Family Cultivation: Rise of the Wilderness

Chapter 411 Lingluo Merchant Guild
After settling Shen Qingchi and the others down briefly, Li Xiangming followed Jiang Liang to the backyard.

"Is this place safe?"

Li Xiangming looked around; the area was empty.

"The courtyard has a protective barrier; it cost two hundred spirit stones."

A hint of heartache flashed in Jiang Liang's eyes. Although everyone knew that the restrictions were extremely powerful and that those who did not understand them could not force their way through, restrictions were not common in the cultivation world.

The reason is simple: the appearance fee for a restriction master is higher than that for a formation master.

Even the most basic barrier spells require at least a hundred spirit stones.

Therefore, those martial arts manuals sold by street vendors really can be viewed directly by simply picking them up.

Even if the stall owner sells a hundred copies, he still can't afford to inscribe a single restriction.

Let alone ordinary goods, even storage bags, which are considered the most precious possessions of cultivators, are rarely marked with restrictions.

Like I said before, it's too expensive.

Li Xiangming had obtained many storage bags, but only the storage bag of Ao Sheng, a second-tier array master of the Zhenhun Sect, was marked with a restriction.

He couldn't open it no matter what he tried, and eventually had to give up.

Even now, I still feel a little regretful.

As an important warehouse for the Ling She Chamber of Commerce in Pu Shui Fang City, it is understandable that Jiang Liang would spend money to set up restrictions.

Li Xiangming naturally had no objections, and even mentioned that once they made money in the future, they should inscribe a higher level of restrictions to ensure the safety of the goods.

The backyard was piled high with large boxes of various categories, numbering no less than a thousand.

Each one, once opened, reveals a dense array of jade boxes.

After observing for a while, Li Xiangming had a general idea of ​​what was going on.

Jiang Liang, who was standing next to him, explained, "About 20% has already been transported to Changyang Valley."

Is it safe on the road?

Li Xiangming asked with concern.

"It's relatively safe. We traveled by water, going upstream from Daijiang River to Yuanmen Town, then turning to Yanzi Ridge and Yiyuan Peak, finally arriving at Changyang Valley."

After listening, Li Xiangming nodded.

Other caravans or traveling merchants usually disembark at Wujin Port, a port midway along the Daijiang River, and travel eastward through numerous mountains and forests until they pass through Changtai Township of the Li family before reaching Changyang Valley.

Although the caravan of the Spirit Serpent Merchant Guild took a long detour, Yuanmen Town, Yanzi Ridge, and Yiyuan Peak were the only routes the Li family could take to transport Maojing ore. The Li family not only built roads in these places, but also sent many cultivators to patrol them regularly.

Therefore, this route is much safer than the section through Wujin Port and Changtai Township.

"How is the caravan doing?"

Li Xiangming continued to ask.

Jiang Liang recited the details with great familiarity: "Our Chamber of Commerce has a caravan in Pushui Market and Changyang Valley. Each caravan is about fifty people, mostly ordinary people, equipped with a hundred fine horses, and three guarding cultivators. However, so far, both caravans are responsible for escorting spirit herbs in Pushui Market."

Li Xiangming nodded repeatedly.

Seeing this, Jiang Liang whispered, "There aren't many merchant caravans entering Pudong. As far as I know, there are only a dozen or so. But there are countless demon-hunting cultivators scattered throughout Pudong."

“Those demon-hunting cultivators also need to consume pills and talismans, which makes itinerant merchants very rich. Although our Spirit Serpent Merchant Guild is not well-known, we should be able to make a lot of money as middlemen. However, it is a pity that we have given up this business in order to deal with spirit herbs.”

Li Xiangming fell into deep thought.

Those chambers of commerce and caravans that came to Puxian from other places would return home after doing business in Pubei and Pushuifang, and would not go to other places at all.

We can't really blame them.

Because the only prosperous place in Pu County is Pubei.

This place is home to more than 70% of the cultivators in Pu County. Other places, unless they have spiritual veins or are guarded by cultivation forces, are completely barren lands with no value for doing business.
However, this is different from the past.

Thanks to the existence of Puyin Mountain and the influence of the full opening of Pu County, the number of demon-hunting cultivators venturing into Pudong has increased year by year, long since breaking the old notion that "70% of the cultivators are from Pubei".

In other words, Pudong's market potential has always been underestimated.

