of his henchmen, the city lord
slumped back in his chair, panting, and glared at his son. “You bastard! What
did you receive from Dong Sheng for the incident at Prancing Pony?!” His eyes
were as wide as a bell as his voice thundered around the hall.
“I… father… I had nothing to do with the incident at the
Prancing Pony.” The good-for-nothing son continued to deny his involvement.
“Still trying to weasel your way out of it?” The vice city
lord lifted his leg, moments away from kicking his son straight across the
room. The latter would’ve likely been bedridden for three months if the city
lord’s men didn’t once again rescue him. “Bastard! The crown prince himself
will deal with you if you don’t cough up the truth! You’ll land me in trouble
too! Nobody can save you then!”
The good-for-nothing was shocked by the vice city lord’s
attitude. “T-t-the incident at the Prancing Horse has alarmed the crown
prince?” He stammered.
“Do I seem like I’m in the mood for jokes? How dare you put
your hands on one of the crown prince’s men! Your bastard! You’ve given me
nothing but trouble!”
“Wu Niuhua… h-he’s one of the crown prince’s men?” The
good-for-nothing seemed confused. “That’s impossible! How could he be exploited
by Dong Sheng if he’s truly the prince’s man?”
“Exploited? Do you really think he was being exploited by
Dong Sheng?” The vice city lord’s voice sounded extremely cold. “What does a
jackass like Dong Sheng know? He’s done for! You’ll only sink in the same ship
as him if you remain this ignorant!”
The good-for-nothing realized that this was no longer a
laughing matter, especially after seeing how furious his father was. His face
turned deathly white as he muttered. “I’m innocent! I received nothing from
Dong Sheng! I was only trying to be a good brother by backing him up a little!
How could I have known that Niu Wuhua had a direct relationship with the crown
prince?”
Slap!
“I don’t bloody care about your history with him! From now
onwards, you must maintain a clear divide between you and him! Report every
single untoward act he’s done. If you don’t rat on him now, don’t blame me if
this blows up in your face.” The vice city lord’s voice dropped to a low,
sinister growl.
The good-for-nothing trembled at the command to betray his
brother. He hesitated, torn.
“What’s wrong? Can’t bear to do it? He’s been nothing but a
fairweather friend good for drinking and eating together. How deep can your
friendship be?” The vice city lord laughed. “Fine, don’t say that I didn’t warn
you. You’ll join him in deep waters if you don’t grab this opportunity to rat
on him.”
…...
Dong Sheng never imagined that things would turn sour so
quickly. He was detained by the authorities of Goldtower City the very same
afternoon. Everyone he knew was ratting out his every misdeed and act of
debauchery to the authorities. The entirety of House Dong was also caught in
this maelstrom and detained.
On the other hand, Niu Wuhua was receiving one piece of good
news after the other. Dong Sheng was detained, Dong Sheng’s residence was
raided, House Dong was in total shambles...
Three days later, all of Dong Sheng’s businesses were
transferred to Niu Wuhua. The latter was almost in disbelief by how little of a
price he had to pay for so much to happen. The fighters that Dong Sheng had
assigned to the Prancing Pony had also abandoned the sinking ship. Some were
detained, some left for a different opportunity, and others ran away. Dong
Sheng’s brother-in-law was also thrown into prison.
The great turnaround at Prancing Pony left the citizens at
Goldtower City speechless. Everyone was certain that Dong Sheng would end up
winning the dispute. Suddenly, there were all kinds of speculations about Niu
Wuhua. Various rumors spread among the streets and back alleys of Goldtower
City.
Some speculated that Niu Wuhua was directly connected to the
throne and had a close relationship with the crown prince. There were even
rumors that Niu Wuhua wasn’t just closely related to the crown prince, but also
with a great emperor realm faction from Veluriyam Capital.
As a result, Niu Wuhua, at best a second-rate character in
Goldtower City, was suddenly catapulted to the top of the dogpile in the city.
Never in his mind did he expect something like this to happen. He knew that he
had young master Ji San to thank for all of this. However, he didn’t expect
that Ji San was such an influential person. He was overwhelmed by emotion; the
change in his fortunes was so surreal that it felt like a dream. It felt like
he’d used up a lifetime of luck just for this to happen to him.
…...
The perpetrator behind all of this good fortune was already
a few thousand miles away from Bluesky Nation. What happened at Goldtower City
was Jiang Chen’s way of repaying a favor. The information that Niu Wuhua had
given him was of incredible significance. To him, repaying the favor was as
simple as lifting a finger, but absolutely life changing for Niu Wuhua.
Of course, Jiang Chen had other reasons for doing this. As
the young lord of Sacred Peafowl Mountain, he would eventually have to rule
over the entire region. These nations and cities under the capital’s rule had
to roped in appropriately. It was also the reason why he’d invited the crown
prince to Taiyuan Tower. Bluesky Nation was one of the most outstanding nations
under the capital’s rule. It was only natural to treat them well and take
proper care of them.
One had to traverse at least half of the Upper Eight Regions
to reach Pillfire City from Veluriyam Capital. Fortunately, Jiang Chen had
cultivated many kinds of travel arts, especially Kunpeng Meteoric Escape. It
was capable of both short distance bursts of speed and long distance traveling.
He didn’t cause any trouble during his journey and kept a low profile
throughout every land and nation he crossed. He managed to keep a lid on his
temper even when he traveled across Eternal Celestial Capital’s territory. He
currently only had two targets. One was Pillfire City, and the other, Tilted
Moon Region.
Pillfire City and the Star Harvesters… He continued to make
haste as he traveled. A few months later, he’d finally arrived.
Pillfire City was situated in the northern region of the
Upper Eight Regions. Its territory spanned for miles and miles, not a whit
inferior to that of Veluriyam Capital. In fact, it may even have been ever so
slightly larger. The land under Pillfire City’s jurisdiction was also much more
fertile than those under Veluriyam Capital. As a result, their soil had a lot
more spirit energy in comparison. This geographical advantage and pill making
pedigree had positioned them as the foremost pill maker in the human domain.
Upon entering the city, Jiang Chen immediately noticed how
adept they were at refining spirit medicines. Their medicine businesses were
also flourishing and incredibly successful. As expected, they have a very deep
roots in the art of pill making. The pill industry plays an integral part in
every piece of land under Pillfire City’s jurisdiction.
Jiang Chen was in awe. He’d seen many things when he’d
traversed through the Upper Eight Regions. Pillfire City clearly outmatched
Veluriyam Capital when it came to pill dao. It was perhaps unparalleled
throughout the entire human domain. Veluriyam Capital held ess than twenty
percent of the market, while Pillfire City held at least seventy percent of the
market. This was an incredible disparity.
The dependence on Pillfire City’s pills grew increasingly
apparent the closer one moved to the city. Pillfire City didn’t become one of
the strongest factions in the Upper Eight Regions without reason. Their
influence in pill making alone would solidify their position in the region.
Every other faction somewhat depended on Pillfire City for their pills. This
meant that they could never afford to become enemies with the city. They had to
show great reverence and respect to the city, which only further intensified
the power the city held.
It was an endless feedback loop. Unless Pillfire City burned
itself to ground, there was no way any other faction could possibly replace or
take over the power they held. Not even Veluriyam Capital. Of course, that was
assuming that Jiang Chen wasn’t factored into the equation. A monstrous
existence like him could topple any house, no matter how solid its foundations.
Very like the three pagodas that stood as the landmarks of
Veluriyam Capital, the iconic landmark of Pillfire City was the Pill Emperor
Mountain. The entire city itself was built around the mountain, expanding
outwards with it as the center.
The peak of the mountain held were statues of various pill
emperors, so tall and mighty that they seemed to tower beyond the clouds. Each
statue represented a period of prosperity and excellence throughout the city’s
history. Each pill emperor had been the pinnacle of their own respective eras
of pill dao. They were the pride of Pillfire City and also the heritage of the
city. There were nine pill emperor statues erected on Pill Emperor Mountain.
This meant that throughout the history of Pillfire City, there were at last
nine great emperor realm pill experts worthy of being written into the history
texts. They’d borne the fate of the city upon their backs and contributed
greatly to the land.
Jiang Chen immediately realized that these towering statues
were the totem buildings that represented the pride of the city. The city had
very rigorous security checks. Fortunately, he had been traveling under the
guise of a wandering cultivator for a while now, and the checks failed to
notice anything amiss. He could immediately feel the prosperity when he set
foot into the city.
Pillfire City had an atmosphere that simply wasn’t present
in Veluriyam Capital. It was an atmosphere unique to only Pillfire City.
However, he was in no mood to enjoy the delights of Pillfire City. He immediately
tried to contact Lin Yanyu using a secret method they’d agreed on beforehand.
It didn’t take long before he located him.
Lin Yanyu was no match for Jiang Chen in speed. He’d left
months before Jiang Chen had, but he arrived only two weeks earlier than him.
“Young lord, I’ve made inquiries and confirmed that the Star
Harvesters have purchased a slave with an innate wood constitution of high
order. They seem to view the slave with high regard. Many nobles and factions
in Pillfire City have tried to purchase the slave, but the Star Harvesters
rejected every single one of them. It’s one of the hottest topics right now in
Pillfire City. It didn’t even take effort to gather this much information.”
Chapter 1033: Star Mill
Lin Yanyu was quite competent. Although he had only returned
to Pillfire City for half a month, the intelligence he’d gathered was extremely
detailed. After a brief overview, Jiang Chen gained a rough understanding of
the situation.
“Young Lord, the Star Harvesters know that a lot of factions
are keeping an eye on their slave with the innate wood constitution, so they’ve
made sure to obfuscate their activities and keep a tight ring of protection
around him. Not many people have even seen this slave in Pillfire City.
Therefore, I believe it is very difficult to snatch him by force. As for buying
him outright, that seems unlikely as well. They seem to be holding on for a
greater profit.”
“Hold onto him for greater profit, you say?” Jiang Chen
smiled. “If that’s the case, then that means buying the slave isn’t completely
out of the question. In their eyes, a genius with an innate wood constitution
is only a product. They’re just waiting for a good offer.”
The Star Harvesters was ultimately a gang, not a sect. A
gang cared most for profit. The reason they were boosting interest this way was
simply to raise the price and get a better offer. They wanted to wait until
their slave had an astronomical price tag before selling him.
Jiang Chen might not know the Star Harvesters, but what Lin
Yanyu had found from his investigation proved that they were boosting interest
and hyping up Mu Gaoqi’s value. Jiang Chen also realized that Star Harvesters
had been very successful in their endeavor. Once the price had gone beyond a
certain bar, and Mu Gaoqi became a hot topic, the factions that truly
appreciated real talents would fight for him. The greater the competition, the
bigger the profit the Star Harvesters would earn.
