Negotiations with the Merchant Guild

Guessing the identity of the long-haired female cultivator, Lan Chang'an felt slightly surprised, somewhat surprised.

He couldn't help but think of Li Congren's description of the Jiuchen Merchant Association:

"Demonic Cult will also give the chamber of commerce a small amount of money. Even if they encounter it, they can spend money to eliminate the disaster without killing them all."

At that time, Lan Chang'an just felt that Jiuchen Merchant Association had great energy and could eat both black and white.

At this moment, he felt like he was on a pirate ship.

Who would have thought that the long-haired female cultivator who joined halfway and covered her face with gauze would be the direct disciple of leader Demonic Cult.

"Fairy Shi finally let this woman go."

Lan Chang'an thought secretly.

In the past two years, as the border situation has become chaotic, Demonic Cult has been recuperating for many years and has begun to take shape, possessing a great say in the surrounding areas.

Miss Wei's identity, looking at this area, is more intimidating than the sect's True Disciple.

The choice of Fairy Shi and Lan Chang'an is not difficult to understand.

Even if Miss Wei is killed, the hidden danger will not be eliminated. Once Demonic Cult is discovered, as a direct disciple of the leader, he will never give up.

If Miss Wei is not killed, Lan Chang'an will have erased her relevant memories in the secret realm.

If you let this woman go, you should let her make a decision Heart Demon Oath.

Even if it is exposed one day in the future.

Fairy Shi, as Third-Order Array Master, is definitely the target of solicitation by all major forces.

Even Third-Order Array Master, who has a cultivation level of False Core, has a status that is completely comparable to that of a True Alchemy cultivator.

By then, it will not be easy for Demonic Cult to move Fairy Shi, and he may even be tempted to solicit.

"Before leaving the ruins, I wonder if Fairy Shi followed my suggestion and destroyed the formation at the core of the ruins, causing the collapsing space to collapse."

Back in the room, Lan Chang'an was a little curious about this.

This is only possible when Fairy Shi becomes Third-Order Array Master, and it requires a lot of skill to trigger a chain reaction of High Antiquity's remaining formation.

Miss Wei, who just boarded Spirit Ship, probably knows this answer.

Lan Chang'an had previously taken care of Miss Wei's life at will, but now he did not dare to reveal his identity and ask questions face to face.

Judging from Miss Wei's treatment.

He suspected that Jiuchen Merchant Association and Demonic Cult had a deep collusion.

Decades ago, Demonic Cult was defeated in the Liang Kingdom Cultivation World, but it had learned lessons from the past. Jing Kingdom in the neutral country of cultivating immortals seemed to be developing well, at least it had penetrated into the Merchant Alliance.

The pattern of the Jing Kingdom Cultivation World is different from the Liang Kingdom.

In the Liang Kingdom, the sect is the supreme power and has absolute dominance.

However, Jing Kingdom and Merchant Alliance are very powerful and can even compete with the sects in the country.

Merchant Alliance of the Jing Kingdom, united by large and small chambers of commerce, stick together for warmth, advocate trade and freedom, and control most of the Immortal City and Marketplace channels in the country.

Compared to the sect, Merchant Alliance is less repulsive to Demonic Cult, and is more profit-seeking.

"If Jiuchen Merchant Association and Demonic Cult are indeed colluding, it's not entirely bad news for this cross-border trip."

After a while, Lan Chang'an figured out the link.

Two days later.

Spirit Ship of the Jiuchen Merchant Association has returned to the right track and is gradually leaving the Liang Kingdom border.

Lan Chang'an sensed that Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi outside Spirit Ship was becoming increasingly thinner, even almost extinct.

In this case, the power of many Law Technique will be greatly reduced.

The flight speed is slow and recovery is more difficult for Law Power.

Coupled with the chaos between the two countries during the war, it was indeed difficult to feel safe while traveling alone.

With the protective power of the Jiuchen Merchant Association and Spirit Ship, it can at least prevent all kinds of robberies.

Lan Chang'an looked back in the direction of the Liang Kingdom through the window of the guest room. What he saw was a deserted place, and his mood seemed complicated.

Now, he is one hundred and forty-two years old and has been practicing in the Liang Kingdom for more than one hundred and twenty years. It is inevitable that he has some ties to the people and things in that land.

However, Lan Chang'an obtaining a complete Golden Core Realm fortuitous opportunity, including Golden Core Realm spiritual objects, requires a stable cultivation environment.

First cultivate to the peak of Foundation Establishment, then find another place Third-Order Spiritual Vein Golden Core Realm.

I left this time, met up with old friends, and traded Core Transformation Secret Technique. Overall, it was quite satisfactory.

The only regret is that I didn't get to see Zhao Siyao.

When he arrived at Golden Cloud Valley, Zhao Siyao was in retreat, preparing for the Golden Core Realm.

