https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-45-Mount-Tai-Market-Golden-Stone-Pavilion/12831516/
Chapter 44: The Dao Discussion Platform, Eighteen Fights to the Death
Chapter 44: The Dao Discussion Platform, Eighteen Fights to the Death
Another market day, and Luo Chen arrived early at his stall.
This surprised Elder Chen greatly.
“Didn’t you say you’d only come once a month after you started refining that thing?”
“Recently, I’ve been short on spirit stones. I need to sell a batch.”
Luo Chen said nonchalantly, placing two types of pills on the stone slab.
He glanced around, a bit puzzled.
“Where’s Wang Yuan?”
“Don’t tell me you don’t know what’s happening?” Elder Chen’s expression was exaggerated.
Luo Chen was taken aback. _Should I have known?_ _I’m not the type to gossip._
He spent most of his time in the alchemy room, so most of his information about the outside world came from Gu Caiyi and Bai Meiling, who were more social.
“It’s about to get violent.”
“You mean the Break Mountain Gang and the Great River Gang? Aren’t they annoying? They only stopped fighting two months ago, and now they’re at it again?”
Elder Chen shook his head. “No, this time it’s different.”
With Elder Chen’s explanation, Luo Chen began to understand the situation.
Or rather, if he had bothered to ask around, he would have known the current state of affairs.
The ceasefire two months ago wasn’t a real ceasefire.
The Jade Peak Sword Pavilion had intervened, organizing a peace talk between Uncle Mi Hua of the Break Mountain Gang and Wang Hai Chao of the Great River Gang, both of whom were Foundation Establishment cultivators.
After all, if the fighting continued, the outer city would eventually be destroyed. The Jade Peak Sword Pavilion collected rent from both the outer and inner cities.
If everyone was dead, who would pay the rent?
But the interests at stake in the mountains were too significant for the two Foundation Establishment cultivators to give up easily.
However, they couldn’t ignore the face of the Jade Peak Sword Pavilion, the owners of the market, who represented the Jade Peak Sword Sect.
So, they agreed to a martial duel.
Each side would send nine experts to compete on the Dao Discussion Platform of the Jade Peak Sword Pavilion, with no holds barred.
The combatants were limited to those below the Foundation Establishment realm.
If the Great River Gang lost, they would abandon their business in the mountains and return to managing the Lancang River, while also ceding a waterway to the Break Mountain Gang.
If the Break Mountain Gang lost, they would transfer five of their safe routes to the Great River Gang from the ones they currently controlled.
The two months of ceasefire were used by both gangs to gather their top experts.
“So that’s why there have been so many unfamiliar cultivators in the market lately. They’re all invited experts from the two gangs!”
Luo Chen realized.
He continued his work, handing a few jade vials to a returning customer.
After receiving the spirit stones, he noticed Chen Xiuping shaking his head.
“The two gangs are significant here, but in the entire Jade Peak Domain, they’re nothing.”
Luo Chen blinked. _Why would the Jade Peak Sword Pavilion spread this news?_ _Aren’t they worried about the trouble these outsiders might cause, making the market harder to manage?_
But Elder Chen quickly answered his question.
“The Six Great Sects of the Far East each have their specialties and areas of business.”
The Joyful Union Sect dealt in the pleasure business, which had been thriving for ages.
The Divine Talisman Pavilion specialized in talismans and seals, unmatched in the six domains.
The Medicine King Sect made a fortune in pills and spirit herbs.
The Five Elements Divine Sect thrived in spiritual plants and magic.
The Heavenly Sails City specialized in magical artifacts and formations, with its Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion being unique in the six domains.
And the Jade Peak Sword Sect?
For those less-informed scattered cultivators, what notable business did the Jade Peak Sword Sect have?
The answer was none!
The Jade Peak Sword Sect was known for its combat prowess, with many sword cultivators in its ranks.
Indeed, sword cultivators are among the strongest at their level, but they don’t engage in production!
While the Jade Cauldron Sword Sect has a decent mastery of sword forging, it pales in comparison to the Sky Sail City.
Especially when it comes to the swords crafted by the Jade Cauldron Sword Sect, most are sword pills, which require full dedication and nurturing.
Most cultivators seek a variety of combat techniques; who would want to rely on a single sword to conquer the world?
In contrast, general-purpose flying swords are much more versatile.
As for alchemy, talisman making, and array arts, while the Jade Cauldron Sword Sect does dabble in them, they are far from being the best compared to other sects.
"Following your logic, do you mean that all the cultivators of the Jade Cauldron Sword Sect are living off thin air?"
Luo Chen was still somewhat incredulous.
"That’s not the case. After all, this entire region belongs to them," Old Dao Chen explained, well-versed in these matters. "For example, the Clock and Cauldron House, the Daoist Discussion Platform, and other businesses are all theirs."
Inns? Arenas?
How much spirit stone could they possibly earn from those?
"Our monthly rent and stall fees are also a source of income for them."
"Another major source of income is that the Jade Cauldron Domain is closest to the Million Mountains. Most of the rare materials and treasures from the mountains are prioritized for acquisition by the Jade Cauldron Sword Sect. Then, they sell these raw materials to other sects in the Six Realms."
Luo Chen grinned, "But it still sounds a bit meager!"
He pointed to the prominent buildings in the center of the city, "If that’s the case, why don’t the sword cultivators drive out the other sects from the Jade Cauldron Domain and take over these businesses themselves?"
Even if the sword sect’s elixirs and talismans are of poor quality, they would still be better than those of the cultivation families and independent cultivators.
With their swords in hand, who would dare not buy from them?
"They wouldn’t dare!" Old Dao Chen whispered, "The Jade Cauldron Domain wasn’t established by the Jade Cauldron Sword Sect alone. The other five major sects and the various smaller sects in the domain also contributed to its establishment."
Now Luo Chen understood.
If the Jade Cauldron Domain were a company, the Jade Cauldron Sword Sect would be the largest shareholder and CEO.
Other sects would hold shares as well.
However, the profits of this company are not evenly distributed.
Each sect earns what they can based on their own capabilities.
The sword sect merely has the home-field advantage.
After Old Dao Chen’s explanation, Luo Chen had a clear understanding of the current situation.
The Daoist Discussion Platform itself is a significant business for the Jade Cauldron Sword Sect.
Now, with the spectacle of two factions competing, they have invited eighteen experts to engage in a life-or-death battle, maximizing the value of this event.
So, they spread the news, and just the ticket sales alone will bring in substantial profits.
If they organize additional activities, such as an auction, they can earn even more.
"Indeed, there are no fools among cultivators!"
Luo Chen sighed.
What appears to be a conflict between two factions is, in fact, a lucrative opportunity for the Jade Cauldron Sword Sect.
Regardless of whether the Mountain Breaker Gang or the Great River Gang wins, the treasures they obtain from the mountains will still be prioritized for acquisition by the local Jade Cauldron Sword Pavilion.
The meat might be rotting in the pot, but it’s better to let the scent waft out to attract more wild dogs to be slaughtered.
Unfortunately, this has nothing to do with Luo Chen, who is only at the Fourth Stage of Qi Condensation.
Wait, that’s not entirely true.
His good friend Wang Yuan is the top combatant representing the Mountain Breaker Gang this time.
Yes, Wang Yuan is the Mountain Breaker Gang’s Double Flower Red Stick!
"Should I go support Wang Yuan?"
(End of Chapter)
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