Chapter 923: Sudden Change
Chapter 923: Sudden Change
In the living room sat a burly man and a beautiful woman in a white dress.
Fang Xi recognized them; they were 'Hua Sanlang' and 'Kui Furen'.
Hua Sanlang came from under Talisman Master Qiu's command, their relationship ambiguous, he was likely her male concubine.
Kui Furen, on the other hand, was Talisman Master Zhao's subordinate.
Their arrival together at this moment made Fang Xi feel a hint of a brewing storm.
"Daoist Friend Hua, Daoist Friend Kui, your presence in my humble abode today truly brings honor. Please, have some tea. . ."
Fang Xi cupped his fist slightly and said.
"Haha, no need for tea."
"Indeed. . . haven't us talisman masters from the Talisman Master Association always procured our supplies there?"
Fang Xi blinked, feigning ignorance as he asked.
"Haha. . . To tell you the truth, the talisman paper at the Yongyun Small Shop is of mediocre quality and overpriced, truly not a good place. Furthermore, that proprietress is even secretly colluding with Elder Ge, conspiring internally and externally to exploit us."
Kui Furen's words were quite direct: "Daoist Friend Hua and I have new shops to recommend to Daoist Friend. The prices are guaranteed to be even cheaper than before. . . I wonder if Daoist Friend is interested?"
It dawned on Fang Xi: 'They're forcing me to pick a side. . . It turns out the Zhao and Qiu families aren't locked in a life-and-death struggle; instead, they maintain a fragile alliance until Elder Ge's demise. '
He pondered for a moment before replying, "Where I choose to buy my talisman paper is my personal business."
At his words, Kui Furen and Hua Sanlang's expressions changed: "Fang, are you. . . not afraid of the wrath of Talisman Master Zhao and Talisman Master Qiu?"
"Could it be that this Immortal City is their personal autocracy?"
Fang Xi counter-questioned in surprise.
"Good, good, good."
Hua Sanlang and Kui Furen exchanged a look, then rose and departed.
Fang Xi watched them leave, knowing he would inevitably face a series of slanders and suppressions in the days to come.
But he didn't care.
His purpose in Blazing Sun Immortal City was primarily to find a way to join a major power.
The more loyal, unyielding, and unwavering he appeared now. . . the more points he would earn later on!
...
Over the next period, Fang Xi indeed felt a faint, yet palpable resistance.
The Talisman Master Association had no powerful means, but they could spread rumors, disparage his craftsmanship, seize his customer base, and even initiate a price war!
When given a choice, cultivators wouldn't necessarily stick to one talisman supplier, not to mention Fang Xi didn't have any unique talismans forming a competitive moat.
Before long, his income visibly decreased.
Facing such a situation, ordinary cultivators would either back down and join Talisman Master Zhao and Talisman Master Qiu's unscrupulous clique.
Or they would simply leave for a distant land.
After all, a mere small circle could only slightly influence the low-grade talisman market in Blazing Sun Immortal City at best.
Change locations, jump off the chessboard, and the world immediately opens up vast and wide.
But Fang Xi had a goal here, so he naturally wouldn't leave casually.
What's more, according to his speculation, if he dared to leave now, he might end up facing an encirclement and assassination by two Mahayana cultivators.
With his mere Integration stage cultivation, he would be utterly unable to resist.
Of course, if he were to conveniently kill these two Mahayana cultivators, the problem would seem even greater. . .
All in all, neither was a good choice.
So Fang Xi slowly endured.
Anyway, his claim of drawing talismans daily to earn Immortal Jade to pay for his cave abode rent and cultivation expenses. . . was all a lie.
Even if he stopped working entirely, he could stay in Blazing Sun Immortal City until the True Immortal World came to an end!
At Yongyun Small Shop.
"I'll take three dozen, no, two dozen Ten Thousand Star Talisman Paper."
Fang Xi entered the shop and said to Yong Yunmian.