“Young Lord, are you saying that… we can buy him?” Lin Yanyu
asked in surprise.
But Jiang Chen smiled and shook his head. “We’re not going
to buy him. I’m confident in my wealth, but this is Pillfire City, so doing
something like that would be a risk. Plus, even if I did win the bid, I don’t
know if I can leave with him.”
A giant like Pillfire City wouldn’t allow an outsider to
take their pill dao genius away. Even if the buyer was wealthy beyond measure,
Pillfire City wouldn’t allow him to take a genius away unruffled. Although Mu
Gaoqi didn’t have any relation with Pillfire City, since the gang had bought
him, the city would tyrannically think that he belonged to it without a
second’s thought. They wouldn’t allow an outsider to touch a genius even if he
was a slave.
That was Pillfire City’s modus operandi. They wouldn’t allow
any element that might affect their monopoly to exist, and if it did, they
would do their best to obstruct or destroy it.
It was similar to how they’d tried to monopolize the
Longevity Pill for themselves. After their scheme failed, they’d even visited
Veluriyam Capital and challenged the Sacred Peafowl Mountain for the right to
the pill. Lin Yanyu’s family was another example. After their accidental
discovery of their family’s ancient pill recipe was exposed, it didn’t bring
them any glory. On the contrary, it’d pushed them completely into the abyss.
There was only one reason behind those unfortunate events. Someone in Pillfire
City who was stronger than the Lins had set their sights on that ancient pill
recipe.
There was only one rule of survival in Pillfire City. All
interests must serve the best interests of Pillfire City. Naturally, the powers
who represented Pillfire City’s best interests were first rate powers or top
rank great emperors, like Pill Emperor Pillzenith.
“Yanyu, is there any way to approach the Star Harvesters?”
Jiang Chen asked after pondering for a moment.
“That’s easy. The Star Harvesters have a lot of pill stores
in Pillfire City, and their biggest is the Star Mill. This store only trades in
high-rank pills, so it’s quite the high-end shop even in Pillfire City.
Recently, many of the pills created by this pill dao genius have appeared in
the Star Mill. If I have to guess, the Star Harvesters probably put them on
display on purpose.”
“Oh? Where is this Star Mill?” Jiang Chen asked curiously.
Lin Yanyu took out a map. “Young Lord, this is a map of
Pillfire City. Star Mill’s location is well known and very easy to find. The
Star Harvesters’ headquarters is nearby too. The Star Harvesters has a lot of
say in this region. They’re also different from other factions. While the other
factions focus on conducting business with great families, they focus on
conducting business with wandering cultivators and other gangs. Therefore,
their business is quite extensive.”
The Star Harvesters’ status was slightly higher than that of
House Wei’s in Veluriyam Capital. However, it was at most a standard great clan
in Veluriyam Capital. It was absolutely a first rate faction, but it definitely
didn’t belong among best of the best either.
Just like Veluriyam Capital, Pillfire City’s great emperor
factions seldom participated in the power struggles of the secular world.
However, the ones in Pillfire City tended to interfere more. Most importantly,
they held a stricter leash over the secular world.
Jiang Chen took the map from Lin Yanyu, “Keep up your
investigation, Yanyu. I’ll be making a trip to the Star Mill.”
Jiang Chen had memorized the map of Pillfire City. Once he
acquired his bearings, he pinpointed the Star Harvesters’ headquarters.
Thirty minutes later, he’d found the Star Mill. When he
entered the establishment, Jiang Chen immediately felt the thick fragrance of
spirit medicine wafting over his face. The unusually rich scent of spirit
medicine was immediately indicative of the exceptional quality of their
products.
Star Mill’s standards were quite high. Their counters were
arranged to give a feeling of picturesque disorder, and the front desk itself
was made of high quality transparent crystals. It looked incredibly high class.
The spirit medicines were also organized based on various specifications. Many
assistants in unified attire were leading around groups of customers within the
store. They looked very patient and professional, and it was evident that they
were well trained.
This scene surprised Jiang Chen a little. The Star
Harvesters was nominally known as a gang, so he thought that their stores would
have a similar air and be roughly handled. However, seeing was indeed
believing. He realized after he entered the store that the Star Harvesters was
far from the disgusting bunch he’d initially imagined.
“What can I do for you, sir?” A pretty girl with a very
sunny appearance beamed warmly at Jiang Chen when she arrived at his side.
Although Jiang Chen wasn’t a lecher, he couldn’t help but
feel cheerful to meet a girl as sunny as her. He smiled. “I’m just looking
around.”
The girl smiled brightly. “My name is Keke. Let me know if
there’s anything you need.”
Jiang Chen nodded before he swept a gaze across the entire
store. Then, he casually asked, “I hear that the gang has recently taken in a
genius pill master with an innate wood constitution of high order, and that he
has released several products.”
“You wish to see Master Mu’s pill products?” The girl looked
a little surprised.
“Master Mu?” Jiang Chen stared blankly at her.
“The genius pill master we recently recruited is Master Mu.
His creations are on the second floor, but…” Keke looked a little hesitant.
“But what?” Jiang Chen asked curiously.
“Master Mu’s creations are extremely precious. Therefore,
not only do you need to be a pill king to see Master Mu’s products, you must
also pay an entry fee.” She responded seriously.
“How much do I need to pay?” Although Jiang Chen was shocked
by the Star Harvesters’ ability to fleece customers, he wasn’t so poor that he
couldn’t afford an entry fee.
“You must first show your pill king medallion. Then, you
will need to pay ten thousand saint spirit stones.”
It costs ten thousand saint spirit stones for one visit!?
Although Jiang Chen didn’t mind paying the fee, he was still stunned by the
Star Harvesters’ money grubbing methods. He had never seen such overt highway
robbery until today.
Even if Mu Gaoqi was a very impressive pill dao genius, he
was at best still an unpolished jade. He was far from reaching the level of a
top rate pill master. If he was touring a pill emperor’s products, then the
admission fee would cost more than a thousand spirit stones. But Mu Gaoqi was
at most a novice level pill king currently, wasn’t he? Even if Mu Gaoqi had
improved so rapidly that he was now an intermediate level pill king, it still
shouldn’t cost ten thousand saint spirit stones to tour his products, should
it?
Jiang Chen arrived at an answer after thinking for a moment.
I guess the Star Harvesters really is planning to raise Mu Gaoqi’s value as
high as possible before selling him. They aren’t beneath charging their
customers ten thousand saint spirit stones for admission, and customers are
willing to pay the price. The gang really is doing their best to squeeze every
bit of money and value they can get out of Mu Gaoqi.
Jiang Chen hadn’t actually gotten his pill king medallion
yet. However, he did still have Shi Zhen’s pill king medallion. It was this
medallion that’d enabled him to slip into Veluriyam Capital. He waved the pill
king medallion before Keke before producing ten thousand saint spirit stones.
“Miss Keke, please lead the way.”
Jiang Chen stared at Keke smilingly, so much so that the
charming, sunny girl turned slightly red. For some reason, this man’s eyes made
her heart flutter a little. It was exactly because she was distracted that she
didn’t even catch the name that was written on the pill king medallion.
However, she was too embarrassed to ask Jiang Chen to show it again while he
was staring at her like this. Left with no choice, she accepted the ten
thousand saint spirit stones and said softly.
“Please wait here for a moment, sir. I’ll grab an admission
medallion for you immediately.”
Jiang Chen relaxed minutely after seeing that Keke hadn’t
told him to produce his pill king medallion again. He had no intention of
parading his fake pill king medallion around if he could help it. If someone
happened to know that Shi Zhen was a member of Ninesuns Sky Sect, he would only
be creating more issues for himself.
Miss Keke was a quick worker. It wasn’t long before she’d
obtained an admission medallion and passed it to Jiang Chen with a red face.
“Please come with me, sir. This is a reminder, but the second floor of the Star
Mill is a VIP area. Therefore, please obey the rules and maintain your decorum
once you’ve entered the second floor.”
Jiang Chen smiled and accepted the medallion. He then headed
up to the second floor behind Miss Keke. The second floor of the Star Mill was
just as wide as the first floor, but its arrangements were also clearly of much
higher class. It was also slightly busier. Keke led the way and brought Jiang
Chen to a rather crowded region.
“These are some of Master Mu’s recent pill products,” Miss
Keke introduced.
Jiang Chen’s eyes scanned the area thoroughly. Although
there weren’t many pills in this area, every one of them was put on display in
an extremely eye-catching way. When he scanned the pills with his
consciousness, his heart immediately skipped a beat. As he had expected, the
pills gave off a familiar feeling that was unique to Mu Gaoqi.
Chapter 1034: Mu Gaoqis Unique Style
Although it had been many years since he’d seen Mu Gaoqi,
Jiang Chen still hadn’t forgotten his brother’s unique aura. Mu Gaoqi was born
with the natural aura befitting that of a graceful immortal, and his pills also
accordingly possessed this unique quality. During his baptism in the wood
spirit spring, Mu Gaoqi absorbed some of the spring’s intrinsic qualities as
well. Naturally, having spent so much time with him, Jiang Chen was quite
familiar with his aura.
Therefore, Jiang Chen immediately recognized the pills when
he saw them. There was no mistake. These pills had been refined by Mu Gaoqi.
They possessed a certain quality that no one else could imitate, not even Jiang
Chen himself. He might be able to imitate the wood spring’s aura, but he
doubted that he could imitate Mu Gaoqi’s unique, graceful aura.
What surprised him was that he discovered Mu Gaoqi’s pill
dao level had improved tremendously. Although these pills weren’t considered
first rate in Jiang Chen’s eyes, they would still be deemed amongst the finest
of other similarly-ranked pills. These pills possessed a unique quality that
clearly distinguished them from the products of other pill masters in that
there was a distinctive, personal label accompanying each of them. This
particular discovery gladdened Jiang Chen. Although Mu Gaoqi’s recent fate was
terrible considering that he had been turned into a slave, at least his cultivation
hadn’t stagnated.
An innate wood constitution of high order… maybe this trial
served as a catalyst, allowing him to tap into the greater potential hidden
inside his body and, in doing so, fully unlocked his talents? Jiang Chen had to
hide his astonishment at the speed of Mu Gaoqi’s improvement as he continued to
observe his products. Although he hadn’t quite yet reached the level of
advanced pill king, he was unquestionably at the level of intermediate pill
king This rank didn’t imply a lack of strength on Mu Gaoqi’s part, however. On
the contrary, it was proof of his talent and skill. He was about four years
younger than Jiang Chen. It was immensely impressive for someone so young to
have already attained intermediate pill king level.
Even the pride and invincible legend of Pillfire City, Pill
King Ji Lang, couldn’t possibly have surpassed Mu Gaoqi by much when he was his
age. In fact, Pill King Ji Lang might not have even been an intermediate pill
king when he was in his twenties. Even if he had been, it was unlikely that
he’d been as distinguished as Mu Gaoqi currently was.