Even Zhao Siyao's disciple Zhao Tan went to guard the front lines.

"Wu Daoyou."

Restriction on the door was touched, and Purple-Faced Strongman next door asked Lan Chang'an to visit.

Purple-Faced Strongman was injured, so he reluctantly took out three thousand Spirit Stone and stayed in the guest room next to Lan Chang'an.

This person is Sha Qi heavy and not very gregarious. On Spirit Ship, he can only chat with Lan Chang'an.

"Fellow Daoist Fang Please come in."

In the guest room, the two chatted about the war.

Between words, Purple-Faced Strongman revealed his dissatisfaction with the upper echelons of the Liang Kingdom sect.

"If the Liang Kingdom sect hadn't started the war recklessly and took the lead in invading other countries, we wouldn't be in the situation we are in today."

""Azure Underworld Secret Realm" was originally going to be opened in three or four years. It was originally the way for many Foundation Establishment Daoists to obtain Golden Core Realm fortuitous opportunity..."

Purple-Faced Strongman spoke fiercely, with hatred in his eyes.

Because of the war, he was forced to go to the front line and almost died. Later, he became a deserter and was wanted by the sect.

If it were a peaceful era, he would reach the peak of Foundation Establishment Late Stage in a few years, just in time to participate in the Azure Underworld Secret Realm, and his strength would be among the upper reaches.

"Affected by the war, "Azure Underworld Secret Realm" may not be able to be opened smoothly."

Lan Chang'an sighed, not sure about this.

Because of the war situation, he had already made a choice, choosing to attack Ancient Ruins and giving up Azure Underworld Secret Realm.

There is a saying, Lan Chang'an did not tell Purple-Faced Strongman.

Even if the Liang Kingdom sect did not invade Feng Kingdom first, the war would come sooner or later.

This is the conclusion reached by Lan Chang'an from the information of the Heavenly Knowledge Pavilion.

"The sect inspects the monks!"

While chatting, an exclamation came from the end of Spirit Ship, which was a bit commotion.

The two walked out of the room.

I saw two Spirit Boats about ten feet long coming from behind Spirit Ship.

There is a Pseudo-Core True Person on each of the two Spirit Boats, leading a total of twenty Foundation Establishment monks.

"Spirit Ship ahead, accept inspection!"

Those two Spirit Boat fly faster than the huge Spirit Ship, so they can't escape.

Jiuchen Merchant Association's Spirit Ship did not disobey and stopped.

Unless you don't want to do business, Liang Guo's sect will cooperate with routine inspections and Jing Guo Ling ships coming and going.

The true elixir masters of the sects along the border are stationed in the border area. If there is a problem, the patrolling monks can contact them through emergency messaging.

"Two True Person, when leaving Bauhinia Immortal City, our Spirit Ship has been inspected."

Inside the Spirit Ship of the Jiuchen Merchant Association, a middle-aged man in a Confucian shirt came out with a smile and said in a neither humble nor overbearing tone.

The middle-aged man in Confucian shirt is Pseudo-Core True Person who sits on the Jiuchen Merchant Association Spirit Ship.

In fact, Spirit Ship gave the green light all the way after leaving Liang Kingdom, and this is the first time he has been investigated.

"We have received the latest clue that there may be fugitives from the sect who have sneaked into Spirit Ship of your Chamber of Commerce."

"Please rest assured, sir, we are only arresting fugitives and have no intention of making things difficult for your chamber of commerce."

This team of sect patrolling monks were quite polite to the Jiuchen Merchant Association.

Jing Kingdom Merchant Alliance Each of the three major chambers of commerce has Zhendan monks in charge, with strong financial resources and extraordinary influence.

"Jiuchen Merchant Association is willing to cooperate with the investigation. I hope that after boarding the ship, you will not disturb the distinguished guests at the top of Spirit Ship."

The middle-aged scholar raised his hand and asked the Spirit Ship formation to open a channel.

One of the sects, False Core, led a dozen Foundation Establishment monks into Spirit Ship to search.

"Wu Daoyou, Fang go back to the room first."

Purple-Faced Strongman's heart trembled and his calves felt weak. He forced himself to calm down and returned to the adjacent guest room.

The frightened monk is not only Purple-Faced Strongman.

The dozens of the Liang Kingdom monks who boarded the ship were essentially stowaways, and many of their identities were kept secret.

An hour later.

For monk Liang Kingdom on Spirit Ship, it is a kind of torture.

The only good news is.

This team of sect monks did not check too carefully. They entered every room and only asked a few simple questions.

Many of the guest rooms on Spirit Ship are monks from the Jing Kingdom Merchant Association.

Liang Kingdom monk, only occupies part of it.

Not long after.

Two sect monks entered Lan Chang'an's room with wary expressions.

