Chapter 65 : High-End Commercial Warfare

Chapter 65: High-End Commercial Warfare

‘The Immortal Alliance merchants are truly overbearing!’ Chen Beiwu sighed inwardly.

High-end commercial warfare often adopted the most unadorned methods.

Before getting into the Yellow-Tailed Dendrobium business, Chen Beiwu already knew he would attract attention, but he hadn’t expected it to happen so soon.

There was no helping it—he had no Foundation Establishment cultivator backing him.

If his grandfather were still alive, the Purple Dendrobium Trading Association wouldn’t have dared to send a threatening letter, and his Yellow-Tailed Dendrobium business could have grown even larger.

At this thought, Chen Beiwu put away the letter and the artifact, the Vein-Eroding Needle.

Calm the spirit before handling matters.

Though this letter couldn’t be used to report the Purple Dendrobium Trading Association to the Immortal Alliance for intimidation, it could still serve to motivate his cultivation.

As for the Yellow-Tailed Dendrobium business, Chen Beiwu felt it could still go on.

After all, the Immortal Alliance's laws were not to be trifled with!

Unspoken rules remained unspoken rules. No matter how rampant the Purple Dendrobium Trading Association was, they couldn’t openly attack him. At most, they could manufacture a few “accidents”.

Besides, this was most likely a decision made by middle management within the association. The true high-level executives wouldn’t pay attention to such minor squabbles.

To proceed cautiously, Chen Beiwu took out his phone and decided to consult a true second-generation cultivator of Yuan-Kong County.

Yuan-Kong County, Xu Residence, Fire Meridian Cultivation Room.

Xu Lingling wiped the sweat from her forehead, tilted her head toward the old man beside her, and said coquettishly, “Daddy, I don’t want to cultivate the Nourishing Yang Method anymore!”

Hearing this, True Person Xu furrowed his brows slightly. “The Nourishing Yang Method is a supreme secret art that can enhance spiritual root aptitude. Countless fire-element cultivators in Yuan-Kong County yearn to cultivate it but can’t.

If not for my background in the Blazing Flame Sect and the favor of my master, you wouldn’t even have the opportunity.”

“But… but the Nourishing Yang Method is too difficult.” Xu Lingling pouted. “Ziqing has already reached the Seventh Level of Qi Refining and successfully contracted the Companion Beast, Scarlet Flame Fox, while I’m still stuck at the Fifth Level.”

“Silly girl.” Her father shook his head. “Cultivation isn’t about short-term gains—it’s about a lifetime. Your fire-attribute spiritual root has a purity of 79, just one step away from a Heavenly Fire Root.”

“Even if that Ziqing girl manages to reach the Ninth Level of Qi Refining before the Immortal Alliance Entrance Exam, she will still have to pass multiple trials to enter the Thirteen Immortal Sects. A single misstep could make her miss the sects entirely.”

“But you’re different. If you can cultivate the Nourishing Yang Method to minor completion and gain the Heavenly Fire Root, I have ways to secure you direct entry into the Blazing Flame Sect and contract the sect’s exclusive spirit beast, the Blazing Flame Tiger.”

As he spoke, True Person Xu patted Xu Lingling’s head. “With the support of the Heavenly Fire Root and the Blazing Flame Tiger’s triple meridians, your Foundation Establishment is almost guaranteed. Even Golden Core would no longer be out of reach.”

“Buzz!”

At that moment, Xu Lingling’s phone vibrated.

She took it out, and the bitterness on her face vanished, replaced by unconcealable joy.

“Not crying anymore? Is it that little yellow-haired boy you like calling?” True Person Xu teased.

“What little yellow-haired boy.” Xu Lingling pouted. “Daddy, you just don’t understand how amazing he is!”

“Amazing?” True Person Xu chuckled and shook his head.

His wife had failed to break through to Golden Core and passed away, leaving behind only Xu Lingling.

Thus, he cherished this beloved daughter immensely and had thoroughly investigated everyone around her.

Chen Beiwu came from a declining family. Being able to reach the Seventh Level of Qi Refining at sixteen might barely qualify as “impressive” within Yuan-Kong County.

But in his eyes, the Immortal Alliance spanned Five Paths and Thirteen Provinces with countless cultivation prodigies—Chen Beiwu was average at best among them.

Xu Lingling raised a finger to her lips and said sweetly, “I don’t care. Beiwu finally called me, so don’t say anything for now, okay?”

