Family Cultivation: Rise of the Wilderness

Chapter 419 Breaking the Contract
In the world of cultivation, safety is also a scarce resource.

It's not only cave dwellings with spirit-gathering arrays that provide cultivators with a better cultivation environment that can attract people; as long as it's safe enough, some people are willing to pay the price for it.

Based on this, Li Xiangming decided to close Monkey Valley and applied to his family for a large amount of manpower and resources to renovate it.

As for expanding the exchange and improving the infrastructure, those were just side effects.

However, reality seems to have deviated from expectations. At most, some wealthy demon-hunting cultivators come to rent cave dwellings, while those willing to spend a lot of money to buy cave dwellings are basically zero.

Li Xiangfeng cautiously reminded them, "Demon hunters regard spirit stones as their lifeblood, so getting them to part with their money isn't easy. Although our Monkey Valley is very popular, we only had a small protective array in the old site of the beast-hunting house in the past, and the entire Monkey Valley only has one newly set up illusion array."

After a moment's thought, Li Xiangming understood the meaning behind Li Xiangfeng's words.

To put it bluntly, the safety of Monkey Valley rests on the prestige of the Li family.

However, this prestige does not solely stem from the Li family's strength, but rather from the role that Monkey Valley itself plays.

More than being hunted down by the Li family, the demon hunters were worried about being blacklisted by the Li family, thus preventing them from entering Monkey Valley.

After all, without the Monkey Valley market, demon hunters have no way to convert demon beast materials into cash, nor can they purchase enough pills and talismans. Who would dare to stay in Puyin Mountain for a long time?

However, there are always some unreasonable people who don't like to follow the rules.

They'll pull off one heist and run away; they don't care about Monkey Valley or the Li family.
If the Li family doesn't have enough experts stationed in Monkey Valley, nor does it set up a strong protective formation inside and out, why would the vast number of demon-hunting cultivators pay for such superficial security?

Thinking about this, Li Xiangming couldn't help but feel a little embarrassed.

Currently, the Li family's main focus is still on building defenses to resist the Qin family's threat. Secondly, they are working to establish a connection between Danggui Mountain and Dai Mountain to find a market for Mao Jing (a type of medicinal herb).

Compared to these, developing Monkey Valley seems insignificant.

He was able to carry out large-scale expansion of Monkey Valley by leveraging his connections. If he wants the family to invest in this area again, he must achieve enough results to impress the family head and elders.

Just as he was deep in thought, suddenly, a person barged in without being announced.

The only one with such privileges is Li Xiangming's money bag, Jiang Liang!
Jiang Liang glanced at the two of them and said indifferently, "Yu Liu from Flying Fox Cave has already arrived at Puyin Mountain."

"Yu Liu?"

A look of surprise flashed across Li Xiangming's face. He quickly got up and left the room.
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"It's been many years since we last met. My dear nephew, you have already achieved the Foundation Establishment stage. Congratulations!"

Outside Monkey Valley, a middle-aged cultivator with a ruddy complexion flew over, laughing loudly.

Li Xiangming personally greeted him, grasped his hand, and said with a hint of reproach, "Why didn't Senior Yu come to attend my Foundation Establishment Ceremony?"

Yu Feixuan shook his head with a wry smile: "Nephew, please don't be offended. My master just had a battle with the Zhenhun Sect. As his disciple, I naturally risked my life to accompany him and dared not be distracted. After the battle, we cleaned up the mess. The cave was covered with white silk, so it was not appropriate to bring bad luck to Danggui Mountain."

Li Xiangming was slightly surprised. The two sects had been at war for a long time. Flying Fox Cave was almost like a coward, if not a coward. They would avoid things if they could, and if they couldn't avoid them, they would just go through the motions.

The reason is simple: Flying Fox Cave was originally incorporated into the Soul Suppressing Sect, but later, for some reason, Master Duyin chose to join the Shengyi Sect and severely tricked the Mountain Moving Sect.

At that time, the pledge of allegiance from Flying Fox Cave was even more impressive than the results of ten battles between Shengyi Sect and Zhenhun Sect.

Shengyi Sect readily accepted Feihu Cave.

The Soul Suppressing Sect and the Mountain Moving Sect harbor deep hatred for the Flying Fox Cave, who are considered traitors. In every battle, disciples of the Soul Suppressing Sect and the Mountain Moving Sect fight the Flying Fox Cave members to the death.

Flying Fox Cave was not strong to begin with, and being targeted for a long time naturally made it difficult to withstand.

They have no choice but to give up!
Shengyimen was aware of the pressure Feihudong was under and hoped to preserve Feihudong as a symbol of "abandoning darkness and embracing the light," so they stopped forcing them to go to the battlefield.

Li Xiangming vividly remembered that the last major conflict at Flying Fox Cave was when they fought with the Mountain Moving Sect over the Maojing Mine. What had gotten into them this time, that they would actively intervene in the war between the two sects?

Moreover, Yu Liu's radiant appearance hardly resembled that of someone who had suffered heavy casualties and was heartbroken.
Li Xiangming cursed under his breath and began to probe indirectly.

However, Yu Liu remained tight-lipped and quickly shifted the topic to the spiritual herbs: "Nephew, I have already made arrangements for you, but Shengyi Sect wants to discuss this with you in person."

