Family Cultivation: Rise of the Wilderness

Chapter 135 Monkey Valley

"Manager Li, you have misunderstood. I did receive a favor from an elder of the Soul Suppressing Sect in the past, but I have absolutely no connection with the Soul Suppressing Sect. Moreover, I also have cooperation with the Shengyi Sect."

Zhao Jindou quickly clarified, his words displaying the shrewdness of a businessman.

Shengyi Sect absolutely does not want to see anyone provide supplies to Zhenhun Sect, and similarly, Zhenhun Sect cannot stand anyone supporting Shengyi Sect.

However, if it's a traveling merchant, both parties can accept it.

Because the supplies provided by itinerant merchants were limited, they could hardly influence the course of the war.

As the war dragged on, the supplies in both sects dwindled rapidly, and the disciples under their command found it increasingly difficult to obtain supplies. In many cases, even with money, they could not buy pills or talismans.

At this time, the intervention of itinerant merchants can alleviate the pressure on the sect and provide these disciples with additional supplies.

But there is a prerequisite: the itinerant merchants cannot have any political stance.

If the traveling merchants only sell their goods to the Zhenhun Sect and ignore the Shengyi Sect, the Shengyi Sect will not hesitate to slaughter them all.

Therefore, Zhao Jindou could not admit that he was a traveling merchant from the Zhenhun Sect.

"What Mr. Zhao said may not be wrong, but Sheng Yimen may not believe it."

Li Xiangming shook his head and sighed, his words carrying a hidden meaning.

Upon hearing this, Zhao Jindou clenched his fists, his heart churning with emotion.

Shengyi Sect naturally trusts him, otherwise they wouldn't be cooperating with him. But if the Li family interferes, that's another matter.

Ultimately, he was just a traveling merchant, while the Li family was a renowned and powerful clan. Even if the Li family fabricated stories, it would still be enough for Shengyimen to consider.

Moreover, he recently saw members of the Li family in Dainan. Does this mean that the Li family has formed an alliance with Shengyimen?
Thinking of this, Zhao Jindou's face turned bitter: "Why is Manager Li making things difficult for me?"

"If Fellow Daoist Zhao is completely innocent, why is there any talk of making things difficult for him?"

Li Xiangming calmly refilled the other party's tea: "Fellow Daoist Zhao will not suffer any losses by cooperating with my Li family. In the internal strife of Dai Mountain, entering Puyin Mountain from Dai Mountain is undoubtedly asking for trouble. Fellow Daoist Zhao should also understand this, otherwise he would not have come here."

"There are already quite a few independent cultivators near Monkey Valley, and there will only be more in the future. My Li family only has the strength of one family. How can we meet the needs of so many cultivators?"

Li Xiangming's gaze was deep, and his words were earnest: "Fellow Daoist Zhao has traveled all over the country and has a wide network of connections. Whether it is the rogue cultivators here or our Li family, we all need you."

Compared to itinerant merchants like Zhao Jindou, the Li family was a behemoth, but insignificant compared to the many independent cultivators.

If the pie is made bigger, the Li family will never be able to finish it, and Zhao Jintou will also be able to reap huge profits from it.

This is a no-brainer.

After a long pause, Zhao Jindou slowly said, "Could you allow me a few days to consider this?"

He only believed in immediate benefits and was not interested in the empty promises made by Li Xiangming.

However, he dared not explicitly refuse Li Xiangming. The reason was simple: as the largest traveling merchant to and from the central entrance of Puyin Mountain, if he refused the Li family's proposal, the effect of the Li family opening up Monkey Valley would be greatly reduced.

Since independent cultivators can find their way to complete transactions outside, why bother coming to Monkey Valley?

In this way, the Li family would naturally not tolerate him, and he had no doubt that the young man in front of him would kill him.

"Of course, Fellow Daoist Zhao, please consider it carefully after you return. I await your good news."

Li Xiangming smiled in response, assuming that Zhao Jindou was reluctant to part with the market in the middle section of Puyin Mountain.

Luxury is easy to obtain but hard to give up; once you've gained something, why would you give it up?
If they are unwilling to give up, they must cooperate with the Li family.

Who says this is Li family territory, where the animal trapping house possesses the greatest military force?

Once Zhao Jindou agrees to settle in Monkey Valley, Li Xiangming is confident that he can tie him to the Li family for mutual benefit, while cutting off a major supply source for the Soul Suppressing Sect.