Mu Gaoqi was literally born for pill dao, having been born
with a unique quality that gave him a distinct advantage no one else possessed.
Considering how cautious and timid he used to be, the fact that he had been
able to become a core disciple solely because of his pill dao merits left no
question that he was extraordinarily talented.
Jiang Chen wondered if Mu Gaoqi had managed to free himself
now that he had arrived at the Star Harvesters. Despite sensing the familiar
presence, his excitement lasted for only an instant, and he quickly regained
his calm. He guessed that Mu Gaoqi was likely currently still a slave. After
all, the Star Harvesters were clearly trying to put him on the shelf for
display and sell him off at a high price. If this truly was the case, there was
no way they would allow Mu Gaoqi to free himself.
“Sir, are there any pills that you find to your liking?”
Keke suddenly asked after noticing that Jiang Chen had fallen into a daze.
Jiang Chen shook his head with a smile. “These pills are
pretty good, but they don’t look like the work of a first-rate pill king. So,
why is the admission fee ten thousand saint spirit stones?”
He purposely asked a question to which he already knew the answer
to.
Keke smiled slightly and politely replied, “You’ve only
mentioned these things because you aren’t aware of Master Mu’s background. You
are right in that his pills aren’t the best products out there, but Master Mu
is only in his twenties. There are only so many twenty-year-old pill kings in
the entire human domain, and you won’t find a single person who dares to claim
that their level is higher than Master Mu’s. Don’t you think that the creations
of a future master in his youth are worth collecting?”
This marketing was extremely well done. Not only did they
neatly package Mu Gaoqi as a future first-rate pill dao master of note, but
they even topped this assertion off with a nicely-wrapped bow, highlighting the
pills he created during his youth. These promotional skills were truly
impressive. Jiang Chen smiled. “These products aren’t bad, but they aren’t
entirely flawless either. Personally, I don’t think that they’re worth
collecting.”
Keke’s brilliant smile immediately turned into one of slight
embarrassment. With reddened cheeks, she rebutted, “Well, even so, many people
have purchased Master Mu’s products for their personal collection.”
“Wealth makes people foolish,” Jiang Chen said with a faint
smile on his face.
“Sir, you may be a customer of the Star Mill, but please
don’t insult the products we make, especially Master Mu’s,” Keke protested in a
very serious tone. Even she maintained her professionalism as a store
assistant, she still felt a little unhappy when she heard Jiang Chen’s comments.
Jiang Chen shrugged. “I’m just telling the truth. Even
Master Mu wouldn’t dare claim that these pills of his are perfect. If I were to
take a guess, these products are only as perfect as the Star Mill’s packaging.”
“Sir!” Miss Keke’s appearance was like that of an angry
lamb. Lambs were born docile, so whenever she grew angry, she looked unusually
attractive.
“Fine, fine. If you won’t accept the truth, then just
pretend like I didn’t say anything.”
If Miss Keke hadn’t previously accepted his admission fee,
she might have kicked him off this floor already. Jiang Chen circled around the
area another two times.
“Miss Keke, is Master Mu in at the moment?” Jiang Chen asked
in a seemingly casual tone.
However, Miss Keke still gave off the impression that she
was angry with him. She cast him a slightly resentful glance but didn’t give
him an answer.
“Well, I guess he’d be ashamed of showing his face around
here. After all, his pills are being blown way over the top even though they’re
obviously imperfect. Not even he could be that thick-faced.”
This time Miss Keke was truly angry at him. She protested
loudly, “Please conduct yourself with dignity, sir. If Master Mu’s products are
not up to your liking, you can always choose to return to a lower floor!”
Her raised voice immediately drew everyone’s attention. They
couldn’t help but stare at Jiang Chen with a bit of hostility when they saw
that such a sweet-tempered girl had lost her cool because of him. They
obviously thought that he lacked tact, having incited such a sweet and charming
girl into angrily raising her voice. What kind of an outrageous person was he?
Jiang Chen was obviously doing this on purpose. Him beating
around the bush and criticizing Mu Gaoqi’s products non-stop was to see if Mu
Gaoqi himself would show up. Unfortunately, his attempts didn’t yield any
results. In fact, he had irritated Miss Keke instead. Jiang Chen hadn’t
intended to butt heads with her.
A well-dressed middle-aged man, giving off the appearance of
the person in charge, walked over with a frown. He looked at Jiang Chen and
asked, “What’s wrong, my friend?”
The middle-aged man appeared a bit impressive. Jiang Chen
guessed that he probably held a higher position in the Star Mill. He smiled and
glanced at the pills. “Oh, it’s nothing. I simply thought that Master Mu’s
products aren’t as good as you promoted. I’m just a little surprised that you
would charge ten thousand saint spirit stones for this.”
“My friend, anyone can make baseless accusations, can’t
they?” The middle-aged man frowned slightly. “Master Mu’s products may not be
considered to be at the zenith in terms of their quality, but he’s only in his
twenties right now. These products are impressive enough considering how young
he is. If you still wish to nitpick his work, then maybe you shouldn’t come to
the Star Mill.”
His words made sense. The other customers also echoed, “We
are here to gauge Master Mu’s potential.”
“Yeah, Master Mu is incredibly young. We can’t evaluate him
by the standards of a ninth-rank pill king. After all, every ninth-rank pill
king out there is at least hundreds or thousand of years old.”
“Exactly. That a pill king in his twenties could create
pills of such high quality is already an incredibly impressive feat. He’s
absolutely a pill dao genius, the likes of which appears only once every five
millennia.”
“Five millennia? I doubt you could find someone like this
even in the span of ten millennia.” The crowd shot out their individual
opinions, but they all praised Mu Gaoqi’s products unanimously. Jiang Chen hid
his amusement. If he didn’t know any better, he would have suspected that these
people were supporters hired by the gang.
Even Jiang Chen himself admitted that Mu Gaoqi’s work was
incomparable to most for his age. However, he also wasn’t lying when he said
that these products were imperfect. When he’d made those remarks, he wasn’t
referring to the creator’s expertise in pill dao, but rather, the mental knot
that existed within the pills themselves. It was almost as if the creator of
the pills had been shackled and unable to work freely.
Only sophisticated pill masters could have noticed this.
Jiang Chen knew very well that this strange mental entanglement hidden within
the pills was related to Mu Gaoqi’s current circumstances. From examining these
pills, he deduced that Mu Gaoqi was still a slave, and because of this, his
creations lacked a certain sense of freedom and fulfillment.
Although Mu Gaoqi’s graceful qualities were extremely
distinct in his pill products, so too was a lack of freedom. Jiang Chen ignored
their comments. He said indifferently, “It seems that the Star Mill only
intends to receive praise but not criticism. I suppose I have said too much if
that is the case. How unfortunate. If the creator of this pill were here, I’d
shut him up so thoroughly that he wouldn’t even be able to respond.”
The person in charge sneered. “Are you trying to say that
you wish to challenge our Master Mu to a pill battle? Am I correct to interpret
your words as a challenge to the Star Mill?”
Jiang Chen smiled. “Challenge the Star Mill? Have you ever
seen someone challenging a pill store alone?”
“Then what exactly do you mean?”
Jiang Chen said indifferently, “What I’m trying to say is
that the Star Harvesters currently own an exceptional genius, a treasure trove,
yet you’ve only dug out a portion of his potential. Worse, you’re satisfied
with keeping it this way and plan to sell him once his value reaches a certain
threshold. This is truly amusing.”
Suddenly, Jiang Chen was praising Mu Gaoqi but belittling
the Star Harvesters. This change in stance confused the person in charge as to
Jiang Chen’s true motives.
“Who are you really, friend? You’ve come here to cause
trouble, haven’t you?” The middle-aged man’s face turned chilly as his tone
turned unfriendly. It was clear that he thought that Jiang Chen was a hooligan
trying to stir up trouble.
Chapter 1035: The Temptation of a Deal
Jiang Chen was indeed trying to cause trouble, but it was
all to see Mu Gaoqi. Thus, he didn’t even attempt to deflect when the manager
glared at him angrily. “You’re half correct. I’m also here for Master Mu,” he
replied while smiling.
“Oh? Don’t tell me that by challenging Master Mu, you’re
planning on using his fame to catapult yourself to success? Isn’t that a little
too much wishful thinking on your part?” The manager’s tone was extremely cold.
“Borrowing his fame for success?” Jiang Chen burst into
laughter. “You’re overthinking things. I’m only here to propose a deal to the
Star Harvesters.
“A deal?” The manager tried very hard to suppress his
vexation. “What kind of deal?”
“Are you allowed to make decisions for the Star Harvesters?
Can you sign off on matters related to Master Mu?” Jiang Chen asked in
response.
At first, the manager was stunned by his reply, but he
quickly recollected himself and scrutinized the plain-looking wandering
cultivator standing before him. He wasn’t sure whether Jiang Chen was truly so
dumb and fearless, or if he actually had a card up his sleeves. How dare he
quibble with me, a manager of the Star Mill, in Star Harvester territory of all
places? Who does he think he is? He’s nothing but a wandering cultivator! Even
though he’d almost burst with rage a few times throughout this encounter, his
reason managed to keep him sane and his temper in check.
“It doesn’t matter whether I have the proper authority to
make decisions. If the esteemed customer wants to make a deal, please at least
show us some sincerity. Can you prove that you are worthy of proposing a deal
to the Star Harvesters?” The manager sounded cold and aloof.
“Having come all the way here, it’s only natural that I’d
have a few cards up my sleeves,” Jiang Chen replied with a faint smile.
“Please forgive me for failing to notice said hidden cards
of yours.” The manager didn’t try to be courteous either.
Jiang Chen rummaged in his sleeves and casually took out
three spirit herbs. “I have three spirit herbs here. Do you have anything
amongst your vast inventory that might rival them?”
The Star Mill possessed quite a few herbs, but sky rank
spirit herbs were indescribably rare. They were meant for great emperor realm
cultivators, which was why they were rarely ever found in the market. The
majority of spirit herbs for sale in the Star Mill were only spirit rank. There
were a few earth rank spirit herbs as well, but they possessed none of sky
rank.
The manager’s eyes nearly fell out of his eye sockets when
Jiang Chen casually took out the spirit herbs. An expression of greed
immediately flashed across his face.
“Sky rank spirit herbs?” The manager gulped audibly.
“Good eye.” Jiang Chen praised.
Attempting to distract from his loss of composure, the
manager hastily cleared his throat. “Sky rank spirit herbs are rare indeed, but
it’s not as if we don’t have any; we just don’t usually display them. I suppose
that since you’ve managed to acquire three sky rank spirit herbs, you are
barely qualified to propose us a deal.”
