Chapter 24

"Is this the Dragon Tiger Gate?" Bai Chen looked up at the sign above the gate, where two stone statues of dragons and tigers flanked the entrance, and two disciples were guarding the gate.

The Dragon Tiger Gate was not like those sects that set up their headquarters outside the city; instead, it was located in a bustling area within the city.

This made the Dragon Tiger Gate more like a martial arts school than a sect, at least in Bai Chen's view.

"I'm looking for your sect leader, Long Xing. Could you please inform him?"

The two Dragon Tiger Gate disciples stepped in front of Bai Chen, sizing him up and down. "Who are you? State your name and show your invitation."

Ha, as if a lowly person like you could see the sect leader.

Every day, countless people like you ask to see the sect leader. If the sect leader met everyone, he wouldn't have time to cultivate.

To them, Bai Chen was just an unknown person, and they were not just there to guard the gate.

Their main duty was to keep unnecessary people out, like the one in front of them!

"I don't have an invitation, but I can assure you, if you make me unhappy, I'll make you miserable too."

"Who do you think you are, kid?"

"I've seen important people before. Do you really think you're that important?"

"Let me tell you, even if the Son of Heaven came, it's up to us whether to let him in."

"Hey... Isn't this Bai Gongzi? Why are you here?"

Just then, Long Tuxiao walked up from behind, saw Bai Chen standing at the gate, and immediately approached him with enthusiasm.

Over the past two days, he had conducted extensive investigations and learned that Bai Chen was from the Boundless Sect and had also investigated the conflict with the Danqi Sect.

However, after discussing with Long Xing, they believed that Bai Chen's background was not that simple.

Before joining the Boundless Sect, there was no trace of Bai Chen, as if he had appeared out of nowhere.

But since he joined the Boundless Sect, he had managed to significantly enhance the sect's reputation within a hundred miles of Clearwater Town.

Behind Bai Chen, there was definitely not just one person, but likely a powerful force using the Boundless Sect's name.

Although this force was hidden, it would definitely make a big move, and the rise of the Boundless Sect was inevitable.

Not to mention, a grand alchemist alone was enough to make all the sects in Qingzhou City eager to form an alliance.

Therefore, Long Tuxiao and Long Xing agreed that such a force should be befriended, not offended.

The two gate guards, seeing Long Tuxiao's attitude toward Bai Chen, immediately looked fearful.

"Senior Brother, is... is this your friend?"

"This is a distinguished guest of our Dragon Tiger Gate. Did you say anything unpleasant to Bai Gongzi? Apologize to him immediately! If the sect leader finds out, he'll break your legs!"

"There's no need for an apology. Just make them miserable." Bai Chen smiled at the two gate guards, not being a magnanimous person.

Long Tuxiao glared at the two. "Go and receive your punishment. Go to the Discipline Hall and take twenty lashes."

With Long Tuxiao leading the way, Bai Chen quickly entered the inner hall.

Long Xing was already waiting for Bai Chen in the inner hall, and his attitude was extremely warm, almost overwhelming Bai Chen.

After some pleasantries, Long Xing finally asked, "Why are you visiting me today, Bai Gongzi?"

"I heard that the Dragon Tiger Gate has a wide range of businesses. I'm here to do a deal with you."

"Oh? A deal?" Long Xing's eyes sparkled. Despite his burly appearance, his mind was much more meticulous than that of Yuan Long.

What was the most striking thing about Bai Chen?

Naturally, it was the elixirs!

For the five major sects in Qingzhou, no one would be uninterested in elixir trade, especially when the other party was a grand alchemist.

"I would like to ask Sect Leader Long, what kind of elixirs below the tenth rank does your Dragon Tiger Gate lack the most?" Bai Chen asked, smiling at Long Xing.

Long Xing glanced at Long Tuxiao, stroked his beard, and pondered, "Eighth-rank Jingxi Elixir."

Actually, it wasn't just the Dragon Tiger Gate; one could say that the entire Qingzhou City lacked Jingxi Elixirs.

Even the Danqi Sect was no exception, as they only had one alchemist who could refine Jingxi Elixirs, and the success rate was quite low.

The Jingxi Elixir was essential for every martial cultivator. After reaching the fifth rank, the flow of true qi in the dantian would increase, requiring larger meridians.

However, the first Jingxi and meridian cleansing would only occur after reaching the innate realm.

It's like a road with heavy traffic that needs a highway to accommodate the flow, but only a rural road is provided.

This naturally leads to a slowdown in cultivation, resulting in unsatisfactory progress.

One could say that every martial cultivator above the fifth rank needed at least one Jingxi Elixir. However, many cultivators at the sixth or seventh rank couldn't obtain one, and some even at the ninth rank couldn't get one, causing their cultivation to lag behind.

In fact, one was just the minimum. As one advanced from the fifth rank, the flow of true qi would increase significantly with each rank.

Under normal circumstances, one should take one Jingxi Elixir with each rank to avoid hindering cultivation progress.