As Zhao Jindou said, he also cooperates with Shengyi Sect, so why is he so fond of Zhenhun Sect?
What is the importance of so-called favors compared to the closely related interests?

For the next few days, Li Xiangming instructed Li Xiangfeng to keep an eye on Zhao Jindou.

Wherever Zhao Jindou went, the Li family followed.

As a result, Zhao Jindou lost several business deals, but there was nothing he could do about it.

We can't exactly take action against the Li family, can we?
He couldn't stay in the middle section of Puyin Mountain any longer.

After much deliberation, Zhao Jindou returned to Monkey Valley once again.
-
"Fourth brother, how was your harvest today?"

On the outskirts of Puyin Mountain, a middle-aged cultivator with an unkempt appearance asked with a faint smile.

"It was barely satisfactory; we only managed to hunt down two Jade Civets."

Another middle-aged monk shook his head.

"The Jade Civet?" Lu Mao was taken aback for a moment, then immediately asked, "Are there any alive? This is a valuable item; I've heard it's very famous in Pushui Market."

"The most famous is the Iron-Tailed Jade-Broken Civet, a specialty of Tengjiao Workshop."

The fourth brother shook his head: "Wild Jade Civets are worthless."

Upon hearing this, Lü Mao showed a look of regret.

"By the way, Boss Lü, I have some goods on hand. Could you help me sell them?"

The fourth brother suddenly whispered.

"No problem, I happen to have something to sell as well."

Lu Mao nodded in agreement. Lao Si was the friend he had known the longest in Puyin Mountain, so he naturally had to help with this favor.

Seeing this, the other cultivators around him cheered and wanted to join in the fun.

Hunting monsters is fraught with danger; only when people sell monster materials in exchange for spirit stones can they experience the joy of overcoming hardship.

"Let's go together."

Lu Mao smiled and led five or six people away from Puyin Mountain.

Soon, Lü Mao and his group arrived at a secluded hillside, but they did not see any traveling merchants for a long time.

"Boss Lü, what's going on?"

After waiting for a long time, everyone was getting a little anxious.

Lu Mao frowned. He had worked with many traveling merchants, and today he had arranged to meet the most reliable one, but the other party had stood him up.

"Perhaps something has delayed things."

Lu Mao guessed that merchants, especially itinerant merchants, are actually very punctual despite their nomadic lifestyles. It is rare for them to break their promises like today.

Just as he was thinking this, Lü Mao suddenly sensed something and took out a sound transmission talisman.

"come yet?"

The fourth brother couldn't help but ask.

"Zhao Jindou told us to go to Monkey Valley."

Lu Mao put away the talisman, his expression solemn.

"Monkey Valley? Isn't that the Li family's territory?"

Everyone was confused.

"I don't know, but let's go and see. The Li family is a prestigious family, they wouldn't stoop to harming us."

Lu Mao said in a low voice that the Li family had kept a very low profile in Dangui Mountain in the past, and only moved into Monkey Valley more than half a year ago. During that time, they kept to themselves and other independent cultivators.

This alone has already earned him a higher regard from everyone, as it is common for sects and families in various regions to exploit independent cultivators.

Take Daishan as an example. When the Zhenhun Sect and Shengyi Sect fought fiercely, the most casualties were not the disciples of the two sects, but the rogue cultivators who were forcibly conscripted to the battlefield from their respective autonomous regions.

Today, many people who fled from Daishan live in the middle section of Puyin Mountain.

Before long, the group arrived at Monkey Valley, where they saw that the valley entrance was surrounded by verdant hills and lush green grass, with a stone archway standing in front of them.

The archway bears the three large characters "Monkey Valley," and a flag with the character "Li" on it flutters in the wind.

"Is no one guarding it?"

Lu Mao hesitated for a moment, but he was not one to back down from trouble, so he immediately stepped into the valley.

Before long, they saw the cultivators in the valley.

"They don't seem to be from the Li family; they seem to be from another demon-hunting group."

The fourth brother's eyes never stopped darting around, and when he saw some familiar faces, he couldn't help but whisper.

"Ah."

Lu Mao naturally noticed this scene as well. Since they weren't from the Li family and no one was stopping them, the group continued walking.

Soon, they found a man with a mustache in an open space.

(End of this chapter)