Family Cultivation: Rise of the Wilderness

Chapter 592 Confidence?

The Li family's closure of Baicaofang was a minor inconvenience.

However, Hua Lun lost a cash cow.

Don't let Hua Lun's status as an elder of the Bailu Sect fool you. The annual salary of a sect elder is at most two thousand spirit stones!
This is still an inner sect elder, whose salary is second only to the sect leader!
Actually, this amount is not low.

Two thousand spirit stones a year is more than enough for a Foundation Establishment cultivator's cultivation. Not to mention, Hua Lun spends most of his time in the sect and doesn't use spirit stones very often.

However, Baicaofang's monthly income is stable at around 300 spirit stones, and after deducting costs, there is still a profit of 150 spirit stones.

According to the profit-sharing agreement privately signed between the Li family and Hua Lun, Hua Lun received a full 70%, which was approximately 100 spirit stones. Over a year, that would amount to 1,200 spirit stones.

It's important to know that the operation of Baicaofang was handled by people hired by the Li family. Hua Lun received such a large sum of spirit stones without lifting a finger.

And this is only the apparent benefit!

Where do the medicinal herbs from Baicaofang come from?
Almost all of it came from those small sects and families that were loyal to Hua Lun. Judging from the extent to which Hua Lun exploited Shenfeng Valley, Li Xiangming had reason to suspect that this guy could take 80% or even 90% of Baicaofang's costs.

If that's the case, Hua Lun could earn over 2,800 spirit stones a year from just his Hundred Herbs Workshop business alone. That would surpass the value he'd demonstrated through years of hard work and cultivation!
Of course, Hua Lun didn't have any family support behind the scenes, and he was an outsider. His only business in Pushui Market was likely the Baicaofang, which was parasitic on the Li family.

For this reason, Hua Lun went to great lengths to set up a bunch of upstream industries for Baicaofang.

Closing down Baicaofang not only means that Hua Lun loses a lot of spirit stones every year, but also that the vassal forces behind him directly lose the super market of Pushuifang.

When the stockpiled spiritual herbs couldn't be sold, these smaller groups had to scale back their herb cultivation. It would take several more years before they found new markets and expanded their operations.

In other words, as long as Baicaofang goes bankrupt, even if it starts operating in the future.

Hua Lun's income will remain sluggish for at least the next five years.

It's hard to go from extravagance to frugality!
How could beggar Lun not be anxious?
This chubby, fair-skinned Foundation Establishment cultivator even had beads of sweat on his forehead.

Li Xiangming was actually quite anxious.

The Li family's profits from Baicaofang were only about 30%, amounting to just over 500 spirit stones a year.

However, "Purple Qi Comes from the East" earned over 9,000 spirit stones last year, and its revenue is still steadily increasing. The Lingguang Pavilion's revenue from selling spirit pets is also over 3,000.

If these two shops are shut down by Bailu Gate, the Li family's already dire financial straits will be completely wiped out.

But will Bailumen really do that?
The Li family is no ordinary group of rogue cultivators.

The Bailu Gate's unjustified confiscation of the Li family's property had a significant impact on other shops and businesses in Pushui Market.

Li Xiangming was more convinced that this was a tactic of intimidation used by Bailumen to force the Li family to submit. Li Qianxiong had anticipated this, which was why he appointed him as the Deputy Chief Steward of the Imperial Household Department, precisely to withstand this wave of pressure.

That being said, when the intimidation actually comes...

Li Xiangming still couldn't remain calm, but he tried his best to suppress his expression, looked up at Hua Lun, and slowly smiled, "Elder Hua, for the sake of the spirit stones, we should stand together now!"

"Sharing weal and woe? You make it sound so easy."

Hua Lun grunted, "Your Li family is like a rock in a latrine. Not to mention our sect leader, even I am getting impatient! The sect is now resorting to underhanded tactics, what am I supposed to do?"

"It's not that my Li family is unwilling to help."

Li Xiangming read aloud from Luo Wanlin's words: "We are truly in dire straits! My family has even lost the Maojing Mine, and hundreds of elite soldiers perished in Calabash Valley, suffering heavy losses. Now, outside Dangui Mountain, billions of demonic beasts are eyeing us covetously. My family is trembling with fear and is desperately seeking help from all sides."

"You're still staying in this desolate, deserted place, trembling with fear?"

Hua Lun immediately interrupted, sneering, "I've heard that your Li family is contacting various forces in Pudong in an attempt to resist the beast tide. With such capabilities, why not join forces with our sect to fight the Zhenhun Sect's 'wild dogs'?"

"Resisting the beast tide is for self-preservation, and self-preservation is always the priority."