However, even Long Xing, the sect leader, had never been so extravagant. Before reaching the innate realm, he had only taken one Jingxi Elixir.

Currently, in the sect, there were six disciples at the ninth rank and nineteen at the eighth rank, but only two had taken the Jingxi Elixir.

One could imagine how scarce the Jingxi Elixir was. The situation in the entire Qingzhou City was only slightly better with the Danqi Sect, but not by much.

Bai Chen took out a prepared brocade box and handed it to Long Xing, who carefully opened it.

A rich spiritual fragrance rose, filling Long Xing's senses.

Inside the box were ten Jingxi Elixirs, each shimmering with a greenish glow, like the most captivating jade, captivating the soul.

Long Tuxiao drew a sharp breath, his eyes wide open, staring at the box.

Ten! Jingxi Elixirs!!

"Bai Gongzi, what is this?" Long Xing held the box, unable to let it go, his hand tightly gripping it, not daring to breathe.

Bai Chen had naturally done his research before coming, otherwise, he wouldn't have been so confident.

"May I ask, Sect Leader Long, what is the value of these ten Jingxi Elixirs?"

"This... this..."

Long Xing's eyes flickered. The moment he opened the box, he had an impulse to kill and rob.

Ten Jingxi Elixirs! This was ten Jingxi Elixirs!

However, Long Xing quickly suppressed his evil thoughts.

Although he was excited, he knew he couldn't lose sight of the bigger picture. Forming an alliance with a grand alchemist would bring more benefits than these ten Jingxi Elixirs.

Moreover, behind Bai Chen was a force of unknown strength.

A force that could casually produce ten Jingxi Elixirs was not one the Dragon Tiger Gate could afford to offend.

After much contemplation, Long Xing finally said, "According to the current value in Qingzhou City, ten Jingxi Elixirs are worth over two million taels."

Long Xing kept observing Bai Chen's expression. If Bai Chen showed dissatisfaction, he would not hesitate to raise the price.

This opportunity might not come again. Ten Jingxi Elixirs were right in front of him, and if he missed this chance, he might never have it again.

Although the market price of one Jingxi Elixir was around 150,000 taels, it was often unavailable. Even with 300,000 taels of silver, one might not be able to get one.

"Two million taels." Bai Chen pinched his chin. "This price is fair."

Long Xing let out a long sigh. Two million taels was a sum the Dragon Tiger Gate could afford, but compared to ten Jingxi Elixirs, it was a bargain.

"Then I will use these ten Jingxi Elixirs as a deposit. Sect Leader Long, are you willing to take this deal?"

"What? Ten Jingxi Elixirs as a deposit?" Long Xing and Long Tuxiao were both shocked.

Long Xing quickly realized, "Bai Gongzi, you're not selling for money, right?"

"I know that Sect Leader Long controls ninety percent of the grain trade in Qingzhou City and has the connections. I need you to help me purchase ten million catties of grain."

"What? You want to buy grain with Jingxi Elixirs?"

"No!"

Suddenly, a woman rushed into the hall. She was dressed in white, with a graceful figure and a stunningly beautiful face, but her eyes were blazing with anger, glaring at Bai Chen.

"Nalan, why are you here?" Long Xing was quite polite to the woman who had barged in, even more so than to Bai Chen.

Nalan Ruyue turned to Long Xing, her tone harsh. "Sect Leader Long, we agreed that you would provide two million catties of grain to Seven Virtues. Now you want to go back on your word. Do you really think Seven Virtues is easy to bully?"

Long Xing smiled bitterly. He hadn't agreed yet.

However, everyone knew that Long Xing could not refuse Bai Chen's request.

The entire Qingzhou City could probably gather one million catties of grain, and that was just grain. If it were grain, they might only have 500,000 catties.

Recently, the Western State had suffered a disaster, and the entire Shu region was short of grain. Normally, one tael of silver could buy three to four catties of grain, but now it could only buy two.

They would definitely need to purchase grain from other states. The entire Shu region's grain combined might be enough to gather ten million catties.

If he agreed to Bai Chen's request, he would not be able to provide the two million catties of grain to Seven Virtues.

Under normal circumstances, even at a loss, Long Xing would prioritize Seven Virtues' needs.

But now, Bai Chen had offered a price he could not refuse.

Long Xing was a bit resentful of Bai Chen. Why did you have to offer such an enticing price, making it so difficult for me?

Long Xing guessed Bai Chen's intention. He was stockpiling grain to raise its price and then resell it.

In this world, no government would interfere with grain stockpiling, so although some people might disapprove of Bai Chen's actions, they were not illegal.

"If you can gather the grain within three days, I will give you ten additional Jingxi Elixirs on top of the forty as a reward. If there are no issues, we can finalize the deal. If Sect Leader Long finds it unacceptable, then we can part ways amicably, and I hope we have the chance to cooperate again."

"Sect Leader Long!!" Nalan Ruyue was anxious, gritting her teeth as she looked at Long Xing.

Long Xing looked at Nalan Ruyue with difficulty and finally said, "Nalan, I'm sorry..."