"What is your name?"

"Wu Fan."

"What are you doing at the Jing Kingdom?"

"Wu is a traveling merchant named Rogue Cultivator, traveling between the two countries and doing some small business."

Lan Chang'an said with a normal expression.

Strictly speaking, Rogue Cultivator is not under the control of the sect.

The two monks looked at Lan Chang'an for a few times, found nothing unusual, and left the room.

This group of sect monks did not go to the superior guest rooms to investigate.

Two of the Foundation Establishment monks had just approached the guest room of "Young Master Wang". They seemed to have received some instructions from a voice transmission and suddenly bowed and retreated.

An hour later.

This team of sect monks has completed their inspection.

A total of seven fugitives and suspicious persons were arrested. One of the monks disobeyed and was killed on the spot.

Jiuchen Merchant Association not only did not stop it, but also assisted in the arrest and maintained order.

Of the seven monks who suffered, two were from the guest rooms and five were from the bilge.

Phew!

Purple-Faced Strongman in the adjacent room, cold sweat broke out on his back, took a long breath, and watched the sect's patrolling monks go away.

Lan Chang'an came to visit and asked about the situation, but Purple-Faced Strongman was vague.

In fact, Lan Chang'an's Divine Sense discovered the truth.

Purple-Faced Strongman had injuries on his body, Sha Qi was very serious, and was rather suspicious, attracting two sect monks to explore and interrogate him.

At the critical moment, Purple-Faced Strongman bribed the patrolling monks, donated a large amount of property, and escaped.

"The guest rooms on Spirit Ship are private spaces and are isolated by Restriction. Only in this way can there be room for private bribery and negotiation..."

Lan Chang'an secret channel.

Half of the monks who boarded the ship were in the cargo hold below, and the other half were in the guest rooms.

Five people were arrested in the former, while only two were arrested in the latter.

In the cargo hold, in full view of everyone, there is no way to openly bribe.

Once you become a key suspect, you will be arrested and taken away, leaving little room for maneuver.

Furthermore, the monks of the sect will also watch the dishes being served.

The monks who live in the guest rooms have stronger financial resources. If some tough opponents fight hard and have Talisman Treasure-type trump cards in their hands, they will also face the risk of backlash.

Of course, staying in a guest room does not mean that you are safe and sound, but it just gives you more opportunities to control your destiny.

Not every patrolling monk is easy to talk to or easy to bribe.

Lan Chang'an even suspected that each trip might have certain mission indicators.

The Jiuchen Merchant Association monks were accustomed to the inspections of the sect monks, as if it was just a small episode and they didn't pay much attention to it.

But then two days later.

Many monks living in the cargo hold negotiated with the Jiuchen Merchant Association, hoping to spend Spirit Stone to move to guest rooms.

Obviously, staying in a guest room is more secure, and smuggling to the Jing Kingdom has a greater chance of survival.

"What! It takes six thousand Spirit Stone to stay in a guest room? Before, it was three thousand Spirit Stone."

Brother Liang Kingdom, who went to negotiate, felt chilled.

The price of the room has doubled!

"To tell you the truth, the guest rooms are almost full."

"The price increase is actually a fair screening for you."

Jiuchen Merchant Association's manager is careless and honest.

Most of the monks in the cargo hold were in a tight situation. After spending a lot of money to board the ship, their Spirit Stone was basically drained.

In the end, there were only a few monks who could afford the six thousand Spirit Stone to upgrade.

You know, a top-quality Law Artifact is only two thousand Spirit Stone.

In the Foundation Establishment Realm, there are not many monks with Lan Chang'an's worth in the Liang Kingdom.

Then half a month.

Jiuchen Merchant Association and Spirit Ship are safe and sound.

After that, no monks from the sect came to inspect it; the pirate repairmen on the road did not dare to take advantage of this Spirit Ship.

During this half month, the fate of many monks Liang Kingdom who boarded the ship changed.

Especially the monks in the bottom cabin.

Some craftsmen, in order to obtain safety guarantees, sign a contract of prostitution with a monk from a certain chamber of commerce on Spirit Ship.

For example, if you work for a certain chamber of commerce for twenty years and become a member of the chamber of commerce, you will gain a legal status and be guaranteed to arrive at the Jing Kingdom safely.

There is also a female nun in the bottom cabin who sells her body on Spirit Ship in order to collect Spirit Stone and stay in a guest room.

Foundation Establishment female cultivator, placed in the small place of the Liang Kingdom, can be called a high-ranking fairy, or even the ancestor of a family.

Now he has put down his noble figure and prostrates himself at the knees of others.

Lan Chang'an's door was also knocked by such a female cultivator.

"The journey to move to another country is difficult, like a lamb being slaughtered. This road is really not suitable for ordinary monks..."

