Chapter 44: The Dao Discussion Platform, Eighteen Fights to the Death

Once again, Luo Chen arrived early at the stall.

This left Old Dao Chen quite puzzled.

"Didn't you start coming once a month after you began refining that thing?"

"Recently, I've been short on spirit stones, so I'm selling a batch first."

Luo Chen said this casually, placing two types of pills on the stone slab.

He glanced around, a bit puzzled.

"Where's Wang Yuan?"

"Are you serious? Don't tell me you don't know about that?"

Old Dao Chen's expression was exaggerated.

Luo Chen was taken aback. Should I have known?

I'm not the type who likes to listen to gossip.

I spend all my time in the pill room, so most of the news from outside comes from Gu Caiyi and Bai Meiling, these two social butterflies.

"A fight is about to break out."

"You mean the conflict between the Broken Mountain Gang and the Great River Gang! Isn't it annoying? Two months ago, they just fought for a day, and now they're at it again?"

Old Dao Chen shook his head. "No, this time it's different."

After Old Dao Chen's explanation, Luo Chen understood the situation.

Or rather, if he had bothered to inquire, he would have naturally known the current state of affairs.

The ceasefire two months ago was not a real ceasefire.

It was just the Jade Tripod Sword Pavilion stepping in to mediate a truce between Uncle Mi Hua of the Broken Mountain Gang and Wang Hai Chao of the Great River Gang.

After all, if the fighting continued, the outer city would eventually be destroyed. Whether it's the outer city or the inner city, both are places where the Jade Tripod Sword Pavilion collects rent.

If everyone is dead, who will pay the rent?

But the interests in the mountains are too significant.

The two Foundation Establishment cultivators would not easily give up.

However, they couldn't ignore the face of the Jade Tripod Sword Pavilion, which is the owner of the market and represents the Jade Tripod Sword Sect.

Therefore, they decided on a martial contest.

Each side would send nine experts to compete on the Dao Discussion Platform of the Jade Tripod Sword Pavilion, with no holds barred.

The participants' cultivation levels were limited to below Foundation Establishment.

If the Great River Gang lost, they would abandon their business in the mountains and return to focus on the Lancang River, and they would also cede a waterway to the Broken Mountain Gang.

If the Broken Mountain Gang lost, they would transfer five of the safe passages they currently control to the Great River Gang.

The two months of ceasefire were used to gather experts for both gangs.

"I see, that's why there have been so many unfamiliar cultivators in the market recently. They're all experts invited by the two gangs!"

Luo Chen suddenly understood.

He didn't stop his actions, casually handing a few jade bottles to a returning customer.

After receiving the spirit stones, he saw Chen Xiuping shake his head.

"The two gangs are significant in our area, but in the entire Jade Tripod Domain, they are nothing."

"Huh?"

"It's the cultivators of the Jade Tripod Sword Pavilion who deliberately spread the news, which is why many people from other places have come."

Luo Chen blinked. Why would the Jade Tripod Sword Pavilion do this?

Don't they find it troublesome to manage these outsiders who cause trouble?

But soon, Old Dao Chen answered his question.

"The six sects in the Far East each have their specialties and business areas."

The Joyful Union Sect deals in the business of men and women, which has been thriving since ancient times.

The Divine Talisman Pavilion deals in talismans, excelling in the art of talismans across the six domains.

The Medicine King Sect deals in pills and spirit herbs, making a fortune.

The Five Elements Divine Sect deals in spirit plants and spells, also thriving.

The Heavenly Sails City deals in magical artifacts and formations, with its Ten Thousand Treasures Tower being unique in the six domains.

What about the Jade Tripod Sword Sect?

To the scattered cultivators with limited knowledge, what notable business does the Jade Tripod Sword Sect have?

The answer is, none!

The Jade Tripod Sword Sect is known for its combat prowess, with most of its members being sword cultivators.

Yes, sword cultivators are indeed strong at the same level, but they don't engage in production!

Although the Sword Sect has a decent sword forging technique, it's nothing compared to Heavenly Sails City.

Especially the swords forged by the Jade Tripod Sword Sect, which are mostly sword pills, requiring full dedication to cultivate.

Most cultivators seek a variety of combat methods; who would want to rely on a single sword to conquer the world?

In comparison, general-purpose flying swords are much more versatile.

As for alchemy, talismans, and formations, the Jade Tripod Sword Sect has some involvement, but it's not as impressive compared to other sects.

"So, are you saying that the cultivators of the Jade Tripod Sword Sect are all living on thin air?"

Luo Chen still found it hard to believe.

"Not exactly. After all, this area belongs to them," Old Dao Chen explained, well-versed in these matters. "For example, the Zhongding family, the Dao Discussion Platform, and other businesses are all theirs."

Restaurants? Arenas?

How much spirit stone can they earn?

"Our monthly rent and stall fees are also their sources of income."

"Another major source of income is that the Jade Tripod Domain is closest to the Million Mountains. Most of the heavenly materials and treasures produced in the mountains are prioritized for purchase by the Jade Tripod Sword Sect. Then, they sell these raw materials to the other sects in the six domains."

Luo Chen grinned. "But it still sounds a bit meager!"

He pointed to the prominent buildings in the city center. "If that's the case, why don't the Sword Sect people drive out the businesses of other sects from the Jade Tripod Domain and do these businesses themselves?"

Even if the Sword Sect's pills and talismans are of poor quality, they are definitely better than those of the cultivation families and scattered cultivators.

With their swords, who would dare not buy from them?

"They wouldn't dare!" Old Dao Chen whispered. "The Jade Tripod Domain wasn't established by the Jade Tripod Sword Sect alone. The other five major sects, including the various large and small sects in the Jade Tripod Domain, also contributed."

Now I understand.

If the Jade Tripod Domain is compared to a company, the Jade Tripod Sword Sect can be considered the largest shareholder and executive director.

The other sects each have a stake in the company.

However, the profits of the company are not evenly distributed.

How much each can earn depends on their own abilities.

The Sword Sect merely has the home-field advantage.

After Old Dao Chen's explanation, Luo Chen fully understood the current situation.

The Dao Discussion Platform itself is an important business for the Jade Tripod Sword Sect.

Now, with the conflict between the two gangs as a selling point, inviting eighteen experts to fight to the death, they will certainly maximize the value of this event.

So, they spread the news, and just by collecting admission fees, they can make a fortune.

If they organize other activities, such as auctions, they can earn even more.

"Indeed, there are no fools among cultivators!"

Luo Chen sighed.

It seems like a conflict between two gangs, but as the mediator, the Jade Tripod Sword Sect profits the most.

And no matter which gang wins, the things they obtain from the mountains will still be prioritized for purchase by the local Jade Tripod Sword Pavilion.

The meat is still in the pot; it's better to spread the aroma to attract more prey.

Unfortunately, this has nothing to do with Luo Chen, who is at the Fourth Level of Qi Condensation.

Wait, it does have a bit to do with him.

His good brother, Wang Yuan, is the top expert representing the Broken Mountain Gang in this battle.

Yes, he is one of the two top enforcers of the Broken Mountain Gang!

"Should I go support Wang Yuan?"

(End of Chapter)