“Just barely?” Jiang Chen laughed heartily. “What if I have
something worth ten times more than that?”
“Something worth ten times more than sky rank spirit herbs?”
The manager was flabbergasted.
Jiang Chen quickly continued. “Are you allowed to make
decisions for a deal of such a magnitude?”
The manager almost lost his temper again. Something that was
worth ten times more than a sky rank spirit herb was beyond his imagination.
Indeed, he truly didn’t possess the authority to make a deal of such caliber.
He took a deep breath. “Dear customer, what kind of deal are
you proposing?”
“I intend to exchange my treasure for Master Mu.” Jiang Chen
cut straight to the point.
“Exchange your treasure for Master Mu?” The manager
immediately turned him down. “Never. Master Mu isn’t for sale.”
Jiang Chen broke into laughter. He mockingly responded, “If
Master Mu were truly not for sale, why would the Star Harvesters go to such an
extent to promote and publicize him? I rest my case. You’d never spend so much
effort promoting him if you didn’t intend to sell him. You would have kept
quiet and used him to covertly make money if that were the case.”
The manager was rendered speechless. He couldn’t think of a
good rebuttal. Only after a few moments had passed did he manage to eke out a
reply. “Customer, surely you don’t think that three sky rank spirit herbs are
enough to exchange for Master Mu?”
The manager continued before Jiang Chen could even reply,
“If that’s your line of thinking, you should just give up right now. Master Mu
isn’t merely worth three sky rank spirit herbs. Even thirty wouldn’t suffice!”
Jiang Chen didn’t argue. “An exchange can only be carried
out if both sides are satisfied. Without either side agreeing to its terms, the
deal wouldn’t be successful. Naturally, I have my own way of making sure that
your side is satisfied.”
“What way?”
“If you can’t represent the Star Harvesters, do you think
there’s any meaning in continuing this conversation?” Jiang Chen asked in
response.
“Do you think that I will report this matter to my superiors
if you don’t show me anything noteworthy?” The manager laughed coldly, refusing
to budge.
Jiang Chen laughed slyly. “Hehe, it’s your problem if you
don’t want to report this. I imagine that there’s a rather handsome reward for
whoever is involved in Master Mu’s sale right?”
“So what?”
“If your boss happened to find out one day that you lost an
exceptional deal relating to such matters, what will he think of you?”“
“An exceptional deal? How can you be that confident?”
“Why would I be here if I weren’t confident?” Jiang Chen
gave a casual reply. “Since you’re not capable of making decisions on behalf of
the Star Harvesters, I have no choice but to personally pay your boss a visit.
Once I do so, you can wave goodbye to any rewards you would’ve received
otherwise.”
His confidence gave him an air of assertiveness that made
him seem extremely convincing. Even the manager had become a little persuaded.
He stared at Jiang Chen and asked, “You’re certain that you have an extremely
attractive offer?”
“Yes.” Jiang Chen assured.
“You do know what’ll happen to you if you try to con or fool
us, right?” The manager still seemed a little hesitant.
“You’ve been prattling on all day. Are you going to say that
you don’t have the necessary qualifications to report to headquarters next?”
Jiang Chen asked with a faint smile.
The manager snorted and stared at Jiang Chen. He mused for a
long time before he finally nodded. “I really hope that you don’t have any
tricks up your sleeves. Otherwise, I guarantee that you won’t be leaving the
Star Mill alive. Tell me, who do you want to see?”
“Someone who has absolute authority, of course. Ideally it
would be someone who has the final say in Master Mu’s fate,” Jiang Chen replied
blandly.
“Then I shall have to report to the boss. Let me remind you
that anyone who mocks our boss or challenges his authority will be met with a
terrible fate.”
Jiang Chen smiled faintly. “Even if I mock you, these sky
rank spirit herbs won’t do the same. Remember, it doesn’t matter who talks to
me as long as I get to see Master Mu with my own two eyes. I want to make sure
that his innate wood constitution of high order isn’t just something you made
up.”
It was only fair to inspect the goods before making a deal.
The manager turned towards Keke. “Keke, escort our friend to
the honored guest area. Serve him tea and take care of his needs.”
Keke’s anger had yet to subside. “Come with me,” she said
indignantly. She served him tea when they arrived at the resting area. When she
saw how casual Jiang Chen was acting, she couldn’t resist questioning him.
“You’re such a heartless person. If you’re so interested in Master Mu, why did
you ridicule his products in such a way?”
Jiang Chen was rather amused by the nosy young lady. He
shrugged and looked at her innocently. “When did I ever ridicule his products?
I was only speaking speaking the truth.”
“Hmph! How can that be the truth? You were just nitpicking!”
Jiang Chen laughed in response. “Miss Keke, you’re a good
employee, but I still stand by my opinion. Master Mu’s products may appear to
be quite good on the surface, but there’s an aura of oppression contained
within. If I’m not mistaken, Master Mu must’ve felt quite oppressed when he
created these spirit herbs, which is why all these spirit herbs possess a
similarly wary and oppressive quality—he was mentally torn."
No matter how good it appeared to be, any creation produced
from such a mentality would never be perfect. Keke seemed skeptical at first,
but she soon began to doubt her own understanding. Master Mu was indeed a slave
of the Star Harvesters, so it made sense that there would be a mental knot in
his pill dao. The common person would never be able to notice such a detail. In
fact, many pill dao masters wouldn’t be able to either.
How did he notice so many details with just a single glance?
Keke was astounded. Perhaps it was just an empty guess? Many people in Pillfire
City were already aware of Master Mu’s status as a purchased slave, so maybe
he’s intentionally saying these things because he already knew about the
rumors?
“Miss Keke, I already know full well that I’m speaking the
truth, but you’re having doubts about the authenticity of my words, aren’t you?”
Jiang Chen read Keke like an open book. It almost seemed like he possessed a
mind-reading ability.
Keke tried her best to suppress her astonishment, but
curiosity got the best of her. “Sir, what exactly is your background? Were you
sent here by one of the great families of Pillfire City to acquire Master Mu?”
Jiang Chen broke into laughter. “If so, which family do you
think sent me?”
Keke pondered for a moment before she shook her head. “I
don’t know. That’s beyond my ability. However, you don’t seem like you’re from
Pillfire City.”
“Congratulations. Your guess is correct.”
“Where are you from then?” Keke asked curiously.
“Myriad Abyss Island.” Jiang Chen was lying through his
teeth. The Star Harvesters were unlikely to fear him if he gave them his true
background. Since that was the case, he might as well exaggerate and say that
he was from the Myriad Abyss Island. The Myriad Abyss Island was considered a
mythical island in the Upper Eight Regions and the human domain. It belonged in
the legends.
“Myriad Abyss Island?” Keke’s big watery eyes filled with
astonishment and doubt when she heard the name.
“Does that place really exist? I thought that it was merely
fiction!” Keke was suddenly filled with curiosity.
Chapter 1036: Star Harvesters Boss
Though Jiang Chen was no expert at dealing with young girls,
he knew that girls of such an age were typically extremely curious. The more
mysterious one seemed, the more one could pique her curiosity. Thus, when faced
with Miss Keke’s inquisitiveness, he returned no explanation, merely a faint
smile. The more he refrained from speaking, the more unfathomable he would
appear.
His mysterious affectation did indeed make Miss Keke look at
him in a rather different light. Yet, her gaze was not that of a newly-charmed
young girl, but one filled with interest, fascination, envy, and admiration.
There was the very real desire to unravel any secrets he held. After a few
moments, the supervisor returned to the resting area, making straight for Jiang
Chen.
“Friend, the boss has agreed to an audience with you after
hearing about the deal.”
Jiang Chen had fully expected that sort of answer. “Is
Master Mu present or not?”
The supervisor hadn’t seen anyone brave enough to haggle so
rudely on the very grounds of the Star Mill before. But this deal was too
important for them for him to get angry. “Why don’t you go and see?”
“Take me there then.” Jiang Chen waved a hand.
Miss Keke hastily put herself at the front. She walked right
beside the supervisor, whispering a few phrases into his ear. Her voice was as
soft as the sound of a mosquito, but Jiang Chen’s Ear of the Zephyr ability
allowed him to clearly hear every detail. She was telling the supervisor that
he hailed from Myriad Abyss Island.
The latter’s body shook when he heard that particular piece
of information. He turned his head to glance back at Jiang Chen, his gaze
somewhat more inspecting than before. He wasn’t as gullible as Miss Keke. He
did not immediately accept the information at face value.
The Star Mill was not far from the Star Harvesters’
headquarters. It was only a short walk between one point and the other. The
building itself was quite majestic. It was situated among more common elements
in Pillfire City, but its dignified style was comparable to at least a handful
of hidden sects.
“Friend, keep your eyes to yourself after you enter the
headquarters. Clean up your act before the boss especially, because, otherwise…
heh heh…” The supervisor warned. Jiang Chen’s cheerful expression remained
unchanged. The warning seemed kind-hearted on the surface, but it was actually
just an intimidation tactic. Any amount of additional pressure during the
negotiation process would only help them in negotiation.
He had no intention of being led by the nose. They passed
through numerous checkpoints before reaching the heart of the headquarters.
Walking past a well-guarded gate unveiled a carefully decorated courtyard. The
Star Harvesters really were measurably more cultured than the average gang.
However, he saw it as simple pretentiousness. A gang was coarse and crass by
nature. Anything that they did to the contrary was a pointless veneer.
“I’ve brought the guy you wanted, boss.” The supervisor came
to a stop on the outer edges of the courtyard, speaking into its interior.
“Bring him in,” a commanding voice boomed from behind an
apricot grove.
“Go in.” The supervisor threw Jiang Chen a look.
Past the grove stood a burly, yellow-robed man. Both hands
behind his back, he looked out over a pool of clear water. The rock formations
within the pool were mountain-shaped, water slowly snaking their way down their
craggy tops. It was quite the scenic view. However, the man’s figure ruined the
picture’s overall composition. He was the Star Harvesters’ boss, Gai Zonglin.
As he turned to face his visitor, the boss’ eyes shone like lightning. It
almost felt like two bolts zapped through the air towards Jiang Chen. His gaze
was as ferocious as a tiger’s, seemingly intent on making their target
thoroughly uncomfortable.
Thankfully, Jiang Chen had a disciplined heart. He showed no
cowardice despite the overbearingness of the gaze. He smiled, returning a cupped
fist salute. “I’ve heard for a long time now of the peerless bravery of the
Star Harvesters’ boss. Having met him today, I can believe that the rumors are
wholly accurate.”
In the wider world, Gai Zonglin was nicknamed ‘Peerless
Brave’. He was very happy with it and thoroughly enjoyed the epithet. However,
his current expression was as impassive as when Jiang Chen had come in. “I hear
that you want to make a deal with us Star Harvesters? How do you want to go
about it?”
