Earth-Treading Tiger

After seeing off the Four Seas Chamber of Commerce,

Jiang Ding sat cross-legged, closed his eyes, and nurtured the 60th through 100th minor branches of the Foot Lesser Yin Kidney Meridian, the twelfth of the regular meridians. Inner qi surged from the vortex in his dantian, circulating throughout his body before gradually seeping into them.

A faint prickling pain was soothed by a warm current, cycling without end.

He expected to finish tempering and nurturing his 1,200th meridian within a day, reaching the Lesser Celestial Circuit realm.

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

In business, there would always be losses and profits. One had to bear the risks and rewards oneself.

He did not think highly of people like those from Tiger Den, but that was unimportant. 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 guests to visit." Huang Deyou spoke from outside the door.

"Bring them in."

Huang Deyou froze, waited for a while, then left with difficulty.

He did not understand this master's standards for receiving guests. Wild Wolf Gang members like Long Shi and Liu Qi were one thing; when the Four Seas Chamber of Commerce visited, Jiang Ding had personally come out to greet them. Why did he pay no heed when the president of the Brocade Dragon Chamber of Commerce, which was even larger than the Four Seas Chamber of Commerce, came calling?

Huang Deyou explained with trembling fear.

"It seems Young Master Jiang harbors some dissatisfaction." A burly man wearing a cloak laughed.

"No matter."

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

The instant they entered the courtyard, the masked burly man froze, his expression turning faintly 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 in surrounding Long San's caravan. He had not expected the other man to be the one handling these negotiations as well.

"Young Master Jiang, I have a modest reputation in this corner of Eastspirit Prefecture. Friends from every mountain and river give Ding a measure of face when passing through."

Ding Feng stroked his beard and smiled.

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

"As for the outcome, I am merely an intermediary. It has nothing to do with me."

Though he said that, he did not leave. He merely stepped 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. Ferociously, he said, "Young Master Jiang, long time no see. Have you been well these days after killing my nephew?"

Jiang Ding glanced at him.

Ding Feng remained calm and composed, seemingly wandering beyond the clouds.

"See them out."

Jiang Ding lifted his teacup.

Lu Hou and the other man were stunned. Had they not said that the Blueglow Butterflies were of extreme importance to him, so much so that he would not hesitate to use realm-breaking pills?

"What, do you two need me to escort you out myself?"

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

Lu Hou's ferocious expression changed. Remembering how the other man killed people like chickens, he immediately grew terrified.

This deal had been arranged jointly by the stronghold master and the heads of several other major powers. If they got nothing at all because of him...

Thinking of that, his face turned slightly pale, and he looked toward Ding Feng beside him.

"Hahaha!"

Ding Feng laughed heartily, breaking the dead silence. "Why must Young Master be like this? In business, there is always one party naming a price and the other bargaining. There is no reason to shut people out from a thousand miles away at the very start."

Jiang Ding sneered. "But neither is there any reason for any stray cat or dog to come extort me. Who knows how many nephews he has? If one nephew can be exchanged for one Lesser Void-Breaking Pill, then everyone in Tiger Den must be his nephew."

"You..."

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

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

"Four Lesser Void-Breaking Pills capable of breaking through to minor inner qi attainment, and one Void-Breaking Pill capable of breaking through to major inner qi attainment." Ding Feng recited it as though he knew every treasure in his house. "Three have already been paid. For every remaining 150,000 pairs of Blueglow Butterflies, there will be one Lesser Void-Breaking Pill. The final 150,000 pairs will be exchanged for the Void-Breaking Pill."

Lu Hou involuntarily swallowed.

With a 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 of standing.

So long as experts at the pinnacle of inner qi, such as the stronghold master, did not emerge, he could run rampant across one region.

"Then what is there to say?" Jiang Ding said flatly. "You deliver the Blueglow Butterflies, and I give you the pills. Money and goods exchanged, both sides settled cleanly."

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

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

"Oh?"

Jiang Ding leaned forward as if listening intently.

"The lords mean..." 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, his voice calm. "You have taken me for a wish-granting Bodhisattva. Three Void-Breaking Pills—if I openly named a price in the martial world, it would be enough to buy the heads of five pinnacle inner qi martial artists."

Ding Feng's expression did not change. "Young Master Jiang, pinnacle inner qi martial artists are all leaders of factions. They may not be so easily hired. Besides..."

A threat lay hidden in his words.

"The Blueglow Butterflies on Eastspirit Mountain are limited in number. If anything happens to this batch, they may not grow back even after another ten years."

"Good. Very good."

Jiang Ding smiled, killing intent growing wantonly within his heart.

A chill ran down Lu Hou's spine, as though some savage beast had fixed its gaze upon him.

"Please consider it carefully, Young Master."

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

"Leave. Deliver the Blueglow Butterflies within three days, or this transaction is void." Jiang Ding raised his teacup and smashed it onto the ground, letting it shatter as scalding tea splashed everywhere.

Yielding? He would not yield even an inch.

The wealth he had revealed was already more than enough. If he merely faced a little pressure and then produced several times more realm-breaking pills, what would the Eastern Pacifying Marquis's Estate, the true masters of Eastspirit Prefecture, think?

Putting himself in their position, Jiang Ding imagined the mindset of a major faction leader who had yet to break through to the Innate realm. Once he placed himself in that role, even he could not help wanting to send troops to seize it all.

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

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

"Young Master, this..."

Ding Feng's expression changed. He repeatedly tried to persuade him with every sort of reason, but Jiang Ding remained silent throughout, as though his thoughts had drifted beyond the clouds.

Yet yielding was impossible.

There were great figures behind this matter, each with their own interests. No one could be allowed to suffer losses. How could he dare make decisions for them?

"No matter what, according to the Four Seas Chamber of Commerce's old precedent, it is absolutely impossible."

Helplessly, Ding Feng could only take his leave and report to the great figures behind him, letting them decide.

"Three days from now, we will visit again."

Watching the two men's retreating backs, cold light flickered in Jiang Ding's eyes. Then he calmed his mind, closed his eyes, regulated his breathing, and nurtured the minute branch meridians of the Foot Lesser Yin Kidney Meridian.

At a certain moment, Jiang Ding's aura surged sharply, then gradually settled.

"The Lesser Celestial Circuit is complete."

Jiang Ding examined himself inwardly. His inner qi rushed like streams through the major meridians, lesser meridians, and minute branch meridians of the twelve regular meridians, flowing without end before returning to the vortex in his dantian, eternal and unceasing.

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

The next realm was the Greater Celestial Circuit.

Each of the twelve regular meridians had to nurture one thousand minute branch meridians. Then, with the force of the Yangtze and Yellow Rivers, one had to crash through the barriers of the eight extraordinary meridians—Ren, Du, and the rest—and nurture those eight extraordinary meridians until they matched the twelve regular meridians. This was the Young Eagle Great Circulation.

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

Whoosh!

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