However, the demon-hunting cultivators went deep into the mountains and were unknown to outsiders. Only itinerant merchants such as Zhao Jindou and Zhang Zhiang, who had been staying in Puyin Mountain, saw their value.

Ultimately, it was this group of people who made money.

Li Xiangming had been in charge of the Beast Hunting Room for many years, so he was naturally very clear about the potential of demon-hunting cultivators.

This is also why he came up with the idea of ​​establishing his own chamber of commerce.

However, his investment in the Chamber of Commerce in order to find the Thousand-Jun Grass was extremely abnormal. As the president, Jiang Liang had thousands of spirit stones in his hands, but instead of opening a shop in Pushui Market or allowing the caravans in Pushui Market and Pudong to profit from each other, he reluctantly bought up a large number of spirit herbs that he couldn't use. He must have been extremely frustrated.

This statement may well be a reminder to himself to adjust the chamber of commerce's business strategy.

"Don't worry."

Li Xiangming offered a word of comfort: "Once the spirit herbs are converted into cash, the Spirit Serpent Merchant Guild will be handed over to you entirely, and I will no longer interfere."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Liang quickly explained, "That's not what I meant."

"I know."

Li Xiangming gently patted Jiang Liang's shoulder, "I can entrust you with thousands of spirit stones, doesn't that show my trust? As long as you don't betray me, as long as I still have a place in the cultivation world, you will also become famous."

Jiang Liang was stunned and didn't say anything more.

"President!"

Just then, a slightly anxious voice rang out from outside.

Li Xiangming raised his eyebrows and went out to check.

A middle-aged scholar with a goatee stood quietly in the main hall, waiting.

"Who is this?"

The middle-aged scholar had just returned and had not seen Li Xiangming before, so he was taken aback.

"big boss!"

Jiang Liang reminded him from the side.

The middle-aged scholar stood at attention, cupped his hands in greeting, and said, "My name is Yan Shiyuan, greetings to the great master!"

"This is our chamber of commerce's accounting office."

Jiang Liang gave a brief introduction, then asked, "Mr. Yan, what happened?"

Yan Shiyuan looked up and said in a low voice, "The Lingluo Chamber of Commerce sent people to visit, and this time even their boss came in person."

"Lingluo Trading Company?"

Li Xiangming cast an inquiring glance at Jiang Liang.

Jiang Liang frowned: "This is a chamber of commerce that has recently emerged in Pushui Market. They have shops in both the West and East markets and are very wealthy. They have been interested in acquiring our chamber of commerce since they learned that our caravans frequently travel to Pudong."

"That's a good eye."

Li Xiangming said it half-jokingly.

The Spirit Serpent Chamber of Commerce has only been established for a few months, so it's quite remarkable that it has been chosen by someone.

Led by Yan Shiyuan, the two arrived at the front hall.

Upon entering, a vibrant red color immediately caught everyone's attention.

A young woman reclined languidly in the main seat of the hall, her hair meticulously styled with a few strands falling over her shoulders, perfectly complementing the pearl earrings adorning her ears. Her long red dress, as fiery as a flame, accentuated her snow-white skin, making it appear as smooth as jade.

"This is the president of the Lingluo Merchant Guild, Fairy Lingluo."

Yan Shiyuan introduced in a low voice.

The leader of the Lingluo Merchant Guild is actually a woman?
Jiang Liang was slightly surprised, but seeing Fairy Lingluo's attitude, he couldn't help but feel dissatisfied and snorted coldly: "Is this how the Lingluo Merchant Guild treats its guests?"

"President Jiang, you flatter me."

Fairy Lingluo yawned and smiled slightly, "I've been waiting for you for so long, I'm getting sleepy. What's wrong with lying down and resting for a while? But when will Chairman Jiang give me an answer?"

“I’ve said it before, the Spirit Serpent Merchant Guild will never change hands.”

Jiang Liang remained calm.

"Is it?"

The smile on Fairy Lingluo's lips vanished instantly. She slowly stood up, walked towards Jiang Liang, and extended her slender, jade-like fingers.

Sensing the magical power in his finger, Jiang Liang's expression changed drastically, and he hurriedly retreated.

"What are you afraid of?"

Fairy Lingluo chuckled and was about to step forward again when Li Xiangming, who was standing to the side, finally couldn't hold back and blocked her way, saying in a deep voice, "Fairy, please have some self-respect."

(End of this chapter)