Jiang Chen looked all around him. “I don’t see anyone I’d
want to make a deal with.”
Gai Zonglin raised an eyebrow. “I lead the Star Harvesters.
Who else are you going to make a deal with, if not me?”
“I am absolutely certain of your leadership over your gang,”
Jiang Chen smiled faintly. “So I’d like to make why I’m here obvious as well.
I’m here for Master Mu.”
“Master Mu?” Gai Zonglin snickered. “Are you interested in
his innate wood constitution as well? Forgive my bad eyesight, but which
Pillfire City faction do you represent?”
“I represent no one,” Jiang Chen stared plainly and
forthrightly into Gai Zonglin’s eyes.
“Truly?’
“…Except my own master,” the young lord smiled once more.
“Who is your master?” Gai Zonglin was moved.
“Even if I say his name, I doubt that you would recognize
him, Boss Zonglin.”
Gai Zonglin roared with laughter. “In all the Upper Eight
Regions, there is no senior with any degree of fame that I do not know, no
matter what sect or faction he hails from. Why don’t you try me?”
“My master is not from the Upper Eight Regions,” Jiang Chen
shook his head tranquilly.
“From a middle or lower region, then?” The gang boss felt
his interest drain away. A guest from either of those places could only waste
his time.
“Does someone have to come from one of those places? The
human domain is not the only place in the world.” Jiang Chen’s smile was
ruminant.
“What do you mean?” It was a perplexing statement for Gai
Zonglin.
“Has Boss Gai heard of Myriad Abyss Island?” Jiang Chen
asked.
Gai Zonglin trembled, his eyes ablaze with a shocked stare.
“Myriad Abyss Island? Is your master from there?”
“Is that a problem?”
Gai Zonglin tossed an ambiguous look towards the Star Mill’s
supervisor, who hurriedly defended himself. “He didn’t tell me that earlier,
boss. Miss Keke said something to that effect, but I don’t know if I could
believe it myself.”
The boss slowly nodded. “Word of mouth alone is no proof,”
he said calmly, eyes trained on Jiang Chen. “The Myriad Abyss Island is a
blessed place heard of only in myth. Even the Upper Eight Regions’ best and
brightest have never set foot there. How do I know that you’re not telling tall
tales?”
Jiang Chen chuckled. “You’re right, words alone are
insufficient. But, does who I am matter to the exchange itself?”
“Of course it matters,” Gai Zonglin snickered. “If you’re
just another run-of-the-mill swindler, the Star Harvesters has no interest
being tricked by the likes of you.”
“When did the human domain become so rich? Can some common
swindler simply afford to give away three sky rank spirit herbs? The Star
Harvesters have great stature here in Pillfire City, I understand. How many sky
rank spirit herbs can you provide on the spot?” Jiang Chen remarked
indifferently. The question stumped Gai Zonglin, but he was quick to rally.
“Three sky rank spirit herbs are not enough to trade for
Master Mu,” Gai Zonglin contested coolly. “If you want to trade sky rank spirit
herbs for him, come back with a hundred!”
This initial offer touched on the patently absurd. A hundred
sky rank spirit herbs were significantly more valuable than just one genius
pill master. When the Star Harvesters bought Mu Gaoqi, they had paid at most
around a single herb’s worth. If they were to accept Jiang Chen’s offer on the
spot, they would have a two hundred percent profit margin. Unfortunately, the
Star Harvesters had an extremely large appetite. They had gone to to great
lengths to embellish Mu Gaoqi’s selling features solely to maximize their
profit.
“A hundred herbs?” Jiang Chen chortled. “You have an
impressive appetite, Boss Gai. If I had a hundred sky rank spirit herbs, I
could just give thirty of them to Emperor Pillzenith and ask him for the favor
instead. If Emperor Pillzenith were to ask you for Master Mu, I daresay that
you’ll yield nine times out of ten.”
“I’m brave enough to ask the question, and I hope you’re
brave enough to answer. If Emperor Pillzenith really does make that specific
request, would you have it in you to deny him?”
“Emperor Pillzenith is an honorable and respectable man. He
would not blackmail the Star Harvesters for no reason. Your question is
nonsense.” Gai Zonglin retorted dismissively.
“The emperor hardly needs blackmail you. Would you consider
a present of three sky rank spirit herbs from His Majesty to be insufficient?”
Jiang Chen grinned shrewdly. “You know best how much you spent on this slave
when you first bought him.”
Gai Zonglin could muster no response.
“Are you willing to hear a new offer, Boss Gai?”
“Go ahead,” the boss looked sober as ever.
“Three sky rank spirit herbs, plus a true sage rank ancient
pill recipe.” Jiang Chen made his first formal offer.
“If the recipe is something that’s well-known or worthless,
then it’s worth even less than another spirit herb. An exclusive recipe,
perhaps several spirit herbs. The total value won’t exceed more than ten herbs.
You’re slashing down the prices by quite a bit. My price was a hundred sky rank
spirit herbs, but you’ve reduced it to less than a tenth.” The boss sneered
coldly.
“We’re still discussing the price, no? It is the seller’s
right to quote an astronomical price, but it is also the buyer’s to cut the
figure down to earth. Everything the Star Harvesters have done in this case is
to look for the right buyer, from whom you can ask a high price. I’ve given you
what I think is fair, and most would agree. It’s up to you to decide, Boss
Gai.” Jiang Chen had more to offer, but he didn’t want to reveal all his cards
just yet.
“My answer is the same as before. Impossible.” Gai Zonglin’s
tone was as firm as ever. “I will, however, make you a counteroffer. Thirty sky
rank spirit herbs, and three unique ancient pill recipes. If you come from
Myriad Abyss Island, I’d think this is easily affordable.”
He was one of the most black-hearted merchants Jiang Chen
had ever seen.
The young lord clearly did not have as many as thirty sky
rank spirit herbs. He had harvested some from Mt. Mirage’s restricted area, but
not more than several. His explorations in the desolate wildlands added to this
number, but he was still definitely short of thirty. The current price was
highway robbery, clear and simple.
Chapter 1037: Two Plans
Jiang Chen thought for a few more moments before speaking
once more. “Five sky rank spirit herbs, plus two exclusive true sage realm
ancient pill recipes. That’s my final offer.”
Gai Zonglin mulled it over for only an instant before
cackling. “Not a bad bid, but it’s far from what I’d expect out of a legitimate
deal. If that truly is your final offer, then my apologies, but no deal.”
“I doubt that the local leading factions are willing to pay
a similar price, Boss Gai.” Jiang Chen frowned.
“Haha, then you underestimate Pillfire City’s wealth. Even
if you truly hail from Myriad Abyss Island, I would not belittle the locals’
purchasing power. Their thirst for talent is much stronger than you might
imagine.”
No bargaining tactic seemed to be working on Gai Zonglin.
His original plan to directly purchase Mu Gaoqi from the Star Harvesters was
probably a failure. Even so, although he couldn’t hand over the spirit herbs
that Gai Zonglin had demanded, he could definitely offer up more ancient pill
recipes in substitution. Forcing his way through the transaction was definitely
a viable option. However, that was outside the scope of Jiang Chen’s
consideration. For one, Gao Zonglin’s demand was already lower than this bottom
line.
For another, if he really had been able to pony up the
contents of such a shocking offer, it would be akin to painting a target on him
for all of Pillfire City to see. Countless pairs of greedy eyes would be
trained upon him then. In fact, a gang boss like Gai Zonglin would probably be
amongst the first to pounce.
Money was of no concern for Jiang Chen—he possessed
sufficient financial strength. Nevertheless, he was unwilling to yield his bottom
line on principle. If he did, he would face an endless amount of trouble. There
was no reason for him to stay once the dysfunction of the deal was set in
stone. “Since you insist on making such ridiculous demands, Boss Gai, there’s
no point in doing business with you.” Standing up, Jiang Chen casually cupped
one hand over the other. “I assure you that I’ll keep tabs, though. I’d like to
see what price will get you to eventually part with your prize.”
Gai Zonglin roared with laughter. “It’s not like my gang
needs the money. We’re in no rush. As long as Master Mu continues performing up
to par, the price will go nowhere but up. If you come back in the future for a
purchase, friend, it’ll cost you a good deal more.”
The gangster’s fearlessness impressed Jiang Chen. The Star
Harvesters were shrewd in commerce.
“We shall see, hmm?” He snickered before heading out. The
Star Harvesters made no effort to bar his departure.
After he left, Gai Zonglin’s face darkened. He looked at
Star Mill’s supervisor. “Little Xiao, where did that person come from? He’s as
superficial as they come, judging by how indiscreet he was.”
“It’s hard to say, boss. Although, I think he has way more
money than the average country bumpkin.”
“No, considering his manners just now, he’s definitely not
from the country.” Gai Zonglin nodded. “He said he was from Myriad Abyss
Island, but I’m not so sure how true that is.”
He was evidently wary of the island’s name. Even if the
claim wasn’t true, he was still bothered by the mere mention of the island. If
the young man truly was from there, then him having refused the proposed deal
just now might end up starting a grudge or feud, creating further trouble for
them down the line. The Star Harvesters weren’t afraid of trouble, but fear of
Myriad Abyss Island’s residents was perfectly healthy. Even residents of
Pillfire City were susceptible to such a fear, much less one of its street
gangs. Gai Zonglin felt increasingly annoyed by the complications.
“Get someone to check him out later. We have to figure out
where he’s from.” He was strangely bothered. He had a vague premonition that
his choice today had been unwise.
Star Mill’s supervisor turned to Keke. “Keke, I think that
kid has a pretty good impression of you. I have a task for you: Try to get
close to him. No matter what you have to do, you need to find out more about
his origins. Even if you can’t, any additional information is good.”
Miss Keke had stood timidly on the sidelines throughout the
entire exchange. She knew that as an inconsequential employee, she had no right
to speak before the boss. Upon hearing the ‘task’ delegated to her by the
supervisor, she fell into a panic. “Manager Xiao, I… I… I really can’t.”
She didn’t know what to do. ‘No matter what you have to do’
included the implication of sacrificing her body. Seduction was a perfectly
reasonable tactic in their books, but for Keke, doing something like that was
unthinkable. As an unsullied girl, considering such a thing was worse than the
prospect of death itself.
“What? You can’t do something as simple as that?” Manager
Xiao’s face darkened. “The Star Mill does not employ the useless. If you can’t
even carry out such a small task, what’s the point of keeping you around?”
Gai Zonglin chuckled, glancing towards the delicate girl.
“Little girl, our gang is kind to anyone that can do good work. If you manage
to pull this off, both you and your family will receive the Star Harvesters’
protection and care. Why not make your ancestors proud?”
Keke’s face became even redder. She began to sob
inconsolably. “Keke is too stupid, boss. I’m worried that I can’t. What if I
let you down?”