Li Xiangming's expression remained unchanged: "If the White Dew Sect truly hates the Soul Suppressing Sect, why not invite True Person Suspended Spirit to achieve victory in one strike?"

"Don't we want to?"

Hua Lun was furious, but then realized his mistake and his face darkened. "Li Xiangming, I don't have time to waste here with you. Give me a straight answer! If you agree to send troops, the Li family's businesses in Pushui Market will be fine. It'll be good for both of us. If you don't... well, even a cornered rabbit will bite. At this moment, we can't care about our reputation anymore." "Sending troops is impossible!"

Li Xiangming replied in a deep voice, "You might as well tell Elder Hua that no one in my Li family, young or old, will agree to this matter! The specific reasons should be known to your Bailu Sect in a while. If the Bailu Sect forcibly seizes my Li family's property, I will seek the help of True Person Xuanli."

After a pause, Li Xiangming added, "Elder Hua, please don't forget what you said in front of True Person Xuanli."

Hua Lun frowned instantly, then relaxed: "I'm afraid Master Xuanli doesn't have time to concern himself with such trivial matters."

"But at least he'll know."

Li Xiangming loosened his fist, revealing the token given to him by the Min family.

Hua Lun's expression changed drastically. He snatched the token and examined it for a while before returning it to Li Xiangming. He said with a forced smile, "It's just a small matter. Why bother True Person Xuanli's cultivation? Here's what I'll do: I'll communicate with the sect again."

Li Xiangming immediately stepped forward and whispered, "If the communication goes smoothly, my family is willing to give Elder Hua an additional 10% of the profits from Baicaofang."

Hua Lun's eyes flickered, and he nodded: "No problem, no problem!"

Li Xiangming was about to speak again.

Just then, two people suddenly walked up behind Hua Lun. One of them, a woman in plain clothes, bowed to Li Xiangming and said, "Lingzhou thanks Hall Master Li for saving my life!"

Li Xiangming looked at her and raised an eyebrow: "Where is your brother?"

Liu Lingzhou was slightly taken aback, and replied, "Qingzhou was preoccupied with important matters and was unable to pay his respects in person. I apologize on his behalf and hope that Hall Master Li will forgive me."

Li Xiangming snorted coldly and looked at the other person.

The man, burly and thick-shouldered, chuckled and said, "Lei Meng greets Hall Master Li. My master has been waiting for a long time. Please, Hall Master Li, come and meet me."

Li Xiangming's expression was also not good.

It was bad enough that Bailumen had come looking for him, but now even Lingluo Merchant Guild had noticed his whereabouts. Could it be that he'd been traveling by flying boat too frequently lately, drawing too much attention?
"The painting was commissioned to entertain the distinguished envoy from Bailu Gate."

Li Xiangming gave an order and then turned to enter the city.

Lei Meng was overjoyed and followed behind, giving directions.

Liu Lingzhou was greatly surprised and looked at Hua Lun: "Elder Hua, what's wrong with Hall Master Li?"

Bailu Sect is the leader of Pu County. Now, when they sent a Foundation Establishment cultivator to visit Li Xiangming, they were only received by a Qi Refining cultivator. Instead, Li Xiangming himself went to see a mere merchant.
"It's the age when one is full of vigor and ambition."

Hua Lun narrowed his eyes, but when he thought of the Min family token from earlier, he couldn't help but sigh.

Bailumen seized the Li family's property, and the Li family will surely complain to Xuanli Zhenren.

That's nothing.

Even if Master Xuanli was dissatisfied, he would only grumble a few times and would never harm the Bailu Sect. The old master still had that much sense of propriety.

The problem is that he had personally promised to take care of the Li family in front of Master Xuanli. If Li Xiangming stirs up trouble and makes him the culprit who advocated blocking the Li family's businesses, Master Xuanli will surely resent him for breaking his promise.

He was truly suffering in silence, unable to express his bitterness.

Not to mention, he has substantial profits in Baicaofang.

From the very beginning, he did not want Bailu Sect to take action against the Li family, which is why he actively sought out this task—precisely because he was worried that other people would break off negotiations with the Li family.

Li Xiangming had clearly discerned his stance, yet remained calm and composed throughout. His rudeness at this moment, rather than surprising, revealed a degree of confidence.

Where does the Li family get their confidence?
It can only be Xuanli Zhenren!
Rumors circulate that a woman from the Min family is engaged to Lee Sang-in.

The more Hua Lun thought about it, the clearer his mind became. He looked at Liu Lingzhou and said, "Let's go, let's go into the city and stay for a few days."

(End of this chapter)