Jinge of the Gold and Silver Alliance

After obtaining the agreement of the two Foundation Establishment cultivators, Yang Tianyou and Zhao Yunxiao left the Two-Yi True Water Formation and flew toward Yellowstone Market.

As for why the latter had come along, the reason was simple: he didn't trust Yang Tianyou.

Along the way, though both men had already sentenced the other to death in their hearts, they remained friendly on the surface.

Zhao Yunxiao also cultivated a metal-attribute Cultivation Method. The Zhao Household's White Tiger Seven-Kill Instruction was well known throughout Dragon Valley County.

At Yang Tianyou's suggestion, the two even discussed their insights into cultivating metal-attribute Cultivation Methods on the way.

The journey spanned more than a thousand li, and it took them several hours to fly there.

After entering Yellowstone Market, Yang Tianyou led Zhao Yunxiao straight to Jinge's residence.

That was right. The friend he had spoken of was none other than Jinge.

Before long, a magnificent tower appeared before them. It was the Golden Moon Pavilion.

Yang Tianyou made his way to Jinge's residence with practiced ease, then sent him a message.

Jinge soon came out to greet them with a smile. When he saw Zhao Yunxiao, he froze briefly, but only for an instant; the latter didn't even notice the change in his expression.

"Have you been well lately, Daoist Friends Yang?"

Jinge cupped his hands. Without a word, his usual "Brother Yang" had become "Daoist Friends Yang."

Had the two grown distant? Of course not. This was precisely what made Jinge shrewd: the moment he saw Yang Tianyou standing with Zhao Yunxiao, he understood, and his manner quietly changed as well.

"I've been well, though I've missed you dearly after just a few days apart, Daoist Friends Jin!"

Yang Tianyou showed nothing either, exchanging pleasantries before following Jinge inside.

In the sitting room, the three sat facing one another. Yang Tianyou spoke first. "Daoist Friends Jin, if I'm not mistaken, you must be a member of the Gold and Silver Alliance's Jin Household, correct?"

"That's right, I am a member of the Jin Household. Why do you ask, Daoist Friends Yang? Is something the matter?"

Jinge admitted it with a smile and offered no denial.

Yang Tianyou's heart stirred. Though he had long suspected it, now that it was confirmed, he couldn't help marveling at how extraordinary his good friend's background truly was.

Zhao Yunxiao, who had been listening beside them, could no longer sit still. "The Gold and Silver Alliance? Truly?"

"What? Do you think I, a direct descendant of the Jin Household, would lie to you?"

Jinge's cheeks tightened, and his tone was displeased.

As he spoke, he slapped a golden, diamond-shaped token onto the table. The character "Jin" was engraved prominently on its face, carrying a distinctive charm somewhat like the Dao charm a Golden Core cultivator emitted.

"Of course not, of course not! I was only a little shocked. Why would an esteemed member of the Gold and Silver Alliance's Jin Household grace a bitter, barren place like our Dragon Valley County with his presence?"

Zhao Yunxiao hurriedly cupped his hands, his face wreathed in smiles as he apologized.

"What's so surprising about that? The Gold and Silver Alliance does business throughout all thirteen prefectures of Qin Province. Isn't Dragon Valley County part of Qin Province?"

Jinge glanced at him and spoke irritably.

"I see. I was ignorant and ill-informed. Please be magnanimous, Daoist Friends Jin, and don't take offense!"

"Hmph. I'll let it pass this time for Daoist Friends Yang's sake, but you'd best be more careful in the future. Remember, sometimes disaster comes out of the mouth!"

"Yes, yes, yes. Your reprimand is well deserved, Daoist Friends Jin!"

Jinge had dominated the entire conversation, and Yang Tianyou, listening beside them, couldn't help reflecting that in the cultivation world, strength truly did determine status.

Before a Nascent Soul lineage like the Jin Household, Foundation Establishment lineages like the Yang Household and Zhao Household counted for nothing.

"All right, I've told you who I am. Daoist Friends Yang, perhaps you can now tell me why you've come?"

Jinge toyed with the cup of spirit wine in his hand, took a small sip, and asked with a smile.

Yang Tianyou and Zhao Yunxiao exchanged a glance. In the end, the former spoke. "To be frank, Daoist Friends Jin, we came to make a deal with your sect."

"Oh? What sort of deal?"

Jinge straightened slightly, though his tone still betrayed little concern.

"It's a Third-Tier Lower-Grade Golden Core Law Treasure!"

"Third-Tier Lower-Grade, a Golden Core Law Treasure?"

Jinge sat bolt upright. This time he wasn't pretending; he was genuinely shocked.

The Yang Household had obtained a Third Tier Law Treasure? And together with their mortal enemies, the Zhao Household?

"It is indeed a Golden Core Law Treasure, but there's only one, not enough for our two households to divide. That's why we want to sell it to your sect in exchange for some cultivation resources. Please help us with this, Daoist Friends Jin!"

Yang Tianyou kept his manner very humble and, as he spoke, slipped Jinge a Storage Bag.

The latter put the Storage Bag away without a flicker of expression and coughed softly. "There's no need to stand on ceremony, Daoist Friends Yang. We're acquainted, so how could I refuse to help? Wait here while I fetch my clan uncle. He's a Golden Core cultivator, so it's better to leave this kind of business to him!"

Jinge stood and walked outside.

Once Jinge was out of sight, Yang Tianyou suddenly held up one finger and said expressionlessly, "One thousand Spirit Stones!"

"What?"

Zhao Yunxiao looked utterly bewildered.

"What? Did you expect me to pay Daoist Friends Jin's fee alone? Then why did you come along?"

Yang Tianyou asked "in confusion."

Of course I came to keep an eye on you!

But Zhao Yunxiao didn't say that aloud. Holding his nose, he took some spirit medicine from his Storage Bag and handed it to Yang Tianyou, then turned away and ignored him, closing his eyes to rest.

Yang Tianyou cheerfully put away the spirit medicine, quite pleased with himself. One payment out and one in—just right. I didn't spend a single coin!

The fee he had given Jinge was real, of course, but it wasn't as much as two thousand Spirit Stones. It was only half that: one thousand Spirit Stones.

There was nothing unusual about friends helping each other with small matters, but selling Dragon Valley Hall was undoubtedly a major affair. Naturally, he had to give Jinge something for his trouble. Even brothers kept clear accounts, after all.

Meanwhile, Jinge walked out of the room, a smile immediately spreading across his face.

"What a fine Brother Yang, bringing me such a huge deal! Looks like I'll have more money for wine again. I must thank him properly later!"

What Yang Tianyou didn't know was that, in a large merchant alliance like the Gold and Silver Alliance, members earned much of their contribution through business.

Within the Gold and Silver Alliance, if a disciple negotiated a deal on his own, he could receive a certain amount of compensation—a commission.

Now Yang Tianyou had brought him a deal involving a Third-Tier Lower-Grade Golden Core Law Treasure. As the one who introduced it, Jinge stood to earn at least several thousand Spirit Stones in commission. Even for him, that was no small sum.

In high spirits, Jinge wore a smile all the way there, making his already genial bearing seem even more approachable.

After knocking, Jinge waited outside the room for a while, and the door opened in response.

"Little Ge, what did you call me for? Run out of Spirit Stones for wine again?"

A handsome young man in a long azure robe walked out, his hair hanging loose, his voice teasing.

The young man wore a smile, but unlike Jinge's, which gave people an impression of sincerity, his seemed carefree and gave him a flighty air.