The Operation Begins
Zheng Qiufeng spoke first, which startled Jin Lianri. However, he quickly understood, gave the former a deep look, and remained silent, which was taken as tacit acceptance of Zheng Qiufeng's promise.
Why was Zheng Qiufeng even more proactive than Jin Lianri? It was because this matter concerned his own interests.
As a former representative of the Gold and Silver Alliance's Legacy Faction, Zheng Qiufeng was sent to Dragon Valley County to compete with Jin Lianri, representing the Jin Household, for the right to purchase Cold Tide supplies.
In the end, Zheng Qiufeng outmaneuvered the others and reached an agreement with the Three Rivers Sect and the Feng Household, who together kicked Jin Lianri out.
Left with no other choice, Jin Lianri had to consolidate the remaining twenty-odd Foundation Establishment Lineage in Dragon Valley County and seize control of the procurement rights for these smaller forces' resources. For this matter, Jinge even personally came to Purple Moon Mountain to discuss it with Yang Tianyou.
But as the saying goes, "Man proposes, God disposes," and no one could have imagined that a Cold Tide would destroy the Three Rivers Sect, wiping out more than a thousand disciples and over a million Mortal.
The once prosperous Golden Core sect now has only two Golden Core Qi Refining and Foundation Establishment disciples who went to fight at Crouching Ox Pass, barely managing to keep the sect afloat. It is a truly pitiful situation.
Under these circumstances, the Three Rivers Sect's control over its territory has plummeted, and its resource collection capabilities after the Cold Tide have also been greatly reduced.
Not to mention, Qi Yulong is lurking in the shadows, while the Feng Household is out in the open, all eagerly watching and plotting.
Whether the Three Rivers Sect can withstand this Cold Tide is truly uncertain.
As a result, Zheng Qiufeng, who had originally reached a material purchase agreement with the Three Rivers Sect, was now in a predicament. Although the Feng Household was still there to support him, the total amount would definitely not meet the sect's requirements.
Therefore, when the Yang Household expressed their intention to cooperate with the Gold and Silver Alliance, Zheng Qiufeng was even more enthusiastic than Jin Lianri. After all, Yang Haoyu had been talking about doing business with the Gold and Silver Alliance from beginning to end, not with the Jin Household.
As Zheng Qiufeng spoke on behalf of the Gold and Silver Alliance, wasn't he overstepping his bounds?
Yang Haoyu looked surprised upon hearing Zheng Qiufeng's words, but was secretly delighted.
She didn't care how the two Golden Core Cultivators divided the spoils in private afterward; at the moment, the Yang Household's goal had been achieved.
Afterwards, the two Gold and Silver Alliance Golden Core Yang Haoyu engaged in a discussion that lasted for an hour, focusing on the scope of the material acquisition, the Yang Household's representation, and the integration of other Foundation Establishment Lineage.
During this period, Yang Haoyu argued forcefully and sharply, securing considerable benefits for the Yang Household.
The three ultimately decided that the Yang Household would take the lead, uniting with other Foundation Establishment Lineage to compete for various resources in Dragon Valley County, such as unclaimed Spirit Fields, Spirit Mines, and Spirit Veins, while the Gold and Silver Alliance would remain behind the scenes to support the Yang Household.
In contrast, the various Spirit Items collected by the Yang Household, such as Spirit Gold, Inner Cores, Beast Hides, and Spirit Wood, were all handed over to the Gold and Silver Alliance for sale. In particular, the Gold and Silver Alliance would offer a suitable purchase price for the Ice and Snow Spirit Items.
In addition, the Gold and Silver Alliance will allocate some Cultivation Resources to the Yang Household Shops for sale. These resources are relatively rare in Dragon Valley County, and even if it's just to make a profit from the price difference, it can still be quite lucrative.
As for the duration of this cooperation agreement, neither party mentioned it. After all, given the current turbulent situation, the future of all cultivators and forces is uncertain, so it's best to focus on the present.
As for the agreement? In the end, it's nothing more than a piece of paper.
The Gold and Silver Alliance would not enter into Heaven and Earth Contract with the Yang Household, or rather, they rarely enter into Heaven and Earth Contract in normal business dealings.