“How do you know you can’t if you haven’t tried yet?”
Manager Xiao was impassive. “You’re the one I’m most impressed with in the
entire store. Keke, the boss has spoken. If you do well with this task, then
everyone around you will benefit. Both you and your family will be treated as
heroes in the gang. This is the only chance for any of you to move up the
social ladder. Even if you’re not interested personally, you should consider
the future of your loved ones. Don’t you have a younger brother working as an
apprentice armed escort? His dangerous and violent lifestyle must make the rest
of you worry a great deal. If you succeed at this task, I will personally allow
him to join the Star Mill, and he will receive a great deal of resources to
help him grow.”
Keke’s family was her soft spot. Manager Xiao’s words
convinced her to wipe away her tears. She began to think that the boss’s idea
was perhaps a little feasible. Honestly speaking, the likelihood of it
succeeding was very low, but was she was willing to do anything for her family.
Her parents’ hard work, her younger brother’s risky lifestyle at the armed
escort agency… Keke was quite tempted.
“Our visitor just now, I noticed that he had a strong
interest in Master Mu. I don’t think he’ll give up this easily. Just keep him
interested, Keke, and see exactly how much he’s willing to part with. If you
can find out his origins, even better. You have my word as the boss that I will
grant your younger brother the status of a rank four disciple.” Gai Zonglin
tipped the scales with a much richer reward.
The Star Harvesters’ disciples were ranked from one to nine.
After the disciples were the administrators, then the elders, then the grand
elders, and finally the vice boss. The actual boss was only one rank above the
vice. The status of a rank four disciple was not particularly high, but it was
the perfect placement for a newcomer. Most disciples started from rank one.
They needed twenty to thirty years before they could make their way to rank
four. Starting from rank four would shave off several decades of work. Most
importantly, Keke’s younger brother was currently only an apprentice armed
escort. He wouldn’t have had the right to join the Star Harvesters in the first
place. Hence, the boss’s promise to issue her brother the status of rank four
disciple was a heart-wrenchingly enticing temptation.
“Boss, Manager Xiao,” Keke bit into her bright-red lips, a
light blush creeping into her pale face. The resolve in her eyes, however, was
undeniable. “I’m willing to try, but I have a tiny request… if I mess up,
please punish only me and not my family.”
She knew that it was a difficult life living amongst
gangsters. Many rules, once broken, affected both oneself and one’s family.
Therefore, her greatest worry was not her inability to complete the task, but
rather how it would affect her loved ones.
Gai Zonglin roared with laughter. “The Star Harvesters are a
principled bunch. We don’t blame a family for a man’s errors. Plus, the most
you could do is fail personally. I doubt it’ll hurt the gang in the long run.
So, don’t worry about it.”
“Thank you for your kindness, boss, and Manager Xiao as
well.” Keke had no way out now. She had been ensnared the moment Manager Xiao
had said her name.
As he left the Star Harvesters, Jiang Chen felt eyes
following his every movement from the shadows. This observation was
unsurprising. A gang like the Star Harvesters was far more unlikely not to keep
tabs on him after that entire ordeal. It wasn’t necessarily out of malice
either. Perhaps Gai Zonglin saw him as a potential customer in the future.
The Star Harvesters were waiting for the highest bidder. If
the various other factions of Pillfire City couldn’t offer up a similarly hefty
bid, then the gang might reconsider a deal with him. However, that was only one
of the possibilities. There were worse ones to be considered, with one of them
being that the Star Harvesters were now after his three sky rank spirit herbs,
and by foul means rather than fair at that.
It was an off-the-cuff thought, not to mention extremely
unlikely, but there was no reason not to prepare for the worst possibility. The
world was a dangerous place, and caution was a man’s most stalwart companion.
Knowing that he was being watched, Jiang Chen refrained from returning to Lin
Yanyu’s place. Instead, he chose an extraordinarily luxurious inn and checked
in there. There were a million ways for him to shake his unwanted friends off.
However, any action on his part would only cause undue alarm. The more
unpolished his behavior now, the less of a threat he would be perceived as. If
he showed remarkable cunning, then the Star Harvesters would only be warier.
This was of no benefit to his future plans.
Jiang Chen had two plans at his current disposal.One was to
use his original bid to trade for Mu Gaoqi while the other was to use more underhanded
methods. Gai Zonglin’s attitude had made him lean towards the latter.
Chapter 1038: Miss Keke Pays a Visit
Jiang Chen did nothing much over the next few days. He was
aware that the gang was keeping an eye on him, but didn’t expose its watchers.
Instead, he strolled the streets of Pillfire City everyday and even visited the
slave market on several occasions. It was an act to make his observers feel
like he was thirsty for talent. As a result, his watchers felt like they
weren’t able to grasp his true objective. Because the Star Harvesters was
surveilling him, Jiang Chen and Lin Yanyu now communicated through
consciousness messages instead of meeting directly with each other. So far,
there had been no trouble.
Lin Yanyu had managed to gather a bit of intelligence
through all sorts of channels. It was all related to the Star Harvesters, but
the amount of information that was actually useful was pitifully small. Jiang
Chen had considered using the Goldbiter Rats to gather information from
underground, but a place like the gang headquarters would certainly be
protected by all kinds of restrictions. Although the Goldbiter Rats could
travel through earth, they couldn’t break open layers of restrictions. A gang
as powerful as the Star Harvesters must be protected from head to toe. He was
sure that their restrictions stretched all the way down into the ground. And
so, Jiang Chen ultimately gave up on the idea.
He’d met with the boss of the Star Harvesters last time.
That was a good start. However, his request to meet Mu Gaoqi still hadn’t been
realized. This depressed Jiang Chen a lot. It also made him realize how
cautious the Star Harvesters was acting for this matter.
“I guess it will be extremely difficult to take Mu Gaoqi
away from the Star Harvesters. But first, I must see him. I need to know how
he’s doing right now.” His current biggest problem was the inability to see Mu
Gaoqi. The Star Harvesters just wouldn’t let him meet Mu Gaoqi no matter what
he tried. Right now, he felt was stuck between a rock and a hard place.
Jiang Chen was able to rob Myriad Puppets Pavilion of their
slaves back then was because they weren’t on their guard. Moreover, those
slaves weren’t too valuable and Myriad Puppets Pavilion didn’t think that
someone would dare commit a robbery at the Fish and Dragon District. But the
Star Harvesters was different. Mu Gaoqi was a treasure to them from the
beginning, so they were very much on guard against any unpleasant scenarios.
“Master, I still think we should begin by targeting someone
inside the Star Harvesters.” Lin Yanyu gave his personal opinion.
“What suggestions do you have?” Lin Yanyu’s intelligence was
one of the qualities Jiang Chen valued in him, especially since he was a local
in Pillfire City.
“I think we should focus on investigating those people who
can get close to the Star Harvesters’ boss, especially those who can walk in
and out freely of their headquarters.” Lin Yanyu suggested.
“Yanyu, do you know if the Star Harvesters’ boss is
particularly fond of anyone, like his children or his direct disciple?” Jiang
Chen asked.
“Master. Gai Zonglin doesn’t have any direct disciples
because he’s currently in his prime. As for his children, the Star Harvesters
has done well to keep it a tight secret. I tried investigating into this
matter, but wasn’t able to gather anything concrete.”
It was understandable that the Star Harvesters worked hard
to maintain a high level of secrecy. The Star Harvesters was a gang, and a gang
was different from a sect or a family. The way of living and conflicts between
gangs were often crueler and more primal. Therefore, a sect member wouldn’t
easily reveal their privacy to others. The moment any private relationships
were revealed, the people involved might become targets.
Therefore, no one but those who were extremely close to Gai
Zonglin would know if he had a family or children. This was especially true
since he was a gang boss. The fact that the Star Harvesters was tightly knit despite
its gargantuan size impressed Jiang Chen even more. If the Star Harvesters had
existed in Veluriyam Capital instead, it was definitely a match for some
powerful great clans. There was no way an aristocratic family could compete
against the Star Harvesters at all.
While Jiang Chen was musing, he suddenly heard a series of
small, quick footsteps from the corridor in front of him. They were very
familiar. Why has she come? He didn’t even need to look to know that his
visitor was the assistant with a bit of a personality, Miss Keke.
Knock knock knock. Someone knocked on Jiang Chen’s door.
“Come in,” Jiang Chen responded indifferently. As expected,
the door opened to reveal the beautiful Miss Keke. Her eyes looked a little
shifty, and her cheeks were a little reddened. She looked like a girl who was
secretly meeting her lover that she was privately engaged to.
“Miss Keke?” Jiang Chen frowned. “Why have you come?”
He knew that the Star Harvesters was watching him, but he
couldn’t fathom why Miss Keke had chosen to show up. That being said, this
meeting was not unwelcome. He knew that Miss Keke must have been ordered by
Star Harvesters to meet him, and he welcomed their approach, whatever their
intentions might be. Maybe they were trying to sound him out through her, but
he could also do the exact same thing. Furthermore, the watchers and now this
visit proved that the Star Harvesters was still interested in him. It was
gratifying news.
Of course, they might just be interested in the three sky
rank spirit herbs he showed them.
“Can I come in, sir?” Keke sounded a little timid and
hesitant.
“Hmm. Do as you please.” Jiang Chen didn’t show too much
enthusiasm. Miss Keke walked in before closing the door carefully behind her.
She took a few small and quick footsteps to a chair and perched carefully on
it.
“I thought you couldn’t stand my presence, Miss Keke, so I
never thought you would visit me one day. Should I say that it is an honor to
have you here?” Jiang Chen said smilingly. He had purposely spoken in a joking
tone to liven the atmosphere and ease the girl’s tension.
Miss Keke squeezed her fingers together so tightly that the
joints looked a little pale. She pondered for what seemed to be a very long
time before she finally mustered the courage to say, “Sir, I asked around and
learned that you live here, so I’ve purposely come over to apologize.”
Apologize? Jiang Chen broke into involuntary laughter. “Miss
Keke, you have been responsible and diligent, haven’t you? If I remember
correctly, you don’t owe me an apology at all.”
“That’s not right.” Keke’s face turned even redder as she
said somewhat agitatedly, “I want to apologize for my attitude towards you that
day, sir. I… I actually thought that much of what you say is true, sir. I am
very much impressed by your words that day. But… I’m an assistant in the Star
Mill. They can fire me at any moment if I don’t toe the line.”
Jiang Chen stared at the girl but didn’t take her apology
too seriously. It was possible that she was as upright and honest as she
appeared. But her apology was obviously not entirely genuine. For example, her
claim that she asked around and learned where he lived was a complete lie. The
only reason she could’ve known this was because the Star Harvesters was
watching him.