"Daoist Friend. . ."
Yong Yunmian looked at Fang Xi, clearly a little moved. She quoted him a cost price, then added, "I heard that the Qingfeng Merchant Guild and the Yun family's connections were snatched by Zhao and Qiu. Hmph, that's all they amount to. . . I still have a few channels here that need low-grade talisman paper, but only high-quality goods. . ."
"Thank you, Shopkeeper Yong. Actually, if I just exert a little more effort each day and sell at a reduced price to rogue cultivators, I can still barely make ends meet,"
Fang Xi smiled slightly, appearing very magnanimous.
Yong Yunmian looked at Fang Xi with such a demeanor and couldn't help but stare blankly. After a long while, she turned her head away, her eyes slightly red: "If that departed husband of mine had even ten or fifteen percent of Talisman Master Fang's composure, he wouldn't have. . . sigh. . ."
She sighed, bundled up the talisman paper, and placed it in Fang Xi's hand, secretly transmitting a message: "Wait for the opportune moment, there might be a change. . ."
'This proprietress, she's no good. . . '
Fang Xi walked out of the shop, somewhat speechless.
He had merely wanted to play a role, but unexpectedly, after only a few days, he had deceived Yong Yunmian into revealing some secrets. 'Given this, is there still a chance for Elder Ge's eighth Mahayana immortal lightning tribulation? '
'Hmm, Mahayana cultivators who have passed eight heavenly lightning tribulations hold a different status in the True Immortal World; they are often regarded as 'quasi-immortals,' after all, no one knows if they might truly pass the ninth immortal lightning tribulation and ascend to heaven in a single step, becoming an immortal being with eternal life! Even if the probability is very small. . . '
'If Elder Ge succeeds, not only will his identity as a talisman master change, but his own strength and status will also greatly improve. . . within Blazing Sun Immortal City, he would be considered a local hero. '
'Within all this, who knows how many interests are involved in the distribution, enough to make Mahayana cultivators kill or be killed. And this silly woman actually revealed it directly to me. . . '
Fang Xi touched his face: 'Could it be that she was moved by my acting? '
He returned to his cave abode in Vermilion Bird Lane. His gaze suddenly shifted, and he saw a large number of cultivators gathered outside his dwelling.
Shi Yushu, Ma Jing, and Li Dao were all there, looking as if their parents had died.
Among another group of confronting cultivators, an old woman holding an immortal seal document shouted in a shrill voice: "The land deed is here! This cave abode is the property of Zhengyang Gate. Now that Zhengyang Gate is gone, it belongs to our Zhang family; it has nothing to do with you all. . ."
Shi Yushu's face flushed red, but he couldn't utter a word of rebuttal. He stammered, "I can leave, but Ma Jing and Li Dao are both seeds of our sect. Our sect established a secret cave abode here precisely to guard against this matter. Please, Zhang family, take them in. . ."
Ma Jing and Li Dao, two half-grown youths, who usually skipped classes to play happily at Tai Xu Palace, now had faces deathly pale, like two quails. They were pushed and shoved, unable to utter a single word for a long time.
"Alas. . . The sect's legacy talents are of such character. Zhengyang Gate is finished."
Beside them, an old cultivator sighed.
"Elder, what happened?"
Fang Xi leaned closer and asked.
"Greetings, Senior. . . " The old cultivator habitually observed Fang Xi's cultivation, then cupped his fist with an astonished expression: "The Zhengyang Gate's Sect Master has died, and Zhengyang Gate is splitting up. . . They are now waiting for the city guard army to preside over the division of family property. . ."
"How did Zhengyang Gate suddenly just. . . disappear? " Fang Xi was utterly confused. If he remembered correctly, the Zhengyang Gate's Sect Master seemed to be at the Integration stage? He should still have a long life ahead. . .