“Alright, alright.” True Person Xu laughed.

Though he looked down on Chen Beiwu, he couldn’t deny his daughter’s affection, so he never objected.

Cultivators lived long lives. If his daughter wanted to enjoy a few romances, so be it—as long as her cultivation wasn’t delayed.

After a “shhh,” Xu Lingling answered the call with a radiant smile. “Long time no see, Beiwu.”

“Are you refining pills?” Seeing the large pill furnace atop the Fire Meridian, Chen Beiwu was momentarily stunned. “Want to talk later?”

“No need. I’m just resting.” Xu Lingling pouted.

After a few casual words, Chen Beiwu went straight to the point. “Do you know the Purple Dendrobium Trading Association in Yuan-Kong County?”

“Yeah, they’re pretty aggressive in their dealings.”

Xu Lingling blinked, then realized something, her voice rising. “Wait, they’re in the Yellow-Tailed Dendrobium business too. Did they come after you?”

“Not exactly. They just sent me an artifact. Consider it a bit of peer encouragement.”

Chen Beiwu smiled and changed the topic. “Lingling, do you know the specifics of the Purple Dendrobium Trading Association? Who’s behind it?”

Xu Lingling pursed her lips and glanced toward the old man nearby.

Of course, she knew. The president of the Purple Dendrobium Trading Association visited them annually. When they met, she even addressed him as Uncle Fang.

True Person Xu also smiled beside her.

Peer encouragement, huh? This kid really had a way with lies. No wonder Lingling couldn’t forget him.

Too bad his aptitude and background were lacking. His odds of reaching Golden Core were too low. He wasn’t a Heavenly Wood Root cultivator either and couldn’t aid his daughter’s cultivation.

If Lingling just wanted to fool around, that was fine—but marriage? They weren’t well-matched.

That said, if Chen Beiwu could stay out of trouble, not drag her down, and keep her happy, then he might just approve of their relationship.

“I do know. If I’m not mistaken, the Purple Dendrobium Trading Association is quite large. The president is named Fang Ling, mid-stage Foundation Establishment. The vice president is Yu Yong’an, early-stage Foundation Establishment…” Xu Lingling frowned slightly.

She didn’t know much about the association, only some rough details about the four Foundation Establishment cultivators.

After chatting at length, Xu Lingling reluctantly ended the call.

“Daddy, I want to ask you for a favor.” She suddenly acted sweet again.

“Alright, girls can’t be kept at home once they grow up. I get what you mean.”

True Person Xu waved his hand. “Asking me for help is easy. It’s just a few words. But your recent attitude toward cultivation really displeased me.”

Xu Lingling was momentarily speechless.

In the next moment, she grabbed her father’s hand and shook it persistently, acting cute.

“Daddy, I’ll seriously cultivate the Nourishing Yang Method from now on. Please help me this once.”

True Person Xu laughed. “You said it yourself—I didn’t force you. How about you go into closed-door cultivation for one month after this, to practice the Nourishing Yang Method?”

Xu Lingling hesitated for a moment, then nodded. “No problem.”

Closed-door cultivation it was. Chen Beiwu was already cultivating at home anyway, so even if she went to school, she wouldn’t see him.

“Silly girl.” True Person Xu shook his head, not planning to lecture further.

People don’t learn from words—they learn from experience.

Chen Beiwu was smart enough to keep a distance. Once his daughter tasted the bitterness of romance, she would naturally come to understand the importance of a heart dedicated to the Dao.

…

On the other end, Chen Beiwu ended the call, a serious look flashing in his eyes.

The Purple Dendrobium Trading Association was massive, selling a wide variety of medicinal herbs. Yellow-Tailed Dendrobium was just a trivial part of it.

Having understood the general situation, Chen Beiwu didn’t believe that selling a few hundred catties of Yellow-Tailed Dendrobium would truly alert a Foundation Establishment rogue cultivator.

The ones eyeing him were likely Qi Refining cultivators borrowing the association’s name.

But with the All Laws Converge, Heaven Book of the Divine Tree, and the unparalleled defense of Gold Egg, even against a Ninth Level Qi Refining cultivator, Chen Beiwu had confidence he could retreat safely—perhaps even counter-kill.

‘Screw them!’ Chen Beiwu cursed silently.

If the Purple Dendrobium Trading Association didn’t want him to sell, if they wouldn’t allow him to provide for his family—then he would sell all the more!