He didn’t expose her lies though. Instead, he flashed a calm
smile. “We are here now, so that’s a pointless subject to dwell upon. I admit
that I am somewhat interested in that pill master with an innate wood
constitution of high order, but there is no way I can possibly fulfill your
gang’s demands. So if you are here to peddle him, Miss Keke, then I can only
say that you’ve wasted your time.”
Whatever her intentions might be, Jiang Chen decided to back
down for the moment and see how she would respond.
“Sir, it is as you said earlier. The reason the Star
Harvesters worked so hard to package Master Mu is because we intend to sell
him.” Miss Keke sounded rather forthright at least. “But that doesn’t mean that
we plan to sell him carelessly for a quick spirit stone. On the contrary, our
standards are very high. If our customers don’t meet our standards, we can’t
possibly sell Master Mu to them, can we?”
“But Miss Keke, don’t you think that such words are wasted
on me right now? I’ve already given up on buying Master Mu.” Jiang Chen smiled.
“Are you giving up already, sir?” A trace of disappointment
immediately colored Miss Keke’s face. “Manager Xiao had sent me over today to
learn exactly how passionate you are about buying Master Mu. If you can confirm
this, then I am certain that the price can be renegotiated.”
“Any further negotiation is pointless. There is no way I can
pay what the Star Harvesters demands even if you were to cut that price in
half.” And it was true that Jiang Chen had no wish to buy Mu Gaoqi any longer.
He didn’t want to fall into his opponent’s rhythm and be baited like a fool at
every turn.
“Sir…” Keke bit her lips softly and said with reddened
cheeks, “I would like to ask one more question. Do you really come from Myriad
Abyss Island? I heard that Myriad Abyss Island is a legendary holy land. It is
said that the greatest experts of Divine Abyss Continent take pride in being
able to enter Myriad Abyss Island. Also, I heard that even the most average
person in Myriad Abyss Island is stronger than our sage realm experts. Is that
true?”
Jiang Chen smiled. “Now that is what you call the spread of
falsehoods. It is true that Myriad Abyss Island is very impressive, but average
fighters also exist everywhere in the world. All fighters must start from the
beginning and build the foundation of their martial dao step by step.”
“If that is so, then may I know what level you are in Myriad
Abyss Island? Manager Xiao says that your background must be extraordinary to
be able to offer what you offered. He believes that you are of a high status.
That is why Manager Xiao is certain that you can afford our price, if you truly
wish to buy Master Mu that is.”
She was trying to fish for information.
“Even if Myriad Abyss Island is a holy land of wealth, I am
not a fool. I will not pay what the Star Harvesters demands even if I can
afford the price.” Jiang Chen’s tone was calm. “This is a matter of principle
and bottom line. I have no choice but to give up on this trade.”
“If you are here to persuade me to pay the price you’ve
quoted for Master Mu, then you may return and report back to your superiors
already.” Jiang Chen opened his hand and gestured to the door.
“Sir, the price can be renegotiated. Our ultimate objective
is just to maximize our profits. I’m sure that you can understand this. I have
been requested by Manager Xiao to communicate with you as best I can. If you
truly intend to buy Master Mu, I am sure that we can still talk this over.”
It was obvious that the Star Harvesters didn’t want to miss
out on any potential clients.
Chapter 1039: The Star Harvesters Decision
Jiang Chen didn’t chase Keke away because she had been sent
by the gang. That was proof that they were still interested in him as a
potential buyer. He paid no heed to whatever ulterior motive they had. As long
as they continued showing interest in him, there was still a possibility that
the deal could happen.
He didn’t fret after sending Miss Keke off, because he knew
that Mu Gaoqi was simply too important to the Star Harvesters. He had to
construct a meticulous plan before making his next move. He would have to
succeed in his first try. If any mistakes were made, his previous efforts would
have all been for naught. Moreover, it would make the Star Harvesters more
vigilant as well. This was also the reason why he hadn’t refused to talk with
Miss Keke. The gang’s stance was unclear, as they hadn’t fully refused the
trade. Things were at a standstill.
He made his decision, choosing to follow Lin Yanyu’s
suggestion and tackle the problem from within. It wasn’t easy to infiltrate a
gang like the Star Harvesters. However, there were no unlockable doors and
unbreakable forts in the world. One could find spies in even the strictest of
clans, with the six great sects of the Myriad Domain being a perfect example of
this concept. Almost every single clan had been infiltrated by spies. The
Tristar Sect was practically a puppet of the Ninesuns Sky Sect.
Hence, infiltrating the gang was still within the realm of
possibility. Jiang Chen decided to make full use of Lin Yanyu’s capacity as a
local and tasked him with collecting all sorts of information about the Star
Harvesters.
However, four days days later, he received another bit of
news.
“Master, I’ve just received inside information that the Star
Harvesters is planning to auction off Master Mu after the Bounty Arena.”
Jiang Chen was extremely surprised by the news. Was the clan
finally revealing their true greedy selves? Auctioning a pill dao genius like
any ordinary product was actually incredibly shameful for a gang of their
stature.
“Tsk tsk. It seems they really do prefer money over face.”
There was some contempt within Jiang Chen’s comment.
However, Lin Yanyu had a different view of this matter.
“Master, based on my observations, I can say for certain that the Star
Harvesters are no admirers of talent. However, from a long term perspective,
they would almost certainly gain more value if they foster and nurture Master
Mu.”
These words made sense. Auctioning off Mu Gaoqi at this
stage isn’t the best deal as his value was yet to reach its peak. It was
definitely not a smart business decision by the Star Harvesters. Jiang Chen had
thought that they were doing this because they’d run out of patience and
instead preferred to make some quick money.
“Yanyu, are you saying that there’s more that meets the eye
here?”
“Master, the power struggle here is a little different from
what you’re used to in Veluriyam Capital. The Capital is a little more orderly
compared to this place. There is competition between factions and also all
kinds of disputes, but overall it is a place where laws are abided by and rules
are obeyed. The same can’t be said for Pillfire City. The laws here are
slightly more primitive. Rules of the jungle and the survival of the fittest is
taken as gospel.” Lin Yanyu gritted his teeth upon reaching this point. “After
what happened to my family, I’ve realized that owning something precious might
not actually be a good thing. One’s fortune will arouse the envy of others. If
my family hadn’t found the ancient pill formula, and that certain someone
hadn’t envied my father’s pill dao talent, they would never have been
annihilated for no particular reason!”
A deep hatred suffused his voice. It was evident that he
felt a lot of contempt for the laws of Pilflire City.
“You mean that the Star Harvesters has begun to feel
pressure from owning Master Mu?” Jiang Chen seemed a little intrigued.
“Your disciple cannot offer you confirmation, but based on
my knowledge on the current state of affairs in the city, I have confidence
that it is likely the case.” Lin Yanyu theorized calmly. “The Star Harvesters
is one of the strongest factions in Pillfire City, but they are not the cream
of the crop, and nowhere close to being the strongest. Master Mu’s talent in
pill dao has probably exceeded what they can manage. The consensus in the city
is that the Star Harvesters is not worthy of Master Mu.”
Stories of trouble stemming from fortune was a daily
occurence here. The same also happened in the Myriad Domain. The Eternal
Celestial Capital and the Ninesuns Sky Sect believed that Emperor Featherflight
and an empyrean heritage was lost in the domain, which was why they plotted and
invaded the entire region, causing chaos and destruction. A weak and puny
faction possessing a treasure greatly beyond their abilities was recipe for
disaster.
In some ways, Jiang Chen understood what sort of pressure
the Star Harvesters was facing. Mu Gaoqi wasn’t the only pill dao genius with a
wood constitution in the world, but he was definitely a phoenix to be found
only once every few thousand years. An innate constitution was rare in the
Upper Eight Regions, but it was still possible to locate some. Almost every
single sect would have a few members with an innate constitution. However, an
innate wood constitution was fewer in numbers compared to other elements. That
made one of high order was as rare as a phoenix or a dragon.
An innate wood constitution genius was basically a body
built for the pursuit of pill dao. An innate wood constitution of high order
however, was a genius beyond that of common geniuses. The Star Harvesters
realized that they couldn’t hold onto Mu Gaoqi for too long, which was why they
made so many high profile promotions. Since they couldn’t hang onto him for the
long term, they might as well sell him off for a high price. It would bring
them a sizable profit and create a good relationship with the buyer.
Their issue was that they’d been waiting far too long for
the right price. They’d shown too much ambiguity and given no definite answer.
Many leading factions were incredibly dissatisfied. They believed that the gang
had gone overboard. Therefore, it was natural that they would exert some
pressure to the gang, instantly making life harder.
The Star Harvesters realized that they could delay the
matter no longer after receiving all kinds of pressure, overt and below the
table. Time was of the essence. If they continue to delay, the masses might
lose all of their patience. They would become a public enemy if the leading
factions flew into rage. They would have to live the rest of their lives like
rats, a target of scorn.
They were smart enough to realize that they couldn’t delay
matters any longer. It was the reason why they announced that they would
auction Master Mu after the Bounty Arena.
It was the smartest choice they could make. If they ever
conducted a deal in private, they would offend other factions. By having an
auction, they could protect themselves from this problem. They would offend
nobody if they left the final decision to the auction house. Everyone was
clamoring after Pill Master Mu, was it? Then name a price. An auction was a
free-for-all. The highest bidder would win the item. If one couldn’t manage to
win the bid, it meant that one wasn’t wealthy or powerful enough. There was no
one but themselves to blame. The Star Harvesters were sheltered from any
fallout. One had to praise them for making such a smart move. Jiang Chen
understood their train of thought after Lin Yanyu explained the current
situation.
“Yanyu, what exactly is the Bounty Arena?” Jiang Chen asked.
He knew nothing of the customs and practices in Pillfire City, so the Bounty
Arena was also foreign to him.
“Honored master, the Bounty Arena is one of Pillfire City’s
traditions. Actually, it’s a tradition also found in many other places in the
Upper Eight Regions,” Lin Yanyu explained.
“Oh? Is it similar to the gathering we just had in Veluriyam
Capital?” Jiang Chen asked curiously.
“Not quite. Pillfire City indeed has a similar event to
Veluriyam Capital’s recent gathering, but the Bounty Arena is an entirely
different kind of event.”
“Oh? Explain.”
“The Bounty Arena is a yearly event, with it sometimes being
held at the change of every season. There is no regularity to the event.
However, it seems that the coming one will be one of the largest they’ve held
in the recent decade. I heard that there will be nine full arenas in total,
with each full arena housing nine sub-arenas.”
“Is there a specific meaning behind this particular
arrangement of arenas?”
“The main motive behind this event lies not within the
arenas, but rather within the bounty. There will be numerous bounties in each
arena that come in the shape of all kinds of forms and requests. Some might
come as questions about martial dao, issues regarding cultivation, inquiries in
pill dao, and many other fields. One might even have to expect issues regarding
talismans, formations, and perhaps even beast taming. It’s a good platform for
someone to earn fame with the common people and build connections. Sometimes,
you might even come across an exorbitant bounty for an extremely difficult
question!”
