"Then, since we've seen through the harm in it, wouldn't it be enough to cut it off in advance?"
When Bai Youlou spoke, he sounded as matter-of-fact as though he were a native cultivator of Heyang City.
"The problem is, whoever's behind this won't be easy to deal with."
Xu Qing gestured to Bai Youlou, then picked up another exquisitely crafted talisman from the table.
His fingers moved from top to bottom, and as his fingertips traveled, he gave a detailed explanation.
"Spirit White Stone, a specialty of Thousand Hearts Sect; Cloud-Flying Pearls from Farewell Cloud Sect; Thunder-Splitting Stone from Divine Firmament Sect. The refining methods are standard Molten Fire Sect workmanship. Then there are the counterweight ornaments, all manner of supplementary materials..."
With every name Xu Qing recited, Bai Youlou's expression grew uglier. By the time Xu Qing had analyzed the origins of every item, his face had darkened like still water.
"You mean the people pulling the strings behind this aren't one or two individuals, nor one or two sects, but at least ten sects acting together?"
"It's something with guaranteed profit and no loss. The greater the profit, the more eyes it attracts. If no one can shoulder the responsibility alone, then finding more partners to share the risks is only natural, isn't it?"
A cold smile hung from Xu Qing's lips as he spoke.
"All I can say is that the times have truly changed. Back then, if you wanted to harvest the fattened leeks, why would you need so many dealers joining hands?"
"Have these people gone mad?"
Bai Youlou slammed his palm onto the table. The shoddy peachwood table instantly shattered into four pieces beneath his force.
"Do they not understand that their sects can bring in so many temporary resources every year only