Earth-Treading Tiger

After seeing off the Four Seas Chamber of Commerce,

Jiang Ding sat cross-legged, closing his eyes as he nourished branches sixty through one hundred of the Foot Lesser Yin Kidney Meridian, the twelfth of the twelve regular meridians. Inner qi surged from the vortex in his dantian, circulating throughout his body before gradually seeping into them.

A faint stabbing pain was soothed by a wave of warmth as it circulated without end.

He estimated that within a day, he would finish tempering and nourishing his 1,200th meridian branch, reaching the realm of the Lesser Circulation.

As for the Four Seas Chamber of Commerce's heavy losses, all he could say was that it was regrettable.

In business, there were always profits and losses. They had to bear the risks and rewards themselves.

He did not think highly of the likes of Tiger Den, but that did not matter. Business was business; there was no need to mix anything else into it.

As long as they delivered the goods, he would pay. There would be no discrimination whatsoever.

Knock, knock!

"Master, Lord Ding Feng of the Brocade Dragon Chamber of Commerce has brought a guest to visit," Huang Deyou said from outside.

"Show them in."

Huang Deyou froze for a moment. After waiting a while, he left with gritted teeth.

He could not understand this master's standards for receiving guests. Long Shi and Liu Qi of the Wild Wolf Gang were one thing, and he had personally gone out to welcome the Four Seas Chamber of Commerce. Why was he utterly ignoring the president of the Brocade Dragon Chamber of Commerce, which was even larger than the Four Seas Chamber of Commerce?

Huang Deyou nervously explained the situation.

"Looks like Young Master Jiang is dissatisfied," the burly man in a cloak said with a smile.

"It's no matter."

A kindly smile hung on Ding Feng's face as he stepped inside.

The moment he entered the courtyard, the masked burly man froze, his expression turning slightly cold.

Jiang Ding's gaze swept over him and lingered for a moment.

This was an old acquaintance—the bandit leader who had previously led men to besiege Long San's caravan. He had not expected the other man to be the one handling the negotiations this time as well.

"Young Master Jiang, I have some small reputation in this part of Eastspirit Prefecture. Friends from all corners of the land give Ding some face when passing through."

Ding Feng stroked his beard and smiled.

"This is the Seventh Chief of Tiger Den, one of its Seven Tigers—Earth-Treading Tiger, Lu Hou. Entrusted by the old master of the stronghold, Eastern Mountain Flying Tiger Lu Jingtian, he has come to negotiate with you."

"As for how things turn out, I am merely an intermediary. It has nothing to do with me."

Though he said that, he did not leave, merely stepping aside.

Jiang Ding smiled faintly.

"The original price no longer counts. You must add another Lesser Void-Breaking Pill!"

Lu Hou threw back his cloak, revealing a face crisscrossed with scars. He said viciously, "Young Master Jiang, it has been a long time. I wonder whether you have been well during these days since you killed my nephew?"

Jiang Ding glanced at him.

Ding Feng remained composed, seemingly lost in thought.

"See them out."

Jiang Ding lifted his teacup.

Lu Hou and Ding Feng were both stunned. Had they not said that the Blueglow Butterflies were extremely important to him, important enough that he would even trade breakthrough pills for them?

"What, do you need me to see you out myself?"

Jiang Ding placed a hand on his sword hilt, a trace of killing intent leaking out as he asked.

The vicious expression on Lu Hou's face changed. Recalling how the other man killed people as easily as chickens, he immediately grew frightened.

This deal had been arranged jointly by the stronghold master and the heads of other major forces. If he caused them to receive nothing at all...

At that thought, his face turned pale as he looked toward Ding Feng beside him.

"Ha ha!"

Ding Feng laughed heartily, breaking the dead silence in the courtyard. "Why must you be like this, Young Master? In business, there is always one party naming a price and the other bargaining. There is no reason to reject someone outright from the start."

Jiang Ding sneered. "But there is also no reason for every random stray to come here and extort me. Who knows how many nephews he has? If one nephew can be exchanged for a Lesser Void-Breaking Pill, then everyone in Tiger Den is probably his nephew."

"You..."

Veins bulged on Lu Hou's forehead, but under Ding Feng's cold, stern gaze, he had no choice but to suppress himself.

Jiang Ding did not even look at him. "Do you know the price I agreed upon with the Four Seas Chamber of Commerce?"

