Who Was Skimming Off the Top?

The area around Denglai Mountain Market is mostly hilly.

Some hilltops were simply bare of trees.

In some cases, even half of the mountain itself has been excavated.

This place is a quarry, and the ground is covered with grayish-white Shitou.

The quarries in Denglai Mountain Market are almost all under the management of the Xiao Clan.

The remaining mountainside, resembling a steep stone slope, provides some shade from the scorching sun every morning.

But in the afternoon, the hillside blocked the cool breeze, and the sun continued to shine here, making the temperature even higher.

The air seemed to be steaming, and the people working here felt their straw sandals burning hot Shangdu the Shitou, their bodies covered in sweat, their skin turning red and black.

They used hammers and chisels to drill a row of holes in the boulder, then replaced the chisels with wooden wedges and inserted them into the holes, and poured water on the wood.

As moisture seeps into the wood, the wood gradually expands, and all the pores work together to crack the boulder.

Smaller stones were transported out using baskets and mule carts.

Quarrying stone by hand is probably the most arduous kind of labor.

The foreman built a shed and pavilion on the edge of the quarry, where there was more soil than stone and a few small weeds.

The shaded area was where the laborers rested at noon and in the evening.

The pavilion was where the supervisors and managers sat.

"Stop! Stop!"

The group of overseers walked into the quarry, banging gongs. "The foreman is giving everyone a half-day off today; you can all go home now."

The laborers looked up, wiped away their sweat, and showed no joy.

Until the supervisors said, "You'll still get paid for this half-day."

The laborers felt as if they had been suddenly struck by a great surprise. They all put in extra effort, hurriedly packed up their tools, shouted their thanks to the pavilion, and rushed home.

Judging from their expressions, they were afraid that the person in charge would change their mind again.

The steward of the Xiao Clan was a slightly plump middle-aged man. He wore a gauze crown and a brass-colored silk robe. He sat in the pavilion, fanning himself with a palm-leaf fan.

"As you instructed, they have been sent home."

The manager secretly glanced at the young man in the wide-sleeved cloth robe sitting opposite him, but dared not look him in the eye.

Chu Tianshu poured some cold tea into his cup, gulped it down, and laughed, "Don't make me sound like some kind of villain. It's a good thing that everyone's going home."

"By the way, I've heard that wages at all the businesses under your Xiao Clan's name have been decreasing year by year?"

Shen Minglai's power existed in the form of a classic gang. After defining a territory in the Hundred Li- long area of Denglai Mountain Market, he collected money from all the shops, brothels, and taverns within that territory every month.

Although their gangs control a number of land deeds and property deeds, they don't have many people directly involved in their operations. Instead, they mainly use their influence to maintain the gang's presence by guarding the premises and patrolling.

Not only Shen Minglai, but also the previous representative of the Hou Clan faction here had a similar style.

When the Xiao Clan first arrived in Denglai Mountain Market, they took control of the local shipyard.

They ordered the relocation of a large number of craftsmen and their families, bringing with them more advanced shipbuilding techniques.

The business of inspecting and repairing foreign ships quickly fell to them.

Then, the construction of houses expanded from shipbuilding to the construction of various mansions, palaces, temples, and pavilions.

Their craftsmen even participated in the repair and construction of roads and bridges.

More locals were drawn to the opportunity to send their children and grandchildren to these craftsmen as apprentices, thus unknowingly becoming appendages of the Xiao Clan.

When Chu Tianshu attacked Shen Minglai, he also killed some high-ranking and important figures in the gang.

Because such fierce and brutal gang forces rise and fall suddenly, and there is little need to manage them afterward. As long as the Hou Clan, their backer, has not sent a new leader, the gang will naturally be broken down and devoured.

As for the Xiao Clan's influence in the area...

Chu Tianshu did not use any particularly brutal methods.

He carried a pot of cold tea and walked from the logging camp and shipyard to the quarry, stopping and starting as if he were just looking around.

They stopped at the quarry.

The head steward of the Xiao Clan had also been among the crowd on the street that day and had seen Chu Tianshu. He then told all the stewards about it when he got back.

The quarry manager, caught red-handed by this scoundrel, naturally fawned over him and dared not show the slightest disrespect.

"I only manage a quarry; I have no say in wages."

Chu Tianshu didn't make things difficult for him, and just looked into the distance.

"Among the three of you, surely one is a Xiao Clan? A person of such high Attaining the Dao wouldn't claim to be of low rank and insignificant position. Could you please enlighten me?"

The quarry manager was startled and stared intently.

At the top of the rocky slope, three figures appeared, calm and composed, gracefully descending the steep slope.

The reason for this is simple.

Xiao Shexin said calmly, "Every year, too many people flock to the Xiao Clan's businesses to work."

"With more people sharing the money, less will actually get to go."

Chu Tianshu chuckled.

"That's as if the total amount of wages they should receive has never changed."

"But in reality, the more people work, the more money your Xiao Clan earns. It's one thing not to raise their wages, but how can it be that their wages decrease year after year?"

Xiao Shexin frowned slightly.

They're just a bunch of laborers; he wouldn't normally care about that.

That was just a casual reply. I vaguely remember it being something one of the stewards used to reprimand the servants.

I almost forgot about this obvious flaw.