"To speak with me personally?"

Li Xiangming frowned: "Should we talk to me personally, or to the Spirit Serpent Merchant Guild?"

"Of course it's with you!"

Yu Feixuan patted Li Xiangming on the shoulder: "You should know that the Spirit Serpent Chamber of Commerce is nothing in their eyes. We, the Flying Fox Cave, have gone to great lengths to secure this opportunity, so you should cherish it."

"I understand, thank you Uncle Yu!"

Yu Feixuan nodded in satisfaction, then turned and led the way: "Follow me!" The two wandered around for a while and soon arrived at a dense forest.

A person was already sitting cross-legged on the fallen leaves in the forest, gently playing the zither. The music was both tragic and stirring.

"Elder Wang!"

Yu Feixuan stepped forward respectfully and introduced, "This is Li Xiangming, the newly promoted Foundation Establishment cultivator of the Li family! The Li family has a close relationship with our Flying Fox Cave and is trustworthy!"

"Li Xiangming?"

Elder Wang's voice was hoarse, and his cloudy gaze slowly fell on Li Xiangming.

In an instant, a fierce and imposing aura surged forth like a tidal wave, sending chills down one's spine.

Li Xiangming's expression changed slightly, and he subconsciously activated his magic power to resist.

According to Yu Liu, the old man in front of them was no ordinary person; he was Wang Su, an inner elder of the Shengyi Sect!

Zhao Zhen was also an inner elder of Shengyi Sect, but his status was far inferior to Wang Su's.

This is because Wang Su is a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator!
From the patriarch Li Huinan down, only Li Chengkang in the Li family has reached this level.

Moreover, Wang Su was particularly skilled at using the zither as a sword, and was extremely powerful in combat, making him a key force for the Shengyi Sect on the Daishan battlefield.

Why would someone like him, instead of staying at Yuquanling, come here to discuss the business of spiritual herbs?

Li Xiangming couldn't understand it, but since he was already there, he might as well make the best of it.

He didn't care about the other party's show of force, but instead flattered him, saying, "Elder Wang's cultivation is unfathomable, and he is truly a role model for us juniors. Today, having witnessed Elder Wang's demeanor, I realize my own shallowness. If I have been impolite, please forgive me, Elder Wang."

Seeing Li Xiangming's humble and polite demeanor, Elder Wang then restrained his imposing manner and asked in a calm tone, "Did you bring the spirit herbs?"

Li Xiangming immediately replied, "The spiritual herbs are numerous and inconvenient to carry, so they are currently stored in Monkey Valley. But as long as Elder Wang gives the order, we can arrange for a caravan to deliver the spiritual herbs to Shengyi Gate."

"Then send it over as soon as possible."

After Elder Wang finished speaking, he closed his eyes to rest.

Seeing this, Li Xiangming frowned and glanced at Yu Liu.

Yu Feixuan looked extremely embarrassed, bowed to Elder Wang, and muttered something.

After a long pause, Elder Wang opened his eyes and stared at Li Xiangming: "I'll give you five hundred spirit stones. Are you satisfied?"

Upon hearing this, the room fell silent.

Li Xiangming's face instantly darkened.

At his urging, Jiang Liang has been in charge of transporting the spiritual herbs in Pushuifang City for the past three months.

To date, most of the spiritual herbs have been transported back to Changyang Valley, but Changyang Valley is not the end. Jiang Liang quickly transported the first batch of spiritual herbs, worth five hundred spirit stones, to Monkey Valley, hoping to sell them to Shengyi Sect as quickly as possible.

Li Xiangming had been planning this for a long time, and had contacted Shengyi Sect long ago. Shengyi Sect also agreed to purchase the healing herbs from the Spirit Serpent Merchant Guild. After inspecting the goods, they offered a purchase price of 1,300 spirit stones.

The reason they could make more than double the profit was that Shengyi Sect knew that Zhenhun Sect was buying up a lot of healing herbs, and since they also had their own needs, they were willing to pay 50% more than the market price.

However, this acquisition price is not something that can be given to just anyone.

Only the merchant guilds and affiliated forces designated by Shengyi Sect can enjoy this treatment. Ordinary traveling merchants, even if they transport spiritual herbs to Shengyi Sect, will only receive the market price.

Fortunately, Li Xiangming had connections with Flying Fox Cave, and Flying Fox Cave was eager to get a share of the pie, so they actively followed up on the matter and secured this internally exclusive acquisition price for the Spirit Serpent Chamber of Commerce.

Today should have been the day of the official handover.

However, Wang Su made outrageous demands, not only breaking the contract but also trying to buy the spirit herbs from the Spirit Serpent Merchant Guild at the cost price of five hundred spirit stones. Wasn't that a joke?
Li Xiangming suppressed his anger and asked in a deep voice, "Elder Wang offered five hundred spirit stones. Is this your personal decision or the decision of Shengyi Sect?"

Wang Su sensed the dissatisfaction and said coldly, "My meaning is that this is the decision of Shengyi Sect."

"In that case, I will not keep you company any longer."

Li Xiangming stood up abruptly and looked directly at the other party: "Daishan is not only home to the Shengyi Sect, and the Lingshe Chamber of Commerce is not only a partner of the Shengyi Sect."

　Happy New Year everyone!

　　
　
(End of this chapter)