Lan Chang'an sighed in his heart.

Compare that to the struggles of the monks in the bilge.

Spirit Ship Young Master Wang on the third floor lives a peaceful life of singing and dancing, escaping to a foreign country and having a beautiful maid waiting on her.

Lan Chang'an is also curious, who is this Young Master Wang, who can make the sect inspect the monks and not dare to come in for inspection.

He once wanted to use Divine Sense to explore its true appearance, but finally held back.

If there is any special treasure on the opponent's body that can be detected by induction, it would be purely an extraneous issue.

This day.

A trade fair was held in the auditorium on the second floor of Spirit Ship.

All monks who live in guest rooms are eligible to participate.

Liang Kingdom monks only account for a small part. Most of them are Jing Kingdom Merchant Alliance monks from major chambers of commerce.

Now, Spirit Ship is far away from the Liang Kingdom Cultivation World, so there is no need to worry about the inspections of the sect monks.

Lan Chang'an and Fang Purple-Faced Strongman attended the trade fair together.

Purple-Faced Strongman After that bribery, I actually didn't have much Spirit Stone left on me.

He came to the trade fair mainly to get to know Jing Kingdom Merchant Association monks, or to establish good relationships with powerful Liang Kingdom monks.

The auditorium is quite large, with dozens of wooden square tables placed there.

The monks present can sell or buy certain items on the square table.

At the trade fair, Lan Chang'an saw Young Master Wang and Miss Wei.

Many people gathered in front of Young Master Wang's square table, including Jing Kingdom businessmen and Liang Kingdom monks.

Miss Wei had no items for sale. He simply walked around the fair, and his eyes occasionally lingered briefly on a certain square table.

Lan Chang'an It can be seen that Miss Wei's injuries have not healed yet.

It seems that after leaving Ancient Ruins, something happened and he was injured again.

"Fellow Daoist Wu, how do you think about what Jia said last time?"

Walking to a square table, a dark and thin old man in his fifties with bright eyes looked at Lan Chang'an with a smile.

The thin, dark old man's surname is Jia, and he is the manager of the New Moon Merchant Association.

New Moon Merchant Association is Jing Kingdom Merchant Association who recommended Lan Chang'an to board the ship.

Of course, this matter was secretly planned by Li Congren, and the contact person was not the same person.

The Steward Jia in front of me did not know the identity of Lan Chang'an. I only knew that he was the monk Jing Kingdom recommended by his own chamber of commerce to board the ship.

"Wu introduced Rogue Cultivator. He is used to freedom. He really doesn't want to sign that contract and be driven by others for twenty years."

Lan Chang'an flatly refused.

A few days ago, Steward Jia of the New Moon Merchant Association took the initiative to contact Lan Chang'an and wanted Lan Chang'an to sign a twenty-year contract of renunciation and act as Escort Guard of the chamber of commerce.

During the contract period, supply Spirit Vein Dao Field and basic Spirit Stone Spiritual Rice demand.

The biggest reward is to give Lan Chang'an a legal identity of the Chamber of Commerce, which can ensure the safe arrival of the Jing Kingdom.

"Wu Daoyou, you must think clearly, today is your last chance. I only have such good intentions because you are destined to the New Moon Merchant Association."

Steward Jia said with a slightly cold expression.

"If your chamber of commerce is willing to give you a status as a worshipper, Wu can consider it."

Lan Chang'an thought for a moment and didn't refuse.

Enshrining status means having a higher status and much more freedom.

Lan Chang'an From here to the Jing Kingdom, it will take many years to reach the ninth floor of Foundation Establishment, Second-Order Spiritual Vein is indispensable.

For the Golden Core Realm, Third-Order Spiritual Vein is required.

If he can establish a good relationship with the local chamber of commerce, it will be beneficial to his Golden Core Realm plan.

"To worship?" Steward Jia was startled for a moment and asked, "May I ask what skills you have?"

"If Alchemist or the formation master reaches Second-Order Middle-Grade, and other skills reach Second-Order High-Grade, it can be negotiated, but a twenty-year contract will still have to be signed."

Lan Chang'an thought about it for a moment, and realized that Puppet Master and Talisman Master were the only ones who could achieve Second-Order High-Grade's personal skills.

"Wu has a second-level low-level skill, and he can become an external monk of your chamber of commerce without forcing him to become a priest. However, the contract signed must not exceed ten years, and personal freedom cannot be forced."

Lan Chang'an said in deep thought.

Steward Jia laughed dumbly, a trace of sarcasm flashed in his eyes, and ignored Lan Chang'an.

At the trade fair.

Lan Chang'an negotiated with two chambers of commerce and the conditions they gave were equally harsh.

Lan Chang'an has a feeling that these chambers of commerce seem to have a winning chance and are not worried about him not submitting.

(End of chapter)