"The increase in the number of artisans is like the increase in the number of Attaining the Dao beings."

Chu Tianshu poured himself another cup of cold tea; the brown tea, like a thin stream of water, poured into the cup.

The sound of water droplets splashing was continuous, not exactly pleasant to hear, but it had a comforting, gurgling quality.

Those who Attaining the Dao early in life are more likely to receive generous rewards, occupy prestigious positions, and grow extremely powerful.

"For example, Celebration of the Sage Temple was originally just a Outer Dao sect that broke away from the Buddhist sects in the north and was suppressed by the major Buddhist sects at the time."

"Since the Monk Qingsheng Attaining the Dao enlightenment and was appointed as the National Preceptor, his power has increased year by year, and now he can be considered the number one sect in the world."

"Looking at the Yellow Mountain Ancestor, he Attaining the Dao decades later than the Monk Qingsheng, and was thus subject to various attempts and restrictions from different factions in the Southern Dynasty."

"Aside from some honorary titles and rewards, the Yellow Mountain Sect only about three hundred disciples and followers to date."

Xiao Shexin was originally quite wary of Chu Tianshu's powerful aura.

However, now that the three Attaining the Dao beings have gathered here, there is nothing to fear.

What is it you wish to say?

Xiao Shexin's tone was somewhat forceful, "How can Attaining the Dao person be compared to a mere craftsman?"

"In this life, the pursuit of profit is nothing but competition. The Yellow Mountain Ancestor considered himself superior and was not good at business, so he didn't compete much. He can only blame himself; who else can he blame?"

Upon hearing this, Song Zixian agreed, saying, "That's right. Back then, I also thought that I was unable to realize my ambitions and talents because I was constrained by the times."

"But since joining the Hou Clan, I now have far more disciples and followers under my control than I did back then."

"It's clear that the situation itself wasn't problematic; it's just that I was young back then and lacked the foresight to see it clearly."

His words already carried a hint of invitation.

Chu Tianshu just smiled.

"The emergence of Attaining the Dao beings clearly marks the beginning of a new era, and the overall scale of the times will undergo tremendous changes."

He said softly, "If you continue to act with outdated perspectives, you'll never catch up with something far more aging than yourself."

Fa Wendao's eyes flickered slightly. "Does Your Excellency perhaps intend to persuade us to help you take control of Denglai Mountain Market, so that we can unite and create a new situation?"

Xiao Shexin suddenly stopped.

Song Zixian's expression also changed.

Upon closer reflection, it turns out that there were actually four Attaining the Dao beings present.

If these four could truly unite and seize Denglai Mountain Market, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to call them a newly emerging behemoth in the world today.

But upon further reflection, Song Zixian rejected the idea.

He had known Hou Tianyuan for many years, their interests intertwined countless times, and they had finally managed to build a relatively comfortable relationship. Could joining a new faction truly guarantee him even greater benefits than before?

Even he is like this, so it is even less likely that Xiao Shexin would betray the Xiao Clan.

Even if the Yellow Mountain Ancestor were here, how could he have severed all ties with various factions in the Southern Dynasty over the years, or simply changed his appearance?

"Haha, it seems you were even slightly tempted."

Chu Tianshu said, "I didn't originally refine this explanation for you to hear."

"Now, let's test it on you guys, and the results are quite good."

Song Zixian felt slighted and inwardly furious. She sneered, "As long as you withdraw from Denglai Mountain Market, you can use this excuse with whomever you want."

That's naive. I don't believe that any major power would be willing to gamble their future on you, all by yourself.

I'm afraid that if they make a fuss for too long, they won't even be able to establish their own sect, and they'll have to rely on a powerful force.

"I won't leave."

Chu Tianshu spoke frankly, downing the cup of tea he had just poured in one gulp.

He looked at the blazing sunlight in the sky, which made all the rocks on the ground appear white and shiny. The heat of the sunlight penetrated into the ground, making even the soil scalding hot to the touch.

"That depends on your capabilities!"

As soon as Song Zixian finished speaking, the three of them simultaneously extended their left hands.

They were all experienced individuals, and even though they were outnumbered three to one and felt confident of victory, they did not truly underestimate their opponents.

When each person makes a move, they should use half their strength, reserving the other half for contingencies.

Even so, the combined strength of the three was equivalent to that of an Attaining the Dao being, who exerted fifteen percent of his power from a distance.

The essence of heaven and earth was drawn and driven by their power.

It was as if a colorless giant wave had risen from the ground, surging forward from where the three of them stood.

By the time they approached the pavilion, the giant wave was more than three times the height of the pavilion and more than five zhang (approximately 10 meters) wide.

A sturdy pavilion made of wood and stone, under this giant wave, resembled a small earthen nest built by ants, and would be destroyed at the slightest touch.

Despite the immense power, the three sensed something was amiss.

Because the giant wave was too slow, the palm strike Attaining the Dao a master could be faster than sound.

This giant wave, however, seemed to travel at only one-third the speed of sound.

Moreover, the energy of heaven and earth gathered was not as abundant as expected.

It was as if something was interfering with or restricting their gathering of the energy of heaven and earth.

What could possibly have diminished their immense power over heaven and earth?!

Don't you think there's a problem with the old rules?

"Then don't forget, I was here first!"

(End of this chapter)