"Alas, it's all because of the Divine Wood Palace. . . Their young palace master obtained the 'Divine Soul Pill' and was hailed as having the 'bearing of an immortal. ' He began expanding his territory. . . All the small sects in that area, like Zhengyang Gate, Heqing Sect, and Duandao Mountain. . . were all swept away. Now, the Zhang family, the leaders of the family faction within Zhengyang Gate, have brought people to cause trouble; it's likely to be a tangled mess."
The old cultivator explained the entire story clearly and systematically.
'That single Divine Soul Pill actually indirectly led to the destruction of several Integration-level sects? '
Fang Xi secretly clicked his tongue in amazement as he listened, then, seeing Shi Yushu's performance, he also secretly shook his head.
That person, being sent by the Sect Master to instruct these seeds, was naturally an extremely upright and proper individual.
At this moment, he was taken advantage of by the Zhang family's old woman, a classic case of 'a gentleman can be deceived in a proper way'.
Sure enough, a moment later, the city guard army arrived. After a debate, Shi Yushu was defeated and dejected.
If he had argued strongly based on reason from the beginning, it wouldn't have come to this.
But having lost heart, this was the outcome.
"Elder Zhang. . ."
Shi Yushu looked at the old woman with expectation: "I wonder about my suggestion?"
Several Zhang family clan elders discussed for a bit. Finally, an old man stepped forward and sighed: "If these two were truly talented and virtuous individuals, our Zhang family would naturally not be stingy in taking them in. . . but we previously heard about their reputation from Tianqing Academy, and looking at their current cultivation, they are truly untalented. . . However, if they are willing to marry into the family as live-in sons-in-law, that could be considered."
Before Shi Yushu could speak, Ma Jing finally exploded: "No! I won't be a breeding pig! A live-in son-in-law has no future!"
As soon as these words were uttered, Li Dao, who had seemed somewhat tempted, instantly shivered and fell silent.
"Heh, good. Our Zhang family's temple is too small to house you two great Buddhas. From today onwards, let us be strangers."
The Zhang family's old woman sneered.
"Hmph, if you want us to go, we'll go! My fate is determined by me, not by heaven! One day, I'll make you regret this!"
Ma Jing seemed to have suppressed this for many years; finally roaring it out, he felt a great relief in his chest.
He immediately roared, pulling Li Dao, and they vanished without a trace.
Hearing this, Fang Xi's expression grew even stranger: "My fate is determined by me, not by heaven? It sounds like a famous quote from a wuxia-style game in Tai Xu Palace. I remember the levels in that game were extremely easy, focusing on hot-blooded impulsiveness. . ."
But this place was a cultivation world that devoured people without spitting out their bones!
Speechless in his heart, he returned to the outside of his own cave abode.
By then, most of the crowd watching the spectacle had dispersed. A figure walked over: "Brother Fang. . ."
"Brother Huang."
Fang Xi was somewhat surprised; this person was actually Huang Jing, a steward from the Fengyuan Chamber of Commerce.
"I heard about your situation and came to check on you. . ."
Huang Jing exchanged a few pleasantries.
"Daoist Friend, rest assured, I can hold on. I'll still need your help keeping an eye out for that 'Six Immortals Transforming Flying Pill'."
Facing this person, Fang Xi did not show a downtrodden side; instead, he revealed a bit of his true strength.
The Fengyuan Chamber of Commerce's main business was its merchant guild's influence, and most stewards had a merchant's temperament. If they saw that things were impossible, they would eighty percent likely turn and leave.
"That's very good. I don't have many friends at the Hundred Flowers Pavilion, and you're one of them. . . " Huang Jing's smile seemed a bit more sincere.
Fang Xi had also deliberately put himself in debt to the other party. As the old saying goes, the one who owes money is the boss. . . No, that's not right. When you are in a difficult situation, the ones willing to lend you money are often those who have borrowed from you before.
If he owed the other party a favor, the other party would feel more at ease seeing him.
But if the other party owed him a favor, especially to the point where they could no longer repay, then there would likely be no other option but to kill them. . .
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