A Sect from a Spirit Vein

Chapter 157 - 127: The New Marketplace

In the following days, Lu Qian entered a mode of tranquility, spending most of his time in meditation and changing dressings, while using the rest to handle sect affairs and engage in cultivation that didn’t require using his arms.

For instance, further comprehending the "Wave Array Secret Manual." Indeed, it is in actual combat that one can make significant progress. Facing the life-and-death pressure brought by two Foundation Establishment cultivators, Lu Qian felt his understanding and insights into the "Mirror Lake" technique improve rapidly, gaining ten times more than what he had achieved through monotonous practice earlier.

This battle consumed ten Spirit Crystals, equivalent to using all ten he had obtained from the Sea Abyss Pavilion; now he had five Spirit Crystals on him and the treasury held another ten.

The news of the Sect Leader and Elder Guh being injured was kept secret, and under the guise of seclusion, ordinary disciples were barred from approaching the Sect Leader’s Courtyard and the Spirit Vein, so no disturbance arose.

During these days, Lu Qian also frequently visited Guh Niqiang, but Fairy Nishang just lay quietly on the bed prepared for her near the Spirit Vein. Zhang Lemei mostly stayed here, telling Lu Qian she hadn’t shown any activity, though her complexion was slowly improving and she should awaken soon.

Lu Qian also instructed the establishment of basic border alerts, employing an inner disciple with several outer disciples to take turns guarding the borders, preventing a full-scale attack by the Shahe Gang and Spirit Talisman Sect. The number of disciples was indeed insufficient, so they could only focus on early warning in case of major enemy invasions, unable to station disciples in various counties to prevent small infiltrations.

As for the Northwest Two Sects, Lu Qian also sent letters, hoping to make contact for the next step. The enemy of an enemy is a friend, assuming these two sects would be eager to ally with the Yunshan Sect and Shuangye Alliance.

But unexpectedly, before getting a reply from the Northwest Two Sects, an envoy from Spirit Talisman Sect delivered a letter.

Jiang Qingfeng, looking nervous, carefully used the tip of his sword to open the letter, almost wanting to get someone to test if the letter was poisoned.

After some fiddling, Jiang Qingfeng read out the letter’s contents, and Lu Qian listened silently, a look of surprise flashing across his face.

"Spirit Talisman Sect wants to reconcile with us, even proposing to jointly fight against the Shahe Gang," Jiang Qingfeng said with suspicion on his face, "They’ve allied with the Shahe Gang for years, jointly opposing the Northwest Two Sects, how could they turn against each other so easily? This is likely another trap."

Lu Qian stood before the map of Chongming County, carefully examining the territories between various sects.

The letter described enticing terms, with the middle reaches of the Lingsha River belonging to Spirit Talisman Sect and the lower reaches to Yunshan Sect, forming a brotherly alliance from then on, living harmoniously and planning for the future together.

The Shahe Gang’s power was weakened, and although they were not lifelong siblings, the Spirit Talisman Sect had long held anger being suppressed by the suddenly rising Shahe Gang, now wanting to take the chance to gain benefits, which was only natural.

However, if Spirit Talisman Sect’s plan succeeds, and they defeat the Shahe Gang, annexing their lands, Yunshan Sect in Chongming County would only border Spirit Talisman Sect. What support does Yinn Hongbo count on, believing the Yunshan Sect won’t or daren’t strike against him when Spirit Talisman Sect is caught between the Northwest Two Sects and Yunshan Sect?

They left the upper reaches of the Lingsha River alone, seemingly to let the Shahe Gang linger, turning them into their watchdogs. But merely relying on this was far from enough.

Unless, something unusual was at the middle reaches of the Lingsha River, something that, once acquired, would greatly boost their power, eternally suppressing the Yunshan Sect and Shuangye Alliance.

Various pieces of information arranged themselves like lightning in Lu Qian’s mind. After thinking for a moment, Lu Qian turned and said, "Whether there is deception is easy to test. Senior Sister, help me reply to their letter; there’s no such thing as reconciling with just empty words. If they want the Shuangye Alliance’s forgiveness, they should show sincerity!"

No matter Spirit Talisman Sect’s petty calculations, reconciliation was indeed more beneficial than harmful for the Shuangye Alliance, which now urgently needed peace for development. Whether to attack the Shahe Gang together later would depend on future circumstances.

The next day, a reply came from Spirit Talisman Sect. Jiang Qingfeng opened the letter, and Lu Qian snorted, "Five thousand Spirit Stones? Do they take us for beggars?"

Jiang Qingfeng hesitated, "Five thousand Spirit Stones is quite a lot. For the Yunshan Sect now, it could equal two years’ output."

Lu Qian shook his head, "In comparison to the risks we have to take, it’s still far from enough."

He glanced at the map again, "Help me reply; I’m not asking for their Spirit Stones for nothing. The Shuangye Alliance plans to build a medium-sized marketplace at Red Maple Valley. If Spirit Talisman Sect wants to gain the Shuangye Alliance’s trust, they should invest ten thousand Spirit Stones, and I will give them a twenty percent share. With a jointly operated enterprise as guarantee, then I can believe Spirit Talisman Sect truly wants to cooperate with Shuangye Alliance."

Jiang Qingfeng was stunned, "Junior Brother, building a medium-sized marketplace? Are you trying to scare Spirit Talisman Sect, or are you serious?"

Lu Qian stared at the location of Red Maple Valley on the map, "Of course, I’m serious. Furthermore, even if Spirit Talisman Sect doesn’t invest, I still have to build this marketplace. Once it’s constructed, there will be no place for Shazhou Square. Once Spirit Talisman Sect sees the map, they’ll know what choice to make."

Red Maple Valley is at the center of the Shuangye Alliance, fully under its control. Surrounding sects include Yunshan Sect, Zhou Family, three other sects, plus Qingli Mountain’s Liuhua Valley, making a total of seven sects to provide the most basic flow of customers.

Historically, Chaosheng Sect, Spirit Talisman Sect, and Shahe Gang jointly controlled Shazhou Square, and to the south, the Zhou Family controlled a small marketplace, Yuqing Collection. Geographically speaking, a new marketplace built at Red Maple Valley would be located at the southern end of Chongming County, near its border, making it more convenient for roaming cultivators from nearby counties to conduct business here as compared to the more inland Shazhou Square.

Once this medium-sized marketplace is built, and Lu Qian introduces some innovations to draw in business and customers, the less convenient Shazhou Square would soon decline.

Holding Lu Qian’s letter, Zhuang Qing took a deep breath, seriously gazing at the map, muttering, "Yunshan Sect has quite the talent in business..."

Yinn Hongbo, irritated, tapped the table, "If we co-build the marketplace, our relationship with Yunshan Sect will be exposed. This is not beneficial for our plans."

"That’s the ingenuity of Lu Qian; if we invest, it will directly provoke Shahe Gang’s suspicion. But if not, and Shuangye Alliance refuses to cooperate with us, our plans are spoiled. Eventually, this new marketplace will also take away our interests at Shazhou Square. A brilliant open strategy." Zhuang Qing said in a deep voice, "Moreover, the marketplace is entirely under Shuangye Alliance’s control; if we ever fall out with them..."