Jiang Chen was slowly realizing the purpose of the Bounty
Arena. Simply put, it was a platform for solving problems. If someone had
questions that they couldn’t solve, they could issue a bounty and collect help
from the masses.
“If that’s the case, it’s likely very difficult to become
the lord of a full arena.” Jiang Chen immediately noticed the crux of the
matter.
“That is correct. The lord of an arena is handpicked after a
series of filtering. However, one stands to gain a lot of wealth if a position
in the full arena is acquired. Past Bounty Arenas had three full arenas, or
maybe even six at the most. Nine full arenas makes it the largest Bounty Arena
in the recent decade.” The more Lin Yanyu spoke, the more excited he became.
“Honored master, I’m certain that you’ll gain a position if you join the arena
lord tryouts!”
“Me?” Jiang Chen laughed but was actually considering the
same thing.
“The Star Harvesters are going to auction Master Mu off
after the Bounty Arena. People will no longer doubt your abilities if you join
the auction as an arena lord.”
Jiang Chen pondered deeply after hearing these words.
Chapter 1040: Signing Up
In the world of martial dao, seniority and status were
common notions. Though he was the young lord of Sacred Peafowl Mountain,
prominent in the entire Upper Eight Regions, he could not let that slip here.
Pillfire City was extremely hostile to Veluriyam Capital at present. It was
better to leave his identity unrevealed rather than risk spoiling the
proceedings. That was why he’d said that he was from Myriad Abyss Island
instead.
Myriad Abyss Island was mysterious and unfathomable. Anyone
who tried to figure out who he was shrank a few degrees from hearing those
three words. Though he was falsely flaunting someone else’s reputation as his
own, he couldn’t avoid some petty deceit if he wanted to carry out business
here. It was a common saying that it was difficult for heroes to triumph over
local villains.
Though Jiang Chen was sufficiently heroic, he had to yield
before the critical mass of local villains here in Pillfire City. He knew when
to lay low and when to rise up. There was wisdom in measuring one’s responses.
When he’d first come to Veluriyam Capital, there was no way he could have made
such great waves without House Wei as a bridge. Proceeding without information
or support could only end in failure. In the worst of circumstances, his life
could be forfeit.
During the events at Veluriyam Capital, his Taiyuan Tower
wouldn’t have been able to open without the Coiling Dragon Clan’s help. The
Majestic Clan certainly had more than enough strength to crush it in the crib.
Jiang Chen knew these truths well. He’d exhaustively considered the details and
possible problems.
Though Lin Yanyu’s suggestion was admittedly risky, it was
also the best for his current situation. If he didn’t participate in the Bounty
Arena, he might not even get a chance later to participate in the auction. The
Star Harvesters’ murky grace aside, he had no authority of speech without a
prominent title or position. Thus, the Bounty Arena was a golden opportunity.
“When does the Bounty Arena begin, Yanyu?” Jiang Chen asked.
Lin Yanyu actually really wanted his master to participate.
He wanted Jiang Chen to spread his name far and wide across Pillfire City as a
show of dominance. So, the fact that Jiang Chen was asking after it made him
quite happy. “Master, the selection process for the Bounty Arena’s arena lords
has already begun,” he answered hastily. “The actual event begins a week from
now, so there’s still time to sign up. I can take care if it, if you’d like.”
“We’re in no rush. Tell me about it first.” Jiang Chen had
no information whatsoever on his prospective goal. He needed to educate himself
first. “The sign-ups right now, are they for arena lords proper or their
assistants?”
“There’s no need to choose assistant arena lords, master,”
Lin Yanyu chuckled. “They’re only trialing for arena lords proper.”
“Oh? How are the assistants chosen, then?” Jiang Chen
blinked.
“The assistants are entirely chosen by the master of the
main arena. In fact, sometimes they are not chosen at all. An arena lord does
not necessarily require assistants,” Lin Yanyu smiled. “Historically, there
have been many who were selfish enough not to. Still, most masters do pick a
number of assistants. Typically, those who attain the post of arena lord are
otherwise prominent in Pillfire City anyway. They don’t lack power-hungry peers
or associates.”
That was enough to convey the essence of things to Jiang
Chen. To put it more plainly, the assistants shouldered the arena lord's burden
and were helpful aides.
“Wandering cultivators have a hard time becoming even these
assistant arena lords, then,” Jiang Chen sighed.
“Heh, not necessarily.” Lin Yanyu’s smile did not abate.
“The Bounty Arena attracts the attention of many powerful wandering cultivators
as well. There’s no shortage of past arena lords not tied to a specific
faction. They’ve chosen assistants for the most part, though their main
criterion in this case is individual ability. Moreover, any bounties that an
assistant collects are split fifty-fifty with the actual arena lord.”
Was this way of doing things really feasible? Jiang Chen
didn’t know what to say. Such behavior was almost equivalent to putting up jobs
for sale. There was even a fair-ish split of profits! I suppose it’s a much
more blunt and straightforward method.
“Master, do you think fifty percent to be too much to give
away?” Lin Yanyu smirked. “It’s a considerable share, but a lot of people
compete to become assistant arena lords anyway. There’s no cost to doing so,
right? The more bounties collected, the greater the raw profit for the lucky
ones who do. At the end of the day, it's all spirit stones in the pocket.”
Jiang Chen nodded. On second thought, that made more than
enough sense. He himself would be equally happy to take up the offer, were he
in the same shoes. The amount given to the arena lord notwithstanding, he still
stood to benefit from the remainder. That was much better than those entirely
ineligible. One only needed to invest time and skill to be rewarded with a
respectable return. The arena lord proper had effectively paid their sign-up
fee, after all. It was reasonable enough that he would want a return on his
investment.
Naturally, Jiang Chen had no intention of fighting for a
mere assistant's post. The only job that was worthy of his time was a true
arena lord's. “Then it’s settled, Yanyu. No need for you to sign up for me.
It’s better to keep your identity hidden for now. Just tell me the specifics.
I’ll do it myself.”
Lin Yanyu could not give away anything related to his
identity. Otherwise, he would potentially be exposed to much more danger than
Jiang Chen was currently exposed to. If Pillfire City’s factions knew that a
remnant of House Lin lingered within the city still, they would stamp it out at
any cost.
Lin Yanyu was touched by the gesture. His master was as good
of a man as he could hope for. Ordinarily, masters treated their disciples as
slave labor. There was no reason for them to care overmuch about what happened
to their lessers. But Jiang Chen showed an honest kindness and care. Though he
was nominally Lin Yanyu’s master, he acted more like an older brother.
Lin Yanyu knew that he was physically older than the other
youth, but there was a psychological reliance nevertheless. He admired Jiang
Chen almost blindly. He understood better than anyone else that if he wanted to
make something of himself and one day avenge his house, he could only hope for
his master’s aid.
Jiang Chen gathered some preliminary information from Lin
Yanyu. The Bounty Arena was run by Pillfire City, but any genius or expert from
the Upper Eight Regions was eligible to attend. However, the most elite experts
didn’t show themselves at such occasions. There was no reason for them to
unless it was a once-in-a-millennium opportunity. The big-names in the world of
martial dao cherished their reputations and cared for modesty to a certain
degree, just like everyone else. They never participated in the seasonal Bounty
Arenas to avoid damaging their prestige. It was unlikely for them to show up to
this one as well, despite its decennial nature.
There was certainly no reason for Pillfire City’s own great
emperors to show. Whether their subordinates and attendants would was slightly
more uncertain. Emperors’ factions did not concern themselves with events that
occurred more frequently than once every century, in general. There were
exceptions to every rule, though, and this particular one had been broken
reasonably frequently in the past.
Jiang Chen came to Pillfire City’s most famous attraction,
Skyfire Avenue. The city viewed it as a symbol of great pride and unrivaled
glory. The avenue headed straight towards the Pill Emperor Mountain.
The venue for the Bounty Arena was Skyfire Avenue’s very own
Temple of Cleansing Fire. It was home to an official faction of the same name.
It was quite well known throughout the Upper Eight Regions. The head of the
Temple was also the host of the Bounty Arena. Though the Temple of Cleansing
Fire itself did not house any great emperors, it was uniformly recognized by
all of the others within Pillfire City. In fact, it was a kind of compromise
that they had reached within the city. The Temple had access to a collective
smattering of channels, made available by the emperors’ factions. It had
perhaps the widest variety of tricks available to it on its home turf.
Even in the wider Upper Eight Regions, it had a formidable
reputation.
It was because of the Temple of Cleansing Fire that the
Bounty Arena was so alluring to its participants. Indeed, half of the event’s
impressiveness came from its sponsor. This decennial occurence of the Bounty
Arena stirred Pillfire City abuzz. As Jiang Chen walked on Skyfire Avenue, the
emotional atmosphere hit him with a wave of nostalgia. It was almost as if he’d
been taken back in time to the Veluriyam Pagoda gathering. Though there was a
measurable difference in the amount of airborne passion, it was a similar
sensation.
Suddenly, Jiang Chen looked forward to the Bounty Arena a
great deal more. Judging by the enthusiasm alone, this was quite the festive
setting. If he could distinguish himself at such an event, it would be very
advantageous to his future plans. Attending the Star Harvesters’ auction, for
example. Jiang Chen wanted decisively to show himself off just this once. He
needed the enormous amount of capital that the Bounty Arena could provide him,
financial and otherwise.
The site was absolutely packed where the sign-ups were
taking place. The insurmountably high fee served as a helpful deterrent.
Without it, ten times over the amount of people would have showed up. But even
so, he felt the electricity in the air.
“You want to sign up?” After a lengthy line-up, it was
finally Jiang Chen’s turn. The person in charge from the Temple of Cleansing
Fire was quite surprised at seeing such a young and unfamiliar face.
“Yes, that’s right,” Jiang Chen blinked innocently.
“There’s a security deposit of a hundred million saint
spirit stones. According to the rules, if you fail to complete any of the
bounties during the Bounty Arena, the entire deposit will be withheld from you.
Each successful bounty completed entitles you to a tenth of your principal. If
you finish ten bounties, you’re eligible to the entire sum. Ah, yes, and the
Temple of Cleansing Fire also collects ten percent of your finished bounties.
Do you understand all of this?”
“Yep,” Jiang Chen smiled. “I understand perfectly.”
“Well, you can give me your security first, then. Oh, yes,
there’s something else also. If you fail at becoming a master of the main
arena, you will be deducted ten percent of your security as well.”
This was the most important point. This particular rule shut
out people giving the arena a random shot, hoping to get luck. The organizers
used it to ensure that only those who had the ability, qualifications, and
financial clout could sign up.