"Four Lesser Void-Breaking Pills capable of allowing one to break through to minor inner qi attainment, and one Void-Breaking Pill capable of allowing one to break through to major inner qi attainment," Ding Feng recited smoothly. "Three pills have already been paid. For every remaining 150,000 pairs of Blueglow Butterflies, there will be one Lesser Void-Breaking Pill, and the final 150,000 pairs will be exchanged for the Void-Breaking Pill."

Lu Hou could not help swallowing.

With one Lesser Void-Breaking Pill, he could become a major inner qi attainment expert within days. In this part of Eastspirit Prefecture, he would count as someone significant.

So long as experts at the completion of inner qi like the stronghold master did not emerge, he could run rampant in one region.

"Then what is there to say?" Jiang Ding said calmly. "You deliver the Blueglow Butterflies, and I give you the pills. Goods and payment, both settled."

"Why ask when you already know, Young Master Jiang?"

Ding Feng smiled. "This deal was arranged jointly by several great masters. How could one Lesser Void-Breaking Pill and one Void-Breaking Pill possibly be enough to divide among them?"

"Oh?"

Jiang Ding tilted his head as though listening intently.

"The masters' intention is..." Ding Feng paused, staring at the youth before him. "At least three Void-Breaking Pills capable of breaking through to major inner qi attainment!"

"I understand."

Jiang Ding nodded, saying evenly, "You have taken me for some wish-granting Buddha. Three Void-Breaking Pills—I could name a price in the martial world high enough to buy the heads of five inner qi completion martial artists."

Ding Feng's expression did not change. "Young Master Jiang, martial artists at inner qi completion are all leaders of their own forces. They may not be so easy to hire. Besides..."

His words carried an implicit threat.

"There are only so many Blueglow Butterflies on Eastspirit Mountain. If something happens to this batch, they may not grow back even after another ten years."

"Good. Very good."

Jiang Ding smiled as killing intent spread wildly within his heart.

Lu Hou felt a chill run down his spine, as if some fierce beast were staring at him.

"Please consider it carefully, Young Master."

Ding Feng remained utterly fearless, seemingly certain that Jiang Ding would yield.

"Leave. Deliver the Blueglow Butterflies within three days, or the deal is void." Jiang Ding picked up his teacup and threw it to the ground, letting it shatter as scalding tea splashed everywhere.

Yield? He would not yield in the slightest.

He had already revealed enough wealth. If he gave up several times more breakthrough pills after just a little pressure, what would the true masters of Eastspirit Prefecture—the Eastern Pacifying Marquis's Estate—think?

Putting himself in their shoes, Jiang Ding imagined the mindset of a powerful faction leader who had yet to break through to the innate realm. Once he did, even he could not help wanting to send troops to seize it all.

No matter how powerful his backing was, could it surpass the imperial family?

When the time came, most of the treasures could simply be presented as tribute. Who could do anything about it?

"Young Master, this..."

Ding Feng's expression changed. He repeatedly tried to persuade him, offering all kinds of reasons, but the other party remained silent, seeming to have already drifted elsewhere in thought.

Yet yielding was impossible.

There were major figures behind this matter, and none of them could afford to suffer losses. How could he dare make a decision on their behalf?

"No matter what, the old terms with the Four Seas Chamber of Commerce are absolutely impossible."

Left with no choice, Ding Feng could only take his leave and report to the great figures behind him, letting them make the decision.

"In three days, we will visit again."

Watching the two men's departing backs, cold light flickered in Jiang Ding's eyes. He then calmed himself, closed his eyes, and regulated his breathing as he nourished the tiny branch meridians of the Foot Lesser Yin Kidney Meridian.

At a certain moment, Jiang Ding's aura suddenly surged by a level before gradually settling.

"The Lesser Circulation is complete."

Jiang Ding examined himself inwardly. Inner qi rushed like a stream through the major and minor meridians, as well as the minute branch meridians, of the twelve regular meridians. It flowed endlessly, then returned to the vortex in his dantian, without end.

The speed at which he tempered the tiny branch meridians each day surged again, doubling from forty to eighty.

The next realm was the Great Circulation.

After nourishing one thousand tiny branch meridians in each of the twelve regular meridians, he would smash through the barriers of the eight extraordinary meridians—such as the Conception and Governing Vessels—with the force of great rivers, then nourish those eight extraordinary meridians until they matched the twelve regular meridians. This was the Fledgling Great Circulation.

Even among Immortal Sect cultivators, more than ninety-five percent of mortals would never reach this realm in their lifetimes.

Whoosh!

With the nearly minor attainment Minor Breath-Concealing Technique activated to its fullest, Jiang Ding's figure vanished.