Otherwise, the Three Rivers Sect Feng Household wouldn't have so easily sided with the Legacy Faction.
It is worth mentioning that after this new agreement was reached, the previous acquisition agreement signed by Yang Tianyou and Jinge was automatically voided. From now on, the cooperation between the Yang Household and Gold and Silver Alliance will be conducted in accordance with the terms of the current agreement.
After the cooperation was reached, the relationship between the two parties became closer and the atmosphere became more harmonious.
Two more hours passed, and Fifth Granduncle Yang Dangmo sent word that the Liu Household had agreed to a marriage alliance with the Yang Household, and that two Foundation Establishment would be sent to participate in the subsequent actions against the Zhao Household.
As darkness gradually fell, the stars, which had been obscured by dark Dark Clouds, slowly returned to their proper positions as the Cold Tide receded.
Soft starlight, accompanied by a cold wind, fell upon the earth. Yang Tianyou slightly raised his head, feeling the coolness on his cheeks, and revealed a contented smile. The sky... had brightened!
The next morning, Yang Tianyou rushed back to Huafeng Black Market to begin executing the Lineage plan.
The Yang Household's intelligence network is divided into two parts. The overt intelligence department is under the jurisdiction of the External Affairs Hall and is led by the eldest uncle Yang Qiongye.
The Shadow Hall, located in the shadows, is headed by the Old Ancestor Yang Haoyu, with the Thirteenth Granduncle Yang Danglong as the deputy head. It has more than thirty Yang Household Members under its command, all of whom have been secretly trained.
However, since the Shadow Hall clansmen disguised themselves as Rogue Cultivators, they inevitably had to go to Crouching Ox Pass to resist the Foreign Races when the Cold Tide broke out.
After the fall of Crouching Ox Pass, a large number of Rogue Cultivators were killed, and the Shadow Hall clansmen also suffered heavy casualties. More than ten elite clan members perished, leaving only twenty-six clan members alive. However, they still served the Lineage diligently, passing on various intelligence.
Yang Tianyou held these clansmen in high esteem. After returning to the Lineage this time, he specially collected a lot of Cultivation Resources and distributed them to the Shadow Hall clansmen as a reward for their silent dedication to the Lineage.
Having received the resources, the Shadow Hall clansmen were noticeably more motivated. In just three days, an astonishing piece of news spread rapidly, centered around Zhao Household Border River Town.
It is said that the Zhao Household Border River Town has obtained the inheritance of Zhou Zhenhao, the Dragon Valley Sect Dragon Valley Sword Immortal Inheritance Elder, the inheritor of the Dragon Valley Sect two hundred years ago. Even the Dragon Valley Hall, Grotto-Heaven Law Treasure of the Third Tier rank, has fallen into the hands of the Zhao Household.
In an instant, this sudden news was like a beacon in the darkness, attracting attention from all sides: the major Foundation Establishment Lineage, the Orthodox and Demonic Paths, Foreign Races... and even the Dragon Valley Sect!
On a hill of moderate size, halfway up the mountain, sits a house built with Bluestone Tiles.
The house is not tall, and its gray-blue color scheme gives it a simple and rustic feel, like an ordinary Mortal's dwelling.
Yet, amidst the wind and snow, not a single snowflake graced the Bluestone Tiles, highlighting the extraordinary nature of the place's owner.
A black light hurtled in from the horizon, and as it drew nearer, a figure as imposing as an iron tower came into view.
This man was burly, nearly ten feet tall, with dark blue skin covered in writhing demonic patterns. His somewhat dull, rough face was covered with dense, interconnected scars, vaguely resembling a ferocious and terrifying Rakshasa Demon roaring to the sky.
Iron Rakshasa, a prominent figure in the Dragon Valley Sect besides Qi Yulong, Foundation Establishment Great Perfection, and is even stronger in combat. He once faced the pursuit of the Dragon Valley Patrol Envoys, fighting five opponents single-handedly, killing two of them, and then calmly retreating.
It should be noted that among these five people, there are two Immortal Dao cultivators at the Foundation Establishment Great Perfection, which gives an idea of how dangerous this person is.