Chapter 875: Disputes |
Meng Zhang probably doesn't even realize that Taiyi Sect is now one of the most powerful and prestigious sects among the local forces in Jiuqu Province.
By voluntarily retreating and avoiding conflicts with external powerful factions, Taiyi Sect has deterred any cultivation forces from daring to confront them directly.
In reality, these powerful factions from the Dali Dynasty have profound backgrounds and immeasurable strength. They are known for their bold and aggressive actions, always pursuing victory and never retreating or showing mercy.
Meng Zhang quickly received news that these external forces are planning to rebuild the Alchemist Guild and reestablish control over the alchemy market in Jiuqu Province.
In accordance with the norms of the Cultivation World, almost every region has its own Alchemist Guild.
Originally, the purpose of establishing Alchemist Guilds was to prevent unscrupulous alchemists from selling dangerous elixirs to cultivators, causing large-scale disasters.
However, over time, the Alchemist Guilds have become corrupted, turning into tools for local cultivation powers to monopolize the alchemy market.
The former ruler of the Endless Sea of Sand, Flying Swan Sect, also established an Alchemist Guild, and only cultivation forces approved by Flying Swan Sect were allowed to join.
Only elixirs approved by the Alchemist Guild could be officially traded in the market.
After becoming the ruler of the Endless Sea of Sand, Taiyi Sect also retained this institution, although the leadership changed to members of Taiyi Sect.
This move helped Taiyi Sect maintain control over the alchemy market and solidify its rule over the region.
Joining the Jiuqu League was not an easy task for Taiyi Sect, as it had to pay a considerable price to gain membership in the Alchemist Guild and acquire the right to sell elixirs externally.
According to the Alchemist Guild's rules, Taiyi Sect must pay a certain amount of spirit stones for every batch of elixirs sold in the Jiuqu League.
However, after a series of changes in the Jiuqu League, the Alchemist Guild's authority diminished, and no cultivation force paid attention to those regulations anymore.
If these external forces from the Dali Dynasty achieve their goal of rebuilding the Alchemist Guild, they will gradually take control of the alchemy market in the Jiuqu League.
This may lead to Taiyi Sect's elixirs and other products not being able to circulate openly in the market.
Although Meng Zhang is dissatisfied with this situation, he can reluctantly tolerate it.
What he is truly concerned about is these external forces taking advantage of the situation, controlling the elixir circulation, and eventually gaining control over other aspects such as making talismans, magic tools, and more.In the end, they may even control the circulation of all spiritual medicines and materials.
In the Cultivation World, almost every sect may have had such a dream.
On their sect's territory, they can produce all the necessary spiritual medicines and materials...
Within the sect, they can refine all the needed elixirs, talismans...
With this, even if the entire sect is completely isolated from the outside world, they can be self-sufficient and not rely on external sources.
Meng Zhang has also had such fantasies, but he knows that it can only remain a fantasy.
The Cultivation World is filled with countless spiritual medicines, materials, and other resources.
These items are produced in different environments and scattered all over the world. No matter which sect it is, they cannot fully control everything.
Not to mention a sect like Taiyi Sect, even in the heyday of the Azure Origin Sect and Jade Sword Sect, they couldn't become independent kingdoms and had to scavenge for various resources from the outside.
Speaking specifically about spiritual medicines, Taiyi Sect's territory is vast, and they even have the Hundred Grass Pavilion, a magic tool used to cultivate various spiritual medicines. Yet, the sect still needs to purchase large amounts of spiritual medicines from the outside to meet the needs of the Pill Hall.
This is because many of the spiritual medicines Taiyi Sect requires are not produced within their territory, and they cannot control their sources.
Although Meng Zhang is concerned, he cannot rashly confront these powerful factions from the Dali Dynasty just because of that worry.
He knows his limitations and what he can and cannot do.
Inside the Dali Dynasty, although there is overall peace and major cultivation forces appear united on the surface, various hidden conflicts and struggles have never ceased.
As long as they don't mobilize massive armies of cultivators for an all-out war, the Dali Dynasty's official authority cannot intervene too much.
These powerful factions from outside the region dare to expand so aggressively because they have their own confidence and backing.
As long as Meng Zhang protects his own territory and avoids unnecessary troubles, they will not initiate conflicts or brazenly attack Taiyi Sect.
If Meng Zhang were to actively engage in confrontation, they have means to disturb Taiyi Sect's peace.
Meng Zhang can remain patient, but some people are already unable to sit still.
As the largest local trading firm, Four Seas Commercial Firm has suffered the most severe losses and pressure from external forces.
In this situation, regardless of whether Four Seas Commercial Firm takes the initiative or not, they have inevitably become adversaries with these external factions.Four Seas Commercial Firm has almost no advantage when dealing with these external forces. After some struggles, the firm is almost in a state of collapse, suffering heavy losses. Once a powerful trading firm that controlled a significant portion of Jiuqu League's commerce, it has now lost almost all its market share and can't even maintain small-scale buy-sell businesses.
According to Meng Zhang's knowledge, You HongzhiTrue Monarch, the head of Four Seas Commercial Firm, has been moving around within the local forces, seemingly attempting to form some alliance.
You HongzhiTrue Monarch also tried to contact Meng Zhang, wanting to bring him on board.
Meng Zhang, however, has been very cautious about Four Seas Commercial Firm and would never get involved with them.
Every time You HongzhiTrue Monarch visited, Meng Zhang avoided him under the pretext of being in seclusion and had Niu Dawei deal with him.
Of course, Meng Zhang's lack of involvement in this matter doesn't mean he isn't concerned. He wants to see what outcome will arise from the clash between You HongzhiTrue Monarch's local faction and the powerful external forces.
Although he has little faith in the former, he still wants to see if there are any advantages he can exploit in the middle of this conflict.
Meng Zhang is not always so leisurely. He also has plenty of troubles of his own.
The Red Pig True Monarch and Jade Rabbit True Monarch, leaders of the Dark Alliance branch in Jiuqu League, withdrew early and left the area to avoid trouble. Dong QiangTrue Monarch and True Monarch White Crow, supported by the Dali Dynasty, returned in glory and took complete control of the Dark Alliance branch.
Once in control, they naturally wanted to reorganize the branch's assets. Unfortunately, the well-prepared Red Pig True Monarch had already transferred many valuable assets under the name of Taiyi Sect.
In reality, the ownership of these assets belongs to Book MountainTrue Monarch, who rebuilt the Dark Alliance branch within Taiyi Sect's territory.
Dong QiangTrue Monarch and his group could not accept this situation, as they helplessly watched many valuable assets mysteriously fall into Taiyi Sect's hands.
A mere Taiyi Sect was not worthy of their attention. They were used to Dark Alliance seizing assets from others, and now that Taiyi Sect had taken advantage of them, how could they tolerate it?
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